Feature Photo: Cashbox Magazine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Small Faces were among the most influential of the 1960’s British Invasion groups. The Beatles and Rolling Stones often overshadow their contributions. Their influence extended for decades after the band broke up. They formed in 1965 as a Mod band, known for their dedication to fashion and the mopeds famous with the subculture. The lineup consisted of Steve Marriott on lead vocals and lead guitar, Ronnie Lane on the bass, Jimmy Winston on keyboard, and Kenney Jones on drums. Ian McLagan soon replaced Winston on keyboards; otherwise, their lineup was stable until 1969.

They were among the first British bands to adopt a psychedelic rock sound. The original Small Faces were only recorded between 1965 and 1969, but by the time they broke up, they were considered to be one of the greatest psychedelic rock bands of all time. The original lineup split up in 1969 when Marriott quit to form Humble Pie. Rod Stewart was recruited as a replacement vocalist, and Ron Wood became their new guitar player, but by this time, they were referred to as merely The Faces.

Most people consider Marriott’s departure in 1969 to be the end of the original Small Faces as a band. However, their music lived on and became a major influence on the 1970s punk movement. It also played an influential role during the 1990s Britpop wave, inspiring bands as diverse as Blur, Coldplay, Oasis, and The Verve.

Our list of the top 10 Small Faces songs contains only the material released when the band was known as the Small Faces. No material from the group’s later days, as The Faces is included in this best of the Small Faces songs list.

Top 10 Small Faces Songs

# 10 – Whatcha Gonna Do About It

We should open our top 10 Small Faces songs list with the band’s first single. The great Small Faces song “Whatcha Gonna Do About It” immediately hit the UK charts and turned the band into a success overnight. Vocalist Steve Marriott and bass player Ronnie Lane wrote it. Additional input on the song came from professional songwriters Ian Samuel and Brian Potter. Ian Samuel and Brian Potter were responsible for writing the majority of the song’s lyrics.

“Whatcha Gonna Do About It,” peaked at number 14 on the UK singles charts and got the band the exposure they needed to start their music careers in earnest. Marriott’s vocals were cited as a major influence by John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) of The Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd. fame, and The Sex Pistols were known to have covered it live. The music of the Small Faces was just as influential in the rise of punk rock as it would be on Britpop decades later.

# 9 – I’ve Got Mine

Their second single, “I’ve Got Mine,” was the first song written by Marriott and Lane without outside help from professional songwriters. It was released in 1965. “I’ve Got Mine“ was less pop-oriented than the previous single and featured a slow, dark, blues-influenced rhythm and heavy, stark rock and roll guitar.

While it didn’t make the charts then,“I’ve Got Mine” marked the beginning of Marriott and Lane’s fruitful songwriting collaborations. It was the last Small Faces song to feature Jimmy Winston, who played guitar and did backing vocals for the track. After the single failed to chart, keyboardist Ian McLagan replaced him as the band moved away from their R&B roots to a more experimental, psychedelic pop sound.

# 8 – Here Come the Nice

This mod and psychedelic-influenced rhythm and blues song was written by Lane and Marriott in 1967. The lyrics deal explicitly with drug use and the mod subculture. They describe taking speed and waiting for a drug dealer, which were taboo topics at the time. New York’s Velvet Underground was the only contemporary band writing about such bold material.

The song pushed the limits of freedom and censorship in the U.K. and helped usher in an era with less censorship of the arts. The instrumentation was fairly typical, if not somewhat heavier than the other groups at the time. It is the complex tape effects created by the sound engineers using overlapping chaotic piano chords and tape effects for the outro meant to simulate an amphetamine comedown that makes “Here Come the Nice,” stand out as one of the Small Faces most important songs.

# 7 – Afterglow (Of Your Love)

Recorded by the band in 1968 but not released until after Marriott had left the Small Faces. It wasn’t authorized by the band but was released by the record company anyway. It fared poorly compared to their other songs, reaching number 37 of the top 40. “Afterglow (Of Your Love)” is a psychedelic pop power ballad. The album version featured an acoustic guitar intro and instrumental part that were removed from the single without the band’s consent.

Despite the shady circumstances surrounding its release, “Afterglow (Of Your Love)” is an excellent pop song in its own right. It features the band at the height of their fame and playing ability, making it a Small Faces classic. It is one of our all-time favorite Small Faces songs. “Afterglow (Of Your Love)” has been covered by Quiet Riot and Great White.

# 6 – Sha-La-La-La-Lee

The third single by The Small Faces was written by Lane and Marriott with input from professional songwriters Mort Shuman and Kenny Lynch and released in 1966. It was issued on the band’s debut album, Small Faces. Unlike their previous effort, “I’ve Got Mine,” this song is far more catchy, upbeat, and pop-oriented, with the title serving as the song’s nonsensical chorus.

It was the first song to feature their new keyboardist, Ian McLagan, whose musical contributions on the Hammond organ can be heard clearly in the track. The whole group pitches in to harmonize on the choruses. It has been covered in multiple languages, including French, Japanese, German, and Czech, which attests to its worldwide musical appeal.

# 5 – The Universal

This song came out during the summer of 1968. Marriott recorded most of his vocals and acoustic guitar parts outside at home, so background noises such as dogs and birds are audible. Previously, this would have been unthinkable in the record industry. It has a folky, somewhat Dylanesque feel reminiscent of late 60’s Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett’s solo work. The rest of the band’s parts were recorded later to the sound of Marriott’s original backyard tape, making him the principal songwriter of The Universal.

It was the band’s final official authorized single and could be described as psychedelic folk, with little of their early material’s R&B or Mod Rock influences. It hit number 14 on the UK charts. Marriott himself considered “The Universal” the best song he ever wrote.

# 4 – Tin Soldier

Singer Steve Marriott originally wrote this song for his wife in 1967. It’s about getting inside somebody’s mind to understand their thought process, though it was widely misinterpreted to be sexual in nature at the time. It featured an interesting fusion of R&B and The Small Faces’ emerging psychedelic sound. “Tin Soldier” reached number nine in the UK charts and became an instant classic.

Artists like Todd Rundgren, The Guess Who, and Uriah Heep have covered it many times. It particularly influenced the 90s Britpop group Oasis and Noel Gallagher’s subsequent solo career. The great song “Tin Soldier” was released on the album There Are But Four Small Faces. It was the band’s second album.

# 3 – All or Nothing

Another Marriott and Lane composition, “All or Nothing,” was released in 1966. It features a more guitar-heavy mod rock style rather than the psychedelic sound typical of The Small Faces’ later singles. It went to number one in the UK and cemented their reputation as a solid band capable of producing multiple hit songs. Marriott wrote the lyrics, which are about the difficult end of a romantic relationship. It has since been covered by UFO and L.A. punk rock Pioneers X.

# 2 – Itchycoo Park

This song was the Small Faces’ biggest hit and arguably the one that propelled them to international stardom. It was released in 1967 during the Summer of Love. Due to its catchy mix of rock, pop, and psychedelic music, “Itchycoo Park” proved popular with the growing hippie movement, and the song reached number three on the UK charts.

It was the first pop single to use the phasing effect, making it revolutionary for a pop song at the time. The song was mainly written by Lane with input from Marriott. The reason behind the song’s odd name is controversial, and while there are many theories, there has never been a definitive answer, with different band members providing conflicting explanations over the years.

“Itchycoo Park“ has been covered by Quiet Riot, Ben Lee, and Alice Cooper. It is also a popular song for movie and television soundtracks, and it has appeared in multiple films since its release, most recently in the television adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale.

# 1 – Lazy Sunday

Ogdens Nutgone Flake ( 2 CD Media Book )

The cheerful tune “Lazy Sunday” was released in 1968 and appeared on the early concept album Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake. Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane wrote it. It features Marriott on lead vocals singing in a heavy cockney accent. The music is reminiscent of London Music Halls but with a definite psychedelic pop flavor. Contrary to the songs cheerful melody and chorus it is actually written about arguments that Marriott had with his neighbors at the time.

The single reached number two on the UK charts and cemented the band’s reputation as one of the best acts in Britain. It is still popular today and can be heard worldwide on classic rock radio stations, particularly on Sundays. Musically it makes heavy use of McKagan’s keyboards and Marriott’s guitar but the focus is on Marriott’s singing and the vocal harmonies.

It has been covered by the indie band Kaiser Chiefs, the late 70s punk band Toy Dolls, and the early 2000s indie rock band the Libertines. This attests to the key influence The Small Faces’ unique sound has had on a number of musical genres for decades after the original lineup dissolved.