Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title:  Mahoney's Last Stand
Company: ATCO
Catalog: SD 36-126
Year: 1976
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6334
Price: $10.00

In the 1971/72 timeframe Faces bass player Ronnie Lane was apparently approached to write a soundtrack for a film. Originally entitled Mahoney's Estate and starring Alexis Kanner and Sam Waterston, the film seemingly apparently disappeared in heartbeat (no, I haven't seen it and judging by the movie poster I'm not sure I want to see it). Written and performed by Lane and fellow Face Ronnie Wood, the resulting soundtrack got tangled up in various legal disputes and didn't actually get released until 1976. In spite of an all-star cast and strong reviews from the critics, hardly anyone actually heard the Glyn Jones produced "Mahoney's Last Stand" when it finally saw the light of day. I can actually recall seeing stacks and stacks of the heavily discounted album at my local record store (showing my age here).



As mentioned, Lane and Wood were still in The Faces when they agreed to record material for this soundtrack album. The Faces association was pretty clear via the all-star cast (including Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan) and by the collection's easy-going, slightly sloppy feel. If you've every heard any of Lane's Faces-era solo sides, or Wood's solo material, you'll be familiar with the collection's blend of country, English folk, and rock moves. Not meant as a criticism, but listening to the instrumental heavy collection you got the distinct impression that neither Lane, nor Wood felt the need to come to the table with their A-team song catalog. That isn't meant to imply the collection was a complete throw-away. Tracks like 'From the Late to the Early' and '' had an easy-going charm that should hold consider appeal to Faces aficionados. Moreover, you probably didn't buy this album to hear Lane and Wood's rough hewn vocals ...

- The leadoff instrumental 'Tonight's Number showcased Wood's laconic lead guitar and some big horns. To my ears the song actually sounded kind of like an incomplete Faces demo (which it may well have been). Nothing special. rating: ** stars 
- A raw and rustic, country-tinged number 'From the Late to the Early' was one of the few vocal performances, with Lane and Wood pulling a page from Dylan's catalog and mumbling their way through the lyrics. The song highlights actually came from the nifty acoustic guitar accompaniment. rating: **** stars
- A country-blues number with some fantastic acoustic slide guitar from Woods while Lane clunking away on banjo, 'Chicken Wire' was another track that sounded very much like a rollicking Faces throwaway tune. rating: *** stars
- 'Chicken Wired' (yes different title, different song), was another vocal with the pair croaking on about chickens and is the only song I've ever heard with a reference to Colonel Saunders ... beats me. A different version can be heard on Lane's "Anymore for Anymore" LP. rating: *** stars
- The lone non-original, 'I'll Fly Away' was a beautiful slice of a cappella work by the pair. Hard to imagine it was Lane and Wood. rating: *** stars
- Complete with an elaborate horn arrangement, the instrumental 'Title One' was side one's most commercial (e.g. rock) oriented performances. The song almost had a funky edge to it, but it was also one of the tracks that felt the most like a piece of incidental film music. rating: *** stars
- Sporting the album's prettiest melody, 'Just for a Moment' was a wonderful acoustic ballad - just the two Ronnies along with drummer Bruce Rowlands. As good as the instrumental was, Lane's vocal version which closed the LP was even better. rating: **** stars
- An acoustic blues number, ''Mona' the Blues' wasn't particularly inspiring, but it had two interesting facets: 1.) Wood turned in a staggering blues-guitar solo, and 2.) Handling lead vocals, Wood actually sounded pretty good on this one. rating: *** stars
- Probably the most polished track on the album, in spite of Bobby Keys' extended sax solo, the instrumental rocker 'Car Radio' actually had some radio potential. rating: *** stars
- Complete with fiddle (blame Rick Grech), 'Hay Tumble' sounded like a throwaway demo tune. Totally forgettable. rating: * star
- As you may have gathered from the title, the instrumental 'Woody's Thing' was a Wood solo effort - well he was accompanied by drummer Rowlands and sometimes Stones keyboardist Ian Stewart. rating: ** star
- 'Rooster Funeral' offered up more country-tinged work with another challenging Wood vocal ... enough already. rating: ** star
- The closer 'Just for a Moment' was my pick for the album's standout performance. Yeah, technically Lane didn't have what you'd call a great voice, but on this one he just sounded so vulnerable and this was the one track where the pair's harmonies really hit a homerun. You simply had to listen to the song again and again. Wood also used the song to turn in his prettiest lead guitar. rating: ***** stars

Certainly not something I'd want to hear all the time, but it is an album I've held on to since the mid-1970s that I still occasionally slap on the turntable.

"Mahoney's Last Stand" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Tonight's Number (instrumental) (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 3:10
2.) From the Late to the Early (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 3:36
3.) Chicken Wire (instrumental) (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 2:00
4.) Chicken Wired (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 3:452:00
5.) I'll Fly Away (instrumental) (traditional - arranged by Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 0:31
6.) Title One (instrumental) (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 3:42
7.) Just for a Moment (instrumental) (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 2:55

(side 2)
1.) 'Mona' the Blues (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 4:27
2.) Car Radio (instrumental) (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 4:59
3.) Hay Tumble (instrumental) (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 2:55
4.) Woody's Thing (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 1:45
5.) Rooster Funeral (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 3:55
6.) Just for a Moment (Ronnie Lane - Ronnie Wood) - 2:55