Small Faces - There Are But Four Small Faces

 

This modified version of their First Immediate Album was the first SF LP released in the States with about half of the original album combined with the hit single tracks that were left off of the British release, as was their practice. So, I'll leave out the duplicate tracks - "Talk To You", "Up the Wooden Hills", "My Way of Giving", "Get Yourself Together", "Show Me the Way", "Green Circles", "(Tell Me) Have You Seen Me" - and concentrate on those that are new to this release.

For the States, they open with by far their biggest (only?) hit over here, the fun psych-pop of "Itchycoo Park", with its phased drums, poppy melody, and trippy lyrics - really, a fantastic 45 that still evokes fine memories of the day. "I'm Only Dreaming" is a nice, psych ballad of Steve's, although he adds some heft to the middle breaks, "Feel Much Better" is a lively, light-hearted hand-clapper with amusing, sped-up backing vocals and a great, incredibly heavy ending that fades out'n'back in, followed by their British smash, "Tin Soldier", where everyone does a fantastic job with the dynamics'n'arrangement, an unforgettable chorus (with the help of the incredibly talented PP Arnold) and a pounding middle break! Whew! The ode to their speed dealer, "Here Comes The Nice", is another raver that the square censors somehow missed - kinda amazing considering the oblique lyrics they did censor and here the Faces are pretty damn obvious (although the "you don't need money" line is mighty puzzling). But it is a damn fine pop tune with a little psych touches and cool call'n'answer choruses. Funnily, this CD has the same bonus tracks - alt versions of "Green Circles" and "Have You Seen Me" - as the First Immediate Album!

Of course, I bought both CD's cuz I wanted all of the music, but if you have to choose, I would pick this one just because the hits are so good!