If you have read enough of my posts (and bless you if you have)…you know that I just love different song titles. When I see this song title…well, I would have to listen to the song even if it was by a death metal band playing polka on accordions. My curiosity gets the better of me but…this one I’ve known for a while. I first heard this as a kid by Jerry Lee Lewis.
This Rod the Mod cover was the A-side of a 1972 single that featured Jimi Hendrix’s Angel on the B side. This song was written by Glen Sutton, who was the first husband of country singer Lynn Anderson. They married in 1968 and divorced in 1977. Anderson recorded a version on her 1971 album How Can I Unlove You.
Jerry Lee Lewis took the song to #2 in the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and #1 in the Canadian Country Charts in 1968 and Rod the Mod’s version peaked at #4 in the UK in 1972.
Milwaukee is the world’s beer capital and has at one time or another had four major breweries based there: Blatz, Pabst, and Miller, but it was the fourth Company, the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company that came up with the slogan, “The beer that made Milwaukee Famous.” Let’s not forget also…it was the home to Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley. Wisconsin also was the home to That Seventies Show… a fictional Point Place, Wisconsin.
I found this about Milwaukee…Milwaukee, Wisconsin has nicknames such as Brew City, Beer City, Brew Town, and Beertown. All of these nicknames reflect Milwaukee’s position as being a major center of beer production in the US. The production of beer in Milwaukee dates back to the 1850s.
Let’s not forget…The Milwaukee Brewers, Bucks, Admirals, and Wave.
What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)
It’s late and she is waiting, and I know I must go home
But every time I start to leave, they play another song
Then someone buys another round and whatever drinks are free
What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me
Baby’s begged me not to go, so many times before
She said love and happiness can’t live behind those swingin’ doors
Now she’s gone and I’m to blame, too late I finally see
What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me
Baby’s begged me not to go, so many times before
She said love and happiness can’t live behind those swingin’ doors
Now she’s gone and I’m to blame, too late I finally see
What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me
What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me
What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me
What made Milwaukee famous has made a loser out of me
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I’d forgotten Rod did this song. I was familiar with Jerry Lee Lewis’ version, so Rod’s always seemed awkward to me.
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It’s easy to forget…Rod has covered about every song imaginable.
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Yeah, I was going to say, he does love to cover other people’s songs that are out of his usual genre.
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Rod’s version is new to me. He doesn’t sing it with much conviction.
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For some reason I knew this one more…somehow… although I remember the other first.
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A great title at least. Like Lisa says, he sings it a bit like he’s actually leaving the bar and ready to call it a night. Not bad by any means, but doesn’t really sound that memorable. How’d you like to be a Milwaukee MLB with those new alernate jerseys with “Brew CRew” on front and pic of a little bbq on the arms,LOL?
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Rod at that time WAS probably leaving a bar lol. Jerry Lee’s version is better but for some reason I remember Rod’s more.
Oh yea…the baseball grill! lol
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I always preferred Angel to this one but when i chose a college to go to i picked Lincoln cos they had a student exchange programme with waukesha wisconsin. And then changed the rules so i couldnt go! My best friend went and i was so jealous to miss out. But i always associate this song with american breweries. They used to have one Busch Gardens in Florida thast reminded me of this record..
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Yea i have always liked this version and Jerry Lee’s for that matter…its a fun song. I’ve never been there either.
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The piano intro for Rods version is Country to a T. I also like it when a song-writer adds the right flourish to their lyrics, in this case ‘swinging doors.’ It’s the details that can lift the lyrics.
Rod sings it well enough, but it isn’t the really best fit for him, despite his whisky and Winston infused vocal cords.
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I don’t think Rod ever met a song he didn’t want to cover. This one is a stretch for his voice.
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A death metal band playing polka on accordions? That’s a great image, Max! I would love to see that! 🙂
As to Milwaukee being the world’s beer capital, I don’t know about that. As proud Rheinlaender, I would probably have to say Cologne, but okay, we’re talking music here!
I have to say I like Rod’s rendition of that tune, which I hadn’t heard before. Once again it reminds me he once really made great music. While his voice remains great, I’m afraid I can’t say the same about much of the music he has released over the past 40 years or so.
But give me “An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down”, “Gasoline Alley” and “Every Picture Tells a Story”, as well as his music with the Faces, and I’m a very happy camper!
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I’m glad you liked that!
I like his version also…now it’s not as country as Jerry Lee but it’s good. Yes…the Rod Stewart I like is the early 70s/Faces Rod…the period where he did “acoustic” rock I would say…Every Picture Tells A Story is a masterpiece to me.
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If I’d had to go with one Rod Stewart album, yep, I would also pick “Every Picture Tells a Story”. I think “Maggie May” is still my favorite!
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I STILL love Maggie May… Rod not only had his voice sounding great but the music he used was wonderful
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And ‘Maggie May’ But NOT ‘Do You Think I’m Sexy.’ No no no.
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No No No…that was a line he should not have crossed.
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What you have to remember guys is that Rod was great right up until he left The Faces.
When Britt Ekland & Alana Hamilton replace Ronnie Wood and Ronnie Lane you’re gonna have a problem….!!
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I will agree to that!
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Both songs are pretty good in their own right. But, I just caught Lewis saying “fool” instead of “loser.”
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I wouldn’t tell him that….he ain’t called the Killer for nothing
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😆
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I guess it’s what you grew up listening to that influences preference here. I wasn’t aware of the Jerry Lee version, so for me, it’s Rod all the way. Also, I have to say, his version of ‘Angel’ is one of my all time favourites. (Takes me right back to a 14 years old Glasgow Boy Scout, and a disco in London with the local Girl Guides when we were down there on ‘camp.’ 🙂
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If a song invokes a memory…then yea it will stick with you. This is the period where I like most of Rod’s songs….later on not as much.
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I’ve not heard either versions of this song before.
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