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The Decca Years
Decca / Universal
473-429-6 Released: 9
October 2015
5 CD boxed set including a
72-page booklet of memorabilia and postcards. These CDs have
been remastered under the supervision of Kenney Jones.
Making Time Review October
2015
After 2014's The Immediate Years
a compilation of the Small Faces' output for Decca including
rare and unreleased tracks has been much anticipated. Although
most of what is present in this 5CD set is already available,
the compilation certainly does not disappoint and is an ideal
companion to the 2014 Immediate release. Like the Immediate
release, this boxed set has been overseen by Kenney Jones and
Ian McLagan.
There were two distinct periods in
the Small Faces' career. These are distinguished by different
record companies, different managers, a different approach to
recording and a different musical style. The Decca period showed
the Small Faces moving from fresh-faced Mods to one of the UK's
top groups, producing superb self-penned songs. The influence of
the R&B and soul they had been listening to is very clear.
However, there are also the seeds of a transition towards a more
"English" sound that touches on psychedelia in places. The
second Immediate period would cement this change and take the
band further forwards towards a heavier rock sound. In fact,
some of the tracks included here appeared in their finished form
on the Small Faces first Immediate album.
Discs two and three are the two
albums released on Decca. These have been available on CD for
some time and also as "improved" versions so there is nothing
new here. The integrity of the original albums remains intact as
no additional tracks have been included on these two CDs. The
first disc comprises all the Decca A and B sides, including some
alternate versions. In some cases these are slightly different
to the LP versions. This first CD is a great body of English R&B
showing just how good Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane were as
songwriters. Few bands could muster such as consistent string of
great singles
The fourth disc of Rarities &
Outtakes does not deliver the "wished for" unheard tracks
which suggests they may not exist on tape or the sound was not
of sufficient quality. However, there are alternative versions
of well-known tracks as well as early versions of some tracks
that appeared later on Immediate on the Small Faces
(Immediate) album.
The fifth disc BBC Sessions
is an extended and improved version of the CD that was released
in 1999 although some of the tracks on the earlier disc are
omitted here. Presumably this is because they were later songs
recorded for Immediate and beyond the scope of this set. The BBC
tracks provide a very good indication of what the band would
have sounded like live. They are full of raw power and the Sam
Cooke cover Shake, in particular, shows the Small
Faces with Ronnie Lane on lead vocal in full flow. The
interviews with Brian Matthew are great listening as the band
are fresh and new. Marriott notes that the band has been
together eleven weeks and hope they will make a few singles
before they split up! Much of this CD has not been heard
previously in the UK or for many years. The Joe Loss sessions
had been recorded by a fan on a reel to reel recorder while some
of the BBC transcription discs were intended for broadcast
outside the UK.
While there is little new here to
excite the dedicated fan, the new versions of well-known tracks
and the bringing together of all the Decca tracks in one luxury
package make this a great addition to the collection and one
which will compliment 2014's The Immediate Years.
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Track Listing:
Disc One: Singles and
B-sides
- What'Cha Gonna Do About It
- What's a Matter Baby
- I've Got Mine
- It's Too Late
- Sha-La-La-La-Lee (mono)
- Grow Your Own
- Hey Girl
- Almost Grown
- All or Nothing
- Understanding
- My Mind's Eye
- I Can't Dance With You
- I Can't Make It (session version, mono)
- Just Passing (mono)
- Patterns
- E Too D
- Don't Stop What You're Doing (Alternate
version)
- Come on Children (French EP version)
- Shake
- One Night Stand
- You Need Loving
Disc Two: First Album
- Shake
- Come on Children
- You Better Believe It
- It's Too Late
- One Night Stand
- What'Cha Gonna Do About It
- Sorry She's Mine
- Own Up Time
- You Need Loving
- Don't Stop What You're Doing
- E Too D
- Sha-La-La-La-Lee (mono)
Disc Three: From the
Beginning
- Runaway (mono)
- My Mind's Eye
- Yesterday Today and Tomorrow
- That Man
- My Way of Giving
- Hey Girl
- (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me?
- Take This Hurt Off Me
- All or Nothing
- Baby Don't You Do It
- Plum Nellie
- Sha-La-La-La-Lee
- You've Really Got a Hold On Me
- What'Cha Gonna Do About It
Disc Four: Rarities and
Outtakes
- Come on Children (alternate version)
- Shake (alternate version)
- You Better Believe It (alternate version)
- Own Up Time (alternate version)
- E Too D (alternate version)
- Don't Stop What You're Doing (alternate
version)
- What's A Matter Baby (alternate version)
- What'Cha Gonna Do About It (alternate
version)
- Sha La La La Lee (stereo)
- Runaway (alternate mix, stereo)
- That Man (alternate mix)
- Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (alternate
mix)
- Picanniny (backing track)
- Hey Girl (alternate version)
- Take This Hurt Off Me (alternate version)
- Baby Don't You Do It (different version)
- My Mind's Eye (early version, mono)
- Talk To You (Take 5, backing track)
- All Our Yesterdays (Take 7, backing track)
- (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me (alternate
take 2)
- Show Me The Way (take 3, backing track)
- I Can't Make It (take 11, backing track)
- Things Are Going To Get Better (take 14,
session version)
Disc Five: BBC Sessions
(extended version of original release)
BBC Studios, Saturday Club, 23 August 1965
- Interview with Steve Marriott
- What'Cha Gonna Do About It
- Jump Back
- Baby Don't You Do It
Joe Loss Pop Show 14 January 1966
- Sha La La La Lee
- What'Cha Gonna Do About It
- Comin' Home Baby
- You Need Loving
Steve Marriott Pop Profile Interview
Saturday Club 14 March 1966
- Shake
- Steve Marriott interview
- Sha la La La Lee
- You Need Loving
Saturday Club 3 May 1966
- Steve Marriott interview
- Hey Girl
- E Too D
- One Night Stand
Saturday Club 3 August 1966
- You'd Better Believe It
- Understanding
- Steve Marriott interview
- All or Nothing
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