Rod Stewart’s “Alternate Atlantic Crossing” serves as a fascinating sonic time capsule, peeling back the polished layers of one of the most pivotal albums in rock. When the original “Atlantic Crossing” was released in 1975, it was a total transformation of Stewart’s identity. Having left the boozy, loose camaraderie of Faces and the foggy shores of Britain for the sun-drenched studios of Muscle Shoals and Los Angeles, Stewart was aiming for a global, soulful sophistication.
This version offers a rare glimpse into the laboratory where that new sound was forged, stripping away the radio-ready sheen to reveal the raw, rhythmic nerves of the recording sessions. Produced by the legendary Tom Dowd, the sessions were famous for their “Fast Side” and “Slow Side” structure, a dichotomy that defined Stewart’s career between raucous rock and tender balladry. In these alternate takes, that divide feels even more visceral.
The fast tracks crackle with an uninhibited energy. Meanwhile, the alternate versions of the slow tracks provide an intimate, almost voyeuristic experience. These are some of the most famous melodies in the Great American and British Songbooks, and hearing them in a less-than-final state highlights the vulnerability in Stewart’s signature rasp.
The Fat Angel Sings 