Face Dances, the tenth studio album by the iconic British rock band The Who, marked a significant turning point in their history. Released in the UK on March 16, 1981, and simultaneously in the US by Warner Bros, this album represented the band’s resilience and evolution following the tragic loss of their original drummer, Keith Moon.
This release information is crucial for fans and collectors alike. Originally launched by Polydor Records in the UK (catalog number 2302 106 WHOD 5037), Face Dances was also made available as a remastered CD in 1997 (Polydor 537 695-2) and re-pressed on heavyweight vinyl in 2012 (Polydor 3715712). For the US market, Warner Bros issued the album under catalog number WB HS 3516, also releasing a CD version (WB 3516-2). Later reissues were handled by MCA (MCAD 25-25987, MFSL 1-115), with a remixed and remastered CD edition (MCA MCAD-11634) appearing in 1997.
The album’s tracklist showcases The Who’s signature energy and songwriting prowess:
- You Better You Bet
- Don’t Let Go The Coat
- Cache Cache
- The Quiet One
- Did You Steal My Money?
- How Can You Do It Alone?
- Daily Records
- You
- Another Tricky Day
Following Keith Moon’s death in 1978, The Who faced a pivotal moment. They chose to move forward, enlisting Kenney Jones on drums. Before diving into studio work, the revitalized Who focused on live performances, debuting their new lineup at London’s Rainbow Theatre on May 2, 1979, amidst considerable fanfare. It was over a year later that the band commenced work on Face Dances, signaling a new chapter creatively. Beyond the addition of Kenney Jones, Face Dances era saw other shifts in The Who’s dynamics. John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick expanded their sound with keyboards both live and in the studio, while Roger Daltrey picked up the guitar on stage, a practice reminiscent of The Detours days in the early 1960s.
The 1997 remastered CD edition further enriched the Face Dances experience with bonus tracks, offering deeper insights into the album’s sessions and live performances of that period:
- I Like Nightmares
- It’s In You
- Somebody Saved Me
- How Can You Do It Alone? (Live)
- The Quiet One (Live)
Face Dances was expertly produced by Bill Szymczyk, known for his work with bands like the Eagles. Adding another layer of artistry to the project, the original album sleeve was conceived by renowned pop artist Peter Blake. Blake’s design uniquely incorporated portraits of The Who by a collective of sixteen distinguished artists: Bill Jacklin, Tom Phillips, Colin Self, Richard Hamilton, Mike Andrews, Allen Jones, David Inshaw, David Hockney, Clive Barker, R.B. Kitaj, Howard Hodgkin, Patrick Caulfield, Peter Blake himself, Joe Tilson, Patrick Procktor, and David Tindle. Richard Evans contributed the album’s graphics, completing the visual package of this noteworthy album in The Who’s discography.
