Rod Stewart: Single & Album Double Top (1975)

Rod Stewart's "Sailing" and "Atlantic Crossing" topped on their respective NME charts as published in New Musical Express on September 2, 1975.

Rod Stewart released "Sailing" in August 1975 as the lead single from his sixth album, Atlantic Crossing, marking a pivotal shift in his career. Written by Gavin Sutherland of The Sutherland Brothers, "Sailing" is a heartfelt ballad about longing and reunion, driven by Stewart’s raspy vocals and a soaring arrangement. Recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, with producer Tom Dowd, the track features lush strings and a soulful backing from the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Its emotional depth and polished sound reflected Stewart’s move from gritty rock to a smoother, transatlantic style.

Sailing hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks, selling over a million copies, and reached #58 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It became one of Stewart’s signature songs, later re-released in 1976 and 1987 with renewed chart success. Atlantic Crossing, also released in 1975, was Stewart’s first album for Warner Bros. and his attempt to crack the American market. The album, split into a “fast side” (rockers) and a “slow side” (ballads), peaked at #1 in the UK and #9 on the US Billboard 200, driven by "Sailing" and tracks like "I Don’t Want to Talk About It."