"Baby Jane" by Rod Stewart

Song#:  1473
Date:  05/28/1983
Debut:  53
Peak:  14
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Although his star was cooling off a bit as the decade started, Stewart still managed to grab a platinum album with 1981's "Tonight I'm Yours," which got a boost thanks to the hit "Young Turks" (#5 Pop). Two years later, Stewart issued his next effort "Body Wishes" and this song became the LP's lead single. Staying in the similar synthpop vein as the previous album's singles, the song would be a major hit for him in the UK where it reached #1 (his sixth and last UK #1 to-date). Stateside, the tune did okay, but it missed out on the Top 10 - his first lead single from an album to miss since 1975. The LP was greeted with poor reviews and although it would still end up reaching platinum status, its #30 peak would be his worst showing studio album since his solo debut in 1969.

ReduxReview:  I really disliked this song when it came out. I thought it was a weak tune that found Stewart kind of whining his way through it. I remember thinking, "wait...this is the same guy who did 'Maggie May' and 'The Killing of Georgie'? Yeesh." His other 80s singles were nothing to write home about, but they were better than this. I don't quite hear it like that anymore, but I still would not consider it anywhere among his best songs. I guess the best thing I can say about the song is that it did it's job and sold some records. Other than that...eh...

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  The cover of the "Body Wishes" album may look very familiar to Elvis Presley fans. It mimics the cover done for Presley's 1959 album "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong." Stewart is not the only artist to pay tribute/parody the album title and cover. Artist like Bon Jovi and The Fall have based their titles/art work on the Presley LP.

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