it's late September and I really should be back at school

 

There was a segment of Rod Stewart's career where he put out some songs where they kind of had "movements" -- like classical music.

By movements, I  mean various parts of the song are different, it doesn't stay on the same attitude or beat the whole time.  Parts of the song are slower and more contemplative, parts of the song are fast and furious, some parts are in-between.

When you have a contemplative, floating section in the song and then it gradually narrows, gets more focused, builds to moving a little faster, and then bursts out into a compelling swing-and-groove, it gives drama to the song and rivets the attention.  It makes you remember the song forever.

It seems like I heard somewhere that the Rod Stewart song "Maggie May" was the "B" side of a single that the record company was positioning as the hit.

        But a Cleveland D.J. flipped it over and played "Maggie May" and said, "That's the hit."  And it was.

        It starts with a gentle, bubbly instrumental that's just pretty, and it leads into a sudden percussive WHUMP WHUMP! - Wake up, Maggie, I think I got somethin' to say to you...

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On the Internet, or in your music CD collection, find this song and play it for yourself.

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