Part 4: In Which Our Hero Loses a Band, but Gains a New Home
Rod Stewart was a superstar. He was making hit record after hit record, not only as a solo artist but also as a member of The Faces. According to several members of The Faces, Rod seemed less interested in the band and more interested in growing his sound.
Stewart was about to embark on a change of country and breaking out as a solo artist exclusively. But before he did that, we have a couple more songs from 1972.
112. Pinball Wizard (Pete Townshend)
Rod was approached by his old producing partner Lou Reizner to appear with the London Symphony Orchestra to take the role of Robert Daltrey in a new production of Tommy. Soon, however Daltrey and Townshend wanted to be more involved, reducing Rod to only his version of “Pinball Wizard”.
It must have left a bad taste in Rod’s mouth as when he was asked about it for his Storyteller album he simply said, “I have no opinion of this rendition of the song made popular by The Who”. Yikes.
Rod is in good vocal form and the music by the Symphony is good, but slightly overbearing.
The song appears on Rod’s first greatest hits album, Sing It Again, Rod.
Grade: B
113. Mother Ain’t Dead (Traditional)
In a really unique album, Rod Stewart and Elton John both help their friend, Long John Baldry on his 1972 album, Everything Stops for Tea. Elton produced the first half and Rod produced the second half.
Rod appears as a guest vocalist on a haunting traditional song that pleads with the listener that, although Mother isn’t dead, she’s just “patiently waiting, for Jesus to come.” Rod helps on the chorus, but his biggest contribution is the amazing banjo that is the focal instrument on the track.
Stewart and John helping Baldry is a sweet gesture, and both men owe Baldry a debt for their careers, in fact John also owes Baldry his life after a suicide attempt.
Grade: B
Whatever reservations Rod had about working as a member of The Faces or a solo artist, he nevertheless did say that he was going to focus on only being a member of The Faces. But the cracks were starting to show. On their 1973 album, Ooh La La, Stewart is not featured as much. In fact, I would go on record saying this is more of a Ronnie Lane album with help from Rod Stewart. It is a short, fun and well made record. And while it doesn’t reach the heights of A Nod is as Good as a Wink… To a Blind Horse it still is a classic Faces album.
Ooh La La, March 1973
114. Silicone Grown (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
As the piano tinkles and the guitar opens Silicone Grown, the song is a down and dirty song about boobs. Yes, a song about a woman lying about breast augmentation opens The Faces’ fourth studio album.
The song is funny and totally tongue in cheek as our hero sings, “Don’t try and tell me it’s what you’ve been eating.” The band is essentially playing a boogie and having a laugh.
*there is an early take of Silicone Grown on the 2015 box set “You Can Make Me Dance…”
Grade: B
115. Cindy Incidentally (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan)
A wonderful song that also opens with the piano, giving way to the full band. Rod and his lady friend decide that now it’s time to move on. But before they leave, they have one more party.
Rod states in the liner notes of Lead Vocalist that the word Incidentally was a game that The Faces would play. They would try to work the word into all of their conversations. Here he worked it into the lyrics with a wonderful result.
Grade: A+
116. Flags and Banners (Ronnie Lane and Rod Stewart)
The only song that Stewart co-wrote and doesn’t sing on. Stewart does play guitar however and possibly banjo.
A wistful song about longing, a Ronnie Lane trademark, is short and sweet. As soon as you get into the song it ends, leaving you wanting more…just like the lyrics.
Grade: B
117. My Fault (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan)
Rod and Ronnie team up on this song that would be a precursor to Ronnie’s own solo album in a couple of years. A rocking song about taking the blame for “being born this way.” And with the singers pleading with the listener that he isn’t going to apologize for being themselves, and don’t try to change him, it ain’t going to happen.
Grade: A-
118. Borstal Boys (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan)
A horn blares, and a hard rock song soon commences as Rod sings about life in prison. The monotony of prison life is highlighted and the stories of the men that are in there. The chorus is a winner;
“See the years roll on by, Such a senseless waste of time, What a way to reform, Call out your number, Who’s the nonconformer? Not me baby”
*There is a early take of Borstal Boys on the 2015 box set, “You Can Make Me Dance…”
Grade: A
119. If I’m on the Late Side (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Lane)
Ronnie Wood’s guitar gets things going on this beautiful song that pleads with his lover that even if he’s late he will be there, “come what may”.
I adore this song. Stewart and Lane are in perfect harmony on this track. The wistful music is trademark Lane. The fun, and self-deprecating lyrics are hallmark Stewart. Making this song a perfect blend of the two.
Grade: A+
120. Just Another Honky (Ronnie Lane)
Although “Ooh La La” gets all the headlines, I think this is Ronnie Lane’s best Faces song. It is so beautifully written and sung brilliantly by Rod.
The song title is a little silly and might have actually hurt it. The song deals with a man who in breaking up with his girl.
The beautiful opening is a verse I can easily relate to, as too I am guessing anyone who has stayed with the wrong person long enough;
“I close my eyes and ignore all the signs, I’m walking ‘round in circles, I’ve closed my ears and believed my own lies, And break the silence always.”
Grade: A+
A couple of Faces songs came out in 1973 that were not included on “Ooh La La” The first was a song that The Faces had no interest in doing as it was a promotional flexi-disc.
121. Dishevelment Blues (Kenney Jones, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
This song is an absolute mess. The blues, I guess but it’s more of a drunken “fuck you” to the folks that made The Faces record and release a song for free, in that regards it is brilliant and hilarious.
Grade: D- but a total A+ For the joke they played on everyone who actually listened to it.
122. Jealous Guy (John Lennon)
An awesome cover of a beautiful John Lennon song. This song would not make the cut on Ooh La La, which is shocking. It is a stunner. Rod is a master in conveying pain in a song. His phrasing is second to none and brings a little more heartbreak to the song than Lennon.
Lennon’s version is brilliant, The Faces replace the piano with more of a rock band line up, both versions are brilliant and must be heard.
Jealous Guy first appears on The Faces live album, “Coast to Coast” and it’s great, however to really appreciate how great Rod’s vocals are, seek out the studio version on “Five Guys Walk Into a Bar…”
Grade: A+
123. Pool Hall Richard (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
Released as the A-side single only, Pool Hall Richard is a great rock song in which our hero tries to take down the local pool shark.
The chorus is a stomping sing along, “Pool Hall Richard, kid you’re wicked, we know” that is a catchy little ear worm.
The band is in top form. A driving, fun song is highlighted by Wood’s impeccable guitar work and Rod’s impassioned singing.
Grade: A
124. I Wish it Would Rain (With a Trumpet) (Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene)
The B-side to Pool Hall Richard is the live recording of The Temptations classic. Another song where Stewart excels at phrasing and making a song his own.
His heartbreak is palpable and in this recording you can hear why Rod is still a hit live, he absolutely crushes this song.
Grade: A
The next single Rod released is a unique one, as he tackles Carole King and the B-side is a Faces song. Maybe both were supposed to be on Ooh La La, I am not sure.
125. Oh! No Not My Baby (Gerry Goffin and Carole King)
The Faces lend a capable hand in Rod’s cover of Maxine Brown’s hit with Rod in top vocal form.
I can’t help to think songs like this were also leading to the downfall of The Faces. Rod was going for a different sound and trying different types of songs. In any event, the song is solid.
Grade: B+
126. Jodie (Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Ian McLagan)
I love this song. Rod is pleading with his lover that he hasn’t stopped loving her. The drum that opens the song is brilliant and so too is the guitar work by Wood.
I am thinking that this was cut for Ooh La La, but maybe sounded too much like Cindy Incidentally, the chorus once again is incredibly catchy, “‘Cause Jodie I still love ya, Always thinkin’ of ya, Jodie I still love ya, all the while”.
Grade: A-
127. Wyndlesham Bay (Jodie) (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian McLagan)
A different take on the single that was released it follows the same basic structure of Rod trying to reach his girlfriend. And while this version isn’t quite finished and fleshed out, I think I might actually like the chorus slightly more, “Go start over, go take a lover, I’m not for you, I’m gone!”
It is really neat hearing these back to back as you can hear the band finding success and then tweaking it slightly to get a final song.
Grade: A-
Rod’s best friend and band mate Ronnie Wood headed into the studio in 1973, to make his own solo record. Wood got help not only from Rod, but also Mick Jagger who was keen on making Wood a permanent member of some band called The Rolling Stones.
What’s interesting about this album, is that one song on Wood’s album was first given a go during Stewart’s Smiler sessions, but wouldn’t see the light of day until 2009. In any event, Wood’s first album is solid with a helping hand from Stewart on three tracks.
I’ve Got My Own Album to Do, September 13, 1974
128. Mystifies Me (Ronnie Wood)
A slow jam of song that does feel a lot like a Rod Stewart song is by far the best song on a solid album from Wood. The lyrics are heartfelt and wistful, Wood however is not the best singer. But he makes up for it with earnest singing and a catchy chorus.
Of course the chorus is where Stewart shows up, giving it some extra power. I adore it,
“You look so fine and true, no one mystifies me like you do, you look so fine and true, no one mystifies me like you do.”
Grade: B+
130. Take A Look at the Guy (Ronnie Wood)
I believe this song sounds a lot like a Rolling Stones song. It’s easy to see why Jagger wanted Wood. He fit into The Stones’ lineup with ease, even Rod thought that Wood was best fit for the biggest band in the world.
Here, he and Stewart duet for a majority of the song with Wood taking over solo a few times.
I prefer the live version with Rod and Woody that can be found on Five Guys Walk Into a Bar…
Grade: B
131. If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody (Rudy Clark)
A slower song that unfortunately Wood kinda stumbles through. Stewart seems to be there to give the song some weight as Wood can’t handle or hit the notes.
The saving grace is of course Stewart and some winning guitar work.
Grade: C
Stewart was on a roll. Most everything he had touched had produced hits. From chart topping hits in four consecutive albums between himself and The Faces, the pressure was on. Rod also said that he was going to focus solely on The Faces after Smiler, so it had to be his best. Stewart’s mindset was correct, however Smiler suffered slightly from being too similar and not quite as sharp as Stewart’s previous albums. I also believe Stewart was tiring of the style of music he had been producing for a number of years and wanted to change. Not many people knew but this was the last of Stewart’s Mercury albums. He was going to be with Warner Bros soon, which led to Smiler being delayed.
Also, with the release of The Rod Stewart Sessions, and Handbags and Gladrags, there were many songs left on the cutting room floor, which I think signals Stewart at a crossroad, maybe trying too hard. But make no mistake, Smiler is still a really good album.
Smiler October 4, 1974
132. Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller (Chuck Berry)
Wow. This song is straight fire. It moves faster then lightning, between Ron Wood’s incredible guitar work and Pete Sears non-stop blistering piano, Rod takes a stone cold rock classic and makes it burn.
Stewart’s vocals never waver. They up front and center with an incredible band playing behind him. A great start to the album.
Grade: A
133. Farewell (Rod Stewart, Martin Quittenton)
The final song that Stewart wrote with Martin Quittenton never reached the heights of Maggie May or You Wear It Well. Which is a crime.
Quittention’s guitar playing is a true highlight as he and Rod really hit their stride as co-writers for Farewell.The song deals with Stewart leaving home and trying to make a name for himself. The beginning of this song really sets the mood, “Fare thee well my brother, Please don’t stand in my way, I’m going down to that dirty town, no matter what you say”
I can’t believe this wasn’t a hit, it did not chart in America, it did rise to number 7 in the U.K., where they proved they had better taste in music.
Grade: A+
134. Sailor (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
The heartfelt plea of trying to make it in show business in Farewell, is replaced with a barn burner from Stewart and Wood.
Sailor seems more like a Faces song from in which our hero is running from his wedding day. A driving song with some awesomely clever lyrics, “Such a deadly silence, due to my defiance, the wedding ground to a halt, said I changed my mind, ain’t no use in your trying, so her brother punched me in the throat.”
Brilliant.
Grade: A-
135. Bring It Home to Me/You Send Me (Sam Cooke)
How do you outdo Sam Cooke? You can’t but Stewart totally owns these two songs that he combined into a winning melody.
The first half, Bring It Home to Me is a classic Rod Stewart interpretation. He sings the hell out of it. Stewart slows things down with the second half, but the song never loses its power.
Grade: A+
136. Let Me Be Your Car (Elton John, Bernie Taupin)
A rave up of a duet featuring Elton John. The song starts at 100MPH and never lets its foot of the gas. Stewart and John are great here, with energy to spare, with Elton supplying the chaotic and fun piano.
I do wish Rod and Elton did more songs together. The few times they did, they had fun and it comes through in the recordings.
Grade: B
137. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler)
There are two songs of Rod Stewart’s that I have trouble listening to. His cover and gender swap of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Man, ranks as one of my least favorite Rod Stewart songs.
I am not sure why Rod decided to do this, arrogance? Or why the hell not? It’s not that he doesn’t sing it well. It just doesn’t work. I feels overproduced on the album and takes the fun out of the whole album. Listening to it again for this article reminds me why I just can’t get into it.
Grade: F
138. Dixie Toot (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
Smiler picks right back up with my favorite song on the album. The New Orleans flavor and influence on Dixie Toot, is infectious. The horns, the rev-up by the band, Stewart’s passionate performance all work. My favorite part is the start of the second verse where the song all comes together in a beautiful chaotic way.
“I’m gonna lose control of my powers, I might even lose my trousers, Smash some glass, act like trash if I want”
Grade: A+
139. Hard Road (Harry Vanda, George Young)
Rod sings another song about leaving home and not giving a damn what his family thinks. Hard Road is another song that comes at you hard and non-stop. Again incorporating female back up singers, it can’t quite reach the heights of Dixie Toot, but it is a hell of a good time.
Grade: B
140. Girl From the North Country (Bob Dylan)
Rod covers Dylan again, and sings it better than Dylan again. Dylan shines once again as a lyricist taking you on a wonderful journey about a woman that he left “in the north country fair”.
Vivid pictures are conjured in a beautiful song. Rod sings with heartbreak and conviction.
Grade: A
There is an alternate take of this on The Rod Stewart Sessions that loses the airplane and other embellishments out. I prefer this version, Grade: A+
141. Mine for Me (Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney)
The second single from Smiler was a song written for Rod by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney. This actually charted in America, at 91.
The song is a sensitive tune with Rod’s vocals hitting the right temperament. He doesn’t over sing the song he just goes with the flow.
Grade: B
As mentioned above, the Smiler sessions produced a lot of songs that did not make the cut. It feels that Rod was worried about how he could possibly follow up his two chart topping albums while growing as an artist. This is my opinion only, but I think Stewart was conflicted in these recordings. Between showing loyalty to his friends and band mates, to changing the sound of his music into something more polished put him at odds with not only himself, but also The Faces.
142. Think I’ll Pack My Bags (early version of Mystifies Me) (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
There are quite a few songs, that we as fans have asked the question out loud, “How in the hell did this not make it on the album?”
Think I’ll Pack My Bags is one of those songs. The music, the lyrics are so good and delivered so well, that I am not sure why Stewart abandoned it with maybe 10% more work needed to make it complete. And I will say it because it is true, Rod had something brilliant here and even with it not quite done easily eclipses Ronnie Wood’s “Mystifies Me”. Wood’s version on his album is solid, but he can’t sing or write lyrics like Rod Stewart.
Of all the songs that did not make the cut on Smiler, this one hurts the most.
Grade: A+
143. So Tired (Rod Stewart)
Rod pleads with the listener, that he is just tired and wants to go home. This might be how Rod felt at this point in 1973-1974. Tired of being a part of a band, tired of trying to make his best album, tired of fighting with his girlfriend.
I can relate, I actual sing this chorus when work drags on, “I am so tired I just want to go home.”
The song is slow, longing and didn’t really fit the vibe of Smiler.
Grade: B
144. You Put Something Better Inside of Me (Gerry Rafferty, Joe Egan)
In the same vein as “So Tired”, it seems that Rod had a different idea of what Smiler, was going to be. As a lot of the songs that were cut had a much more slower, folky vibe to them, at some point he abandoned the original vision of Smiler and went for a more hard rock version.
Here we find our hero praising the woman he loves with some slightly over-indulgent backup singers.
Grade: C+
145. Every Time We Say Goodbye (Cole Porter)
Recorded at some point in 1973 with the idea of it appearing on Smiler, Rod takes an American Standard (well before 2002’s It Had To Be You…) strips the big band with a rock band, changes his voice every so slightly and gives one hell of a performance.
Grade: A+
146. Missed You (Rod Stewart)
If at first you don’t succeed try again with the same music, but change the lyrics. Rod repurposes “So Tired” with a song of focusing solely on how he lets his lady friend down continuously. The narrator is pouring his heart out to a stranger waiting for an airplane.
Our hero pleads with her to return, but she isn’t moved by his heartfelt message.
Stronger lyrically and more focused, it paints a vivid picture of heartbreak. The end is beautiful with Stewart taking the role of the stranger and giving advice.
Grade: A
147. Crying Laughing Loving Lying (Labi Siffre)
A recent hit for Labi Siffre, Rod makes it a little rougher. Siffre’s version is a little more mellow with him singing like fine wine.
The lyrics are simple but wonderful and thoughtful and that’s why the song works.
Grade: B+
With the release of Smiler, Stewart said that he was now going to be just a member of The Faces. And while he did sign a solo contract with Warner Bros. I actually think he gets a bum rap for the collapse of The Faces. Truth be told, they were drifting apart for years. Ronnie Lane perhaps the most sensitive of the group left first in 1973. Lane was against having a “lead singer” and when Rod’s solo career blew up, he had had enough.
Also, music critics and even members of The Faces accused Stewart of saving his best songs for his solo efforts. As more and more songs have been unearthed and found, I believe this to be false. The box set, Five Guys Walk Into a Bar…, released in 2005 proves this. Why some songs did not make onto a Faces album, I do not know. With Lane gone, they did record enough songs for a new album. The Faces replaced Ronnie Lane with Tetsu Yamauchi, who had also replaced bassist Andy Fraser in the band Free.
The Last Faces Sessions 1974-1975
148. 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 Shortcomings) (Rod Stewart, Kenney Jones, Ian MacLagan, Ronnie Wood, Tetsu Yamauchi)
The Faces were struggling to stay together but they hadn’t lost their sense of humor. As evidenced by the longest song title to ever chart in the U.K.
The song itself is brilliant. Our hero explains that no matter what happens, the woman he is with makes him happy and is all that he needs. “I can be a millionaire, honey when you’re standing there.” Catchy, lovely and the last official single by The Faces.
Grade: A
149. As Long as You Tell Him (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood)
A lazy, beautifully played song. The lyrics are simple, yet they totally work. Rod repeats, “Be sure that you tell him, that I was never your fool” before he launches into the winning chorus, “ ‘Cuz I’ve overcome worse problems than you”.
That’s the whole song, and it totally works.
Grade: A-
150. Come See Me Baby (The Cheater) (Rod Stewart, Ian McLagan, Ronnie Wood)
If you want evidence that Stewart did not hold back on songs for The Faces, look no further than Come See Me Baby (The Cheater).
After a woman’s man cheats on her, our hero pleads with her to come and see him. “If you’ve lost the man you’ve loved, come and see me baby, ‘cuz I’ve lost the woman I love and I feel lonely.”
The lyrics are so wonderful, accompanied by some restrained playing by The Faces make this one of their best that you might not have heard.
And if you want even more evidence that Rod Stewart is a brilliant lyricist, here’s the proof, “Although love can tear your soul apart, you’ll always get a second chance, so if a cheater breaks your heart, lay it on me baby”
Grade: A+
151. (If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right (Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, and Raymond Jackson)
A soul song that was a hit in 1972 by Luther Ingram, Rod and The Faces tackle it by removing some of the funk/soul and replacing it with more of a slow rock jam.
Stewart is in fine vocal form and he must love this song. He tried it again, in 1977 on his solo album, Footloose and Fancy Free, but we will tackle that later.
Grade: B
152. Open to Ideas (Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ian Maclagan)
Lost to the world until the aptly titled greatest hits package, Good Boys…When They’re Asleep. Recorded in the last Faces session, the song is almost finished, with Rod singing and playing the role of producer as he calls out instructions during the runtime.
Another mellow song that meanders as Stewart pleads with his girl to wait for him to call. The lyrics are not quite finished, the chorus is there and the rest of the song doesn’t seem far behind.
Grade: B
153. Hi-Heel Sneakers/Everybody Needs Somebody to Love (Robert Higginbottom) (Solomon Burke, Bert Burns, Jerry Wexler)
With a reworking of the blues standard, The Faces change the order of the verses, speed it up and have a little more fun with the song, not to be outdone the launch right away into the R&B classic, Everybody Needs Someone to Love. By upping the tempo of Hi-Heel Sneakers, it melds perfectly with Solomon Burke’s version.
The Rolling Stones have a popular version of Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, and it’s just my opinion, but doesn’t reach greatness of Burke’s original, and The Faces version is more fun.
Grade: A-
154. Gettin’ Hungry (Brian Wilson, Mike Love)
A Brian Wilson song that The Faces do so much better. While The Faces follow the basic structure of the song, it has much more energy. It also feels more like a Faces song than a Beach Boy song, on the prowl for a woman, “Gettin’ Hungry, searchin’ for my kind of woman”.
Grade: B
155. Rock Me (Ian MacLagan)
Claps and a rocking guitar open a driving song sung with gusto by Rod Stewart. Of course the song is about sex, “Honey, won’t you rock me all night, on the midnight trampoline, baby rock me all night, all night on my back.” (I think that’s what Rod is singing. The song isn’t quite finished and Rod sometimes will mumble or hum lyrics to see how they fit)
I wish they finished this song. One, I am pretty sure it is the only song Ian MacLagan wrote by himself. Two, Rod and the band are totally into it and it comes through in the recording. Oh, what might have been.
Grade: A-
156. I Can Feel the Fire, Live 1975 (Ronnie Wood)
On Ronnie Wood’s solo album, Mick Jagger and other Rolling Stones lent him a hand on several tracks. When Wood played them with The Faces, Rod took the Jagger part.
Released on Five Guys Walk Into a Bar… it also shows up on the concert film, “The Faces: Final Concert”
Electrifying guitar is a highlight, so too is the infectious chemistry.
Grade: B+
With those final trips to the studio and concerts, The Faces slowly, but not surprisingly went their separate ways. The first to leave was Ronnie Wood, who joined The Rolling Stones and became a permanent member, and Rod Stewart’s solo career was too big and successful to ignore. The Faces were no more. Rod also changed the sound of his music and his home. Stewart left England, for the United States. HIs next album would embrace the sound of the soul and folk.
Stay tuned for Part 5: In Which Our Hero Polishes His Sound, Falls in Love with a Bond Girl and Other Musings of a Rock ‘n’ Roll Superstar.