SMALL FACES Small Faces (LP, 180g Vinyl, Ltd.)

The Small Faces, unlike the Who whose mod image was their manager's creation to exploit the growirrg cult, really were mods. Formed in 1965 by Steve Marriott, born Jan. 30, 1947 (vocals, guitar); Ronnie 'Plonk' Lane, April 1, 1946 (bass); Jimmy Winston (organ) and Kenny Jones, Sept. 16, 1948 (drums), the group grew out of their mutual liking for the mods' favourite music — R&B and soul — and their first single, 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It?' (Decca), a hit in Sep-tember, 1965 took the riff from Solomon Burke's 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love'.

The Marriott—Lane follow-up, I've Got Mine', released when Ian McLagan — born May 12, 1945 — replaced Winston, flopped, but within six months they were chart regulars as 'Hey Girl', 'All Or Nothing' — their only No. 1 and probably their best record — and 'My Mind's EYe' followed each other into the Top Ten. The success of these singles — all Marriott—Lane compositions — linked the group for ever with the Top Ten, and despite a label change and less obviously 'pop' material, they couldn't stop the hits or change their image. Songs like the jokey 'Itchycoo Park' (Immediate, 1967) — their only American Top Twenty record - and 'Lazy Sunday' (Immediate, 1968), recorded for albums and released as singles against the group's wishes, only heightened the problem.


After making the brilliant Ogdens Nut Gone Flake in 1968, Marriott quit and joined Peter Frampton in Humble Pie. Lane, McLagan and Jones stuck together, turned down offers to back solo performers and eventually teamed up with Rod Stewart and Ron Wood as the Faces.