Faces - Five Guys Walk into a Bar... (2004) [Complete CD1]

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.

Eight of ten tracks from 1973's Ooh La La appear (along with a live version of "My Fault"), as do eight of nine from 1971's A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse, five of nine from 1971's Long Player (with an additional two in alternative versions) and three of ten from 1970's First Step (originally credited to Small Faces). Other vintage Faces tracks long sought-after by collectors and completists had never been compiled before (such as the studio-recorded US-only single version of their take on Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed", or the obscure dobro-driven B-side "Skewiff (Mend the Fuse)"). The song that opens this set, "Flying", is a subtly remixed version of the track which originally appeared on First Step. "Wyndlesham Bay" is an early version of one of Rod Stewart's 'solo' songs, "Jodie", with different lyrics (although as the credit on the record label of the single itself clearly attests, "Jodie" is itself a later Faces performance of this song, likely recorded at the same session as 'Poolhall Richard', that has since been incorrectly credited to Stewart as a solo artist).

Many tracks from BBC sessions also appear throughout, including Faces takes on Stewart's own "Maggie May" and "Gasoline Alley," the latter as part of a medley including "Around the Plynth." The Faces' earliest recordings are represented by rehearsal excerpts from the summer of 1969, including covers of Big Bill Broonzy's "I Feel So Good" (featuring Stewart on guitar and Ronnie Wood on harmonica) and Howlin' Wolf's "Evil."

The set was compiled by the group's keyboardist, Ian McLagan, who had previously compiled 1999's Good Boys... When They're Asleep, and his liner notes offer a unique and intimate take on the band's history alongside a fulsome tribute to late Faces founder member Ronnie Lane.

Five Guys Walk into a Bar... has received a largely positive response from critics since its release. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised the box set as the best of its type: "There has never been a better box set than the Faces' Five Guys Walk into a Bar.... There has never been a box that captures an artist so perfectly, nor has a box set taken greater advantage of unreleased and rare material, to the point where it seems as essential and vital as the released recordings.

Tracklist:
1-1 Faces – Flying 0:00
1-2 Faces – On The Beach 4:17
1-3 Faces – Too Bad 8:36
1-4 Faces – If I'm On The Late Side 11:51
1-5 Faces – Debris 14:31
1-6 Faces – Jealous Guy 19:06
1-7 Faces – Evil (Rehearsal) 25:51
1-8 Faces – As Long As You Tell Him 32:30
1-9 Faces – Maggie May (Live/BBC) 36:50
1-10 Faces (3)– Cindy Incidentally (Alternate Mix)
1-11 Faces (3)– Maybe I'm Amazed (Live/BBC)
1-12 Faces (3)– Insurance
1-13 Ronnie Lane & Ian McLagan– I Came Looking For You (Rehearsal)
1-14 Faces (3)– Last Orders Please
1-15 Faces (3)– Wyndlesham Bay (Jodie)
1-16 Faces (3)– I Can Feel The Fire (Live)
1-17 Ron Wood & Ronnie Lane– Tonight's Number
1-18 Faces (3)– Come See Me Baby (The Cheater) 1:13:20

Personnel
Kenney Jones – drums, percussion (June 1969 – December 1975)
Ronnie Lane – bass, acoustic guitar, dobro, tambourine, secondary and occasional lead vocals (June 1969 – June 1973)
Ian McLagan – organ, acoustic and electric pianos, harmonium, clavinet, backing vocals (June 1969 – December 1975)
Rod Stewart – lead vocals, banjo, rhythm guitar on "Flags and Banners" and "I Feel So Good" (July 1969 – December 1975)
Ronnie Wood – lead, acoustic, slide, and pedal steel guitars, bass, harmonica, electric bouzouki, vocals (June 1969 – December 1975)
Tetsu Yamauchi – bass (August 1973 – December 1975)