Rod Stewart - Sailing

What this video is

Rod Stewart recorded 'Sailing' — originally composed by Gavin Sutherland — at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in 1975 for his album Atlantic Crossing, a record that marked his definitive pivot from Faces-era British rock to American soul-influenced adult pop. The single reached No. 1 in the UK for four weeks in autumn 1975, and gained a second chart life in 1976 when used as theme music for the BBC documentary series…

Why it matters

Represents a canonical example of the late-1970s 'big ballad' British rock promo — a format that prioritized iconic performance imagery and emotional atmosphere over narrative editing. As one of the first fifteen videos broadcast on MTV, 'Sailing' occupies a foundational position in the history of…