- (This page is about the British band. For the Italian techno artist of the same name, see Faces(2)).
"The Faces were my all-time favourite live band."
(John Peel, My Top Ten)
"There may have been better bands, but there was never a band to make you feel so good ... And to give you and indication how highly I esteemed the members ... they were the only band who were actually invited to my wedding, and their roadies, and they all came, too."
(John Peel, 18 August 1976)
"He gave the Faces our first break. He said, 'I like you guys.' And we thought, 'Well, no one knows about us'."
(Ron Wood, John Peel's Record Box)
The Faces are an English rock band formed in 1969 by members of the Small Faces after lead singer/guitarist Steve Marriott left that group to form Humble Pie. The remaining Small Faces—Ian McLagan (keyboards), Ronnie Lane (bass), and Kenney Jones (drums and percussion)—were joined by Ronnie Wood (guitar) and Rod Stewart (lead vocals), both from The Jeff Beck Group, and the new line-up was renamed the Faces.
The Faces released four studio albums and toured regularly until the autumn of 1975, although Stewart simultaneously pursued a solo recording career, and during the band's final year Wood also toured with The Rolling Stones, whom he later joined ... (read more at Wikipedia)
Links to Peel[]
The Faces were Peel’s favourite band in the first half of the 1970s and he appears to have enjoyed their goodtime approach both musically and socially. As well as “playing” mandolin with the band on Top Of The Pops in 1971, the DJ invited them all to his wedding three years later. In subsequent decades, he continued to cite the Faces’s April 1973 gig at Sunderland Locarno as the best he ever attended.[1]
In 1987, Peel discussed the special attraction of The Faces for him with producer John Walters in the third programme of the Peeling Back The Years series:
JW: One band that we have not mentioned in this pre-punk programme that were great favourites of yours and certainly brought you back quite sensibly to good old rock and roller’s enjoyment – and that was the Faces ... They were a band of lads. They’d been the Small Faces, Rod the Mod, all people that were seen – and I remember this very clearly because time changes – in the early ‘70s they were all seen as played out, frankly.
JP: Yes, yes.
JW: “No, not that lot again!”
JP: Well, that was very much my attitude. But as I say, I met them and you and my wife at around the same time – all people with very different attitudes to mine, much more realistic attitudes I think than I had. And I met the Faces backstage at a gig in Newcastle City Hall. And I can’t remember who else was on the bill – I think the Nice were, oddly enough.[2] But anyway, they had a dressing room and I was sitting in – I didn’t have a dressing room – and there was a phone booth backstage and I was sitting in that thinking beautiful thoughts. I mean, genuinely thinking beautiful thoughts, in as far as I was capable of doing that. And they came and flung the door open and said, “Hello, John, mate, how’s it going, squire?” You know, “Come on, let’s have a drink.” And I didn’t drink at the time at all. And as they went away, my first reaction was, “Dear, oh dear, what dreadful rowdy people.” And then I saw them disappear into their dressing room that was full of scantily clad women and so forth and the sound of breaking glass and curries being flung against walls and so on, and I thought to myself, “Actually, these people are having a much better time than I am,” you know.
JW: So that rather implies that you were attracted socially as a bit of relief. What about the musical side?
JP: Well, because it was – I mean, the music exactly defined the band, you know. There was no sort of pretence in there at all. And I suppose I just got fed up – and as I say, it came about at the same time as I started to work regularly with you and meeting the pig, whose background was vastly different to mine, and as I say, much more rooted in reality. And I just, the Faces for me recaptured the kind of feelings I’d had when I first Little Richard and people like that and Jerry Lee Lewis, in the same way as the Undertones were to a few years later.
In the liner notes of a 2024 comprehensive commercial release of all Faces BBC sessions and live concerts (see below), the band gratefully acknowledges Peel’s role. Rod Stewart states, “If it wasn’t for John Peel, the Faces would never have broken through.” Ron Wood adds, “He gave the Faces our first break.” Kenney Jones says, “John Peel helped the Faces so much in England, in the press and on his show.”
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
Three sessions. Stay With Me / Miss Judy's Farm from #3 available on 1970-1975: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything... Warner Bros. R2 550009 Session #3 was selected for Peel Sessions: The Best 125. All sessions available on Faces At The BBC - Complete BBC Concert & Session Recordings 1970-1973 (2024, Rhino).
1. Recorded: 1970-03-09. First broadcast: 28 March 1970. Repeated: 06 June 1970
- Wicked Messenger / Devotion / Pineapple And The Monkey / Shake Shudder Shiver
2. Recorded: 1970-09-15. First broadcast: 19 September 1970. Repeated: 19 December 1970, 21 August 1971, 26 September 1972, 11 July 1977
- Had Me A Real Good Time / Around The Plynth / Country Comforts
3. Recorded: 1971-09-28. First broadcast: 06 October 1971. Repeated: 22 December 1971, 22 September 1975, 12 September 1981, 24 June 1982
- Stay With Me / Miss Judy's Farm / Maggie May
Live[]
All live concerts available on Faces At The BBC - Complete BBC Concert & Session Recordings 1970-1973 (2024, Rhino)[3][4]
- 05 July 1970: Recorded 1970-06-25, Paris Theatre.
- You're My Girl
- Wicked Messenger
- Devotion
- It's All Over Now
- Feel So Good
- 29 November 1970: Recorded 1970-11-19, Paris Theatre.
- Country Comfort
- You're My Girl
- Too Much Woman For A Henpecked Man
- Maybe I'm Amazed
- Around The Plynth
- 23 May 1971: Recorded 1971-05-13, Paris Theatre. Repeated 26 August 1977. 'Cut Across Shorty' was officially released on the Five Guys Walk Into A Bar box set.
- You’re My Girl
- Cut Across Shorty
- Love In Vain
- Bad’n Ruin
- It’s All Over Now
- Had Me A Real Good Time
- I’m Losing You
- 26 February 1972 (with Long John Baldry?), recorded Paris Theatre, 1972-02-17
- Three Button Hand Me Down
- Miss Judy’s Farm
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Give Me The Moonlight [a capella]
- Too Bad
- Last Orders Please
- Devotion
- Medley:That’s All You Need-Country Honk-Gasoline Alley-That’s All You Need
- I’m Losing You
- Stay With Me
- Had Me A Real Good Time
- Underneath The Arches [a capella]
- Every Picture Tells A Story
- 24 February 1973: Recorded at the Paris Theatre, 1973-02-08. Not broadcast.
- Silicone Grown
- Cindy Incidentally
- Angel
- Memphis, Tennesse
- True Blue
- I’d Rather Go Blind
- You’re My Girl
- Twistin’ The Night Away
- It’s All Over Now
- Miss Judy’s Farm
- Maybe I’m Amazed
- Three Button Hand Me Down
- I’m Losing You
- 21 April 1973: Recorded 1973-04-01 (some sources give 1973-03-29), Paris Theatre. Repeated 26 December 1977.
- Silicone Growth
- Cindy Incidentally
- Memphis Tennessee
- If I’m On The Late Side
- My Fault
- Stealer
- Borstal Boys
- Angel
- Stay With Me
- You’re My Girl (I Don’t Want To Discuss It)
- Twistin’ The Night Away
- Miss Judy’s Farm
- Jealous Guy
- Too Bad
Other Shows Played[]
The list below was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive. Please add further information if known.
- 1970
- 28 February 1970: Flying (single) Warner Bros
- 21 March 1970: Three Button Hand Me Down (LP - The First Step) Warner Bros. WS 3000
- 04 April 1970: Around The Plynth (LP - The First Step) Warner Bros. WS 3000
- 25 July 1970: Wicked Messenger (LP - The First Step) Warner Bros. WS 3000
- 14 November 1970: Had Me A Real Good Time (7") Warner Bros WB 8018
- 28 November 1970: Had Me A Real Good Time (7") Warner Bros WB 8018
- 12 December 1970: Had Me A Real Good Time (7") Warner Bros WB 8018
- 26 December 1970: see Carol Concert
- 1971
- 27 March 1971: Sweet Lady Mary (LP - Long Player) Warner Bros.
- 08 May 1971: Maybe I'm Amazed (7") Warner 7483
- 1972
- 07 January 1972: Debris (b-side of single Stay With Me) Warner Bros.
- 21 January 1972: Love Lives Here (LP – A Nod’s As Good As A Wink … To A Blind Horse) Warner Bros
- 28 January 1972: You’re So Rude (LP – A Nod’s As Good As A Wink … To A Blind Horse) Warner Bros
- 07 March 1972: Had Me A Real Good Time (single) Warner Brothers
- 10 March 1972: Memphis (LP - A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse) Warner Brothers
- 04 August 1972: Three Button Hand Me Down (LP - The First Step) Warner Brothers
- 12 September 1972: Oh Lord I'm Browned Off (single b-side Maybe I'm Amazed) Warner Brothers
- 22 September 1972: Stay With Me (LP - A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse) Warner Brothers
- Radio Luxembourg Tracklistings 2: Around The Plynth (LP - The First Step) Warner Bros.
- 1973
- 22 March 1973: Borstal Boys (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 22 March 1973: Fly In The Ointment (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 22 March 1973: Ooh La La (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 22 March 1973: My Fault (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 27 March 1973: Glad And Sorry (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 27 March 1973: Just Another Honky (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 29 March 1973: Silicone Grown (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 29 March 1973: If I’m On The Late Side (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 03 April 1973: Borstal Boys (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 05 April 1973: Flags And Banners (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 12 April 1973: My Fault (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 19 April 1973: Borstal Boys (LP – Ooh La La) Warner Bros
- 24 April 1973: Shake Shudder Shiver (LP – The First Step) Warner Bros.
- 29 May 1973: Around The Plynth (LP – The First Step) Warner Bros
- 21 August 1973 (A Touch Of The Moon): Borstal Boys
- 28 August 1973 (A Touch Of The Moon): Ooh La La
- 18 October 1973: Wicked Messenger
- 13 November 1973: Sweet Lady Mary (LP - Long Player) Warner Bros.
- 11 December 1973: Pool Hall Richard (7") Warner Bros. K 16341
- 18 December 1973: Maybe I'm Amazed (7 inch) Warner Bros
- 25 December 1973: Pool Hall Richard (7") Warner Bros.
- 1974
- 17 January 1974: Jealous Guy (album - Live Coast To Coast - Overture And Beginners) Mercury 9100 001
- 29 August 1974: Had Me A Real Good Time
- 05 December 1974: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (Even Take The Dog For A Walk, Mend A Fuse, Fold Away The Ironing Board, Or Any Other Domestic Short Comings) (7") Warner Bros
- 1975
- 06 January 1975: As Long As You Tell Him (7" - You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (Even Take The Dog For A Walk, Mend A Fuse, Fold Away The Ironing Board, Or Any Other Domestic Short Comings)) Warner Bros.
- 10 March 1975: Maybe I'm Amazed
- 26 May 1975: Pool Hall Richard (single)
- 24 October 1975: unknown
- D013: Maybe I'm Amazed (JP: 'That was released a few years ago.')
- 19 December 1975: (JP: 'And you may have seen in today's paper that Rod and the Faces have finally parted company and gone their own separate ways. I don't think that comes as a great surprise to anyone, but it's very sad nevertheless, because although there may have been better bands musically, I don't think there's ever been a more enjoyable band, and I for one am very sad to hear it.')
- 1976
- 13 January 1976: Memphis (LP - A Nod's As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse) Warner Bros.
- Where It's At: Had Me A Real Good Time
- 13 August 1976: Too Bad (LP-A Nod's As Good As A Wink....To A Blind Horse)' (Warner Bros.) (JP: 'Well I don't care what you say, at their peak they were the best of the lot, I think.”) (Rolling Stones retrospective)
- 18 August 1976: Faces band retrospective – many tracks, including associated bands, solo, etc
("Well, hello there, fans. As we move relentlessly on with our sorties into the best of British, we come to my own all time favourite band. The Faces.")
("I remember doing a gig with the Small Faces and indeed with The Nice at Newcastle City Hall. And I was sitting in the backstage area thinking beautiful thoughts, and our [Ronnie] Lane gentleman came up to me and said, 'Hello, John Darling, like to go for a drink?' and I thought, what an appalling bunch of people they were, but eventually I realised they were probably right and I was probably wrong.)
("About 5 or 6 years ago, I arranged to get my sister-in-law who adored, and indeed still adores Rod Stewart, into a BBC studio where the band were recording an In Concert programme, without her knowing that they were going to be on. And I mentioned it to Rod, and they started a number he and Ronnie Wood went down and started to sing a song to her.")
("Well there may have been better bands, but there was never a band to make you feel so good, I think.)
(“And to give you and indication how highly I esteemed the members of the band, they were the only band who were actually invited to my wedding, and their roadies and they all came too.")
- 1977
- DE Tape 11 Peel Late 1976 Early 1977: Stay With Me (album - The Best Of The Faces) Riva RVLP 3
- 02 May 1977: Miss Judy's Farm (album - The Best Of The Faces) Riva RVLP 3
- 02 May 1977: Pool Hall Richard (album - The Best Of The Faces) Riva RVLP 3
- 03 May 1977: Three Button Hand Me Down (album - The Best Of The Faces) Riva RVLP 3
- 03 May 1977: Ooh La La (album - The Best Of The Faces) Riva RVLP 3
- PM008: Too Bad
- 07 June 1977: unknown
- DE Tape 21 Mid 1977: Cindy Incidentally
- 10 June 1977: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything
- 03 October 1977: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything
- 05 October 1977: Stay With Me (LP - A Nod's As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse) Warner Bros.
- 07 October 1977: Had Me A Real Good Time
- 1978
- 23 October 1978: I Wish It Would Rain (Live: Coast To Coast – Overture And Beginners) Mercury (Mentions that the Faces are still one of his all-time favourite bands. Even though Rod Stewart “acts like a berk a lot of the time,” he’s still the only tax exile Peel misses.)
- 1979
- 30 August 1979: Have Me A Real Good Time' (Warner Bros) (40th birthday 40)
- 1980s
- 10 January 1980: Silicone Groan (LP - Ooh La La) Warners
- 22 August 1981: Jealous Guy (Peel recalls their live gig in Sunderland, "one of the best nights of my life") (Peel's Pleasures)
- 1990s
- 05 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles): Stay With Me (JP: 'One FM, where the hits keep happening. Those were the Faces from 1971, "Stay With Me", and if you weren't listening to that so loud that your ears are now bleeding then you've missed the point entirely. The best live gig that I ever saw in my life - and I can say that quite categorically - featured the Faces. And they played in Sunderland the night that Sunderland had beaten, I think it was Arsenal - there are one or two One FM producers who could confirm that for me - but in the semi-final of the Cup. The Faces were playing in Sunderland and the entire place was floating three or four feet above the ground and the Faces were the perfect band to capture the atmosphere. I'm not much of a dancing man myself, not got the physique for it really, but I ended up dancing on stage with them. Quite wonderful.')
- 09 December 1996: Stay With Me (session) (John Peel's Classic Sessions)
- 10 June 1997: Debris (LP - A Nod's As Good As A Wink... To A Blind Horse) Warner Bros.
- 09 September 1997: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (LP: Snakes & Ladders) Warner Brothers
- 01 October 1997: Three Button Hand Me Down (1972 concert) (JP 30 years on Radio 1 special)
- 04 November 1999: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (CD-The Best Of Faces: Good Boys....When They're Asleep...)' (Warner) (JP: "Family, Faces, Fairport Convention, the Fall...amazing how many of my favourite bands have begun with the letters Fa.")
- 2000s
- 04 May 2000: Poolhall Richard
- Other
- Peeling Back The Years: Had Me A Real Good Time LP – Long Player)
- My Top Ten: Maybe I’m Amazed
- Radio Radio: (JP: “A fine start, I think you’ll agree, to practically any programme. Musically, there is really only one way to start.”)
Stay With Me (clip probably from second half of 1971) - Partners In Dispute: Pool Hall Richard
- 31 October 2004 (Andy Kershaw): Had Me a Real Good Time
- 24 November 2004 (Rob Da Bank): 'Too Bad' (4 x CD Box Set 'Five Guys Walk Into A Bar) - (Warners/Rhino)
- John Peel: In Session Tonight: Stay With Me
See Also[]
- Rod Stewart
- Record Collection: F
- Record Collection: Auction
- Smashie And Nicey: The End Of An Era
- Let It Rock
- New Singles
- Singles Reviews
- Sounds Playlist
- Rebellious Jukebox
- Twelve Best Gigs
- 1973 Top Ten Albums
- 1974 Top Fifty One Singles
- John Peel Section
- Peel's Sounds Of The 60s And 70s
- Gigography 1971
- Gigography 1972
- Gigography 1973
- Disc & Music Echo: Peel Columns
- Sounds
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ See for example, My Top Ten (Transcript), 05 April 1993 (John Peel Is Jakki Brambles), Gigography 1973. The gig took place on 1973-04-13.
- ↑ Peel said on 18 August 1976 that the Newcastle show also featuring The Nice had been with the Small Faces, presumably before the band split up at the very end of 1968. The exact date of the gig is unclear, but both the Small Faces and the Nice played the venue in summer 1968, although possibly separately.[1]
- ↑ Release includes some live tracks not listed here and some variations in track titles.
- ↑ Release also includes a previously unreleased concert recorded February 8, 1973 and 'not originally broadcast'.