The Small Faces are getting a big box set.
“Here Comes the Nice: The Immediate Years Box Set, 1967-1969” is due Jan. 27 in an edition limited to 3,000 copies. These sets are “personally signed” by Kennedy Jones and Ian McLagan, the surviving members of the quartet who “supervised and curated” the project.
The Small Faces, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. The ambitious box set wraps Charly Records’ celebratory Small Faces rerelease campaign of the band’s albums, which were rereleased using the original masters.
“Here Comes the Nice” had been expected for the holidays, but was pushed back. The box set will go for about $145 in the U.S. — Amazon appears to have the exclusive — and apparently won’t be sold in the U.K. (“due to copyright restrictions”).
“Here Comes the Nice” packs in 75 songs, spread across four CDs. Tracks are “remastered from original analog master tapes & studio multitracks.” The first CD contains all of the English band’s singles and EPs; the other three discs explore rareities, alternate takes and live tracks.
There’s a vinyl component as well: Three colored 7-inch vinyl EPs and a replica acetate pressing of the song “Mystery … .”
Of course, it’ll be loaded with other goodies, including a hardbound coffee-table book with a forward by Pete Townshend. Rock stars paying tribute in print include Robert Plant, Paul Weller, David Bowie, Nick Mason, Peter Frampton and Chris Robinson. A 64-page lyric booklet comes with words to all songs “transcribed & endorsed by band members for the first time ever.”
There are two replica posters, one for the release of “Tin Soldier” and another for an English gig. And a six-panel Immediate Records press kit for the band’s classic album “Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake,” five postcards and a pair of “fine art prints.”
The group spanned the mod and psychedelic eras of the 1960s but remained relatively unknown in the States. Lane later found Stateside success with Faces (Rod Stewart), while Mariott worked the colonies with Humble Pie. Interest in the band has grown over the decades, as “Itchycoo Park” remains a classic rock staple and “Lazy Sunday” became a belated hit after a “Saturday Night Live” skit.
Charly released a three-CD version of “Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake” in 2012.
Here are the track listings for the Small Faces box set:
CD 1: “Small Faces Singles Worldwide As Bs & Eps”
1. Here Come the Nice (mono) 2:55
2. Talk to You (mono) 2:05
3. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me (mono) 2:15
4. Something I Want to Tell You (mono) 2:07
5. Get Yourself Together (mono) 2:16
6. Become Like You (mono) 1:56
7. Green Circles (mono) 2:32
8. Eddie’s Dreaming (b-side edit) (mono) 2:41
9. Itchycoo Park (mono) 2:44
10. I’m Only Dreaming (mono) 2:22
11. Tin Soldier (mono) 3:19
12. I Feel Much Better (mono) 3:55
13. Lazy Sunday (mono) 3:02
14. Rollin’ Over (Part II of Happiness Stan) (mono) 2:12
15. Mad John (single version) (mono) 2:07
16. The Journey (single version) (mono) 2:51
17. The Universal (mono) 2:42
18. Donkey Rides, A Penny A Glass (mono) 2:47
19. Afterglow Of Your Love (single version) (mono) 3:22
20. Wham Bam Thank You Mam (mono) 3:18
Original Immediate Records single versions. Taken from original mono master tapes.
CD 2: “Small Faces in the Studio — Olympic, IBC & Trident Sessions, Part 1”
1. Shades of Green (mono) 0:38
2. Green Circles (take 1) (mono) 1:04
3. Green Circles (take 1 alt mix 1) (mono) 2:45
4. Anything (tracking session) (stereo) 3:46
5. Anything (backing track) (stereo) 3:06
6. Show Me the Way (stripped down mix) (stereo) 2:09
7. Wit Art Yer (tracking session) (mono) 2:50
8. Wit Art Yer (backing track) (stereo) 2:27
9. I Can’t Make It (alt mix) (stereo) 2:26
10. Doolally (tracking session) (mono) 4:06
11. What’s It Called? (overdub session) (mono) 0:36
12. Call It Something Nice (take 9) (stereo) 2:04
13. Wide Eyed Girl (take 2) (stereo) 1:43
14. Wide Eyed Girl On The Wall (alt mix) (stereo) 3:28
15. Donkey Rides, A Penny A Glass (stripped down mix) (stereo) 3:21
16. Red Balloon With A Blue Surprise (take 5) (stereo) 0:46
17. Red Balloon (alt mix) (stereo) 4:29
18. Saieide Mamoon (tracking session) (stereo) 9:36
All tracks previously unreleased versions. Taken from original studio multitrack and session master tapes
CD 3: Small Faces in the Studio — Olympic, IBC & Trident Sessions, Part 2″
1. Wham Bam Thank You Mam (alt mix) (stereo) 3:22
2. I Can’t Make It (stripped down mix) (stereo) 2:33
3. This Feeling of Spring (take 1) (stereo) 1:43
4. All Our Yesterdays (backing track) (mono) 2:09
5. Talk To You (alt mix) (stereo) 2:22
6. Mind the Doors Please (mono) 5:01
7. Things Are Going to Get Better (stripped down mix) (stereo) 2:43
8. Mad John (tracking session) (stereo) 3:58
9. A Collibosher (take 4) (stereo) 3:31
10. Lazy Sunday Afternoon (early mix) (mono) 3:00
11. Jack (backing track) (stereo) 3:35
12. Fred (backing track) (stereo) 3:06
13. Red Balloon (stripped down mix) (stereo) 1:33
14. Kolomodelomo (take 1) (stereo) 2:45
15. Donkey Rides, A Penny A Glass (alt mix) (stereo) 3:34
16. Jenny’s Song (take 2) (stereo) 4:04
All tracks previously unreleased versions. Taken from original studio multitrack and session master tapes
CD 4: “Alternate Small Faces Outtakes & In Concert”
1. Itchycoo Park (take 1 stereo mix) (stereo) 2:50
2. Here Come the Nice (take 1 stereo mix) (stereo) 3:01
3. I’m Only Dreaming (take 1 stereo mix) (stereo) 2:23
4. Don’t Burst My Bubble (mono) 2:24
5. I Feel Much Better (stereo) 3:56
6. Green Circles (take 1 Italian version) (mono) 2:44*
7. Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow (alt mix) (stereo) 1:50*
8. Piccanniny (alt mix) (stereo) 3:02
9. Get Yourself Together (alt mix) (stereo) 2:18*
10. Eddie’s Dreaming (take 2 alt mix) (stereo) 2:44*
11. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me (take 2 alt mix) (stereo) 2:08*
12. Up The Wooden Hills to Bedfordshire (US alt mix) (mono) 2:00*
13. Afterglow of Your Love (alt single version) (mono) 3:36*
14. (If You Think You’re) Groovy (mono) (The Lot Version)- P.P. Arnold & Small Faces 2:55
15. Me You and Us Too (mono) 3:32
16. The Universal (take 1 stereo mix) (stereo) 2:39
17. Rollin’ Over (live) (stereo) 2:29
18. If I Were a Carpenter (live) (stereo) 2:29
19. Every Little Bit Hurts (live) (stereo) 6:12
20. All Or Nothing (live) (stereo) 4:05
21. Tin Soldier (live) (stereo) 3:19
* previously unreleased versions. Live tracks recorded at Newcastle City Hall, November 1968. Taken from Pye Studios master tape, pitch and speed corrected.
Having a long running conversation with a knowledgeable friend on music the subject of just what and how would one define “Psychedelic Music.” Maybe a open forum for your readers to discus this subject? maybe a editorial? a comment box to share ideas?
I would believe many have very different opinions where is line is drawn as is obvious from the songs and albums nominated to your list of best of. A good example would be song number 53 Don’t Come Around Here No More on the same list as song number 28 Help, I’m A Rock… or a classic blues song Hey Joe … Just something to chew on for you and maybe something for us out there to give input on?
Please keep up the great work.
Reid: Please check out this post about What Is Psychedelic Music? It should answer your questions about this web site’s philosophy. Personally, I think “Don’t Come Around Here” and “Help, I’m a Rock” are good roommates — YMMV.
The sad reality of reader forums is they’re a headache for site owners because of spammers and other lowlifes. If I thought one would succeed, I might give it a go sometime. Several ways to give feedback, though: If you’d like to comment on any given song, just use the comments box at the bottom of each post. And of course you can suggest top songs and albums via the Readers’ Picks section, and I usually post those.