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🔘 Ooh La La – Album: Apr. 1973

  • Writer: Faces
    Faces
  • Apr 13, 1973
  • 5 min read

Ooh La La arrived in April 1973 as the band’s last great burst of swaggering, ragged, soulful rock and roll. Recorded at Olympic Studios and produced by Glyn Johns, the album captured the group at a moment of transition, with Ronnie Lane increasingly stepping forward as a songwriter and vocalist while Rod Stewart’s solo career was rapidly accelerating. The result is a record steeped in grit, humour, melancholy and the band’s trademark bar‑room looseness — a farewell that feels both celebratory and bittersweet.



Released on 13 April 1973 by Warner Bros. Records (K 56011), the album marked the final studio statement from Faces before their dissolution. Produced by Glyn Johns, it showcased the band’s blend of rock and roll, folk‑rock, and soulful swagger. The release generated strong chart success, reaching No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, and remains one of the band’s most iconic works, bolstered by its distinctive animated gimmick sleeve and the enduring title track.


Label: Warner Bros. Records

Catalogue Number: K 56011

Format: LP (12")

Released: 13 April 1973 (UK)


🔘 Track List


UK LP — Warner Bros. Records – K 56011 — 1973


Side A

• Silicone Grown — 3:06

• Cindy Incidentally — 2:35

• Flags and Banners — 2:02

• My Fault — 3:06

• Borstal Boys — 2:53


Side B

• Fly in the Ointment — 3:48

• If I’m On the Late Side — 2:35

• Glad and Sorry — 3:07

• Just Another Honky — 3:35

• Ooh La La — 3:35


Writing Credits

• Ronnie Lane & Ron Wood — multiple tracks

• Rod Stewart & Ronnie Lane — selected tracks

• Full band contributions as credited on original LP


Production Credits

• Produced by: Glyn Johns

• Arranged by: Faces

• Recorded: Olympic Studios, London (1972–1973)


🔘 Key Highlights


• Released 13 April 1973

• Lead singles: “Cindy Incidentally”, “Ooh La La”

• UK No. 1 album

• Recorded at Olympic Studios

• Notable collaborators: Glyn Johns, Tom Wright, Jak Kilby

• Final studio album by Faces


🔘 Singles

"Cindy Incidentally"

Released: February 1973


"Ooh La La"

Released: March 1973


🔘 The Story


*Ooh La La* was recorded during a turbulent period for Faces, with internal tensions rising and Rod Stewart’s solo career overshadowing the band’s collective identity. Ronnie Lane, increasingly frustrated, contributed some of his most heartfelt material, including “Glad and Sorry” and “Flags and Banners.” Ron Wood stepped forward vocally on the title track, creating one of the band’s most beloved performances.


The album’s themes revolve around regret, working‑class humour, and the rough‑edged camaraderie that defined Faces’ sound. Glyn Johns’ production captured the band’s raw energy while adding clarity and punch. The iconic animated gimmick sleeve — featuring a mechanical face that changes expression when the inner tab is pulled — became one of the most memorable LP packages of the 1970s.


Despite the band’s internal struggles, *Ooh La La* stands as a cohesive, soulful, and deeply human record — a fitting final chapter in the Faces story.


🔘 Personnel


• Rod Stewart — vocals

• Ronnie Lane — bass, vocals

• Ron Wood — guitar, vocals

• Ian McLagan — keyboards

• Kenney Jones — drums

• Glyn Johns — production

• Phil Chapman — assistant engineer

• Tom Wright — photography

• Jak Kilby — poster design & photography

• Jim Ladwig — album design


🔘 Variants (UK / US / Other)


• LP — Warner Bros. – K 56011 — UK — 1973 — Gimmick sleeve

• LP, Test Pressing — Warner Bros. — UK — 1973

• Cassette — Warner Bros. – ZCK4 56011 — UK — 1973

• 8‑Track — Warner Bros. – Y8K8 56011 — UK — 1973

• Issued in top‑loading matte rough gimmick sleeve with animated front panel


🔘 Variant Tracklists (All Formats)


8‑Track Cartridge — UK / Warner Bros. – Y8K8 56011

Program 1: Silicone Grown / Cindy Incidentally / Flags and Banners

Program 2: My Fault / Borstal Boys / If I’m On the Late Side (Part One)

Program 3: If I’m On the Late Side (Conclusion) / Glad and Sorry / Just Another Honky

Program 4: Fly in the Ointment / Ooh La La


Cassette — UK / Warner Bros. – ZCK4 56011

Side A

• Silicone Grown

• Cindy Incidentally

• Just Another Honky

• My Fault

• Borstal Boys


Side B

• Fly in the Ointment

• If I’m On the Late Side

• Glad and Sorry

• Flags and Banners

• Ooh La La


🔘 Sleeves


• Top‑loading matte rough gimmick sleeve with animated front panel

• Gatefold rear with printed lyrics

• Custom Side A label with “Can‑Can” dancer image

• Standard green Warner Bros. label on Side B

• Includes large folded 30" × 20" poster insert with lyrics

• Printed and manufactured by Album Graphics Inc.



🔘 Contemporary Review — Melody Maker, April 1973

Praised for its looseness, charm and soulful songwriting, though noted as a bittersweet final chapter for the band.


🔘 Chart Performance


UK — Official Albums Chart

Peak Position: 1

Total Weeks: 13

First Chart Date: 21/04/1973


Full Chart Run:

3 — 21/04/1973

1 — 28/04/1973 (peak)

4 — 05/05/1973

5 — 12/05/1973

12 — 19/05/1973

17 — 26/05/1973

24 — 02/06/1973

41 — 09/06/1973

39 — 16/06/1973

46 — 23/06/1973

50 — 30/06/1973

49 — 07/07/1973

38 — 14/07/1973


🔘 Context & Notes


• Final Faces studio album

• Features Ron Wood’s rare lead vocal on the title track

• Reissued in 2015 as part of *1970–1975: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything…*

• Vinyl box set replicated original gimmick sleeve

• Recorded at Olympic Studios, London


🔘 Related Material

See tags at foot of page


🔘 Discography


A Nod Is as Good as a Wink… — 1971

Ooh La La — 1973

Coast to Coast: Overture and Beginners — 1974


🔘 Mini‑Timeline


✦ 1972 — Recording begins at Olympic Studios

✦ 13 April 1973 — Album released

✦ 28 April 1973 — Reaches No. 1 on UK Albums Chart

✦ 2015 — Remastered and expanded reissue released


🔘 Glam Flashback

A ragged grin, a last toast, and a parting shot of pure rock‑and‑roll swagger — Faces bow out in style.



🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources: Warner Bros. Records, Discogs, Official Charts Company, contemporary music‑press documentation, archival references.


🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

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