🔘 Good Morning Little Schoolgirl – Single: Oct. 1964

In the autumn of 1964, a 19-year-old Rod Stewart made his official solo debut with a raw, bluesy take on the Sonny Boy Williamson classic “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl.” With his already distinctive raspy voice and a gritty, energetic delivery, the track captured Stewart’s deep love for American rhythm and blues.

Released on October 30, 1964, the single appeared on Decca Records under catalogue number F 11996. Backed with “I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town,” this 7-inch release marked the very beginning of Rod Stewart’s long and illustrious recording career.

Label: Decca Records

Catalogue Number: F 11996

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Push-Out/Solid Centre)

Released: October 30, 1964 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK 7" Single — Decca – F 11996 — 1964

A. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl

B. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town

Written by:

- Good Morning Little Schoolgirl: Sonny Boy Williamson

- I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town: Casey Bill Weldon (adapted)

Produced by:

Recorded: 1964

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released October 30, 1964

• Rod Stewart’s official solo debut single

• Raw, blues-rock cover of a Sonny Boy Williamson classic

• Showcased Stewart’s early, gravelly vocal style and passion for blues

• Did not chart in the UK

🔘 The Story

At just 19 years old, Rod Stewart stepped into the studio for his first solo recording. “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” was a fiery, blues-drenched cover that highlighted his powerful, raspy voice and love for American R&B. The B-side “I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town” continued the bluesy feel with a strong, soulful performance.

Although the single failed to make the charts, it remains a significant historical piece — the very first official solo release from one of Britain’s greatest rock and soul voices.

🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Push-Out Centre — Decca – F 11996 — UK — 1964

• 7", 45 RPM, Solid Centre — Decca – F 11996 — UK — 1964

• Issued in standard Decca company sleeve

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

Did not chart.

Total Weeks: 0

🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” – raw, energetic blues-rock cover showcasing Stewart’s early vocal power.

• B-side: “I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town” – soulful blues track.

• Production: Early Decca-era production typical of mid-1960s blues/R&B singles.

• Sleeve notes: Standard Decca company sleeve.

• Historical placement: Released in the mid-1960s beat and blues boom, marking the very beginning of Rod Stewart’s solo career, long before his success with The Faces and as a global superstar.

• Reissues / compilation appearances: Features on Rod Stewart early career rarities compilations.

🔘 Related Material

• Shake (1966)

• An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down (1969)

• Maggie May (1971)

🔘 Discography

Good Morning Little Schoolgirl – Single: 1964

Shake – Single: 1966

It's All Over Now – Single: 1970

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 1964 — Recorded as Rod Stewart’s solo debut

✦ October 30, 1964 — UK single released

✦ Did not enter UK Singles Chart

🔘 Glam Flashback

With a voice like sandpaper and whisky, a teenage Rod Stewart kicked off his solo journey in October 1964 with a raw blues belter — the first growl of a singer who would later become one of rock’s most iconic voices.

#ReleaseChronicle #RodStewart #GoodMorningLittleSchoolgirl #1964 #Decca

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources: Decca Records, Discogs, Official Charts Company, contemporary music-press documentation, archival references.

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OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY

DECCA GROUP RECORDS

ROD STEWART

DECCA

Rod Stewart debuts with "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" backed with "Out-skirts of Town" on Decca F0096 released 16th October, 1964.

A typical quote from this polished performer-"A White person can sing the blues with just as much conviction as a negro... All these negro singers singing about "Walking down the rail-road track..." They've never walked down a railroad track in their lives. Nor have I. You've got more to sing the the blues about in the Archway Road than on any railroad track I know."

Roderick David Stewart was born in London on 10th January, 1945 and has lived in the Archway Road all his life where his parents Robert and Elsie own a newsagent shop. Rod doesn't remember exactly where he learned to play the guitar: "I just picked it up and there I was", he says. The first time he ever had to earn his living with the guitar was when he turned beatnik ("It was the fashionable thing to do at the time") and went busking around France and Spain with folk singer Wiz Jones. Life in Spain was tough. They slept under the arches of Barcelona Football Stadium, which was almost home from home for Rod who has turned down several offers to turn professional footballer. He still plays on Sunday mornings and has just signed for the Show Biz XI. France proved more profitable. "We could make 50 francs an hour in St. Tropez and it wasn't bad sleeping on the beaches", Rod says. But in the end they were arrested for vagrancy and sent home (third class) by the British Consul.

After a few unhappy experiences at such jobs as "Fence putter-upper" and collecting the odd £6/17 for semi-professional footballing he got a job with Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions at the Ken Collyer Club. (They played the intervals when the Rolling Stones were off stage.) In order to make ends meet he worked with his brother's display and sign-writing business until Long John Baldry tool ever the late Cyril Davies' Rhythm and Blues All Stars and asked Rod to be second singer.

"The best things which have happened to me are meeting Long John Baldry: playing with, Memphis Slim in Paris, (he has also played with him in London "Marquee Club where he played with Harmonica star Little Walter); appearing at the Richmond, Redcar and Belle Vue Jazz Festivals."

Cutting "Up Above My Head" on the B side of Long John's latest disc. Appearing on BBC "Saturday Club". Living with 20 beatniks on a derelict houseboat at Shoreham. "All the greybeards in the area didn't like the idea of us all not working so they got the police to drive us out with hoses. of cold water. Then they towed the barge away and sank it so we wouldn't be able to go back, which was just as well as the boat filled up with water every time the tide came in." This was the first time he made the newspaper front pages (Mirror and Sketch) and doesn't mind if he doesn't star there again for the same reason.

It was in January that Rod turned fully professional and with T.V. appearances and his discovery by Decca A & R man Ray Horricks this artist will go far.

FACTS OF LIFE:

REAL NAME: Roderick David Stewart.

PARENTS: Robert and Elsie.

BROTHERS: Don and Bob: and sisters: Mary and Peggy. (all married)

BORN: 10th January, 1945.

SCHOOLS: Secondary Modern, with Ray and Dave Davis and Pete Quaife of the Kinks.

HONOURS, DIPLOMAS School prefect and House Captain.

AND MEDALS:

HAIR: Blond.

EYES: Brown.

WEIGHT: 10 stones.

HEIGHT: 6ft. "Wearing my size eights".

FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE: "Somewhere in France".

FIRST RADIO APPEARANCE: BBC Saturday Club.

FIRST TV APPEARANCE: Beat Room, BBC-2, Southern TV, "Late Date".

FORTHCOMING TV APPEARANCE: Probably January, 1965 in ITV's "Rod the Mod".

INSTRUMENTS: 12 and 6 string guitar, harmonica, banjo and mandolin.

LIKES; SINGERS: Billie Holliday, Bobby Bland, Frank Sinatra,

LIKES; INSTRUMENTALISTS: Nancy Wilson.Buddy Rich, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan.

LIKES; GROUPS: Long John Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men, the Rolling Stones.

DISLIKES: Plonkers.

NOT VERY FOND OF: Scotland.

AMBITION: To sing with the Basie Orchestra.

PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT THE DECCA RECORD COMPANY LIMITED DECCA HOUSE ALBERT EMBANKMENT

WITH COMPLIMENTS

LONDON B.E.Ι. (OCTOBER (4)

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Decca Press Release