This work brings together all the picture sleeves
for Small Faces vinyl releases around the world. It is an incredibly detailed
work that list single and album releases in each country with pictures of the
sleeves and record labels as well as details on the release. The research is not
confirmed to the Small Faces' official recording but also includes the myriad of
"rip-off" albums where the band received no royalties
whatsoever.
My first instinct was to look to see if any
releases were missed based on those ones I own but I would consider to be rare.
They were included and, on looking at the UK New World release, Small Faces from
1972, the "mystery" about this album is revealed. One of the questions
that has arisen from time to time is about the nature of the track that
masquerades as What's a Matter Baby. Both Mac and Ronnie Lane have been
asked about the song that begins with "looking of pictures of yellow, red
and green" but they were unable to help. According to Nice One this
is a track by Adam, Mike and Tim, a trio from Liverpool and is called Little
Pictures. The track has appeared on several of these "unofficial"
Small Faces releases and highlights just what a shabby job many of them were.
The latter fact is also highlighted by some instances of singles covers, e.g. Hey
Girl, showing the earlier Jimmy Winston line-up of the band when he had left
well before the release of the track. A couple of album releases mix tracks from
both the Decca and Immediate eras of the group although the first time that this
was achieved, legally, was with the 2003 of The Ultimate Collection.
Nice One highlights one of the crucial
aspects of the Small Faces. Quite simply they were the coolest band around and
the sharpest dressers. Although the same band photos are recycled across many
album and single covers, the group's sense of style comes through. However,
there are a few sleeves where the cover design can only be described as
"dodgy", the Swiss release I've Got Mine, for example,
that shows a couple dancing the twist!!
This is a fascinating book and an easy read,
either as a reference work or for mere entertainment. The authors are working on
an equivalent for Steve Marriott releases.
Special Making Time / Room for Ravers price -
£10 inc P&P. Email nunpleb7@gmail.com.
