Small Faces eventually became Faces after the departure of Steve Marriott (who formed Humble Pie) and the addition of a couple guys you may have heard of: Ron Wood and Rod Stewart. Kenney Jones, who eventually drummed with the Who, was a founding member. Ian McLagen on keys also played quite a bit with the Stones.

You need the visual of Steve Marriott to fully appreciate this song ❤️🔥😎 RIP Steve

Robert Plant said he thought Marriott was the best singer out of all his peers including himself.

It's all about the era. The song is widely recognized for being the first to incorporate flange. The song is revered in England and went to number 1 in Canada. All four players turned out to be heavy hitters. Steve Marriott went on to front Humble Pie, Ronnie Lane transformed Small Faces into Faces with Ian McLagan (both have done a lot more) and Kenny Jones who went on to play drums for The Who.

Here are a few to add from the same time period - The Electric Prunes: "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" Count Five: "Psychotic Reaction" Donovan - "Sunshine Superman" Johnny Rivers - "Summer Rain"

Love this freaking song. Anytime I listen I just close my eyes and throw my head back and just let the music carry me away. Soo relaxing. Written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane about a place they used to go when they would skip school, and released in 1966. Okay little known fact. "Itchycoo Park" is the nickname of Little Ilford Park in London. An "Itchycoo" is slang for a flower found in the park called a "Stinging Nettle," which can burn the skin if touched. This was the biggest American hit Small Faces ever had (they were much more popular in England), but according to Ronnie Lane, they considered it a joke when they recorded it; the band would screw around in the studio to get a laugh out of their manager Andrew Oldham. The song came out sounding so good that they started to take it seriously. As always guys great reaction. Stay safe and peace oouuuttt.

SO groovy!! Steve Marriott's voice was amazing, he was one of rocks greatest frontmen. This song goes all the way back to 1966. "Tin Soldier" is another tune to check out. Thanks A&A. I've been waiting for this...

This song is The Small Faces entry into the Psychedelic genre. The sound of “it’s all too beautiful” part reflects this. The “we’ll get high” part shows off the lead singer’s (Steve Marriott) voice and is more indicative of most of their music. “Tin Soldier” is a good next listen, although I think you guys would find “You Need Lovin’” very interesting... it was a VERY strong influence on Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”.

This might be THE most 60s song of them all!

Oh my god!!!!!! I love this song ❤️ Steve Marriott, such a legend!

A lovely slice of psychedelia, right up there with Arnold Lane by Pink Floyd. It's a long way from here to Humble Pie and 30 Days in the Hole....

Steve Marriott is a legend... totally underrated as a singer and musician.... apparently went for an audition for the Rolling Stones and it’s rumoured that when Mr. Jagger heard and watched him perform he said no.... probably didn’t want upstaging, lol...not the best song to introduce yourself to them... try All or Nothing or maybe Tim Soldier 👍👍

In an era when new sounds were coming at us all the time, the phasing on the drums was the first time most of us heard that sound, and it was awesome.

Steve Marriot, truly one of the greatest vocalists in British music, and vastly underrated. As vocalist with Humble Pie, you really hear that powerful vocal grit.

This was the biggest mod band in England in the late 60's. "Tin Soldier" would be more characteristic of their sound at the time. Their singer left and they became The Faces.

This song SO fit the times for many of us.

So the small faces started in 1965. They were considered Mods and all 4 members were short in stature. When Steve Marriott (the lead singer) left the band and Started Humble Pie with Peter Frampton the other band members brought in Rod Stewart and changed their name to the Faces. They had some more good songs and were out at the same time as the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Great band. They were also very influential to other bands coming up after them in England. Thanks guys

One of the best British bands, Marriott had one of the all time great voices - check out ‘Afterglow of your Love’, ‘All or Nothing’, Tin Soldier’ & ‘Song of a Baker’

in 1966 - talking about getting "high" in a park was totally edgy. It's hard to verbalize how much accepted norms have changed in the last 60 years. The 60's was an explosion of change from the 50's - and this song about getting high in a park - and touching - was part of that explosion. A movie that exemplifies this change well is "To Sir - With Love."

The Youngbloods - 'Get Together' would be a good follow on, "Come on people now, smile on your brother everybody 'get together' try to love one another right now"

Wow!! You've got to be the first reactors to react to Small Faces. Itchykoo Park is a closet classic.

Faces is the direct descendent, after some personnel changes, of the Small Faces. You gave a fair review, but this song is less impactful outside of its historical context. This is from that moment in time when rock was expanding and diversifying and a song like Itchykoo Park was at the forefront of what is now known as psychedelic rock. To come right out and sing at the top of your lungs "I got high" was a bold act in August of 1967. I would say you are correct in thinking this song, and band, was the influencer, rather than the influenced, relative to early Pink Floyd, etc. So, again, a fair review, but the song also deserves credit for what it was, and the group the Small Faces for who they were, in the evolution of rock and roll.

Always loved from when it was first released, great band.

Steve Marriott had an AMAZING rock voice! He also formed Humble Pie later on...awesome bluesy band. thx for sharing Andy & Alex :)

Tin Soldier is, I think, their best. Soulful and bluesy with a strong rock guitar and vocals. And one of my favourite songs ever. You will definitely enjoy Tin Soldier

Maybe you youngins never heard of them but us older rockers know them well, this band help spawn some great rock legends. Great song guy's. It's a tribute to the fame park.

Guys, you gotta understand...that era WAS the first time for a LOT of folks all at once to come of age and get high as a rite of passage! And reliving that first moment with the opening of this song brought it back each time it was heard....even today!

This song lives larger in our collective memory than it does on playback. But it was huge back in the day. And although you haven’t reacted to Small Faces before today, you have heard front man Steve Marriott. He was the lead singer for Humble Pie on their song “30 Days in the Hole”, which you’ve reacted to previously. Check out “Tin Soldier”, which has Marriott on lead vocals, and “Song of a Baker”, which has Ronnie Lane on lead vocals. Both are much different than what you heard today, and much heavier.

Didn’t Steve Marriott go to Humble Pie and they became Faces when Rod Stewert joined.

“Song of a Baker” from “Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake” is one of my favorite songs of theirs. So much emotion.

Lazy Sunday is their ultimate track

About time. Thank you. Guy's don't be put off by this song Try "Tin Soldier" By the Small Faces. Steve Marriott was one of the greatest vocalists out there. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 2012.

Love this track! Thanks for reacting

Nostalgia rating: S, overall rating: B+ for sure. A fun shout out to being young and getting high. "you'll skip school - wont that be cool" - gosh, what rebels we were back in the day. Carry On!!

Basically in 1968 The Small Faces split into two groups, Steve Marriott (vocals & guitar) left to form heavy rockers Humble Pie with Peter Frampton (ex The Herd). The rest of the band then changed the group's name to just the 'Faces.' Both group's went on to have considerable success in the UK (& the US). 😊👍

Odd you should mention Robert Plant, he was a Small Faces groupie, check out "You need lovin" by the SF and you'll see right away where that ended up.🤠

Steve Mariott the creator of Rock's vocal style

HUMBLE PIE 🥧 is SMOKIN 🔥 with Steve Mariott

In '66 this was cutting edge! It's difficult for you guys to rate these songs fairly because you've heard things that easily eclipsed them years or decades later. And it's difficult for us oldsters to fairly rate them because our judgement may be clouded by memories they evoke. Still, I agree with the sentiment that 'if you have fond memories of the '60s, you weren't doing it right".

"He sounded like Robert Plant" Funny enough, Jimmy Page wanted to hire Steve Marriott for The New Yardbirds/aka Led Zeppelin. After the Small Faces' manager asked him if he still would be able to play guitar with broken fingers, Page had to look somewhere else. Robert Plant was a pretty good second choice imho.

Another great song by Steve Mariott and the Small Faces is Lazy Sunday 🔥 His music and vocal style inspired what became modern rock n roll

Maybe a Summer of Love live stream? Only songs that charted during the summer of 1967. Random choices. June 1967 - October 1967.

In 1965 the Small Faces adapted Muddy Waters "You Need Love" into "You Need Loving". Led Zeppelin took from both to make "Whole Lotta Love". As usual they gave no credit. I think Plant based a lot of his vocal style on Steve Marriott.

Please react to “Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan, circa 1968. Fantastic psychedelia. Fun fact.. Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham played on this. They did some time as session musicians and did back up for Donovan.

You need to check out more songs by the Kinks.

Hi from Essex, where the singer, Steve Marriott, died in a fire quite near where I'm currently living. They were never my favourite band but they were quite popular back in the day. My favourite track of theirs would be All or Nothing - quite a belter - covered by Starsailor who did a fine job too. Off the subject but talking of Fleetwood Mac, I used to see them live when Peter Green fronted the band. Need Your Love So Bad is still a favourite of mine and well worth a listen.

Andy...you said exactly what this song meant to us in 67. It's a fun song, that's all. 👍

I rate the "Roots of Rock Livestream" S- Tier! 🔥👏 Should be entered into the Library of Congress for historical context. Adam's superb narration (elaboration)added so much. Beginning with Robert Johnson, (Memphis Minnie, Leadbelly etc) concluding with Rock Around the Clock was just perfect. Hitting all the right keypoints in between. Can"t stop listening!!! Have listened every day since aired!! Needs to be a Pt 2 for sure, if so a few key artists missed(no complaints you guys covered a lot of ground !!) 1) Louis Jordan - Caldonia (circa 46) Before Rocket 88 and Rock around the Clock he developed that style known as "Jump Swing blues". 2) Cab Calloway - Minnie the Moocher (1931) They called Elvis the Pelvis? This Big Bandleader was shaking his thing when Elvis was in his diapers,lol 3) Fats Waller- Aint Misbehaving (1929) The most charismatic piano man ever ( & singer) master of the " Stride piano style". (All 3 wrote majority of their material covered by countless artists). Another Suggestion "Roots of Soul, R&B & Funk". All have such an influence on rock I feel totally relevant and would have equal positive response. Could be divided in 2 parts. 1)Roots of "Soul& R&B 2) Roots of Funk

Andy is correct. Plant’s sound but earlier 😁

Is this your gateway to Donovan? I hope so. He was extremely influential.

I didn't know that I know this song, and I had no idea Small Faces did it. Thanks guys!

Much better songs by them imo: 1) Tin soldier (featuring a brilliant female singer P P Arnold) 2)All or Nothing (60s banger) I think the lead singer died trapped by his bed (drunk) in a house fire in the 90s

What a great band you need to play all or nothing, Tin soldier ,& Talk to me ,to hear steve Marriott's unique voice he really was an outstanding singer RIP steve Ronnie & ian such a sad loss💔

First released use of that phase shift effect in a pop song (they heard the effect in some of the pre-release Sgt. Pepper tracks and asked how the Beatles did it).

Love love love this song! Been listening to it since 1967… I was 14. It completely fit for the times.

There's a live version of "What'cha Gonna Do About It?" from 1966 with Marriott is singing like Plant, ripping like Page, and moving like Jagger. It's a blistering performance!

A song from "the Summer of Love," 1967. Some have written that 1967 was the greatest year in music (a livestream?). Released in August 1967, went to Number 16 in the U.S. The Beatles released "Sgt. Peppers" in May and "Magical Mystery Tour" in November. Might want to check the "Itchykoo Park" performance on KZfaq (could be telling). For some reason, besides wondering about Itchykoo Park, the War, it reminds me of the street rod scene in 1967, "hopped up, fixed up" cars with aftermarket parts of that time, not the mention going into the 4th year of "Muscle Cars" from Detroit. Wow!

If you like Steves vocals in this, give Humble Pie a listen if you haven't. 30 Days In The Hole, Hot and Nasty, I Don't Need No Doctor are a good place to start. Steve Marriotts vocals are on another level.

If you want to look further into important UK bands that never made it in the US, then The Move is essential. Eventually led to the formation of ELO, but were highly successful in their own right.

They got a lot of air play and at that time using the word “high” was very risky because radio stations were afraid of any song eluding to getting high on drugs! Ahh the old days lol!

Personally I think Tin Soldier is their best tune

Thanks, guys. This song really caught my ear as a teenager. Their crowning glory was “Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake”. You might try “Song of the Baker” for a good rocker.

I'm 74 years old and I remember this song on the radio. Always liked it.

Lead singer Steve Marriott went on to Humble Pie. Listen to Black Coffee by Humble Pie.

Ahhh Steve Marriott - East London's finest blue eyed soul. You liked 30 Days in the Hole? Same singer.

You should listen to “You Need Love” from their 1966 debut album. Totally rocks and your can hear the influence this had on Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin

Tuuuunnnee..what a song....immense

This song means so much to so many old hippies like me ! ☮️💟

I think this song was more about tripping on acid which was still legal to purchase in the streets. LSD was a very popular, and inexpensive LEGAL drug in that time period. In 1963 Sandoz let their patent run out for their product LSD so anyone with a little chemical background (college lab students) could make it and they sure did. LSD became illegal in the UK in 1966 and in the USA in 1968. From experience, one of the first effects of acid had on me was that 'everything was beautiful', just like this song says. That's why it is repeated so much.

First?? I love this song…a little early psychedelia. Whiskey…

Ahhh.....the Small Faces rabbit hole leading to Faces and Humble Pie. Worthwhile!

The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist/bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The band is known for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists.[4] The band had a string of hits throughout the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things", and "Over Under Sideways Down". Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental breaks,[5] the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneering psychedelic rock and early hard rock; and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s. Some rock critics and historians also cite their influence on the later punk rock, progressive rock, and heavy metal trends.[6][5] Following the band's split in 1968, Relf and McCarty formed Renaissance and guitarist Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin - the latter of which was initially intended as a direct successor to the Yardbirds.

"Tin Soldier" and "Afterglow" are songs that showcase Marriott's vocals.

this was just one of their pop singles. Tin Soldier is the one you want.

The first song to feature the flanging effect, created by having the song played by two tape recorder at the same time and then slightly adjusting the speed of one machine by touching the flange of the tape reel which would slow it down. An effect accidentally discovered by the Beatles, who were recording in a studio at the same time as The small faces where recording Itchycoo Park

Oh so cool to hear again. I loved this and it was on the radio a lot when I was in highschool in Madison, Wisconsin and I had totally forgotten it. Hearing it again has it running round and round in my head.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake is a great album!! The Small Faces came first, they lost a few members and dropped the "small" to become the Faces. This song is a good example of psychedelic pop rock. The special effect is called phasing, it was done by playing two recordings slightly out of phase. I don't think they were copying, they were pioneering. You should listen to the album Ogden's Nut Gone Flake in it's entirety.

Steve Marriott was one of the best rock voices. Check him out in Humble Pie, 'Black Coffee'. I think you guys often judge songs by todays standards but this was written over 50 years ago. No surprise there are ellements that may not appeal to you but it did okay at the time. Maybe if you had been around to pass on your pearls of wisdom they may have been as big as Led Zeppelin. Who knows.

memories of teenage days!! love it

Geeze, what a great song. Seemed really short. Impossible for me not to think of Humble Pie. Great reaction. Love the sounds you heard. 😊✌💙

All of Ogdens Nut Gone Flake by the small faces is a trip / rock opera / themed album.

Tin Soldier by them is great. And Humble pie (the other band featuring the lead singer of Small Faces) would be good to react to again- their Whistle test Black Coffee performance.

A&A, very glad you liked discovering this gem. This song for me best of all the others captured the aspirations of the Summer of Love with "it's all so beautiful" and then the "phased" section -- that was totally the feeling of discovering marijuana and LSD in those magical innocent days. It was great to feel that feeling again!

Now here’s a rarity for me: you guys are reacting to a song that I have never heard before, either!

If you’re interested in the era, try “Dizzy” by Tommy Roe. The songs back then were often just fun, and to us kids actually cool. Itchykoo Park glorified getting high, with “all too beautiful” being needed to justify all the suggestiveness. Small Faces were prototypical with the sound effect, that was later adopted by The Beach Boys. Speaking of Beatles influence, I think Tommy Roe’s use of strings for Dizzy came from The Beatles.

Thank you for sharing your generous reactions to this cool hit. May I suggest The Small Faces classic "Tin Soldier", please? Steve was so emotional and sincere in this outstanding performance. He wrote the song for his 1st future wife who was dating Rod Stewart, during that era. It's incredibly powerful. ☮️😊

that is a very good analogy about finding the gold. They were originators and particularly of the northern soul sound. They mixed rock with rhythm and blues. It was not called soul music yet. They are one of my all time favourite bands and Steve Marriott one of the great singers. Try ' Tin Soldier' or 'You need Lovin' or 'All or nothin' to name a few of the great songs.

The line: "we could go to school... what would we do there... to learn the words of fools..." is a great teen smart ass lyric...

Steve Marriott! "Tin Soldier" is the one to check out.

I love Steve Marriott but I like his more hard rocking work with Humble Pie in the 70s a lot more than this. This is classic psychedelia tho...

As others have said, Tin Soldier for more Small Faces (introducing you to PP Arnold, which can only be a good thing) and staying with Marriott follow it with Humble Pie - Black Coffee.

Sweet! I kept asking for this during live steam.

I certainly think there is a place for this music and reviews. I’ve grown to appreciate it the older I get. That said this is 60’s AM radio music. Comparable to The Grassroots, Tommy James & the Shondells, Spiral Staircase, Strawberry Alarm Clock and many more 60’s AM radio bands. Love this music but this was pop music. I look at it that way and enjoy it for what it is. Not what was really happening over on FM radio. :)

I love the Small Faces. 'Tin Soldier', 'Sha-La-La-La-Lee', 'All Or Nothing', 'Lazy Sunday', 'My Mind's Eye' are probably the best next.

I haven’t heard this song in years! Thank you for reacting to a true gem!

OMG Finally the 60’s. So much great music.

Interesting 1st choice, 'Tin Soldier' might have been a better choice IMHO.

Alex: I consider the two of you to be the absolute best at what you do. However, please stop dinging songs for sounding like the Beatles. I see that you are getting how good The Beatles were, but you don't have the perspective of having lived at the time and having your radio on constantly through it. The Beatles would set the bar and parameters, and everyone else would explore that (not steal from it, usually), but four months later The Beatles would set the bar again. Even at that, you can't fairly ding Small Faces for playing 60s pop. They were considered "mods" anyway, so if you want to compare them it should be to bands like The Who, The Kinks, and fringe stuff like The Graham Bond Organization. This was a legit and popular variant of pop in the 60s.

Steve Marriott was pretty subdued in his younger days in the early part of his career, before "Humble Pie" in the 70s. It's like he just realized how freaking great his vocals were. Truly one of the best voices in Rock history. This song was about skipping school, and taking LSD, and going down to "Itchy coo Park" in lower London. Yes, it's a real place, and they really did what they talk about in this song. I was 12 when I first heard this song as a kid in Seattle. Yes, those crazy drug filled1960s. The music was so damn good in those days.

Love this song! It was so great when it came on the radio when I was a kid, sounded so fresh and happy.