Studio Album · No. 17

A Spanner in the Works Songwriting Credits by Rod Stewart

1995 Warner Bros. 12 tracks 57:15

Produced by Trevor Horn, Rod Stewart, James Newton Howard, Bernard Edwards

Warner Bros. RockPop Rock
25%
Authorship
Co-Performer

Holds writing credit on 3 of 12 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 3 / 12 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Rod Stewart carries a lyricist or composer credit.

25%
3 trackswritten by Rod Stewart 9 tracksoutside writers
Rod Stewart's roles on this album

Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist25%
Composer25%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

12
Tracks
18
Lyricists
6
Producers
1995
Released
Data Insight

Three of the twelve are his, the smallest share since 1974 and a preview of what the 2000s would look like. Chris Rea, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and the Blue Nile all supply songs.

The 1995 album built largely from other writers' songs, produced by Trevor Horn among others.

Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Windy Town
Chris Rea Chris Rea Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)
2
The Downtown Lights
The Blue Nile Paul Buchanan Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)
3
Leave Virginia Alone #52
Tom Petty Tom Petty James Newton HowardMichael OstinLenny Waronker Rod Stewart (Performer)
4
Sweetheart Like You
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)
5
This
John CapekMarc Jordan John CapekMarc Jordan Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)
6
Lady Luck
Carmine RojasJeff GolubKevin SavigarRod Stewart Carmine RojasJeff GolubKevin SavigarRoderick David Stewart Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)
7
You're the Star
Billy LivseyFrankie MillerGraham Lyle Billy LivseyFrankie MillerGraham Lyle Trevor HornBernard Edwards Rod Stewart (Performer)
8
Muddy, Sam and Otis
Rod StewartKevin Savigar Roderick David StewartKevin Savigar Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)
9
Hang On St. Christopher
Tom Waits Tom Waits Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)
10
Delicious
Rod StewartAndy TaylorRobin LeMesurier Roderick David StewartAndy TaylorRobin LeMesurier Bernard EdwardsAndy Taylor Rod Stewart (Performer)
11
Soothe Me
Sam Cooke Sam Cooke Bernard Edwards Rod Stewart (Performer)
12
Purple Heather
Folk music Traditional Trevor Horn Rod Stewart (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 26 contributors

RS
Rod Stewart
Writer · Performer
On this album3 written
RD
Roderick David Stewart
Writer
On this album3 written
KS
Kevin Savigar
Writer
On this album2 written
AT
Andy Taylor
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
BL
Billy Livsey
Writer
On this album1 written
BD
Bob Dylan
Writer
On this album1 written
CR
Carmine Rojas
Writer
On this album1 written
CR
Chris Rea
Writer
On this album1 written
FM
Folk music
Writer
On this album1 written
FM
Frankie Miller
Writer
On this album1 written
GL
Graham Lyle
Writer
On this album1 written
JG
Jeff Golub
Writer
On this album1 written

More from Rod Stewart

1969 50%
An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down
Vertigo / Mercury
8 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
1970 33%
Gasoline Alley
Mercury / Vertigo
9 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
1971 33%
Every Picture Tells a Story
Mercury
9 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
1972 44%
Never a Dull Moment
Mercury
9 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
1974 25%
Smiler
Mercury
12 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
1975 50%
Atlantic Crossing
Riva / Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1976 44%
A Night on the Town
Riva / Warner Bros.
9 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1977 75%
Foot Loose & Fancy Free
Riva / Warner Bros.
8 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1978 90%
Blondes Have More Fun
Riva / Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1980 100%
Foolish Behaviour
Warner Bros. / Riva
10 tracksProd. The Rod Stewart Group
1981 70%
Tonight I'm Yours
Warner Bros. / Riva
10 tracksProd. Jim Cregan
1983 100%
Body Wishes
Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Tom Dowd
1984 63%
Camouflage
Warner Bros.
8 tracksProd. Michael Omartian
1986 80%
Every Beat of My Heart
Warner Bros.
10 tracksProd. Bob Ezrin
1988 73%
Out of Order
Warner Bros.
11 tracksProd. Bernard Edwards
1991 46%
Vagabond Heart
Warner Bros.
13 tracksProd. Bernard Edwards
1998 18%
When We Were the New Boys
Warner Bros.
11 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
2001 0%
Human
Atlantic
11 tracksProd. Gregg Alexander
2002 0%
It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook
J
14 tracksProd. Clive Davis
2003 0%
As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook, Volume II
J
14 tracksProd. Richard Perry
2004 0%
Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III
J
14 tracksProd. Clive Davis
2005 0%
Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Volume IV
J
13 tracksProd. Clive Davis
2006 0%
Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time
J
13 tracksProd. John Shanks
2009 0%
Soulbook
J
13 tracksProd. Steve Tyrell
2010 0%
Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V
J
12 tracksProd. Richard Perry
2012 8%
Merry Christmas, Baby
Verve
13 tracksProd. David Foster
2013 92%
Time
Capitol / Decca
12 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
2015 83%
Another Country
Capitol
12 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
2018 85%
Blood Red Roses
Decca / Republic
13 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
2021 75%
The Tears of Hercules
Warner / Rhino
12 tracksProd. Rod Stewart
2024 0%
Swing Fever
Warner
13 tracksProd. Phil Manzanera

Frequently Asked Questions A Spanner in the Works

Who wrote the songs on A Spanner in the Works?
Rod Stewart on three of the twelve. Most of the album comes from other writers, including Chris Rea, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and the Blue Nile.
How high did the single chart?
"Leave Virginia Alone" reached number 52 on the Hot 100.
Who produced it?
Trevor Horn, Rod Stewart, James Newton Howard and Bernard Edwards.
How high did the album chart?
Number 4 in the UK and number 35 on the Billboard 200.
How did it sell?
The article publishes no sales or certification figure for it.
Who wrote "Leave Virginia Alone"?
Tom Petty.
How long is the album?
57:15 across twelve tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: A Spanner in the Works Wikipedia: Rod Stewart discography Cover Art Archive: A Spanner in the Works by Rod Stewart