There have been previous biographies of the Small Faces but these are dated now, long agos and worlds apart. In more recent times there have been biographies of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane as well as autobiographies from Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan. These have all provided additional material for the Small Faces story. Making Time has previously covered Sean Egan's biographies of the Animals and the Creation so this new Small Faces biography was eagerly anticipated.

The first thing to say is that this biography is complete and up-to-date. The story is still evolving even through the band's career lasted just a few years. The Small Faces were poorly served by record companies, not only through a lack of royalties but also through a series of poor quality and badly thought out compilations and reissues over the years. However, this had changed in recent years with much overdue royalties from record sales and publishing coming to the band or their estates. There has also been an excellent reissue and remastering series which has ensured that quality product is being made available for long-term fans to updates their collections and newer fans to discover the music.

The creative output of the Small Faces is arguably recognised more today than it was in the 1960s and, with many new fans discovering the Small Faces, a new biography is certainly due. The career of the band was short with only three studio LPs during that time and two "official" additional albums that were put together from what could be called leftovers. The band had a single number one single that replaced the Beatles at the top of the charts alongside numerous classic singles. Drummer Kenney Jones described the Small Faces as the most creative group he had been in. While the band developed out of the mod movement and their early work owed a huge debt to bands like Booker T & the MGs, they developed to such an extent that 1968's Ogdens' Not Gone Flake is often viewed as one of the most creative and idiosyncratic LPs of the decade, in fact the first true concept album.

They started young and finished still very young. The four original members all hailed from east London and this heritage would often show up in their recordings. Steve Marriott was a child actor and had been one of the original Artful Dodgers in the Oliver musical. He would play up to this image throughout his career. His heart was more in music than acting though and he had a brief and unsuccessful solo career before forming bands the Moments and the Frantics. Meanwhile Kenney Jones and Ronnie Lane were in the Outcasts, the Pioneers and the Muleskinners. When they met Marriott they jelled through a liking of the same music and decided to form a band. Lane switched from guitar to bass. Marriott was working at the J60 music store and gave Ronnie a good deal but lost his job as a result. Marriott brought in Jimmy Winston (nee Langwith), a guitarist but they wanted him to learn organ. Marriott had played keyboards but wanted to switch to guitar. This line-up gigged extensively and recorded two singles, the second of which I've Got Mine flopped but is highly regarded today. Winston was replaced by Ian McLagan from Hounslow. He had been in the Muleskinners (a different Muleskinners) and Boz & the Boz People. Mac was the glue that held the band together and his addition cannot be underestimated. The Small Faces returned to the charts with the highly commercial Sha La La La Lee. The band hated this as it did not represent their true sound. The Live 1966 LP from January 1966 when Mac had been in the band less than two months shows the band at their live peak before the screaming started.

A switch to Immediate Records led to the band spending much more time in the studio and gigging less. Singles were more creative, using studio techniques, more overdubs A second LP, also called Small Faces like the first, was to lead to greatness. Small Faces (Immediate) was the band's Rubber Soul. A series of stunning and original singles followed, Here Come the Nice, Itchycoo Park, the immense Tin Soldier and Lazy Sunday were all highly creative and pushing the boundaries. Then came Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake. This was more than a selection of great songs but the second side was a story with gobbledygook narration by Stanley Unwin. While this held the number one spot for several weeks it may have been the band's undoing. Quite simply, they had progressed so much in the studio that they could not reproduce their sound on stage as well as being out of practice as a live act. They wanted to be serious musicians but they could not shake off the teenybopper image. Live tracks released on The Autumn Stone / In Memoriam are drowned out by the screaming audience. Furthermore, the band did not hide their sense of humour or cheeky side in songs like Lazy Sunday or Itchycoo Park. These were great tracks but may not have helped their desire to be viewed as serious musicians.

Steve Marriott was probably the most affected and he made his feelings known by walking out mid-gig on New Year's Eve 1968. He returned to complete gigs in 1969 but he was already planning the next project, Humble Pie. Kenney, Ronnie and Mac felt lost for a while before teaming up with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart from the Jeff Beck Group. Humble Pie and the Faces were far more successful in the US, a country the Small Faces never toured. However, many would argue that, despite their commercial success, neither group was as creative as the Small Faces.

With Steve, Ronnie, Mac and Jimmy no longer with us, Kenney Jones has been the custodian of the band's legacy as well as fighting for the band's royalties that they never received. The Small Faces are nowadays recognised as one of the most creative outfits of the 1960s at least on a par with the other great British bands. It is almost criminal that Steve and Ronnie did not receive the financial recompense they were due during their lifetimes. Steve Marriott's story, in particular, is very sad as he was a huge talent but died penniless. Ronnie Lane also died too young after contracting multiple sclerosis. They both left huge legacies of work. Sean Egan's biography is an excellent tribute to the East End Fab Four. It is well researched and contains many nuggets that will be new to even the keenest Small Faces fan. Highly recommended.

Published: 30 September 2024

Equinox Publishing