Here is where we need to address the elephant in the room. Upon release, Body Wishes was savaged by critics. Rolling Stone called it “soulless.” The Village Voice panned its reliance on synthesizers. Why?
Because critics wanted the Rod Stewart of 1971—the ragged troubadour singing about mandolins and pick-up trucks. They saw Body Wishes as a sellout. However, time has been kind to this album. Modern listeners, free from the baggage of Stewart’s folk-rock past, can appreciate Body Wishes for what it is: a masterclass in mainstream early-‘80s pop-rock. It is a hot full album in the sense that it is of its moment—and that moment is vibrant, excessive, and fun. rod stewart body wishes hot full album
The Context: Released in 1983, Body Wishes arrived at the height of the MTV era. Rod Stewart had fully transitioned from his folk-rock roots with The Faces into a slick, radio-friendly pop-rock star. Following the massive success of Tonight I'm Yours (1981), expectations were high for this album to deliver danceable hits and radio anthems. Here is where we need to address the elephant in the room
A deep cut that deserves more love. This is a slow-burner. The synthesizers create a humid, tropical atmosphere. Rod’s voice, still having some of that classic rasp, pleads for physical connection. Lyrically, it’s on the nose: "If you want to move me, body and soul..." It’s arguably the sexiest track on the record. However, time has been kind to this album