Rod Stewart: Maggie May Maxi-Single (1976)

Stewart’s Sing It Again

re-released as a 7-inch maxi-single in the UK on November 19, 1976 on Mercury (catalogue: 6160 006) Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” was backed with “You Wear It Well” and “Twistin’ The Night Away,” this timeless folk-rock anthem and double B-side all from the album Sing It Again Rod, were issued in an accordingly shaped Picture Sleeve in beige/light blue injection moulded variants and Irish pressing. It peaked at No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart for 5 weeks. Issued in beige solid centre, light blue label, large centre, and Irish black labels, it’s a classic ‘76 reissue trio.

Single Overview

A-Side: “Maggie May”

Written-By – M. Quittenton, R. Stewart.

B1-Side: “You Wear It Well”

Written-By – M. Quittenton, R. Stewart.

B2-Side: “Twistin’ The Night Away”

Written-By – S. Cooke.

Release Details:

Label: Mercury (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

Published By – Chappell & Co. (A, B1), G.H. Music Ltd. (A, B1), Essex Music International Ltd. (B2).

℗ 1972.

All tracks from the album *Sing It Again Rod* (6499 484).

UK Formats:

Vinyl, 7" Maxi-Single

Beige Injection Moulded Solid Centre, Picture Sleeve (6160 006)

Vinyl, 7" Maxi-Single

Beige Injection Moulded Large Centre, Picture Sleeve (6160 006)

Vinyl, 7" Maxi-Single

Light Blue Injection Moulded Solid Centre, Picture Sleeve (6160 006)

Country Variations:

The single was released in several countries:

UK (Mercury 6160 006)

Released November 1976. 7-inch maxi (beige solid, light blue, beige large centre).

Ireland (Mercury 6160 006)

Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single. Solid centre black printed labels. Made in the Republic of Ireland.

Production and Context

All tracks originally ℗ 1972, reissued from Sing It Again Rod compilation. “Maggie May” and “You Wear It Well” co-written with Martin Quittenton, “Twistin’ The Night Away” a Sam Cooke cover. Classic Stewart blend of folk, rock, and soul.

Chart Performance:

UK: No. 31 (Official Singles Chart), charting for 5 weeks.

Entry Date: December 4, 1976.

Peak: No. 31 (December 18, 1976).

Weeks on Chart: 5 (Dec 4, 1976 – Jan 1, 1977), plus re-entry Jan 15, 1977.

Chart Run: No. 47 (Dec 4), No. 39 (Dec 11), No. 31 (Dec 18), No. 36 (Dec 25), No. 36 (Jan 1), [re-entry] No. 41 (Jan 15).

Legacy and Collectibility

“Maggie May” is an evergreen folk-rock masterpiece, “You Wear It Well” a reflective sequel, “Twistin’” pure dancefloor joy. Original UK beige solid centre vinyls fetch £3–£8 on eBay/Discogs, light blue label (£8–£15), large centre (£5–£10), Irish black labels (£10–£20). Verify catalogue 6160 006 and label colour/centre.

Streams on Spotify via Sing It Again Rod playlists. This maxi reissue is a must-have for Rod Stewart fans and ‘70s rock collectors.

Have you spun this Maggie May maxi yet? Does “Twistin’ The Night Away” still get you moving? 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.