"Happening Now!”
Monday 7 May 2012 sees the UK release of a whopping four
DELUXE EDITIONS for Small Faces fans (29 May 2012 in the USA for this and the
"From The Beginning" sets) - and their blistering debut album still
holds an unparalleled affection for lovers of the best Sixties Mod band in the
world.
Here are the finite details for Universal/Sanctuary 276
528-0:
Disc 1 (42:28 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 12 are their MONO debut LP "Small
Faces" - released 6 May 1966 in the UK on Decca LK 4790 (peaked at No. 3
on the LP charts)
BONUS TRACKS (13 to 16):
"I've Got Mine" (13), "What's A Matter
Baby" (14), "Grow Your Own" (15) and "Patterns" (16)
Disc 1 will also allow fans to line up the 4 x UK 7"
singles that were issued (in Mono) around the LP (track number after title):
1. Whatcha Gonna Do About It (6) b/w What's A Matter Baby
(14) - released 6 August 1965 on Decca F 12208 [Note: A-side written by Kenny
Lynch and Mort Shuman]
2. I've Got Mine (13) b/w It's Too Late (4) - released 5
November 1965 on Decca F 12276
3. Sha–La-La-La-Lee (17) b/w Grow Your Own (15) - released
28 January 1966 on Decca F 12317
4. Patterns (16) b/w E Too D (11) – released 26 May 1967 on
Decca F 12619
Disc 2 (37:38 minutes):
1. Come On Children (Alternate Version) [Mono]
2. Shake (Alternate Version) [Mono]
3. You Better Believe It (Alternate Version) [Mono]
4. It's Too Late (Alternate Mix In Electronically
Reprocessed Stereo)
5. Sorry She's Mine (Alternate Mix In Electronically
Reprocessed Stereo)
6. 6. Own Up Time (Alternate Version) [Mono]
7. E Too D (Alternate Version) [Mono]
8. I've Got Mine (Alternate Mix In Electronically
Reprocessed Stereo)
9. Grow Your Own (Alternate Mix In Electronically
Reprocessed Stereo)
10. Sha La La Lee (Stereo Version)
11. Don't Stop What You're Doing (Alternate Version) [Mono]
12. Patterns (Alternate Mix In Electronically Reprocessed
Stereo)
13. What's A Matter Baby (Alternate Mix) [Mono]
14. Whatcha Gonna Do About It (Alternate Version) [Mono]
Tracks 4-5, 8-9 and 12 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Stereo
Versions) ON CD
INCLUSIONS/OMMISIONS:
The 2006 Universal 40th Anniversary single disc reissue of
"Small Faces" had 11 bonus tracks – the only absence is "Hey
Girl (Alternate Version)" because it's been moved to the "From The
Beginning" Deluxe Edition. Also the 5th Decca single that would have fit
the 1966-1967 timeframe released on the same day as the album - "Hey
Girl" b/w "Almost Grown" (6 May 1966 on Decca F 12393) is moved
to that double too. Fans should also note that according to ROB CAIGAR who
oversaw these reissues – any missing/straggler tracks on this and the other 3 x
double-editions will probably turn up on a SMALL FACES box set due later in
2012. That box set will also feature more unreleased/related stuff – and again
from the best sources.
PACKAGING:
I raved about the superlative 24-page booklet in the
"From The Beginning" double – it's the same here. Properly gorgeous
colour reproductions of 7" picture sleeves from Germany, Sweden, France
and Australia, Rave and Beat Instrumental magazine covers, a 6 August 1966 EMI
Acetate of "What 'Cha Gonna Do About It", colour publicity shots of
the boys larking about, trade adverts, Melody Maker reviews and even two
fantastically evocative pictures of the fab four shopping for Mod clothes in
60t's Carnaby Street. The new liner notes are by respected writer MARK PAYTRESS
and are filled with facts and recent interviews with Jones and McLagan. There's
a set of 4 gorgeous colour photos of the band – one to each flap - and beneath
each see-through CD tray is the 1967 unboxed red Decca label LK 4790 for the
original British LP (Side 1 and 2). Even the CDs themselves are picture discs.
It's 'so' well done.
It should be noted that there's memorabilia stuff in the
20-page booklet of the original single disc that isn't in here – so you might
not want to throw that issue away just yet. But again – and I can’t reiterate
this enough – this is one of the sweetest looking booklets Universal has ever
done - and I can't help but think that awards may be on the horizon for the
sheer quality of presentation on offer here…
SOUND:
But the real meat for fans will be the NEW REMASTERS from best-ever
sources and overseen by surviving members of the band - KENNEY JONES and IAN
McLAGAN. Tape Research and Recovery is by ROB CAIGER, Tape Restoration and
Transfer from Analogue is by ROB KAYLACH and Mastering by NICK ROBBINS. The
album itself has always been a perfect snapshot of Sixties Beat Britain - and
still stands up to this day as a good listen. The clarity of the opener – a
cover of Sam Cooke's "Shake" – is great – the bass and drums now so
clear. I've always loved the band-penned double of "It's Too Late”
followed by "One Night Stand" – both now sounding punchy and dynamic.
"E Too D" has that great guitar opening - sounding as powerful as The
Who – I love it. And the singles are killer too – especially fan-favourite
B-sides like "I've Got Mine" - and who wouldn’t want to hear the
instrumental floor-filler "Grow Your Own" instead of the overplayed
A-side "Sha-La-La-La-Lee".
UNRELEASED:
Having lived with MONO for over 40 years – the CD debut of
'Electronically Reprocessed Stereo' versions of "It's Too Late" and
"Sorry She's Mine" will come as a bit of a shock. The same effect
doesn't quite work so well for me on "I've Got Mine" – but the sonic
kick off "Grow Your Own" in some form of Stereo is blowing me away –
worth the price of admission alone (that sucker's going on our CD shuffle
soonest). And even though it's almost too dense in some ways – I'm also digging
"Patterns" in Stereo too. The other Mono takes I've had before and
they’re always been hugely enjoyable – but it's without doubt the Stereo cuts
that will have fans jumping up and down on kitchen lino sprayed with talcum
powder.
To sum up – an absolute belter – in fact I've really loved
all four of these 2012 2CD DELUXE EDITIONS – up there with the superlative
KINKS Deluxe Edition reissues of 2011.
As the Decca advert reproduced on Page 2 of the booklet
screams – the Small Faces are "Happening Now!" Well here's to a
second time around because this is a sweetheart of a release – and you can't
help but think that The Artful Dodger (Steve Marriott) and Plonk (Ronnie Lane) would have
approved big time. Congrats to all involved...
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