Rod Stewart: "Shake" Single (1966)

Rod Stewart's "Shake" backed with "I Just Got Some" is a raw, bluesy 7-inch vinyl single released in the UK on April 15, 1966 on Columbia Records (catalog: DB 7892).

This marked Stewart's third solo single attempt in the UK, following his early efforts as a nascent solo artist before his breakthroughs with the Jeff Beck Group and Faces. Recorded during his pre-fame phase, it reflects his soulful, raspy R&B influences amid the British blues boom of the mid-1960s. The single failed to chart and is now a rare collector's item, emblematic of Stewart's gritty origins as a harmonica-wielding busker turned vocalist.

Release Details

Format: 7" 45 RPM vinyl single, mono pressing.

Label: Columbia (EMI subsidiary), UK.

Date: Apr 15, 1966

Producer/Backing: Likely self-produced or with minimal studio support; Stewart was backed by session musicians, drawing from his time in bands like the Dimensions and Long John Baldry's All Stars. No major hits attached, it was part of his independent solo forays before signing bigger deals.

Context: This came after Stewart's first two UK singles—"Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" (1964, with the Ray Davies Quartet) and another early blues cover—neither of which charted. By 1966, he was honing his soul-blues style, covering American R&B tracks, before joining Jeff Beck in 1967 and achieving fame with Faces and solo albums like Every Picture Tells a Story (1971).

Track Breakdown

Shake (A-Side) 2:47 Sam Cooke (original 1964). Stewart's cover is a high-energy, mod-flavored R&B shaker with his distinctive gravelly vocals and harmonica flourishes, emphasizing danceable grooves typical of '60s British beat music.

I Just Got Some (B-Side) 2:30 Willie Dixon & Billy "The Kid" Emerson (original by Willie Mabon, 1963). A cheeky, innuendo-laden blues track about newfound romantic satisfaction, delivered with Stewart's playful swagger—his version was an original recording, later covered in his style.

The single's packaging was standard for the era: a plain label with Stewart's name and tracks, no elaborate artwork. Promo copies exist, adding to its rarity.

Chart Performance: Did not chart in the UK or elsewhere; Stewart's early solo singles were commercial flops, overshadowed by his band work.

This obscure gem showcases a young Rod Stewart channeling Sam Cooke and blues legends, far from his later rock anthems. If you're hunting vinyl, check promo variants for extra value!