Sha-La-La-La-Lee
| "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Small Faces | ||||
| from the album Small Faces | ||||
| B-side | "Grow Your Own" | |||
| Released | 28 January 1966 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | December 1965, IBC Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Beat | |||
| Length | 2:56 | |||
| Label | Decca (US Press Records) | |||
| Writer(s) |
Kenny Lynch Mort Shuman | |||
| Producer(s) | Kenny Lynch | |||
| Small Faces singles chronology | ||||
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"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]
Following the huge success of this song, the band developed a large female fanbase like many of their contemporaries.[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 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:
- ↑ 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 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. retrieved 08/15/07
- ↑ B-Side, "Grow Your Own" features Ian McLagan on the Hammond organ. / retrieved 08/15/07
- ↑ 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
External links
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