FACE DANCES was originally released in the UK in March 1981 (Polydor 2302 106 WHOD 5037) and as a CD in the 1980s (Polydor 517 948-2). It is currently available as a remixed and remastered CD (Polydor 537 695-2) issued in 1997. After the death of Keith Moon, The Who regrouped with Kenney Jones on drums and, initially, concentrated on live work. The new look Who launched themselves in a barrage of publicity, playing their first concert at London’s Rainbow Theatre on May 2, 1979. It wasn’t until over a year later that work began on FACE DANCES. Pete Townshend’s song FACE DANCES, incidentally, was never released by The Who. Pete recorded it for his own ALL THE BEST COWBOYS HAVE CHINESE EYES album in 1982. FACE DANCES was produced by Bill Szymczyk, while the reissue was produced, remixed and remastered by Jon Astley and Andy Macpherson with Bob Ludwig. FACE DANCES reached #6 in the UK LP charts, and #2 in the US. Tracks 1-12 were recorded at Odyssey Studios, London, from June 1980, and mixed at Szymczyk’s own studio, Bayshore, in Coconot Grove, Florida, at the end of that year. Original sleeve design and concept is by Peter Blake, with graphics by Richard Evans. FACE DANCES features portraits of The Who by sixteen of Britain’s finest artists including Bill Jacklin, Tom Phillips, Colin Self, Richard Hamilton, Mike Andrews, Allen Jones, David Inshaw, David Hockney, Clive Barker, R.B. Kitaj, Howard Hodgkin, Patrick Caulfield, Peter Blake, Joe Tilson, Patrick Procktor and David Tindle.
On the 11 March 1981, a luncheon party for the artists who contributed to the cover of The Who’s album FACE DANCES is held at Searcy’s in Knightsbridge, London. The Who discuss their portraits with some of the great talents of 1960′s and 1970′s British art including Peter Blake, Allen Jones, Howard Hodgkin, Colin Self, Bill Jacklin, David Tindle, Patrick Procktor, and Richard Hamilton. Also in attendance is Paul Simonon of The Clash. Afterward the assembled pieces of the cover are moved to the Tate Gallery.
