On This Day 23/08/1966 Radio England Swinging 66 UK Tour

On this day, 23 August 1966, the Small Faces, Crispian St. Peters, Neil Christian, Dave Berry and Wayne Fontana played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre as part of the Radio England Swinging 66 UK Tour.

The tour was heavily advertised on air and gigs proved reasonably successful in the south-east of the country, where Radio England could be heard. Unfortunately outside the station's transmission area, audiences were understandably sparse. The tour proved a financial disaster, losing over £17,000.

The station attempted to get some of this back by selling autographed copies of the left-over concert programmes.

Nowadays record companies have synchronised worldwide release dates for their products but in the sixties American records were often released in the States months before they became available in the UK (and vice versa). Radio England frequently played the US releases which gave the station a unique sound and meant that it was often ahead of the competition.

It has been suggested that Radio England ultimately failed because it was “too American” for British tastes. If this is true, nowhere was the cuture gap more apparent than in the delivery of news. Listeners in the UK had never heard bulletins like this before! We were used to the BBC and its rather polite presentation of the stories of the day.

Radio London had introduced Morse bleeps between the items and a greater sense of urgency but news on Swinging Radio England was something else again. Jingles, sound effects and echo were all part of the mix. It was news as drama. Never knowingly under-stated, each bulletin was “a feature of the Radio England Department of News and Public Affairs” - “Europe's most comprehensive news service”!

On This Day 23/08/1966 Small Faces

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On this day 23 August 1966, mod rockers the Small Faces played two shows at Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre on the Swingin’ 1966 tour.

The band had recently released their debut album, released in May 1966 by Decca Records. It included the hit singles "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee".

The album was well received by music critics and was popular with the public, rising to number 3 on the UK album chart remaining at the top for several weeks.

The album was recorded at IBC Studios, Portland Place, London between June 1965 and February 1966.] Glyn Johns was the studio engineer. In 1966, Small Faces became the eleventh biggest selling artists of the year.

Jimmy Winston was asked to leave after the band's second single "I've Got Mine", released on 5 November 1965, failed to make the charts.

He still appears on many tracks on this album, including joint writing contributions to "It's Too Late" and providing keyboards and vocals on various tracks. Winston's replacement, Ian McLagan, appears on the album cover and plays on various tracks as well.

On This Day 27/04/1966 Small Faces

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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

On this day 19/10/1966 Small Faces

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On this day, 19 October 1966, mod rockers the Small Faces played Cardiff’s Capitol Theatre.

Also part of the Package Tour were The Hollies, Paul & Barry Ryan, Nashville Teens, Peter Jay & The New Jaywalkers, Robb Storme & The Whispers & Paul Jones.

The band had earlier in the year released their debut album Small Faces in May 1966 on Decca Records.

It included the hit singles "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee".

The album was well received by music critics and was popular with the public, rising to number 3 on the UK album chart remaining at the top for several weeks.

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

On the day 16th/June/1967 Small Faces

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On this day, 16 June 1967, mod rockers the Small Faces played two shows at Cardiff’s Top Rank.

The band had not long come off a long UK tour in a package that include Roy Orbison, Paul and Barry Ryan and Jeff Beck.

Signed initially to Decca, 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 infamous manager Don 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.

They were almost straight away offered a deal with the newly established Immediate label, formed by ex-Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham.

Given a virtual open account at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, the band progressed rapidly, working closely with engineer Glyn Johns.

The band had earlier in the month released their first single for Immediate, “Here Comes The Nice”, written by guitarist Steve Marriott and bass guitarist Ronnie Lane, which reached No 12, whilst its follow up “Itcychoo Park” released in August, made No 3 in the UK singles chart.

On This Day 9/4/1966 Small Faces

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On this day, 9 April 1966, one of the most acclaimed and influential mod bands of the 60s the Small Faces played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.

The band were about to release their debut self titled album the following month.

It included the hit singles "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" and was well received by music critics and was popular with the public, rising to number 3 on the UK album chart remaining at the top for several weeks.