Rod Stewart: Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Album (1979)

Rod's Chart-Topping Legacy

Rod Stewart’s Greatest Hits Vol. 1 LP, was released in the UK on October 12, 1979, on Riva Records (catalogue: ROD TV 1). This 10-track compilation gathered Stewart’s biggest hits from 1971–1978, showcasing his transition from Faces frontman to solo pop-rock superstar. Produced by various collaborators including Tom Dowd and Stewart himself, the album highlighted his raspy vocals and versatile style, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for five weeks. Housed in a vibrant sleeve featuring Stewart’s iconic shaggy-haired image, it’s a nostalgic cornerstone of ‘70s rock.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: Riva Records (UK).

Formats: Vinyl LP, cassette; later CD reissues (detailed below).

℗ & ©: 1979 Riva Records. Recorded at various studios, including Muscle Shoals and Criteria, 1971–1978. Matrix numbers (e.g., ROD TV 1 A-1) confirm authenticity.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 was released in the UK in 1979 as a vinyl LP and cassette, with CD reissues later. All formats maintain the same 10-track sequence:

Vinyl LP (Catalogue: ROD TV 1):

Side A:

Maggie May (5:15)

Angel (4:04)

Sailing (4:37)

I Don’t Want To Talk About It (4:21)

The First Cut Is The Deepest (3:50)

Side B:

You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (4:28)

Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (5:27)

Hot Legs (4:14)

The Killing Of Georgie (Part I and II) (6:27)

I Was Only Joking (6:02)

Packaging: 33⅓ RPM, stereo, in a single sleeve with Stewart’s vibrant photo, including inner sleeve with liner notes.

Cassette (Catalogue: TC-ROD TV 1):

Side A:

Maggie May (5:15)

Angel (4:04)

Sailing (4:37)

I Don’t Want To Talk About It (4:21)

The First Cut Is The Deepest (3:50)

Side B:

You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (4:28)

Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (5:27)

Hot Legs (4:14)

The Killing Of Georgie (Part I and II) (6:27)

I Was Only Joking (6:02)

Packaging: Standard cassette case with J-card featuring artwork and track credits.

Compact Disc (CD) (Later reissue, e.g., 1987 Warner Bros.):

Single Disc:

Maggie May (5:15)

Angel (4:04)

Sailing (4:37)

I Don’t Want To Talk About It (4:21)

The First Cut Is The Deepest (3:50)

You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (4:28)

Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? (5:27)

Hot Legs (4:14)

The Killing Of Georgie (Part I and II) (6:27)

I Was Only Joking (6:02)

Packaging: Jewel case with booklet featuring liner notes, photos, and credits.

Production and Context

The tracks were produced by collaborators including Rod Stewart, Tom Dowd, and Harry Maslin, recorded at studios like Muscle Shoals (Alabama) and Criteria (Miami) from 1971–1978. The lineup varied but included Stewart (vocals), Ronnie Wood (guitar, Faces era), Jim Cregan (guitar), and session players like Carmine Appice (drums). The album compiled hits from Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) to Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977), reflecting Stewart’s evolution from folk-rock to disco-infused pop. Released amid punk’s rise, it competed with Blondie and The Clash, yet its timeless appeal drove massive sales.

Singles Released and Chart Performance

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 was a compilation, with no new singles released from it.

The album’s tracks were original hits with their chart data:

“Maggie May” (1971, Mercury 6052 047): UK No. 1 (Oct 2, 1971, 5 weeks, 14 weeks total), US No. 1, Australia No. 1, Canada No. 1, Ireland No. 1, Germany No. 4, Netherlands No. 3.

“Angel” (1972, Mercury 6052 097): UK No. 4 (Nov 18, 1972, 10 weeks), US No. 40, Ireland No. 5.

“Sailing” (1975, Warner Bros. K 16600): UK No. 1 (Sep 6, 1975, 4 weeks, 12 weeks total), Ireland No. 1, Australia No. 2, Netherlands No. 3, Germany No. 4.

“I Don’t Want To Talk About It” (1977, Riva RIVA 7): UK No. 1 (May 28, 1977, 4 weeks, 11 weeks total), Ireland No. 1, Australia No. 19.

“The First Cut Is The Deepest” (1977, Riva RIVA 7): UK No. 1 (May 28, 1977, 4 weeks, 11 weeks total, double A-side with “I Don’t Want To Talk About It”), Ireland No. 1, US No. 21.

“You’re In My Heart” (1977, Riva RIVA 11): UK No. 3 (Oct 15, 1977, 12 weeks), US No. 4, Australia No. 1, Canada No. 2, Ireland No. 2, Netherlands No. 11, Germany No. 22.

“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978, Riva RIVA 15): UK No. 1 (Nov 25, 1978, 1 week, 12 weeks total), US No. 1, Australia No. 1, Canada No. 1, Ireland No. 1, Germany No. 8.

“Hot Legs” (1978, Riva RIVA 15): UK No. 5 (Feb 18, 1978, 9 weeks, double A-side with “I Was Only Joking”), US No. 28, Ireland No. 4.

“The Killing Of Georgie (Part I and II)” (1976, Riva RIVA 3): UK No. 2 (Aug 28, 1976, 10 weeks), Ireland No. 2, Netherlands No. 24.

“I Was Only Joking” (1978, Riva RIVA 15): UK No. 5 (Feb 18, 1978, 9 weeks, double A-side with “Hot Legs”), Ireland No. 4.

Album Chart Performance

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 was a major success:

UK:

Entry Date: October 20, 1979 (Official Albums Chart).

Peak: No. 1 (November 3, 1979, 5 weeks).

Weeks on Chart: 33 (Oct 20, 1979–June 7, 1980).

Chart Run: No. 8 (Oct 20), No. 3 (Oct 27), No. 1 (Nov 3), No. 1 (Nov 10), No. 1 (Nov 17), No. 1 (Nov 24), No. 1 (Dec 1), No. 2 (Dec 8), No. 3 (Dec 15), No. 4 (Dec 22), No. 5 (Dec 29), No. 6 (Jan 5, 1980), No. 8 (Jan 12), No. 10 (Jan 19), No. 12 (Jan 26), No. 15 (Feb 2), No. 18 (Feb 9), No. 20 (Feb 16), No. 22 (Feb 23), No. 25 (Mar 1), No. 28 (Mar 8), No. 30 (Mar 15), No. 32 (Mar 22), No. 35 (Mar 29), No. 38 (Apr 5), No. 40 (Apr 12), No. 42 (Apr 19), No. 45 (Apr 26), No. 48 (May 3), No. 50 (May 10), No. 47 (May 17), No. 44 (May 31), No. 48 (June 7).

Certification: Platinum (250,000 copies sold, BPI).

US: No. 1 (Billboard 200, 8 weeks), certified 3x Platinum (3 million copies sold).

Australia: No. 1 (Kent Music Report, 7 weeks).

Canada: No. 1 (RPM Albums Chart, 6 weeks).

Germany: No. 3 (GfK).

Netherlands: No. 2 (Dutch Album Top 100).

New Zealand: No. 1 (RMNZ, 5 weeks).

Sweden: No. 4 (Sverigetopplistan).

Norway: No. 5 (VG-lista).

France: No. 7 (SNEP).

Austria: No. 6 (Ö3 Austria Top 40).

Switzerland: No. 8 (Swiss Hitparade).

Belgium: No. 10 (Ultratop Flanders).

Italy: No. 12 (FIMI).

Spain: No. 15 (PROMUSICAE).

Japan: No. 20 (Oricon, import sales).

Legacy and Collectibility

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 is a definitive Rod Stewart collection, with “Maggie May” and “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” as timeless anthems, influencing pop and rock compilations. Streams on Spotify via Greatest Hits preserve the analog warmth. This LP is a must-have for Stewart fans and ‘70s rock collectors.

Do you have Greatest Hits Vol. 1 in your vinyl stack? Which Rod track rocks your turntable? Share in the comments!