Record #0041: Reason To Believe / Maggie May – ROD STEWART

Mercury 73224 (original) USA, 1971
Words & Music by:  Side A – Tim Hardin; Side B – Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton
Musicians: Rod Stewart (vocals), Ronnie Wood (electric guitars, bass on side B), Martin Quittenton (acoustic guitars), Ian McLagan (keyboards), Micky Waller (drums), Ray Jackson (mandolin on side B), Danny Thompson (upright bass on side A), Dick Powell (violin on side A) … the sessions had a bunch of other musicians as well, but it isn’t very clear who played what and where.
Recording sessions:  Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 1970
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #62; Side B – US #1, UK #1

Soon after the release of this record “Maggie May” became the A side as it started getting more air play than “Reason To Believe”. The single became Stewart’s first #1 solo hit and it launched his solo career.

Ray Jackson threatened to sue Stewart for royalties in 2003. He claimed he should be considered a co-composer of "Maggie May". For a reason or another, Jackson did not proceed to sue.

According to Stewart, Maggie May was more or less a true story about the first woman he had sex with. The title of the song was borrowed from a traditional Liverpool folk song.

List price:  “Very Good+” is $3 and “Near Mint” is $6.