Thursday, October 28, 2021

There Are But Four Small Faces

Indeed there were, and from their 1968 album of the same name, please enjoy Steve Marriott and company (with the incomparable assistance of P.P. Arnold on backing vocals) and their official video for "Tin Soldier."

I've said it before (right at this here blog, in fact) and I'll say it again: Not only is that clip terrific but a) there were precious few white bands who would have allowed themselves to be upstaged by a black woman back then and b) Marriot's James Brown moves early in the song are just freaking fabulous.

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10 comments:

  1. Anonymous10/28/2021 11:10 AM

    If The Small Faces had ever been able to tour the Fillmore style theaters and college circuit they would have taken off like a rocket in the USA. They could have been huge.

    Captain Al

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  2. John K10/28/2021 11:24 AM

    Great video of that song from a terrific album.

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  3. dorethyroad@aol.com10/28/2021 11:29 AM

    Just A curious earworm I heard a hint of Itchcoo Park in Marriots voice and later Humble Pie nuances
    As an aside @ 1971 I walked into a "head shop" in Greenville SC and bought a Humble Pie T - shirt that had an Aubrey Beardsley illustration
    Fun loved that shirt
    rob

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  4. steve simels10/28/2021 12:43 PM

    You are correct, Captain Al.

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  5. Billy B10/28/2021 1:21 PM

    Great video. Marriott was a monster performer. With the Small Faces and the Pie. The Pie was one of my favorite bands back when.

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  6. Alzo10/28/2021 3:27 PM

    I agree that they were a top band, but don't think the whole Mod/Northern Soul thing clicked with the Yanks of 1968. Too English provincial, like Slade or the Move or the later Britpop bands. No T-Rextasy on these shores, either.

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  7. SteveS10/28/2021 5:05 PM

    My God...that is fabulous! Straight-up rock 'n' roll done right.

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  8. Anonymous10/28/2021 6:18 PM

    I feel the Zombies and Easybeats would have also succeeded in the same way if they had been able to hang on and tour the USA in 1968/69.

    Alzo: By the time The Small Faces had gone over to Immediate Records The Small Faces' Mod/Northern Soul sounds were absorbed into an overall Small Faces sound which would have been successful with the college students/hippies in the USA. As we can see from this and other videos the Small Faces had a very dynamic stage show which would have killed over here!

    Captain Al

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  9. Alzo10/30/2021 11:10 AM

    Would've, could've, should've, didn't. Oh, well.

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  10. John Werner11/09/2021 12:01 AM

    I truly feel that Marriott rates in the top 5 rock singers of all time without reservation. He would have to be right near the top.

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