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On this day, 27 April 1966, mod rockers the Small Faces played Cardiff’s Top Rank Ballroom.
Founded in 1965. The group originally consisted of Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Jimmy Winston, with Ian McLagan replacing Winston as the band's keyboardist in 1966.
The band was one of the most acclaimed and influential mod groups of the 1960s, recording hit songs such as "Itchycoo Park", "Lazy Sunday", "All or Nothing", and "Tin Soldier", as well as their concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake.
They evolved into one of the UK's most successful psychedelic bands until 1969.
Their first album, Small Faces, released on 6 May 1966, was also a considerable success.
They rapidly rose in popularity with each chart success, becoming regulars on British pop TV shows such as Ready Steady Go! and Top of the Pops, and toured incessantly in the UK and Europe.
Their popularity peaked in August 1966, when "All or Nothing", their fifth single, hit the top of the UK charts.
According to Marriott's mother Kay, he is said to have written the song about his breakup with his ex-fiancée Susan Oliver.
On the success of "All or Nothing" they were set to tour America with the Lovin' Spoonful and the Mamas & the Papas; however, these plans had to be shelved by Don Arden after details of Ian McLagan's recent drug conviction were leaked.
By 1966, despite being one of the highest-grossing live acts in the country and scoring many successful singles, including four UK Top 10 chart hits, the group still had little money. After a confrontation with Arden who tried to face down the boys' parents by claiming that the whole band were using drugs, they broke with both Arden and Decca.
Line Up
Steve Marriott - vocals, guitar
Ian McLagan - keyboards
Ronnie Lane - bass, vocals
Kenny Jones - drums
