The history of the Small Faces and Rod Stewart
starts at the beginning of the British Blues movement.
It spread in almost every direction and is one of the
most complicated bits of rock history there is.
It grew from obscurity to super stardom. There are
as many success stories as there are tragic endings.
starts at the beginning of the British Blues movement.
It spread in almost every direction and is one of the
most complicated bits of rock history there is.
It grew from obscurity to super stardom. There are
as many success stories as there are tragic endings.
Small Faces
Itchycoo Park (live clip)
Tin Soldier ( live Clip)
My friends and I saw The Faces in concert
at the Cow Palace, SF, October 4, 1973.
To see our photos and read our memoirs, go to -
BRIT ROCK BY THE BAY
Itchycoo Park (live clip)
Tin Soldier ( live Clip)
My friends and I saw The Faces in concert
at the Cow Palace, SF, October 4, 1973.
To see our photos and read our memoirs, go to -
BRIT ROCK BY THE BAY
While the Small Faces were
having success in Britain and the USA,
Ronnie Wood was in a group called
The Birds. His Brother was in a group
called The Artwoods.
Rod Stewart started hanging around
blues clubs and asking to sing on stage.
The photo and article below are from the
"British Beat" by Terry Rawlings.
Copyright Omnibus Press 2002
He joined the band Steampacket.
Considered the first British super group,
it included Julie Driscoll, (later Julie Tippits),
John Baldry and Brian Auger. They never recorded
an album, but later on, studio takes and live
recordings were released.
Steampacket (live clip)
Text below is from,
"British Beat" by Terry Rawlings.
Copyright Omnibus Press 2002. The photo
is uncredited. It is from "The End of Innocence"
Copyright Scalo Publications 1997.
After Steampacket disbanded, Rod Stewart helped
form a new band similar to Steampacket. It was
called Shotgun Express and included
Peter Bardens. They released a few singles
but no album.
Shotgun Express (audio)
Peter Bardens
The photos are uncredited. They are from "The End
of Innocence". Copyright Scalo Publications 1997.
Rod then joined The Jeff Beck Group
and released two very successful albums.
That group also included Ron Wood.
The photo is uncredited.
It is from "The End of Innocence"
Copyright Scalo Publications 1997.
With his new success, Rod recorded
his first solo album. It was titled,
"An Old Raincoat Will Never Let You
Down". In the USA it was released
with a different title and blank cover.
It may have been that the photos of an adult
man in a raincoat playing with children didn't
go over well in the states.
Rod Stewart had hit it big and
was interviewed in major tabloids.
The Small Faces were disbanding.
Steve Marriott formed
Humble Pie with Peter Frampton.
Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood
joined the remaining three members,
and they changed their name to
The Faces. This became necessary due
to the fact that Both Rod and Ronnie
were taller.
The cracks were beginning to
show in this CIRCUS Magazine article.
Rod Stewart's Rock Circus, September 1972
By 1972 they had reached major success
and Rod "The Mod" Stewart was a
rock sex symbol.
The success of the band went mainly to Rod.
He continued to record solo albums
while singing with the Faces. His solo
work was out selling the Faces albums.
Ronnie Lane became
disenchanted with this. He did not like
playing the giant halls where the
audience could barely see them.
He left and was replaced with
Tetsu, A Japanese bass player
who had previously replaced
Andy Fraiser in Free.
Ronnie Lane took his show on the road
like a traveling circus. He lived like a Gypsy.
His rejection of the glitzy stardom he
had once lived was complete.
This article is from
CIRCUS magazine 4/74
Rod Stewart's fame continued as a
solo act. The Faces finally disbanded.
Ron Wood joined The Rolling Stones
and Kenny Jones joined The Who.
Where it all began.
British Blues music. He died young,
but left a legacy that lives today.
Mickey Wallers Remembers Cyril Davis
Along with Cyril Davies, there
was Alexis Korner.
The single posted
below shows Alexis, Cyril and
Dick Heckstall-Smith.
The man most credited for giving
Rod Stewart, Elton John and many others
their first break was Long John Baldry.
He passed away July 21, 2005.
As others grew more famous and wealthy,
Ronnie Lane struggled, not only
financilly, but was
stricken with MS.
The concert that showed us
that even rock stars, (well, some of them),
have a big heart. A benefit for Ronnie Lane.
Meanwhile, Steve Marriott
had recorded many albums with
Humble Pie, but finally disbanded in the 70s.
As other's fame grew, Marriott's star
was fading. A few attempts
to reform the band were ended
in a fire that took his life.
Ronnie Lane passed
away in 1997.
Here are some of the albums
that were key to the story.
Rod Stewart and Elton John
came to Baldry's aid on a couple
of his albums. He struggled to make
it in the music world with some success in rock,
but also as as crooner for older ladies.
"It Ain't Easy" is a classic rock album
and highly recommended.
"Everything Stops for Tea" was also
a fine album and had help from
both Elton John and Rod Stewart.
The cover art is by Ron Wood!
An early USA release. Great album.
Lousy cover.
The Small Faces classic concept
album, "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake".
It used narration between songs and
a round cover that opened up.
It is considered the first concept
album and preceaded The Who's
TOMMY by a year. It was
Ronnie Lane's idea.
After Steampacket broke up,
Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll
formed Trinity. They recorded
a few classic albums.
Julie Driscoll recorded solo
albums later under her married
name, Juile Tippits. These albums are
now hard to find, but highly recommended.
The cover art for "Streetnoise"
is by Ralph Steadman.
Peter Bardens went on to
form his own band, Camel.
These albums are also
highly recommended.
Jeff Beck has continued to
record many fine albums.
Rod's first USA release.
The British version.
The first album with Rod and Ron.
Rod's second solo release.
Rod's third solo album was a
blockbuster with his major
hit, "Maggie May". Maggie Bell
was the other voice on "Every
Picture Tells a Story". She
was from a band called Stone the
Crows and one of England's most
respected female vocalists.
Possibly their finest album.
Rod continued to release
solo albums that out sold
the Faces. The graphics
were outstanding.
Ooh La La, the Faces last album.
Possibly the most elaborate album cover ever.
It gives instructions to press down
on the top. The gentleman's face
moves. His eyes shift and his mouth opens.
Rod Stewart called it "A stinking rotten album!"
Ronnie lane quit. A sad end to a
great band.
Ian McLagan continued on
as a solo. He performs and
records even today.
Pete Townsand recorded
"Rough-Mix" with Ronnie Lane.
I think it was to help an old friend,
but is one of Pete's and Ronnie's
best works outside of their
old bands.
It is very heartwarming to see
that Cyril Davies is
remembered today.
Fantastic post Dave. Very well organized and thought out. I really like reading the articles and looking at the albums I sold long ago. BRAVO!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic collection of memorabilia, and I especially love that you're using audio clips and links to YouTube.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this great post. The Faces are indeed a great band, as were the places they came from (Jeff Beck, Long John Baldry).
ReplyDeleteWhat a magnificent bloody post!
ReplyDeleteExcellent work!
Well done!
:-)