The 5: The Faces
This Week on the 5: Songs of The Faces
The Small Faces formed in 1965 and its most famous lineup – Steve Marriott, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane, and Kenney Jones was formed in 1966. Influenced by American R&B, The Small Faces became an immediate hit with the Mod crowd. They later moved more into a pop and psychedelic direction and scored several hit singles including All Or Nothing, Tin Soldier, Lazy Sunday and worldwide smash Itchycoo Park. Citing frustration with the band’s pop image, Steve Marriott left the group in 1968. Ian, Ronnie and Kenny joined up with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart to become simply The Faces. They released five albums that blended hard rock, blues, and folk, and their live performances were raucous, often boozy affairs that has now become legendary.
This Saturday, The Faces (and the Small Faces) will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were visionary, inventive and you can hear their imprint on such bands as The Black Crowes, Oasis, Blur and Guns ‘N Roses. The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame calls them “brilliant, unprecedented and as influential as ever.” Here’s 5 songs you have to check out.
- Stay With Me. The classic, signature piece. A monster opening riff. Throaty, passionate vocals. A freight train ending. This has to be at the top of any Faces list.
- Ooh La La. The last track on what would be the final Faces studio album is arguably their best. Written by Ronnie Lane, it’s whimsical, introspective, rootsy, and Ron Wood’s vocal will give you the chills.
- Flying. Using this song as a means to introduce the new lineup, The Faces take the ballad to a epic levels. Stewart’s finest track as a vocalist, solo or otherwise.
- Glad and Sorry. “Can you show me your dreams? Can you show me one that’s better than life?” Ronnie Lane came into his own on this soulfully folk-based song that has been covered by numerous bands including The Black Crowes and Golden Smog. Nobody handles it better than the great Ronnie Lane.
- As Long As You Tell Him. Not as well know as the rest of the “hits”, this song really gives you what you always expect from Stewart– that raspy, soulful and aching with the slow drive that can only The Faces.
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