Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Let Us Now Praise Famous Short People

So I was browsing YouTube the other day and I stumbled across this quite astounding 1968 clip of the original Small Faces doing their seminal Tin Soldier.



A great song, obviously, with one of the all-time killer guitar riffs, and even though they're lip-synching it's also obvious that their rep as one of the most exciting live Brit bands of the 60s is justified. Sadly, to my knowledge they never played the States back in the day, although it's hard to believe they didn't tour behind Itchykoo Park, their one big radio hit here. A subject for future research, no doubt.

Anyway, in case you're wondering, the black gal singing with them is P.P. Arnold, the band's Immediate Records labelmate best known for the original hit version of the oft-covered First Cut is the Deepest.

Question: Can you think of any other rock stars of the period who would have cheerfully let themselves be upstaged on TV by a good looking woman of color providing barely audible backup vocals? I mean, the Stones let Merry Clayton steal the show on Gimme Shelter, but only on the record.

I think my point is that these guys were even cooler than I thought.

3 comments:

Kid Charlemagne said...

I luv these guys. Also, love this live cut of them doing "Happydaystoytown".

They look like they are having a blast!

NYMary said...

I like that Paul even lipsynchs the echo at 1:32 or so. Nice touch.

Reminds me of DeeDee Ramone verbally mimicking the scratching on his alarming tune Funky Man. Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-funky.

No idea Philip Glass had been involved, however.

Anonymous said...

yeah. small faces...ah. what a band. steve marriot has the moves so down. mr. cool. thanx for putting this jem up here. dirk