Someone should compile all the tales of conflicts bewteen rock stars and U.K. tax collectors.
Stewart released Smiler in the fall of 1975. Smiler followed the same formula as his previous four albums — and it also became a hit — yet it showed signs that the formula was wearing thin. In March of 1975, he began a love affair with Swedish actress Britt Ekland; the romance, along with a bitter fight with U.K. tax collectors, prompted him to apply for U.S. citizenship. Atlantic Crossing, released in the summer of 1975, made the singer’s relocation explicit. Recorded with producer Tom Dowd and the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, the album removed much of the singer’s folk roots and accentuated his pop appeal. At the end of the year, Stewart left the Faces and the band finally called it quits.
