Even legends get nervous. Rod Stewart, the gravel-voiced rock icon whose career has spanned more than five decades, revealed that one of his most enduring hits actually gave him serious stage and studio jitters — and not for the reason you might expect.
Despite decades of belting out classics and selling out arenas, Stewart confided that when it came time to record “Sailing,” he was downright terrified to sing it — a song that would go on to become one of his best-loved tracks.
Rod Stewart’s voice is one of rock’s most instantly recognisable instruments, but even he admits to feeling vulnerable in the studio. “Sailing,” a soulful ballad from his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing, presented an unusual challenge for the singer — not because of its melody, but because of the context in which it was recorded.
Stewart normally approached recording sessions “warmed up” — often with a drink in hand to steady his nerves. But on this occasion, because the session took place in Muscle Shoals, Alabama — a dry area where alcohol wasn’t available — Stewart was forced to step up to the microphone completely sober.
He later admitted:
“I need a drink to calm the old nerves. I was stuffed, because there was nothing to be had anywhere, and I was terrified to sing without one. But I did — and it turned out to be one of the biggest ones I ever made.”
That raw honesty underscores how even seasoned performers can feel pressure when something important is on the line — especially when recording a song that ends up meaning far more to audiences than to the artist at the time.
“Sailing” may have started as a vulnerable moment in the studio, but it quickly became one of Stewart’s most emotionally resonant and commercially successful songs. The track’s gentle, introspective tone marked a departure from some of the rockier material he was known for with Faces (such as “Stay With Me”).
Instead, the song leaned into reflective territory — an approach that paved the way for many of the ballads and sentimental performances Stewart would later embrace in his long career. Despite his fear in the booth, Stewart’s willingness to sing without his usual “liquid courage” turned “Sailing” into an enduring classic that fans connect with across generations.
At the time, the music world was very different. Rock was still dominated by loud riffs and brash personalities, but “Sailing” offered something quieter and more heartfelt. Its success helped broaden Stewart’s appeal and showed that vulnerability — even when you’re scared — can become a defining strength in an artist’s work.
And for Stewart himself, it was a small but meaningful moment of growth. A singer who had already conquered rock and pop stages learned that stepping outside his comfort zone — even sober — could lead to something memorable.
