Producers: The Faces, Glyn Johns.

Compilation producers: Ian McLagan, Patrick Milligan, Gary Stewart.

Recorded between 1970 and 1975. Includes liner notes by Dave Marsh.

Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch & Bill Inglot (DigiPrep).

Personnel: Ron Wood (vocals, guitar, harmonica, background vocals); Ronnie Lane (vocals, guitar, tambourine, background vocals); Rod Stewart (vocals); Ian McLagan (piano, harmonium, Clavinet); Kenney Jones (drums, percussion).

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Audio Remixer: Ian McLagan.

Liner Note Author: Dave Marsh.

Photographers: Jill Furmanovsky; Tom Wright.

Twenty years after their breakup, the Faces remained one of the most beloved bands in rock history, but it wasn't until 1999 that they were rewarded with a genuine collection, one that worked as an introduction while satisfying the dedicated with a truly listenable, terrific album. Not that the 19-track Good Boys When They're Asleep: Best of Faces contains everything worthwhile from the band -- the absence of the extraordinary live version of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" is the most egregious omission, and there are a number of remarkable songs missing as well -- but it's hard to quibble with anything that is here. As a matter of fact, listening to Good Boys When They're Asleep is quite a thrilling ride, since it emphasizes their two sides -- the rowdy, party-addled rockers and the melancholy ballads. Collectors will be happy to have the previously unreleased "Open to Ideas," along with the non-LP selections "Pool Hall Richard" and "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything," but the real news about the disc is that it offers a genuine retrospective that's every bit as good as the band itself, while arguably being a better, more cohesive record than any of the original albums. For longtime fans, as well as neophytes who have read about the Faces but never dived into the records, it's an album that's worth the wait. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

This best-of collection celebrates all the endearing strengths of the Faces. After the Small Faces lost founder Steve Marriott, they shortened their name and added the lanky duo of Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. Their four studio albums were released in three years at the beginning of the '70s. The band combined a bracing mix of confidence and innocence, as well as the casual abandon of their playing and songwriting smarts. The Faces toured constantly, making the stage their home, and in between tours they'd record their albums, then get right back out on the road.

This set culls the wonderful highlights from those albums along with a few selections from their short tenure after Ronnie Lane departed the band. As rough-and-tumble as the band sometimes sounds, there's never a note here that doesn't sound completely honest. For anyone unfamiliar with the pleasures to be had from the Faces, start here.