Return To Itchycoo Park: Small Faces’ “Here Come The Nice” Deluxe Box Set Arrives In January [UPDATED 12/3]

 

The culmination of the recent Small Faces reissue series from the Charly/Snapper label is set for arrival in January: Here Come the Nice: The Immediate Years Box Set 1967-1969, a lavish 4-CD, 3-EP box set containing “every [one of the band’s] worldwide hit single A & B side on Immediate Records” plus rare and previously unreleased material, “remastered from recently-discovered original master and multi-track tapes.”  The set has been produced under the supervision of surviving band members Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan, both of whom have signed certificates to be included in each one of the limited edition box sets available in the U.S. on January 28 exclusively at Amazon.com.  The box is limited to 3,000 copies worldwide.

The first disc compiles 20 original Immediate mono single sides, while the second and third discs premiere 34 previously unreleased alternates recorded at Olympic, Trident and IBC Studios.  The fourth CD features 21 more previously unreleased outtakes and alternates, plus live material from the Small Faces’ Newcastle City Hall gig of November 18, 1968.  Three replica vinyl EPs are also included.  The first of these, Small Faces Album Sampler, was originally released as a one-sided promotional single to coincide with the band’s first Immediate album, and features excerpts of album cuts along with deejay Tommy Vance’s announcements.  The second EP is a French “Here Come the Nice” with the title track mixed slightly faster, and the third EP is the French “Itchycoo Park” release.  A replica of the original Olympic Sound Studios one-off acetate pressing for Andrew Loog Oldham for the song “Mystery” is another key component.

Designed by Grammy Award winner Rachel Gutek, Here Come the Nice boasts a 72-page hardbound book with introductions from Jones and McLagan, a foreword by Pete Townshend and liner notes by Mark Paytress.  In addition, Robert Plant, Paul Weller, David Bowie, Peter Frampton, Nick Mason, Chris Robinson, Glen Matlock, Chad Smith and Paul Stanley (Kiss) have all contributed to the text.  Track-by-track liner notes and a discography are all included alongside numerous photos and memorabilia images.  The box also makes room for double-sided postcards, a replica of the Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake press kit, two of Gered Mankowitz’s fine art prints, two original poster reproductions, and perhaps most excitingly, a 64-page illustrated lyric booklet for all songs on the box set.

Here Come the Nice is available on January 28 from Amazon U.S. only.  Due to territorial restrictions, the set is not being offered on Amazon U.K. and retailer Burning Shed has indicated that it will cancel any orders placed from within the United Kingdom.

After the jump: you’ll find the contents of our original post detailing previous Small Faces reissues, and then a complete track listing and pre-order link for the new box set!

LAST UPDATE 3/6/13: Following last year’s acclaimed remasters of four Small Faces albums from the Universal and Charly labels, the U.S. label Varese Vintage is getting into the act with a new CD release from the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.

1967’s There Are But Four Small Faces was the U.S. equivalent album to the eponymous U.K. release of the same year from Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones. In this era, the practice of releasing unique albums for the U.S. and U.K. markets was commonplace, and the 14-track British release was whittled down to 12 tracks for U.S. consumption. Yet the differences between the albums went further than that. Seven songs out of the original 14 were dropped (“Something I Want to Tell You,” “Feeling Lonely,” “Happy Boys Happy,” “Things Are Going to Get Better,” “Become Like You,” “All Our Yesterdays” and “Eddie’s Dreaming”) and five previous U.K. singles were added (“I’m Only Dreaming,” “I Feel Much Better,” and three notable hits, “Here Come the Nice,” “Itchycoo Park” and “Tin Soldier”). The result is a very different album that is returning to CD in its original, unaltered sequence; a 1991 CD added a couple of alternate takes, a 1997 release from Castle Communications appended the five U.S. tracks to the end of its Small Faces reissue, and of course last year’s 2-CD Small Faces also contained all of the songs from both editions.

On April 30, Varese Vintage will reissue There Are But Four Small Faces, with restored original American cover artwork, on CD. All tracks are in stereo including new, exclusive stereo mixes of “I’m Only Dreaming” and “My Way of Giving.” You’ll find a full track listing below, at the bottom of this post!

ORIGINAL POST [LAST UPDATED 2/16/12]: On December 7, 2011, The Small Faces were announced as inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, marking a long overdue honor for the quartet of Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan. The only head-scratching aspect of the recognition is that Small Faces is sharing it with Faces, the group formed by the remaining members plus Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood once Marriott departed for Humble Pie. Faces had a very different musical sound than its predecessor, but now Small Faces can bask in the spotlight alone with the release of four Deluxe Editions from the British arm of Universal Music Group.

Small Faces (Decca, 1966), From the Beginning (Decca, 1967) and Small Faces (Immediate, 1968) will all be reissued as 2-CD sets, while the band’s acknowledged masterwork, Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake (Immediate, 1968), will be the recipient of a 3-CD set. These follow the general format of the well-regarded Kinks reissues from Universal, containing the original albums in both mono and stereo (where applicable) plus a plethora of bonus material. All four sets will arrive in the United Kingdom on May 7.

Like so many other young British bands of the era, the Small Faces’ earliest musical aspirations were in emulation of their rhythm-and-blues idols. But, like The Who, the mod scene called to Marriott (lead singer/guitar), Lane (bass/vocals), Jones (drums) and Jimmy Winston (organ). After proving themselves with gigs in London and environs, the group members were signed by the notorious Don Arden, father of Sharon Osbourne and soon-to-be manager of Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath, among others. Arden secured a deal with Decca Records, and Marriott and Lane set about to hone their talents as songwriters. After a moderately successful first single (“What’cha Gonna Do About It,” cribbed from a Solomon Burke song, and written by Ian Samwell and Brian Potter) and a less successful follow-up (“I’ve Got Mine”), Winston was ushered out of the band, replaced by Ian McLagan. The Marriott/Lane songwriting team was born with “Hey Girl,” and the Top 10 single led to the band’s first album, simply titled Small Faces. Even better was their original “My Mind’s Eye,” which headed straight for the top, despite being an unfinished demo! The Small Faces were on their way to rock supremacy at least in the U.K., maintaining high visibility on television programs and onstage. They would have to wait for (moderate) American success, though.

By the end of 1966, the band had severed ties with Arden, unhappy with both his punishing tour schedule and refusal to allow them the luxury of studio time to properly craft long-playing albums. 1967’s From the Beginning wasn’t a true Small Faces album, but rather an LP cobbled together by Decca after the band had decamped for new manager Andrew Loog Oldham and his hip Immediate Records label. Still, the album isn’t without its pleasures, from the budding psychedelia of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” from the Marriott/Lane team and blazing covers of Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and Smokey Robinson’s “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.”

The band announced its Immediacy with its second LP in as many years called Small Faces. Though still rooted in R&B and mod sounds, this Small Faces and engineer Glyn Johns took the psychedelic sound experimentation a step further, placing the band at the cutting edge. Their Immediate debut single “Here Comes the Nice” heralded the new sound, a rather overtly drug-influenced song. The next single on Oldham’s imprint was the sun-kissed psychedelic pop ode, “Itchycoo Park.” It became the Small Faces’ first of two charting singles in America, and likely remains the band’s best-loved song today. “Tin Soldier” followed “Itchycoo” onto the charts on both sides of the pond, and featured fellow Immediate artist P.P. Arnold on backing vocals. The restless band, though, didn’t feel that their pop success accurately represented their sound or their ambitions, and so Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake was devised.

Recorded in 1968 over five months in at least four studios, it was the album the band had always hoped to craft, more than just a loose assemblage of songs. Every bit as quintessentially “British” as the Kinks’ Village Green Preservation Society, it remains one of the most distinct psychedelic albums ever recorded. Ogdens combined soul, orchestrated pop, R&B, folk and comic, whimsical narration by comedian Stanley Unwin about “Happiness Stan.” (Goon legend Spike Milligan reportedly turned the band down when offered this gig!) Marriott even adopted different voices for the LP, including a thick cockney dialect. Ogdens announced itself with its round cover replica of a vintage tobacco tin; the unusual design and timely, visceral music paid off when the album hit No. 1 in the band’s native England. In the U.S., however, it placed at a disappointing No. 159.

By the end of 1968, Steve Marriott was gone, reportedly frustrated at the band’s inability to break out of the prescribed pop mold. Kenney Jones later reflected that the band wasn’t able to perform Ogdens live and therefore couldn’t expose the full breadth of its sound to the public. (It was performed as a whole live just once, for the BBC.) A greatest hits-and-rarities double album, The Autumn Stone, arrived in late 1969 from Immediate, but by then, the band had dissolved. (1970’s First Step, though by Faces, was credited in North America to Small Faces. Later in the seventies, the band would reunite with some personnel changes, before breaking up again in 1978. Steve Marriott died in 1991, the victim of a tragic fire believed to be caused by his lit cigarette when he fell asleep. Ronnie Lane succumbed to multiple sclerosis in 1997 after a valiant fight with the disease.)

The Small Faces’ catalogue has been in a bit of disarray in the compact disc era, with various labels churning out multiple releases over the years. This Universal series of Deluxe Editions looks to rectify that, as it’s expected to append singles and alternate mixes to each album. Track listings have recently been revealed by a number of e-tailers, as well as on the band’s Facebook page. You’ll find those below, along with order links.

Small Faces, Small Faces (Decca 4790, 1966 – reissued Universal U.K., 2012)

CD 1: Tracks 1-12 from Decca LP 4790, 1966

1. Shake
2. Come On Children
3. You Better Believe It
4. It’s Too Late
5. One Night Stand
6. What’Cha Gonna Do About It
7. Sorry She’s Mine
8. Own Up Time
9. You Need Loving
10. Don’t Stop What You’re Doing
11. E Too D
12. Sha La La La Lee
13. I’ve Got Mine (from Decca single F-12276, 1965)
14. What’s A Matter Baby (from Decca single F-12208. 1965)
15. Grow Your Own (from Decca single F-12317, 1966)
16. Patterns (from Decca single F-12619, 1967)

CD 2

1. Come On Children – Alternate Version (from Small Faces, Decca 984 172-1, 2006)
2. Shake – Alternate Version (from Small Faces, Decca 984 172-1, 2006)
3. You Better Believe It – Alternate Version (from Small Faces, Decca 984 172-1, 2006)
4. It’s Too Late – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
5. Sorry She’s Mine – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
6. Own Up Time – Alternate Version (from Small Faces, Decca 984 172-1, 2006)
7. E Too D – Alternate Version (from Small Faces, Decca 984 172-1, 2006)
8. I’ve Got Mine – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
9. Grow Your Own – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
10. Sha La La La Lee – Stereo Version
11. Don’t Stop What You’re Doing – Alternate Version
12. Patterns – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
13. What’s A Matter Baby – Alternate Mix
14. What’Cha Gonna Do About It – Alternate Version (from Small Faces, Decca 984 172-1, 2006)

Small Faces, From the Beginning (Decca 4879, 1967 – reissued Universal U.K., 2012)

CD 1: Tracks 1-14 from Decca 4879, 1967

1. Runaway
2. My Mind’s Eye
3. Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow
4. That Man
5. My Way Of Giving
6. Hey Girl
7. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me
8. Take This Hurt Off Me
9. All Or Nothing
10. Baby Don’t You Do It
11. Plum Nellie
12. Sha La La La Lee
13. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me
14. What’Cha Gonna Do About
15. Almost Grown (from Decca single 26058, 1966)
16. Understanding (from Decca single 12470, 1966)
17. I Can’t Dance With You (from Decca single 25269, 1966)
18. I Can’t Make It – Session Version
19. Just Passing (from Decca single 12565, 1967)

CD 2

1. Runaway – Alternate Mix
2. That Man – Alternate Mix
3. Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow – Alternate Mix
4. My Mind’s Eye – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
5. Picaninny – Backing Track
6. Hey Girl – Alternate Version
7. Take This Hurt Off Me – Different Version (from In the Beginning, Decca CD 844 633-2, 1996)
8. Baby Don’t You Do It – Different Version (from In the Beginning, Decca CD 844 633-2, 1996)
9. All Or Nothing – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
10. Understanding – Alternate Mix (Electronically Processed Stereo)
11. Talk To You – Take 5 Backing Track
12. All Our Yesterdays – Take 7 Backing Track
13. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me – Alternate Take 2
14. Show Me The Way – Take 3 Backing Track
15. I Can’t Make It – Take 11 Backing Track
16. Things Are Going to Get Better – Take 14 Session Version

Small Faces, Small Faces (Immediate IMLP/IMSP 008, 1967, reissued Universal U.K., 2012)

CD 1: The Mono Album plus bonus tracks (Tracks 1-14 from IMLP 008, 1967)

1. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me
2. Something I Want To Tell You
3. Feeling Lonely
4. Happy Boys Happy
5. Things Are Going To Get Better
6. My Way Of Giving
7. Green Circles
8. Become Like You
9. Get Yourself Together
10. All Our Yesterdays
11. Talk To You
12. Show Me The Way
13. Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire
14. Eddie’s Dreaming
15. Here Comes The Nice (Immediate single IM 050, 1967)
16. Itchycoo Park (Immediate single IM 057-A, 1967)
17. I’m Only Dreaming (Immediate single IM 057-B, 1967)
18. Tin Soldier (Immediate single IM 062-A, 1967)
19. I Feel Much Better (Immediate single IM 062-B, 1967)
20. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me – Alternate Mix
21. Eddie’s Dreaming – Alternate Mix
22. Green Circles – Take 1 Alternate Mix 3

CD 2: The Stereo Album plus bonus tracks (Tracks 1-14 from IMSP 008, 1967)

1. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me – Stereo Version
2. Something I Want To Tell You – Stereo Version
3. Feeling Lonely – Stereo Version
4. Happy Boys Happy – Stereo Version
5. Things Are Going To Get Better – Stereo Version
6. My Way Of Giving – Stereo Version
7. Green Circles – Stereo Version
8. Become Like You – Stereo Version
9. Get Yourself Together – Stereo Version
10. All Our Yesterdays – Stereo Version
11. Talk To You – Stereo Version
12. Show Me The Way – Stereo Version
13. Up the Wooden Hills to Bedfordshire – Stereo Version
14. Eddie’s Dreaming – Stereo Version
15. Just Passing – Stereo Version (may have been included on The Immediate Years, Charly CDIMMBOX1, 1995)
16. Itchycoo Park – Stereo Version (may have been included on The Immediate Years, Charly CDIMMBOX1, 1995)
17. Here Comes The Nice – Stereo Version (may have been included on The Immediate Years, Charly CDIMMBOX1, 1995)
18. Don’t Burst My Bubble – Stereo Version
19. Things Are Going to Get Better – Alternate Version
20. I Can’t Make It – Session Version
21. Green Circles – Alternate Take 2
22. Tin Soldier – Stereo Version (may have been included on The Immediate Years, Charly CDIMMBOX1, 1995)
23. (If You Think You’re) Groovy – Backing Track

Smalll Faces, Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake (Immediate IMLP/IMSP 012, 1968)

CD 1: The Mono Album (Immediate IMLP 012, 1968)

1. Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
2. Afterglow (Of Your Love)
3. Long Agos And Worlds Apart
4. Rene
5. Song Of A Baker
6. Lazy Sunday
7. Happiness Stan
8. Rollin’ Over
9. The Hungry Intruder
10. The Journey
11. Mad John (Extended Version)
12. Happydaystoytown

CD 2: Bonus Material

1. Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake – Early Session Version
2. Afterglow (Of Your Love) – Alternate USA Mix
3. Long Agos And Worlds Apart – Alternate USA Mix
4. Rene – Early Session Mix
5. Song Of A Baker – Alternate USA Mix
6. Lazy Sunday – Alternate USA Mix
7. Happiness Stan – Backing Track
8. Bun In The Oven – Early Session Mix
9. The Fly – Take 4 Instrumental Version
10. Mad John – Take 7 Early Session Version
11. Happydaystoytown – Alternate USA Mix
12. Kamikhazi – Take 7 Backing Track Version
13. Every Little Bit Hurts – Early Session Mix
14. Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake – Alternate Take Phased Mix

CD 3: The Stereo Album (Immediate IMSP 012, 1968)

1. Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake
2. Afterglow (Of Your Love)
3. Long Agos And Worlds Apart
4. Rene
5. Song Of A Baker
6. Lazy Sunday
7. Happiness Stan
8. Rollin’ Over
9. The Hungry Intruder
10. The Journey
11. Mad John (Extended Version)
12. Happydaystoytown

Small Faces, There Are But Four Small Faces (Immediate Z12 52 002, 1967 – reissued Varese Vintage, 2013) (No pre-order link available yet)

1. Itchycoo Park
2. Talk to You
3. Up the Wooden Hills [To Bedfordshire]
4. My Way of Giving (*)
5. I’m Only Dreaming (*)
6. I Feel Much Better
7. Tin Soldier
8. Get Yourself Together
9. Show Me the Way
10. Here Come the Nice
11. Green Circles
12. Tell Me (Have You Ever Seen Me)

(*) denotes exclusive stereo mix

Small Faces, Here Come the Nice: The Immediate Years 1967-1969 (Snapper, 2014)

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

All tracks are original Immediate 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 are previously unreleased versions taken from original studio multi-track and session master tapes.

CD3 – 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 are previously unreleased versions taken from original studio multi-track and session master tapes.

CD4 – 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

All tracks rare or (*) previously unreleased versions. Taken from original studio and session master tapes.   Live tracks recorded at Newcastle City Hall 18 November 1968. Taken from Pye Studios master tape, pitch and speed corrected.

Small Faces Album Sampler EP (One-sided promo single – Excerpts From The Small Faces LP (mono))

• The original 7″ vinyl was issued as a promotional single for the debut Immediate album, featuring excepts from “Get Yourself Together,” “Green Circles,” “Talk To You,” “All Our Yesterdays,” “Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire” with DJ Tommy Vance announcements.

“Here Come The Nice” – French EP

1. Here Come The Nice (mono, slightly faster mix)
2. Talk To You (mono)
3. Become Like You (mono)
4. Get Yourself Together (mono)

“Itchycoo Park” – French EP

1. Itchycoo Park (mono)
2. I’m Only Dreaming (mono)
3. Green Circles (mono)
4. Eddie’s Dreaming (mono)

“Mystery” Replica Acetate

• Intended to be a single, a handful of acetates of “Mystery” were produced for the band and Andrew Loog Oldham to check the mix. For unknown reasons, the single wasn’t released, and Ronnie went back into Olympic to record a new vocal during April 1967 for the newly entitled “Something I Want To Tell You.” This is a replica of the acetate delivered to Andrew Loog Oldham back in 1967.