"A Nod's as Good as a Wink... To a Blind Horse" is the third studio album by the British rock group Faces, released in 1971. It is their second album of that year and marked a significant step forward in their career, largely due to Rod Stewart's rising solo success with "Maggie May." The album became Faces' most commercially successful, peaking at No. 6 on the US charts and No. 2 in the UK. It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1972 and remains a defining release in the Faces' catalog.
The album features several standout tracks, including "Stay with Me", which became the band's biggest hit in the US, reaching No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 in the UK. The song's swaggering, hard-rocking vibe remains a staple of the band's identity. Additionally, the album contains two original ballads and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee."
Notably, bassist Ronnie Lane, who had primarily contributed backing vocals and occasional lead vocals on previous albums, takes a more prominent role here. Lane sings lead on three of his own compositions, one of which, "Debris," was particularly well-received. The song is an elliptical reflection on father-son relationships and was chosen as the B-side to "Stay with Me." Lane's "You're So Rude" served as the B-side for the American release of the single. The inclusion of Lane's more reflective tracks added emotional depth to the album, providing a contrast to the album's more raucous and boisterous moments.
The original vinyl release of the album came with a controversial large poster, which featured not only the album's lyrics but also provocative imagery, including close-up shots of pills and capsules, as well as polaroid photos taken on tour showing the band and crew members in various wild situations with groupies. This poster quickly became the subject of controversy, and within weeks of the album's release, the record company re-issued the album without it. The initial pressing with the poster soon became a collector's item, adding to the album's mystique and rock-and-roll lore.
On 28 August 2015, A Nod's as Good as a Wink... To a Blind Horse was reissued as part of a remastered and expanded edition. This version included bonus tracks from a previously unreleased BBC session, adding further value to the reissue. The new vinyl reissue even replicated the original poster, offering fans a chance to own the album as it was first released.
The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, reflecting its enduring importance in rock history. A Nod's as Good as a Wink... To a Blind Horse showcases the Faces at their best: a hard-rocking, boozy band with an undeniable chemistry, led by Stewart's magnetic presence and enhanced by the songwriting contributions of Lane and the rest of the band. It's an album that captures the spirit of the early '70s rock scene, marked by wild energy, clever songwriting, and an unpretentious, rebellious attitude.
