“Stay with Me” – Single by Faces from the album A Nod Is As Good As a Wink… to a Blind Horse
B-side “You’re So Rude” (US) / “Debris” (Intl.)
Released December 1971; November 2019 (Rod Stewart version)
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriters Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood
Producers Faces, Glyn Johns
Charted No.17 in US; No.1 in UK; No.41 in Australia; No.4 in Canada; No.28 in West Germany
This Mod anthem was written by Faces lead singer Rod Stewart and their guitarist Ronald David Wood, best known as future Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood.
The song was the first and biggest American hit for the Faces, although Rod Stewart scored his massive solo hit “Maggie May” four months before “Stay With Me” was released in November 1971.
It became their only major hit in the United States, although they had a further three Top 20 singles in the UK chart. The song has also appeared on various Faces compilations and on albums by both songwriters. The lyrics describe a woman named Rita, who has a face that she has “nothing to laugh about”, and with whom the singer proposes a one-night stand, on the condition that she be gone when he wakes up.
Musicians:
Rod Stewart – lead vocals
Ronnie Wood – guitar, slide guitar
Ian McLagan – Wurlitzer electronic piano
Ronnie Lane – bass
Kenney Jones – drums
