Small Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, … Read Full Bio ↴Small Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan (who replaced original organist Jimmy Winston). The Small Faces were all genuine East End mods . They were signed to Decca records initially and enjoyed major success across Europe between 1965 and 1967 with classic singles like "All or Nothing" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" before moving to a new label.

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

Wham Bam Thank You Mam
Small Faces Lyrics

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She was a lady of charm
String of young boys on each arm
She was good to those who took off all their clothes and played guitar
Love comes love goes anyway your mind blows
Wham, bam, thank you, mam
We'll boogie till the rooster crows
He lived alone, love for none
He said pain never hurt anyone

Surprise surprise

Consumption on the floor
Stretcher out the door and that was it
God forsaken empty shell forgotten in a bad smell
Wham, bam, look out, Sam
The devil claims his own to moan in hell
Shang-a-lang-a, Shang-a-do-lang, Shang-a-lang-a
Sa-i-di ma-moon, sa-i-di ma-moon, Sa-i-di gris gris

Just hold your breath, and close your eyes
Turn the corner of surprise, and there you are
Our lives are run by ego freaks
A walking book of rules who seems

To keep you in your pidgeon holes
And fuss when your soul steps out of line

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Small Faces’ “Wham Bam Thank You Mam” might seem a little cryptic at first, but a closer look reveals a commentary on the fleeting nature of love, the dangers of addiction, and the limitations imposed by society.

The first verse describes a woman who is surrounded by young men and is willing to engage in casual sex, but at the same time is kind to those who are vulnerable and create music. The chorus of “Wham, bam, thank you, mam” seems to be a metaphor for the ephemeral nature of these encounters - they’re brief and passionate, but ultimately disposable, like a one-night stand.

The second verse describes a man who lives alone and claims that pain never hurts anyone. He, too, seems to be somewhat adrift, until he finally succumbs to addiction and dies with a “consumption on the floor.” The chorus this time is changed to “Wham, bam, look out, Sam,” implying that the devil (represented by Sam) is coming for him. “Shang-a-lang-a, Shang-a-do-lang, Shang-a-lang-a / Sa-i-di ma-moon, sa-i-di ma-moon, Sa-i-di gris gris” is a nonsensical refrain that adds to the surreal and ominous atmosphere.

Line by Line Meaning

She was a lady of charm
She had an enchanting personality

String of young boys on each arm
She had many young men vying for her attention

She was good to those who took off all their clothes and played guitar
She preferred the company of musicians who were willing to be vulnerable

Love comes love goes anyway your mind blows
Romantic love is fickle and unpredictable

Wham, bam, thank you, mam
A catchphrase used after a brief sexual encounter

We'll boogie till the rooster crows
We'll keep dancing until morning

He lived alone, love for none
He was a solitary figure who didn't allow himself to get close to anyone

He said pain never hurt anyone
He believed that emotional pain was insignificant

Surprise surprise
An expression of ironic disbelief

Consumption on the floor
People succumbing to addiction

Stretcher out the door and that was it
A person has died