Title: Maggie May by Rod Stewart - Songfacts
Headings: by
Rod Stewart

by Rod Stewart
Songfacts®:
Comments: 54

Content: At the time, he was still lead singer of the Faces, and for this session, which took place at Morgan Sound Studios in Willesden, England, he brought in two of his mates from that group: Ronnie Wood (guitar/bass) and Ian McLagan (organ). The other musicians were drummer Mickey Waller (he forgot to bring his cymbals to the session, so those were overdubbed later), guitarist Martin Quittenton and mandolin player Ray Jackson. The song came together quickly in the studio, helped along by Jackson's mandolin contribution. Jackson had been hired to perform on the song "Mandolin Wind," which is why he was available. Stewart asked him to play something they might use to end the song, which he improvised on the spot. This became a huge hit in Britain and America, topping both the UK and US charts at the same time. Every Picture Tells A Story was also the #1 album on both sides of the Atlantic, making him the first artist to have the #1 song and album in both the US and UK simultaneously. Stewart's success in the UK was expected, as he had a following there as a member of the Faces, but he was little known in America before "Maggie May" took off. There is no real chorus in this song, but plenty of vocal and instrumental changes to keep it interesting.