A Nod is As Good As a Wink to a Blind Horse

Amazon.com
Sixties Britpoppers the Small Faces begat the Faces, the reshaped '70s version. Of course, the latter-day incarnation of the band was best known for its lead singer, Rod Stewart, and his unique, squalling voice. The players, meanwhile, displayed Stones-ish sensibilities, which makes sense given that guitarist Ron Wood left the group to join Jagger, Richards, and the boys. Faces didn't release a great number of albums, but during their tumble on the rock charts, they made some truly great songs, several of which are found on this, their consensus classic. "Stay with Me" sounds like a barroom brawl set to music, and "Miss Judy's Farm" puts one in mind of a garage band that lucked out and found a studio and a (somewhat) sober producer. A Nod... is the most representative recording of a band that helped shape hard rock and punk for years to come. --Lorry Fleming

A Nod is As Good As a Wink to a Blind Horse,Faces,Warner Bros / Wea,Album Rock,England,Hard Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Proto-Punk,Rock,Rock & Roll,Rock/Pop

A Nod is As Good As a Wink to a Blind Horse

Average customer rating:

"Debris"...Ronnie Lane snags the best track on this classic.
For One Song
C'mon...
Brings back great memories. Solid rock & roll.
The Faces' best record

A Nod is As Good As a Wink to a Blind Horse
Faces
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002KDW
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

Miss Judy's Farm
You're So Rude
Love Lives Here
Last Orders Please
Stay With Me
Debris
Memphis, Tennessee
Too Bad
That's All You Need

Amazon.com

Sixties Britpoppers the Small Faces begat the Faces, the reshaped '70s version. Of course, the latter-day incarnation of the band was best known for its lead singer, Rod Stewart, and his unique, squalling voice. The players, meanwhile, displayed Stones-ish sensibilities, which makes sense given that guitarist Ron Wood left the group to join Jagger, Richards, and the boys. Faces didn't release a great number of albums, but during their tumble on the rock charts, they made some truly great songs, several of which are found on this, their consensus classic. "Stay with Me" sounds like a barroom brawl set to music, and "Miss Judy's Farm" puts one in mind of a garage band that lucked out and found a studio and a (somewhat) sober producer. A Nod... is the most representative recording of a band that helped shape hard rock and punk for years to come. --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

"Debris"...Ronnie Lane snags the best track on this classic........2007-02-26

Ronnie Lane's poignant ode to his dad..."Debris"...is the killer track on this album. Stewart's BEST vocals are the background vocals he provides on this track. That's a pretty bold claim when you're talking about an album that includes "Miss Judy's Farm," "Stay With Me," "Too Bad," "That's All You Need"...but it's a fact. The late, great Ronnie Lane provided a much-needed "McCartney sweetness" counterpoint to Stewart's rooster-haired strutting, and that combination (along with the unstoppable Ronnie Wood) made this band magic. They pulled off one more...the lesser "Ooh La La"...and Ronnie Lane headed south. Free's Tetsu Yamauchi gamely stepped in to fill the void, but with all due respect, he was "just a bass player." After a sloppy live album, Faces faded away and Stewart became a cartoon of his former self. But on THIS album, you have an ample opportunity to understand what the hype was all about.

For One Song.......2006-12-28

For Christmas this was on my wish list for "Stay with Me". I got my wish and had to absolutely laugh and cringe through the rest of this CD. To say "Horrible" would be tooooo kind but that only applies to the lyrics and singing.

However, the redeeming factor for the second star was the actual music. If they had just kept their mouths shut, I probably would have given it a 4.

C'mon..........2006-08-15

...what are you reading this for? You know what to expect when you buy a disc produced by Rod Stewart's Faces: at least four or five hard-rocking party numbers ('Miss Judy's Farm', 'Stay With Me', 'Memphis', 'Too Bad', and 'That's All You Need') featuring Rod's raspy vocals, and heavy, pulsing guitar and bass lines courtesy of Ron Wood and Ronnie Lane; two or three irresistible love ballads ('Love Lives Here', 'Debris'); and to top it all off, some honky-tonk or boogie numbers ('You're So Rude', 'Last Orders Please'). 'A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse...', released in November of 1971, charged up to number six on the US album charts, and stands as the most commercially successful of the bands' four albums.

While there isn't always great depth to the lyrics offered up by the three R's... Rod, Ron, and Ronnie, no one can deny that they often cut straight to the chase. On 'Miss Judy's Farm', Rod paints vivid scenario's such as "I was just eighteen and all I needed was to get my way". Ironically, on 'That's All You Need', Stewart sings, "...my kind of music... you knew it wasn't gonna be simple..." when "simple" is exactly the form of music this band revels in. That particular song drifts along on a masterful lead guitar riff that makes it one of the most under-appreciated epic rock tracks. The second side of 'A nod...' (on the original vinyl version) opened with one of the bands' most successful single releases, 'Stay With Me', which climbed to number eight on the national charts in January of 1972. Despite being mercilessly overplayed on both the AM and FM frequencies, 'Stay With Me' has proven powerful enough to overcome overexposure. Stewart's barroom delivery takes lines like "I hear you're a mean old Jezebel" and transforms them into terms of endearment. A honky tonk piano track and grinding rhythm guitar propel the number into a fantastic instrumental coda embracing several faux finishes. 'Too Bad' chimes in with a tale involving a twelve foot tall butler, a colored queen, and sweaty girls over an up-tempo, party-rock beat. Their cover of Chuck Berry's 'Memphis' plods along in the beginning, but confidently gains intensity as Rod tells the familiar tale about a phone call from southside Memphis Marie, all of six years old.

Among the better ballads are 'Love Lives Here', offering a melodic combination of guitars, piano, and organ, and Ronnie Lane's 'Debris', supported by more solid guitar and piano interaction. While less entertaining than the surrounding fare, 'You're So Rude' blends a rocking rhythm guitar riff with a tight electric lead guitar, and tops it off with a harmonica in the coda. Perhpas the weakest track among the nine performed is the side one closer, 'Last Orders Please', a break-up tale dropping some worn cliche's such as "you've got yours and I've got mine".

I was a senior in high school the year that 'A nod...' hit the shelves, and the disc proved to be one of the first to hit the platter at each and every party that brought closure to that most important of all years. Whenever I see that cover (which always made me think of this as a live disc, which it isn't), surrounded by that distinct dark brown border, waves of memories and emotions from my youth surround me. For that reason, my own perception of the quality of this disc may be biased, but with each subsequent listen I feel vindicated that it isn't just my associations to it that make 'A nod...' a rock and roll classic. As many good times as this album must have witnessed in the early 1970's, it remains vital enough to produce many more to come.

Brings back great memories. Solid rock & roll. .......2005-10-04

Back in the late 70's I had the vinyl and this was one of my favorite albums. The CD version sounds just as good if not better. The music is still very fresh, classic rock & roll. Great rock singing and guitar work. This has to be one of Rod Stewart's best material. I think he was at his best with the Faces or maybe he was just younger, drank more Scotch and really believed in what he was singing. The later material just has not been convincing with lot of commercialism. I am curious to listen to the Gold Disc version from Audio Fidelity.

The Faces' best record.......2005-03-27

"A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse" is the Faces' third album in just two years, and it is their most consistent record alongside 1973's "Ooh La La".

Filled with crunchy electric guitars, blooze-n-boogie piano, and deep, bluesy grooves, it boasts the group's only significant hit, the superb, fiery rocker "Stay With Me". But there are numerous other highlights, including the strutting "Miss Judy's Farm", a rollicking cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis", and the piano-driven hard rock of "Too Bad"...everything is worth a listen, actually.
"A Nod Is As Good As A Wink..." rocks like very few other records of the early seventies, and this fine record proves what a great, underrated rock n' roll outfit the Faces were.

Average customer rating:

Another Audio Fidelity Benchmark
Sit Back and Grip Your Chair
Best version Great Album!
Great album from an underrated band, GREAT sounding disc
Top Notch Engineering

A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...to a Blind Horse
Faces
Manufacturer: Audio Fidelity
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Proto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0006UYOJM
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

Miss Judy's Farm
You're So Rude
Love Lives Here
Last Orders Please
Stay With Me
Debris
Memphis
Too Bad
That's All You Need

Amazon.com

The Faces scored their only real hit in America with the raucous and brilliant "Stay With Me," and the rest of this long player from 1971 is deliriously good. In fact, it's a wonder that "All You Need"--a visceral, Delta slide-heavy song--is not at the very top of the classic rock canon as well. Quite a few early `70s acts played straight-ahead rock and roll with the kind of good time attitude displayed here by Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, and friends. What makes the group stand out, especially on this, their best album, is how willfully sloppy, raucous and a little strange these songs are--qualities particularly valued with post-punk hindsight. There are shaggy dog jokes disguised as songs ("You're So Rude"), one of the only Chuck Berry covers that approaches the original ("Memphis, Tennessee"), and truly sappy and maudlin numbers that do not suck ("Love Lives Here," "Debris"). One listen and it's easy to see why a group of boys from Georgia would dedicate their career to rewriting this album. This "Audio Fidelity" version of the album packs full, analog-style wallop. --Mike McGonigal

Album Description

Boasting songs like, "Stay With Me", "Miss Judy's Farm", "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink", features Rod Stewart on lead vocals and is their most consistent record and arguably their best. Nobody rocked better than this. The collection also includes a rollicking cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis". "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink" is the most representatie recording of a band that helped shape hard rock and punk for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Another Audio Fidelity Benchmark.......2006-09-06

This may very well be the best rock 'n' roll album ever made - no kidding - it's that good, and this is the best CD version of it ever made. Audio Fidelity is at the head of the class when it comes to remastering classic albums, and this is a perfect example.

Sit Back and Grip Your Chair.......2006-08-20

Here's another great Steve Hoffman mastering job. This is a CD that leaves its vinyl versions in the dust. The bass will give your subwoofer a workout and literally shake your teeth. The drums are crisp and the snares rattle. Rod Stewart sounds amazingly rough and Ronnie Woods guitars cut like a knife. This is definitely a must buy.

Best version Great Album!.......2005-03-30

That Ron Wood slide guitar on the last track, That's All You Need, so big and beefy, you can hear every nuance. Just great guitar, another wonderful example of classic Ron Wood guitar licks on some of the best classic rock 'n roll of all time.

The whole ablum is filled with great vocals, and great instrumental tone. Really a treat.

The great mastering, cutting, production- it lets you get swept away by the great music! Audio Fidelity 24K Plus is a success, if you love this album you must hear this version!

Great album from an underrated band, GREAT sounding disc.......2005-03-25

The Faces were underappreciated in their time, so much that their records were allowed to fall in and out of print. This album is arguably their best. It includes their biggest hit, "Stay With Me," but tracks like "You're So Rude" and "Memphis" are every bit as good.

This was a great, rollicking band, with a reputation built on raucous, sloppy, and fun rock n' roll; the Faces often backed Rod Stewart on his own solo albums, particularly Rod's first four classic albums, but on their own records, they cut loose even more. On A NOD IS AS A GOOD AS A WINK...TO A BLIND HORSE, their playing is actually a bit tighter compared to other Faces albums, but it's still got the right amount of slop, and they play GREAT.

Ronnie Lane does a fine job singing lead on some of the tracks, but Rod is even better. In the early days, his singing was described as the male-equivalent of Janis Joplin, and this album is further proof of what he could accomplish before turning to mainstream, adult contemporary pop.

This gold CD is better than WEA's budget CD issue, and at $19.98 retail, it's not a bad deal (most gold CD's run about $30). The CD is HDCD encoded, so if you have an HDCD decoder in your CD player, it'll sound ever better, but even if you don't, this disc will sound GREAT. It sounds even better than Rhino's remastered box set, FIVE GUYS WALK INTO A BAR..., and like I said, this is a great album.

Top Notch Engineering.......2005-03-21

This album has been around for a long time. What makes this one different?
It's the sound quality. Steve Hoffman of DCC fame has continued his legacy of audiophile quality remastering.
It's like you've never really heard this lp before. It's that well done. The sound quality will blow you away.