As a longtime fan of the Faces, Rhino's 4-disc compilation is a treasure trove of hits (okay, they only had two bonafide hits), album tracks, b-sides, live tracks (most of them from BBC appearances) and rareties. In fact, of the 67 tracks, thirty are previously unreleased; and others have only now been available on CD, like a live version of the Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain" (previously only available as the b-side of "Pool Hall Richard"), "Dishevelment Blues" (a flexi-disc single given out with the April 1973 issue of Melody Maker in the UK), "Oh Lord I'm Browned Off" (the b-side of "Maybe I'm Amazed"), and "Real Wheel Skid" (the b-side of "Had Me a Real Good Time").
All told, this is a glorious testament to one of the best bands of the early seventies. Produced and compiled by Faces' keyboardist Ian McLagan and dedicated to bassist Ronnie Lane, this is a labor of love from start to finish. While Rod Stewart was the focal point of the band, it was Lane who was the band's heart and soul. Lane wrote or co-wrote a third of the tracks, including classics like "Debris," "Last Orders Please," "You're So Rude" and perhaps my favorite Faces' song, "Ooh La La."
In addition to the terrific music, the 64-page booklet is packed with photos, track-by-track info, a complete discography, an essay by David Fricke, and testamonials by artists as diverse as the Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock, Slash and Rich Robinson, whose band The Black Crowes was greatly influenced by the Faces. There is also a touching tribute to Lane written by McLagan.
This box set serves as a reminder of just how great a rock 'n' roll band the Faces were. Even if you already own their four studio albums, this is a must-have purchase. [Running time: Disc 1 - 77:43, Disc 2 - 79:12, Disc 3 - 74:26, Disc 4 - 76:30] VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED