There Are But Four Small Faces

by Small Faces

Overview

This is where the already-confusing Small Faces discography gets baffling. Designed for the American market in 1968, There Are But Four Small Faces is based upon their 1967 self-titled album for Immediate Records -- the album that should not be confused with the 1966 album called Small Faces on Decca -- but shuffles the running order considerably, cutting out seven songs from the 1967 LP and then adding five songs released on singles: the hits "Itchycoo Park," "Tin Soldier," and "Here Come the Nice," plus the B-sides "I'm Only Dreaming" and "I Feel Much Better." Contrary to the pastoral setting pictured on the album art, this rejiggering preserves the edgy mods of the 1967 album Small Faces, emphasizing their pop propulsion, artful soul, and furious rock & roll. By some measures, the 1967 Immediate LP is their best -- it's adventurous, bright, colorful, and concentrated, the brevity of the songs playing like snappy pop art -- and that essence is here, enhanced by "Tin Soldier," "Here Come the Nice," and "Itchycoo Park," the three greatest singles the band ever cut. As an introduction, it's first-rate, whether it was delivered in 1968 or decades later. [Charly's 2014 reissue of There Are But Four Small Faces contains the stereo mix on the first disc, supplemented by four bonus tracks, while the second contains the "promotional DJ version" mono mix of the album and three bonus tracks, all different than the cuts on the first CD. The stereo bonus tracks have alternate takes and mixes of "Eddie's Dreaming" and "Show Me the Way," an early mix of "Get Yourself Together," and an alternate take of "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me." The mono bonus tracks contain a TV backing track for "Tin Soldier," the "USA Version" of "Here Come the Nice," and an alternate mix of "Green Circles." Most of this is collector ephemera but the mono mix is indeed appealingly punchy and perhaps a better way to listen to this music.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/31/2025
Label:	Ultra Vybe
UPC:	4526180718451

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Small Faces   Primary Artist
Ian McLagan   Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Lyn Dobson   Flute
Neemoi Acquaye   Congas
Derek Wadsworth   Trombone
Harry Beckett   Trumpet
Speedy Acquaye   Congas
Harvey Becket   Trumpet
P.P. Arnold   Vocals (Background)
Steve Marriott   Guitar,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kenney Jones   Drums,Percussion
Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton   Trumpet
Ronnie Lane   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Mac   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Bass)

Technical Credits

Ian McLagan   Composer,Group Member,Supervising Producer
Ken Sharp   Liner Notes,Project Assistant
Eddie Kramer   Mixing,Engineer
Jean-Luc Young   Executive Producer,Project Coordinator
Barry Green   Project Assistant
Eric Carmen   Liner Notes
John Pantry   Engineer
Rob Keyloch   Mixing,Tape Transfer
Nick Robbins   Remastering,Restoration,Mastering Engineer
Small Faces   Arranger
Gered Mankowitz   Cover Photo
Bugsy Maugh   Composer
George Chkiantz   Engineer
Tim O'Sullivan   Composer
Rachel Gutek   Reissue Art,Reissue Design
Michael O'Sullivan   Composer,Composer
Rob Caiger   Tape Research,Reissue Producer
Cliff Dane   Project Coordinator
Tosh Flood   Project Assistant
John O'Toole   Project Manager
Marriott   Composer
Mandy O'Connor   Memorabilia,Project Assistant
Richard Beeching   Project Manager
Didier Dehauteur   Executive Producer
Steve Marriott   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Kenney Jones   Group Member,Supervising Producer
Harvey Robert Kubernik   Liner Notes
Andy Johns   Engineer
Ronnie Lane   Composer,Producer,Group Member
Stuart Batsford   Project Coordinator
Glyn Johns   Engineer
Lane   Composer