Artist Of The Week: Faces (11/14/11)

[Tyler]

(Posted a day early since I won't be near a computer tomorrow.)

Faces - Artist of the Week 11/14/2011

First: A bit of music to set the mood - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umxx2Qjxfww

The Faces were perhaps the greatest pure rock'n'roll band of all time. That's a bit of a statement to

make, and I suspect many will disagree, but this is *my* AoTW, so roll with it ok? They could boogie

like no other, but could effectivly tackle slower, more folk-like material as well. This sound like

any other group a few of us are a fan of?

Formed out of the remains of the Small Faces, the three remaining members Ian Mclangan, Kenney Jones,

and bassist Ronnie Lane proceeded to steal guitarist Ronnie Wood and vocalist Rod Stewart from the Jeff Beck group. They didn't stay together long, just 3 years, from the fall of 1969 through the summer of 1973, time enough for four studio albums.

I'm not going to dwell in-depth on the history or the discography. Check wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faces_(band)) if you want the gritty details.

What made the faces so great? They rocked, hard. They were loose and sloppy, in the best possible way. Everything the Rolling Stones were, they weren't. They were down to earth, inviting, and populist. Where the Stones acted like they wanted to take your head off, the Faces are the sort who you'd expect to find hanging around an english pub, circa 1970.

They were amazingly versatile - ranging from full-on rockers like "Borstal Boys" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkDURWODmSo) or "Too Bad" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3zWqoe6 ... re=related), to mid-tempo stomps like "You're So Rude" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCzAfhGEo10), to more acoustic songs like "Richmond" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WUuIGm_T-c&t=29), which were often sung by bassist Ronnie Lane. The slide guitar of Ronnie Wood, and the driving keyboards of Ian Maclagan gave the band a really unique sound admist a see of bands playing 3rd hand blues tunes through cranked Marshalls.

With that much lightning in a bottle, there was really no way it could last. Much as Steve Marriott broke up the Small Faces when he went solo, Rod Stewart inevitably left for solo stardom, and that, essentially, way that. Too Bad, indeed.


Last time all original members performed together - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud_ZQBT502k

[StevieRay]

Hell Yeah. One of the best bands there ever was.

Ooh La La:

[Clams]

The Faces were one of those bands I always wanted to get into, and some discussion on the old 9B board a couple of years ago prompted me to pick up this 2 disc compilation on Rhino and it's fantastic. Love that hard rocking, bluesy sound. It also bears mentioning that Rod Stewart's classic Every Picture Tells a Story came out in '71 and every member of the Faces plays on the record and, if I'm not mistaken, "(I Know) I'm Losing You" is actually a Faces track.

[LBRod]

[Iowan]

I love the Faces. Really started listening to them after a thread on 9B, and have the whole discography now.

If I knew anything outside of "Stay With Me" in college, they would have been my "college soundtrack" band.

[Slipkid42]

Very nice write-up Tyler (and a great choice for AotW). Loved their bluesy boogies. The Rod was still pretty cool when he cut EPTAS. It's not surprising to hear it was The Faces in disguise. I loved the Small Faces too (and even Humble Pie).

[Gang Green]

Actually, I was always a bit more partial to the Small Faces, and I thought Steve Marriot was, potentially, one of the best rock n roll singers ever, but he had his issues like so many others. But, I'm going to give the Faces more of a chance, but I'll have to get past my predjudice of Rod Stewart.

[Tyler]

The key to enjoying Rod Stewart is that he stopped recording albums about 1974. Anything rumoured to be released after that simply doesn't exist...

[Clams]

The key to enjoying Rod Stewart is that he stopped recording albums about 1974. Anything rumoured to be released after that simply doesn't exist...

Oh, those post '74 records exist, it's just that his body had been taken over by aliens from the planet Easylistening.

[sactochris]

The key to enjoying Rod Stewart is that he stopped recording albums about 1974. Anything rumoured to be released after that simply doesn't exist...

Oh, those post '74 records exist, it's just that his body had been taken over by aliens from the planet Easylistening.

I like everything before Blondes Have More Fun.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

The key to enjoying Rod Stewart is that he stopped recording albums about 1974. Anything rumoured to be released after that simply doesn't exist...

Oh, those post '74 records exist, it's just that his body had been taken over by aliens from the planet Easylistening.

I like everything before Blondes Have More Fun.

I have that album on picture disc. I have no idea what I was thinking.

[Gator McKlusky]

If ya want my body and you think I'm sexy, come on sugar let me know.

[Gang Green]

Just as I'm getting ready to except Rod Stewart into my music listening life a few years ago, he comes out with an album of standards which my mom loved now he's my mom's favorite singer. Come on Ma, listen to Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennett. I can't shake this anti Rod Stewart thing, "tonights the night, its gonna by awright"

[Iowan]

The key to enjoying Rod Stewart is that he stopped recording albums about 1974. Anything rumoured to be released after that simply doesn't exist...

Hot Legs is pretty good.

[dime in the gutter]

excellence on all counts, tyler. great choice.


one of my favorite performances ever. so much to dig here.





billy pierced his ear...drove his pickup like a lunatiaiaiac!

[Jonicont]

I think it was 1970 at the Fillmore. They rocked the fucking house. Had front row and Rod nearly took my head off with the mic stand. Annoyingly loud opening act with some guy with a giant cross just continuously screaming and spitting all over me. Some guys named Black Sabbath

[BigTom]

I think it was 1970 at the Fillmore. They rocked the fucking house. Had front row and Rod nearly took my head off with the mic stand. Annoyingly loud opening act with some guy with a giant cross just continuously screaming and spitting all over me. Some guys named Black Sabbath

You saw all the best shows...I guess old age has its advantages.

[Clams]

I think it was 1970 at the Fillmore. They rocked the fucking house. Had front row and Rod nearly took my head off with the mic stand. Annoyingly loud opening act with some guy with a giant cross just continuously screaming and spitting all over me. Some guys named Black Sabbath

You saw all the best shows...I guess old age has its advantages.

[Jonicont]

I think it was 1970 at the Fillmore. They rocked the fucking house. Had front row and Rod nearly took my head off with the mic stand. Annoyingly loud opening act with some guy with a giant cross just continuously screaming and spitting all over me. Some guys named Black Sabbath

You saw all the best shows...I guess old age has its advantages.

Wiesenheimers

[Tyler]

RIP Ian McLagan

[Beaverdam]

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/dmPh/amazon-ech ... g-by-faces

Have any of y’all seen this commercial yet? I saw the ad, thought about my little girl, and almost cried!

[cortez the killer]

I saw it tonight, too. Outstanding commercial! That song will be on the mix I make for my oldest when she heads off to college in two years. Whether or not she actually listens to it is a whole other story.

[beantownbubba]

Yeah. Saw it. Definitely tugged at the heartstrings but still not sure what I think about it.

[scotto]

Yeah. Saw it. Definitely tugged at the heartstrings but still not sure what I think about it.

Same here. It certainly does what it's supposed to do, but, since A----- is the fucking devil, I want to hate it. Hard to hate anything with that song, though.