Rod Stewart – “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” – The 45 Single (1978)

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

Off Rod Stewart’s 1978 album ‘Blondes Have More Fun’ comes one of his most memorable songs “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy”.  The song reached #1 in the US, Canada and the UK as well as 3 other countries.  It sold over 2,000,000 copies in the U.S. alone and according to Rolling Stones magazine is #308 of the Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song was a little more disco than what Rod was used to releasing.  He had previously been more of a blues rock singer.  As a result, the rock critics were not quite happy with the song.

According to wikipedia (the most reliable source on earth), the song had some legal issues due to copyright infringement cases brought against it.  The song…

incorporates elements of the melody from the song “Taj Mahal” by Jorge Ben Jor and the string arrangement from the song “Put Something Down On It” by Bobby Womack.

Regardless, it is still one of Rod’s most popular songs.  What I love about the cover, is the girl is not Blonde even though the album was ‘Blondes Have More Fun’.  I had also heard that the lady on the cover was Cher, but I couldn’t find anything that backed that up.  I will still think it though.

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One of the writers is the one and only Carmine Appice.  I had no idea this acclaimed drummer was one of the writers until I started researching the song and until I saw his name on the 45.  That was cool for me as there are so many bands he has been in such as Ted Nugent, Vanilla Fudge, Blue Murder, Rod Stewart (of course), Ozzy, Beck and so many more.  His drumming has influenced so many drummers around today.

Carmine Appice in 2015

Alright, let’s just get to the song already.  Here is the Youtube video of the song.  I hope you enjoy it. The lyrics are down at the bottom of the post.

The flip side of the 45 was the song “Scarred and Scared”.  This song is much slower and more what you expect from Rod Stewart.  His soulful voice is magical on the song. It is really a fantastic and beautiful song.  The song is was the last song on the album and was written by Rod Stewart and Gary Grainger. FYI, the UK flip side was “Dirty Weekend”.

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“Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”

Sugar, sugar

She sits alone waiting for suggestions
He’s so nervous avoiding all the questions
His lips are dry, her heart is gently pounding
Don’t you just know exactly what they’re thinking

If you want my body and you think I’m sexy
come on sugar let me know.
If you really need me just reach out and touch me
come on honey tell me so
Tell me so baby

He’s acting shy looking for an answer
Come on honey let’s spend the night together
Now hold on a minute before we go much further
Give me a dime so I can phone my mother
They catch a cab to his high rise apartment
At last he can tell her exactly what his heart meant

If you want my body and you think I’m sexy
come on honey tell me so
If you really need me just reach out and touch me
come on sugar let me know

His heart’s beating like a drum
‘cos at last he’s got this girl home
Relax baby now we are alone

They wake at dawn ‘cos all the birds are singing
Two total strangers but that ain’t what they’re thinking
Outside it’s cold, misty and it’s raining
They got each other neither one’s complaining
He say’s I sorry but I’m out of milk and coffee
Never mind sugar we can watch the early movie

If you want my body and you think I’m sexy
come on sugar let me know
If you really need me just reach out and touch me
come on honey tell me so

If you really need me just reach out and touch me
come on sugar let me know
If you really, really, really, really need me
just let me know
Just reach out and touch me
If you really want me
just reach out and touch me
come on sugar let me know
If you really need me just reach out and touch me
come on sugar let me know
If you, if you, if you really need me
just come on and tell me so

Written by Rod Stewart, Carmine Appice and Duane Hitchings

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23 thoughts on “Rod Stewart – “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” – The 45 Single (1978)”

  5. With this series I think the first 45 I ever purchased was Emotional Rescue by the Stones in what 1979?
    Guess I was needing an Emotional Rescue when I was 12 at the time…hahaha..
    Keep this up….
    Great job…

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  6. I think I remember reading the copyright issue with Jorge Ben (Taj Mahal was on his album featured on the 1001 list) was settled amicably – or as amicably as these things can be settled. In this case, it was a creative settlement, as I believe Rod acknowledged unintentional plagiarism & donated his proceeds to UNICEF!

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  7. Fun post! I loved this song the moment I first heard it back in Dec 1978 (I was a huge fan of Disco back then and had always been a huge Rod Stewart fan as well). It’s one of my 10 favorite songs of the 70s, and ranks among my Top 50 songs of all time (I have a list for every year beginning in 1960 to present, as well as for each decade).

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  8. I remember how popular this song was, and every now and then at work, the local radio station we listen to will give it a spin on the classic lunch hour. Definitely a song of its time.

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