Best of British
Held in high affection because of his days as keyboard player in theSmall Facesand their boozy offspring theFaces, Ian McLagan has spent the better of two decades lending support to such legends asChuck Berry,Bob Dylan, and theRolling Stones. While his former frontmanRod Stewartwent on to achieve platinum status, McLagan has kept it real, continuing the spirit of ramshackle, good-time glory that made his first two bands (and bandmateRonnie Lane's Slim Chance) so memorable. "She Stole It!" is a brokenhearted rant against a girlfriend who nicked his collection ofHank Williams,Aretha Franklin, andRay Charlesrecords, and tells McLagan's whole story. His heart beats faster for pure soul, R&B;, and country, but as a Londoner, he delivers quintessentially English rock such as "Suzie Gotta Sweet Face" and lost-love songs such as "Warm Rain." If you're longing to hear an album just like Rod used to make,Best of Britishis it.--Johnny Black