The Small Faces

[famouspogs]

I can't seem to find awhole lot of discussion on the Small faces and it really puzzles me. I think they were one of the first band to truly move into the later 60's sound that wasn't totally blues based. Steve Marriot was also a really good vocalist, one of the most soulful of all the early british bands. They were one of the two first adopters of what would become the stack(the other being The Who obviously). It seems to me that they were a important band in rock and roll history thats pretty ignored and under appreciated. Maybe not as important as The Beatles or Hendrix but still worthy of mention. Has anyone else noticed this or have I just not paid enough attention?

[TommyMambo]

Glad you picked up on this...

The Small Faces were a great band that didn't/doesn't get the attention they deserve over here in the U.S.

Steve Marriott was arguably the most influential British vocalist of all time, inspiring everyone from Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, and Paul Rodgers, and even his contemporaries Roger Daltry and Mick Jagger.

[Nobster]

Glad you picked up on this...

The Small Faces were a great band that didn't/doesn't get the attention they deserve over here in the U.S.

Steve Marriott was arguably the most influential British vocalist of all time, inspiring everyone from Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, and Paul Rodgers, and even his contemporaries Roger Daltry and Mick Jagger.

:agree .. and Ronnie Lane was a huge influence too. Anyone with any doubt about how great a band they were (I don't have access here to get the link) look up Small Faces "Song of a Baker" on Youtube.

edit: hope this is the right one, I can google for links but can't access youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22iu_TQ6Vo0

[trisonic]

Come on, there was a huge thread on Steve and The Small Faces about a week ago.
It's nonsense to say this board doesn't care for him/them.
I saw The Small Faces play live (original line up) cost me 15 Shillings and 6d.

Best, Pete.

[nnick]

:agree .. and Ronnie Lane was a huge influence too. Anyone with any doubt about how great a band they were (I don't have access here to get the link) look up Small Faces "Song of a Baker" on Youtube.

edit: hope this is the right one, I can google for links but can't access youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22iu_TQ6Vo0


I was first turned on to the Small Faces in the early '90's when the Screaming Trees did an amazing cover of "Song of a Baker". I love that song.

[Nobster]

Come on, there was a huge thread on Steve and The Small Faces about a week ago.
It's nonsense to say this board doesn't care for him/them.
I saw The Small Faces play live (original line up) cost me 15 Shillings and 6d.

Best, Pete.

I saw them live too, later on in Cardiff, don't remember the date but it was a reunion tour so I don't think it was the all original lineup.

[russiancrowe]

Lazy Sunday Afternoon. I LOVE this song. Ronnie Lane is my favorite musician of all time. He was BRILLIANT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhyEMZkfLMo

[trisonic]

I saw them live too, later on in Cardiff, don't remember the date but it was a reunion tour so I don't think it was the all original lineup.
It was 1967, I think.....
Brentwood, Essex.

Best, Pete.

[famouspogs]

It was 1967, I think.....
Brentwood, Essex.

Best, Pete.
I don't think its nonsense saying the board doesn't care about them. I'm just saying that you don't see much about them on discussion boards about music or see them really talked about. Also remember I'm 19 and from North America. Theres a huge difference.

[Jon C]

their boxed set is really good (Five Guys Walk Into A Bar)... http://www.amazon.com/Five-Guys-Walk-into-Bar/dp/B0001Z2R96/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250196280&sr=1-37

[bab]

their boxed set is really good (Five Guys Walk Into A Bar)... http://www.amazon.com/Five-Guys-Walk-into-Bar/dp/B0001Z2R96/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250196280&sr=1-37

that is not the small faces :rotflmao

[trisonic]

I don't think its nonsense saying the board doesn't care about them. I'm just saying that you don't see much about them on discussion boards about music or see them really talked about. Also remember I'm 19 and from North America. Theres a huge difference.

The thread I was referring to is about two weeks old and contains a wealth of info and links.
Best, Pete.

[RocksOff]

Small Faces... one of the best ever. Ogden's Nut Gone Flake. Timeless and incredible.

[townsend]

I recently sampled some of their songs and really liked them. I then ordered The Small Faces Ultimate Collection 2-CD set. I think the 1st CD is their debut album, and the second CD is a "best of" collection of songs:

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Collection-Small-Faces/dp/B000083GPQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1250214193&sr=8-1

It's on the way as we speak.

Not only that, but there is a DVD coming out of 25 Small Faces performances between 1965-68: http://www.yourwaytomusic.com/small-faces-all-or-nothing-1965-1968-dvd/

Looking forward to purchasing the DVD as well.

[imguitardan]

Does any one know the 1st chords Steve plays to start Song of a Baker? I'm covering it but for the life of me can't find that intro chord progression. I know it's out of D...

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[surfshack]

Does any one know the st chords Steve plays to start Song of a Baker? I'm covering it but for the life of me can't find that intro chord progression. I know it's out of D...

8jYgctXpajs

that's hilarious! what was that the BBC on late Saturday night?
very hip , psychedelic stuff man......Steve Marriot was born to be a rocker....he was crazy...but the coolest!

[bluesjunior]

Does any one know the st chords Steve plays to start Song of a Baker? I'm covering it but for the life of me can't find that intro chord progression. I know it's out of D...

8jYgctXpajs

I make it Dm-A-C for the riff.:rockin

[DrumBob]

I'm deeply into 60's British Invasion bands, and I know who The Small faces were; an amazing soul/rock band that's sadly forgotten in this country, probably because they never toured here and only had one small hit, "Itchycoo Park." Their heroes were Booker T. & The MG's, along with Motown, Stax soul and blues, and they went for that sound for the most part, until the psychedelic influence came in. Marriott was absolutely one of the best lead singers in rock, and Kenney, Ronnie and Mac were all equally accomplished players. They weren't taken very seriously in Britain at first, because they were perceived as teen idols.

You may not know that the Faces/Small Faces have been nominated to the next class of the RNRHOF. I hope they get in. They deserve it. Marriott should have been inducted years ago.

[FFTT]

I've still got the EU Itchycoo Park 45 somewhere
and I'm pretty sure I Don't Need No Doctor too.

[m1911]

OMG.....I LOVE THE SMALL FACES (and The Faces) and still listen to them every week of my life here....at home, in my car, etc....
Steve Marriott was WAY cooler than Daltry, Jagger, and Plant COMBINED...EFF Them!

Watch Ronnie kicking his legs to the time here in Itchycoo Park as well as Steve singing Lead and Ronnie harmonizing....I love that stuff....

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Check out Tin Souldier and Mac's intro on Organ....and Steve Marriott getting cranked up:

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And this is definately my favorite version of "If I Were A Carpenter"

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I like what Clapton said about them....
He said he would go to London and watch them play and was in AMAZEMENT like they were little Hobbits and it was very wild and raunchy.

I thought Ronnie Lane seemed like such a good guy.....wish I could have met him:

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GREAT THREAD!!

[imguitardan]

I make it Dm-A-C for the riff.:rockin

If you listen, it's almost like there's a hiccup at the very beginning with the chords. (1-1,2,3) before he does the A and G that end that 1st cycle (while his back is still turned). I tried the suggestion above but it still doesn't sound right to me. Any other suggestions?

[fusion58]

It was unfortunate that manager Andrew Oldham didn't believe breaking the Small Faces in the U.S. was all that important. Were this not the case, Steve Marriott would have been just as much a household name in America as Jagger, Daltry, Plant, Rogers, et al.

[fusion58]

Great read for Marriott/Small Faces fans:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NQ9eHPVcL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Steve-Marriott-All-Too-Beautiful/dp/1905139276

[Jet Age Eric]

I think they were one of the first band to truly move into the later 60's sound that wasn't totally blues based.

I dunno about either of this (and the Who "invented" the stack), but ...

Ronnie Lane is my favorite musician of all time. He was BRILLIANT!!!

... Ronnie was an AMAZING songwriter! I've wanted to cover April Fool forever, and his stuf withe Faces was just gorgeous.

I was first turned on to the Small Faces in the early '90's when the Screaming Trees did an amazing cover of "Song of a Baker". I love that song.

I need to find that!!!

Does any one know the 1st chords Steve plays to start Song of a Baker? I'm covering it but for the life of me can't find that intro chord progression. I know it's out of D...

8jYgctXpajs

Dan, I look forward to hearing/witnessing this. -E

[EricPeterson]

Does any one know the 1st chords Steve plays to start Song of a Baker? I'm covering it but for the life of me can't find that intro chord progression. I know it's out of D...

8jYgctXpajs

That was bad ass! Steve is so cool.

[imguitardan]

Thanks Eric! We tried it last night. What a fun song to play! It's hard not want to speed it up though. The album tempo's relatively slow.

BTW: I need to find a small (and affordable) Leslie pedal or Vibe that can sim that organ tone...suggestions?

[toocommercial]

In many ways Marriot seems to be the wellspring for what came out of Sixties London vocal-wise. You get the feeling that a lot of vocalists who became famous (Daltry, Plant, etc.) were secretly or not-so-secretly coveting Marriot in a big way, and his lack of success in America made this derivation a convenient secret to listeners worldwide. But in my opinion Marriot was too intense - almost too frightening - to be a household name or face in America. I almost can't look at him when I'm watching clips of Small Faces and Humble Pie. He is on fire in a way that's borderline manic. Like Towns Van Zandt, he might have been a bit TOO REAL for the masses.

[sonicD]

8jYgctXpajs

Close you eyes and listen to that and I swear to god, you'll think it's The White Stripes.... LOL!

So THAT'S where Jack stole it all from...

---

[macca]

Lane's and Pete Townshend's Rough Mix is a beautiful, beautiful album

For example:

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[Jet Age Eric]

You get the feeling that a lot of vocalists who became famous (Daltry, Plant, etc.) were secretly or not-so-secretly coveting Marriot in a big way, and his lack of success in America made this derivation a convenient secret to listeners worldwide. But in my opinion Marriot was too intense - almost too frightening - to be a household name or face in America.

I dunno about that ... Daltrey had a much scarier (and "authentic") vibe when the High Numbers (and the Who) are a mad band, and I think was more successful out of the gate (and in the long run), and I know Plan was a big fan but I think his voice was so different it was a non-issue. Also, Humble Pie started getting big in America and "Itchycoo Park" was a hit here, so I don't think he was too intense for the U.S. Mojo (or Uncut) had a cover story on Marriott this year and basically everyone agreed Marriott was sabotaging himself. I'm not sure if it was mentioned in this thread, but Hendrix wanted the Small Faces to open for him in the States; Ronnie was thrilled and Steve said, "No, he shold be opening for us" and that was that. It's assumed that Stever knew exactly what he was doing when passed that opportunity up.

Lane's and Pete Townshend's Rough Mix is a beautiful, beautiful album

I came fore Pete, but I stayed for Ronnie. This is the record that led me to Ronnie solo, then the Faces, then back to the Small Faces. :) -E

[cadduc]

ronnie "plonk" lane

proving harmony bass guitars were capable of producing hits

just like the bass line in "gimme some lovin'" was recorded and performed with a harmony

$110.00 list price, slightly higher in the uk