I Was Only Joking

"I Was Only Joking" is a song written by Gary Grainger and Rod Stewart. Stewart released it as a track on his 1977 album, Foot Loose & Fancy Free.[1]

"I Was Only Joking"
Single by Rod Stewart
from the album Foot Loose & Fancy Free
B-side"Born Loose"
ReleasedApril 1978
Recorded1977
GenreSoft rock
Length4:50 (single version)
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Gary Grainger, Rod Stewart
Producer(s)Tom Dowd
Rod Stewart singles chronology
"Hot Legs"
(1978)		 "I Was Only Joking"
(1978)		 "Ole Ola (Mulher Brasileira)"
(1978)
Music video
"I Was Only Joking" on YouTube

When released as a single, the song performed well, becoming a top 40 hit in various countries, including No. 5 in the UK and No. 22 in the US. In the United Kingdom, "I Was Only Joking" charted as part of a double A-side with "Hot Legs".[2]

According to Billboard Magazine, Stewart is in "top form interpreting insightful lyrics over a rhythmic, semi-acoustic rock foundation," and Billboard also praised the string and mandolin playing.[3] Cash Box called the song "a gentle ballad about growing and learning" and called the guitar playing "clean."[4]

The song is one of Stewart's most loved songs, containing some of his finest sets of lyrics. A heartfelt tale of youth looked on from a now-mature perspective in regret and sorrow. A long guitar solo features, starting with acoustic then moving to electric. The solo is played by Stewart’s frequent collaborator and English guitarist Jim Cregan. It is seen as one of the best guitar solos in classic rock.

Chart performance

References
  1. "I Was Only Joking". allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  2. "Top 100 1978 - UK Music Charts".
  3. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 29 April 1978. p. 80. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 22 April 1978. p. 52. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4638b." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  6. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4596." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Was Only Joking". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. "Rod Stewart – I Was Only Joking". Top 40 Singles.
  9. "Rod Stewart: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  10. "Rod Stewart Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. "Rod Stewart Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.


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