Small Faces

Small Faces
Cashbox Magazine · Public domain · source
Name	Small Faces
Background	group_or_band
Origin	East London, England
Genres	Mod, psychedelic rock, rhythm and blues, beat
Years active	1965–1969, 1975–1978, 1999–2012
Labels	Decca Records, Immediate Records, Atlantic Records
Associated acts	Faces, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin

Small Faces were an English rock band formed in East London in 1965, noted for their role in the mod movement, pioneering contributions to psychedelic rock and influential songwriting within the British rock scene of the 1960s. They achieved critical and commercial success with a string of singles and LPs, collaborated with prominent contemporaries, and later influenced successive generations of rock, punk, and Britpop artists. Their compact yet potent catalogue and distinctive visual identity made them emblematic of mid‑1960s London popular music.

History

Formed in 1965, the original line‑up emerged from the East London club scene, sharing stages with acts like The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, and The Beatles; early management and label dealings connected them with Don Arden and Decca Records before moving to Immediate Records. Breakthrough singles placed them on playlists for broadcasters including BBC Radio 1 and television programs such as Top of the Pops and Ready Steady Go!, while they toured venues like Marquee Club, Wembley Arena, and European festivals alongside Herman's Hermits and The Hollies. Member departures and disputes over royalties and creative control paralleled contemporaneous legal battles involving The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, culminating in lineup changes, record company shifts to Atlantic Records, and a later reformation that intersected with projects by former members joining Faces and collaborations with artists from Free.

Musical Style and Influences

Their sound blended rhythm and blues roots with the British beat tradition, incorporating studio experimentation associated with psychedelic rock, baroque pop touches reminiscent of The Beatles' late 1960s work and horn arrangements used by The Rolling Stones. Songwriting partnerships drew on influences from Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, and contemporary songwriters such as Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ray Davies. Production techniques paralleled innovations by producers like Glyn Johns, George Martin, and Shel Talmy, while visual style and fashion aligned with figures in the mod movement including Paul Weller and designers who outfitted acts appearing in magazines like Melody Maker and NME.

Band Members and Line-ups

Original personnel included vocalist and guitarist drawn from the East Ham scene, with key players later moving to projects involving musicians from Faces, Free, and solo careers linked to Rod Stewart and Ronnie Lane. Subsequent lineups featured collaborations with session musicians known for work with Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and arrangers who had recorded with John Mayall. Reunion personnel during the 1970s and later involved artists associated with Paul McCartney's touring bands, members who appeared on Isle of Wight Festival lineups, and contributors who had studio credits with Jimi Hendrix–era sessions.

Discography

Their UK singles and albums were released on Decca Records and later Immediate Records, with distribution ties to Atlantic Records for some international issues. Landmark releases entered charts compiled by Official Charts Company and received airplay on BBC Radio 1; key studio LPs and EPs were pressed alongside compilation anthologies issued by labels such as Polydor Records and Island Records in retrospective packages. Their catalogue includes singles and albums that have been reissued on formats from vinyl to CD, featured in collections alongside artists like The Kinks, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and box sets curated by historians from RIAA and archival divisions connected to British Library sound collections.

Legacy and Influence

They are cited as major influences by musicians across scenes—Oasis, The Jam, The Smiths, Blur, The Stone Roses, Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher, and punk groups inspired by their concise songwriting and DIY ethos. Music historians comparing British 1960s scenes reference their role alongside The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks in shaping popular taste, and their work appears in discussions at institutions like British Library exhibitions and university courses on 20th‑century music history. Their songs have been covered by artists including Rod Stewart, Oasis, Primal Scream, and featured in film soundtracks and documentaries about the 1960s cultural revolution and the mod phenomenon, solidifying their status among canonical British rock acts.

Category:English rock music groups