Rod Stewart: The Day Will Come Single (1965) & Bio

Rod’s Mod Soul Dawn

released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK on November 19, 1965, on Columbia (catalogue: DB 7766) Rod Stewart’s “The Day Will Come” was Backed with “Why Does It Go On,” this soulful mod-pop and brooding B-side (both composed by Barry Mason, arranged by Reg Guest), were issued in black label commercial and white label demo variants. No UK chart entry. Issued in four-prong push-out centre, black or white labels with large A and “DEMONSTRATIONAL NOT FOR SALE,” it’s a rare ‘65 pre-fame reissue pair.

Single Overview

A-Side: “The Day Will Come”

Composer – Barry Mason. Arranger – Reg Guest.

B-Side: “Why Does It Go On”

Composer – Barry Mason. Arranger – Reg Guest.

Label: Columbia (UK pressing, 45 RPM).

Record Company – The Gramophone Co. Ltd.

Published By – E. H. Morris & Co.

Four prong push out centre.

UK Formats:

Vinyl, 7" Single

Commercial (DB 7766)

Black printed labels, four prong push out.

Vinyl, 7" Single

Demonstrational (DB 7766)

White printed labels, four prong push out, large A on one side, “DEMONSTRATIONAL NOT FOR SALE” printed on both sides.

FOR THE RECORD

AN BIOGRAPHY I

ROD STEWART

FORMER ALDERMASTON marcher, beatnik, busker, soccer player, sign writer now singer. ROD STEWART has packed quite a bit of activity into his 20 years, but he looks forward now to security, marriage and a happy home.

DESCRIBING himself as "happy-go-lucky but scared of growing old", Rod's attitude to life is to try anything once if it means bringing him some kind of reward: "After all, you only live once."

HIS reward after busking all over the Continent a couple of years ago was experience. He had been working with his brother as a sign writer and also attended art school. After two years he decided to leave.

"I left London and went to Paris with folk singer Wizz Jones. It was in a Paris club I met Memphis Slim. I went all over France and Spain on 23, not bad going. It was pretty rough sometimes and in Barcelona we used to sleep under the arches of the football stadium. France, however, was better. We could make 50 francs an hour in St. Tropez."

ALL 'good' things come to an end though and the roving buskers were arrested for vagrancy and sent home by the British Consul. Rod came home to more trouble after he joined about 20 beatniks living on a derelict houseboat at Shoreham.

"It was great fun there and again came under the heading of experience. We used to cook stew in a dustbin it was a new one though. But all the greybeards in the area didn't like the idea of us not working and so got the police to drive us out with cold water hoses. Then they towed away the barge so we wouldn't be able to go back".

THIS episode in Rod's life happened about 22 years ago. Mean-while, he was earning his keep playing soccer semi-professionally with Brentford (he turned down offers to be fully professional) and singing with Jimmy Powell and The Five Dimensions. A keen football player, Rod has several times been asked to appear with the Show Biz Xl. As yet he has never had the time.

WHEN Long John Baldry tock over the late Cyril Davies' Rhythm and Blues All Stars he asked Rod to be second vocalist - an offer immediately accepted. Rod now tours all over the country with The Steam Packet, comprising himself, Long John Baldry, Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll.

SOME personal facts about Rod Stewart:-

Born in London on January 10, 1945. Real name Roderick David Stewart. Has blond hair, brown eyes, is 6ft tall. Plays 12 and 6 string guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin. Likes the singing of Billie Holliday, Bobby Bland, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Al Jolson ("I have all his record"). Also likes the music of Buddy Rich, Gerry Mulligan, The Rolling Stones. Ambition is to sing with Count Basie Orchestra.

FIRST E.M.I. record by ROD STEWART is "THE DAY WILL COME"/"WHY DOES IT GO ON". Both Barry Mason compositions, the disc (Columbia D57766) was released on November 19, 1965.

With the compliments of:

Martin Ross,

Press Office, E.M.I. RECORDS (Hunter 4488)

NOVEMBER 1965.

Country Variations:

The single was a UK exclusive

UK (Columbia DB 7766)

Released November 19, 1965. 7-inch (commercial black label, demo white label).

Production and Context

Early solo debut by 20-year-old Rod Stewart, pre-Faces/Jeff Beck. Mod-soul sound with Mason’s songwriting and Guest’s orchestration. Recorded at EMI Studios. First of two Columbia singles before Decca switch.

Chart Performance:

No UK chart entry.

Legacy and Collectibility

“The Day Will Come” is raw mod-soul gold, “Why Does It Go On” a moody deep cut. Original UK black label vinyls fetch £30–£60 on eBay/Discogs, white demo labels (£80–£150). Verify large A and “DEMONSTRATIONAL” text. Streams rare; appears on early Rod compilations. This pre-stardom gem is a must-have for Rod Stewart collectors and ‘65 mod fans.

Have you heard young Rod’s soulful debut? Does “Why Does It Go On” still haunt your playlist? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube.