April 01: The late great Ronnie Lane was born in 1946
As the former bassist for the Small Faces, and later the Faces, Ronnie Lane left both bands when he felt the spirit of the group had died, gaining him the reputation of an uncompromising artist, and allowing him the opportunity to release some fine solo material in the ’70s.
~Steve Kurutz (allmusic.com)
Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones Talk The Faces on Hall of Fame Induction:
I need to confess that I listen to way more “old” music during a year. Lot’s of old bootlegs & old classics. Hallgeir (my partner in crime here @ JV) is the one always checking out new music, and giving me input.
Anyways, I manage to get my share and there were many great albums released this year as well. For me Jason Isbell’s “Southeastern” was number uno.. by quite a distance, but a late runner: John Moreland’s “In The Throes” came knockin’ when the polls were closing.
I only allow a maximum of 2 songs each artist.
Top 25
Jason Isbell – Elephant
– I buried her a thousand times, giving up my place in line, but I don’t give a damn about that nowThere’s one thing that’s real clear to me, no one dies with dignity. We just try to ignore the elephant somehow.
Jason Isbell is one of the best singer/songwriters of his generation. He is mature well beyond his years, his wisdom is rare in a man his age. That said, this song is beautiful regardless af age and maturity, it’s a timeless song.
Elephant may be blunt, it may not be for the faint of heart, but it is good, hell, it is one of the best songs I’ve heard this year.
Elephant:
Studio version, Elephant:
Elephant, Live version (5-21-13 at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC):
I cannot belive how great he is, this is the stuff of legends! Yeah, it really is…
– Hallgeir
As the former bassist for the Small Faces, and later the Faces, Ronnie Lane left both bands when he felt the spirit of the group had died, gaining him the reputation of an uncompromising artist, and allowing him the opportunity to release some fine solo material in the ’70s.
~Steve Kurutz (allmusic.com)
Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones Talk The Faces on Hall of Fame Induction:
Ronnie Lane – Ooh La La (live 1974):
Birth name
Ronald Frederick Lane
Also known as
Plonk, Three-Piece
Born
1 April 1946
Plaistow, London, England
Died
4 June 1997 (aged 51)
Trinidad, Colorado, USA
Genres
Rock, rhythm and blues, psychedelic rock, folk rock
Occupations
Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments
Bass, guitar, vocals
Years active
1965–1992
Labels
A&M, Atlantic, Immediate, Island
Associated acts
Faces, Small Faces, Slim Chance, Ronnie Lane and the 7 Samurai, Pete Townshend, Ron Wood
Ronald Frederick “Ronnie” Lane (1 April 1946 – 4 June 1997) was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands; the Small Faces where he was nicknamed “Plonk”, (1965–69) – and, after losing the band’s frontman, Faces, with two new members added to the line up, (from The Jeff Beck Group), who dubbed him “Three-Piece” (1969–73). It was for his work in both the Small Faces and the Faces that Lane was inducted posthumously into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012.
Subsequently Lane collaborated with other musicians, leading his own bands as well as pursuing a solo career while remaining close to his former bandmates. In the late 1970s he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and, despite charity projects and financial support from friends, former bandmates and fans, Lane, after suffering from the disease for 21 years, died at 51.
The Small Faces were Lane on bass guitar, Marriott as guitarist and lead vocalist, Kenney Jones as drummer, and Winston on keyboards, They made their debut in 1965, Ian McLagan replacing Winston in November 1965. Lane and Marriott began writing hit songs consistently, including “Itchycoo Park” and “All or Nothing”. At least a dozen successful songs credit Lane, and the 1968 concept album Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake features songs co-written by Lane with one exception. The album made it to #1 on the UK Albums Chartfor six weeks. The band disbanded in 1969 as Marriott left the group. The group reformed during the late 1970s but Lane did not join them.
The Small Faces – Itchycoo Park:
Lane formed The Faces with McLagan, Jones, Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart in 1969. He shared primary songwriting duties in Faces with Rod Stewart, composing, or co-composing, many of their best-loved pieces and taking a central role during the recording of their fourth and final album, Ooh La La, particularly, as the band’s front man, Rod Stewart focused on his own solo career. Unhappy due to poor reviews of the album and Stewart’s lack of commitment, Lane quit in 1973, making his last appearance at the Sundown Theatre in Edmonton, London on 4 June. He was replaced by Tetsu Yamauchi but the group split in 1975.
The Faces – ‘Stay With Me‘, BBC Theatre. 1971:
“Solo”
After leaving the Faces Lane formed his own band Slim Chance, who recorded the hit singles “How Come” (UK No. 11) and “The Poacher” (UK No. 36) and the album Anymore for Anymore, showcasing a blend of British rock music, folk and country music.
After initial success he commenced a tour called “The Passing Show”, touring the UK as a carnival complete with tents and barkers. Viv Stanshall, from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, was a short-lived ringmaster (of sorts). Lane moved to Island Records and issued Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance and One for the Road. …. His ensuing album with Pete Townshend, Rough Mix, produced by Glyn Johns, which was released in 1977, was lauded as contender for best album of the year by many critics, but the label did not promote it and sales were lacklustre.
