3. Long Player (1971)

The true face of the Faces first appears on the classic 1971 Long Player, a startlingly gripping amalgam of originals and well chosen covers that comprises the bulk of the their second full-length. Opening track “Bad ‘n’ Ruin” transforms the band from simple wannabe acolytes into R&B warlords, a tune that would hold its own in any given alley fight with the toughest the Stones had to offer. Meanwhile, a crushing cover of McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed” reminds us of why Macca’s material is always best served by a take-no-prisoners approach. Punctuating the atmosphere of rough living, the hard line stomp of “Had Me A Real Good Time” makes for a skittish and ruminative case for life or death on the wild side.