The ad agency for APIA Insurance (Insurance for Over ‘50s) really nailed it with the choice of song for APIA’s new campaign didn’t they? What better way to resonate with the over ‘50s crowd (and one of us here at ILYOS knows!) than with the refrain of ‘I Wish That I Knew What I Know Now When I Was Younger’.
The song is called "Ooh La La" and it was originally released in 1973 by Rod Stewart and the Faces. It was a fairly rare Faces song that Rod Stewart didn’t take lead on actually; it was sung by the band’s guitarist Ron Wood, and it written by the band’s late and great bassplayer Ronnie Lane. It became something of a signature tune for Ronnie Lane over the years, so much so in fact, that after passing in 1997, his former band mates Rod and Ron have regularly performed the song in tribute to their old mate.
It’s a wonderful song. Listen to the original here, as well as a fabulous version from Ronnie and his post-Faces out Slim Chance and tributes from Rod & the Corrs and Ron with Paul Weller and members of Slim Chance.
Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance
Rod Stewart & the Corrs
Ronnie Wood & Paul Weller with Slim Chance
-DL
