SMALL FACES/78 IN THE SHADE SD 19171 (-78) US

                                                                             

 I ususally shy away from band comebacks made years after their heydays, but thought I'd give this a try. It was the second of two original albums made by Small Faces 1977-78, the fifth in total and also the last.  They were all there except Ronnie Lane,  who struggled with multiple sclerosis and was replaced by Rick Willis.  Both albums have been unanimously dissed by critics and non of them sold sufficiently so I didn't expect a lot when giving this my first listen.  But to my taste it's not that bad.  All old school bass/drum/guitars/organ and no traces of painful synth trials or redundant meddling.  Right on and much probably recorded live in the studio. Far from the band's sixties efforts, but still a pretty good rock soul effort. If You listen very close you can hear parts here and there reminding of what they did in Small Faces or Faces, just alittle less obvious.  For exemple "Filthy Rich" has a style making me think of Ogdens and "Real Sour" might have done it on Long Player.  Of course one can hear this is eight years later and in a way tainted by all that's been around during that time, but as a long time devoted fan of the band I take what I can get and this could have been a lot worse.  1978 vinyl issues on Atlantic all over Europe, Downunder, Japan and a couple of South American countries, US cassette and CD in Germany, Japan US and Taiwan. First US had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (YZÄ*)  (SXÅH*)