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
Patterns
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel those crazy patterns forcing me to stay
Patterns in the womans hands that weren't there yesterday
Patterns all the way
Patterns all the way.
Your rosy eyes are closing and you're staring at the door
The sun is slowly rising and you're staring at the floor
Patterns all the way
Patterns all the way.
Ah - ah - ah – ah
Patterns, patterns.
Ah - ah - ah – ah
Patterns, patterns.
Patterns in the way you look that weren't there yesterday
Patterns all the way
Patterns all the way.
Ah - ah - ah – ah
Patterns, patterns
Ah - ah - ah – ah
Patterns, patterns.
In "Patterns," Small Faces sings about the overwhelming feeling of falling in love with someone and being consumed by their presence. The lyrics describe a fascinating sensation of seeing patterns everywhere in the woman's presence that weren't there before. The patterns become a constant reminder of their love and her presence in his life.
The first verse sets the scene of the singer seeing these patterns everywhere he looks when he's around her. The patterns seem to have a life of their own and they force the singer to stay. The patterns can be interpreted as anything from her physical features to the way she speaks or moves. The second verse refers to the morning after, where the woman is asleep, and the singer observes the patterns all over again. The patterns in the morning sky have once again changed, and he's reminded of her.
Overall, "Patterns" is a song that beautifully captures the experience of falling in love and being consumed by someone's presence. The patterns in the song represent the markings that the woman has left on the singer's life, as he's consumed by this new love.
Line by Line Meaning
I see crazy patterns everytime I look your way
Whenever I look at you, I see confusing and erratic patterns that I can't quite understand.
I can feel those crazy patterns forcing me to stay
The patterns compel me to stick around, despite their confusing and scary nature.
Patterns in the womans hands that weren't there yesterday
I can see new patterns in her hands that were not present before.
Patterns all the way
These patterns are everywhere and all-encompassing.
Your rosy eyes are closing and you're staring at the door
You appear to be getting ready to leave and your eyes are shutting.
The sun is slowly rising and you're staring at the floor
The sun is rising and you are just staring at the floor, indifferent to the beauty of the world.
Patterns in the morning sky that weren't there yesterday
The sky has new patterns that were not there the day before.
Ah - ah - ah – ah Patterns, patterns.
The patterns are all-consuming and I cannot escape them.
Patterns in the way you look that weren't there yesterday
Your appearance has changed and new patterns have emerged.
Patterns all the way
These patterns continue to permeate everything around me.
Ah - ah - ah – ah Patterns, patterns
The prevalence of these patterns is overwhelming and all I can see.
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.