How a London mod group redefined the psychedelic era
In short: In the mid-1960s, the Small Faces were more than just sharp dressers. They transitioned from high-energy R&B to psychedelic pioneers, creating sonic innovations like flanging and iconic concept albums that would eventually influence the entire Britpop movement.
Founded in London in 1965, the Small Faces emerged from the mod subculture, a world where a 'face' was a person of distinction—someone with the sharpest clothes and the best records. The original lineup featured Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston, later joined by keyboardist Ian McLagan. Their early repertoire was rooted in heavy R&B and soul, performing classics by James Brown and Otis Redding. This era produced hits like 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It' and 'All or Nothing,' establishing them as one of the most influential mod groups of the decade.
As the decade progressed, the band underwent a profound sonic evolution. Moving to the Immediate label, they embraced psychedelia, producing tracks like 'Here Come the Nice' and 'Itchycoo Park.' The latter was a technical milestone, being the first British single to utilize flanging—a tape-manipulation technique that created a distinctive comb-filtering effect. Their 1968 masterpiece, the concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. The album featured an innovative round package designed like an antique tobacco tin and included a whimsical fairy tale narrated by Stanley Unwin.
Despite their immense success, the band faced internal and external pressures. Financial struggles and conflicts with management led to a departure from Decca Records, while the difficulty of recreating their complex studio arrangements live contributed to their 1969 dissolution. Following the split, Marriott formed Humble Pie, while the remaining members transitioned into the Faces alongside Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. Though the original lineup eventually reunited in the mid-1970s, their legacy remains cemented as a bridge between raw rhythm and blues and the experimental textures of late-sixties psychedelia.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Small Faces
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