During a recent appearance on Artists on Record hosted by Stefan Adika, Carmine Appice reflected on the creation process of one of Rod Stewart‘s biggest hits, ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ which he co-wrote. Appice revealed that the song came about following Stewart’s wish to produce a song like the Rolling Stones‘ ‘Miss You.’
When released in May 1978, the Stones’ ‘Miss You‘ topped the charts in the United States. Stewart, who was a big fan of the Stones, also wanted to create a disco-influenced song like ‘Miss You.’ As Appice also disclosed during his latest interview, Stewart openly told him and the remaining band members that he intended to write a hit song like the Rolling Stones classic.
So, they all went home after that conversation. Then, Appice came up with a bunch of chords in his drum machine. He immediately went to Duane Hitchings’ home, which had a small studio. Ditchings also created the bridge part of the song, which was then ready to present to Stewart. The singer found the track pretty cool, so they started to work on it in the studio.
Carmine Appice’s words on the making of ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’:
“Rod used to say, ‘I want a song like this.’ He would always say, ‘I want this song or that song.’ So, he said, ‘I want a song like the Rolling Stones‘ ‘Miss You.’ We all went home. I went home. I had a drum machine and came up with a bunch of chords. Then, I went to my buddy Duane’s house.
I got co-writing on it, and he had a little studio. So, we put it together sounded better, and then he said, ‘I got this idea for a bridge.’ So, he came in with the bridge. When we presented it, it sounded pretty cool. All the other guys presented their pieces, and they picked mine.”
Stewart released ‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?‘ in November 1978, several months after the Rolling Stones’ ‘Miss You.’ It topped the charts in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although the rock community criticized the track’s disco influences, it eventually became one of Stewart’s classics.
