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
Happy Boys Happy
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wake up every morning and it's there
So live as only you can
It's all about enjoy it 'cause ever since you saw it
There ain't no one can take it away.
So life is just a bowl of All-Bran - very true!
What you say has made it very clear
To be sure I'll live as best as I can
But how can I remember to keep it all together
When half the moon is taken away?
Well, I've got the very thing
If you can laugh and sing
Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smiles
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
When you're untogether and feeling out of tune
Sing this special song with me, don't worry 'bout the moon
Looks after itself
Can I have a go?
Yes
Yeah?
Sing now:
Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smile
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
Well now you've got the hang of it
There's nothing you can't do with it
If you're very tuned to it you can't go wrong.
All together!
Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smile
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
Well now we've got the hang of it
There's nothing we can't do with it
And now we're very into it we can't go wrong!
Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smile
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
Well now we've got the hang of it
There's nothing we can't do with it
And now we're very into it we can't go wrong!
The lyrics of Small Faces's song Happy Days Toy Town convey a simple yet profound message. The opening lines, "Life is just a bowl of All-Bran, You wake up every morning and it's there," suggest that life may seem mundane and routine, but it is up to the individual to make the most of it. The lyrics urge the listener to embrace life and enjoy it to the fullest because once you see it, no one can take it away from you.
The following lines, "But how can I remember to keep it all together when half the moon is taken away?" suggest that life may throw challenges and obstacles our way, but the answer to overcome them lies in the power of music and laughter. The lyrics mention a "special song" that can help us "when we're untogether and feeling out of tune." The chorus encourages us to clap, lean back, and twist for a while to the tune of the song, which is meant to bring us joy and make us feel better no matter what.
Overall, the song is an ode to the power of music and laughter. It encourages us to make the most of life and to use music as a source of comfort and inspiration when times are tough. The upbeat and catchy tune of the song only adds to its message of positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is just a bowl of All-Bran
Life is simple and straightforward
You wake up every morning and it's there
Life is always present, it's a constant
So live as only you can
Live life on your own terms
It's all about enjoy it 'cause ever since you saw it
Enjoy life, since you only get one chance at it
There ain't no one can take it away.
No one can steal your ability to enjoy life
When half the moon is taken away?
How can you keep it together in tough times?
Well, I've got the very thing
The solution is at hand
If you can laugh and sing
Laughing and singing can help bring joy in tough times
Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smiles
Let's bring back the joy and playfulness of childhood
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
Simple physical movements can help lift your mood
When you're untogether and feeling out of tune
When you're feeling down and out of sorts
Sing this special song with me, don't worry 'bout the moon
Let's sing this song together and not worry about the problems we face
Looks after itself
Things will sort themselves out
Sing now:
Let's start singing the song
Can I have a go?
Can I try singing the song?
Yes
You have permission
Yeah?
Are you sure?
Well now you've got the hang of it
Now that you know the song, you can sing along
There's nothing you can't do with it
The song is powerful and can lift your mood
If you're very tuned to it you can't go wrong.
If you really get into the song, it will help you through tough times
All together!
Let's sing the song together
Well now we've got the hang of it
We're all singing together now
And now we're very into it we can't go wrong!
We're all feeling the positive effects of the song
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN MC LAGAN, KENNETH ROMELL JONES, RONALD LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jazz Lover
I agree. It's so sad about Ian McLagan. Been several years now, but everyone still feels the loss in the music community. He'd moved to Austin and was doing so well, with his resumption of playing in all kinds of situations. RIP Mac. We Love ya!!
Magnus Hägermyr
Thanks for a bumpy ride, Mac!
jasonpfinch
They could have let them do a nine-minute version of this, Jimmy Smith style.
Mattigrooves
Ian McLagen...Thanks for the great sounds !
Stephen Cross
Just fantastic.
Robert McFarlane
Solid! :O)
konstantinov
RIP Mac :(
therotiv4
interesante
Jazz Lover
I like this and the other instrumentals the Small Faces did. If you want an interesting segue if you make a late 60s mix tape of instrumentals, go from this tune, right into "Snowy Wood" from John Mayall's Bluesbreakers "Crusade" album.