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Picture of a Thousand Faces

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Picture of a Thousand Faces
Studio album by
the Eric Gales Band
Released1993
StudioArdent, Kiva
GenreBlues rock
Length54:06
LabelElektra
Producer
  • Jim Gaines
  • Terry Thomas
The Eric Gales Band chronology
The Eric Gales Band
(1991) 		Picture of a Thousand Faces
(1993)

Picture of a Thousand Faces is the second album by the American band the Eric Gales Band, released in 1993.[1][2] Gales was 18 when the album came out.[3] The first single was "Paralyzed", which peaked at No. 31 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.[4][5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6]

Production

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The album was recorded at Ardent Studios and Kiva Studios, in Memphis.[7] It was produced primarily by Jim Gaines, who developed appendicitis during the recording sessions.[8] The band's label, Elektra, hired Terry Thomas to help Gales achieve a poppier sound on some of the tracks.[9] Eric's brother, Eugene, moved from bass to guitar, so that the band could have a fuller sound.[10] Some songs were influenced by the Gales brothers' Christian faith, although Eugene did not consider the music to be Christian rock.[11] "Angel of the Night" is a ballad.[12] "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is a cover of the Beatles song.[4] "Take a Look (Deep Inside of You)" reflects on the 1992 Los Angeles riots.[13]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Indianapolis Star[12]
Philadelphia Daily News[14]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[15]
Tampa Bay Times[16]

The Philadelphia Daily News noted that "since Jimi's sad demise, there's been a horde of guys trying to kiss the Hendrix flame and make a blazing soul-rock connection... Eric Gales, represented here with his bristling second album, is one of the cockier challengers".[14] The Las Vegas Review-Journal said that Gales, with Picture of a Thousand Faces, is "a rare example of a new artist with a sound that rocks hard enough for 'mainstream' radio formats, but with a sophistication more common to the alternative or 'adult eclectic' side of the dial."[3] The Tampa Bay Times concluded that, "with his blazing blues-rock excursions a given, the only big obstacle for Gales is finding material".[16]

The Los Angeles Times opined that "while the new second album ... is an improvement over the debut collection, neither one features any grabbers."[17] The Hamilton Spectator concluded that "the right combination of rock and soul, killer tunes ... and wailing solos make Picture of a Thousand Faces one of the guitar rock albums of the year."[18] The Indianapolis Star stated that "the band's distinctive sound—punctuated with smooth lead vocals from Gales and his brother Eugene layered over frenzied guitar work—is easily discernible from the mishmash of a lot of rock on the radio".[12] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette concluded: "Not content to ape archaic gutbucket blues like many white-bread contemporaries, heavy blues rock, in Gales' hands, hasn't sounded this good since the unfortunate demise of Badlands. Ten years ago, they would've called this a metal album."[15]

Track listing

[edit]
Picture of a Thousand Faces track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Paralyzed"4:35
2."Angel of the Night"4:36
3."Picture of a Thousand Faces"4:57
4."God Only Knows"5:40
5."I Want You (She's So Heavy)"7:41
6."Temple of Deliverance"5:12
7."Guilty of the Innocence"5:14
8."Misty"0:42
9."Take a Look (Deep Inside of You)"4:52
10."Bang That Bell"4:06
11."Draw the Line"6:31
Total length:54:06

References

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  1. ^ Armstrong, Gene (September 17, 1993). "Blues, rock and benefits make for a busy week". Arizona Daily Star. p. 4G.
  2. ^ Rotondi, James (October 1993). "Eric Gales wants you!". Guitar Player. Vol. 27, no. 10. p. 80.
  3. ^ a b Weatherford, Mike (September 24, 1993). "Despite his tender age, Eric Gales sings the blues like a veteran". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2C.
  4. ^ a b "Album Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 35. August 28, 1993. p. 62.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research. p. 100.
  6. ^ Beal Jr., Jim (September 7, 1993). "Gales develops power, finesse on his guitar". San Antonio Express-News. p. 2C.
  7. ^ Nager, Larry (July 31, 1993). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. C7.
  8. ^ Leffler, Marc (November 18, 1994). "Gales Growing by Leaps and Bounds". USA Today.
  9. ^ Harris, Paul A. (October 1, 1993). "The Kid from Memphis". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4EV.
  10. ^ Flippo, Lisa Denton (August 25, 1995). "Musical forecast; Gales at Nightfall". Chattanooga Times Free Press. p. D1.
  11. ^ Danner, Jennifer (October 12, 1993). "The Eric Gales Band". The Patriot-News. p. B11.
  12. ^ a b c Pugh, Dorothy L. (January 10, 1994). "The Eric Gales Band 'Picture of a Thousand Faces'". The Indianapolis Star. p. B8.
  13. ^ Kuelker, Michael (October 7, 1993). "Eric Gales: Special Effects, Funky Chords". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 5G.
  14. ^ a b Takiff, Jonathan (August 31, 1993). "Seeking Love in Dark Places". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 30.
  15. ^ a b Evosevic, John (November 28, 1993). "Entertainment". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E5.
  16. ^ a b Green, Tony (November 12, 1993). "Sound Bites". Weekend. Tampa Bay Times. p. 15.
  17. ^ Hunt, Dennis (October 1, 1993). "Talent Can't Save Gales Band". Los Angeles Times. p. F22.
  18. ^ Krewen, Nick (October 7, 1993). "The Eric Gales Band / Picture of a Thousand Faces". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 12.
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