REVIEW: The Small Faces The Autumn Stone reissue

For fans of band’s from the 1960’s hearing the discovery of original reel to reel tapes of cherished recordings emerging from archived haunts, dusty attics or purchased via auction with a pending release of the recordings is not only celebrated like completing a never ending marathon.

Maybe overly deserving of such a treasure trove audio find is The Small Faces. Since the demise of Andrew Loog Oldham’s Immediate Records the original tapes of their hallowed recordings have seemingly gone from pillar to post until sole surviving member drummer Kenney Jones and a team of researchers managed to capture the tapes for what we now have is the definitive reissue of The Autumn Stone.

Reissued on 3LP coloured vinyl and 3CD expanded edition, the new formats of The Autumn Stone are significantly expanded from the unfinished, error strewn original 1969 ‘best of’ LP, rush-released by Immediate Records more than six months after the Small Faces band members had gone their separate ways, splitting into The Faces and Humble Pie.

The audio results are simply stunning, overly outdoing any other release released by anyone previously. The sound of the tracks are refreshingly vibrant, jam packed full of energy, juicily remixed and remastered with care and attention bringing the magic midgets back to life with fire and skill. Here Come The Nice, I Can’t Make It, Donkey Rides, A Penny A Glass, Me You And Us Too, freshly unearthed Olympic Jam and infact all of the tracks just take your breath away. Steve Marriott’s voice sores and roars like you’ve never heard before; Ronnie ‘Plonk’ Lane’s subtle plodding’s feels as close to Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn’s feel like Lane would no doubt have always wanted; Ian Mclagan’s keys are often clouded in previous mixes but the perfect balance has been restored stunningly, you can virtually feel his hands all over the ivories; with the back beat of Jones’s on point beats flourishing and vibing better than ever, you wont quite believe your ears, you’ll need to go in for repeated listens to believe what you’re hearing.

Probably the most astute work done in the set are the 5 live tracks recorded live Newcastle City Hall 18 November 1968. You’ll know the tracks well from the original release, a screaming audience shrouding the band on the stage with their deafening adoration. What we have now is the introduction of the band followed by the massive shouts and screeches from the audience but as the first chords of Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake rock tour de force Rollin’ Over begin we are now able to have the crowd turned down in the mix and the joy of hearing the live thundering’s of the band in their mod thrusting pomp. Tim Hardin and Ed Cobb covers If I Were A Carpenter and Every Little Bit Hurts, along with band originals, number 1 single All Or Nothing along with the euphoric rock soul ballad Tin Soldier all fascinating to hear as you can actually hear the bands playing loud and proud.

Further delights include stripped down acoustic takes of The Autumn Stone, Red Balloon, Things Are Going To Get Better, Show Me The Way and others where the listeners get to go one on one with Marriott, as close as you’ll get to hearing how some of the tracks would no doubt started out, just Marriott at one with an acoustic strumming like his life depended on it and with his voice clearer and crisper than you’ve experienced before, the results cannot be put into words. The 2 sets come with previously detailed sleevenotes and track-by-track recording information, beautifully illustrated with rare memorabilia, original artwork & previously unseen photos by Small Faces photographers Tony Gale & Gered Mankowitz.

With the promise of further releases featuring Immediate artists including Chris Farlowe, PP Arnold, Keith Richards and Billy Nicholls, its certainly a great time to be alive to witness these no doubt fabulously crafted reissues. Nice.

www.thesmallfaces.com