Rod Stewart has always been open about the music that influenced him.
The legendary performer, who spent his formative years immersed in soul, R&B, blues and the early days of rock and roll, previously shared an intriguing selection of his favourite songs of all time – including one track that sparked his enduring passion for rock.
Originally released in 1956 and featured in the Jayne Mansfield film bearing the same title, ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ went on to become one of Little Richard’s most iconic numbers.
With its powerful rhythm, exuberant vocal performance and vibrant piano arrangement, the song captured the essence of 1950s rock and roll – leaving an indelible mark on a young Rod Stewart.
During a 2018 conversation with BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce, Stewart reminisced about how he first discovered the song through his elder brother. “When I was little, my brother Bob, who was a bit of a teddy boy, he brought this record [‘Little Richard’] home,” he recounted.
“I put it on time and time and time again – another one that was a big influence on me.”
For Stewart, the impact extended beyond just the music itself – it was also about the artist who created it. “Then I met him,” he remarked warmly. What a sweetheart of a man. Bless him.”
Little Richard, born Richard Penniman, stood as one of the most charismatic trailblazers of early rock music, celebrated for his electrifying stage presence and groundbreaking impact on musicians from The Beatles through to Prince.
‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ was a hit in its own right, climbing to No.7 on the Billboard R&B Best Sellers chart. Its impact extended well beyond the 1950s, with British rock band The Animals covering it and Fergie sampling it for her 2006 smash ‘Clumsy’.
Stewart’s respect for Little Richard has been a constant throughout his career, evident in the rawness of his vocals and the unbridled energy that characterises his live shows.
‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ is just one of 10 songs Stewart identified as his all-time favourites, a list that showcases his eclectic taste and musical influences.
Among the other selections was Al Jolson’s ‘Sonny Boy’, a heartwarming classic from 1928 that Stewart grew up listening to on his parents’ gramophone. “We all loved Al Jolson. I was made to love Al Jolson,” he shared.
“This man sang without a microphone, which to me is incredulous.”
He also chose Otis Redding’s emotionally powerful ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, a song he witnessed being performed live in 1967 – an experience that moved him to tears. “I cried my eyes out when he sang this song,” Stewart recalled. “It was just beautiful.”
A more contemporary choice was ‘Uptown Funk’ by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, which Stewart hailed as “one of the best records ever made.”
Despite being renowned for his own classic rock hits, Stewart expressed profound admiration for Mars’s vocal prowess and Ronson’s polished production, stating: “Bruno Mars… he is doing something totally brilliant.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
