I was the Small Faces road manager in 1965, I got the job through my flat booking agent mate who worked for Ron King, he shared the office building with Don Arden at the end of Carnaby St. I had to pick up the groups old Austin/Morris ? from an East End pub that Jimmy Winston's dad ran. I think it was the Blind Beggar. I drove to a second hand car lot in Stratford and swapped it for a brand new Commer 15 cwt van loaded to the gear in and drove to a gig in Birmingham. Maybe a week later I had to drop Jimmy's organ off at Don's office and drive out to the Hounslow area and pick up Ian Maclagan, now it was a tight squeeze to get the Hammond organ and Lesley speaker in the small Commer van, with a lot of rearranging it was managed. This got even worse later on when Kenny decided to use two base drums. The boy were driven around in a Ford Zodiac, later changed for a Mk10 Jag driven by an ex Beatle driver called Bill Corbet, he arranged to have girls at the front door of gigs to raise a bit of commotion, when there was nobody at the stage doors. Another Don Arden wind up. Sha La La La Le was recorded at a studio in one of the large house's across the street from the BBC, and had the tune taken from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Kenny Lynch was great fun and had a pocket full of jokes. I spent a year humping their gear and had a lot of fun, but life on the road with a TV appearance in the AM or afternoon followed by a gig at night is no fun. Plus if it was the Birmingham Working Men's clubs they had to do a spot in two different clubs, so getting the gear off stage and back on at the next club was tough. So I went back to digging tunnels on the Victoria Line and my own bed each night. Great memories but not in the order shown in the video.
This was beautiful and also hard to watch .I grew up with the small faces I'm 70 now in bed with a debilitating sickness that I cant seem to throw Muscle spasms daily an aching back unable walk and watching this brought back so many memories that I'm in tears Me and me mates and me girlfriend at the time in the park after school hanging out and listening to the small faces . My Sister went to London and met Ronnie and Steve in Carnaby st and hung out with them for a few days before coming back She Took some photos that she still has I think and I passed them round to me mates one who really fancied my sister but she was too cool for him Those were glorious days every single they brought out Id buy ans we all liked them Right from What ya gonna do about it to The universal I had them all and would stack up the record player and play the lot I really liked Sha la la las la las lee . I had a guitar and learned how to play All or nothing Later on I had my own band and All or nothing was one or our main songs along with My minds eye . which wasn't mentioned in this video I thought the Small faces were heaps better than the Beatles For me it was the Small faces and the stones . It would have been great to stay in the 60s Such a fantastic time with the best music
Hi Robin. I'm 72 and a huge Small Faces fan too. I also play the guitar. When ALL OR NOTHING came out I was mesmerized. I figured out the chords and realized that in the chorus Steve didn't go from D major to B minor (which was the normal thing to do), but to B major (or B major7). Did you realize that too? All the best, Bernie
Robin, these sharedthoughts and memories are irreplaceable and beautiful - and I'm glad you made some of them directly with Steve & Ronnie & Kenny & Mac , and can share them with the rest of us - and that some of them were , in no small way my memories ;- part of the soundtrack to my days as a lad turning into a teenager in December 1966. We all will get old, but this music is forever fresh and - timeless. I hope you can play some of it to your grandchildren and their children and see their reaction.
What a brilliant, creative, talented group. Small Faces were such a tight little band of brothers. It's very sad that it ended the way it did. Although I do love Humble Pie and Faces, neither of these bands ever recaptured the magic of the Small Faces. RIP Steve, Ronnie and Mac.
I do think that you get more than a hint of the Small Faces on the Faces album ( probably the best they ever made) “ A Nod’s as Good as a Wink “….. The track ‘ That’s all you Need’, in particular ! ❤️
A band that deserved a lot more credit than they got at the time, what a 3 years and what fantastic records they left us with. Just as good as anything there was and hugely influential. Some of their better songs were LP tracks and b-sides, with the autumn stone track and those early killer instrumental stormer being so overlooked. Easily one of the best bands Of the 60’s and a band I never grow tired of, really enjoyed the documentary. Will have to get my records on the go again!
Paul , not just the sixties , the guys were easily one of the best ever , just look at the respect they had in the industry and their legacy. Don Arden ripped them off monumentally . It's such a shame that Marriott and Ronnie did not pull together when things needed to be trashed out. Together there was more in them, but Marriott leaving was a disaster . The faces were great , but the small faces had a different kinda magic. Thankfully Ian and Kenny saw great financial success in future careers. 👍
@@jimbanda very true Jim, such a shame that Steve had his mind made up to leave. Still, they left better recordings in those 3 years than most do in a whole career when they go on too long!
It really pisses me off about Don Arden being so greedy and such a thief in light of Ronnie Lane's later medical problems and being so broke. Ronnie might well have blown his money he should've gotten anyway on his circus venture and might well have been broke anyway, but that's speculation and not really the point. He might NOT have been broke anyway. It's such a tragic story about a really good guy who was greatly talented and so unique.
@@garyginther6742 I heard a music hack say that Arden liked the reputation as a gangster , but that the reality was, he was just another streetwise bully and a crook who was never properly challenged. Marriott's attitude of "The lead singer is the band" followed him for the rest of his life until he was ONLY the singer with a guitar sadly. Arden and the record company could have redeemed themselves by supporting Ronnie through illness but they were bad to the bone. Despite all the criticism of Stewart, he did at least pay towards Ronnie's medical bills along with Page and Wood. Kenny had by then hit big financial success but I never heard whether he supported Ronnie Lane or not. He certainly had the tenacity to eventually get the royalties settlement, but sadly by then the two that had been broke were dead, Lanes children got no benefit, but I hope Molly Marriott got her share. Speaking of the Lane Children, I think Clapton helped with their education . What a story it is, success, misery, illness , fighting, jealousy , corruption , law courts etc etc . God rest Ronnie , Steve and Ian 🙏.
I am a 58 year old musician. My all-time favorite song has to be "Afterglow" by the Small Faces. Why it didn't get a mention in this documentary i will never know but as a piece of musical composition and performance, it is pure genius!
My dad was 18 in 1965. He was a 'Rocker', but always professed his love for the singles of The Who and Small Faces, their compilations permanent fixtures in his Jag's 8-track... by the age of 11 I was indoctrinated, in my Mod clobber, in love with The Jam, playing bass and learning Duck Dunn's runs. Five years later I formed 'The Way', playing the last night of the Scarborough Scooter Rally, June '85... we had three Small Faces songs in the set, and the crowd would go nuts for every one. By the end of that year I was writing my own songs and have never performed a cover version since... but crikey do I miss playing those classics.
Wow, I remember The Way, and I was at Scarborough in 85! I actually met a girl there and stayed in Scarborough after the rally for about four months! Fun times!
@@Davey-Boyd Fun times indeed, especially that weekend... nice to hear other's stories. Btw did you know that the ceiling collapsed below us in the Salisbury Hotel that night from the movement of the dance floor!? Lord knows how it didn't go through! This was before I got reeaally serious about my songwriting, 'refused to play covers' etc... I'd love to do a show now, just playing the classics.
The Small Faces and The Who would meet up if both bands were in London on their days off. One time they met at a girl friend's Birthday of one of the Who. Her record player broke so the Who's roadie and I broke out some gear from our vans, carted up the stairs to a mews flat backing onto Harley Street the doctor's street in London. It wasn't long before a cop car arrived, we told what had happened and they said the boys could play two more numbers then close down. I head copper asked for "What You Gunna Do About" which sounded about right.
True. I heard my first Faces song in 1969, at 13, when I heard a cover band called Felicity perform "Tin Soldier" in a warehouse in the East Texas sticks. That.was the good part. The bad part is that Felicity's drummer was Don Henley and we'd next hear from him...well, best not remembered. And yet the Small Faces would get no US airplay to speak of, and no US tours. That falls at the feet of the slimy Arden. Of course, Faces 2.0 were huge over here for a time. As was Humble Pie.
Just a shame they never toured the U.S. Due to Ian's drug issue? Maybe more because Don Arden didn't really push it after the drug issue. Didn't want to give up any control to American management. If the SFs could have kept the group together and toured the U.S., appeared on American television, I believe they would have exploded in appreciation and finally the money coming to them. But Steve hated being regarded as a pop star, especially after La La Lee, that he couldn't stand appealing to young girls rather than appreciated for singing the blues. Too young and impulsive to take the long view of the situation. Still, their 3 short years together and with the assistance of producer Glyn Johns, resulted in some outstanding tracks. I still listen to them!
Love this band! Never got the recognition in the US that they deserved. Steve❤️a small white version of an amazing BB, Otis, Jackie, Levi. He had SOUL immaculate.
one of the greatest bands ever, Steve's voice up there and maybe even the best of all in the pantheon of rockers, I suppose Americans did not get their quirky cockney humour - although some are realising their mistake and have now inducted them into the Hall of Fame at last.
Being born in the 70s and American I only get confused looks when I name the Small Faces as one of my favorite bands. . Most people I meet have never even heard of them and that is their loss. I rank them with the Who , Stones. Animals , Kinks Yardbirds . As good as any of the great UK bands of the 60s and Marriott was the best singer in the rock and roll world to me. Nobody had more talent than him.
It's weird but but I used to think I was in a exclusive club likeing the small faces and wanted to keep them to myself saw them once before they split and was blown away with Marriott's stage presence and vocals and guitar ability
One of very few bands I (*1955) loved in my childhood and still today. My first SF single was ‘All Or Nothing‘, but I liked ’Lazy Sunday’ and ’Tin Soldier’ even more. Besides Marriott‘s unique, powerful voice it was the use of a Hammond organ which made them rock music pioneers, even before The Nice IIRC. I don‘t remember Jimmy Winston, but Ian McLagan probably was the reason I started to play organ in rock bands myself. Listen to the gorgeous Hammond sound in ‘Afterglow Of Your Love‘!
@@RHR-221bI had the original vinyl in the tin when I was young. I don't even remember what happened to it. I do still have one of the earliest repressing in a normal sleeve. Ogdens is certainly one of the greatest albums ever made an stands the test of time.
What a great video, cheers for posting. The Small Faces were unbelievably creative. All four members bringing something special to the party. Amazing chemistry. The featured songs are magic, loads of subtleties and nuances, whilst at the same time being big pop hits.
What can I say 🤷 l was 16 in 65 when What you gonna do about it was released by Decca The Small Faces had arrived l loved em being a Mod they could do no wrong, l bought every Single and as many Albums as possible, the best being Ogdens Nutt Gone Flake and as I've tears in me eyes I'm gonna go and play it on my Record Player loved 😍 them and love them now still sound fresh lol Pete 😆 🎶 xx.
As a band musician in the late 80s and 90s they were a template musically and performance-wise. For musicians with a good record collection and understanding of what connected the sixties, punk and post-Nirvana 90s guitar music they were neither underrated nor forgotten.
One of the most important British bands EVER !! Paul McCartney was a fan of Ronnie Lane and guested him on the Rockestra band of 1978. Also Jimmy Page was a big fan also
Not many now as the BBC Radio top man has banned 50s 60s 70s music from the radio schedules airways apart from a couple of specialist shows ie Johnnie Walker & Tony Blackburn Sounds of 60s & 70s & that's it. Now I know how my dad felt in the 1960s.
I was one of the few who listened to these guys before most of them became The Faces and Steve went onto Humble Pie. Marriott was one of the greatest and most underrated rock vocalists IMO.
Same here. In my opinion, the Small Faces was the best of Steve and the others. I love a few Humble Pie tunes, but I still love all the songs from the Small Faces. I still listen to them most everyday.
One of the few?, I'm in Australia and they had 6 top 10 singles & 1 top 10 album (Nutgone) and a sold out tour with The Who in '66 when they were very naughty boys. Maybe one of the few left alive, but they were huge in Australia.
@@meggarippleeffect8098 The Small Faces actually toured Australia with the Who in January 1968. As a 16 year old I saw them play at that big old tin shed at Rushcutters Bay - the Sydney Stadium. Loved both bands but the sound was a bit on the anemic side due to the shithouse PA system and the small amps they were using. Shame - it was at this time big Marshall amps (eg Hendrix and Cream) were coming to the fore in the UK and US but had yet to make it to Oz.
I really think that Steve Marriott is one of those rare remarkable musicians that only ever come along once in your lifetime. He seemed to have problems maintaining relationships with anyone for any long period of time, whether it was with the other Small Faces, Peter Frampton or any of the four women who gave birth to his children. Certainly a genius, but sadly a flawed one. Thanks for such great music that I’m still listening to 56 years later, RIP
Great documentary , thanks a lot. The Small Faces were always one of my favourite bands although I was only 8 years old in 1967. I grew up in this really small town in Germany and we had this travelling fair coming around 2 or 3 times a year with bumper cars and the lot. As a kid I went there not for the attractions but 'cause they used to play british pop songs on the speakers. And there was this one song that really blew me away. Some years later I learned that it was a song ca.lled "Lazy Sunday" by the Small Faces. Every time I hear that song it takes me back there , even today. One of the greatest bands ever and what a singer he was .Rip Steve and Ronnie.
I'm really puzzled by the fact that The Small Faces despised "Sha La La La Lee": I accidentally found that song in a cassette in 1985 and made me get into one of my favourite bands from the 60s. Obviously, the most underrated band ever
Steve despised his appeal to young girls and being considered a pop star vs a serious musician and artist. He took flak for Sha La La Lee. Goofy song even if it was a hit.
They seemed to prefer R&B covers and hard-edged originals over commercial pop styles. Sha La La La Lee was more of a pop song, but SF gave it their own treatment, especially with Steve's gritty vocal. And Mac's arrival established the band as a solid quartet of inspired musicians on par with their competition.
@@Stephanjnj Don Arden forced Sha LLL onto the boys, in those days they had little choice in what records were released. Their stage show was something else and I never got tired of watching them on stage. Ex Roadie.
As an American teenager in the 60's, the first I heard from the Small Faces was Itchycoo Park, which type-cast them as a psychedelic band in the mold of The Electric Prunes or The Cowsills. At that point, understand The Who were best known for I Can See For Miles and everyone was (justfiably) raving over Sgt. Peppers. If the Small Faces had broken through just a year earlier, Marriott's R&B vocals would've made a much bigger impact. As it was, I didn't even recognize Tin Soldier as a Small Faces song. By the time Ogden's Nut Gone Flake arrived (via import channels) our stashes were thoroughly stocked for the trip.
Nice to know that iam not alone, iam 73yrs young myself and like you really loved ❤ the band managed to see them live 5 times 😀 fucking fantastic live lol Errol fellow fan Pete xx.
I was introduced to the small faces through Paul Weller and his influences and love of sixties music and mod culture and when I heard all or nothing and tin soldier I was completely hooked and I have got everything that they have ever done and there isn't many songs that they have done that I don't like.
@@toxic_badasss9656 family members,Ian maclagen,Jerry Shirley, Steve Ellis ,Kenney Jones and the guy brought in to sort out the Marriott estate are all quoted in the Marriott bio All or Nothing ...
🎶"What-cha-gonna-doo-about-it"🎶So much love for the Small Faces! Steve, Ronnie, Ian & Jimmy - I hope you're all resting easy, thank you for the great music.
There’s a few bands i scratch my head wondering why no one’s done a full length quality production documentary on. The Small Face to The faces is definitely one of those bands.
Surprised Netflix hasn't jumped on this with the musical brilliance-financial exploitation-sinister manager-mob influenced-mysterious death-died penniless themes...
Steve Marriott what a miraculously talented individual. People dont realize Robert plant copied steve Marriott. The best white soul singer ever for my money. Not a great person but such a terrific voice .
@@sandypompilii6901 fair enough. Im just going off what other members of the bands hes been in mostly. When i say not a great person i dont mean because he did drugs or whatever. What good musician doesnt do a little mind bending? I just mean he could be rather selfish at times. But these are not first hand accounts. Just something ive learned through the grapevine as they say.
@@cloudcorby420 Steve had a massive ego for a tiny guy.... but as anyone who saw him perform will tell you, the reputation was entirely justified. What I wouldn't give to have been a fly on the wall the day he auditioned to 'replace Mick Taylor... completely upstaging Jagger'.
And by coincidence I was in High Street North East ham E6 yesterday - the Ruskin Arms pub, now derelict & in a sorry state. Am I right in saying that Jimmy Winston (the original keyboard player) - his parents ran this pub, and the band sometimes practiced upstairs?
The SMALL FACES never went to the US to tour. During this documentary an announcer says just back from their fabulous American tour.... Surely SF are still one of my favorites! I only saw Ronnie Lane and Kenney Jones on the 1983 ARMS tour - thats the closest to SF I have ever gotten.....
If you really want to know , read Ian McLagan "Mac's" book, its puts you right there in the band, the 60's and more. I'm a California girl and loved itchycoo park the second it hit the radio! I'm an old girl now but still rockin. Had a few beers with Rod in the 80's and just saw him recently, he's still rocking too! lol
Do you mean Rod Stewart? He was in the Faces, not the SF. Please don't confuse the two. They did have three members in common, but the SF had a fantastic lead singer and lead guitarist in Steve Marriott. Rod Stewart wasn't in Steve's league. The material played by the two groups was very different too. The SF were by far the superior group in my opinion
@@likearainbow7501 Ha! I can assure you I'm perfectly relaxed, as evidenced by my calm and rational comment. If you're aware that RS wasn't in the SF, I wonder why you mentioned him in a comment about a documentary on the SF. He had absolutely nothing to do with that great band.
@@annaforehan7784 Why wouldn't I? They were all mates and collaboraters, including Ronny wood. I'm old , was around then and have wonderful memories. You seem like a really sweet person, nice to have chatted with you
It is interesting to speculate on what would have happened to the Small Faces if 'I Got Mine' had been a hit; maybe the band would have been accepted by the cognoscenti and given more respect. Apparently Marriott was furious when Long John Baldry ridiculed 'the great soul singer' when 'Shalalalalee' came out. 'The Universal' with hindsight, shows that a paradigm shift had taken place with Marriott, his vocals were completely different to anything that he had done before, and reveals that he had moved on. Poor Marriott, an example of self-destruction that fame can bring.
Aside from Itchycoo Park, I'm really surprised we never really hears Small Faces songs on Chicago radio growing up in the 60's and 70's. They're all good!
As much of a huge fan I am of Ronnie Lane and especially Steve M. - I just do not get the attraction to most of the Small Faces music? Maybe because I first fell in love with rock and roll in America and in America the top 40 on the radio was king....and that was The Beatles, The Monkees, Cream, The Doors etc. etc. the music was very "poppy" or psychedelic. and you just never ever heard a small faces song on American radio...In fact I can not think of even 1 time hearing a song by the small faces on American radio...not once. Then came Humble Pie and I fell in total love with their music. So to this day I think Steve's greatest work ever was the Humble Pie album " Smokin" SO SO GREAT it was IMO. And Rock on was a great album also with Peter Frampton. Then Humble Pie live at the Fillmore...Greatest Live album ever IMO.
It's so sad. If only certain things had been different the band could have survived. Look at the Stones. They've proven that bands CAN survive. Some factors were external, like poor management. Some factors are internal, like a certain tenacity and commitment to stay together, instead of being so flip like so many rock musicians thinking they can simply quit this band and easily be just as successful in another band, but it doesn't happen. I also think it would've been great if the band could've accepted Peter Frampton. But perhaps that was because of Don Arden not paying them their due. I'm not sure about why they rejected Frampton. That's a juicy piece of history I learned from this documentary. Makes me ask - "What if?"
If somebody ever inventing a time machine I will do a time warp back to London in the 60' s. Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, Animals, Yardbirds, Pretty Things, Small Faces etc. That was the finest era of poprock and it happened in England Europe, not in the US of A. And I was too young and in the wrong place.
The clip of Tin Soldier did not include PP Arnold though her name is shown above the stage. The documentary should at least mentioned her. There is at least one clip on RUclips where they all mime the song together.
My boyfriend of the time took me to London and we were walking down the street and this voice shouted out at my boyfriend “alright there Baz how’s it going “none other than Ronnie “Plonk Lane❤Iwas struck dumb my boyfriend was mates with the small faces ❤
Classic band....Oasis ,The Jam...all drew their influences but regards their best track.. All or Nothing...check out the cover by the Dogs d amour....brilliant ....Small Faces forever...superb band.
Why is that journalists , biographers, 'historians' and the like, always know more about the artists than the artists themselves--prime examples of this here.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I was the Small Faces road manager in 1965, I got the job through my flat booking agent mate who worked for Ron King, he shared the office building with Don Arden at the end of Carnaby St. I had to pick up the groups old Austin/Morris ? from an East End pub that Jimmy Winston's dad ran. I think it was the Blind Beggar. I drove to a second hand car lot in Stratford and swapped it for a brand new Commer 15 cwt van loaded to the gear in and drove to a gig in Birmingham.
Maybe a week later I had to drop Jimmy's organ off at Don's office and drive out to the Hounslow area and pick up Ian Maclagan, now it was a tight squeeze to get the Hammond organ and Lesley speaker in the small Commer van, with a lot of rearranging it was managed. This got even worse later on when Kenny decided to use two base drums.
The boy were driven around in a Ford Zodiac, later changed for a Mk10 Jag driven by an ex Beatle driver called Bill Corbet, he arranged to have girls at the front door of gigs to raise a bit of commotion, when there was nobody at the stage doors. Another Don Arden wind up.
Sha La La La Le was recorded at a studio in one of the large house's across the street from the BBC, and had the tune taken from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Kenny Lynch was great fun and had a pocket full of jokes.
I spent a year humping their gear and had a lot of fun, but life on the road with a TV appearance in the AM or afternoon followed by a gig at night is no fun. Plus if it was the Birmingham Working Men's clubs they had to do a spot in two different clubs, so getting the gear off stage and back on at the next club was tough.
So I went back to digging tunnels on the Victoria Line and my own bed each night. Great memories but not in the order shown in the video.
The pub was The Ruskin Arms.
@@jaediccacairns4754 Thanks for that, I've been wracking my brains on that one.
Amazing!
Brilliant post and thanks
Nice story mate, roadies were the life blood of the bands, underpaid and there for the buzz!!!!! Cheers!
This was beautiful and also hard to watch .I grew up with the small faces I'm 70 now in bed with a debilitating sickness that I cant seem to throw Muscle spasms daily an aching back unable walk and watching this brought back so many memories that I'm in tears Me and me mates and me girlfriend at the time in the park after school hanging out and listening to the small faces . My Sister went to London and met Ronnie and Steve in Carnaby st and hung out with them for a few days before coming back She Took some photos that she still has I think and I passed them round to me mates one who really fancied my sister but she was too cool for him Those were glorious days every single they brought out Id buy ans we all liked them Right from What ya gonna do about it to The universal I had them all and would stack up the record player and play the lot I really liked Sha la la las la las lee . I had a guitar and learned how to play All or nothing Later on I had my own band and All or nothing was one or our main songs along with My minds eye . which wasn't mentioned in this video I thought the Small faces were heaps better than the Beatles For me it was the Small faces and the stones . It would have been great to stay in the 60s Such a fantastic time with the best music
Hi Robin. I'm 72 and a huge Small Faces fan too. I also play the guitar. When ALL OR NOTHING came out I was mesmerized. I figured out the chords and realized that in the chorus Steve didn't go from D major to B minor (which was the normal thing to do), but to B major (or B major7). Did you realize that too? All the best, Bernie
Robin, these sharedthoughts and memories are irreplaceable and beautiful - and I'm glad you made some of them directly with Steve & Ronnie & Kenny & Mac , and can share them with the rest of us - and that some of them were , in no small way my memories ;- part of the soundtrack to my days as a lad turning into a teenager in December 1966.
We all will get old, but this music is forever fresh and - timeless. I hope you can play some of it to your grandchildren and their children and see their reaction.
( must add.......)
"Yesterday is dead - but not my Memory"
Hang in there man
awwwww....i'm just 60 and i had horrible leg spasms all night and i, too can barely walk due to my back. My heart goes to you, man. Take care
What a brilliant, creative, talented group. Small Faces were such a tight little band of brothers. It's very sad that it ended the way it did. Although I do love Humble Pie and Faces, neither of these bands ever recaptured the magic of the Small Faces. RIP Steve, Ronnie and Mac.
I do think that you get more than a hint of the Small Faces on the Faces album ( probably the best they ever made) “ A Nod’s as Good as a Wink “….. The track ‘ That’s all you Need’, in particular ! ❤️
Same here, US fan since "Itchykoo Park", through all the related bands.
Steve Marriott one of the best vocalists UK has produced, brilliant !
Yes! Marriot
My best Import
Said this American
I concour sir.....brilliant unique voice.
Don't forget humble pie
@@edcarrill3222 The comment is about Steve's voice not his different bands. Get with the program Bud.
The Voice oh that voice from the stars ❤
A band that deserved a lot more credit than they got at the time, what a 3 years and what fantastic records they left us with. Just as good as anything there was and hugely influential. Some of their better songs were LP tracks and b-sides, with the autumn stone track and those early killer instrumental stormer being so overlooked. Easily one of the best bands Of the 60’s and a band I never grow tired of, really enjoyed the documentary. Will have to get my records on the go again!
Paul , not just the sixties , the guys were easily one of the best ever , just look at the respect they had in the industry and their legacy.
Don Arden ripped them off monumentally .
It's such a shame that Marriott and Ronnie did not pull together when things needed to be trashed out. Together there was more in them, but Marriott leaving was a disaster .
The faces were great , but the small faces had a different kinda magic. Thankfully Ian and Kenny saw great financial success in future careers. 👍
@@jimbanda very true Jim, such a shame that Steve had his mind made up to leave. Still, they left better recordings in those 3 years than most do in a whole career when they go on too long!
It really pisses me off about Don Arden being so greedy and such a thief in light of Ronnie Lane's later medical problems and being so broke. Ronnie might well have blown his money he should've gotten anyway on his circus venture and might well have been broke anyway, but that's speculation and not really the point. He might NOT have been broke anyway. It's such a tragic story about a really good guy who was greatly talented and so unique.
@@garyginther6742 I heard a music hack say that Arden liked the reputation as a gangster , but that the reality was, he was just another streetwise bully and a crook who was never properly challenged.
Marriott's attitude of "The lead singer is the band" followed him for the rest of his life until he was ONLY the singer with a guitar sadly.
Arden and the record company could have redeemed themselves by supporting Ronnie through illness but they were bad to the bone.
Despite all the criticism of Stewart, he did at least pay towards Ronnie's medical bills along with Page and Wood.
Kenny had by then hit big financial success but I never heard whether he supported Ronnie Lane or not.
He certainly had the tenacity to eventually get the royalties settlement, but sadly by then the two that had been broke were dead, Lanes children got no benefit, but I hope Molly Marriott got her share. Speaking of the Lane Children, I think Clapton helped with their education .
What a story it is, success, misery, illness , fighting, jealousy , corruption , law courts etc etc . God rest Ronnie , Steve and Ian 🙏.
I will always love The Small Faces Marriott was a force of nature.
I am a 58 year old musician. My all-time favorite song has to be "Afterglow" by the Small Faces.
Why it didn't get a mention in this documentary i will never know but as a piece of musical composition and performance, it is pure genius!
My dad was 18 in 1965. He was a 'Rocker', but always professed his love for the singles of The Who and Small Faces, their compilations permanent fixtures in his Jag's 8-track... by the age of 11 I was indoctrinated, in my Mod clobber, in love with The Jam, playing bass and learning Duck Dunn's runs. Five years later I formed 'The Way', playing the last night of the Scarborough Scooter Rally, June '85... we had three Small Faces songs in the set, and the crowd would go nuts for every one. By the end of that year I was writing my own songs and have never performed a cover version since... but crikey do I miss playing those classics.
Wow, I remember The Way, and I was at Scarborough in 85! I actually met a girl there and stayed in Scarborough after the rally for about four months! Fun times!
@@Davey-Boyd Fun times indeed, especially that weekend... nice to hear other's stories. Btw did you know that the ceiling collapsed below us in the Salisbury Hotel that night from the movement of the dance floor!? Lord knows how it didn't go through!
This was before I got reeaally serious about my songwriting, 'refused to play covers' etc... I'd love to do a show now, just playing the classics.
The Small Faces and The Who would meet up if both bands were in London on their days off. One time they met at a girl friend's Birthday of one of the Who. Her record player broke so the Who's roadie and I broke out some gear from our vans, carted up the stairs to a mews flat backing onto Harley Street the doctor's street in London. It wasn't long before a cop car arrived, we told what had happened and they said the boys could play two more numbers then close down. I head copper asked for "What You Gunna Do About" which sounded about right.
@@TheByard Excellent story.
This group is shamefully unheralded in the United States. Their influence on other bands, then and in later years, was enormous.
True. I heard my first Faces song in 1969, at 13, when I heard a cover band called Felicity perform "Tin Soldier" in a warehouse in the East Texas sticks. That.was the good part. The bad part is that Felicity's drummer was Don Henley and we'd next hear from him...well, best not remembered.
And yet the Small Faces would get no US airplay to speak of, and no US tours. That falls at the feet of the slimy Arden. Of course, Faces 2.0 were huge over here for a time. As was Humble Pie.
very true, even grunge bands like The Screaming Trees covered their songs
Shamefully? Really, makes a change from Underrated, give me strength. What about the Lemon Pipers, shamefully ignored their place in the firmament.
Just a shame they never toured the U.S. Due to Ian's drug issue? Maybe more because Don Arden didn't really push it after the drug issue. Didn't want to give up any control to American management. If the SFs could have kept the group together and toured the U.S., appeared on American television, I believe they would have exploded in appreciation and finally the money coming to them. But Steve hated being regarded as a pop star, especially after La La Lee, that he couldn't stand appealing to young girls rather than appreciated for singing the blues. Too young and impulsive to take the long view of the situation. Still, their 3 short years together and with the assistance of producer Glyn Johns, resulted in some outstanding tracks. I still listen to them!
Itchykoo Park though was the one-off here in the States. What a gem.
Holy fuck Steve. What a frontman. What a voice. Ha. Amazing. That Gretsch looks so huge on him.
Love this band! Never got the recognition in the US that they deserved. Steve❤️a small white version of an amazing BB, Otis, Jackie, Levi. He had SOUL immaculate.
one of the greatest bands ever, Steve's voice up there and maybe even the best of all in the pantheon of rockers, I suppose Americans did not get their quirky cockney humour - although some are realising their mistake and have now inducted them into the Hall of Fame at last.
Always amazed me the power of Steve's voice. Loved the group and play the songs today when I'm having malt wiskey.,very underrated band
Being born in the 70s and American I only get confused looks when I name the Small Faces as one of my favorite bands. . Most people I meet have never even heard of them and that is their loss. I rank them with the Who , Stones. Animals , Kinks Yardbirds . As good as any of the great UK bands of the 60s and Marriott was the best singer in the rock and roll world to me. Nobody had more talent than him.
its their loss if they never heard of them. they were great. i saw them twice. they were one of the top groups, in the 60s. in the uk.
It's weird but but I used to think I was in a exclusive club likeing the small faces and wanted to keep them to myself saw them once before they split and was blown away with Marriott's stage presence and vocals and guitar ability
Living in London and born there they were everywhere in the mid 60s , load of hit records ,,, might have been to much London for the USA at the time .
Perfect analysis of the S.F. Stevie Marriott was the coolest singer of that era.
You are so right!
One of very few bands I (*1955) loved in my childhood and still today. My first SF single was ‘All Or Nothing‘, but I liked ’Lazy Sunday’ and ’Tin Soldier’ even more. Besides Marriott‘s unique, powerful voice it was the use of a Hammond organ which made them rock music pioneers, even before The Nice IIRC. I don‘t remember Jimmy Winston, but Ian McLagan probably was the reason I started to play organ in rock bands myself. Listen to the gorgeous Hammond sound in ‘Afterglow Of Your Love‘!
Ogden's is one of my all time favourite albums ever. Marriot was one of the finest vocalists ever.
Agreed, G. *Nut Gone.* _Stay cool, why don't you?_ Rab 👋 🕊
@@RHR-221bI had the original vinyl in the tin when I was young. I don't even remember what happened to it. I do still have one of the earliest repressing in a normal sleeve. Ogdens is certainly one of the greatest albums ever made an stands the test of time.
Mad John
Tin Soldier-Marriott could sing them all off the planet. It’s the intensity
What a great video, cheers for posting. The Small Faces were unbelievably creative. All four members bringing something special to the party. Amazing chemistry. The featured songs are magic, loads of subtleties and nuances, whilst at the same time being big pop hits.
Marriot, what an incredible character...adorable
A landmark band, genuine talents, total energy, the essence of rock and roll, revolutionary style. I wish I'd been guiding their careers!
What can I say 🤷 l was 16 in 65 when What you gonna do about it was released by Decca The Small Faces had arrived l loved em being a Mod they could do no wrong, l bought every Single and as many Albums as possible, the best being Ogdens Nutt Gone Flake and as I've tears in me eyes I'm gonna go and play it on my Record Player loved 😍 them and love them now still sound fresh lol Pete 😆 🎶 xx.
Woke up with Itchycoo Park on my mental jukebox. Ended up realizing Steve Marriott was all too beautiful for this crazy world❤
As a band musician in the late 80s and 90s they were a template musically and performance-wise. For musicians with a good record collection and understanding of what connected the sixties, punk and post-Nirvana 90s guitar music they were neither underrated nor forgotten.
All or Nothing; heard it on the radio one night; was in the record store buying it next day. Magic song!
[and that was in NZ]
"Here Comes The Nice" is definitely my favorite Small Faces tune. I still can't get enough of that one. Love it!
My favourite too x
I grew up as a teenager in the sixties and the small faces bring back so many happy memories.
One of the most important British bands EVER !! Paul McCartney was a fan of Ronnie Lane and guested him on the Rockestra band of 1978.
Also Jimmy Page was a big fan also
Jimmy Page was an Acolyte of Steve Marriott, it seems. The Led Zeppelin sound was heavily influenced by the Small Faces in my opinion.
The story of the Small Faces is truly heartbreaking. Incredible musians
Steve marriott was a great vocalist, they are my third favourite british band, beatles, kinks and small faces
His voice still send shivers down my spine ♥️where did that come from? Magnificent.
Ahh, Small Faces, Deep joy of a songload in the eardroves !
Obbery Obbery
Well said!
Nice retrospective. It's great to know new generations are still discovering the music.
Not many now as the BBC Radio top man has banned 50s 60s 70s music from the radio schedules airways apart from a couple of specialist shows ie Johnnie Walker & Tony Blackburn Sounds of 60s & 70s & that's it. Now I know how my dad felt in the 1960s.
I was one of the few who listened to these guys before most of them became The Faces and Steve went onto Humble Pie. Marriott was one of the greatest and most underrated rock vocalists IMO.
Same here. In my opinion, the Small Faces was the best of Steve and the others. I love a few Humble Pie tunes, but I still love all the songs from the Small Faces. I still listen to them most everyday.
@@sandypompilii6901 I feel the same way. I like a handful of Humble Pie but the Small Faces are Marriott's best work. RIP Steve
One of the few?, I'm in Australia and they had 6 top 10 singles & 1 top 10 album (Nutgone) and a sold out tour with The Who in '66 when they were very naughty boys. Maybe one of the few left alive, but they were huge in Australia.
@@meggarippleeffect8098 I was referring to the U.S. market. They didn't hit big here until the Rod Stewart period.
@@meggarippleeffect8098 The Small Faces actually toured Australia with the Who in January 1968. As a 16 year old I saw them play at that big old tin shed at Rushcutters Bay - the Sydney Stadium. Loved both bands but the sound was a bit on the anemic side due to the shithouse PA system and the small amps they were using. Shame - it was at this time big Marshall amps (eg Hendrix and Cream) were coming to the fore in the UK and US but had yet to make it to Oz.
I really think that Steve Marriott is one of those rare remarkable musicians that only ever come along once in your lifetime.
He seemed to have problems maintaining relationships with anyone for any long period of time, whether it was with the other Small Faces, Peter Frampton or any of the four women who gave birth to his children.
Certainly a genius, but sadly a flawed one. Thanks for such great music that I’m still listening to 56 years later, RIP
Best documentary on the Small Faces I've found. Great stuff 😊
Great documentary , thanks a lot. The Small Faces were always one of my favourite bands although I was only 8 years old in 1967. I grew up in this really small town in Germany and we had this travelling fair coming around 2 or 3 times a year with bumper cars and the lot. As a kid I went there not for the attractions but 'cause they used to play british pop songs on the speakers. And there was this one song that really blew me away. Some years later I learned that it was a song ca.lled "Lazy Sunday" by the Small Faces. Every time I hear that song it takes me back there , even today. One of the greatest bands ever and what a singer he was .Rip Steve and Ronnie.
The 3 Steve’s Marriot Ellis and winwood were kids with fantastic matures voices miles ahead of time
Thank you that was brilliant. Been listening to these since late 70's. Own the vinyl. Now it all makes sense 👍
I'm really puzzled by the fact that The Small Faces despised "Sha La La La Lee": I accidentally found that song in a cassette in 1985 and made me get into one of my favourite bands from the 60s.
Obviously, the most underrated band ever
Steve despised his appeal to young girls and being considered a pop star vs a serious musician and artist. He took flak for Sha La La Lee. Goofy song even if it was a hit.
@@BethCollier31 Kenny Lynch wrote, "Sha La La Lee" for SF. One of the major players in the 1960s, yet he became overlooked in his lifetime.
They seemed to prefer R&B covers and hard-edged originals over commercial pop styles. Sha La La La Lee was more of a pop song, but SF gave it their own treatment, especially with Steve's gritty vocal. And Mac's arrival established the band as a solid quartet of inspired musicians on par with their competition.
@@Stephanjnj Don Arden forced Sha LLL onto the boys, in those days they had little choice in what records were released. Their stage show was something else and I never got tired of watching them on stage. Ex Roadie.
I think Steve wanted to sing the blues, and not be a teeny boper.
As an American teenager in the 60's, the first I heard from the Small Faces was Itchycoo Park, which type-cast them as a psychedelic band in the mold of The Electric Prunes or The Cowsills. At that point, understand The Who were best known for I Can See For Miles and everyone was (justfiably) raving over Sgt. Peppers. If the Small Faces had broken through just a year earlier, Marriott's R&B vocals would've made a much bigger impact. As it was, I didn't even recognize Tin Soldier as a Small Faces song. By the time Ogden's Nut Gone Flake arrived (via import channels) our stashes were thoroughly stocked for the trip.
I was a fan when I was seventeen.! I'm seventyfuckingfour now, and I'm STILL a fan!
Nice to know that iam not alone, iam 73yrs young myself and like you really loved ❤ the band managed to see them live 5 times 😀 fucking fantastic live lol Errol fellow fan Pete xx.
Likewise !
The best of British 👍🏆🇬🇧. True legends all of them. RIP Steve, Ronnie & Mac. We miss your amazing talent.
Small Faces are great, prefer them to the Who and the Strolling Bones for the classics they recorded
Love the history of the British Musuc scene from the early 60 's to the mid 70 's. What a time to be on that scene
Sure was 😊
Thanks!
Lazy Sunday may be the most British pop song ever.
I was introduced to the small faces through Paul Weller and his influences and love of sixties music and mod culture and when I heard all or nothing and tin soldier I was completely hooked and I have got everything that they have ever done and there isn't many songs that they have done that I don't like.
It's great to see John Hellier being interviewed, I've met John a few times at UK Scooter Rallies what a nice guy he is.
The families and the small Faces humble pie and packet of 3 band members and steve Ellis do not care for the guy period .....
@@richardbranton7396 That's interesting, do you have any context ??
@@toxic_badasss9656 family members,Ian maclagen,Jerry Shirley, Steve Ellis ,Kenney Jones and the guy brought in to sort out the Marriott estate are all quoted in the Marriott bio All or Nothing ...
Autumn Stone must be one of the greatest songs to come out of the 60's.
One of the most under rated pop bands, ever!
Pop!!! Steve is rolling over in his grave.
My heroes growing up fantastic band
🎶"What-cha-gonna-doo-about-it"🎶So much love for the Small Faces! Steve, Ronnie, Ian & Jimmy - I hope you're all resting easy, thank you for the great music.
There’s a few bands i scratch my head wondering why no one’s done a full length quality production documentary on. The Small Face to The faces is definitely one of those bands.
Surprised Netflix hasn't jumped on this with the musical brilliance-financial exploitation-sinister manager-mob influenced-mysterious death-died penniless themes...
Oh, man, super share!
Ty!
Stevie was one of the great rock singers of that era. Fantastic energy in live performance too
Love it, love it, love it!
Steve Marriott what a miraculously talented individual. People dont realize Robert plant copied steve Marriott. The best white soul singer ever for my money. Not a great person but such a terrific voice .
Steve Marriott...multi-talented, did have his demons, but a good person.
@@sandypompilii6901 fair enough. Im just going off what other members of the bands hes been in mostly. When i say not a great person i dont mean because he did drugs or whatever. What good musician doesnt do a little mind bending? I just mean he could be rather selfish at times. But these are not first hand accounts. Just something ive learned through the grapevine as they say.
@@cloudcorby420 Steve had a massive ego for a tiny guy.... but as anyone who saw him perform will tell you, the reputation was entirely justified. What I wouldn't give to have been a fly on the wall the day he auditioned to 'replace Mick Taylor... completely upstaging Jagger'.
@@telsutton I'm surprised Keith never worked with Steve Marriott... Or did he? I can see them getting along LoL.
@@telsutton Agreed - he'd certainly have put the wind up Mick , and Mick wouldn't be having any of that , now , would he😉?
Steve Marriott, Paul Rodgers, Dave Peverett, Ian Gillan, Jimmy Dewar. Best of the best.
And by coincidence I was in High Street North East ham E6 yesterday - the Ruskin Arms pub, now derelict & in a sorry state. Am I right in saying that Jimmy Winston (the original keyboard player) - his parents ran this pub, and the band sometimes practiced upstairs?
Yes, his parents did own that pub.
That was an okay pub. Shame it's not in use anymore.
This song is the best guitar work wow underrated song
They were brilliant , Ogden's nutgone flake , and everything else I was mind blown 👍🇬🇧
The Small Faces kicked ass. Then when they broke up, The Faces kicked ass. These bands just couldn't help it. It was in their blood.
Steve Marriott what a wonderful voice and great fella too....
I love the bit when Steve kicks the reel to reel on stage during "Lazy Sunday".
Great stuff 👍
The Universal wow I need to hear that song again ❤
Wish I was back then ,,them guys opened the rest of my life ,,am still a very proud mod,🙏❤️
The Elite elite of rock bands
The SMALL FACES never went to the US to tour. During this documentary an announcer says just back from their fabulous American tour.... Surely SF are still one of my favorites! I only saw Ronnie Lane and Kenney Jones on the 1983 ARMS tour - thats the closest to SF I have ever gotten.....
All Time Favorites!
If you really want to know , read Ian McLagan "Mac's" book, its puts you right there in the band, the 60's and more.
I'm a California girl and loved itchycoo park the second it hit the radio!
I'm an old girl now but still rockin. Had a few beers with Rod in the 80's and just saw him recently, he's still rocking too! lol
Do you mean Rod Stewart? He was in the Faces, not the SF. Please don't confuse the two. They did have three members in common, but the SF had a fantastic lead singer and lead guitarist in Steve Marriott. Rod Stewart wasn't in Steve's league. The material played by the two groups was very different too. The SF were by far the superior group in my opinion
@@annaforehan7784
I did mean RS and was not confused about the two separate bands. Am also a fan of SM. You can relax now
@@likearainbow7501 Ha! I can assure you I'm perfectly relaxed, as evidenced by my calm and rational comment. If you're aware that RS wasn't in the SF, I wonder why you mentioned him in a comment about a documentary on the SF. He had absolutely nothing to do with that great band.
@@annaforehan7784
Why wouldn't I? They were all mates and collaboraters, including Ronny wood. I'm old , was around then and have wonderful memories.
You seem like a really sweet person, nice to have chatted with you
Enjoyed Ian's book so much. Also Kenney Jones' book!
It is interesting to speculate on what would have happened to the Small Faces if 'I Got Mine' had been a hit; maybe the band would have been accepted by the cognoscenti and given more respect. Apparently Marriott was furious when Long John Baldry ridiculed 'the great soul singer' when 'Shalalalalee' came out. 'The Universal' with hindsight, shows that a paradigm shift had taken place with Marriott, his vocals were completely different to anything that he had done before, and reveals that he had moved on. Poor Marriott, an example of self-destruction that fame can bring.
Aside from Itchycoo Park, I'm really surprised we never really hears Small Faces songs on Chicago radio growing up in the 60's and 70's. They're all good!
Lazy Sunday top drawer sarcasm by Steve I find it superb
Nice..
Awesome Stuff 👍
Nice!
Some major rock stars came out of Small Faces. “Itchycoo Park” is genius
Tin Soldier is powerful!
Odd that they left out (or it was edited out ?) "My Mind's Eye", their big Xmas hit of 1966. Got to number 4 in the Uk charts.
Yeah not even a passing notion of it and a great Christmas song.
These guys were the real Deal God Bless them. Cant wait to see them again on the other side and oh yeah Don Arden was piece a crap.
Well said
don arden nothing more than a crook robbing bands small faces were robbed of a lot of money turned the lads over big time
Legends
I first heard Itchicoo park in 1973 on the radio and it instantly became my favorite song. Sadly the group was split up by then.
The small faces are my favourite band of all time along with the who kinks and the jam and oasis
Arden wasnt a gangster but he was a hustler, any good manager needs to be that.
I really enjoyed this documentary. Can you do a follow up and do a Humble Pie documentary? 🎸
Love Itchycoo park is my fav. Faces song. Aloha
Band from London “The Mods” tribute Small Faces brilliantly
Love you forever stevie
THE most r'n'b of them all and marriot's voice landed them there.
What a great band who would have thought what downfall marriot would go have in the end though tragic end rip steve and ronny lane
Steve Marriott was a true musical genius.
One song of theirs I listen to all the time is happdaystoytown.
Muddy Waters said that Steve Marriott's voice is the best Blues voice that he's ever heard.
I love all their music. Ogden’s is a brilliant album.
Brilliant band. My favourite in the early 1960's - the likes of the Beatles and the Stones never got a look in.
As much of a huge fan I am of Ronnie Lane and especially Steve M. - I just do not get the attraction to most of the Small Faces music? Maybe because I first fell in love with rock and roll in America and in America the top 40 on the radio was king....and that was The Beatles, The Monkees, Cream, The Doors etc. etc. the music was very "poppy" or psychedelic. and you just never ever heard a small faces song on American radio...In fact I can not think of even 1 time hearing a song by the small faces on American radio...not once. Then came Humble Pie and I fell in total love with their music. So to this day I think Steve's greatest work ever was the Humble Pie album " Smokin" SO SO GREAT it was IMO. And Rock on was a great album also with Peter Frampton. Then Humble Pie live at the Fillmore...Greatest Live album ever IMO.
I absolutely agree with every single word you said! Rockin the Filmore is still one of my all time no skip vinyls❤✌️
It's so sad. If only certain things had been different the band could have survived. Look at the Stones. They've proven that bands CAN survive. Some factors were external, like poor management. Some factors are internal, like a certain tenacity and commitment to stay together, instead of being so flip like so many rock musicians thinking they can simply quit this band and easily be just as successful in another band, but it doesn't happen. I also think it would've been great if the band could've accepted Peter Frampton. But perhaps that was because of Don Arden not paying them their due. I'm not sure about why they rejected Frampton. That's a juicy piece of history I learned from this documentary. Makes me ask - "What if?"
If somebody ever inventing a time machine I will do a time warp back to London in the 60' s.
Beatles, Stones, Who, Kinks, Animals, Yardbirds, Pretty Things, Small Faces etc.
That was the finest era of poprock and it happened in England Europe, not in the US of A.
And I was too young and in the wrong place.
Ditto, let's not forget Pink Floyd
The clip of Tin Soldier did not include PP Arnold though her name is shown above the stage. The documentary should at least mentioned her. There is at least one clip on RUclips where they all mime the song together.
Sounds like she's singing on the audio. Maybe a camera was in the wrong place at the wrong time or someone lost a cutaway.
My boyfriend of the time took me to London and we were walking down the street and this voice shouted out at my boyfriend “alright there Baz how’s it going “none other than Ronnie “Plonk Lane❤Iwas struck dumb my boyfriend was mates with the small faces ❤
....and to rhyme 'rainbow' with 'lumbago' is genius...
Classic band....Oasis ,The Jam...all drew their influences but regards their best track.. All or Nothing...check out the cover by the Dogs d amour....brilliant ....Small Faces forever...superb band.
Why is that journalists , biographers, 'historians' and the like, always know more about the artists than the artists themselves--prime examples of this here.
Yeah for being a small faces documentary there’s a lot of people that had nothing to do with the band talking