A Spanner in the Works

Rock · 1995 · 12 tracks

A Spanner in the Works

A sophisticated mid-90s pivot blending polished adult contemporary production with deep-seated Celtic folk roots and surprising indie-rock cover choices.

It's Rod's most tasteful 90s moment, where the gravelly voice finally meets the right moody synths and folk fiddles.

A sophisticated blend of urban melancholy and warm, rural nostalgia.

A Spanner in the Works · vs · Rod Stewart

Rainy Day+3.4σ

Rainy Day saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

Tracklist · 12 Tracks

01

Windy Town

5:12

02

The Downtown Lights

6:34

03

Leave Virginia Alone

4:07

04

Sweetheart Like You

4:54

05

This

5:19

06

Lady Luck

4:25

07

You’re the Star

4:40

08

Muddy, Sam and Otis

4:43

09

Hang on St. Christopher

4:04

10

Delicious

4:44

11

Soothe Me

3:34

12

Purple Heather

4:56

Moments Worth Waiting For

The atmospheric synth wash opening The Downtown Lights that transforms the Blue Nile original into a stadium-sized ballad.

The traditional fiddle and bagpipe textures on Purple Heather closing the album with a deep nod to his Scottish heritage.

The gritty, industrial-lite percussion on the Tom Waits cover Hang on St. Christopher providing a rare moment of aggression.

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