Rod Stewart

Though Rod's early work isn't revelatory quite like Every Picture Tells a Story and Gasoline Alley, it's loaded with killer tunes. Much like the Small Faces, the raspy howler specialized in amped up soul, R&B, blues, mod and hard rock. It's obvious Stewart is searching for his sound, yet there's no denying the young man's charisma and power. Even at this stage in his career Rod was a far better singer than Mick Jagger, as well as just about any other Brit not named Steve Marriott or Terry Reid.