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
That Man
Small Faces Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That man, with the wild eye
That man,??
Mirror, can't tell me any lies
That man, with the weary look
That man, is a living book
Mirror, can't tell me any lies
That man
Mirror, can't tell me any lies
Mirror, can't tell me
The song That Man by the Small Faces is a contemplation of a friendship that may have gone awry. The lyrics inquire about a man with a wild eye and a weary look, asking if he is still their friend. The singer is unsure of this man's intentions, as the mirror cannot give any clear answers and the man himself is a living book.
The use of the mirror as a metaphor for truth adds depth to the lyrics, suggesting that the singer cannot rely on the surface level appearances of the situation. The repetition of the phrase "that man" emphasizes the singer's uncertainty and discomfort with the situation. The contemplative tone of the song adds to its overall poignancy.
Overall, That Man by the Small Faces is a thoughtful and introspective track that explores the complexities of friendship and human relationships. Its ambiguity and introspection make it a captivating and enduring piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
That man, is he still my friend?
Wondering if her relationship with a certain man is still good
That man, with the wild eye
Describing the man with an intense or unpredictable gaze
That man,??
Unclear meaning or possible hesitation in describing the man further
Mirror, can't tell me any lies
Believing that her reflection reveals the truth, particularly about her own feelings and motivations
That man, with the weary look
Describing the man's appearance as tired or sorrowful
That man, is a living book
Seeing the man's personality, experiences, or emotions as readable or understandable
Mirror, can't tell me any lies
Relying on her own intuition or insight rather than external opinions or judgments
That man
Referring back to the man previously described
That man
Repeating the same reference in a possibly contemplative or emotional way
Mirror, can't tell me any lies
Reiterating her belief in the truthfulness of her own perceptions or thoughts
Contributed by Grayson G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.