How a matchstick trick and Frank Herbert inspired a classic rock album title
In short: The Who's 1981 album Face Dances carries a name born from a casual observation of a friend and a subconscious nod to science fiction. While the band initially planned to self-title the record, a rhythmic gesture and the memory of shape-shifting characters from Dune ultimately defined its iconic identity.
The title Face Dances emerged from a moment of whimsy. Pete Townshend observed a friend rhythmically shifting a match between her teeth, an action he jokingly dubbed a face dance. Though he later memorialized this in his song Face Dances, Pt. 2, Townshend realized his choice of words was likely influenced by the Face Dancers from Frank Herbert’s Dune series. These characters, known for their ability to change their appearance, left a lasting impression on the guitarist.
Released in 1981, the album marked a significant transition for The Who. It was the band's ninth studio effort and one of only two featuring drummer Kenney Jones, who had joined following the death of Keith Moon. Despite receiving mixed reactions from critics, including those at Rolling Stone, the record achieved commercial success, reaching the fourth position on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and the second spot on the UK Albums Chart.
The visual presentation of the album was as collaborative as its naming. Peter Blake, renowned for designing the cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, commissioned 16 British artists to create portraits of the four band members. Each artist worked from reference photographs taken by Gavin Cochrane to produce individual paintings on small, six-inch square canvases. The final grid featured works by notable figures such as David Hockney, Richard Hamilton, and R. B. Kitaj.
The album's legacy has been sustained through various reissues, including a 1993 CD release and a 1997 version featuring additional live tracks and outtakes. To mark its 40th anniversary in 2021, a limited edition of 6,500 copies of an expanded double-vinyl set was released for Record Store Day. This edition featured half-speed mastering at Abbey Road Studios, ensuring that the artistic and musical ambition of the original 1981 project remains accessible to modern listeners.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Face Dances
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