The Small Faces - Tell Me About Them

[liberalpragmatist]

I'm 19 years old, big fan of British rock. HUGE Beatles fan, like The Who, The Stones, and the Kinks as well, LOVE Led Zeppelin and David Bowie, enjoy British punk (Clash, Jam, Sex Pistols) but not a big fan, really like XTC, the Stone Roses from the '80s, and enjoy Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Supergrass, The Verve from the '90s. Like early Radiohead and Coldplay, like Franz Ferdinand...

Anyway, The Small Faces are one of the big British groups that I haven't really listened to. I'm thinking of buying some of their stuff. Any feedback? Recommendations?

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Small Feces?

Never heard of them.

[miss_kitty]

2. Itchycoo park

I stole that 45 from the local head shop when I was a teen and it was a hit...I'm sure that was the karmic action that caused me to get cancer. Rod Stewart sang lead.

[liberalpragmatist]

3. No he didn't - he was in was Faces, different band

nt

[miss_kitty]

4. sorry my bad

on edit-I can't believe I thought that for nearly 40 years.

[liberalpragmatist]

6. Eh, no biggie

it's just an obscure, random fact. anyway, i should get back to studying.

[liberalpragmatist]

11. Not so wrong - same band, but later

I just looked it up. Faces was the descendent of The Small Faces after Steve Marriott left the group. Itchycoo Park was still The Small Faces. But he was in sort of the same band.

[JimmyJazz]

20. Ogden's Nut Gone Flake

:thumbsup:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. I was Steve Marriott's Personal Doormat.

Really.

I worked for Humble Pie, the band he was formed after he left The Small Faces. Steve was a middle-class kid from outside of London, the 'burbs, who, after he appeared in the original stage production of "Oliver", affected the persona of a working class Cockney, something he was not, by any means.

Steve would ingest any mind-altering substance he could get his hands on, but his favorites were Cognac, cocaine and Quaaludes. They would cause, in him, a huge personality shift that was given the name "Melvin Sternberg". When Melvin was in the house, one would do well to gird one's loins. Anything could and would take place. Period. Mindless, crazed and demented.

Steve was incredibly talented and blessed with one of the finest voices that rock has ever seen. That said, he was one of the most single-mindedly self-destructive people I have ever seen. Quite the testimonial, considering I worked in the music business for 27 years.

In ending, this vignette: I was driving down Rt. 80, in NJ, with a friend of mine. WCBS News Radio 88 was on in the car. A quick announcement came on that "Rock Star Steve Marriott had died. Details shortly". I turned to my friend and told him that Steve had died in a house fire, after passing out with an ever-present Camel between his fingers. In a few minutes, they came back and reported that was the circumstances. My friend was breathless and amazed. He wanted to know how I knew that.

I worked for Steve. He called me "Dumplin'" especially after he had abused me, spit on me or some other insult. I used to take the fags from his fingers when he passed out.

It was how I always knew he would go.

Rest in peace, Steve. I know you know what peace is now. Don't ever come back, Melvin. Please. Don't ever come back.

[liberalpragmatist]

7. Wow - that's interesting

we have some really interesting people on DU.

What did you think of their music? Any recommendations?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. Oh, it is all, by and large...

great stuff. Anything in the Steve Marriott catalogue. One thing by him that I can recommend you searching for is something from the project that he was involved with, at the end of his life, called "Packet of Three". Very raw blues. Steve working out his Black Bluesman urges and fantasies.

[louis-t]

12. Jeez, nice to meet you TS

Been a fan of Steve Marriott since '71. Heard Rockin' the Fillmore at age 14 and was hooked on that voice and Frampton's playing. I'd heard he was self-destructive. So much talent. What a waste. Had a chance a few years ago to do a show with a version of Humble Pie that included Jerry Shirley, although he didn't show up and they had to find a sub.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

13. Was Bobby Tench playing in that version?

I love Bobby. Now there is a wildly talented individual. An amazing voice. A lovely person.

[louis-t]

18. No, but Tench was in a version that played here10 years ago.

Couldn't believe Marriott and Tench in same band. Found out too late, missed show. The one I mentioned was 3 American guys and Shirley. They own the rights to the band name or something. They're out of Cleveland I think. I know the singer, can't remember his name. They were OK.
edit for a senior moment, must have been at least 15 years ago. Time slipping away.

[Skittles]

8. oh, I blubbered when Ronnie Lane passed away

I was a big fan of the Faces as a young girl in England - I attended a Ron Wood concert in Austin, a fundraiser for his friend Ronnie Lane (a member of the Faces), a couple of years before Ronnie died.

They were indeed a great group but for the life of me I cannot remember exactly what I loved - time for me to take a visit down Nostalgia Avenue, I suppose. I do remember a song of theirs "Lazy Sunday" that I drove my folks nuts with.

[tigereye]

16. Ronnie Lane

aw. Great band.

I really like his album with Pete Townsend -Rough Mix. One of our faves here. Actually Jet kind of makes me think of the Small Faces for some reason, although that might be heresy to some. ;)

[Dr Fate]

9. Buy "Odgen's Nutgone Flake"- from 1968.

Great stuff. If you can get it, get the MONO version.

Focus on their Marriot/Lane 60's material rather than the Rod Stewart/Ron Wood era -which is not all bad, despite Rod Stewart :)

[Dr Fate]

14. Also...

...If you like the Beatles, Who, Kinks, XTC/Dukes of Stratosphere, you also need to explore:

The Zombies (Odysee & the Oracle)
The Byrds
Left Banke
Big Star
Yardbirds

[liberalpragmatist]

17. Oh, I like The Byrds

Haven't really checked out the other ones, but will make mental note.

[Dr Fate]

19. Oh- Dont forget the Hollies...

You should get the Hollies "Butterfly" from 1967- I think you will dig it too...

If you have not already heard "Village Green" by the Kinks, you should get on it...

I think you will like the Small Faces & all the others-all mind-blowing stuff- happy listening!!!

[liberalpragmatist]

21. Village Green is great

That, Arthur, and Lola are my favorite Kinks albums.

[Dr Fate]

22. Cool-Dont forget "Muswell Hillbillies"

Also-going by what you like, if you have not already checked it out, you need to hear the first Pink Floyd record "Pipers" with Syd Barret...(also best in mono, if you can get it)-it is tons better than the later stuff...

Get "Nutgone" by the Small Faces first though- you are going to love it! Side one (the first half) is the best... A good "best of " package with the mono mixes is in order as well...

Get to it kiddo!!!

[roguevalley]

15. HUGE hair, I remember. Lots of harmony, chaos and girls. Rod

Stewart and I believe Ron Wood. Early days of sorta glam, all anarchy.