01/06/2026
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
TODAY IS THE 79TH BIRTHDAY OF RONNIE WOOD.
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
70-Faces-Stay with Me.
1972-Number 6 single.
Best Bit-At 3.20, and again at 3.42, and again at 3.53, and again at 4.03, and again at 4.14.
The Faces (see also best songs 565) were formed in London, England, in 1969 by Ian McLagan, (1945-2014) Ronnie Lane, (1946-1997) and Kenney Jones, who had all been members of the Small Faces, (see also best songs 1048 and 872) along with Rod Stewart, (see also best songs 965-565-206-179 and 34) and Ronnie Wood, (see also best songs 160) who had both been members of the Jeff Beck Group. They remained active through until 1975, before reforming between 2009-2011, and then again in 2021. In total there have been nine official members come and go, with Jones, Stewart, and Wood being the three current ones. The discography of the Faces includes four studio Albums released between 1970-1973, and 11 singles released between 1969-1974, there are also three box sets, 13 official compilation Albums and one live Album available. In the UK, three of their studio Albums have reached the top 40, with their final studio Album 'Ooh La La' peaking the highest at Number 1 in 1973, while four of their singles have reached the UK top 40, with 'Cindy Incidentally' peaking the highest at Number 2 in 1973. In America on Billboard, three of the Faces studio Albums have made the Billboard 200 chart, with their third release 'A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse,' peaking the highest at Number six in 1971, while two of their singles have reached the Billboard Hot 100, with ('I Know) I'm Losing You' making Number 24 in 1971, and 'Stay With Me' peaking the highest at Number 17 also in 1971.
‘Stay With Me’ was co-written by Rod Stewart, and Ronnie Wood, and produced by Glyn Johns, and the Faces, and was the only single released from the Faces third studio Album ‘A Nod Is As Good As a Wink…to a Blind Horse,’ from November 1971. If you think that is a fairly long song title then try another of the groups records, ‘You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything (Even Take the Dog for a Walk, Mend a Fuse, Fold Away the Ironing Board, or Any Other Domestic Shortcomings)” / “As Long as You Tell Him,’ which is the longest ever song title of a single to make the UK top 40, reaching Number 12 in 1974.
Glyn Johns (see also best songs 1048-933-732-662-265-and 77) was born on February 15th 1942, in Epsom, Surrey, England, over the course of his career he has worked as a producer, engineer, and musician, and has also released six solo singles between 1962-1965 under his own name. He is credited by music critics, and fans of the ‘Faces’ for ‘A Nod Is As Good As a Wink…to a Blind Horse’ being a more focused and concise offering that the two previous ‘Faces’ Albums. He would go on to produce the Faces fourth and final studio Album ‘Ooh La La,’ and also work on separate projects with Ronnie Wood, and Ronnie Lane. Glyn Johns has worked with many of the worlds top artists including the Beatles, (see also best songs 599-319-238-218-141-80-51-10 and 5) The Rolling Stones, (see also best songs 933-662-452-160 and 77) and the Eagles (see also best songs 505 and 198.) He is the older brother of the producer and engineer Andy Johns, (1950–2013) who began as an engineer with Jimi Hendrix, (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492) and like Glyn Johns, worked with the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin (see also best songs 135 and 66.) He is also the father of Ethan Johns, (see also best songs 551) who has followed in his fathers footsteps as a producer and engineer. Glynn Johns is recognised as one of the pre-eminent audio engineers and record producers of the Rock era, and on April 14th, 2012, he was inducted into the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.'
Ronnie Lane was born Ronald Frederick Lane on April 1st, 1946, in Plaistow, Essex, England, he died on June 4th, 1997, from pneumonia during the final stages of multiple sclerosis, at the age of 51. In 1977 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and was supported by charity projects and financial contributions from friends, former band mates and fans, he lived with the disease for 21 years. Ronnie Lane described his father as a 'saint' who would work a long workday and then return home to nurse his wife and two sons, all of whom were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at different points in their lives. Doctors assured Lane as a child that the destructive disease was not necessarily inherited, although he found out later in his life that he had indeed inherited it. Ronnie Lane co-formed the Small Faces in 1965, and after their split, then co-formed the Faces in 1969. He quit the Faces in 1973, due to poor reviews of the groups fourth studio Album ' Ooh La La,' and also Rod Stewart's lack of commitment, according to Ian McLagan, Ronnie Lane would later regret leaving the Faces. After leaving the Faces, Ronnie Lane formed his own band called 'Slim Chance,' and scored two UK top 40 singles with 'How Come,' (1974-UK Number 11) and 'The Poacher,' (1974-UK Number 36) he would then go on to release seven solo studio Albums between 1974-2000, there are also eight official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. For his work in both the Small Faces and the Faces, Ronnie Lane was inducted posthumously into the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' in 2012.
‘Stay With Me’ tells of a one night stand, where Rod Stewart informs us about picking up a ‘groupie’ by the name of Rita while on tour. He makes it very clear that she must be gone in the morning before he awakes, but he does offer to pay her cab fare home. He notes her ‘red lips, hair, and fingernails,’ and he repeats the rumour that she is a ‘mean old Jezebel,’ and he also tells us that she has a face that has ‘nothing to laugh about.’ Rod Stewart had recently just had a Number 1 single on both sides of the Atlantic with ‘Maggie May,’ (see also best songs 34) which was partly based on a true story where he had been the subject of a sexual conquest by an older woman. Perhaps a very experienced psychologist could write a detailed thesis on this to help us (and Rod) to understand what it all really means.
‘So in the mornin’ please don’t say you love me, ’cause you know I’ll only kick you out the door. Yeah, I’ll pay your cab fare home, you can even use my best cologne, just don’t be here in the mornin’ when I wake up, come on, honey.’
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
160-Rolling Stones-Miss You.
1978-Number 3 single.
Best Bit-At 2.20. The Rolling Stones once sang 'It's Only Rock 'N' Roll But I Like It,' but this isn't just Rock 'N' Roll, it's 'Disco' as well.
By 1978 the Rolling Stones (see also best songs 933-662-452 and 77) had already been superstars for at least 15 years, and had been at the top of the tree for longer than 99% of other artists could ever dream about. Their last truly critically acclaimed Album had been 1972's 'Exile on Main Street,' and although the three studio Albums since then still showed them performing at a high level, the onset of 'Punk',and 'Disco', and also lots of new kids on the block, were all adding up to a steady decline in the bands popularity. Like John Lennon (1940-1980) and Paul McCartney, of the Beatles (see also best songs 599-319-238-218-157-141-80-51-10 and 6) the songwriting team of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards also legally shared song writing credits, regardless of whom had the most input. In 1977 Keith Richards was in trouble over his highly publicised he**in possession bust in Canada, and was waiting to find out if he might be sent to jail. This gave Jagger the freedom to expand his own musical barriers, and experiment with modern 'R&B' and 'Disco' music.
'Miss You' started out life in March 1977 when Mick Jagger was jamming with keyboardist Billy Preston, (1946-2006) (see also best songs 737) it was them who came up with the basic track, Bill Wyman who was the Rolling Stones bassist at that time has said, 'The idea for those bass lines came from Billy Preston. We'd cut a rough demo a year or so earlier after a recording session. I'd already gone home, and Billy picked up my old bass when they started running through that song. He started doing that bit because it seemed to be the style of his left hand. So when we finally came to do the tune, the boys said, Why don't you work around Billy's idea? So I listened to it once and heard that basic run and took it from there. It took some changing and polishing, but the basic idea was Billy's.' Wyman also went on to say, 'When I did the riff for 'Miss You,' which made the song, and every band in the world copied it for the next year, Rod Stewart, (see also best songs 965-565-206-179-70 and 34) all of them, it still said Jagger/Richards. When I wrote the riff for 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', it became Jagger/Richards and that's the way it was. It just became part and parcel of the way the band functioned.'
'Miss You' was the first of four singles released from the Rolling Stones 14th UK, and 16th U.S. studio release 'Some Girls,' from June 1978, the Album has gone on to be the groups best ever selling studio Album with sales in excess of six million copies worldwide. 'Miss You' was the first Rolling Stones song to receive a remix, taking the original 4.48 Album version up to 8.38 for the 'Special Disco Version,' which was first issued on Pink 12 inch vinyl. The bands drummer Charlie Watts (1941-2021) has said, 'A lot of those songs like 'Miss You' were heavily influenced by going to the discos. You can hear it in a lot of those four on the floor rhythms, and the Philadelphia style drumming. Mick and I used to go to discos a lot... It was a great period. I remember being in Munich and coming back from a club with Mick singing one of the Village People songs - 'Y.M.C.A.', (see also best songs 105) I think it was - and Keith went mad, but it sounded great on the dance floor.' In a 1980 interview with John Lennon for the 'Pl***oy Interviews with John Lennon & Yoko Ono,' Lennon said about his song 'Bless You,' from his 1974 fourth solo studio Album 'Walls and Bridges, 'Bless You' is again about Yoko. I think Mick Jagger took 'Bless You' and turned it into 'Miss You'... The engineer kept wanting me to speed that up - he said, 'This is a hit song if you'd just do it fast.' He was right. 'Cause as 'Miss You' it turned into a hit. I like Mick's record better. I have no ill feelings about it. I think it's a great Stones track, and I really love it. But I do hear that lick in it. Mick Jagger has said that the lyrics to 'Miss You,' 'Is an emotion, it's not really about a girl. To me, the feeling of longing is what the song is.'
Bill Wyman was born William George Perks on October 24th, 1936, in Lewisham, London, England, he is considered a part of the Rolling Stones recognised classic line up, and performed on their first 19 albums, as a group member between 1962-1993, he returned to the fold in 2023 to play bass guitar on 'Live by the Sword,' a track from the Rolling Stones 24th studio Album 'Hackney Diamonds.' It was in 1964 that he legally changed his surname from 'Perks' to 'Wyman,' taking the phonetic surname of a friend, Lee Whyman, with whom he had done national service in the Royal Air Force from 1955 to 1957. Prior to joining the Rolling Stones, Bill Wyman had been a member of the 'Cliftons,' and it was that groups drummer Tony Chapman who had informed Wyman that a 'Rhythm and Blues' band called the Rolling Stones needed a bass player. Wyman auditioned at a pub in Chelsea, London, on December 7th, 1962, and was hired. After leaving the Rolling Stones Wyman has released nine solo studio Albums between 1972-2024, and he has also released 12 singles between 1967-2015. In 1997 he formed the 'Blues Rock' group 'Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings,' issuing six Albums between 1997-2004. As a solo artist two of his singles have reached the UK top 40, '(Si Si) Je Suis un Rock Star,' (1981-Number 14) and 'A New Fashion' (1982-Number 37.) On June 2nd, 1989, at the age of 52, Bill Wyman married 18-year-old Mandy Smith, whom he had 'fallen in love with' when she was 13, and, according to Smith, had a sexual relationship with when she was 14. The couple separated two years later and finalised their divorce two years after that. In 1993, Wyman's son Stephen Wyman married Patsy Smith, the 46-year-old mother of Bill's ex-wife Mandy Smith. Stephen was 30 years old at the time. Consequently, the ex-Rolling Stone became his own son's ex-son-in-law, the father-in-law of his ex-mother-in-law, as well as the step-grandfather of his ex-wife.
'Hey, what's the matter man? We're gonna come around at twelve with some Puerto Rican girls that are just dyin' to meet you. We're gonna bring a case of wine, hey, let's go mess and fool around you know, like we used to.'
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
565-Faces-Pool Hall Richard.
1973-Number 8 single.
Best Bit-At 4.21. If you don’t think that the song is ‘SMASHING’ by this stage, you never will.
Faces were formed in 1969, in London, England, after Steve Marriott (1947-1991) had left the ‘Small Faces’ (see also best songs 1048 and 872) in order to form ‘Humble Pie. The remaining three Small Faces, Ian McLagan, (1945-2014) (keyboards) Ronnie Lane, (1946-1997) (bass guitar, and vocals) and Kenney Jones, (drums) joined with Ronnie Wood, (guitar) (see also best songs 160 and 70) and Rod Stewart, (vocals) (see also best songs 965-206-179-70 and 34) who had both just left ‘The Jeff Beck Group,’ to form the ‘Faces.’
They remained active through until 1975, before reforming between 2009-2011, and then again in 2021, as well as performing one offs for special events, although after 1975 none of the five original members ever played together as a unit at the same time again. In total there have been nine official members come and go, with Jones, Stewart and Wood being the three current members. When forming in 1969, their record label ‘Warner Bros.’ wanted to stick with the name ‘Small Faces,’ for marketing purposes, but the group insisted on dropping the ‘Small,’ stating that the new members Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart were 5’9′ and 5’10’ respectively.
Faces were active until 1975 releasing four studio Albums, and 10 singles, of which four entered the UK top 20. As well as being the groups lead singer, Rod Stewart also had a very successful solo career running concurrently with his time with the Faces. Ronnie Lane left the group shortly before the recording of this song, stating his frustration at, has he saw it, the lack of opportunities to contribute new songs, and take the lead vocal. Ronnie Lane would later develop multiple sclerosis, and he passed away on June 4th, 1977. Lane was replaced by the Japanese bass guitarist Tetsu Yamauchi, who played on this song, and the groups final Album release, the live recording ‘Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners,’ from 1974. In 1978 drummer Kenney Jones joined ‘The Who’ as the replacement for the recently deceased Keith Moon, (1946-1978) Ronnie Wood joined The Rolling Stones and has played on all of their studio Albums since 1976, and keyboard player Ian McLagan also joined The Rolling Stones as part of their touring band, as well as playing electric piano on their 1978 single ‘Miss You’ (see also best songs 160.) Rod Stewart who was already a very successful solo artist by 1975, would go on to even greater success as a solo artist after the initial split.
Ian Patrick McLagan, was born on May 12th, 1945, in Hounslow, Middlesex, England, he died on December 3rd, 2014, of a stroke, at the age of 69. McLagan first started playing in bands in the early 1960’s in London, eventually joining the Small Faces as a replacement for Jimmy Winston (1945-2020) in 1965. With the Small Faces he played on all of their final five studio Albums, and then on all four studio Albums with the Faces, he has also released 10 solo Albums between 1979-2014.
‘Pool Hall Richard’ which was issued as a stand alone single in December 1973, was co-written by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, with the production credited to Ron Nevison, and Mike Bobak. Ron Nevison is an American music producer, and audio engineer. He started his career in the early 1970’s, getting his big break as an engineer on ‘Quadrophenia,’ (see also best songs 265) the sixth studio Album by The Who in 1973, this was followed shortly with his first production on Thin Lizzy’s fourth studio Album ‘Nightlife,’ in 1974. Ron Nevison has gone on to produce for some of the worlds top artists, including Ozzy Osbourne, Meatloaf, and Grace Slick. In 1987 he produced the Album ‘Crazy Nights,’ for the American Rock band ‘Kiss,’ which provided the hit single ‘Crazy Crazy Nights,’ (UK Number 4) which is perhaps his most recognisable produced track.
‘Pool Hall Richard’ which first appeared on a Faces Album in 1976, as the opening track on their compilation ‘Snakes and Ladders / The Best of Faces,’ tells the tale of a pool player, who is also the songs narrator. The narrator knows he has met his match in his opponent, who goes by the name of ‘Pool Hall Richard.’ He is in awe of his talent, and also thinks that he could take his lady as well, if he wanted to.
‘Sweatin’ hard, I didn’t get a shot, all I did was stand around and get too hot. Knowin’ all the people walkin’ on my side, losin’ all my money and I’m getting tired.’
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