Bands I really Loved: Small Faces

All video's Courtesy of Youtube.

When I first heard the Small Faces Shake was the First number I recall,

what a voice that Steve Marriott had , and an
exceptional guitar player.

They were a Mod Band , first got together in 1965 in Mod language Face meant a fashion Leader, and, of course it was the Mods who were into Barbiturates, Psychedelic Music , and we know they got involved with LSD!

Probably where so many of the interesting Lyrics came from?

In South Africa Back then often Overseas Hits were held back and a local Band would perform it on Record before the Original was released. I remember a Big Stones Record being held back!

The same was done with the Following Small Faces Song.

Sha la la lee

This Song was their 5th Single and went straight to the Top of the UK Charts.

Despite having had 4 Top Ten singles and being one of the Highest grossing Live acts in the UK, financially they had nothing to show for it , Gross Mismanagement.

Itchycoo Park is probably their Best remembered Hit.

This , and Tin Soldier were about the only Small Faces Songs to Make any impression on the US Market and charts.

They were set to Tour America but this came to Naught and they split with their Manager and Decca.

They were signed to Andrew Loog Oldham's new Immediate Label , but once again did not receive their just amount of Rewards they should have.

Here comes the Nice was so obviously about Drugs but the BBC never picked up on it and again a Huge Hit.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon was written by Marriott , inspired by the feuds with his neighbours and recorded as a joke!

They were not very happy when the Company released it?, but , certainly is a Great track!

Their first Hit!

In 1969 Mid -Performance at a concert , Marriott shouted I quit, walked off stage!

Joined up with Peter Frampton and started Humble Pie.

Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart joined the remaining Members, became "The Faces " and after a while launched Rod Stewart's hugely successful Solo Career.

Sad to say , Marriott died on 20 April 1991 when a fire, which was thought to have been caused by a cigarette, swept through his 16th century home in Arkesden, Essex.

I have given my original Small Faces Vinyl LP to Wayne but a few years ago was offered a " Small" fortune for it!

Enjoyed giving you this Small Tour Of a Fantastic Band that should have been much Bigger that they were!

A Small Concert:-