New Box Set For Beloved Faces, Small Faces Co-Founder Ronnie Lane

The collection is a much-deserved tribute to the co-writer of such classic British songs as ‘Itchycoo Park,’ ‘All Or Nothing,’ ‘Ooh La La,’ ‘How Come’ and ‘The Poacher.’

Published on March 19, 2019
by Paul Sexton



The first-ever comprehensive anthology of the work of beloved former Faces and Small Faces songwriter-bassist Ronnie Lane, Just For A Moment 1973-1997, will be released as a 6-CD box set and in best-of editions by UMC on 17 May.

The collection is a much-deserved tribute to the post-Faces career of the co-writer of such classic British songs as ‘Itchycoo Park,’ ‘All Or Nothing,’ ‘Ooh La La’ and his own hits with his later band Slim Chance, ‘How Come’ and ‘The Poacher.’ Lane passed away at the age of just 51 in 1997, after suffering from multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years.

Affectionately and widely known as ‘Plonk,’ Ronnie became one half of the songwriting force behind the Small Faces’ definitive and soulful 1960s British rock sound with Steve Marriott. He then became a founding member of the highly successful powerhouse that grew out of them, the Faces. Then, increasingly at odds with the demands of the music business, he retreated to a ramshackle country farm, Fishpool, in Wales and formed Slim Chance.

The group toured in a carnival-type extravaganza called the Passing Show, and Lane also built his own recording facility, the Lane Mobile Studio. He collaborated with any friends in his musical circle, including Ronnie Wood, Gallagher & Lyle, Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton, who wrote ‘Wonderful Tonight’ around the fire at Fishpool.

Townshend, with whom Lane created the memorable 1977 joint album Rough Mix, says of the new retrospective: “For me the music here brings a joyful tear. How wonderful to get a sense of the entire arc of Ronnie’s work, rough and smooth, lost and found.”

Just For A Moment 1973-1997 includes Lane’s four solo albums (Anymore For Anymore plus its non-LP singles, Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance, One For The Road and See Me). It also features tracks from the Mahoney’s Last Stand soundtrack album with Ron Wood and from Rough Mix. The final disc of the set focuses on Ronnie’s later years in the US, when he lived in Austin, Texas, with live highlights and previously unreleased studio tracks.

Many other rare and unreleased recordings are included, such as covers of ‘The Wanderer’ and ‘The Joint Is Jumpin’’, alongside unheard Lane compositions plus live recordings, tracks for the BBC and highlights from a concert at Rockpalast. Just For A Moment is curated by Ronnie’s longtime musical confidant Charlie Hart of Slim Chance, who continue to tour in their modern-day line-up, with a new album, New Cross Road, out on the Fishpool label. The band’s tour dates and further information are at their website.

The box set is available as a 6-CD edition with a hardback book and outer slipcase, a book of Lane’s lyrics and an A2 fold out poster. 1CD and 2LP best-of versions will also be released. The collection contains comprehensive sleeve notes split into three distinct parts, written by Paolo Hewitt, Kris Needs and Kent Benjamin. Townshend contributes the foreword.

“Here, in these songs, collected with such love and care, he is found again.” says Townshend of his old friend. “Probably at the height of his rebellious and chaotic powers, where music had to be immediate and uplifting, or else heart-breaking — but always real.”

[www.udiscovermusic.com]

Love Ronnie Lane.

I'll have to get this package, even though I already have most of the material on it.


I would argue that Lane should be a 3-time RnR HoF member. That can't happen since the Small Faces and Faces were weirdly inducted together as a two-fer, but this box will be ample evidence that Ronnie also deserves the recognition for his brilliant work as a solo artist.

Thanks for the heads up about this release.

This release made me go listen and watch a bunch of Ronnie Lane material. Anyone here who haS Not seen the Lane documentary, the "Passing Show" should try and catch it; a piece of film as beautiful as the person.
Once you're in that neck of the woods on youtube it is easy to link over into some Faces docs too.
What a great band that was. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but some times it hits me. There was something so magical about those years in the UK. The spirit of being a rockn roll musician when it all was new and true. Just e.g. How did the Faces manage to get all those Zemaitis guitars in the early days of no money? Between Wood and Lane there were 6 Z guitars.
Was it something in the water that bred all those rockers? (I had just listed all the various schools of rock that came out of UK from 60's all to 00', but that is redundant; everyone knows that).
But the Faces are one of those perfect bands. Where there was a chemical reaction almost. A rare balance of personalities and forces. I was thinking about how good they all were as singers. The only one we've not heard is Kenney Jones. Watch him come out one day as some kind of Pavarotti.

Debris is a classic. I never put a playlist together without it.

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Palace Revolution 2000
The only one we've not heard is Kenney Jones. Watch him come out one day as some kind of Pavarotti.

Now you have:
[www.youtube.com]

Haha..incredible. Well, maybe 4 out of 5 ain't bad.