Sometimes when I hear some of that delectable psychedelic rock from the UK in the 1960s, I get so excited. Seriously. I get excited when I think about the boundless efforts of all of those mid 60s UK groups. The drugs may have been part fuel, but imagination and creativity drove these bands to write some of the most interesting and captivating music in years. For near 3 years this music ruled the charts in the UK and made serious impressions on the USA and Canada, especially. To name just a few - The Moody Blues, The Yardbirds, The Animals, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Amen Corner, The Who, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich and of course, The Small Faces.
I just recently got a SHM Digital Remaster set of the original Small Faces albums from Japan in the coveted Mini LP Papersleeve. All the original albums - Small Faces, In The Beginning, Small Faces (Immediate), Ogden Nut Gone Flake, In Memoriam and Autumn Stone. Each CD came with bonus tracks featuring alternative mixes, B-Sides, US singles and some other Small Faces nuggets.
One of the finest inclusions was the stereo version of "Sha La La La Lee" tucked onto the end of There Are But Four Small Faces.
Still my favorite has to be Ogden's Nut Gone Flake and the previously aforementioned There Are But Four Small Faces. Those two albums alone are worth their weight in Gold. Every time I hear "Lazy Sunday" a big smile comes across my face. It is just such a good and refreshing sounding song. I have included an old 1967 youtube clip of the band performing that song below.
If you have any inclination to explore and discover the psychedelic music offered up from England in the 1960s, then an obvious and vital group to begin with would be the Small Faces. Enjoy!
