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The Small Faces In London
Adam writes… Of all the music fans I have the pleasure of meeting on my music tours in London, those of The Small Faces are among the most passionate and devoted. Particularly English fans. The band commands a special type of loyalty among its devotees. I think that’s down to a combination of factors…
First-and-foremost, the music. Their singular combination of vaudeville and Stax exists nowhere else in the canon. Sure, the Kinks did music hall-favoured material AND rocked-out with the best of ’em. But Kinks writer Ray Davies seems somehow distant, an artist, an observer, floating above us, watching and chronicling it all. The Small Faces do it all with a laugh and a joke. They are one of us and we are one of them. Moreover, they’re not taking themselves too seriously. The English love that.
When they go vaudeville, it’s genuinely hilarious. Check out Lazy Sunday‘s opening verse. (For beginners, see the playlist.) But when the needle swings back to soul, they are four square behind it, no messing. Whatever they do, they mean it. Authenticity. The English love that, too.
The Voice
And then there’s Steve Marriott’s voice. Check out their 1965 version of Smokey Robinson‘s classic You Really Got A Hold On Me. The Beatles covered it too, and a brilliant, devotional tribute it is, too. Motown records are the sacred texts of The Fabs. But in Marriott’s hands, the song’s desperate urgency lurches to the fore, all clammy and urgent and wracked with pain.
The Look
Did you think I’d forgotten the clothes? How could I? Are there two photographs of The Small Faces wearing the same gear twice? Good luck finding them!
The Music
If you are coming new to the wondrous word of The Small Faces, then where to start? Here are my 10 faves offering a little bit of everything: soul and R&B and pop and music hall, the whole kaleidoscope. You may, however, have faves of your own. Drop them in the comments below …
Map
10 London locations for you to find on your travels, not only in East London but West and Central as well. From Manor Park to Barnes and beyond, here we go…
Whetted your appetite? And you want more? The Small Faces website is an absolute treasure trove of info: www.thesmallfaces.com
The locations on the map that are covered on regular London Music Tours have links to the tours. A full, alphabetical list of my regular tours can be found here: londonmusictours.org/thetours
Would you like a dedicated Small Faces tour? Or, indeed, any private, bespoke tour of London on a musical theme? Simply use the form below to drop me a line…
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