In 1971, Rod Stewart achieved his solo breakthrough in the U.S. with which song?

• A. Maggie May
• B. Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?
• C. Tonight's the Night
• D. It's a Heartache

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is identifying when Rod Stewart first broke through in the U.S. as a solo artist, not just with his band. Maggie May did that in 1971. Released as a single from the album Every Picture Tells a Story, it climbed to number one on the U.S. charts (as well as the U.K. charts) and became the defining moment that showed he could score massive hits on his own. The song blends a rootsy, folk-rock feel with a vivid, autobiographical lyric and a catchy hook, all delivered with that raspy vocal style that became his signature. This combination helped propel his solo career forward and established him as a major star in the American market, separate from his work with The Faces.

The other songs listed come from later years and different phases of his career, so they don’t fit the 1971 breakthrough moment.