Rod Stewart Ultimate Hits is released on June 27th and to celebrate the release over the next few weeks we will are bringing you the low down on all the classic tracks that have been brought together in the compilation to include songs ranging from his 1971 hit, “Maggie May” to selections from 2024’s “Swing Fever,”
Today we focus on “You Wear It Well”
“You Wear It Well” is a song written by Rod Stewart and Martin Quittenton, The subject of the song is Rod as the narrator writing a letter to an old love – and reflecting with a positive attitude about it.
The song has a similar arrangement to “Maggie May”, Rod’s monster hit from the previous year and another Rod Stewart/ Martin Quittenton collaboration.
Rod recorded “You Wear It Well” for the 1972 album “Never a Dull Moment”, and released it as a single on 12 August. The song became an international hit, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. And peaking at number 13 in the US Billboard Hot 100.
Faces bandmates Ronnie Wood and Ian McLagan both played on the track and joined Rod when he performed the song on BBC’s Top of the Pops alongside both the other Faces Ronnie Lane and Kenney Jones with Martin Quittenton on classical guitar and Dick “Tricky Dicky” Powell on fiddle As Rod famously read the lyrics from a sheet of paper.
The line, “Madame Onassis got nothing on you” is a reference to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – former First Lady to and widow of President John F. Kennedy. At the time of this song, Jacqueline – often referred to as “Jackie O” – was the spouse of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis until his death in 1975, widowing her again. Jackie O made quite a reputation for herself as a woman of grace, charm, and style, prompting the London Evening Standard to comment, “Jacqueline Kennedy has given the American people… one thing they have always lacked: Majesty.”
Weekly chart positions
Australia Kent Music Report 13
Canada RPM Top Singles 7
Germany 35
Ireland 2
New Zealand 4
South Africa 19
UK Singles Chart 1
US Billboard Hot 100 13
US Cash Box Top 100 14
Year-end chart positions
Australia 76
UK 14
U.S. (Joel Whitburn’s Pop Annual) 120
The 1999 compilation album I Have Been To Heaven And Back: Hen’s Teeth and Other Lost Fragments of Unpopular Culture Vol. 1 by the Mekons includes a cover of the song. Ali Campbell covered the song on his 2010 album Great British Songs. In 2016 Dexys featuring Kevin Rowland covered the song on their album Let The Record Show: Dexys Do Irish And Country Soul, A cover by Hurricane No. 1 is included in their compilation Step into My World and In 2022 The Black Crowes covered the song on their 1972 EP.
A live version of the song from Rod’s 2013 performance at the Troubadour, West Hollywood was included on the deluxe edition of the album “Time”.
“You Wear It Well”
Taken from the album “Never a Dull Moment”
UK B-side “Lost Paraguayos”
Released August 1972
Genre Folk rock
Length 4:09 (Single Version)
4:25 (Album Version)
5:04 (“Storyteller” Version)
Label Mercury
Songwriters Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton
