(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
Rod Stewart - "Maggie May"
Hit Number 1: October 2, 1971 Stay at Number 1: 5 Weeks
What if I were to tell you that "Maggie May" was based off a real story? According to Rod Stewart, it's based off a real-life story of the first time he had sex in 1961. He was only 16 when it happened, and it happened at the 1961 Beaulieu Jazz Festival. As the content of "Maggie May" might suggest, Stewart's real story involved a woman who was much older than him. He said him and some of his friends snuck into the festival through an overflow sewage pipe. On a secluded patch of grass, Stewart said that's where he lost his virginity to a woman who "came onto him" at the beer tent. According to Stewart, the woman was old enough to where he always felt ashamed about the whole experience.
But as a lot of musicians like to do, Stewart ended up writing a song about his own strange experience, without knowing that it would become a monster hit for him. "Maggie May" was not the real name of the woman, as Stewart took that name from an obscure Beatles song from their Let It Be album. In fact, it seems as though Stewart never even knew the name of the woman that took his virginity away from him, or maybe he just didn't want to reveal her name for the sake of keeping her identity safe. While Stewart's own personal encounter was brief, only lasting a few seconds, the story of "Maggie May" involves a young boy, presumably a teenager, who holds a full-on relationship with an older woman. The older woman, of course, is the Maggie May of the song.
The boy goes back and forth with his feelings. At some parts of the song, the narrator seems frustrated, even angry about the whole ordeal. All he wants is to get back to school and focus on a career. He badly wants to tell this Maggie May character off and put his foot down, ending their relationship. But on the other hand, he seems to kind of like the relationship they're in. He admits to not being able to "leave her if he tried," and even though she makes a fool out of him, he says he loves her anyway. It's kind of like a stereotypical toxic relationship, where one party realizes how bad the other party is for them, but they can't bring themselves to leave them. It's an all-too-familiar story that we see in everyday life it seems. The difference between those relationships, and the fictional "Maggie May" one is that the "Maggie May" story has a hell of a song tied to it.
Overall, "Maggie May" is a banger. Stewart's lead vocals are raspy, but oh-so-clean at the same time. That would become his trademark in the coming years. (It also doesn't hurt that Stewart has some of the best hair in music, which gave him a cool image along with his voice) The guitar riffs are commanding, and the stringy bass line is smooth. (There's also a killer bass solo in the song) It's a new beginning to a whole new twist on the folk genre. A lot of the time in folk music you can hear a 12-string guitar, which for some reason is a lot more fun to play than a standard 6-string. Stewart was able to turn folk music a little heavier. This genre would become "folk rock," which is a genre I usually love, and "Maggie May" is no exception. It's actually a little hard for me to put into words why I love this song so much; when that first note plays I'm hooked. I know I'm about to hear something great. And greatness is what I hear on "Maggie May". It's just a great song.
"Maggie May" is also one of those songs that hit #1 with another song. In this case though, "Maggie May" was actually the B-Side to "Reason to Believe", but "Maggie May" became the more popular side after radio stations began playing it. It shouldn't be forgotten though that "Reason to Believe" is still a great song in its own right. It's an 8.
As for Stewart, we'll hear from him again, but he'll have abandoned the folk rock genre the next time we do. Still, though Stewart and that woman in 1961 might have their regrets about what happened (assuming that woman is still alive, which she probably isn't), they can both at least be rest-assured that their mistake helped create a classic banger. Without their blunder, the world would be without "Maggie May", which would have made this world that much worse.
GRADE: 9/10
JUST MISSED:
Running this blog has taught me a lot of things. Even though the Carpenters had three #1 hits, they had a few songs peak at #2 too. Their record of "Superstar/Bless the Beasts and Children" peaked at #2 behind "Maggie May/Reason to Believe". "Superstar" is a 7 and "Bless the Beasts and Children" is a 5.
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