Faces – Stay with Me: Anthology (2012)
Anthologised and immortalised, Faces’ actual career burnt bright, but incredibly short. They only ever enjoyed four bona-fide hits, and a handful of albums, but have become one of those bands that people speak of with fond reverence. For this latest compilation, the hit singles nestle next to key album tracks and 3 previously unreleased live cuts.
It’s hard not to smile listening to this double-CD collection, for all the musical slovenliness and ego battles, Faces were undeniably one of the few ‘good-time’ bands that could translate their live appeal onto disc. Each gig was a cross between a stag party and a football match, and hearing them at their best – Pool Hall Richard and Stay With Me; Maybe I’m Amazed and Memphis, Tennessee; and half a dozen more – the magic remains. — BBC
Rising out of the ashes of the Small Faces, with Rod Stewart stalling a promising solo career, Faces were the band The Rolling Stones might have remained had they stuck to light booze and bonhomie rather than taking the Satanic Majesties route.
It’s interesting to hear Rod tackle Love In Vain, a Stones favourite, and never before available. Disc one’s closer, it forcibly reminds of the listener of his vocal abilities before he went down the solo route. But then this was a band with pedigree, before and after – Ron Wood was poached by the Stones; Kenney Jones by The Who and Rod went on to that eventful solo career which, at the time, ran parallel with Faces. Poor Ronnie Lane was taken too early, which makes his contributions of Ooh La La and Richmond even more poignant.
“Had me a real good time,” they sing. And it’s a testament to the music and the memories that this writer swears that, with this anthology playing, he could smell the brown ale…
CD1:
01 Stay with Me
02 Miss Judy’s Farm
03 Cindy Incidentally
04 You’re So Rude
05 Flying
06 That’s All You Need
07 My Fault
08 Had Me A Real Good Time
09 Richmond
10 Too Much Woman (Live)
11 Love Lives Here
12 Debris
13 Just Another Honky
14 On The Beach
15 Wicked Messenger
16 Too Bad
17 Rear Wheel Skid
18 Love In Vain (Live)
CD2:
01 Ooh La La
02 Maybe I’m Amazed
03 Memphis, Tennessee
04 Pool Hall Richard
05 Bad N’ Ruin
06 You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything
07 Last Orders Please
08 Around The Plynth
09 Three Button Hand Me Down
10 As Long As You Tell Him
11 Glad And Sorry
12 Pineapple And The Monkey
13 Flags And Banners
14 Sweet Lady Mary
15 Silicone Grown
16 Shake Shudder Shiver
17 Borstal Boys
18 Gasoline Alley (Live)
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