I Just Want to See His Face
Encyclopedia
"I Just Want to See His Face" is a song by English rock and roll
band the Rolling Stones
featured on their 1972 release Exile on Main St.
"I Just Want to See His Face" is credited to Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
. On the recording, Jagger said in 1992, "'I Just Want to See His Face' was a jam with Charlie [Watts
] and Mick Taylor
... I think it was just a trio originally, though other people might have been added eventually. It was a complete jam. I just made the song up there and then over the riff that Charlie and Mick were playing. That's how I remember it, anyway..."
Of the recording, Bill Janovitz
says in his review, "'I Just Want to See His Face' has the band exploring the music of America, specifically the country, blues, folk, and soul of the South... [it] sounds ancient and from another planet; a swampy, stompy gospel song that was recorded to intentionally sound as if it is a field recording document of a long-ago church basement revival meeting."
The song's bluesy, murky atmosphere has earned admiration from other artists. Singer/songwriter Tom Waits
names it as one of his favorite recordings. "That song had a big impact on me, particularly learning how to sing in that high falsetto, the way Jagger does. When he sings like a girl, I go crazy," Waits says. "This is just a tree of life. This record is the watering hole." Notable for their close musical resemblance to 'I Just Want to See His Face' are Waits' own '2:19', 'Fish In the Jailhouse' and 'Walk Away.'
The gospel elements to some songs on Exile have been attributed to the presence of Billy Preston
during the final recording sessions in Los Angeles
. Preston would take Jagger to Sunday services. Initial recording took place in France
at Villa Nellcôte
. With Jagger on lead vocals, Keith Richards
provides electric piano, Mick Taylor
plays electric bass and Bill Plummer
contributes upright bass. It is thought to be more likely, however, that the electric piano was played by Bobby Whitlock (formerly the keyboardist of Delaney and Bonnie and a former bandmate of Bobby Keyes), and that he could not be named on the album on account of exclusivity rights to his record label at the time. Charlie Watts
performs drums with producer Jimmy Miller providing percussion. Clydie King, Vanetta Fields, Jerry Kirkland perform the backing vocals for the track.
"I Just Want to See His Face" is memorable for its unusual fade-in from previous track "Ventilator Blues
". The song has never been performed by the Stones live and appears on no compilation albums.
on their 2001 album Spirit of the Century.
Phish
covered this song on October 31, 2009 as part of their Halloween "musical costume," during which they covered Exile on Main Street in its entirety.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
featured on their 1972 release Exile on Main St.
Exile on Main St.
Exile on Main St. is the tenth British and 12th American studio album by English rock band The Rolling Stones. Released as a double LP in May 1972, it draws on many genres including rock and roll, blues, soul, R&B, gospel and country. The release of Exile on Main St. met with mixed reviews, but is...
"I Just Want to See His Face" is credited to Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
. On the recording, Jagger said in 1992, "'I Just Want to See His Face' was a jam with Charlie [Watts
Charlie Watts
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
] and Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
... I think it was just a trio originally, though other people might have been added eventually. It was a complete jam. I just made the song up there and then over the riff that Charlie and Mick were playing. That's how I remember it, anyway..."
Of the recording, Bill Janovitz
Bill Janovitz
Bill Janovitz is best known as the singer and guitarist of the alternative rock band Buffalo Tom.-History:After enrolling at the University of Massachusetts, Janovitz formed Buffalo Tom with fellow students Chris Colbourn and Tom Maginnis. A friendship with J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr...
says in his review, "'I Just Want to See His Face' has the band exploring the music of America, specifically the country, blues, folk, and soul of the South... [it] sounds ancient and from another planet; a swampy, stompy gospel song that was recorded to intentionally sound as if it is a field recording document of a long-ago church basement revival meeting."
The song's bluesy, murky atmosphere has earned admiration from other artists. Singer/songwriter Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
names it as one of his favorite recordings. "That song had a big impact on me, particularly learning how to sing in that high falsetto, the way Jagger does. When he sings like a girl, I go crazy," Waits says. "This is just a tree of life. This record is the watering hole." Notable for their close musical resemblance to 'I Just Want to See His Face' are Waits' own '2:19', 'Fish In the Jailhouse' and 'Walk Away.'
The gospel elements to some songs on Exile have been attributed to the presence of Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
during the final recording sessions in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Preston would take Jagger to Sunday services. Initial recording took place in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at Villa Nellcôte
Nellcote
Nellcôte is a 19th century sixteen-room mansion on the waterfront of Villefranche-sur-Mer in the Côte d'Azur region of southern France...
. With Jagger on lead vocals, Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
provides electric piano, Mick Taylor
Mick Taylor
Michael Kevin "Mick" Taylor is an English musician, best known as a former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and The Rolling Stones...
plays electric bass and Bill Plummer
Bill Plummer
William Francis Plummer was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the Seattle Mariners. While never a regular player , he did play solid defense...
contributes upright bass. It is thought to be more likely, however, that the electric piano was played by Bobby Whitlock (formerly the keyboardist of Delaney and Bonnie and a former bandmate of Bobby Keyes), and that he could not be named on the album on account of exclusivity rights to his record label at the time. Charlie Watts
Charlie Watts
Charles Robert "Charlie" Watts is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. He is also the leader of a jazz band, a record producer, commercial artist, and horse breeder.-Early life:...
performs drums with producer Jimmy Miller providing percussion. Clydie King, Vanetta Fields, Jerry Kirkland perform the backing vocals for the track.
"I Just Want to See His Face" is memorable for its unusual fade-in from previous track "Ventilator Blues
Ventilator Blues
"Ventilator Blues" is a song by English rock and roll band the Rolling Stones featured on their 1972 release Exile on Main St."Ventilator Blues" marks the first and only time guitarist Mick Taylor would be given credit alongside regular Stones scribes Mick Jagger and Keith Richards...
". The song has never been performed by the Stones live and appears on no compilation albums.
Cover versions
The track was covered by gospel group The Blind Boys of AlabamaThe Blind Boys of Alabama
The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind at Talladega, Alabama in 1939. The three main vocalists of the group and their drummer/percussionist are all blind....
on their 2001 album Spirit of the Century.
Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
covered this song on October 31, 2009 as part of their Halloween "musical costume," during which they covered Exile on Main Street in its entirety.