When “Five Guys Walk Into A Bar…” saw the light of day back in 2004, FACES were in for a pleasant shock which has been reverberating for two decades now, as that box set became a firm favorite with many – and there was no major archival release from the band since then. Yes, quite a few bonus tracks landed on the “You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything 1970-1975” collection ten years ago, and 2024 found aficionados relishing "The Complete BBC Concert & Session Recordings 1970–1973"; yet another compilation of previously unissued studio cuts is long overdue. This situation will be somewhat remedied on October 31st, though.
Early Steps
A disc titled “Early Steps” in reference to the quintet’s debut album, “First Step” from 1970, combines work-in-progress pieces which would partially land on that platter, with rehearsal documents, all preserved for posterity in 1969. One may assume there must be more than these ten numbers, but even what’s on offer looks interesting – to an extent, given the group’s introductory longplay is the least popular in their canon.
1. Shake, Shudder, Shiver
(take 1, rough mix, Olympic Studios, Autumn 1969)
2. Devotion (take 1, rough mix, Olympic Studios, Autumn 1969)
3. Train (take 4, rough mix, Olympic Studios, Autumn 1969)
4. Flying (take 1, rough mix, Olympic Studios, Autumn 1969)
5. I Feel So Good
(rehearsal, Rolling Stones rehearsal space, Summer 1969)
6. Evil (rehearsal, Rolling Stones rehearsal space, Summer 1969)
7. Shake, Shudder, Shiver (rehearsal, Rolling Stones rehearsal space, Summer 1969)
8. Pineapple And The Monkey (rehearsal, Rolling Stones rehearsal space, Summer 1969)
9. Stone (rehearsal)
10. Devotion (rehearsal)
