Faces – Early Steps (Rhino)

The Faces – the greatest, sloppiest band in the history of rock n’ roll.  They’re also incredibly underrated – often overshadowed by Rod Stewart’s uber-successful solo career.  Each of the five members were integral to their unique, ramshackle fury.  

For Rocktober, Rhino has assembled Early Steps – a compilation of rehearsals and studio outtakes, showing the band in its gestational period.

Side one is the real treat, featuring four tracks from sessions in the fall of 1969 at Olympic studios in London, before the band began recording their first album (later called First Step).  These are of fantastic quality.  The very first notes of “Shake, Shudder, Shiver” you get everything we’ve come to love about the band: Kenney Jones’ fiery drums, gritty guitar, and the entire band sounding like their barely keeping everything from falling apart.  Then, Rod, in his sandpaper voice, tears through the mix.  

“Devotion” has an Otis Redding feel, with Rod giving an uncharacteristically breathy delivery.  I also love how Ian McLagen’s organ and Ronnie Wood’s guitar interlock – here Woody sounds like Steve Cropper.  Ronnie Laine has a nice bass run during the solo.  While “Train” is a bona fide unreleased Faces song – starting slow as it leaves the station.  Then, the band finds a blistering groove, anchored by the organ – it’s reminiscent of Spencer Davis’ “I’m a Man.”  Then, the finally the track slows down at the end.  This album is worth picking up for this gem.

Side two’s origin is actually earlier, in the summer of 69.  The quartet of songs come from a cassette recording of McLagan’s, and sound more like bootlegs.  For “I Feel So Good,” Stewart sounds like he’s singing like his life depended on it, augmented by searing slide from Wood.  “Evil” feels like a work in progress here, with the tempo changing, while “Shake Shudder, Shiver” here shows the band really gelling.

Most of these tracks are unavailable on streaming at the moment, making grabbing the vinyl that much sweeter.  —Tony Peters