By late 1967, the band had felt constricted financially & creatively by manager Don Arden (father of Sharon Osbourne), and were lured by Rolling Stones' publicist Andrew Loog Oldham into signing with his new Immediate label. They soon recorded more expansive psychedelic sounding material including hit pop tunes like "Lazy Sunday" which was included with their UK number one classic concept album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake and "Itchycoo Park" which was their only stateside charting single.
The demise of the Small Faces arrived on New Years Eve 1968, when Steve Marriott walked off stage at The Alexandra Palace in London. Marriott felt that despite the success of the group, he was still not being taken seriously as a musician. He went on to achieve major status in the U.S.A with Peter Frampton in Humble Pie. The others continued as the Faces, opting to drop the "Small" after one LP as new recruits Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood towered above their new band mates. Drummer Kenney Jones later joined The Who after the death of their drummer Keith Moon. As years went on, Marriott kept recording various lineups as Humble Pie but became somewhat of a caricature and casualty of rock excess. Tragically, Steve Marriott died in a house fire in 1991 and Ronnie Lane followed him in 1997 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Keyboardist Ian McLagan has continued to tour and record with his own band as well as with artists like Billy Bragg, The New Barbarians ( a group composed of Ian, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham), and The Rolling Stones. According to announcements at the shows on the New Barbarians tour, the proceeds of the live gigs were going to pay Ronnie Lane's medical expenses associated with Ronnie's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis.
The Small Faces remain one of British rock's most important legacy acts, with their membership having links to so many other acts. Amongst the many bands they influenced were The Jam, Ramones, Oasis and X.
There are a number of locations around London linked to the Small Faces, many to be found in the East End where they grew up.
The J60 Music bar in Manor Park, an instrument shop where Steve Marriott first met Ronnie Lane
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4012.php
Little Ilford park, also located in Manor Park, inspired the track Itchycoo Park, Steve and other kids in the East End used to play in this park when they grew up.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4002.php
In 1968 the Small Faces recorded a video for their track Lazy Sunday, Steve sings in his native East end accent and the video was shot in the East End using Kenney Jones parents' flat in Havering Street. The video ends with a shot of the nearby Thames.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4014.php
Eddie's Dreaming
Small Faces Lyrics
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I feel the breezes off of the sea
The palm trees are waving
The sand is so warm
But I'm only dreaming
I'm dreaming alone
Eddie's dreaming (always dreaming)
(Always dreaming)
(He's always dreaming)
I'm eating banana, my friends sit around
I tell them my stories
They won't make a sound
The girls they'll be dancing
To the beat of the foam
I'll smoke and I'll watch them
When I'm back home
(He's dreaming)
(I said Eddie's dreaming)
(Eddie's dreaming again)
(I said he's always dreaming)
([?] he's always dreaming)
The lyrics to Small Faces' song Eddie's Dreaming depict the singer dreaming of an idyllic paradise with sunshine, palm trees, warm sand and sea breezes. However, even in his dream state, he is alone, indicating a sense of isolation and longing for companionship. The lyrics also highlight Eddie's desire for adventure and excitement, as he talks about eating bananas, sharing stories with his friends and watching girls dance to the rhythm of the ocean. Yet, this sense of awe and wonder is juxtaposed with the reality of Eddie's life, where he is likely stuck in a mundane routine and only able to experience the things he dreams about in his mind.
Overall, the theme of the song is one of escapism and yearning for a more fulfilling and exciting life. The lyrics capture the desperation of a person who feels trapped by their circumstances and can only find temporary solace in their dreams. In many ways, Eddie's Dreaming epitomizes the countercultural movement of the 60s, which sought to reject the status quo and embrace new ways of living and thinking.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the sunshine, the sunshine sees me
I am enjoying the sunshine and feeling its warmth, while acknowledging that the sunshine is also shining on me.
I feel the breezes off of the sea
I am experiencing the refreshing sea breeze that is blowing towards me from the ocean.
The palm trees are waving
I can see the tall and slender palm trees around me, and they are swaying back and forth in the wind.
The sand is so warm
I am feeling the warmth of the sand beneath my feet as I walk on the beach.
But I'm only dreaming
Despite feeling all these sensations, I am only experiencing them in my dreams, as they are not actually happening in reality.
I'm dreaming alone
I am the only one experiencing this dream, and no one else is present.
Eddie's dreaming (always dreaming)
The person singing the song is referring to someone named Eddie, who is always dreaming.
I'm eating banana, my friends sit around
In my dream, I am eating a banana and surrounded by my friends.
I tell them my stories
I am sharing my personal experiences and anecdotes with my friends.
They won't make a sound
My friends are listening intently to my stories, but are not making any noise or interrupting me.
The girls they'll be dancing
In my dream, there are girls dancing to the music.
To the beat of the foam
The girls are dancing to the rhythm of the ocean's waves, which create foam as they crash onto the shore.
I'll smoke and I'll watch them
In my dream, I am smoking and observing the girls as they dance.
When I'm back home
I am contemplating how things will be different once I wake up from my dream and return to reality.
(He's dreaming)
This line simply reinforces that the person named Eddie is still dreaming.
(I said Eddie's dreaming)
The singer is repeating that Eddie is still dreaming.
(Eddie's dreaming again)
The singer is emphasizing that Eddie has been dreaming for a while now and is still doing so.
(I said he's always dreaming)
The singer is reiterating that Eddie is someone who always dreams and spends a lot of time doing so.
([?] he's always dreaming)
This line could not be accurately reworded, as it contains unclear or inaudible words.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RONNIE LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind