1971 Pop No. 1, Originally Released As A B-Side, Topped The Charts 55 Years Ago Today

British vocalist Rod Stewart first came to prominence in the late 1960s following his early partnership with Long John Baldry before joining the Jeff Beck Group and partnering with the titular guitarist as well as guitarist Ronnie Wood to wow American audiences in the wake of the British Invasion. However, it was only in the early 1970s that he became a famous figure in his own right, when his solo song "Maggie May" struck No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 2, 1971 — 55 years ago today.

By then, Stewart was also the frontman of the British party rock band the Faces, which had been formed by the remaining members of the Small Faces after the departure of frontman Steve Marriott in 1969. Renowned for their fun, frenetic, and sleazy live shows, the band was a far bigger hit in the U.S. than the Small Faces had ever been.

And for a brief few years, Stewart's success as a solo star drew greater attention to the band. However, none of the Faces' hits, such as their biggest song "Stay with Me," which peaked at No. 17, was ever such a seismic success as "Maggie May."

Today, "Maggie May" is considered Rod Stewart's signature song. Co-written by Stewart and Martin Quittenton and taking its title from a traditional dockside song from the city of Liverpool, the song was not immediately expected to be a hit on its release, or even seemingly a major part of Stewart's repertoire. Indeed, it was initially released only as a B-side to the comparatively lackluster single "Reason to Believe," with Stewart and his record label initially intending to leave the song off Stewart's 1971 studio album "Every Picture Tells a Story" altogether.

But the song soon gained a following among American radio DJs, and it's easy to see why. The catchy, mid-tempo rocker features a defining vocal performance from Stewart, who opens the song with the impactful line "Wake up Maggie, I think I got somethin' to say to you." Going on to portray the end of a relationship between a younger figure and an older lover, the song displays a surprising amount of emotional depth and vulnerability along with Stewart's ever-present swagger. It's a beguiling concoction, which saw it sustain a stretch at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and made it an evergreen favorite on rock radio. Though the Faces continued following Stewart's breakthrough, he eventually left the band in 1975 and has enjoyed a career as a solo act ever since.