The Immediate record label was established by the former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog-Oldham to approach making records in a new, creative way. This 3-CD set highlights some of the well-known artists on Immediate as well as the less well-known.

The stars of Immediate were the Small Faces. The East End's Fab Four are represented by no less than five tracks including the superb Tin Soldier. The Immediate period represented the second half of the Small Faces' career. At Decca the band had been very true to its R&B roots but with the extra creative freedom at the Immediate label the band evolved much quicker and become one of the most creative outfits of the late 1960s. The first album on Immediate showed the way forward and this was followed by the highly innovative Ogden's Nut Gone Flake and singles such as Tin Soldier and Itchycoo Park. Don't Burst My Bubble is a quite superb track that along with the likes of Wham Bam Thank You Mam (not included here) pointed the way forward to a heavier sound that Steve Marriott enjoyed with Humble Pie. This heavier sound did suit the Small Faces and, like Wham Bam and Tin Soldier, it also suited Steve Marriott's rasping soul voice. Jam fans might recognise the inspiration for The Gift here.

Likewise, PP Arnold, the First Lady of Immediate is featured on five tracks as well as the little-known duet with Rod Stewart Come Home Baby. At Immediate Records there was a lot of cross-over with artists playing on each other's records. (If You Think You're) Groovy was a Steve Marriott/Ronnie Lane track that features the Small Faces backing PP Arnold. Unfortunately, there is no (released) version of the Small Faces playing this in their own right. PP Arnold is on backing vocals on the Small Faces' classic Tin Soldier. Her great singles include the superb Angel of the Morning which was written by Chip Taylor.

My Way of Giving is also a Marriott/Lane song that featured on the Small Faces' first album on Immediate. Chris Farlowe's single version is a fine version of the track. Farlowe was one of England's top blues singers and this is reinforced by the tracks included here such as Think and Moanin'. The latter track is an interesting fusion of the blues with the sitar.

Another Small Faces track is (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me, again originally on the first Immediate album. Apostolic Intervention do the song justice. The band featured Jerry Shirley on drums. He later joined up with Marriott in Humble Pie.

The Mockingbirds are featured a couple of times. The band never achieved a hit in their own right but they are particularly interesting as they included the songwriter Graham Gouldman whose penned hits included the Yardbirds' Heartful of Soul and Evil Hearted You and the Hollies' Look Through Any Window amongst others. You Stole My Love was also recorded by the Yardbirds on the Little Games album although only available on the recently-released 2-CD set.

The Fleur De Lys provide a couple of interesting tracks. The cover of Pete Townshend's Circles is excellent could be better than the Who's original. So Come On is another powerful track and is indicative of much of the work that can be found on their Reflections compilation.

Eric Clapton was a member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers for I'm Your Witchdoctor and On Top of the World.

Two tracks from Billy Nicholls are taken from his album Would You Believe. Until released on CD recently, this album was one of the most sought after on the collector's market and reached large sums. London Social Degree is one of the stand-out tracks on the album.

There are also a number of tracks by artists that deserve to be heard more. These include The Poets from Glasgow who provide an excellent version of the soul standard Baby Don't You Do It. Cyril Davies & His R&B All Stars feature the former Alexis Korner harmonica player.

Release Date: 2005

Castle CMQCD 1043

Essential Tracks:

• Small Faces - Tin Soldier
• Fleurs de Lys - Circles
• PP Arnold - (If You Think You're) Groovy

Track Listing:

Disc One

1. Small Faces - Talk To You
2. Sonny Burke - All You
3. PP Arnold - Everything's Gonna Be Alright
4. Jimmy Scott - Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da Story (Part II)
5. Chris Farlowe - Treat Her Good
6. Fleur de Lys - So  Come On
7. Rod Stewart & PP Arnold - Come Home Baby
8. The Mockingbirds - Skit Skat
9. Goldie - Headlines
10. The Golden Apples of the Sun - The Monkey Time
11. Twinkle - Micky
12. Nicky Scott - Big City
13. Van Lenton - You Don't Care
14. Chris Farlowe - The Fool
15. PP Arnold - Speak To Me
16. Mort Shuman - Sitting in the Park - Monday Monday

Disc Two

1. John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - I'm Your Witchdoctor
2. The Poets - Baby Don't You Do It
3. Apostolic Intervention - Madame Garcia
4. Chris Farlowe - Think
5. The Mockingbirds - You Stole My Love
6. Joey Vine - The Time of Towner
7. PP Arnold - If You See What I Mean
8. Small Faces - I Feel Much Better
9. Tony McPhee - You Don't Love Me
10. Chris Farlowe - Everyone Makes a Mistake
11. John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - On Top of the World
12. Amen Corner - Hey! Hey! Girl
13. Twice as Much - Step Out Of Line
14. Chris Farlowe - Don't Just Look at Me
15. The Poets - Some Things I Can't Forget
16. Cyril Davies & His R&B All Stars - Someday Baby

Disc Three

1. Fleur de Lys - Circles
2. Australian Playboy - Sad
3. Billy Nicholls - London Social Degree
4. Small Faces - Don't Burst My Bubble
5. PP Arnold - If You Think You're Groovy
6. Chris Farlowe - My Way of Giving
7. Apostolic Intervention - (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me
8. Murray Head - She Was Perfection
9. Chris Farlowe - Moanin' (Sitar Version)
10. Outer Limits - Sweet Freedom
11. Small Faces - Tin Soldier
12. Excelsior Spring - It
13. Small Faces - Green Circles
14. Billy Nicholls - Girl From New York
15. Amen Corner - Evil Man's Gonna Win
16. PP Arnold - Angel of the Morning
17. Gregory Phillips - That's The One