Small Faces Media Book

This Charly Records edition of the SMALL FACES (SF) Immediate album is the same as the Sanctuary UK Deluxe Edition of this album. The difference is the Charly edition is much easier to find and cheaper (at least as of this review) in the U.S. This Charly edition contains 45 tracks. Overall track times for each disc are the same as the Sanctuary release-52:47 and 53:54 minutes respectively. There's a sticker (for what it's worth) which reads "Official Small Faces Re-Masters Series". Needless to say-this album contains some great tracks by the band. This review focuses on this new Charly edition of the album in comparison to the Sanctuary UK edition.On the Charly edition (as on the Sanctuary set) the music was supervised by Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan. The tape restoration and transfers are from the master tapes sources from the Universal/Sanctuary Archive, Sony Music Entertainment USA Archive, Olympic Studios, Charly Acquisitions Archive, and the Kenney Jones Archive. Rob Caiger did the tape research and restoration. Rob Keyloch at Church Walk Studios was responsible for the tape transfers and restoration. Remastering was done by Nick Robbins of Soundmastering. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT MASTER TAPES HAVE BEEN USED FOR RELEASE. Even the great set "The Darlings of Whapping Wharf Launderette" didn't use master tapes-even though it states that on the album. Rob Caiger (producer of this new series of releases) states that "Darlings..." used outtake reels and tape copies from the 70's and 80's.The 22 page (24 if you include the front and back covers) attached booklet has informative liner notes by Mark Paytress, which include a number of quotes from SF' band members Jones and McLagan, along with a number of color and b&w photographs of the band informally posed and on stage (one with PP Arnold), and a few record covers, labels, production information, and an Olympic Studios tape box. The discs snap inside the front and back of the hardback book style holder. The whole thing is very well done-underneath each disc tray is a color photo of two of the band members, and the booklet is nicely printed. The back of the book style package lists all the tracks and what's in mono or stereo sound, and whether the bonus tracks are alternate takes, or mixes, or a session version.The first 14 tracks on Disc One are the original album in mono. The 8 bonus tracks are also in mono. Disc Two is the original album in stereo. The 9 bonus tracks are in stereo except for track 21-a mono alternate take of "Green Circles", and track 23-a mono backing track of "(If You Think You're) Groovy". If you're wondering about song titles-any differences-the track listing for both editions is identical.The sound. Sound quality is so subjective, but I've listened to the new Deluxe Editions, and sonically both of these editions are equal. Much has already been written about the high quality sound of the new edition from Sanctuary, and the Charly edition is it's equal-very clean and crisp and open-sometimes startlingly so.So (for me at least), the Charly edition is (at least at the present time) the one to buy. Collectors/purists may still want to purchase the Sanctuary UK edition of this set in keeping with the other Deluxe Editions as far as packaging etc. I'm simply reviewing this Charly edition so fans will have some kind of (hopefully) informed choice between the two. I'm not saying one is better than the other-simply that (as I write this) the Charly edition is far easier to purchase in the U.S. To each his own. Cheers.

This was the Small Faces third album in 1968, but. first for Immediate Records and there is a marked change within the band's sound. They had gotten slightly away from the R&B and went to a more psychedelic pop soul. Yes, there still was a little R&B but the newer sound was more prominent. I really love this set not just for the quality of sound, change of music-but also for the Digibook cover which is like a hard bound book. It has two sides for the plastic trays for the discs and the booklet is placed between the two sides, a rather cool idea, i don't believe it has been done before this album and the Ogden's Nut-Gone Flake Deluxe Edition. The sound on these two discs are magnificently superior in quality. There are the two versions,both mono and stereo, and 8 bonus tracks on the mono disc and 9 bonus tracks on the stereo disc.The only song that I can really say is mildly obscure is "Don't Burst My Bubble" as it does appear on the 2 disc set known as "Boxed" from Repertoire Records. There are different takes on several of the album tracks as well as the singles: Here Come the Nice, Itchycoo Park, I Can't Make It and Tin Soldier. A sort of rarity is the single "If You Think You're Groovy" with P.P. Arnold which was released as The Lot. I really love their music and if you have never heard this band or even if you have heard them and do not have this particular set, I feel as though you are missing out on a great Deluxe Edition with a great Deluxe cover. A really fantastic catch! By the way, this set was also remastered by the surviving members Ken Jones and Ian MacLagan

This review covers the stereo CD only as I didn't listen to the mono CD because I don't want to listen to mono recordings if Stereo Recordings Exist. Not saying that to get into a debate about that, if you like mono fine. I bought this CD because reviewers here and in the UK seemed to rave about the stereo sound claiming its the best audio sound of these tracks they've heard. I totally disagree as the stereo tracks on the import The Darlings of Wapping Wharf Launderette are overall much better overall and superior specifically in regards to the vocals. Somehow this CD set boosts up the backing which is fine and I have no problem with it but unfortunately seems to take the reverb out of the vocals making them dry and dull and lowers the volume of the vocals. The bottom line is if you want to hear the instruments a bit louder and more clearly and don't mind the vocals not being the focal point, you'll love the Stereo CD. I don't want to hear the vocals this way so I'm disappointed and can't understand the reviews for not pointing this out.

Excellent newly remastered sound from originals tapes of great 1967 'Small Faces' self-album in both Mono & Stereo with bonus tracks ! Lovely book package with with digi-pak track to safely place both CD's in to protect them from scratching unlike other similar releases.

The musicianship is very good, but for some reason I thought it would be more rock and it's more pop. I like Steve Mariot better in Humble Pie and The Faces better with Rod Stewart in the early days. It has a very Brit Pop sensibility to it, liek teh very early Beatles , and if that's your thing this is a great recording.

item as described. thanks.

I bought this CD because I always liked "Itchycoo Park" and got caught up in the reviewers hype. This sounds like a garage band devoid of good riffs and lyrics. Nice collection for fans of Small Feces who prefer their pure mono original release. Hopefully I might like the stereo anthology I ordered better.

I had the original on vinyl when it was first released, unfortunately it was badly damaged so I replaced it with this CDI prefer vinyl personally but this is the next best thing until I locate a reasonably priced vinyl copy

A great memory

Very happy with purchase

Wonderful!

Probably their best album, no filler just the best 2 minute white soul dance tracks. Up the Wooden Hills of Bedforshire Ian McClagen's voice a tribute for posterity. The original mono remastered on vinyl - impossible to afford or find!