Due to the inexplicable failure of I've Got Mine
to chart, which was Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane's first attempt at writing a
hit single, Don Arden asked his in-house writers Kenny Lynch and Mort Shuman to
pen the lads a ready-made pop hit. Lynch even got to sing the falsetto backing,
which vied with Steve for domination on the chorus!
The band were not particularly fond of the number
as they felt it didn't truly represent their first love, blues and soul,
although Ronnie felt it stood up well as a 'nice little Saturday night dance
record'.
Still the public loved it and gave the Small
Faces their biggest hit yet, peaking at a respectable No 3 on the UK charts. The
NME even had them at number one! The group even did a live spot for the Dick
Clark Show in America, singing Sha La La La Lee and this was telerecorded
from the UK.
The
flip-side, Grow Your Own, was a Booker T and the MGs style instrumental,
which showcased new member Ian McLagen banging away on his Hammond. The song
title is open to suggestion, grown your own funk or grow your own grass? It was
hard to tell with these East End street urchins, but otherwise it made for a
very successful coupling.
(Darlings
of Wapping Wharf Launderette)
Sha La La La Lee live on German TV
Beat Beat Beat in 1966.
Netherlands
Collector's Info
Germany: Sha La La La Lee/Grow Your Own (Decca
DL25227)
