Face Dancer – About Face

Face Dancer’s second album ‘About Face’ isn’t as bombastic as ‘This World’. The material veering to a harder form of power-pop instead.

Written by: gdmonline

ARTIST: Face Dancer
ALBUM: About Face
LABEL: Capitol
SERIAL: ST 12082
YEAR: 1980
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
SPONSOR: Billy Trainor
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

LINEUP: Scott McGinn – vocals, bass, synthesizers * Jeff Adams – guitars * Michael Milsap – vocals, keyboards * Billy Trainor – drums

TRACK LISTING: 01 My Girl * 02 Forever Beach * 03 Treat Me Right * 04 Pamela * 05 I Won’t Let You Go * 06 Shakin’ It * 07 Gotta Get Out * 08 Everytime We Kiss * 09 To Be A Man * 10 The 60’s Never Died

WEBLINKS: Site Link

Background

Despite a successful entry into the world of recorded rock music, Washington DC hopefuls Face Dancer were facing a crisis. Their 1979 debut album ‘This World’ generated positive and healthy interest in the media, and on the charts too, going to No#35 without any assistance whatsoever from their lost cause label Capitol. Just what some of those weirdo dudes in suits were doing at that label bordered on stupidity.

In their misguided belief, the ‘suits’ told the band to ditch two of its members: singer Carey Kress and guitarist David Utter. Not wanting to lose its deal with the label, the remaining band members relented, causing a shuffle among the pack. Joining the band was talented singer/keyboardist Mike Milsap, but the uneasy tension, and indifferent production job from Brit-twiddler Alan Winstanley took its toll on the band, and ultimately its recording contract.

The Songs

Admittedly, the material on the album isn’t among the favourite of the band-members. It’s not to say that it was a write-off, but when the environment isn’t the best, you can’t be expected to deliver in kind. ‘About Face’ isn’t as bombastic as ‘This World’. The material veering to a harder form of power-pop instead, as witnessed on the opener ‘My Girl’.

‘Forever Beach’ is a punchy affair, with an infectious air about it. The band give us a rollicking version of ‘Treat Me Right’, but the later versions provided by Pat Benatar and Riff Raff both have an extra edge, particularly the fantastic version by the latter. Trainor’s drums get a good workout on the power-pop sounding ‘Shakin’ It’, which could be The Knack revisited.

Pomp fans should be rejoicing on ‘Gotta Get Out’, as the band take on a Russia and Force 10 like familiarity that’ll have Griff Stevens crying foul. ‘Everytime We Kiss’ has shades of Roadmaster within, while the ballad ‘To Be A Man’ is epic sounding, but with a better production job this could’ve been a killer track. Ending the album is the neat medley of ‘The 60’s Never Died’. It’s perky and quirky and pomp based too, which will please fans of Aviary and MPG.

In Summary

Despite the opinions, there are a couple of great tunes here (‘Forever Beach’ and ‘Gotta Get Out’ are superb!). Face Dancer returned to DC licking its wounds. Adams and Milsap soon left, the remaining members then hooked up with ex FD alumni from the mid 70’s in an attempt to revive their fortunes.

But by 1983 and a few gigs doing the bar circuit, everybody took a running jump, and the band was no more. However, Face Dancer’s history did not end there. Refer to further articles by clicking the FD tag below to find out what went on beyond 1983. Some interesting reading indeed.

Video

Forever Beach