SMALL FACES/FROM THE BEGINNING LK 4879 (-67) UK MONO

Sort of compilation issued by Decca after the band left the label for Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate. You get four former 45 A-sides - "What'cha Gonna Do About It", "All Or Nothing", "Hey Girl" and "My Mind's Eye" - coupled with two alternate versions of songs that later would be re-recorded for their 1st Immediate album - "Tell Me Have You Ever Seen Me" and "My Way Of Giving" - plus eight earlier unissued. LP a product of the vault cleaning labels sometimes did when acts had moved on and those seldom came out pretty, though in this case the result is borderline fine and to my ears certainly a lot better than the 1969 Immediate clinker called "The Autumn Stone" (see earlier post). Audio shifts from very good to almost OK, but never so bad it hampers the joy of listening. I hear a band in transition between mod r&b and psych - or betwixt speed and acid as they were - most of it with a genuine garage quality, topped by memorable melodies and Steve Marriott's soulful vocals and it makes me feel all right. If you are interested in getting all Decca 45:s with top audio on vinyl at a much lower price there may be better ways - e.g. the 1976 Decca compilation "The Singles Album"(see earlier post) - but as this is closer to the fact and released on Decca "unboxed" it remains the most favored by sixties collectors. Originally released in Europe and downunder, First US 1996 on CD (Deram 42284 4633-2) came with five bonus tracks. Premiere UK had ridged label as shown here and laminated cover. (SXÅH*)