Song of the Day: Small Faces “Song of a Baker”

Small Faces (like the Kinks and the Pretty Things) were one of the great English bands who although they had some hits in the US were perhaps too English to completely become as huge as they should have been in America. Formed in East London in 1965 the main line up lasted until 1969 when Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie with Peter Frampton. The rest of the band teamed with Ron Wood and Rod Stewart to continue the group as The Faces.

Small Faces, during their four year stint, did as much as any band to popularize Mod culture in Britain. For those not in the know, Mod culture had its roots in the late 50s and centered around young men (and later women) who would wear smart suits, ride vespas, obsess over jazz, ska, soul and, rhythm and blues music. The original mod scene was also infamous for its all-night amphetamine-fueled dancing at nightclubs

The song I picked here is from the Small Faces‘ 1968 masterpiece Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake, which went to number one in the UK and went nowhere in the US. As a record collector the original pressing of the album is famous for its round design which looked like a tin of tobacco. Although the design was eye catching retailers couldn’t get it to stand up straight in the bins so it was quickly scrapped for a cover with a flat bottom making the old ones collectors’ items. This song should be played LOUD!