A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse

A Nod's As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse
Studio album by
Faces
Released 17 November 1971
Recorded March–September 1971 at Olympic Studios, London
Length 35:56
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Faces and Glyn Johns
Faces chronology
Long Player
(1971) 		A Nod's As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse
(1971) 		Ooh La La
(1973)

A Nod's as Good as a Wink... To a Blind Horse is the third album by British rock group Faces, and their second album of 1971. Bolstered somewhat by lead singer Rod Stewart's recent solo success with "Maggie May", it was their most successful album worldwide, peaking at No. 6 in the US, and reaching No. 2 in the UK. It also contains their biggest US hit, the swaggering "Stay with Me" (No. 6 in the UK, No. 17 in the US), and the album itself would be certified gold by the RIAA in 1972.

The album features two original ballads and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee". Bassist Ronnie Lane, usually confined to backing vocals and the occasional sole lead vocal on previous Faces records, sings lead on three of his own compositions here (one co-written with keyboardist Ian McLagan). Of these, "Debris", an elliptical examination of father-son relationships, was chosen as the B-side to their hit "Stay With Me".

Release and reception

The original issue of the album came with a large poster consisting of a picture collage, including images of pills and pharmaceutical capsules, as well as polaroid photos apparently taken on tour of band and crew members reveling with naked groupies in hotel rooms. Within weeks of release, the record company re-issued the album without the poster, turning original copies with the poster into collectors' items overnight.

On 28 August 2015, the album was reissued in a remastered and expanded form, with the bonus tracks being two songs from a previously unreleased BBC session. The new vinyl reissue even replicated the poster included with the first-pressing vinyl release.

Reception

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic
Rolling Stone mixed
The Village Voice A−

Track listing

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. "Miss Judy's Farm"
Rod Stewart 3:38
2. "You're So Rude"
Ronnie Lane 3:41
3. "Love Lives Here"
  • Lane
  • Stewart
  • Wood
 Stewart 3:04
4. "Last Orders Please" Lane Lane 2:33
5. "Stay with Me"
  • Stewart
  • Wood
 Stewart 4:37
Total length: 17:33
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. "Debris" Lane Lane (with Stewart on harmony vocal) 4:36
2. "Memphis" Chuck Berry Stewart 5:29
3. "Too Bad"
  • Stewart
  • Wood
 Stewart (with Lane, McLagan and Wood backing) 3:12
4. "That's All You Need"
  • Stewart
  • Wood
 Stewart 5:06
Total length: 18:23

2015 reissue bonus tracks

  1. "Miss Judy's Farm" [BBC Session] (Stewart, Wood)
  2. "Stay With Me" [BBC Session] (Stewart, Wood)

Personnel

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications for A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Reissues

Year Label Cat. number Edition
2005 Audio Fidelity AFZ 026 24 Karat Gold HDCD