FACES "OOH LA LA" LP NM/VG+ 1973 w Insert / Poster w/ Rod Stewart

$

43

Ooh La La Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

It wasn't all over but the shouting, but the Faces sure weren't thriving when they released their last album, Ooh La La, in 1973. The problem, of course, was Rod Stewart, who had turned into a superstar, causing innumerable tensions within the band. He had yet to decamp to America, had yet to turn to pop instead of rock & roll, but he was on the cusp of that sea change. Nevertheless, on the record at least, it didn't seem like being with the Faces was a strain on him; it still seemed that he enjoyed a good night out with the boys, and Ooh La La is precisely that: a good night out, one that's blessed with some very memorable moments. If there's not quite as many as on the past two Faces platters, chalk that up to circumstance perhaps. On Long Player and A Nod Is as Good as a Wink, they were a well-oiled machine at the peak of their powers. Here they're trying to rev up -- they get there, but it's possible to hear the effort, as some of the songs fall just a little bit short of memorable. But there are some extraordinary moments here, including Rod's "Silicone Grown" and the wonderful "Cindy Incidentally," a sweet, easy pop song. But the heart of this album really belongs to Ronnie Lane, who dominates the second side of the album, starting with the Stewart collaboration "If I'm on the Late Side" and running through the sweet, soft "Glad and Sorry" to "Just Another Honky" and, finally, to the raucous yet bittersweet "Ooh La La," as great a song as they ever recorded and an appropriate drawing of the curtain on this tremendous band.

Faces (3) – Ooh La La

Label:

Warner Bros. Records – BS 2665

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Pitman Pressing

Country:

US

Released:

Mar 30, 1973

Genre:

Rock

Style:

Blues Rock

A1 Silicone Grown

Bass – R. Lane*

Drums – K. Jones*

Guitar – R. Wood*

Piano – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Stewart*

Written-By – Stewart*, Wood*

3:06

A2 Cindy Incidentally

Bass – R. Lane*

Drums – K. Jones*

Guitar – R. Wood*

Piano – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Stewart*

Written-By – McLagan*, Stewart*, Wood*

2:35

A3 Flags And Banners

Bouzouki [Busuki Electric Guitar], Bass – R. Wood*

Drums – K. Jones*

Electric Guitar – R. Stewart*

Organ – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Lane*

Written-By – Stewart*, Lane*

2:02

A4 My Fault

Bass – R. Lane*

Drums – K. Jones*

Guitar [Guitars] – R. Wood*

Piano – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Stewart*, R. Wood*

Written-By – McLagan*, Stewart*, Wood*

3:06

A5 Borstal Boys

Bass – R. Lane*

Drums – K. Jones*

Guitar, Slide Guitar [Slide] – R. Wood*

Piano – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Stewart*

Written-By – McLagan*, Stewart*, Wood*

2:53

B1 Fly In The Ointment

Bass – R. Lane*

Drums – K. Jones*

Guitar, Slide Guitar [Slide] – R. Wood*

Organ, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – I. McLagan*

Percussion – Neemoi (Speedy) Aquaye*

Written-By – McLagan*, Jones*, Wood*, Lane*

3:48

B2 If I'm On The Late Side

Acoustic Guitar – R. Lane*

Bass, Electric Guitar – R. Wood*

Drums – K. Jones*

Organ – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Stewart*

Written-By – Stewart*, Lane*

2:35

B3 Glad And Sorry

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – R. Wood*

Drums – K. Jones*

Piano – I. McLagan*

Tambourine, Bass – R. Lane*

Vocals – R. Wood*, R. Lane*

Written-By – Lane*

3:07

B4 Just Another Honky

Bass – R. Lane*

Drums – K. Jones*

Guitar – R. Wood*

Piano – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Stewart*

Written-By – Lane*

3:35

B5 Ooh La La

Acoustic Guitar [Acoustics] – R. Wood*, R. Lane*

Drums, Percussion – K. Jones*

Piano, Harmonium – I. McLagan*

Vocals – R. Wood*

Written-By – Wood*, Lane*

3:35

Corporate Owner – Warner Bros. Inc.

Record Company – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Recorded At – Olympic Studios

Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman

Designed At – AGI (4)

Published By – WB Music Corp.

Copyright © – WB Music Corp.

Design [Album Design] – Jim Ladwig

Design [Poster Design], Photography By [Poster Photography] – Jak Kilby

Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Phil Chapman

Engineer [Engineered By] – Glyn Johns

Photography By – Tom Wright (7)

Producer [Produced By] – Glyn Johns

"P" stamped in runouts denotes Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman, pressing. Remainder of runouts etched.

Issued in complex/gimmick cover with animated front and gatefold rear.

Includes large 30" × 20" poster insert, with lyrics, artwork and photography. Some copies included a set of photo postcards.

Title on labels: Ooh-La-La

℗ 1973 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Printed in U.S.A.

Warner Bros. Records Inc., a Subsidiary & Licensee of Warner Bros. Inc., 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91505 • 44 East 50th Street, New York, New York 10022 • Made in U.S.A.

© 1973 — Warner Bros. Records Inc.

On labels: All selections published by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

On poster: All songs © 1973 WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

Rights Society: ASCAP

Price Code (On spine): 0598

Pressing Plant ID (Stamped in runouts): P

Matrix / Runout (Label side A): S40,314

Matrix / Runout (Label side B): S40,315

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 1): P BS 2665 40314-1 x

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 1): P BS 2665-40315-1 x

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 2): P BS 2665 40314-1 X A1

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 2): P BS 2665 40315-1 B

Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, variant 3): P BS2665 40314-1 A1

Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, variant 3): P BS2665 40315-1 B1

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.