Picture of a Thousand Faces
{{Infobox album
| name = Picture of a Thousand Faces
| type = studio
| artist = the Eric Gales Band
| cover = The Eric Gales Band - Picture of a Thousand Faces.png
| alt =
| released = 1993
| recorded =
| studio = Ardent, Kiva
| genre = Blues rock
| length = 54:06
| label = Elektra
| producer =
- Jim Gaines
- Terry Thomas
| prev_title = The Eric Gales Band
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Picture of a Thousand Faces is the second album by the American band the Eric Gales Band, released in 1993.{{cite news |last1=Armstrong |first1=Gene |title=Blues, rock and benefits make for a busy week |newspaper=Arizona Daily Star |date=September 17, 1993 |page=4G}}{{cite magazine |last1=Rotondi |first1=James |title=Eric Gales wants you! |magazine=Guitar Player |date=October 1993 |volume=27 |issue=10 |page=80}} Gales was 18 when the album came out.{{cite news |last1=Weatherford |first1=Mike |title=Despite his tender age, Eric Gales sings the blues like a veteran |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=September 24, 1993 |page=2C}} The first single was "Paralyzed", which peaked at No. 31 on Billboard{{'}}s Mainstream Rock chart.{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008 |date=2008 |publisher=Record Research |page=100}} The band supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Beal Jr. |first1=Jim |title=Gales develops power, finesse on his guitar |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |date=September 7, 1993 |page=2C}}
Production
The album was recorded at Ardent Studios and Kiva Studios, in Memphis.{{cite news |last1=Nager |first1=Larry |title=Recordings |newspaper=The Commercial Appeal |date=July 31, 1993 |page=C7}} It was produced primarily by Jim Gaines, who developed appendicitis during the recording sessions.{{cite news |last1=Leffler |first1=Marc |title=Gales Growing by Leaps and Bounds |newspaper=USA Today |date=November 18, 1994}} The band's label, Elektra, hired Terry Thomas to help Gales achieve a poppier sound on some of the tracks.{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Paul A. |title=The Kid from Memphis |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 1, 1993 |page=4EV}} Eric's brother, Eugene, moved from bass to guitar, so that the band could have a fuller sound.{{cite news |last1=Flippo |first1=Lisa Denton |title=Musical forecast; Gales at Nightfall |work=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=August 25, 1995 |page=D1}} Some songs were influenced by the Gales brothers' Christian faith, although Eugene did not consider the music to be Christian rock.{{cite news |last1=Danner |first1=Jennifer |title=The Eric Gales Band |newspaper=The Patriot-News |date=October 12, 1993 |page=B11}} "Angel of the Night" is a ballad. "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is a cover of the Beatles song.{{cite magazine |title=Album Reviews |magazine=Billboard |date=August 28, 1993 |volume=105 |issue=35 |page=62}} "Take a Look (Deep Inside of You)" reflects on the 1992 Los Angeles riots.{{cite news |last1=Kuelker |first1=Michael |title=Eric Gales: Special Effects, Funky Chords |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=October 7, 1993 |page=5G}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = The Indianapolis Star
| rev1score = {{rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Pugh |first1=Dorothy L. |title=The Eric Gales Band 'Picture of a Thousand Faces' |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |date=January 10, 1994 |page=B8}}
| rev2 = Philadelphia Daily News
| rev2score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last1=Takiff |first1=Jonathan |title=Seeking Love in Dark Places |newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News |date=August 31, 1993 |department=Features Yo! |page=30}}
| rev3 = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
| rev3score = {{rating|4|4}}{{cite news |last1=Evosevic |first1=John |title=Entertainment |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=November 28, 1993 |page=E5}}
| rev4 = Tampa Bay Times
| rev4score = {{rating|2|4}}{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Tony |title=Sound Bites |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |date=November 12, 1993 |department=Weekend |page=15}}
}}
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". 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." The Tampa Bay Times concluded that, "with his blazing blues-rock excursions a given, the only big obstacle for Gales is finding material".
The Los Angeles Times opined that "while the new second album ... is an improvement over the debut collection, neither one features any grabbers."{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Dennis |title=Talent Can't Save Gales Band |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=October 1, 1993 |page=F22}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Krewen |first1=Nick |title=The Eric Gales Band / Picture of a Thousand Faces |newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |date=October 7, 1993 |department=Ego |page=12}} 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". 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."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Picture of a Thousand Faces track listing
| title1 = Paralyzed
| length1 = 4:35
| title2 = Angel of the Night
| length2 = 4:36
| title3 = Picture of a Thousand Faces
| length3 = 4:57
| title4 = God Only Knows
| length4 = 5:40
| title5 = I Want You (She's So Heavy)
| length5 = 7:41
| title6 = Temple of Deliverance
| length6 = 5:12
| title7 = Guilty of the Innocence
| length7 = 5:14
| title8 = Misty
| length8 = 0:42
| title9 = Take a Look (Deep Inside of You)
| length9 = 4:52
| title10 = Bang That Bell
| length10 = 4:06
| title11 = Draw the Line
| length11 = 6:31
| total_length = 54:06
}}