Small Faces - "From The Beginning" Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Mono, 2015/1967 (Decca)

In theory, this is a band that yells out "in mono" and not digitalized.  Small Faces is a series of moments that are brilliant.  The ultimate 'mod' band that could have taken over the world, but somehow kept missing the bus, train, or boat to the journey to conquer the world.   Small Faces were the perfect combo - a great lead singer, with excellent support from the other three, and all were small in height.   The foundation to their sound is dynamic R n' B but done in garage style fashion.  Their songs were not art statements, but an excellent observation of the world around them.  "My Mind's Eye" (one of the great psych songs), "Hey Girl" (one of the best "Hey" songs), "All or Nothing," and their non-original song "What'cha Gonna Do About It." 

This is youth music made by youth.  With that in mind, Small Faces were totally fucked in the management department, where they had to shop on the owner's dime.  The great thing about Steve Marriott is that he's from a big showbiz planet.  He was in the original production of "Oliver," and had quite a history even before Small Faces.  Ronnie Lane (his co-writer and the equal half), the great organ playing by Ian McLagan, and the crazed drumming by Kenny Jones.  All four elements equal a great sense of noise and purpose. 

Historically and culturally one often compares Small Faces to The Who.   They do share a vibe, in that both early careers (for Small Faces it was only 'early') seemed to be a mirror image of each other.  Pete Townshend is very much the observer who had school smarts, but Marriott and company's intelligence comes from the streets.   These four lads lived hard.  And that aspect comes through their music.  "From The Beginning" is a fantastic album.  It grooves from side one to the end of side two  Totally Mod-tastic.  

The High Numbers (The Who) "I'm the Face" b/w "Zoot Suit" Vinyl, 7" 33 1/3, Promo (Mercury)

Before The Who, there were The High Numbers.  As far as I know, there are only two songs by The High Numbers, and they are "I'm the Face" and "Zoot Suit."  The Who went on to make great records, but if push comes to a shove, I prefer these early recordings by The High Numbers.  For one, they are strange.  It's RnB but with a druggy sexual edge.   The Who were never sexy to me, but these recordings expose a certain amount of Eros in their mix.  

Both songs were written by their manager at the time, Pete Meaden (1941-1978).  He's considered to be the Mod King.   Druggy with a life that was full of danger, his greatest invention was the early Who.  Both songs capture the Mod aesthetic perfectly.  Tight, controlled, yet bordering on the manic. An excellent record. 

Manfred Mann - "Instrumental Assassination" (Fontana) vinyl 7", 45 rpm, EP 1966

This 45 rpm EP can be seen either as a goof, or an exploration from Manfred Mann (the band) into the shadowy world of jazz, pop and arrangement.   Recorded in 1966, Manfred Mann was between lead singers when they recorded this fantastic music.   Although it is an instrumental release, there are 'vocals' on it - not clear whose voice it is, but it could be Mann (organ and piano) or Mike Hugg (drums and vibraphone).   Mann/Hugg stand out, but also the double bass playing by Dave Richmond is incredible throughout and is very much the instrument that really hooks the listener to the grooves. Beatle friend Klaus Voormann contributed recorder as well.

Manfred Mann, the band, does mostly covers or use material from other songwriters.  They have written songs, but I think their genius is in the arrangements.  Their original singer Paul Jones is one of the great British vocalists from that era, so it must have been an odd moment for them to be without a vocalist and an iconic on top of that.  Here without Jones, they cover the great RnB song "Sonny," as well as two Troggs tunes.   Their arrangement of "Sonny" I think is better than the original recording.  That I know is something that I can be shot on the spot for, but the way they play with the melody and the instrumentation is a perfect mood cocktail.  There are touches of The Modern Jazz Quartet, especially on the Mod side of the street.  I have been looking for this EP for awhile now, and I found it at HMV in Tokyo.  A great find and an amazing EP.