Wednesday, May 10, 2023 7pm ET: Feature LP: Faces – Ooh La La (1973)

Ooh La La is the fourth and final studio album by the English rock band Faces, released in March 1973. It reached number one in the UK Albums Chart in the week of April 28, 1973.

By the end of 1972, following the critical and commercial successes of Rod Stewart’s solo albums, the singer had become increasingly distanced from some of his Faces bandmates, who were frustrated by the fact that by this point they had come to be perceived by the public (and even by some concert promoters) as little more than Stewart’s backing band for live work. Stewart himself was reportedly distracted enough by his newfound stardom that he missed the first two weeks of recording sessions for the latest Faces album entirely. The production of the album would continue to be hampered by the singer’s apparent lack of commitment to the project, with Stewart not appearing in any capacity on three of the LP’s ten tracks. As a result of this situation, Ooh La La was, according to Ian McLagan, “Ronnie [Lane]’s album”, with Lane’s contributions setting the tone of the album’s quieter, more reflective second side.

Despite the difficult circumstances of the recording sessions, producer Glyn Johns held the group together, helping to placate internal tensions; his efforts enabled the Faces to record a focused, concise album in the manner of its predecessor, A Nod Is As Good As a Wink… to a Blind Horse (the band’s first two albums were, in contrast, lengthier self-produced records). Once the recording of Ooh La La was completed, the album’s credits optimistically suggested an intention to work with Johns again in the future, with the comment: “Produced by Glyn Johns (see you in a year)”.

“Silicone Grown” 3:05
“Cindy Incidentally” 2:37
“Flags and Banners” 2:00
“My Fault” 3:05
“Borstal Boys” 2:52
“Fly in the Ointment” 3:49
“If I’m on the Late Side” 2:36
“Glad and Sorry” 3:04
“Just Another Honky” 3:32
“Ooh La La” 3:30

Ronnie Lane – bass, rhythm and acoustic guitars, percussion, tambourine & lead vocal (tracks 3 & 8)
Ronnie Wood – lead electric, slide, acoustic and rhythm guitars, electric bouzouki, co-lead vocal (track 4 & 8) & lead vocal (track 10)
Ian McLagan – piano, organ, harmonium, backing vocals & co-lead vocal (track 8)
Kenney Jones – drums & percussion
Rod Stewart – lead vocal (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 & 9), banjo & secondary electric guitar (track 3) – not present on tracks 6, 8 & 10
Neemoi “Speedy” Aquaye – congas, shakers & percussion (track 6)

Friday 12/31/21 3pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 4

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with land complete letter D with music from: BW Stevenson, Diana Ross, Aerosmith, America, Who, Shocking Blue, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Queen, Peter Frampton, Paul Kelly, James Brown, Electric Light Orchestra, Miracles and many more.

3pm to 6pm ET

Thursday 12/30/21 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 3

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with letter C and start D with music from: Spinners, Byrds, Buckingham Nicks, Led Zeppelin, America, King Harvest, Chicago, Joe Walsh, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, War, Helen Reddy, Who, Jimmy Buffett, Anne Murray, Archie Bell and The Drells and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

1973-episode-3Download

Wednesday 12/29/21 2pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1973 A to Z – Part 2

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1973 A2Z.

We continue with letter B and start C with music from: Elton John, Carole King, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Judge Dread, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Dave Edmunds, Faces, Who, Rolling Stones, Millie Jackson, Jim Croce, Blue Oyster Cult and many more.

2pm to 6pm ET

Friday 5/7/21 1am ET: Feature LP: Faces – A Nod Is As Good As a Wink… to a Blind Horse (1971)

A Nod’s As Good As a Wink… to a Blind Horse is the third album by British rock group Faces, and their second album of 1971. Released November 17, 1971 Bolstered somewhat by lead singer Rod Stewart’s recent solo success with “Maggie May”, it was their most successful album worldwide, peaking at No. 6 in the US, and reaching No. 2 in the UK. It also contains their biggest US hit, the swaggering “Stay with Me” (No. 6 in the UK, No. 17 in the US), and the album itself would be certified gold by the RIAA in 1972.

The album is generally regarded by critics and fans as the Faces’ definitive statement; the most consistent, balanced album of the group’s career in terms of songwriting and of mood, thanks in no small part to the decision to share production duties with Glyn Johns (Johns’ association with the group stretched back as far as their original iteration as the Small Faces). As a result of Johns’ involvement the album is a more focused and concise offering than the two previous Faces LPs, clocking in at 36.28, where both of its predecessors exceeded the 45 minute mark.

The album features two tasteful original ballads and a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Memphis Tennessee” alongside the usual Faces’ trademark raucous bluesy rockers and rollicking bar-room swing-alongs. Bassist Ronnie Lane, usually confined to backing vocals and the occasional sole lead vocal on previous Faces records, sings lead on three of his own compositions here (one co-written with keyboardist Ian McLagan). Of these, “Debris”, an elliptical but profoundly emotional examination of father-son relationships, was chosen as the B-side to their hit “Stay With Me”.

The title of the album is a reference to a similar line in Monty Python’s Flying Circus’s “Nudge Nudge” sketch. The original issue of the album came with a large poster consisting of a picture collage, including images of pills and pharmaceutical capsules, as well as polaroid photos apparently taken on tour of band and crew members reveling with naked groupies in hotel rooms. Within weeks of release, the record company had second thoughts about the poster and re-issued the album without it, turning original copies with the poster into collectors’ items overnight.

1. “Miss Judy’s Farm” 3:42
2. “You’re So Rude” 3:46
3. “Love Lives Here” 3:09
4. “Last Orders Please” 2:38
5. “Stay with Me” 4:38
6. “Debris” 4:39
7. “Memphis” 5:31
8. “Too Bad” 3:16
9. “That’s All You Need” 5:05

Rod Stewart – lead vocals on tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7–9, harmonica
Ronnie Lane – bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, lead vocals on tracks 2, 4 & 6, backing vocals on “Stay With Me” and “Too Bad”
Ronnie Wood – lead, slide, acoustic and pedal steel guitars, harmonica, backing vocals on “Stay With Me” and “Too Bad”
Ian McLagan – piano, organ, backing vocals on “Too Bad”
Kenney Jones – drums, percussion
Harry Fowler – steel drums on “That’s All You Need”
Glyn Johns – co-producer, engineer

Saturday 4pm ET: Feature Artist – Faces

(Photo by Ron Howard/Redferns)

Faces were an English rock band formed in 1969 by members of 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 guitar, vocals), 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 Faces.

Kenney Jones – drums, percussion (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2009–2012, 2015, 2019)
Ronnie Wood – guitar, vocals (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2009–2012, 2015, 2019)
Ian McLagan – keyboards (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2009–2012; died 2014)
Rod Stewart – lead vocals (1969–1975, 1986, 1993, 2015, 2019)
Ronnie Lane – bass guitar, vocals (1969–1973; died 1997)
Tetsu Yamauchi – bass guitar (1973–1975)
Jesse Ed Davis – rhythm guitar (1975; died 1988)
Bill Wyman – bass guitar (1986, 1993, 2009)
Andy Fairweather-Low – rhythm guitar (2009)
Mick Hucknall – lead vocals (2009–2012)
Glen Matlock – bass guitar (2010–2012)