Digital Roundup: 11/2/2015

Welcome to another one of those weeks where we've only got one new item being added to our digital catalog, but since the item is question is actually a four-disc set that features 64 tracks, it certainly seems more than worthy of receiving the spotlight all by its lonesome.

Rod Stewart, Storyteller: Although there are many mainstream Stewart fans whose CD collections feature a scaled-down version of this compilation, the 12 tracks that make up Downtown Train: Selections from the Storyteller Anthology are in no way the sort of representation that an artist of Stewart's caliber deserves, which is why it's so great that the full box set has been made available digitally.

While it's often slapped with the subtitle The Complete Anthology: 1964-1990, the Storyteller set actually came out in November 1989, although the fact that Stewart didn't actually release anything new in 1990 does mean that the title is still technically accurate. (It still feels a little shady, though.)

As for the contents, they stretch from Stewart's 1964 cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” and wraps with his take on Tom Waits' “Downtown Train.” In between you'll find all of the requisite hit singles, along with a variety of B-sides and rarities, including collaborations with Jeff Beck (“I've Been Drinking,” “I Ain't Superstitious”), his one-off single with Python Lee Jackson (“In a Broken Dream”), some Faces songs, and a very interesting take on the Bee Gees' “To Love Somebody” where he's backed by Booker T. & the M.G.'s.

Yes, if you're a casual Rod Stewart fan, the Selections set is probably about as much of Rod the Mod's back catalog as you're likely to need, but if you find that you can't get enough of the man behind “Maggie Mae” or you're trying to figure out why your parents sigh forlornly every time they see one of his Great American Songbook albums, then this will answer all of your questions and provide you with a wonderful musical education.