Review

There’s a certain inevitability to a collection like Ultimate Hits from Rod Stewart—one of those towering figures in British rock who seems to have transcended the decades with the ease of a man slipping into another bespoke suit. Compilations like this are, by nature, retrospective, but in Stewart’s case, the past doesn’t just echo—it roars. From the opening bars of “Maggie May”, that timeless ode to regret and youth, to the crooning comfort of “Have I Told You Lately”, this album is a robust reminder of just how effortlessly Stewart has oscillated between rock rascal and velvet-voiced balladeer. He’s been many things—a mod, a glam icon, a disco flirt, and eventually, a torch-song traditionalist—but above all, he’s remained unmistakably Rod. Ultimate Hits pulls from all corners of his eclectic career. There’s the gravelly swagger of “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”—a track that still sounds like Studio 54 in full swing—alongside the poignant storytelling of “The Killing of Georgie”, a song ahead of its time in subject and still heartbreakingly resonant. Meanwhile, “Forever Young” and “Sailing” serve as reminders that Stewart’s rasp has always masked a deeper emotional sincerity, a rawness that few of his contemporaries could match. What’s perhaps most striking, listening to this compilation in 2025, is how ageless much of it feels. Yes, some of the production carries the patina of its era—particularly the synth-laden efforts of the '80s—but Stewart’s voice, ever evocative, ties it all together. It’s like sipping whisky that’s been aged just right; a little burn, a lot of warmth. Of course, the cynic might argue that Ultimate Hits is just another run around the block for the greatest-hits treadmill. But to dismiss it as such is to miss the point. This isn’t just a collection of tracks—it’s a career in high-resolution, from the days of snake-hipped showmanship to the reflective starlight of maturity. In short: Ultimate Hits does exactly what it says on the tin. For long-time fans, it’s a welcome walk through familiar streets. For the uninitiated, it’s a perfect entry into the world of Rod Stewart—warts, waistcoats, and all.

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