Sha-La-La-La-Lee
| "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Grow Your Own" |
"Sha-La-La-La-Lee" was the third song by English R&B influenced group Small Faces, released on 28 January 1966 and reaching number three in the UK Singles Chart.[1] It was also the first single by the group to feature Ian McLagan on keyboards.
Because the group's prevoius song release, the Marriott/Lane composition "I've Got Mine" failed to chart in the UK, Don Arden, determined that the Small Faces would not be one hit wonders, decided to bring in well-known songwriters Kenny Lynch and Mort Shuman to make sure the group's next single would be a success. [2]
The highly commercial sounding song proved a big hit and reached number three in the UK singles chart.[3] Despite the success of "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" the band never really liked the song and felt it did not represent their sound, which was more R&B and soul oriented.[4]
The song was seen by some as the beginning of the end for the Small Faces; it was following the release of this song that the group became often viewed in the music press as just another teenybopper band, who should not be taken as seriously as some of their contemporaries, such as The Who and Rolling Stones. Whereas previously their fans tended to be music-mad mods, their following now included young teenage girls who were more interested in the good looks of the young male musicians than in their music. At most of their concerts, like many of their contemporaries, the band could not even be heard above the girl fans' loud and constant screaming.[5] This situation would ultimately end in Marriott becoming so disenchanted that he would finally leave The Small Faces in a bid to be seen as a serious musician and form his next group, the heavier rock and blues-sounding Humble Pie.[6]
Small Faces performed "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" live for the Dick Clark show in the United States, telerecorded from the UK.[7]
B-Side
The B-Side "Grow Your Own" written by the band, is much more in keeping with the Small Faces sound. The song is an instrumental recording and strongly influenced in style by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, of whom all the group were big fans. "Grow Your Own" heavily features Ian McLagan on the Hammond organ.[8]
Usage
In Japan, "Sha-La-La-La-Lee", arranged to French pop style, was used for the advertisement of Suzuki Alto Lapin.[9]
Personnel
- Steve Marriott – lead and backing vocals, electric guitar
- Ronnie Lane – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Ian McLagan – Hammond organ, piano, backing vocals
- Kenney Jones – drums
- Kenny Lynch - backing vocals
Other recordings
- German band The Rattles released their coverversion in February 1966 as The ´In´ Crowd, single Star Club Records 148 547, 02.1966.
- Yugoslavian rock band Siluete covered this song with the title Tvoj rođendan in 1966.
- Czech singer Václav Neckář also did a cover version for this song in Czech in 1966.
- Evelyne Courtois, a French female singer of the 1960s, covered the song in 1966 as Ce N'est Pas Une Vie under her stage name Pussy Cat.
- Plastic Bertrand also did a cover version for this song in French in 1978.
See also
Notes/References
Notes:
- ^ [1] retrieved 08/15/07 – Charting at number three in the UK singles chart.
- ^ Small Faces Sha La La La Lee- Room for Ravers
- ^ "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" hits number 3 in the UK Charts.
- ^ Sha-la-la-la-lee, not representative of the band [2] retrieved 08/15/07
- ^ Steve Marriott All Too Beautiful ISBN 1-900924-44-7 p.110
- ^ Small Faces the young mods' forgotten story (Paulo Hewitt) ISBN 0-9523935-0-6 p.53-56
- ^ Small Faces appear live from UK on the Dick Clark Show, USA. [3] retrieved 08/15/07
- ^ B-Side, "Grow Your Own" features Ian McLagan on the Hammond organ. / retrieved 08/15/07 [4]
- ^ ad of Suzuki Alto Lapin on YouTube
References:
- Paolo Hewitt John Hellier (2004). Steve Marriott - All Too Beautiful.... Helter Skelter Publishing ISBN 1-900924-44-7.
- Paolo Hewitt/Kenney Jones (1995) small faces the young mods' forgotten story – Acid Jazz ISBN 0-9523935-0-6