Ooh La La by Faces

By: Ron Powers

In 1973, Faces offered one of their most tender and enduring works with the title track “Ooh La La.” Co-written by Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood, the song closed out what would become the band’s final studio album. Because neither Rod Stewart nor Lane felt their own vocal takes did justice to the song, producer Glyn Johns famously tapped Wood for lead vocal: An unusually personal turn for the guitarist and a choice that would define the track’s emotional resonance. With its simple acoustic frame, wistful melody, and reflective lyrics about regret and learning too late, “Ooh La La” transcended its era. Though it wasn’t a chart juggernaut, the song found renewed life over the decades: cited among the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and woven into films, covers, and the enduring legacy of Faces’ bittersweet swan song.

Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood get the song going with their acoustic guitars, employing a simple two-chord progression along with a lead line foreshadowing the song's central hook. After the acoustic guitars lay down a folksy and nostalgic emotional base, Wood sings the first verse while using no vocal effects. This creates an up close and intimate feeling and complements lyrics that feature Wood telling a story about his grandfather giving him advice about relationships. Kick drum taps are also heard here and there throughout the beginning of the verse and finally give way to a beat composed of shaker, bass drum, and rimshots. As these musical and lyrical elements weave together, Faces set the stage for a seamless transition to the classic singalong chorus of “Ooh La La”.

For the chorus we hear Wood sing out the lines “I wish that I knew what I know now / When I was younger / I wish that I knew what I know now / When I was stronger”. Two vocal tracks were recorded here with slight variations in the melody creating a laid back feel that also boosts the energy and helps to create a contrast between the verse and chorus. As the song evolves, more musical elements are added to the chorus including piano and Mellotron emphasizing the mellow emotion of the track. The final chorus also includes an acoustic guitar lead line that lends a celebratory energy as the song slowly fades out.

Structurally, “Ooh La La” has an organic and asymmetrical flow that is anything but cookie cutter. An example of this comes after the second verse where you would expect the chorus to repeat. However, instead of a second chorus, Faces introduce a barroom style piano solo that expands the sonic palette and supports the lyrical narrative. An additional uncommon structural choice comes after the third verse, where the chorus music is repeated but the lyrics are switched to a simple repetition of the title “Ooh la la”. It’s clear Faces were feeling their way through the writing of this song instead of using technical knowledge. Perhaps this heart led approach to writing is why so many have connected with the song and why it remains their most popular track.

Faces disbanded in 1975 and left behind a catalog of music that is enjoyed by fans all around

the world. Ronnie Wood moved on to play guitar for the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart has enjoyed a massively successful solo career. If you would like to listen to “Ooh La La”, you can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and most other places music is streamed or sold. If you would like to learn more about Faces, you can find more information on Wikipedia and the book Had Me a Real Good Time by Andy Neill.

Ron Powers