In 1978, Rod Stewarts' Blondes Have More Fun was released, which included the hit single "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" Many consider this to be the turning point in his career, when he forsook his R&B and rock roots for a more commercial path. If such a dichotomy exists, this interview falls squarely in the earlier phase.
This interview, recorded by Dave Herman for the King Biscuit Flower Hour in Lakeland, Florida, covers the entirety of his career until that point. It starts quickly with his childhood years and his first jobs (as a professional soccer player and then gravedigger) and how he eventually left all of it behind to play music while wandering through Europe. He then goes on to talk about all of his bands, and it's remarkably enjoyable to hear Rod reminisce both fondly (Ron Wood) and not-so-fondly (Jeff Beck) about his old band mates (this is especially true as he gets a couple of rum and cokes deep into the interview).
00:00 - Intro
00:48 - Childhood / family
01:17 - Maintaining family relations
01:42 - British tax exiles
02:33 - Perks of living in America
02:56 - David Bowie's take on L.A.
03:45 - Hating school
04:00 - Parents' hope for Rod
04:25 - The old soccer contract
04:55 - Grave digging
05:44 - Ending up in the music business
06:13 - Ramblin' Jack Elliott
07:04 - Emulating Bob Dylan / leaving home
07:53 - Family reaction to being a rambling boy
08:30 - Getting thrown out of Spain
09:05 - Defining a good album / working with a band
10:07 - "I Was Only Joking"
10:54 - Who really knows Rod Stewart?
12:20 - Long John Baldry / being discovered
14:12 - The Steampacket
14:57 - Forming The Jeff Beck Group
16:18 - What Jeff Beck used to be like / stealing eggs with Ron Wood
17:30 - Who was really responsible for Led Zeppelin
18:26 - Possible reunion of The Jeff Beck Group
18:54 - The break-up of The Jeff Beck Group
20:20 - Why Ron Wood got fired from The Jeff Beck Group
20:52 - The Small Faces: Origins / Vanilla Fudge
22:17 - Climbing the musical ladder
22:46 - His original rock n' roll aspirations
23:37 - Life after success / being a workaholic
24:09 - Playing rock n' roll forever / predictions for the longevity of The Rolling Stones
25:09 - Leading a double-life / the break-up of The Small Faces
27:00 - The Thin album
28:20 - Covering Bob Dylan
29:20 - Writing material / "The Killing of Georgie (Part 1 and 2)"
30:59 - Not a natural songwriter
32:00 - Sway songs at soccer games / "Sailing"