Small Faces

Small Faces

Company type	Rock band
Industry	Music
Founded	1965
Headquarters	London , England, United Kingdom

The Small Faces were a London-based English rock band established in 1965. The founding members consisted of vocalist and guitarist Steve Marriott, bassist Ronnie Lane, drummer Kenney Jones, and keyboardist Jimmy Winston, who was succeeded by Ian McLagan in 1966. Initially prominent as a mod band, they gained commercial traction with singles such as "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" (1965), as well as "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" and "All or Nothing" released in 1966. By 1967, their style had shifted towards psychedelic rock, producing hits like "Here Come the Nice", "Itchycoo Park", "Tin Soldier" (all from 1967), and "Lazy Sunday" (1968). Their concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (1968) reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.

In 1969, Marriott departed to create Humble Pie, while Lane, Jones, and McLagan continued under the name the Faces, joined by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. Following the dissolution of both Faces and Humble Pie in 1975, the original quartet of Marriott, Lane, McLagan, and Jones reunited after the successful reissue of "Itchycoo Park." Soon after, Lane exited and was replaced by Rick Wills, forming the Mk-II lineup that released Playmates in 1977. The band's final album, 78 in the Shade (1978), featured former Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch, before the group disbanded once more.

The Small Faces are credited with influencing the subsequent Britpop era and are acknowledged as forerunners to punk rock. Music critic Jon Savage referred to them as "the one Brit group that prefigures the early Sex Pistols." In 2012, both Small Faces and Faces were honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Formation (1965)

In early 1965, singer/guitarist Steve Marriott crossed paths with bassist Ronnie Lane while working at the J60 Music Bar located in Manor Park, London. After purchasing a bass guitar there, Lane soon began rehearsing with Marriott. They enlisted drummer Kenney Jones and keyboardist/guitarist Jimmy Winston. Transitioning rapidly from rehearsals in pubs to semi-professional performances, they adopted the name "Small Faces," a nod both to their short stature and their standing as influential figures within mod culture—known for their sharp fashion sense and leadership.

Early stage performances (1965)

Their initial setlists comprised R&B and soul staples such as "Jump Back", James Brown's "Please Please Please", Smokey Robinson's "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", and Ben E. King's "Stand by Me". In addition, they played original compositions by Marriott and Lane including the spirited "Come on Children" and the guitar-driven "E too D" (later retitled "Running Wild" on American compilations), highlighting Marriott's robust vocal style influenced by Otis Redding and Bobby Bland. Marriott’s unique voice attracted attention; singer Elkie Brooks recommended them to club owner Maurice King, which helped secure further bookings across London and beyond. Their first show outside London took place at a working men’s club in Sheffield but ended prematurely due to an unwelcoming audience. Subsequently, they performed without pay at the mod-centric King Mojo Club, where they built considerable local support. A significant residency at Leicester Square’s Cavern Club included opening for Sonny & Cher during their London engagement.

Contract with Decca and initial singles (1965)

The group entered into a management agreement with Don Arden and secured a deal with Decca Records. Their first releases were dynamic mod/soul singles, beginning with "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" in August 1965, which climbed into the UK Top 20. Marriott and Lane developed the instrumental section, adapting the guitar riff from Solomon Burke's "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love", while the lyrics were co-written by Ian Samwell and Brian Potter.

Their next release, the more aggressive mod number "I've Got Mine" (composed by Marriott/Lane), did not achieve the same commercial impact. The band appeared as themselves in the 1965 crime movie Dateline Diamonds, which featured this second single. Although Arden expected the film to boost publicity, its postponed UK release limited the single’s chart success despite favorable critical reception.

Shortly thereafter, Jimmy Winston departed to focus on acting and his solo music ambitions, eventually becoming a prosperous entrepreneur. Kenney Jones has stated Winston was dismissed due to attempts to rival Marriott within the band, while Winston himself attributed his exit to conflicts involving Arden and his brother.

Debut album, subsequent hit singles, and From the Beginning compilation (1966–67)

Ian McLagan replaced Winston, bringing keyboard talents that enhanced the band's rhythm. McLagan’s first performance with Small Faces occurred on 2 November 1965. With this refreshed lineup, Small Faces scored a hit with their third single, "Sha-La-La-La-Lee", released on 28 January 1966. Written by Mort Shuman and Kenny Lynch, it reached number three on the UK singles chart. Their self-titled debut album, Small Faces, launched on 6 May 1966, also enjoyed considerable acclaim. The band’s popularity grew through regular appearances on British pop television programs and extensive touring across the UK and Europe. Their commercial peak arrived in August 1966 when "All or Nothing" topped UK charts. This track was reportedly inspired by Marriott’s breakup with his former fiancée. A planned US tour alongside the Lovin' Spoonful and the Mamas & the Papas was canceled following public knowledge of Ian McLagan’s drug conviction.

Although live performances generated substantial income and several UK Top 10 hits were achieved by 1966, financial rewards for the band members remained limited. After disputes with manager Don Arden—who accused them of drug use—they ended their association with both Arden and Decca.

In June 1967, Decca issued the compilation From The Beginning, which combined hit singles with previously unreleased material. This collection included early versions of tracks later re-recorded for Immediate Records, such as "My Way of Giving" and "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me?", songs originally provided to other performers. Additionally, it featured their live favorite "Baby Don't You Do It", showcasing Jimmy Winston on lead vocals and guitar.

"Here Come the Nice" and second studio album (1967)

Shortly after securing a contract with the newly established Immediate label, founded by former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, the band enjoyed nearly unlimited studio time at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London. Working closely alongside engineer Glyn Johns, their progress was swift. Their debut single for Immediate, the daring "Here Come the Nice", alluded to drug culture while managing to evade censorship. This was succeeded by their second self-titled album, Small Faces, which, though it achieved only moderate commercial success, received strong critical praise and left a lasting impact on various international acts.

"Itchycoo Park", "Tin Soldier", There Are But Four Small Faces and "Lazy Sunday" (1967–68)

Released on 11 August 1967, the track "Itchycoo Park" became one of their two singles to chart in the United States, reaching No. 16 in early 1968 and climbing to No. 3 in the UK charts. It was distinguished as the first British single to incorporate flanging, an audio effect engineered by George Chkiantz. In December 1967, "Tin Soldier", written by Marriott and featuring backing vocals from American singer P. P. Arnold, peaked at No. 9 in the UK and No. 73 in the US. For the American market, the Immediate Small Faces album was reconfigured as There Are But Four Small Faces, modifying its tracklist to include key singles such as "Here Come The Nice", "Itchycoo Park", and "Tin Soldier". In 1968, Immediate released "Lazy Sunday", an East End music-hall influenced piece composed by Marriott as a humorous take inspired by local disputes; despite the band's reservations, it reached No. 2 on UK charts.

Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (1968)

The band reached a career zenith in the UK with their psychedelic concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, released on 24 May 1968. The album stood out with its innovative circular packaging designed to resemble a vintage tobacco tin. It dominated the UK Albums Chart at No. 1 for six consecutive weeks but only attained No. 159 in the United States.

The album's composition featured six tracks on side one and a whimsical psychedelic fairy tale on side two about "Happiness Stan"’s journey to find the missing half of the moon, narrated by comedian Stanley Unwin after Spike Milligan declined participation. Although critically lauded and commercially successful, its intricate nature made live performances impractical; it was performed live only once on BBC’s Colour Me Pop.

"The Universal", The Autumn Stone, and breakup (1968–69)

Their last official single, the folksy "The Universal" (summer 1968), was built around an acoustic home recording by Marriott that even included ambient dog barks. Peaking at No. 16 in the UK charts, its limited success left Marriott disheartened, causing him to stop writing new material.

Marriott departed from the group at the close of 1968 during a New Year's Eve performance, frustrated by their pop image and inability to replicate complex studio work live. He subsequently formed Humble Pie with Peter Frampton. Reflecting later, Kenney Jones suggested that performing Ogdens' live might have bolstered their confidence and artistic direction.

After completing live shows including a European tour in January 1969, Small Faces formally disbanded in March. Plans for Marriott and Frampton’s new band were already underway. Later that year, a posthumous double compilation entitled The Autumn Stone was released, combining hits, significant tracks, unreleased live recordings, and studio cuts from their unfinished fourth album 1862. The final single "Afterglow (Of Your Love)", issued after their breakup, reached No. 36 in the UK.

Hiatus: 1969–75

Faces (1969–75)

Main article: Faces (band)

Following Small Faces' dissolution, Lane, Jones, and McLagan joined forces with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to form Quiet Melon; after several personnel changes, this group evolved into Faces. Initial pressure from record executives aimed to retain the Small Faces name for commercial advantage; as a compromise, their debut album First Step (1970) was credited as Faces in Britain but as Small Faces in America. While this release achieved limited commercial impact, subsequent albums were issued solely under the Faces moniker worldwide. The band attained significant success with their third album in 1971.

Jones and McLagan remained with Faces until its breakup in 1975; Lane exited earlier in 1973 to pursue solo ventures including his UK hit "How Come".

Humble Pie (1969–75)

Main article: Humble Pie

Marriott’s next project was Humble Pie alongside Peter Frampton. Although initially enjoying success on both sides of the Atlantic, diminishing chart performance led to their disbandment in 1975. Marriott released his solo album Marriott in 1976.

Reunion: 1975–78

After Faces disbanded in 1975, Small Faces’ classic lineup briefly reunited to shoot a video for "Itchycoo Park". Lane departed after just one rehearsal due to health issues that were mistakenly perceived as interpersonal conflict. McLagan, Jones, and Marriott continued Small Faces with bassist Rick Wills replacing Lane.

This formation produced two albums: Playmates (1977) and 78 in the Shade (1978), both released through Atlantic Records. The latter included former Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. Despite these efforts, both albums failed to achieve commercial or critical success; Small Faces disbanded again in 1978.

Post-reunion activity: 1979–present

Kenney Jones joined The Who following Keith Moon’s death and later established The Jones Gang. Ian McLagan collaborated with artists like Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, and Billy Bragg; he authored an autobiography and led his own band until his passing in 2014.

Steve Marriott revived Humble Pie between 1979 and 1981; during an Australian tour in 1982 they sometimes performed under the Small Faces name for ticket sales purposes. He also formed Majik Mijits with Ronnie Lane; their recordings were released posthumously. Marriott continued his solo career until his death by fire in 1991 shortly after initiating a new project with Peter Frampton.

Ronnie Lane’s career was hindered by multiple sclerosis but he managed collaborative albums and live performances into the early 1990s before his death in 1997.

Rick Wills contributed to David Gilmour’s solo record before joining Foreigner for fourteen years and later Bad Company; he currently collaborates with Kenney Jones.

Jimmy McCulloch’s brief stint ended before founding Wild Horses; he died from a heroin overdose aged twenty-six.

Influence

Small Faces inspired British punk trailblazers such as the Sex Pistols who adapted their songs with more aggressive lyrics. The late-1970s mod revival led by bands like The Jam renewed interest; Paul Weller cited Small Faces as a key influence on both style and attitude.

They also played a significant role influencing the Britpop movement of the 1990s alongside groups such as The Beatles and The Kinks.

Honours and awards

In 1996, Small Faces were honored with the Ivor Novello Outstanding Contribution to British Music Lifetime Achievement award. A commemorative plaque was unveiled on Carnaby Street in 2007 recognizing them along with manager Don Arden.

In December 2011, Small Faces and Faces were announced as inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2012.

A tribute act named Small Fakers performs with approval from families of surviving members.

Band members

Main article: List of Small Faces members

Classic lineup:

• Steve Marriott – vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards (1965–1968, 1975–1978; deceased 1991)
• Ronnie Lane – bass guitar, vocals, guitar (1965–1969, 1975; deceased 1997)
• Ian McLagan – keyboards, vocals, guitar, bass (1965–1969, 1975–1978; deceased 2014)
• Kenney Jones – drums, percussion, vocals (1965–1969, 1975–1978)

Discography

Main article: Small Faces discography

Studio albums

• Small Faces (1966)
• Small Faces (1967)
• There Are But Four Small Faces (US release only, 1968)
• Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (1968)
• Playmates (1977)
• 78 in the Shade (1978)

External links

• Small Faces: The Darlings of Wapping Wharf Launderette
• Small Faces at Wapping Wharf
• Small Faces featured on Making Time
• Steve Marriott and the Moments on Making Time