Small Faces – Itchycoo Park (1967)
Description
“Itchycoo Park” is a song by English rock band Small Faces, written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane. Largely written by Lane, it was among a number of pop songs of the era to make use of flanging, an effect involving, at that time, electro-mechanical processes. The song was not included on any of their UK albums, but was however featured on the North American release There Are But Four Small Faces (1968).
Released on 4 August 1967 by Immediate Records, the song was the Small Faces’ fifth top-ten song in the UK Singles Chart, reaching a position of number three. “Itchycoo Park” became the Small Faces’ sole top-forty hit in the United States, reaching number sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1968. In Continental Europe, it reached the top ten in several countries, while in Canada and New Zealand it was a number one hit. The single was re-released in December 1975, reaching number nine in the UK Singles chart, and is often attributed as the reason for the Small Faces reunion during the mid-1970s.
The song has since been covered by various other recording artists, most notably by English group M People in 1995, whose dance rendition of the song reached number eleven in the UK.
The location and etymology of the titular park has long been debated, many claiming it to be Little Ilford Park in Manor Park, East London, Valentine’s Park in Ilford or Wanstead Flats in Wanstead, East Londo
Personnel
According to the liner notes of the 2012 7″ re-master:
Small FacesSteve Marriott – lead and backing vocals, guitar
- Ronnie Lane – backing vocals, bass
- Ian McLagan – backing vocals, organ, piano
- Kenney Jones – drums, percussion
