Small Faces - Small Faces (1966)

"E Too D" by Small Faces


Guitarist Ian Samwell helped write Cliff Richard's debut single classic "Move It", but he was edged out of The Drifters in favor of Hank Marvin and Jet Harris.  He'd continue to make a career as a songwriter and eventually producer and he'd do both for London rock band Small Faces, writing their first hit song "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" and producing their eponymous debut album for Decca Records.

Small Faces formed when former child actor Steve Marriott (guitar, vocals) met Ronnie Lane (bass) in a Music Bar in London in 1965.  Influenced by American Rhythm and Blues and Soul, they recruited drummer Kenney Jones and keyboardist Jimmy Winston to round out the foursome as a proper rock and roll group.  They played the London scene and quickly became one of the most popular and successful local live acts.  For reference, the band's name came from the slang for memorable, cool bloke (a "Face") and the fact that all of the band members were short.

Signed on the power of Marriott's stage presence to Decca Records, their debut single "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" topped the British charts thanks in part to "chart fixing" on the part of their manager.  Their third single would prove their next hit as "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" also made it to the top.  Winston was dismissed from the band for either not being a skilled enough musician or trying to compete with Marriott for superiority in the band.  He did manage to play on a couple of the songs on their 1966 debut album Small Faces, though, but didn't make the cover.  His Small Face was replaced by Ian McLagen's.  The album performed admirably as did the single "All or Nothing" and the only thing that kept them from a US Tour victory lap were drug charges.

Despite all the success, they saw nearly none of the money.  This led to conflict with their manager and Decca and a rough cut in the relationship from both.  Small Faces moved to another label and Decca continued to release old new material after the separation including a handful of throwaway singles and another "studio" album of unfinished outtakes dismissed from previous recording sessions.

Here is the discography surrounding Small Faces's debut album

Whatcha Gonna Do About It (1965 single)
BBC Session August 1965 (1965 BBC Session)
I've Got Mine (1965 single)
Sha-La-La-La-Lee (1966 single)
BBC Session March 1966 (1996 BBC Session)
BBC Session May 1966 (1966 BBC Session)
Small Faces
Hey Girl (1966 single)
All or Nothing (1966 single)
BBC Session August 1966 (1966 BBC Session)
Beat Club '66 (1966 live bootleg)
My Mind's Eye (1966 single)
I Can't Make It (1967 single)
Patterns (1967 single)
From the Beginning (1967 compilation album)

"Hey Girl", "All or Nothing", "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" by Small Faces on Beat, Beat, Beat


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