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Rod Stewart — Cut Across Shorty
Album: Gasoline Alley
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 983









Released: 1970
Length: 6:17
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Now a country boy named Shorty
and a city boy named Dan
had to prove who could run the fastest
to wed Miss Lucy's hand

Now Dan had all the money
and he also had the looks
But Shorty musta had that something boys
that can't be found in books

Chorus:
"Cut across Shorty, Shorty, cut across"
That's what Miss Lucy said
"Cut across Shorty, Shorty, cut across
You know it's you that I wanna wed"

Wait a minute
Now Dan had been in training
about a week before the race
He made up his mind old Shorty
would end in second place
You know Dan with his long legs flying
he left Shorty far behind
Shorty heard him holler out
Miss Lucy that you'll soon be mine

(Chorus)

But Shorty wasn't worried
There was a smile upon his face
'Cause old Lucy had fixed the race
And just like that old story
about the turtle and the hare, you know that thing
when Danny crossed over the finish line
he found Shorty waiting there

(Chorus)

It's you that I wanna wed, no no
And oh Lord it's you I wanna wed
It's you that I wanna wed
Comments (125)add comment
Rod in his prime. Sadly due to issues with his throat he can only now croon old classics and rather weakly at that. Watched him last night (25/2/2024) on TV with Jules Holland and it was cringeworthy. Time to retire Rod, maybe you too Jules. Your  last New Years Eve gig  was full of has been singers who really should be out to grass now.
A goodie....Gasoline Alley is still my all time favourite Rod S album.  And there were some good ones after !
 stevewestern wrote:

Sorry Skydog- I've only just seen this - My father was an architectural model maker by day, and a fiddler by night, very much in the style of Stephane Grappelli, and played for many years with with Diz Dizley (the guy in the picture with the beard) who played very much in the style of Django Reinhardt. As a kid there were many nights spent sitting on the stairs listening to a crowd of musicians playing in the sitting room way after my bed time..
Music was a passion rather than a job, and it was while playing at somewhere like Pizza-on-the-park in London ( a well known jazz venue back then) that Rod Stewart saw him, and a few late-night studio sessions came from it.

My father died way back in the mid '70's but Diz remained a family friend, arranged a memorial gig at the 100 club (London) which was totally packed with musicians who came to play - guess there must have been a free bar..!

As for Skydog - the Allman Brothers were MY band as a 12 year old, and there are still a good few tracks Duane played on that bring tears to my eyes - Melissa and Loan me a dime by Boz Scaggs for starters.




wow. thanks for sharing this!
 lyndonwatkins16 wrote:

Gasoline Alley and Every Picture Tells a Story were both massive footprints in esrly 70's music for the Faces with Rod at his best



Great tunes.  My favourite Rod music.
 stevewestern wrote:

Sorry Skydog- I've only just seen this - My father was an architectural model maker by day, and a fiddler by night, very much in the style of Stephane Grappelli, and played for many years with with Diz Dizley (the guy in the picture with the beard) who played very much in the style of Django Reinhardt. As a kid there were many nights spent sitting on the stairs listening to a crowd of musicians playing in the sitting room way after my bed time..
Music was a passion rather than a job, and it was while playing at somewhere like Pizza-on-the-park in London ( a well known jazz venue back then) that Rod Stewart saw him, and a few late-night studio sessions came from it.

My father died way back in the mid '70's but Diz remained a family friend, arranged a memorial gig at the 100 club (London) which was totally packed with musicians who came to play - guess there must have been a free bar..!

As for Skydog - the Allman Brothers were MY band as a 12 year old, and there are still a good few tracks Duane played on that bring tears to my eyes - Melissa and Loan me a dime by Boz Scaggs for starters.




5 years later. 
Hi there. 
Just saw this, man you must have heard some good music at your house.
ja kad cujemo ovo stjuarta neam potencije 20 dana
Love this song, but not my favorite version …. In HS, I used to co-opt the lyrics to ‘cut across Morty … It’s you that I want to bed …it’s what Miss Lucy said ..”. Ha!
Not a very good song but what a good and fucking voice 
 wrangler wrote:

is this music?



Nope.  It's rock and roll.  It only appeals to ruffians and low lifes, so there's nothing for you to see here.  Move on.
First time i heard this rod song and it us great
This is one of my top 10 songs ever
Toller Drumsound😁🙏
 Chwkbud wrote:

Agree with the 'massive footprints in early 70's' note but neither album were Faces' albums; both were Rod solo efforts.
 
Technically they are Rod Stewart solo albums but with the Faces backing him.  Just to be sure that I wasn't talking BS I checked the always reliable Wikipedia and the musicians on this album include Ronnie Woods, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones.  A few other musicians as well but for all practical purposes this is a Rod Stewart and the Faces album.
 lyndonwatkins16 wrote:
Gasoline Alley and Every Picture Tells a Story were both massive footprints in esrly 70's music for the Faces with Rod at his best
 
Agree with the 'massive footprints in early 70's' note but neither album were Faces' albums; both were Rod solo efforts.
 snitramc wrote:
OK. I heard this last Sunday, and again today. This is not as good as Eddie Cochran's version, and it was just an OK song back when he recorded it. For an obscure rockabilly song, this is playing too much for my tastes. I think it's time to rethink my meager RP donations. Too many repeats. Are you on lather, rinse, repeat?
 
Skip it.  There is A LOT of variety around this place, check under "RP Main Mix" channel, you can even get a mix of your favorites.  I say, up the ante dude, it is worth every dime you spend and much much more!
Gasoline Alley and Every Picture Tells a Story were both massive footprints in esrly 70's music for the Faces with Rod at his best
OK. I heard this last Sunday, and again today. This is not as good as Eddie Cochran's version, and it was just an OK song back when he recorded it. For an obscure rockabilly song, this is playing too much for my tastes. I think it's time to rethink my meager RP donations. Too many repeats. Are you on lather, rinse, repeat?
"Once were Warriors" [a Kiwi film]

It's a long time since Rod Stewart wasn't a parody.
{#Devil_pimp}still zesty !
Love it!
Oh ya...I forgot Rod used to be cool.
The band's music is good, but I find Stewart's voice extremely grating. Almost as much as the singer from ACDC.
Good Shit man!
 Relayer wrote:
Ah, remember when Rod didn't suck?  Just like Elton, he had a great run, but then just fell into cheeze lame pop ballads.
 

 
Remember when people didn't rely on old, tired, and trite stereotypes?
 ottojschlosser wrote:
So easy to forget that Rod was once a rocker. Thanks for this...

 
Compared to what?
The epitome of sucko-barfo...
 Skydog wrote:

Cool, Dick Powell was your Father? Excuse my ignorance but what else did he do?
Yeah I'm sure Rod The Mod had the big head but I guess I would too.
always loved  Duane's nickname so I stole it

.
(later add-on)
I looked up your Father, real cool 1960 pic here
.
DickPowelNinDis
.
 

 
Sorry Skydog- I've only just seen this - My father was an architectural model maker by day, and a fiddler by night, very much in the style of Stephane Grappelli, and played for many years with with Diz Dizley (the guy in the picture with the beard) who played very much in the style of Django Reinhardt. As a kid there were many nights spent sitting on the stairs listening to a crowd of musicians playing in the sitting room way after my bed time..
Music was a passion rather than a job, and it was while playing at somewhere like Pizza-on-the-park in London ( a well known jazz venue back then) that Rod Stewart saw him, and a few late-night studio sessions came from it.

My father died way back in the mid '70's but Diz remained a family friend, arranged a memorial gig at the 100 club (London) which was totally packed with musicians who came to play - guess there must have been a free bar..!

As for Skydog - the Allman Brothers were MY band as a 12 year old, and there are still a good few tracks Duane played on that bring tears to my eyes - Melissa and Loan me a dime by Boz Scaggs for starters.


When Rod still rocked.  Very good stuff.
 stevewestern wrote:

My father was the fiddle player on this and a few other songs Rod did - hey, he even came to visit once, just before he made it big..
I thought he was a big of a big head but I was only about 9 so what did I know....

Oh, and by the way, is your Skydog name linked to some rather wonderful guitar player..?

 
Cool, Dick Powell was your Father? Excuse my ignorance but what else did he do?
Yeah I'm sure Rod The Mod had the big head but I guess I would too.
always loved  Duane's nickname so I stole it

.
(later add-on)
I looked up your Father, real cool 1960 pic here
.
DickPowelNinDis
.
 
Best Rod Stewart song IMO!
{#Fever} zesty!
 Skydog wrote:
this album blew me away in 1970
16 years old and i was awed by the fiddle in it
on this song and others
i thought it sounded like something from outer space 
years later i find out it was something quite simple
the fiddle was tuned for Scotchish  folk music

Eddie Cochran had a hit in England in 1960 and this song was the B side

 
My father was the fiddle player on this and a few other songs Rod did - hey, he even came to visit once, just before he made it big..
I thought he was a big of a big head but I was only about 9 so what did I know....

Oh, and by the way, is your Skydog name linked to some rather wonderful guitar player..?
Remember when Rod Steward didn't suck?  Pepperidge Farm remembers.
 boontonite wrote:
There was a stretch when Rod had some really great stuff. Hard to believe, considering the last decade or three

 
The early stuff is worthy
There was a stretch when Rod had some really great stuff. Hard to believe, considering the last decade or three
    's what.'' Bingo.
Hello ! Simone hello.. Paul !
this album blew me away in 1970
16 years old and i was awed by the fiddle in it
on this song and others
i thought it sounded like something from outer space 
years later i find out it was something quite simple
the fiddle was tuned for Scotchish  folk music

Eddie Cochran had a hit in England in 1960 and this song was the B side
Woo-hooooo Rod this ones got me shakin' it!!!   good to hear a cool old boppin tune from this boy : )
nothing wrong with a good ballad
 Relayer wrote:
Ah, remember when Rod didn't suck?  Just like Elton, he had a great run, but then just fell into cheeze lame pop ballads.
 

  

Yeah, whatever happened to Elton Motello anyway?

 
Ah, remember when Rod didn't suck?  Just like Elton, he had a great run, but then just fell into cheeze lame pop ballads.
 

I've never seen that album cover up top before...is it the UK version?

Here's the one I remember:

this boppin' good pounding by a couple a "jakey glugging Buckfasts" sounds cool to me man!  : )
 markus333 wrote:
ouch   {#Beat}

 
Blech. Not my cup of tea...
ouch   {#Beat}

 

And, for no particular reason but since it's January 11th: OK it's No-pants Day in many cities.

Johannah Keeley's photo.

 jeffhorwich wrote:
Maybe the band is trying to sound rough, but the musicality on this track is atrocious. Sounding like crap was never cool.
 
Maybe this does sound "rough" by today's digital standards and the production does leave something to be desired, but there were some very talented musicians playing on this album.  I'm not sure which definition of "musicality" you are using, or if you are a musician, so I'll leave your use of the word "atrocious" alone.  Anyhow, this album and band were actually considered pretty "cool" in their day.
Maybe the band is trying to sound rough, but the musicality on this track is atrocious. Sounding like crap was never cool.
Nice save, Bill {#Clap}: "Some cool stuff on those early '70s Rod Stewart albums, and then .......um stuff happened" {#Roflol}
 fredriley wrote:
Oh, FFS! WTF is Rod Stewart doing on here? If he hadn't been 'discovered', reputedly, by an agent whilst singing drunkenly on a railway station he'd likely be some jakey glugging Buckfast on the streets of Glasgow who folk cross the road to avoid.

 
Hah!  Nothing more fun for this Yank than learning new words from Fred.  
Good song.  Pity about the voice.

Really no worse than Waits, but for some reason I like his stuff, while Stewart grates on my nerves. *shrug* 
You could keep Rod Stewart (early era) and Faces in the regular playlist and drop or significantly reduce U2 and Pink Floyd and I would be very pleased.
 WonderLizard wrote:

Agreed. This one, The Rod Stewart Album, and Every Picture Tells a Story. After that a very steep drop.

 
Atlantic Crossing is good stuff.
{#Clap}
I'm hoping Rod can revisit this style Someday.  That's assuming he can get himself out of that long term Vegas gig he's on.

DM
 
Beg to differ, back then this guy was very nearly THE god of rock, but apparently he only had 10 or 12 good years in him, kinda sad but, that which burns twice as bright... =  )
 oldfart48 wrote:
overated looser.
 
Looser than what, exactly?
Great song from a great album back when he rocked the joint
 oldfart48 wrote:
overated looser......{#Rolleyes}....the band was hot tho.....

 
Funny, I was thinking exactly the opposite. The only thing in this song that is well "played" and on tone is his voice.
 ThePoose wrote:
Back when Rod was worth listening to...

 
Agreed. This one, The Rod Stewart Album, and Every Picture Tells a Story. After that a very steep drop.
Back when Rod was worth listening to...
overated looser......{#Rolleyes}....the band was hot tho.....
 ziakut wrote:
Saxophone is slightly off key. Bad tuning or intonation.

 
Good grief :^ / Can't tell the difference between a sax and a fiddle (can you say tone deaf) but an expert on intonation!
 llJormad wrote:

Well, someone in the studio would have noticed for sure if it was important... my guess is that it's off key on purpose. The whole style is kind of rough, both the acoustic and electric guitars, the drums and of course the singing. So for me it all adds up and sounds like a consistent music style. A super well-tuned Stradivarius would simply have been out of place. And music is not all about technique, dexterity, perfect sound, perfect tuning or perfect time... music is about communicating emotions and sometimes imperfection is the perfect way of doing so...

 

Well put.  Rod was definitely going for rough here.
 Jormad wrote:

Well, someone in the studio would have noticed for sure if it was important... my guess is that it's off key on purpose. The whole style is kind of rough, both the acoustic and electric guitars, the drums and of course the singing. So for me it all adds up and sounds like a consistent music style. A super well-tuned Stradivarius would simply have been out of place. And music is not all about technique, dexterity, perfect sound, perfect tuning or perfect time... music is about communicating emotions and sometimes imperfection is the perfect way of doing so...

 
a fine distinction to be sure...
annoying.
 ziakut wrote:
Saxophone is slightly off key. Bad tuning or intonation.
 
Well, someone in the studio would have noticed for sure if it was important... my guess is that it's off key on purpose. The whole style is kind of rough, both the acoustic and electric guitars, the drums and of course the singing. So for me it all adds up and sounds like a consistent music style. A super well-tuned Stradivarius would simply have been out of place. And music is not all about technique, dexterity, perfect sound, perfect tuning or perfect time... music is about communicating emotions and sometimes imperfection is the perfect way of doing so...
 ottojschlosser wrote:
So easy to forget that Rod was once a rocker. Thanks for this...
 
Too bad he took the same train as Phil Collins, Elton John and Steven Tyler, to name a few. I wonder if they can even listen to their more recent works, or if they just throw the money on the floor, roll around in it, and that makes it all better.
Oh, FFS! WTF is Rod Stewart doing on here? If he hadn't been 'discovered', reputedly, by an agent whilst singing drunkenly on a railway station he'd likely be some jakey glugging Buckfast on the streets of Glasgow who folk cross the road to avoid.
YEAH!  I went to E-school in the early '80s with a bunch of old-school hippie rockers who taught me how to stay high as a cat 24-7, jam good tunes, and keep on Dancin' In The Dream. Rod was often heard belting it out of party systems in the background of many o' multi-day kegger! Still sounds mighty fine tonight, too!
Sorry guys never liked Rods music and I ain't going to start now......
 ziakut wrote:
Saxophone is slightly off key. Bad tuning or intonation.
 

that's a fiddle, and yeah it's way out
Saxophone is slightly off key. Bad tuning or intonation.
So easy to forget that Rod was once a rocker. Thanks for this...
is this music?
Listened to this, back to back to front to back for many games of pool in 1970/1.
It's this stuff that put "Mod Rod" on the map.
Not a big fan of Rod Stewart but I enjoyed this one.
This is the good stuff.
 d48m02h1918 wrote:
Wow - not a lot of Rod Stewart fans on RP!!

I will agree that after his early 1970's material, Mr. Stewart took his music.....well, to another planet.....called Crapola.  But look at his late 1960's - early 1970's output.  Jeff Beck Group/Faces/Solid solo material (!!) 
 
The Jeff Beck / Faces albums and the first few solo albums were good. Somewhere around "Atlantic Crossing" he started drifting into the schmaltzy material. By the time he got to "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" the damage was irreparable. Too bad.
Wow - not a lot of Rod Stewart fans on RP!!

I will agree that after his early 1970's material, Mr. Stewart took his music.....well, to another planet.....called Crapola.  But look at his late 1960's - early 1970's output.  Jeff Beck Group/Faces/Solid solo material (!!) 
 stevewestern wrote:
Not heard this song for so many years - I had forgotten just how good it is !
The fact that it was my father playing the violin added to it - he died almost 30 years ago, so my kids never met him, but hearing this song bought back so many memories - thanks Bill !
 
Cool!   What's your dad's name?
Back when Rod was actually a rocker ..
This is one of the better old RS tracks that didn't get airplayed to death.

A nice memory ! 

Not a fan of RS, even gave away 4th row seats to one of his shows at Blossom, but I like this very much. 8
Gugh...  I'm not going to apologize for really not liking Rod Stewart.  I really can't identify exactly why I don't like him, but there is just some quality of his music that just grates on my nerves.  
Not heard this song for so many years - I had forgotten just how good it is !
The fact that it was my father playing the violin added to it - he died almost 30 years ago, so my kids never met him, but hearing this song bought back so many memories - thanks Bill !
I didn't really pay much attention to Rod until his solo albums, and then mostly because #2, 3 and 4 all had Dylan tunes on them. I hung out at record stores to read liner notes, and those tunes caught my eye, and eventually my ears, too.


Rod Stewart is one of the best rock singers of all times. This song is great and you should play it more times here. Just to high the score a little bit, I gave it 10!
Old Rod is better than new "crooner" Rod anyday!
I really love this song...Classic old school Rod when he was mixing folk and rock. I'm really suprised at the negativity against this cut. God knows there are other lame artists on RP that I loathe who get higher ratings. Please play more old Rod!!
dionysius wrote:
I'm sure that the reason Bill is playing this is that Marijohn Wilkin, the woman who wrote this rockabilly classic (this is Rod's cover of the Eddie Cochran version methinks), just died. This is a tribute to the songwriter. (click here)
Hey, thanks for the background. Much appreciated.
I'm sure that the reason Bill is playing this is that Marijohn Wilkin, the woman who wrote this rockabilly classic (this is Rod's cover of the Eddie Cochran version methinks), just died. This is a tribute to the songwriter. (click here)
I was going to give this a 3 for sounding too much like Rod Stewart, but after I got up to look at my screen I found it actually was Rod Stewart, so it gets a 2.
Awful. When someone is out of inspiration, it just sounds like that. Sorry Rod!
WOW this is as dull as it can get.333222111
Please Bill, *never* *play* *this* *song* *again* *never* *play* *Rod* *Stewart* *again* That is all.
ACK! He sings as if he's rubbing a Microplane down the inside of his throat!
Rod Stewart on RP? awesome!
Ahhhh, glad I was around to hear this joyful little gem once again.
Gave it a 1 the first time I heard it. Would rate it lower on this 2nd listen but 1 is as low as she'll go.
sharkartist wrote:
WOW! One of the best things Rod ever did from what was a great album. Yes, Rod did have his day at one time. Great instrumentation, the guitar has such a great sound. Thanks Bill, been too long since I've heard this on the airwaves.
Three years and three months to be more precise, yea, I really like this track, thanx RP; 's been awhile right enough. More Rod please?
What a shame...gasoline alley, and nobody with a match. Man, I can't stand Rod the Nose. Dump him, RP. Solid 3.
KICK ASS album.
This isn't my favorite Rod Stewart song by a long shot, but I do love his gravely voice. Very sexy. I guess that explains all the model g'friends.
Dagno-M wrote:
What a waste of talent: with a voice like Stewart's, he should have been great, even as limited a musician he is. Instead he choose to sell out. Please dump all his stuff in BG's library into the trash where Stewart himself has chosen to exist (quite profitably, too....)
AGREED!!! Can't stand this guys stuff, starting with Hot Pants!
The fiddle solo sounds just ridiculous...
Great song. Here's another great one out of hundreds that AOR has totally ignored. Only 5.2 rating? Who did the voting? Like the previous guy said, great instrumentation. You simply don't hear this caliber of playing these days. You could argue that the playing is even better than on "Every Picture Tells A Story."
jpbergjr wrote:
RP, please dig out Eddie Cocrahan's recording of the song and show how off Rod Stewart can be. To all those who do not like the Rodster, could it be jealousy of his list of women? Times I wish I was in his shoes, or in Rachel... or Britt... bloody hell that boy has been around. Singing cheesy songs may kill the respect you get from Jeff Beck, but boy do the girls come out of the woodwork.
No, it's his big pineapple haircut, magenta running shorts and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" - he did it all by himself. I wouldn't touch him with YOUR parts, if you catch my drift. Blech.
WOW! One of the best things Rod ever did from what was a great album. Yes, Rod did have his day at one time. Great instrumentation, the guitar has such a great sound. Thanks Bill, been too long since I've heard this on the airwaves.
Originally Posted by jciola: Just saw a pic of the Wee Scott enjoying the company of current girlfriend Penny Lancaster in this months Rolling Stone. Nuff Said
Well, every picture tells a story. Don't it?
Play some Rod Stewart with Jeff Beck that\'s some of my all time favorite music. Frednic
Originally Posted by mperry: this comes across a lot better with less (rather well-earned) prejudice if you think of it as a FACES track instead of the one-whose-name-must-not-be-said. ;)
i would bet the score would be significantly higher if this was listed as a FACES track. While most really know who the singer is, the packaging - what his name has come to represent - is so profoundly trashed by now that it really detracts from the opportunity for a more dispassionate view of the performance.
this comes across a lot better with less (rather well-earned) prejudice if you think of it as a FACES track instead of the one-whose-name-must-not-be-said. ;)
Originally Posted by lily33: i always think this is the faces... i like it. play some faces sometime, too.
I agree lily. I don't like a lot of the stuff Rod has put out in the last 20 years (ugh, has it been that long) but his work with Faces was pretty classic.