By 1973, Rod Stewart became superstar, and The Faces had one hit, "Stay With Me". Stewart's records were million selling, yet The Faces' ones were not. They just opened the doors of stardom with 1971 "A Nod Is Good as Wink...To a Blind Horse", so they needed one more hit record to cement the position. And they almost did it.
"Ooh La La" is by far their most serious and introspective record. Of course, it is friendly, filled with riffs, good time, but the folky songs penned mainly by Ronnie Lane steal the show. But this is why the record initially perplexed the audience. Immediately after the release it was panned by critics and, believe it or not, Rod Stewart himself. "Ooh La La" contains, for the band, unusually high quantity of sadness, suspicion and nostalgia. The party is still here but, there are questions "where do we go" in the air. As Ronnie Lane would say and Ronnie Wood would sing in the title track: "I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger." There are quiet meditations about love on "Glad and Sorry" and "If I'm On The Late Side". And there is also a potent dose of roaring rockers, listen to "Borstal Boys", "Silicone Grown" and "My Fault", but compared their only hit single, "Stay With Me", they didn't have so energizing and recognizable riff (to be honest, very, very few songs have so powerful riff as "Stay With Me"). Maybe that is the reason why was the record misunderstood. Everyone expected "Stay With Me" all over again, but they got something different, gentle and quiet.
Its quietness and folkiness aside, "Ooh La La" has its flaws. First, instrumental "Fly in the Ointment" is a limp, and it is very evident because it is placed between two jewels, after "Borstal Boys" and before "If I'm on the Late Side". The second, album is barely 30 minutes long. Of course, other 9 songs are at least very good, but it is too short. Another problem was Rod Stewart. Unfortunately he began acting like a superstar. He missed the initial recording sessions, leaving up to the rest of the guys to do the job. It is audible that his singing could be better, in terms of interpretation. Given that he panned it after the albums release, it was clear that he wanted to do a solo career, rather than to be in the band. It is ironic that "Ooh La La" is maybe the last truly great record he had something to do with.
Tracklist for Ooh La la:
1. Silicone Grown
2. Cindy Incidentally
3. Flags and Banners
4. My Fault
5. Borstal Boys
6. Fly in the Ointment
7. If I'm on the Late Side
8. Glad and Sorry
9. Just Another Honky
10. Ooh La La
"Ooh La La" is by far their most serious and introspective record. Of course, it is friendly, filled with riffs, good time, but the folky songs penned mainly by Ronnie Lane steal the show. But this is why the record initially perplexed the audience. Immediately after the release it was panned by critics and, believe it or not, Rod Stewart himself. "Ooh La La" contains, for the band, unusually high quantity of sadness, suspicion and nostalgia. The party is still here but, there are questions "where do we go" in the air. As Ronnie Lane would say and Ronnie Wood would sing in the title track: "I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger." There are quiet meditations about love on "Glad and Sorry" and "If I'm On The Late Side". And there is also a potent dose of roaring rockers, listen to "Borstal Boys", "Silicone Grown" and "My Fault", but compared their only hit single, "Stay With Me", they didn't have so energizing and recognizable riff (to be honest, very, very few songs have so powerful riff as "Stay With Me"). Maybe that is the reason why was the record misunderstood. Everyone expected "Stay With Me" all over again, but they got something different, gentle and quiet.
Its quietness and folkiness aside, "Ooh La La" has its flaws. First, instrumental "Fly in the Ointment" is a limp, and it is very evident because it is placed between two jewels, after "Borstal Boys" and before "If I'm on the Late Side". The second, album is barely 30 minutes long. Of course, other 9 songs are at least very good, but it is too short. Another problem was Rod Stewart. Unfortunately he began acting like a superstar. He missed the initial recording sessions, leaving up to the rest of the guys to do the job. It is audible that his singing could be better, in terms of interpretation. Given that he panned it after the albums release, it was clear that he wanted to do a solo career, rather than to be in the band. It is ironic that "Ooh La La" is maybe the last truly great record he had something to do with.
Tracklist for Ooh La la:
1. Silicone Grown
2. Cindy Incidentally
3. Flags and Banners
4. My Fault
5. Borstal Boys
6. Fly in the Ointment
7. If I'm on the Late Side
8. Glad and Sorry
9. Just Another Honky
10. Ooh La La
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