Small Faces were an influential British mod… Read Full Bio ↴Correct tag: Small Faces
Small Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with Kenney Jones and Ian MacLagan (who replaced original organist Jimmy Winston). The Small Faces were all genuine East End mods and they ranked second to The Who as Britain's premier Mod band. 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 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.
Universal
The Small Faces Lyrics
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And so many bad ways to be good, haven't paid my rent yet
I tell them "sorry but I haven't got the money anymore"
Just for today I thought I'd leave home alone, hold hands with day
And if I'm so bad, why don't they take me away?
Just like what you hear with a shell pressed to your ear
Hello, The Universal
Good morning Steve, well you won't believe me today
Working doesn't seem to be the perfect thing for me so I'll continue to play
And if I'm so bad why don't they take me away?
Well, a hippy-trippy name-dropper came through my door
He said "I just bumped into Mick he told me you know where to score?"
No, not me friend, I mind my own and my own minds me
Well, my love is at the foot of your hand, come what may
But if June comes first please won't you take me away?
The Small Faces' "Universal" is a song about the rebellious attitude of the youth, the struggle of poverty and the desire for freedom. It begins with the observation that there are many ways to be bad or good and goes on to express dissatisfaction at the societal norms that insist on working and paying rent. The singer reflects on the mundanity of life, and for today, decides to leave home alone to embrace nature. He chides the society for not taking him away, even when he is deemed bad by them.
The chorus of the song features Steve Marriott, the lead singer of The Small Faces, greeting 'The Universal' and getting a response back. He further notices that the sea and the trees are his morning sounds, connected to the simple joy of being close to nature. The singer refrains from working and instead chooses to play, indicating his rebellious nature towards the societal pressure to perform while pining for freedom.
The lyrics are an ode to the counterculture of the 1960s, which advocated for free love, non-conformity, and resisting the established norms. The song represents the zeitgeist of that era, as young people protested against the Vietnam War, and the values their parents had upheld. The Small Faces were an integral part of the British rock scene during the 60s, and their music had a significant impact on the counterculture movement.
Line by Line Meaning
There's such a lot of good ways to be bad
There are many ways to do bad things that can feel good.
And so many bad ways to be good, haven't paid my rent yet
There are many things that seem good but are actually bad, and I haven't paid my rent yet.
I tell them 'sorry but I haven't got the money anymore'
I apologize for not being able to pay my rent as I don't have the money anymore.
Just for today I thought I'd leave home alone, hold hands with day
I decided to enjoy my day alone and embrace whatever it brings.
And if I'm so bad, why don't they take me away?
If people think I am so bad, then why don't they remove me from this situation?
Just like what you hear with a shell pressed to your ear
Listening to a seashell pressed to your ear is similar to what I am about to share.
That's the sea in the trees in the morning
The sound of the trees at dawn is like the sound of the sea in a seashell.
Hello, The Universal
Greetings to everything in existence.
Good morning Steve, well you won't believe me today
Hello Steve, today's conversation will be unbelievable.
Working doesn't seem to be the perfect thing for me so I'll continue to play
I don't like working, so I will keep doing what I enjoy.
Well, a hippy-trippy name-dropper came through my door
A person who is a hippie and always brags about famous people visited me.
He said 'I just bumped into Mick he told me you know where to score?'
He claimed to have met Mick and said that Mick told him I know where to buy something he needs to get.
No, not me friend, I mind my own and my own minds me
I don't know what he's talking about, I mind my own business, and my own thoughts occupy my mind.
Well, my love is at the foot of your hand, come what may
I am offering my love, and what happens in the future doesn't matter.
But if June comes first please won't you take me away?
If something unfortunate happens by June, will you please take me away from here?
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RONNIE LANE, STEVE MARRIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nigelwillmott6177
I read somewhere that Steve recorded part of this in his garden & that it was his dog you can hear barking in the background. He was a unique artist and, IMO, the best rock singer the UK ever produced.
@alansmith1840
Definitely agree about the voice and good guitarist
@jameswood3977
Yeah I heard that story too and agree about Steve’s vocals and yes a good guitarist
@GroovingPict
It's also Steve's dog on the Pink Floyd track Seamus. Seems a popular dog :p
@NcalBiker
MY GAWD, WHERE HAS THIS BEEN? I haven't herd this for years!!! This was one of my favorite songs back in the day. I still get a kick out of the dog barking and the wonderful lack of any tech tricks to cover things up. @bandcouver put it well, "All stripped down". What could be better than having the band in your backyard, jamming away, FOR THE FUN OF IT!
@miyukishijisha8540
East End music
@hughwalker5628
Such a wonderful, way underrated song!
@ac9110
Always loved this song. The solo is brilliant too.
@bandcouver
I love the rawness of this song. All stripped down. So devoid of the often overproduced fare of the mainstream. brilliant!
@thewordofgord
Gad! the unfettered brilliance of this. Steve could do anything, really, let's face it, possibly the most underrated genius of the sixties, a decade filled with genius. Every week another brilliant song or two...how was it all possible? wordofgord