Rod Stewart: Angel / What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me) Single (1972)

A Double A-Side Heartbreaker

Rod Stewart’s “Angel” / “What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)” 7-inch double A-side vinyl single, was released in the UK on November 10, 1972, on Mercury Records (catalogue: 6052 198). This emotional pair of tracks, with Rod Stewart as producer, came from his album Never A Dull Moment. The A-sides' soulful “Angel” (a cover adapted for the album) and the poignant “What Made Milwaukee Famous” peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart for 11 weeks. Housed in a Mercury company sleeve, with a US export pressing featuring orange-red labels and a large-hole jukebox-style centre USA export pressing issued for the UK market to supply demand, it’s a gem from Stewart’s Faces-era peak.

Single Overview.

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single (6052 198): “What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)” / “Angel.” In a company sleeve.

A1: “What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)” (2:50, Sutton) – Producer – Rod Stewart

A2: “Angel” (4:04, Hendrix) – Producer – Rod Stewart

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single (US Export): Same tracklist. Orange-red labels, large hole jukebox-style centre.

A1: “What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)” (2:50, Rod Stewart) – Producer – Rod Stewart

A2: “Angel” (4:04, Rod Stewart) – Producer – Rod Stewart

Notes: “Angel” has been recorded by numerous artists; Stewart was the first to adapt it for Never A Dull Moment.

UK Variations:

7", Single, 45 RPM, Injection Moulded Labels Mercury - 6052-198

7", Single, 45 RPM, Injection Moulded Labels Mercury - 6052-198

7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre Mercury - 6052 198

7", Single, 45 RPM, Solid Centre Metallic Blue Injection Labels Mercury - 6052-198

7", 45 RPM, Single, Large Centre Mercury - 6052 198

7", 45 RPM, Single, 4-Prong Centre Mercury - 6052 198

Country Variations:

The single was released in multiple countries, featuring either a picture sleeve or company sleeves.

Australia - Mercury - 1972

Austria - Mercury - 1972

Germany - Mercury - 1972

Norway - Mercury - 1972

Portugal - Mercury - 1972

Spain - Mercury - 1972

Produced by Rod Stewart. Recorded in 1972 during Never A Dull Moment sessions. “What Made Milwaukee Famous” was a heartfelt loser’s lament, while “Angel” was a tender cover. Released amid Stewart’s solo ascent.

Chart Performance:

UK: No. 4 (Official Singles Chart), charting for 11 weeks.

FULL PAGE ADVERT DATED: NOVEMBER 11, 1972

UK Chart Data:

Entry Date: November 12, 1972.

Peak: No. 4 (December 3, 1972).

Weeks on Chart: 11 (Nov 12, 1972 – Jan 21, 1973).

Chart Run: No. 23 (Nov 12), No. 10 (Nov 19), No. 6 (Nov 26), No. 4 (Dec 3), No. 9 (Dec 10), No. 12 (Dec 17), No. 12 (Dec 24), No. 23 (Dec 31), No. 28 (Jan 7), No. 36 (Jan 14), No. 50 (Jan 21).

Note: Stewart’s fourth UK Top 10 hit; double A-side format boosted airplay.

Legacy and Collectibility

“Angel” / “What Made Milwaukee Famous” is a Stewart emotional double, with “Angel” a timeless cover and “Milwaukee” a heartfelt gem. . Verify catalogue 6052 198. Streams on Spotify via Never A Dull Moment reissues preserve the analog soul.

This double A-side is a must-have for Stewart fans and ‘70s rock collectors.

Have you snagged this Stewart double in your vinyl collection? Which side steals your heart? Share in the comments

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube