Five Guys Walk into a Bar...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/18/Five_Guys_Walk_into_a_Bar.jpg
Released July 20, 2004
Recorded 1969-March 7, 1975
Genre Rock
Label Warner Bros. Records / Rhino Records
Five Guys Walk into a Bar... was a four-disc retrospective of the British rock group Faces from 2004, collecting sixty-seven tracks from among the group's four studio albums, assorted single A- and B-sides, BBC sessions, rehearsal tapes and one track from a promotional flexi-disc, "Dishevelment Blues," which was never actually intended for release.
As with most box sets, a great deal of the set is dedicated to the albums themselves. Eight of ten tracks from 1973's Ooh La La appear, as do eight of nine from 1971's A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse, five of nine from 1971's Long Player (with an additional two in alternate versions) and three of ten from 1970's First Step (Small Faces) (with one extra track appearing in an alternate version). Every single A- and/or B-side that had never appeared before on compact disc appeared on the set, such as the single version of their take on Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" and the dobro-driven B-side "Skewiff (Mend the Fuse)."
Many tracks from BBC sessions appear throughout, including takes on Rod Stewart's own "Maggie May" and "Gasoline Alley," the latter as part of a medley including Faces' own "Around the Plynth." From rehearsal tapes come Faces' earliest recordings from the summer of 1969, including covers of Big Bill Broonzy's "I Feel So Good" (featuring Stewart on guitar) and Howlin' Wolf's "Evil."
The set was compiled by the group's keyboardist, Ian McLagan, who had previously compiled 1999's Good Boys... When They're Asleep.
Track listing
-------------
Disc 1
1. "Flying" (Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [A]
2. "On The Beach" (Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood) [ B ]
3. "Too Bad" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [C]
4. "If I'm On The Late Side" (Ronnie Lane and Rod Stewart) [D]
5. "Debris" (Ronnie Lane) [C]
6. "Jealous Guy" (John Lennon) [outtake from D]
7. "Evil" (W. Dixon) [Rehearsal, 1969]
8. "As Long As You Tell Him" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [B-side single, 1975]
9. "Maggie May" (M. Quittenton and Rod Stewart) [Live/BBC, 1971]
10. "Cindy Incidentally" [Alternate Mix] (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [outtake from D]
11. "Maybe I'm Amazed" (Paul McCartney) [Live/BBC, 1971]
12. "Insurance" (Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood) [outtake from D]
13. "I Came Looking For You"+ (Ronnie Lane) [Rehearsal, 1971]
14. "Last Orders Please" (Ronnie Lane) [C]
15. "Wyndlesham Bay (Jodie)" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [outtake from D]
16. "I Can Feel The Fire" (Ron Wood) [Live, 1975]
17. "Tonight's Number"++ (Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood) [from Mahoney's Last Stand, 1976]
18. "Come See Me Baby (The Cheater)" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [outtake from D]
+ performed by Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagan
++ performed by Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood
Disc 2
1. "Pool Hall Richard" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [A-side single, 1973]
2. "You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It)" (Dick Cooper, Ernie Shelby, Beth Beatty) [Live/BBC, 1973]
3. "Glad and Sorry" (Ronnie Lane) [D]
4. "Shake, Shudder, Shiver" (Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood) [Rehearsal, 1969]
5. "Miss Judy's Farm" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [Live/BBC, 1973]
6. "Richmond" (Ronnie Lane) [ B ]
7. "That's All You Need" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [C]
8. "Rear Wheel Skid" (K. Jones, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Ron Wood) [B-side single, 1970]
9. "Maybe I'm Amazed" (Paul McCartney) [A-side single, 1971]
10. "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" (Homer Banks, Carl Hampton and R. Jackson) [outtake from D]
11. "Take A Look At The Guy" (Ron Wood) [Live, 1975]
12. "Flags and Banners" (Ronnie Lane and Rod Stewart) [D]
13. "Bad 'N' Ruin" (Ian McLagan and Rod Stewart) [Live/BBC, 1971]
14. "Around The Plynth" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [A]
15. "Sweet Lady Mary" (Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [ B ]
16. "Had Me A Real Good Time" (Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [ B ]
17. "Cut Across Shorty" (Marijohn Wilkin and Wayne Walker) [Live/BBC, 1971]
Disc 3
1. "You're So Rude" (Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagan) [C]
2. "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield) [Live/BBC, 1971]
3. "Love Lives Here" (Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [C]
4. "I'd Rather Go Blind" (Bill Foster, Ellington Jordan) [Live, 1975]
5. "Hi-Heel Sneakers" (Robert Higginbotham) / "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" (Solomon Burke, Bert Berns, Jerry Wexler) [F]
6. "Gettin' Hungry" (Brian Wilson, Mike Love) [F]
7. "Silicone Grown" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [D]
8. "Oh Lord I'm Browned Off" (K. Jones, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Ron Wood) [B-side single, 1971]
9. "Just Another Honky" (Ronnie Lane) [D]
10. "Open To Ideas" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [F]
11. "Skewiff (Mend the Fuse)" (K. Jones, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Ron Wood) [B-side single, 1973]
12. "Too Bad" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [Live, 1972]
13. "Rock Me" (Ian McLagan) [F]
14. "Angel" (Jimi Hendrix) [Live/BBC, 1973]
15. "Stay With Me" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [Live/BBC, 1971]
16. "Ooh La La" (Ronnie Lane and Ron Wood) [D]
Disc 4
1. "The Stealer" (Paul Rodgers, Andy Fraser, Paul Kossoff) [Live/BBC, 1973]
2. "Around the Plynth" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) / "Gasoline Alley" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [Live/BBC, 1970]
3. "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)" (K. Jones, Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart, Ron Wood and T. Yamauchi) [A-side single, 1975]
4. "I Wish It Would Rain" (Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, Roger Penzabene) [Live B-side single, 1973]
5. "Miss Judy's Farm" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [Live/BBC, 1971]
6. "Love In Vain" (Robert Johnson) [Live/BBC, 1971]
7. "My Fault" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [Live/BBC, 1973]
8. "I Feel So Good" (Big Bill Broonzy) [Rehearsal, 1969]
9. "Miss Judy's Farm" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [C]
10. "Three Button Hand Me Down" (Ian McLagan and Rod Stewart) [A]
11. "Cindy Incidentally" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [D]
12. "Borstal Boys" (Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [D]
13. "Flying" (Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [Live/BBC, 1970]
14. "Bad 'N' Ruin" (Ian McLagan and Rod Stewart) [ B ]
15. "Dishevelment Blues" (K. Jones, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [promotional flexi-disc, 1973]
16. "Stay With Me" (Rod Stewart and Ron Wood) [C]
Key
* [A]= First Step (March 1970)
* [ B ]= Long Player (February 1971)
* [C]= A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse (November 1971)
* [D]= Ooh La La (March 1973)
* [E]= Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners (December 1973)
* [F]= The Faces' Last Sessions (January 1975)
Personnel
* Kenney Jones: drums, percussion (June 1969-December 1975)
* Ronnie Lane: bass, acoustic guitar, dobro, tambourine, vocals (June 1969-June 1973)
* Ian McLagan: organ, acoustic and electric pianos, harmonium, clavinet, harmony vocals (June 1969-December 1975)
* Rod Stewart: lead vocals; rhythm guitar on "Flags and Banners" and "I Feel So Good" (July 1969-December 1975)
* Ronnie Wood: lead, slide, and pedal steel guitars, bass, harmonica, vocals (June 1969-December 1975)
* Tetsu Yamauchi: bass (June 1973-December 1975)
Review
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by - Matt Rowe
A million and one superlatives come to mind when talking about one of the most overlooked bands in rockdom, The Faces. Often called the poor man's Rolling Stones, The Faces delivered much, much more than that moniker would have you believe. Unfortunately, Rod Stewart's career led to the far too early demise of this band that few knew outside of Stay With Me, their one high-charting single, and then they were mentioned as Rod Stewart and Faces. Shame! As a piece of trivia for you, Wood's solo album, I've Got My Own Album to Do, was a slap at Stewart's increasingly departing attitude as his own solo career was taking off. It's noted that in the midst of recording and when they could get Rod in the studio, he would remark that I've got my own album to do.
The Faces grew out of The Small Faces and only by connection with the three remaining members, Ronnie Lane, Kenny Jones, and Ian McLagan. The rest of this band was rounded out by the extraordinary talents of vocalist Rod Stewart and one of the world's finest guitarist in Ronnie Wood (who was born to be a Stone but, thankfully, was a Face beforehand.) Re-born in 1969, and still named Small Faces due to panicky label execs, Faces immediately embodied the heart and soul of pure-bred rock and roll. We, of course, can spend the rest of the day talking about the band that was Faces and mourn their deservedly mournful, departure. But rather, it's better to introduce you to the band that was; the band that was rock n roll; the band that yielded extraordinary performers; and the band that was..The Faces.
Ian McLagan, the organ and piano parts of the band, worked on and released this definitive 4CD document called Five Guys Walk Into a Bar... Strange title, that! But not so strange for any who followed the band. It's no secret that the guys drank heavily and partied hardy. So, the title opens the set and sets the stage for the treasures found within. There are rehearsals takes, alternate mixes, live cuts, a wealth of previously unissued recordings, and intimate recording banter between the mates as heard on Jealous Guy (and also has the words written so that you can follow along.) This set is done so well that it should be looked at on how to do a great retrospective Box Set. McLagan's attention to detail is unmatched and adds to the allure of the set.
There are so many gems on this collection that you'll find yourself lost in time; lost in the warmth of true rocknroll while listening to the beautiful, and unreleased, Come See Me Baby (The Cheater); lost in the incredible rawness of Tonight's Number with it's soulful sax, hard-edged guitar, and the purity of the structured jam. You'll revel in a slower alternate mix of Cindy Incidentally as well as the original issue of the song. You'll be treated to a live version of Stay With Me as well as a live cut of McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed. There's two live versions of Miss Judy's Farm and a live cut of Wood's fine slide guitar song, Around the Plynth. Of course, all of these live cuts are accompanied by their original cuts elsewhere on the set as the set refuses to follow a chronology. But Five Guys Walk Into a Bar... is not hurt by this chronological departure but rather, ends up a complete celebration of the band without bringing notice to the short timeframe of the band. It's part of what makes this collection so spectacular.
There are several live Faces versions of Rod Stewart hits like (I Know) I'm Losing You, Gasoline Alley, and Maggie May included on this set as well as a live cut of I Can Feel The Fire that eventually ended up being re-recorded for a Wood solo album.
You'll enjoy the band's unissued cover of If Loving You is Wrong (I Don't Want To Be Right), an outtake from the Ooh La La sessions. If you're a Faces fan, there isn't a song on this massive repository of 67 magical cuts that encompass over 5 hours of material that you'll be displeased with. This batch of songs have been remastered to bring a new level of quality to the sound. You'll not be disappointed with what you hear in most cuts. The box is presented in a library book style that houses discs in an interesting overlap, two to the inside front cover and two to the back. Sandwiched between all that audio goodness is a 62 page bound book complete with photos of the band, pictures of singles and album labels and covers, and detailed listings of the songs in several places.
Faces became a band of many hats as they strolled, no - stomped - through their years. Born in 1969 and ended in 1975 as Wood became a Stone, Lane quit amid furor, Jones replaced Keith Moon in The Who, McLagan made solos, working with other artists extensively, and Stewart became something else. But their legacy, as found on this set, is immutable, the concrete of the foundation of rock. The world has clear cut representatives and the least known but most complete representation emanates from the talents of the 5 boys, 6 if you allow for Tetsu Yamauchi, who took over for Lane. Texturally, there isn't a band that rocked as good as these guys. Stewart's cigarette-worn bluesy voice, McLagan's sassy command of his keys, Jones' excellent drumming, Wood's grasp of what rock guitar meant, and Lane's direction and bass became the legendary sound of rock, perhaps more than the Stones. Blasphemy You'll need to hear a set like this before you condemn me to be hung on Rock's altar. And you may be surprised at what you conclude with.
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