A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse

Fun but nothing memorable, probably won’t return to it

There was nothing wrong with this, I just found it boring.

Booooooooring as heck. Cool that Rod Stewart was in this band but damn there’s gotta be a million albums from the same era that sound exactly like this.

Fav- miss Judy’s farm 3/5

Listened. Unfortunately this record contains elements of Rod Stewart. Which is for me an immediate fail, can't get past it sorry. It’s somewhat irrational but very real, he takes that raw vocal style that someone like Otis does so well, removes all emotional nuance and control into something unbearable and grating. Otherwise it would be a pleasant entry into white Brits do RnB rock, Stewarts vocals just bug me to point can't hear the song, and Lane ain't no singer. A vocal record where can't listen to vocals is at best 2 Star

Hey this guy sounds like Rod Stewart...oh it is Rod Stewart. So is that why this album was included? We continue the long list of albums with white British dudes from the 70's that aren't bad but took up space from something new, different, or just not a white dude.

This sounds way more like American southern rock than British rock. Regardless, it was fine. They're obviously talented musicians and it had some good rockin' jams, plus Stay With Me is a fun hit, but overall it just didn't hit me in any feels.

Like a watered down blues album. Not enough soul. It’s a fine country-rock album. Not going to stay with me, but not bad

I actually liked Lane’s vocals over Rod Stewart’s on this album. Also Wood’s guitar work.

Really good opened my taste up to start more 70's music

decent

Normally I'd be pretty annoyed by being forced to listen to Rod Stewart (besides the track "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" of course). But, then that keyboard started up at first track and I got distracted by how actually good this album is... But let's not get ahead of ourselves, it was the first track, and the second one is extremely lackluster, and then the album started going downhill quickly from there with the occasional decent moment. How the heck does Rod Stewart sound so old and destroyed at such an early time in his career? I'll be nice and give it 3 Stars

Fun.

turned into bg noise but in a good, chill way.

Never heard of faces before. Classic rock and roll feel but nothing that necessarily stands out or would make this a favourite. It would be enjoyable blended into a nice 70s mix

good stuff

Really cool album that I wish I'd heard before. The guitar playing was great, rhythm section was solid, and the singer has a nice voice.

Stay with me Debris Love lives here

nothing special, but nothing bad about it either. overall it is fine

Pretty cool, did not know Rod Stewart was in a group before going solo

3+/5 Du bon rock !

I was already familiar with this album. It is a really solid rock album. The best track is Stay With Me, but the entire album is really good. Rod Stewart is an excellent vocalist, but really the whole band is very good. I would listen to this album any time.

Was ok

While I thought this was good, I found that none of the songs really stood out to me. Still, it's a good half hour of some bluesy rock and maybe I'll discover something different on another listen through.

Not a huge fan of Rod Stuart, but I really liked this group. The music was great. Amazing guitar and electric organ. Questionable lyrics sometimes though.

такой классический рок мне слушать неинтересно(

Zone out a fair bit. It's aight

Nice background music

Liked it enough

Not quite a 2, but def not 3

Standard.

Too much boomer energy for me. I listened to Small Faces Ogden Nuts Gone Flake accidentally before this which was way sillier/had a distinctly British sound I found lacking from this facsimile of white trying to sound southern. I do love Rods voice

I’ve had Rod Stewart, Small Faces, and Faces albums all in the past 2 weeks. And this is still just some decent, loose feelin rock music.

The Faces were celebrating or stealing music of black origin in this album, you decide. This album is not a direct honky-tonk blues album. But all of the elements are there: 12 bar blues in the bass, jangly piano and blues vocal from both Rod Stewart and Ronnie Lane. Add to this that "Memphis" was written by Rock and Roll legend Chuck Berry and I come back to my original question. When a band of white guys from London put out an album that is so heavily influenced by music of black origin, is it a celebration or is it stealing? I am inclined towards the latter. But I dont know if this is because I am not a Rod Stewart fan and I find the lyrics to this album leaning towards the misogynistic. Not that I haven't found albums of questionable gender equality enjoyable (See Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle). I just feel like Rod and the boys seem to display a sort of laughing contempt for the girls that they so want to sleep with and kick out of their life. I'm just not into it. (1.900)

Nope

Quite good

Album 138. A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse (https://open.spotify.com/album/3mvdHEE56sgj1NtTnTF8qK?si=hZ3ZBt1tRRajqhrhg1x_UQ) — Faces (1971) Wtf is the title of the album. Good, but pretty mediocre rock+blues. I enjoy listening to it, but it's definitely not enough to be added to my playlist 2/5 No liked songs

Either I'm starting to lose it, or this list is just 50% the most bog-standard 70s rock music. This is inoffensive but just like the previous 5 albums I've gotten, definitely not something I feel that I *HAD* to listen to before I die.

Honestly that title is fantastic. Favorite track: Too Bad

Solid stuff!

Great sound, and Stay With Me

Stay With Me was obviously the hit bit the rest of this seemed pretty average. Not a huge fan of Stewart's Voice.

I liked the name, album was ok

Rod! He wrote a really great autobiography. Why? There was no wallowing. It was all, "I'm a rockstar...this is amazing." So I always have time for Rod Stewart. 3/5

This was shit

Rod Stewart is in this band? interesting. It was a fine album. It seems that the Robinson brothers of The Black Crowes had to get some inspiration from this group, especially from "Miss Judy's Farm"

This album is middle of the road for me. I didn’t really like or dislike it. It just played on as unremarkable background noise. 2.5 / 5

Not the worst rock album we have had, but not the best

No thank you

Es Rod Stewart, lo cual está bien, pero sin más

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Doesn't feel essential. Stay With Me is decent. Did not need a 5 1/2 minute cover of Memphis.

I enjoyed this album! I think someone said it already, but this is just solid middle of the road rock. Not trying to blow you away with their musical prowess or trying too hard. Just making good solid songs. 3.50 for me.

This album has a lot of nice instrumental grooves. It's not super adventurous but it does what it knows very well. It's fun and easy to listen to. I like it enough. I largely like the instrumental sections better than the vocal sections. I feel like the vocal isn't mixed very harmoniously with the backing track on every song. Some good highs on this record, but a lot of mid to round it out. 3.1/5

Glad I listened to this one. But, rather dated.

I hadn’t thought I had heard any of the songs from this album and then Stay with Me. It came on and I was humming along. same thing with Memphis, though I wasn’t as familiar with this version. This is a fun classic rock album was historical roots leading to The Who, Stones and, of course, Rod Stewart, who before his flamboyant pop rock crooning made his notorious was a road-tested rock star. The entire album was a fun showcase of English talent, and always interesting seeing how they interpreted American musical trends, like the slide guitar on That’s All. Key song—though all were good—was You’re so Rude. I could definitely listen to this again.

Random thoughts: * This was a brisk listen. I listened to this one twice. * Are Faces a bit underrated? This is some good solid rock n roll. * Stay With Me is so good but I would never name drop this song as a classic. * Fun listen that I’ll definitely revisit.

Normally, a Rod Stewart track and his voice makes me die inside a little. This was far more pleasant than expected. Good length, good swinging tempos

- In 2025, "Stewart added that his long-time friendship with US President Donald Trump is on the rocks due to Trump’s support for Israel." Good, but he was friends with Epstein's best friend the whole time he has been raping people and eating babies, so... Also, he defied the BDS Israel boycott in 2017, keeps blaming only the PM for the genocide, and calling it a "war". Sounds like a liberal Zionist to me, so I'm boycotting until proved otherwise. - Also, he assaulted a security guard, punched him in the ribs, because he wouldn't let him and his family into a party. "Stewart even performed what appeared to be a Hitler salute with his right arm extended above his head while fingers of his left hand made a Hitler-style moustache." - Well, that was forgettable. - The instruments felt mashed together (other than the keys, and a few guitar riffs). Something about the levels of everything was off to me. Maybe it's just because nothing really stood out. - Rod's voice sounds hoarse and strained here. I don't hate his voice, typically, but maybe it's not strong enough to compete with the wall of instrumentation. - The other guy's voice sweeter, in general, and his songs felt more inviting (esp. Debris) instead of the paint-by-numbers blues of the others songs. - The lyrics were unremarkable, too. - The cover is the coolest part of the album to me. I like the font, and the composition of the photo is interesting (kind of hints at how mashed together everything is in the album, actually), and it's ironic that you can only see the band members' backs and almost no detail in the faces of the crowd - this on an album by a band named "faces", with the word "faces" at the top of it.

This is decent stuff. Enjoyed.

I can’t really say I loved this musically. I’m just not very roused by this flavour of bluesy classic rock. But I definitely do like to listen to Rod Stewart sing a little song, which is something I didn’t know about myself before I picked up this list. 2.5, rounding up for one of the best album titles that’s come up yet.

Surprisingly good guitar, at some moments even nicely heavy, quite good bass..but that 70s-style keyboards-piano-organ, oh boy do I despise that sound..and I’ve never been a fan of Rod Stewart’s voice

I’d never heard of Faces. I had no idea that Rod Stewart was in this band. I recognize a couple songs. Glad I listened to it. Probably will file this into the glad I listened to it files.

I just found I really wasn't very interested. It just seems to be very mediocre blues rock and I feel like I've heard enough of that. There are some incredible musicians involved for sure - I just wish they would do something I care about. I must admit my bias against Rod Stewart - I've mostly grown up around him being a novelty figure, but I recognise that he was once credible

Pretty generic Brit Rock, nothing outstanding.

Added instantly to my playlists.

Rod steward being rod steward, but also some good classic rock riffs, an enjoyable album.

3.5 i like them better when they were the small faces

I really like Rod Stewarts vocals, but otherwise a little average to me

Not exactly my style but I appreciate it

Sounds like James Brown insipirstion? Good rock music. This is my speed

I thought the album was good but mixed. Rod Stewart is awesome

Fun listen, fun album title. High 3

I had Stay with Me saved before i listened and completely forgot about that lol. Really good overall, pretty consistent vibe

His voice is really unique and fun but also when he sings it sounds painful I hope he’s okay <3

Honestly had some pretty great songs but some I thought were very mid too

Default British rock. Not like that’s a bad thing

wava cota davyrudi

Always feel like I should like the Faces more than I do given a love of the Small Faces and their general bluesy looseness seemingly ticking a lot of boxes for me. This is as close as I get, a handful of cracking tunes, a decent cover, but also too much plodding.

Rob Stewart singing on this album cannot save the mediocrity of this blues rock album, like this is just so borrrinnggg

It's a fairly standard blues album that seems to do everything right, but not particularly special apart from Rod Stewart. Though I love Rod Stewart's voice, it is a lot better than it really should be. The storywriting is well done, too, I guess.

Above average dad rock with no real bangers.

Decent

Not very interesting. But I like the album title!

A solid rock album, but nothing that grabbed hold of me

Love “Stay with Me” and like the rest enough to round up to 4

This was easily in the Top 10 albums most frequently played in my friend George Pohanka’s basement when we played cards in high school — probably Top 5. It’s in the honorable mention section of my Top 10 albums of all time. An album that has a nice balance between rockers that swing and lovely ballads. The group was considered a bit “sloppy”, but their attitude and energy made up for it. Stellar guitar work from a pre-Stones Ron Wood throughout, Ian McLagan’s keyboard work is very tasty, and Kenny Jones’ drumming fits the band to a tee — though when he replaced Keith Moon in The Who that wasn’t a good match (or else no one could replace Keith…). And of course, Rod’s voice… Three great songs from Ronnie Lane, one of my fave Chuck Berry covers of all time (Memphis) and the rest gems from Stewart/Wood. Rod’s voice is in fine form from start to finish. The weakest track, the final one, is still quite good. To think this was released the same year as Rod’s solo album Every Picture Tells a Story (in my Top Ten of all time), along with another quite decent Faces album in early 1971 — what a year for Rod!

I liked this a lot, several good-to-great songs, obviously topped by Stay With Me. It helps that I’m not a music critic, just a music fan, and I’m just here to find/rediscover tunes that are fun or mean something to me.

Miss Judy's Farm 4/5 You're So Rude 4/5 Love Lives Here 3/5 Stay with Me 4/5 Debris 4/5 Memphis 4/5 Too Bad 4/5 That's All You Need 3/5

God, for someone who wrote (maybe) my favorite song of all time, Rod Stewart largely makes really, really, awful music. Boomer slop at its sloppiest... 1.5/5

Lot of hots on here, and didn't realize Rod Stewart was in a band before he was Rod Stewart.

Tough one to rate. Didn’t dislike any song. Probably a 3.5.

Some kind of interesting stuff, liked that it was pretty fast paced but wasn’t that captivating

Great bluesy guitar riffs, nice growly singer voice, but the songwriting isn't compelling. I wanted to hear some clever lyrics or interesting caterwauling, but the songs themselves are unimaginative.

At this time, Rod had one of the great blues voices and this is touched by greatness. Unfortunately, it's slightly uneven.

Pleasant, middle of the road 70s pop rock album.

toujours de la country vibe mais un peu en mode rock

First time listen for me. The Brits took blues and did a pretty decent job of reinterpretation. Slick playing, rod Stewart's vocals are a highlight. Not so sure the lyrical content stands up as well nowadays. Solid album though.

Nothing worth remembering.

Buen disco, me gustó. En general es un disco que disfrutas al escucharlo, tiene buen ritmo y no se siente nada pesado. Tiene varios estilos: baladas, pistas más energéticas, unas con más movimiento y dinámicas, pero cada una bajo la misma línea del género que sería algo así como rock/blues/country. En general se siente como un buen disco, consistente y que cumple, nada nuevo o innovador, solo algo que funciona y que no hay porque cambiarle nada. Destacar la grandiosa ejecución del bajo, tiene un sonido con carácter, fluido y con presencia. Mis canciones favoritas Memphis y Stay With Me. Buen disco, hasta ahí.

Cool....

Who knew Rod Stewart was in a band at one point!? Not me, but unmistakably his vocals. Easy enough to listen to but unlikely to revisit again

Never even heard of this band, and the album is great.

3.5

Some how knew some of these songs?

po a guitarra tá bem em dia, isso é fato deus sabe que eu gosto bem de blues, mas esse foi meio nem fede nem cheira 3 estrelas só pela guitarra estralando

novamente, nao eh ruim. é gostosim até, mas nada demais não. mais interessante que alguns que passaram por aqui, mas ainda nao eh la aquelas coisa....

Good from start to finish

This album tricker me into liking a Rod Stewart album. The rock sound was solid.

A solid 70s rocker. I keep being surprised by how much I like Rod Stewart. In the 80s, I hated everything about him. Was it just that he was better when younger, and I just don't like his later stuff, or have my tastes changed? I think it's the former, but jury is still out.

A great and enjoyable album. Could have been double as long. I only knew one song but they were all fun to hear.

I thought I recognized the singers voice and of course I did. This album sounds very "of its time" to me, the smooth rock with lots of room for solos. Not bad at all but I feel like I can find better in the genre easily and some are probably on this list. It was fun hearing Rod Stewart in a way I hadn't heard before though.

A bunch of uninteresting Americanisms. Sounds like the dudes just wanted to play around with riffs and melodies, and the lyrics were a completely afterthought. But even the melodies do not sound good or impressive.

3, но без негатива. норм. название крутое, заставляет задуматься...

This is a cool album and I really dig it.

Listened Before? N Faces were really something else. This was a scorcher of a 70s rock album. It's no wonder Rod Stewart was considered such a star. I am also not surprised he went on to have such a successful career of his own. This is great stuff. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Stay With Me

Probably their best album, The Faces laid-back style of blues rock is as comfortable as an old pair of slippers. I believe their vocalist did alright for himself after this.

Entirely forgettable rock album that I honestly don't remember anything about whatsoever, writing this review weeks later. I think that says what it needs to say.

fav songs: miss judy's farm you're so rude stay with me swagger, loose, cheeky 60/100

Lock me in a shed with this beerily flatulent guitar and I’m in a happy place, fuzzy and smelly in Brit blues gunk. That Ro Woo can play, duck. Has just one true banger, but only stays out of the top rank because that would make it seem like it’s trying too hard.

Sometimes egg and chips for dinner is pretty tasty

Rod really rocks I don't care what you say.

не зашло рок а я его не люблю

IT'S SO GOOD I LOVE THE SOUNDS

I just don't think I enjoy Rod Stewart

kinda generic 70’s rock but still enjoyable, the guitar solos are warm and fun

This was when I learned Rod Stewart was in Faces…. This was good! 3.5

Nice old rock 'n roll. Good early Rod Stewart. Faces always seem to be such a forgotten band, they were pretty good!

# In-Depth Review: *A Nod Is As Good As A Wink... To A Blind Horse* by Faces Released in November 1971, this third studio album by Faces represents the band at their commercial and creative peak—though it emerged during a period of mounting tension between Rod Stewart's burgeoning solo superstardom and the group's collective identity. Co-produced by the legendary **Glyn Johns** (known for his work with The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones), the album captures a band simultaneously tighter than ever yet on the verge of fragmentation. --- ## The Music: Ragged Glory Meets Studio Discipline The Faces' sound on this record is defined by what critics have called **"sloppy perfection"**—a paradoxical blend of loose, bar-room energy and surprisingly sophisticated musicianship. Glyn Johns' production was crucial here; he served as a "stern taskmaster" who helped wrangle the notoriously unruly quintet into recording shape without sacrificing their essential grit . **Ronnie Wood's** guitar work is the album's sonic signature. His tone is dirty, fuzzy, and immediately addictive—particularly on the opener **"Miss Judy's Farm"** and the hit single **"Stay With Me."** Wood's style is less about technical flash and more about **feel**; his chunky, jagged riffs and slide guitar work would soon land him a spot in The Rolling Stones, and you can hear why . **Ian McLagan's** keyboards provide crucial texture, from the honky-tonk piano that drives the party atmosphere to the more subtle organ work on quieter tracks. **Kenney Jones** (later of The Who) delivers propulsive, sometimes "lumpen" but always energetic drumming, while **Ronnie Lane's** bass grounds the proceedings with melodic sophistication . The album moves fluidly between styles: Chuck Berry-derived rockers ("Miss Judy's Farm," "Too Bad"), British blues stompers ("Stay With Me"), tender ballads ("Love Lives Here," "Debris"), and a swampy, low-down cover of **Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee"** that many argue improves upon the original . --- ## Lyrics & Themes: Booze, Heartbreak, and Working-Class Poetry The album's lyrical content spans the gamut from **bawdy, politically incorrect rockers** to **wistful, introspective ballads**—reflecting the dual songwriting personalities of Rod Stewart and Ronnie Lane. **The Party Anthems:** - **"Stay With Me"** is the album's centerpiece and the band's signature song. Lyrically, it's a brutally honest (and now controversial) paean to a one-night stand: *"Don't be here in the morning when I wake up"* . The song captures the Faces' devil-may-care attitude—sleazy yet somehow charming, with Stewart's raspy vocals selling every line. - **"You're So Rude"** (sung by Lane) and **"Miss Judy's Farm"** deliver semi-slapstick tales of sexual misadventure and rural romps, respectively . **The Quiet Moments:** - **"Debris"** is Ronnie Lane's masterpiece—a delicate ballad about a son's relationship with his father, observing the "debris" of a life lived. Lines about seeing his father as a complete human being, with "hidden scars" and strange charity shop gifts, offer genuine emotional depth . Lane's plaintive, fragile vocal delivery makes it one of the most moving tracks in the entire Faces catalog . - **"Last Orders Please"** and **"Love Lives Here"** provide moments of vulnerability that contrast sharply with the album's raucous majority . The tension between Stewart's swaggering persona and Lane's introspective folk sensibility creates a fascinating dynamic—two distinct worldviews sharing space on one record. --- ## Production: Glyn Johns' Disciplined Approach Recorded between March and September 1971 at **Olympic Studios in London**, the album benefited enormously from Johns' involvement. While previous Faces records had suffered from a lack of focus, Johns imposed a discipline that allowed the band's natural chemistry to shine through more clearly . The production is **raw but not messy**—you can hear every instrument clearly, yet the overall effect is of a band playing live in a room. Johns captured what one reviewer called the "chaotic spirit and big heart of prestige rock and roll but shorn of any purist posturing" . The album reached **#2 in the UK** and **#6 in the US**, earning a gold disc from the RIAA in 1972—making it their most commercially successful effort . --- ## Influence & Legacy *A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...* has proven enormously influential on subsequent generations of rock bands: - **The Black Crowes**, **The Quireboys**, and countless other "bar bands" have drawn directly from the Faces' template of British blues-rock swagger, honky-tonk piano, and brazen guitars . - **Punk and pub rock** bands admired their no-BS, straight-up rock 'n' roll assault—Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols would later join Faces reunions, and the album's energy prefigures punk's rejection of prog-rock excess . - The album represents a **crossroads of classic rock royalty**: Stewart became a solo superstar, Wood joined The Rolling Stones, Kenney Jones joined The Who, and Ronnie Lane pursued a respected solo career before his tragic death from MS . Critics note that while the Faces were often dismissed as "ersatz Rolling Stones" during their era, this album proves they had their own distinct identity—**messier, more democratic, and ultimately more fun** than their more famous contemporaries . --- ## Pros | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Musical Chemistry** | The band plays with telepathic connection; every member shines without overshadowing the others | | **Glyn Johns' Production** | Captures the perfect balance of raw energy and studio polish | | **Song Diversity** | Seamlessly moves from raunchy rockers to tender ballads | | **Ronnie Lane's Contributions** | "Debris" and "Last Orders Please" add emotional depth and showcase his underrated songwriting | | **"Stay With Me"** | A genuine rock standard—one of the greatest songs of the 1970s | | **Ronnie Wood's Guitar** | Distinctive, fuzzy tone that would define the sound of The Rolling Stones for decades | | **Rod Stewart's Vocals** | At his absolute peak—powerful, raspy, yet capable of surprising tenderness | --- ## Cons | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Inconsistent Lead Vocals** | Ronnie Lane's songs, while beautifully written, might have benefited from Rod Stewart's more commanding voice (particularly "Debris") | | **Politically Incorrect Lyrics** | "Stay With Me" and "You're So Rude" have aged poorly in terms of sexual politics—though some argue this "brutal honesty" is part of the appeal | | **Identity Crisis** | The album was created under the shadow of Stewart's solo success (*Every Picture Tells a Story* was released the same year), creating tension about the band's future | | **Kenney Jones' Drumming** | Occasionally described as "lumpen" or basic compared to the more sophisticated playing of his bandmates | | **Short Running Time** | At just 9 tracks, some listeners may find it slight compared to double albums of the era | --- ## Verdict *A Nod Is As Good As A Wink... To A Blind Horse* is **the definitive Faces album**—the moment when their ragged, boozy, soulful rock 'n' roll finally crystallized into a coherent masterpiece. It captures a band at the height of their powers, even as the forces that would eventually destroy them (Stewart's solo fame, Lane's departure after their next album) were already gathering. The album succeeds because it embraces contradiction: it's **sloppy yet precise**, **tender yet sleazy**, **working-class yet musically sophisticated**. Glyn Johns deserves immense credit for bottling lightning, allowing the Faces to be themselves while ensuring the results were listenable. While it may not have the unified conceptual ambition of *Every Picture Tells a Story* or the folk intimacy of *Ooh La La*, it represents the **purest distillation of the Faces as a rock 'n' roll unit**. For anyone interested in 1970s British rock, pub rock, or the roots of bands like The Black Crowes, this is essential listening.

this isn't winking but a full nod of the head

Rod's voice. 'Stay With Me'.

Genial disco de rock que junta lo mejor de finales de los sesenta y muchas de las cosas que vendrían en los setenta y que sentarían las bases de lo que fue la mejor época del rock. Y vaya, teniendo a Rod Stweart y a Ronnie Wood entre sus filas, esto brilla todavía más. Gran álbum.

Very very average.

decent. I guess.

The music is fine, and holds up, but it doesn’t stand out.

Some songs I knew beforehand without the artist name, but generally just alright for rock

Yeah, this was about as good as Faces ever got, which, if I'm being honest, is really pretty mediocre. Kind of interesting to hear it now as a moment in time when a band was in the process of losing their one bona fide superstar.

I like his rough voice. It works with the instrumentals. He can even do a slow song and still make it sad and thoughtful

Alright classic rock. I know a handful of musicians from other bands were in this one but without knowing it that it didn't stand out much to me

Yeah I actually liked this and added a song love mr steward gruffly voice xx groovy

Listened while doing work on the computer. Didn't know Rod Stewart was in a competent but fairly boring band before he was a solo star. A competent but fairly boring and forgettable album.

Favorite era of classic rock. Love to hear some Ronnie and Rod( stewart)

2.9

it's passable but that's about it!

Nice classic rock album but nothing too memorable or outstanding. Would listen to it again tho.

3/5 Not very memorable, but it had some okay songs.

Rod Stewart sounds so young!

Music to Drunkenly Leer at Girls By

"A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse" by Faces is a pretty good classic back-to-the-basics rock album. It has that loose, raw, no-nonsense rock sound that just works. The band and the album are probably not super famous these days, but I think most people will have heard "Stay With Me" at least once. The overall sound also reminded me of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, CCR, The Who, and the Rolling Stones, just that kind of straight-up rock vibe. I really enjoyed listening to it again and it was a great revisit for me.

Rod Stewart has a raspy voice that works for some songs but not all. I never heard of the other singer. Don’t care to.

Stay With Me is a great song, and I like Rod Stewart around this time, but the rest of the album is just whatever.

En skön skiva. Mycket najs sångröst och piggt melodiskt hela vägen. Får inte wow-feeling, men det är jännbra hela (korta) skivan.

Jag är ju svag för bluesrock men bortsett från Stay with me och Debris så tycker jag att det var rätt slätstruket, om än absolut inte dåligt. Stabil trea.

2.5 Wavering between 2.5-3. This is one of my least favorite genres, British white guys do the blues, but I like Faces more than some of those other bands, but I think ultimately I’m going 2.5 bc I don’t really have a desire to return to this in a significant way. Also, I like Rod Stewart (great voice!) but this is like the fourth Rod Stewart album on this list. Rod Stewart is not THAT important to the history of music. One entry is plenty!

Feels like a lot of effort to be this mediocre. How did this do anything influential? Surely this isn't anyone's favorite; it's so forgettable and formulaic. Just so...forgettable. Good, but nothing about this stands out whatsoever. The whole first part of it's description on wiki is that it came after a better solo song by the singer

Decent folk rock, some strong songs but some slow burns I feel.

Eh, it's fine. Fairly generic 70s blues rock. I'm not the biggest fan of Rod Stewart, but this album was pleasant enough.

This went hard I liked it a lot. First half of the album was awesome then second half was ok to pretty good

stay with me is pretty good, rest of the album is boring

Not bad, from before Sir Rod started to question if he was sexy

2.5 kinda forgettable

This album sounds so country and the instruments sounds good, but the melody is not that unique. It sounds generic. Kinda of bored me and the vocals is not serving either, it's not the worse, but it he did sound hoarsely annoying. However, I think the album shines on slower paced songs, which is surprising because I usually prefer upbeat/messy/loud songs. Liked songs: Love Lives Here Jan. 22, 2026 - 7:20PM

Perfectly fine

Nice songs, nice vibe. Nothing to really blow me away though

Never heard of em idk why but was a pleasant surprise, solid 3.5 from me will round up from from the joy i didn't think an unknown would get me

Pleasant enough, nothing really stands out. I did enjoy hearing Rod as it was a surprise to me that he was singing some of the lead vocals.

I don't like giving too many threes, but I feel like this was a pretty middle of the road early 70s rock album.

I’m ok with this, it’s just fine. Nothing really special about it or bad about it. It just is.

I feel dumb for not knowing Faces earlier - I dig it!

I'm sure it's grand but with that voice I just couldn't stomach it.

meh

para ser 36 minutos se me han hecho eternos, no veas

It was decent. Stay With Me is the only one I’ve known but have always quite liked it. I do enjoy Rod’s voice and have never been exposed to his later cheesier stuff living in the US so it’s quite funny seeing the amount of hate he generates. Rating: 3.4

Pretty fun album. Great, loose unprocessed 70s sound. This is the best way to hear Rod Stewart - where he takes a break from singing every few tracks.

Álbum gostosinho

Favorite Track: That's All You Need

Excellent sounding album.

This kind of raw rambling bluesy rock doesn’t excite me. Since Stay With Me is probably the best thing on this album that’s not necessarily a good thing, considering how many much better songs Rod Stewart wrote. Mediocre.

So, this is weird to review. It does sound pretty right. Stay with Me is a good song. Rod Stewart has a good voice

The mixing works great on the car stereo, but is even better on headphones. There was a point where I declared that this sounded like Rod Stewart. Later found out it is. That overall is the issue. His voice just has a ceiling. I enjoyed the track Love Lives Here. It was better while driving. Everything was fine, but nothing really moved me. Ultimately this was a 3 point something, that just becomes a 3.

Sweet and loose.

Love the Small Faces. But the Faces...rod Stewart...hmmm. nope

Good

I had no idea Rod Stewart was ever in a band, so this one snuck up on me. It felt like Rod Stewart put together a band and tried to do George Thorogood. I'm not going to say it was a bad album, because I found myself getting into a couple of songs, but there was nothing that made me want to come back to it. My rating: 2/5 blind horses

It was fine

On dort un peu quand même, j'avoue je comprends pas trop la hype. C'est pas mauvais, mais on s'ennuie quoi. Les paroles sont au mieux superficielles et légères, au pire balourdes et un peu misogynes. Petit big up à la voix rocailleuse du frérot, à certains riffs marrant mais dans l'ensemble je vais jamais réécouter. Sympa d'avoir écouter du rock un peu OG néanmoins.

Fine if not particularly noteworthy. Stay with Me and Memphis were solid and everything else was fine but not memorable to me.

It was okay. I was really hoping it would be better.

I really enjoyed this. Like Rolling Stones light, with Rod Stewart!

Enjoyable album except for the cover of “Memphis, Tennessee”, holy hell that was horrible.

Pretty good

Solid album, but repetitive. It sounds quite Stonesy sometimes, but overall there’s solid playing and some really good riffs. I don’t think this is a go to album, as I’d rather throw on Sticky Fingers, but again it’s not bad by any means. Of course the most famous track, stay with me, is the best one on the album.

High three, i liked this! Good job rod stewart

I didn't know Rod Stewart was in a band before going solo, which is part of why this project has been so fun so far. This album didn't really click for me and I tended to like the songs where it wasn't Stewart singing anyways.

I’ve never liked Rod Stewart so this one was facing an uphill battle from the get go. First 3-4 tracks I really wasn’t feeling it and we were heading towards one star territory but from Stay With Me onwards it started to pick up. Stand out track for me by a country mile was Memphis. Loved it and I will make a point to check out the Chuck Berry original later on. Top Track - Memphis

A very funky feel to it. The album is very much of its time, the blend of psychedelic and funk ideals blended within rock. I do love the raspy voice of the lead singer. This is 100% a drive-in-the-car type album. It could probably grow on me after a few listens.

As much as I'm not a fan of Rod Stewart's voice, this was actually quite good.

I really enjoyed this just has that classic sound! If it had In A Broken Dream on it too I'd have given it a 5.

Yeah, it is Rod Stewart. I cant hate it, but it sure sounds similar no matter what you call the band.

classic oldschool rock

I know nothing by Faces but "Ooh La La", but I did have an ex obsessed with Rod Stewart...so let's see. I took no notes while listening to this album. I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I HAD to listen to it before I died, but I'm glad I did. It's a fun album, and I'd listen to it again. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could.

Really enjoyed this

Forgot Rod Stewart was in a band before going solo. Anyways, solid blues rock album. Some really good tracks, but mostly falling into being burnt out on this type of blues rock.

It was fine. Didn’t really think about Rod Stewart being in a band before this. Also this is my second time hearing the song Memphis, the first time being on Buck Owen’s I’ve Got a Tiger By The Tail and I actually prefer Buck Owen’s version.

Nytt band for meg. Boogie rock (en form for blues rock). Rod Stewart som frontmann. Fremstår solid, men ordinært. Stay With Me er den soleklare eneren her, og den eneste sangen som er VIRKELIG god. Skal innrømme at jeg strevde litt med å finne tredjevalget til top 3. Ikke så mye mer å tilføye, utover det. Top 3: Stay With Me, Debris, Love Lives Here

la banda del puto rod stewart lol moooooooooolt xulo stay with me i you're so rude cançons top

Play Maggie Mae

These songs were very catchy, and I love this style of music. I added most of the songs to my library, so I can definitely say this was an album I enjoyed. With that being said, however, I don't really understand it's inclusion on this list. Was it a really influential album during it's time? My opinion is biased since I wasn't alive when it was released; but there's nothing in here that really sounds unique to me. After all, how influential could this band have been if this is my first time ever hearing about them? I don't know, is that a bad position to have? In conclusion, I liked it, but I also think I could have died without hearing it and I wouldn't be missing out on anything. So it's a 3/5.

Great album but I was clipping my nails while listening and one frickin flew up into my eye and then it got stuck there and it hurt like hell bc it got trapped like under my eyelid and it was like this stabbing pain where if I moved it even a bit my vision would get blurry and then as I was getting a towel for it my eyes started watering and like dispelled it, and this wasn’t like a chip of a nail it was a pretty good sized one anyway yeah good album though, not perfect by any means but pretty good, first song is unhinged which makes sense bc I have a rly unhinged best friend who likes this band. My eye is turning red now and is incredibly dry and it hurts to blink that can’t be good.

Iconische bandleden! Super bluesy en gezellig. Wel ook erg Engels, waardoor het toch niet echt authentiek blues is. Toch zit er wel ritme, soul en een groove in, wat soms toch mist in rockmuziek. Deze keer heb ik wel m'n telefoon op mono gezet, anders ging ik me weer irriteren aan de rare panning van instrumenten. Ja gewoon wel goed album. Niks sprong er echt uit, maar heb er wel van genoten. Ik zal het niet zo snel aanzetten, maar als het aanstaat, is het leuk!

'A nod is as good as a wink' is een heerlijk Brits rockalbum, dat klinkt alsof Faces iets te bewijzen had tegen Amerikanen. Rod Stewart en Ronny Lane hebben fantastische zangstemmen, die ook nog eens heel fijn samengaan. Over Lane gesproken, de bas op dit album is echt héér-lijk. 'Debris' is een overduidelijke favoriet, die het ongemakkelijke gevoel van een volwassen relatie met je vader prachtig weet te vangen. 'Stay with me' is ook een banger. Gewoon een heel lekker album!

dit is nou precies wat men noemt "een rod stewart album uit de jaren 70". niks mis mee.. maar daar is het mee gezegd. gewoon niet zo veel aan

I would have previously said Ooh La La was the better album but after listening to both back to back, I'll be gravitating more to this one now. Probably a 5 without Debris, but still a solid 4

really enjoyed some tracks on this, just some good instrumentation and rock music

Boring blues rock that doesn't even have the benefit of Rod Stewart's good bad voice - he just sounds normal.

A couple of good songs but nothing else stood out and felt a bit flat.

The voice reminds me of Rod Stewart

A shame the strongest track Stay with me was spoilt with orchestration. Otherwise generic.

The propulsive, good natured boogie from the band drives the record along nicely and won me over in the end. They sound like a very polished blues bar band. The vocals and lyrics are foregrounded and unignorable which is fine when they suit my sensibilities but at points sound hokey or harsh. As long as the vocals are pointed towards lifting spirits and keeping things fun I tend to be on board!

Tough to choose between high 2 and a low 3 for me, genuinely enjoyed a couple of tracks but disliked the stomping ones and often disliked the vocals, going to settle on a high 2

Unremarkable. Rod Stewart has a great voice in his early days

Rod Stewart lead singer... very Rod Stewart. Meh.

Great length. This band has more monthly listeners than I was expecting. I guess if you like Rod Stewart you would like this. Also my 500th album reviewed. Close to halfway done!

This was alright

Love me some 70s music 🕶️

Fun listen

Seems very mid, I get that the Faces is part of rock history, but really not sure if this one deserves the spot on the list. Very average sounding blues rock album, not terrible, bit definitely not great, at most can be 3 stars.

Stay With Me is a good song but I'm not that interested by the rest, just didn't grab me. Rod Stewart's vocals are great and it's cool to hear him doing the bluesy rock and roll, when I suppose I associate him more with the cringey disco stuff from later in his career. But yeah, I wasn't super engaged by this

Decent little jammy record, though not much stood out in this one. I liked the more tender moments here, like the entirety of the song 'Love Lives Here', which has this '70s Chicago style feel to it, which was pretty refreshing and well-executed. The other softer song, 'Debris,' has this super familiar lead vocal melody and leans into a more country-rock vibe more than anything. I find this album has the variety of a typical Rolling Stones album. Maybe the highlight was the last 2 minutes of the song 'Memphis', which is maybe the only time I really hear the "Boogie Rock" in this supposedly Boogie Rock album, specifically in the piano, but the whole piece itself is super groovy. Not much else stood out here. I found this was just a band that blends into the mix with many other bands in their lane. Still well-executed enough and a solid listen.

I'm too old to be introduced to another band that sounds like this.

I didn't really listen to this, but in passing it was much better than the solo Rod Stewart album we listened to.

I’m preprogrammed to dislike Rod Stewart, but this was pretty listenable.

2.5/5 - Stay With Me and Debris are good songs. The rest of the album, while short, doesn't do much at all for me. Exile on Main Street was produced the same year and does all the same things here much better.

A nice, concise and cohesive album. Doesn't quite reach the heights of the likes of the Stones, but enjoyable nonetheless

When I read this album's title, I did not expect it to be what it was. I was thinking more outdated, cheesy rock music. Boy was I wrong. This is truly timeless, and I really loved the hint of blues throughout. The musicianship had me hooked right away, and the vocals were top notch. My only complaint, and it's a small one because this album was incredibly solid, is that there were similarities between each song. Consistent, yes, but it would've been cool to see a track or two that broke the mold a bit.

better than any rod stewart album I've ever heard. guess that's not saying a lot though. seriously. why was that guy famous? is it a harry styles twink thing that I don't get?

This album sounds like if someone bought the Rolling Stones from Temu. Or if I tried to explain the concept of blues rock to someone but actually hadn’t listened to any of it myself

I did not expect Rod Stewart to be fronting up this album on vocals having never heard of Faces… but it’s safe to say after the first couple of tracks I was pleasantly surprised. The upbeat, folk-rock tracks such as ‘Miss Judy’s Farm’ and ‘Stay With Me’ have a vibrance & energy to them that I really enjoy. The slower tracks don’t leave the same mark, but overall this was a very decent listen.

I can see why this would have been massively important to anyone who happened to be at that perfect age when it was released. It's a fun album, good music, and I can hear the influence it's had throughout. It got a bit samey after a bit, but was still enjoyable.

I enjoyed a lot of this album, very much background music but it didn’t bore me. Sorry for short review

Good rock n roll. Stewart had a great voice in his younger days.

Not good, not bad, just… there I guess. The instrumentals were interesting, tho I found the album kinda bland, just another rock album to have in the background.

🥇stay with me 🥈debris 🥉too bad HM: memphis, you’re so rude

Kinda a less memorable Doors for me—the band has chops, some of the songs really move, but it doesn't light my fire, as it were. Miss Judy's Farm and Stay With Me actually go a place.

Rod Stewart’s voice makes me want to scratch my skin off and jump in a vat of rubbing alcohol.

These guys sure could play. And it’s a shame they chose to play the most generic rock music of the 70s. Sorry dad, but I don’t think Rod Stewart is my guy

Great loose, early 70s blues rock, with enough timelessness to the sound that means it's still a lot of fun to listen to. At its best, the band's looseness goes all the way around to some really tight tracks, like Stay With Me, which is outstanding. Not everything in the album works as well for me, but Stewart was great back then, and Ronnie and the band are having fun, so it's somewhere in the pantheon.

ok list, that’s enough rod stewart

Aight

Nothing to write home about

Crazy to think there was a time when one of the coolest things around was a bunch of scrawny white British dudes playing old blues music.

Overall feel and attitude is great, cool guitar parts throughout and Rod’s vocals and swagger are right on the money. Not sure why Ronnie Lane is singing some of the songs, really sounds like 2 bands on this record because of that.

oneont

iconic sound. Pure and raw Rock.

Liked it more than expected

Don't mind it

Do like one track but the rest faded away for me

A good old 3 star experience. I liked the tubes a lot and happy I got to listen to the hits. Also enjoyed reading about the back story of the faces and small faces.

I'd never heard of Faces before, but this was solid stuff. Basically CCR-lite. Maybe they don't even need the suffix. 3.8

Nice bluesy-rock outing from the band that gave us Rod Stewart (all right, and Ronnie Lane). I did rather like this, very listenable and worthy of repeated plays. Good stuff

The balance was awful, my left ear got all the guitars. But that's production's fault, not the artists'. Bland and uninteresting, like most albums on here.

3.7 Loved the early Rod Stewart, fun rock album

Крепкий блюз-рок, но меня не зацепил.

I liked the first song, this, it would be 3!

It's fine. Straight forward 70s pop rock. 5/10

the 70's sound will always be near and dear to my ears. but this was just okay.

3.5 Southern Rock from the UK? Finally figured it out when I heard TennERsee.

Didn't have the band's hits.

Only Ron Wood, Rod Stewart, and his band could create such a beautiful album.

Liked the psychadelic blues jammyness of this one. Very solid through and through. 7/10

Stay With Me and Debris are great, the rest are good

Pretty good. Simpsons: does Rod Stewart count?

Quite liked it I think but I've also kinda forgotten it already.

Stay with me is the standout track on here. The rest are ok. Solid effort from Rod.

It’s bloody bonkers that at one point Rod Stewart was cool. Nowadays he's in the same boat as Barry Manilow. It was aight

Pretty fun

An album is as insignificant as any other proto-butt rock released in this decade

A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse is a mouthful of a title for a really darn good blues rock album. I am pretty familiar with the style of music Rod Stewart does from his two solo albums and that one Jeff Beck album here so i still expected this to be a good one. The music here is very fun despite suffering a bit from same face syndrome at points (especially with the first two songs) and the vocals, be they from Rod Stewart or Ronnie Lane or the other members' backing vocals, were all really good here. I was initally thinking of giving this album a high 3 stars but those last few tracks were enough to push it to a 4. Best Song: Stay With Me Worst Song: Miss Judy's Farm

I haven’t listened yet but I will

I enjoyed it but it wouldn’t go in my regular rotation. I’d maybe like to hear it again from time to time.

There’s about 2 inches or so of snow on the ground, and I love snow, well, at least until I get tired of it. But living in Kentucky my whole life, I rarely get a chance to get tired of snow because there usually ain’t none! So, I’m a bit more chipper today, plus I just canceled a doctor’s appointment and there’s nothing better to boost your mood than canceling an appointment. And today’s album is the Faces’ A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse. Hot damn! I love the Faces and I think if lead singer Rod Stewart hadn’t gone off to be a solo artist, and they were able to not drink themselves to death, they’d have been just like the Rolling Stones today. Hell, Faces guitarist Ronnie Wood is a Rolling Stone today. The Faces formed after the lead singer of the Small Faces, Steve Marriott, left to form the underrated band Humble Pie. In steps Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood of the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces were born. Damn, those first two albums by the Jeff Beck Group with Stewart on vocals and Wood on bass are just gems. But I digress. Anyway, the Faces recorded a couple of albums that didn’t really do much, but then came A Nod Is As Good As A Wink and things blew up. It helped that by this time, Stewart was making a name for himself as a solo artist, which brought fans of his to the group. As an aside, I think Stewart may be the greatest rock ‘n’ roll singer ever. His voice is great on the rockers and great on the sad songs. He’s even good on disco songs and ’80s synth rock songs. Again, I digress. This album contains one of my all-time favorite rock songs, Stay With Me. The guitar riff mixed with Stewart’s snarling vocals just create a badass mood. It’s not very PC, but who cares, it’s rock ‘n’ roll. Beyond the rockers, the Faces’ bassist Ronnie Lane also shines as a vocalist on three songs he wrote, including a song called Debris which is about Lane’s relationship with his father as a child. Perhaps the best thing about the album is that it clocks in around 35 minutes. It gets in and gets out and leaves you wanting more. The first two Faces albums were thought to be a bit bloated, so for this one, they trimmed the fat. My favorite tracks on this album are, obviously, Stay With Me, Ms. Judy’s Farm, Debris, and That’s All You Need. But there are no bad songs on the album. A Wink Is As Good As A Nod is a straight-up 70s blues rock banger, and I’d put it up against any Rolling Stones album that isn’t Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St., but that’s pretty good. So, if you’ve never heard of the Faces, you’re welcome and Merry Christmas.

Nice! I only knew one song but this was a good find 4 ⭐️

Medium like. Stay With Me is a classic though

very unexpected like!

Why does Rod Stewart sing like that…. Badass backing band though

Fantastic record. The poor man's Rolling Stones at their raunchiest. Love these guys

Good guitar. Bluesy.

This album really didn’t do anything for me at all. Besides for debris, I thought it was super boring and wanted to listen to something else instead. Definitely not for me.

You absolutely must listen to this Celtic Da album.

Alright album. Nothing much I can really say about it, since it’s pretty average. Debris is probably my favorite off it, and I appreciated the steel drums at the end of the album. That’s really it though.

Man was I not expecting that! This just oozes attitude, you can smell the whiskey and cigarettes coming off these songs. It’s a group of musicians that are completely in sync with each other, and are having a lot of fun with it. It’s not serious music, just good old fashioned rock n roll played with joy. Another great find, this will definitely be being added to the rotation next time there’s a Spotify queue on the go.

Decent mid bluesy rock and roll. Not a big fan of Stewart's vocals but Ronnie Lane might be worse. Still, this album and this band, had some nice, tight chemistry. Also, a bit notable for influencing the Replacements and reminds me of Big Star in places.

A bop

Rod Stewart & Faces is echt van die muziek waarbij ik niet echt bezwaar heb als het op staat, maar waarbij het ook geen enkel moment m'n aandacht grijpt. Zelfs niet echt bij een bekende hit als 'Stay With Me'. De eerste helft van het album was hoogst oninteressant, maar vanaf die song begon het wel wat lekkerder te lopen. Maar ook kantje twee kon nét niet echt op mijn aandacht rekenen. 6/10 Highlights: Debris That's All You Need

De plaat is echt lang me heen gegaan. Pas toen de stem van Neil Young uit mijn speakers kwam door de autoplay van Spotify werd mijn interesse weer gewekt. Veelzeggend. De stem van Rod Stewart doet me blijkbaar niet zoveel met me. De afzonderlijke nummers heb ik dan ook niet van elkaar kunnen onderscheiden. 5/10

Gammel Rock - gemt

A pretty nice, easy listen. Rod Stewart’s voice is incredibly recognizable. I personally think the inclusion of Stewart’s solo work is sufficient for the list. The inclusion of this one is a little redundant.

Rod Stewart was married to Stacy's Mom

There were some cool tunes on that album. Not sure if it was the husky voice, funky bass or cool guitar rhythms, but I enjoyed that.

I'm starting to believe 1001albumsgenerator is called that because it literally generates these albums. I don't think this was made by humans

Not my jam. This ain't blueberry, foo'