Search - Small Faces :: BBC Sessions: 1965-1968

Zeroxed by led zeppelin

perryink2 | castle rock | 09/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Odd that the Small Faces never made much a splash outside England's Mod movement of the mid-60s. Stateside, they were a one-hit curiousity (Itchycoo Park) but back in the Queen's empire, Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Jimmy Winston (later replaced with Ian McLagan) hit the top of the pops within weeks of their formation in 1965. Marriott's amply-amplified electric blues and leather-lunged vocals (an impossibly earthy black howl which later made millions for rock's most shameless embezzler Robert Plant) immediately distinguished the band's rollicking R&B covers and boisterous originals from their contemporaries. While the group's success was short-lived (Marriott walked offstage mid-song in a fit of pique during a New Years Day gig in 1969 and recruited Peter Frampton for a new band called Humble Pie), these BBC recordings recorded between 1965 - 68 show why the Small Faces were adored in their homeland. With avuncular BBC host Brian Matthews gleefully hosting the affair, the energy and confident cheek of the band is unmistakable as they plow through soul, blues and folk covers (Shake, If I Were a Carpenter, You'd Better Believe It, Sha La La La Lee) and their own hits (Hey Girl, Watcha Gonna Do About It, Lazy Sunday) - 15 in total. Unfortunately, neither Lane and Marriott aren around to enjoy the satisfaction of knowing they influenced everyone from The Jam to Oasis with their vibrant pre-punk power. But the electric crunch of Marriott's sizzling guitar work and howling graveyard blues (particularly on You Need Love, a throbbing and pained blues pledge blatantly Xeroxed by Zeppelin in Whole Lotta Love) - coupled with a solid rhythm section courtesy of Lane and Jones - are a study in unbridled rock enthusiasm and originality and not to be ignored."

You'd Better Believe It!

Patrick W. Schubert | Santa Ana, California United States | 03/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This collection draws heavily from the band's earlier R&B period. On these recordings, Steve Marriot and company actually manage to sound rougher, tougher, leaner and meaner than they did on those classic Decca singles. They are no substitute for the originals, but essential none-the-less. Talk about giving The Who a run for their money! Even if you prefer their later Immediate material, you owe it to yourself to check this out. All Faces is good Faces!Yes, Led Zeppelin blatantly ripped off "You Need Loving". But, let's not forget that the Small Faces shamelessly nicked the lyrics from Willie Dixon. Willie actually sued Zeppelin over copyright infringements and won. Smart man, Zeppelin had more money!"

Supercharged live energy sixties mod style.

michael safft | toronto, ontario Canada | 04/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All their classics live(before Ogden Nut...).Yes, they could play as well as on their studio records.I knew about Small Faces but did not really hear their albums until 2001,better late than never.They were the cream of the crop in the late sixties.Super tight musicians,stellar tracks,sheer power.
P.S.I think the reviewer before me had the right review,but the wrong album.This aint Who,but better."