Five Guys Walk into a Bar... [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Faces

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 20, 2004)
• Original Release Date: July 20, 2004
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0001Z2R96
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,661 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #46 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Proto Punk
  #98 in	Music > Box Sets

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
England's Faces (1970-1975) wound up playing stadiums, but they always had a compact, pub-band feel. They were proud boozers, tuning up wasn't a major obsession, and Rod Stewart (in pre-disco prime) always sounded like he'd sung himself hoarse the night before. They kept the mood light, but ensemble work was deceptively tight, thanks to drummer Kenney Jones (later Keith Moon's replacement in the Who) and guitarist Ron Wood (post-Jeff Beck, pre-Stones), who'd switch between raunchy lead and raunchy rhythm roles between beats. Wood's blues-drenched slide work snuffed most of his rock competition, and helped define the band's wiry sound. But Faces offered more than teapot blues. Tuneful bassist Ronnie Lane's sweet voice and countryish melodies--think "Ooh La La," revived as the movie Rushmore's closing theme--both lightened and deepened the texture. Keyboardist Ian McLagan picked and sequenced 67 tracks, programming them out of chronological order, to flow like concert sets. Included are abundant rarities--out-takes, b-sides, rehearsals, BBC-broadcast excerpts--including live takes of songs Faces recorded under Stewart's name, like "Gasoline Alley" and "Maggie May." (A few tunes are heard in live and studio versions.) It's a very good selection of music that wears remarkably well. --Kevin Whitehead

Product Description
From 1969 to 1975 the Faces - Rod Stewart, Ian McLagan, Ron Wood, Ronnie Lane, and Kenney Jones - played their loose and joyful blues and soul-inflected rock 'n' roll with reckless abandon, consummate skill, and immeasurable charm. For those few years they were arguably the greatest band on the planet, and their influence has resonated ever since through the music of countless acts, from the Sex Pistols to The Replacements to The Black Crowes, and on and on. After the Faces dissolved in 1975, Stewart went on to solo superstardom, Wood to the Stones, Jones to The Who, McLagan to world - class session work and his own recordings, and Lane to acclaimed solo projects before he succumbed to multiple sclerosis in 1997. Greater than the sum of its parts, the Faces made now - immortal music for which there will never, ever be a last call.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ron Wood, call your office!, January 6, 2005

By	John Stodder "a.k.a. Juan La Princi" (livin' just enough) - See all my reviews

I always liked the Faces years ago, when their career overlapped the great early years of Rod Stewart's solo career. It's great to have them back on four discs of hits, album cuts, live cuts, cover versions, rehearsals, B-sides and unreleased music. They weren't prolific album-makers, so all of this material gives them a presence in your CD changer they might not have had before.

Because of Rod Stewart's great success as a solo artist, the Faces always seemed like the other place to go to hear his music, and not the main event. But this box set puts it all in perspective. This was not Rod Stewart's band at all. It was Ron Wood's.

Hearing all this music in one place, you are overwhelmed with his unbelievably great guitar playing--perhaps the most creative guitar in rock. He does it all: Riffs, rhythm, solos, bottleneck, and on a few cuts playing completely by himself for stretches of intense expressiveness, like a dog howling at the moon. When he's called upon to be tender (like on many of Ronnie Lane's excellent songs like "Richmond" and "Debris"), Wood is like a painter. But he's also the driving force in hard rocking songs like "Miss Judy's Farm" and "Stay With Me." He never wastes a note!

Where is this Ron Wood now? He has been absorbed into the Rolling Stones, but I cannot think of one lick in any of the Stones' songs from the Ron Wood era where this amazing creative force gets a chance to breathe free. The Stones are Keith's show, and Wood does...what? Play a nondescript solo here and there, or play second rhythm guitar behind Keith's riffing. Don't get me wrong, Keith is great, too. But Ron Wood's talent is going to waste. After nearly 30 years, I wonder if he could even do this anymore.

The image of the Faces as a sloppy band is also put to rest when you hear all the live cuts. I know, I know, the Replacements and other punk-era bands call the Faces their model. Sorry, you guys. You couldn't keep up with this band for five minutes. The musicianship across the board is just too high.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Sit On My Faces!!!!, July 28, 2004

By	"The Woj" (Downers Grove, IL) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This four disc retrospective is a must have for any Faces, Rod Stewart or Ronnie Wood fan (et alia). We're treated to all the best songs as well as previously unissued tracks including studio rehearsals and superbly recorded BBC live tracks. All digitally remastered by the "masters" at Rhino. These songs have never sounded better!
This set does not follow the standard chronological order of many box sets and does not fall prey to the expanded greatest hits package either. The tracklist was put together by Ian McLagan himself. Although the song order may seem a bit disjointed at first; it really keeps the listener interested and the music flowing quite well. No need to go into details about the band itself, because chances are if you're reading this you are already a Faces fan. A fan who wishes there was more Faces music out there for consumption. A fan who wishes Rod Stewart would "rock" again. A fan who hopes Ronnie Wood would quit posing and crank out the guitar again.
Well this set answers at least one of those wishes in a big way.
Don't let the price scare you off, you can not take the $$$$$$$ with you anyway. So add it to your cart and don't look back. you will not regret it!
One last thing...for a Faces "newcomer", you're best bet is to purchase the single disc album, "The Best Of Faces: Good Boys When They're Asleep". If after a few listens of that disc, you want more, then opt for this box. Some of the studio jams and very raw rehearsal tracks (borderline bootleg quality) on this four disc set might be a little much for the casual Faces listener. All in all the best box I've purchased all summer!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Overlooked Classic, July 30, 2004

By	C. Jones - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Can't agree more with all the rave reviews written above mine, but why oh why has no one mentioned the incredible song "Pool Hall Richard" that leads off Disc 2? I'm a fairly astute Stewart and Faces fan having bought all the studio albums back in the 70's, but had never heard of this track until the box set came out. If it isn't the greatest Faces song of all time it is at least a close second to "Stay With Me". This one has it all, a great slashing Woodie guitar, kick ass bass and drums, Ian pounding the keyboard and Rod singing his brains out as only he could. This one song is worth the price of the box set alone.

I was lucky enough to see Faces a couple of months after "Maggie May" was first released (Boston Common 8/71) and have never forgotten what an incredible live band they were. If you were around at that time, lucky you, you caught one of the greatest working bands ever; if not, grab a copy of this set to catch up on what you missed.