Rod Stewart: Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy? Single (1978)

A Disco-Rock Controversy

Rod Stewart’s “Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy?” 7-inch vinyl single, was released in the UK on November 10, 1978, on Riva Records (catalogue: RIVA 17). Backed with “Dirty Weekend,” this funky disco-rock track, written by Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice, and Duane Hitchings — incorporating the melody from Jorge Ben Jor’s Taj Mahal and strings from Bobby Womack’s (If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It — was produced by Tom Dowd. The A-side’s strutting bass, synth horns, and Stewart’s cheeky plea sparked backlash for betraying his blues roots, royalties went to UNICEF, and he performed it at the 1979 Music for UNICEF Concert. Peaking at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for 13 weeks, it drew comparisons to Rolling Stones’ Miss You and later ranked No. 301 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs. Both tracks from Blondes Have More Fun, it’s a bold ‘78 snapshotSingle Overview:

Vinyl, 7" (RIVA 17):

Label: Riva Records (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

A-Side: “Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy?” (4:30, Rod Stewart/Carmine Appice/Duane Hitchings) Produced By – Tom Dowd

B-Side: “Dirty Weekend” (4:00, Rod Stewart/P. Grainger) Produced By – Tom Dowd

Notes: Both tracks from the album Blondes Have More Fun.

Vinyl, 12" Promotional (SAM 92):

45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition Stereo

A-Side: “Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy?” (5:28, Rod Stewart/Carmine Appice/Duane Hitchings) Produced By – Tom Dowd

B-Side: “Dirty Weekend” (2:34, Rod Stewart/P. Grainger) Produced By – Tom Dowd

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – WEA Records B.V.

Copyright © – Riva Records Ltd.

Pressed By – WEA Records Pressing Plant, West Drayton

Engineer – Andy Johns

Lacquer Cut By – Arun*, Nick

Mastered By – Arun Chakraverty

Plated By – E.G.

Producer – Tom Dowd

Labels: Taken from the LP RVLP 8 'Blondes Have More Fun

UK Variants:

7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Solid Centre

Riva (2) – RIVA 17

7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo

Riva (2) – RIVA 17

7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, 'A' label

Riva (2) – RIVA 17

7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Push Out Centre

Riva (2) – RIVA 17

Production and Context:

Produced by Tom Dowd. Recorded in 1978 during Blondes Have More Fun sessions. The lineup: Rod Stewart (vocals), with Carmine Appice (drums). “Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy?” was inspired by The Rolling Stones' Miss You and criticized for its disco shift, but Stewart defended it amid peers like Paul McCartney doing similar. Royalties supported UNICEF. Released amid Stewart’s solo peak, it followed Foot Loose & Fancy Free (No. 2 UK, 1977)

UK Chart Data:

Entry Date: November 12, 1978.

Peak: No. 1 (November 26, 1978).

Weeks on Chart: 13 (Nov 12, 1978 – Feb 4, 1979).

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), No. 50 (Jan 28), No. 50 (Feb 4).

Note: Stewart’s fourth UK No. 1; Cash Box lauded its “clipping bass line [by Phil Chen], steady kick drum and soaring synthesized strings,” with “alternately gentle and dashing rhythm guitar work and a commanding sax solo.”

Single Chart Performance:

“Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy?” peaked at No. 1 in the UK for 1 week, charting for 13 weeks, and No. 1 in the US, marking Stewart’s transatlantic disco triumph.

Country Variations:

The single was released in several countries with the same track list, many featuring unique picture sleeves.

Australia - Warner Bros. - 1978

Belgium - Warner Bros. - 1978

France - Warner Bros. - 1978

France - Warner Bros. - 1978

Germany - Warner Bros. - 1978

Italy - Warner Bros. - 1978

Netherlands - Warner Bros. - 1978

Spain - Warner Bros. - 1978

Sweden - Warner Bros. - 1978

New Zealand - Warner Bros. - 1979

Overseas Chart Performance:

Argentina: 2

Australia (Kent Music Report): 1

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40): 8

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders): 3

Canada Top Singles (RPM): 1

Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM): 1

Canada Disco 30 (RPM): 7

Finland (Finnish Singles Chart): 9

France (SNEP): 2

Ireland (IRMA): 5

Japan (Oricon): 12

Netherlands (Dutch Top 40): 4

Netherlands (Single Top 100): 6

New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ): 2

Norway (VG-lista): 2

Portugal Singles Chart: 1

Spain (AFYVE): 1

Sweden (Sverigetopplistan): 11

Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade): 8

UK Singles (OCC): 1

US Billboard Hot 100: 1

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard): 5

US Dance Club Songs (Billboard): 1

US Cash Box Top 100 Singles: 1

West Germany (GfK): 9

Legacy and Collectibility:

“Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy?” is a Stewart disco anthem, with “Dirty Weekend” a funky B-side. Verify catalogue RIVA 17.

Streams on Spotify via Blondes Have More Fun reissues preserve the analog strut. This single is a must-have for Stewart fans and ‘70s rock collectors.

Have you snagged this Stewart disco hit in your vinyl collection? Does “Da 'Ya' Think I'm Sexy?” strut your stuff? Share in the comments!

Sources

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

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