A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse

Last updated

A Nod's As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse
Faces-A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse (album cover).jpg
Studio album by
Released17 November 1971 [1]
RecordedMarch–September 1971 at Olympic Studios, London
Length35:56
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Faces and Glyn Johns
Faces chronology
Long Player
(1971)
A Nod's As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse
(1971)
Ooh La La
(1973)

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. 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, [2] 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.

Contents

The album features two original ballads and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee". 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 examination of father-son relationships, was chosen as the B-side to their hit "Stay With Me".

Release and reception

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 re-issued the album without the poster, turning original copies with the poster into collectors' items overnight. [3]

On 28 August 2015, the album was reissued in a remastered and expanded form, with the bonus tracks being two songs from a previously unreleased BBC session. The new vinyl reissue even replicated the poster included with the first-pressing vinyl release.

Reception

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]
Rolling Stone mixed [6]
The Village Voice A− [7]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Miss Judy's Farm" Rod Stewart 3:38
2."You're So Rude" Ronnie Lane 3:41
3."Love Lives Here"
  • Lane
  • Stewart
  • Wood
Stewart3:04
4."Last Orders Please"LaneLane2:33
5."Stay with Me"
  • Stewart
  • Wood
Stewart4:37
Total length:17:33
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Debris"LaneLane (with Stewart on harmony vocal)4:36
2."Memphis" Chuck Berry Stewart5:29
3."Too Bad"
  • Stewart
  • Wood
Stewart (with Lane, McLagan and Wood backing)3:12
4."That's All You Need"
  • Stewart
  • Wood
Stewart5:06
Total length:18:23

2015 reissue bonus tracks

  1. "Miss Judy's Farm" [BBC Session] (Stewart, Wood)
  2. "Stay With Me" [BBC Session] (Stewart, Wood)

Personnel

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications for A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [17] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Reissues

YearLabelCat. numberEdition
2005Audio FidelityAFZ 02624 Karat Gold HDCD

Related Research Articles

Faces are an English rock band formed in 1969 by members of Small Faces after lead singer and guitarist Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie. The remaining Small Faces—Ian McLagan (keyboards), Ronnie Lane, and Kenney Jones —were joined by guitarist Ronnie Wood and singer Rod Stewart, both from the Jeff Beck Group, and the new line-up was renamed Faces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Lane</span> English rock musician (1946–1997)

Ronald Frederick Lane was an English musician and songwriter who was the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Small Faces (1965–69) and Faces (1969–73).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Wood</span> British rock musician in the Rolling Stones, born. 1947

Ronald David Wood is an English rock musician, best known as an official member of the Rolling Stones since 1975, as well as a member of Faces and the Jeff Beck Group.

<i>Ooh La La</i> (Faces album) 1973 studio album by Faces

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 28 April 1973. The album was most recently reissued on CD in a remastered and expanded form on 28 August 2015, including early rehearsal takes of three of its tracks, as part of the 1970–1975: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything... box set. The box set's vinyl counterpart did not contain any bonus tracks, but it did replicate the original LP artwork and 'animated' cover.

<i>Every Picture Tells a Story</i> 1971 studio album by Rod Stewart

Every Picture Tells a Story is the third studio album by Rod Stewart. It was released on 28 May 1971. It incorporates hard rock, folk, and blues styles. It went to number one on both the UK and US charts and finished third in the Jazz & Pop critics' poll for best album of 1971. It has been an enduring critical success, including a number 172 ranking on Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

<i>Forty Licks</i> 2002 greatest hits album by the Rolling Stones

Forty Licks is a double compilation album by the Rolling Stones. A 40-year career-spanning retrospective, Forty Licks is notable for being the first retrospective to combine their formative Decca/London era of the 1960s, now licensed by ABKCO Records, with their self-owned post-1970 material, distributed at the time by Virgin/EMI but now distributed by ABKCO's own distributor Universal Music Group. Four new songs are included on the second disc. The album was a commercial success, as it reached No. 2 on both UK and US charts. Concurrently with the album's release, the Stones embarked on the successful, year-long international Licks Tour, which would result in the subsequent Live Licks album being released in 2004.

<i>Long Player</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Faces

Long Player is the second album by the British rock group Faces, released in February 1971. Among the highlights are a live cover version of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed", the ballads "Richmond" and "Sweet Lady Mary", the party tune "Had Me a Real Good Time", and uptempo saloon bar rocker "Bad 'n' Ruin". Two tracks, "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "I Feel So Good", were recorded live at the Fillmore East, New York City, on 10 November 1970.

<i>First Step</i> (Faces album) 1970 studio album by Faces

First Step is the debut studio album by the English rock band Faces, released on 27 March 1970 by Warner Bros. Records. The album was released only a few months after the Faces had formed from the ashes of the Small Faces and The Jeff Beck Group. The album is credited to the Small Faces on all North American issues and reissues, while record labels for initial vinyl printings give the title as The First Step.

<i>Snakes and Ladders / The Best of Faces</i> 1976 compilation album by Faces

Snakes and Ladders / The Best of Faces was an October 1976 best-of album by British rock group Faces. While the first released Faces compilation was a repackaging of the group's first two LPs as a double album, this US-only release presented the first attempt to compile the popular songs from the group after they had disbanded in 1975. Featuring photography by Tom Wright and unique cover art by guitarist Ronnie Wood, it was only eventually superseded in the US market by the CD compilation Good Boys... When They're Asleep in 1999.

<i>Good Boys... When Theyre Asleep</i> 1999 compilation album by Faces

Good Boys... When They're Asleep... was a 1999 compilation of British rock group Faces. Compiled primarily by keyboardist Ian McLagan, it served to supersede the 1976 effort Snakes And Ladders / The Best of Faces, and to present a CD-length retrospective of the group, lasting nearly eighty minutes.

<i>Five Guys Walk into a Bar...</i> 2004 box set by Faces

Five Guys Walk into a Bar... is a comprehensive four-disc retrospective of the British rock group Faces released in 2004, collecting sixty-seven tracks from among the group's four studio albums, assorted rare single A and B-sides, BBC sessions, rehearsal tapes and one track from a promotional flexi-disc, "Dishevelment Blues" - a deliberately-sloppy studio romp, captured during the sessions for their Ooh La La album, which was never actually intended for official release.

<i>Never a Dull Moment</i> (Rod Stewart album) 1972 studio album by Rod Stewart

Never a Dull Moment is the fourth solo album by rock musician Rod Stewart. It was released on 21 July 1972; that year it became a UK number-one album and reached number two on the US Album chart. The track "You Wear It Well", co-written by Stewart and classical guitarist Martin Quittenton, was a smash hit, as well as "Twisting the Night Away", a song originally recorded by Sam Cooke.

<i>Undercover</i> (Rolling Stones album) 1983 studio album by the Rolling Stones

Undercover is a studio album by English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 7 November 1983 by Rolling Stones Records. The band would move the label to Columbia Records for its follow-up, 1986's Dirty Work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss You (Rolling Stones song)</span> 1978 single by The Rolling Stones

"Miss You" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on Rolling Stones Records in May 1978. It was released as the first single one month in advance of their album Some Girls. "Miss You" was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

<i>Still Life</i> (Rolling Stones album) 1982 live album by the Rolling Stones

Still Life is a live album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 1 June 1982. Recorded during the band's 1981 American tour, it was released in time for their 1982 European tour.

<i>No Security</i> 1998 live album by the Rolling Stones

No Security is a live album by the Rolling Stones released by Virgin Records in 1998. Recorded over the course of the band's 1997–1998 worldwide Bridges to Babylon Tour, it was the band's eighth official full-length live release.

<i>Lead Vocalist</i> (album) 1993 compilation album by Rod Stewart

Lead Vocalist is a compilation album released by Rod Stewart on 22 February 1993. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in the UK and Germany, but was never released in the US. Three songs from this album either had previously or would be released as singles: "Tom Traubert's Blues", "Shotgun Wedding", and "Ruby Tuesday".

<i>Unplugged...and Seated</i> 1993 live album by Rod Stewart

Unplugged...and Seated is a live album released by British musician Rod Stewart on 24 May 1993 by Warner Bros. Records. It is Stewart's second live album and his first appearance on MTV Unplugged. The unplugged versions of "Have I Told You Lately" by Van Morrison, "Reason to Believe", "Having a Party", and "People Get Ready" were released as singles, with "Have I Told You Lately" and "Having a Party" reaching success as singles. A special collector's edition was released in March 2009 on Rhino Records. This two-disc package included the DVD of the performance with 13 songs while the CD contained 17 tracks including two songs not on the original 1993 release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay with Me (Faces song)</span> Song by the band Faces

"Stay with Me" is a song by English rock band Faces, written jointly by lead singer Rod Stewart and guitarist Ronnie Wood. Released from the band's third studio album A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse (1971), it became their only major hit in the United States, although they had a further three Top 20 singles in the UK chart. The song has also appeared on various Faces compilations and on albums by both songwriters. The lyrics describe a woman named Rita, who has a face that she has "nothing to laugh about", and with whom the singer proposes a one-night stand, on the condition that she be gone when he wakes up.

<i>The Definitive Rock Collection</i> (Faces album) 2007 compilation album by Faces

The Definitive Rock Collection is a two-disc retrospective of the British rock group Faces released in 2007, collecting thirty tracks from among the group's four studio albums, various single A and B-sides, and an outtake from the sessions for a proposed but ultimately abandoned 1975 album.

References

  1. "Random Notes". Rolling Stone . No. 96. Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. 25 November 1971. p. 4.
  2. Faces > A Nod's as Good as a Wink . . . to a Blind Horse > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums at AllMusic . Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  3. "Random Notes". Rolling Stone . No. 99. New York City: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. 6 January 1972. p. 4.
  4. Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (7 February 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Bloomington, Indiana: Universe. ISBN   0-7893-1371-5.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 November 2005.
  6. Landau, Jon (6 January 1972). "Faces A Nod's As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse > Album Review". Rolling Stone . No. 99. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  7. Christgau, Robert (30 December 1971). "Consumer Guide (22): Faces: A Nod's As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse". The Village Voice . Retrieved 7 April 2012 via robertchristgau.com.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 107. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 7504". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. "Dutchcharts.nl – Faces – A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  11. "Offiziellecharts.de – Faces – A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  12. "Norwegiancharts.com – Faces – A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  13. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  14. "Faces Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  15. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1971" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  16. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1972" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  17. "American album certifications – Faces – A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 26 July 2023.