Here Come the Nice

"Here Come the Nice"
Single by The Small Faces
B-side "Talk to You" (Marriott/Lane)
Released 2 June 1967
Format 7"
Recorded Olympic Studios, London, 1967 England
Genre Psychedelic pop, beat
Length 3:06
Label Immediate 050
Writer(s) Marriott/Lane
Producer(s) Marriott/Lane
The Small Faces singles chronology
"Patterns" (unofficial)
(1967)		 "Here Come the Nice"
(1967)		 "Itchycoo Park"
(1967)

"Here Come the Nice" is a song released by English rhythm and blues group Small Faces. It peaked at number 12 in the UK singles chart in 1967. It was their first release on new label Immediate after moving from Decca.

Song profile

The song "Here Come the Nice" is a psychedelic/beat song written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane. For reasons unknown the single escaped censorship, despite the fact that the song makes overt drug references and mentions the taking of "speed" (an amphetamine) a popular drug in the sixties, especially with mods – He makes me feel like no-one else could/He knows what I want/He's got what I need/He's always there/If I need some speed.[1] Under the stricter Don Arden the single would never have seen the light of day, however Andrew Loog Oldham at Immediate had no problems with the song's release.

The song title has often been mis-quoted as "Here Comes the Nice" after a record sleeve misprint.

The title of the song comes from the comedian Lord Buckley monologue, 'Here Comes Da Nazz' which was popular with the group.[2]

The record is also notable for its innovative ending – instead of the customary fade out, it uses a combination of studio effects to simulate the inevitable "come-down" from the speed "high". This was created by editing two elements together – the first element was created by using the variable speed control on the master tape recorder to slow down the playback of the song's final chord, which slides down rapidly in pitch before an abrupt cut to the second element, a sequence of crashing, chaotic sounds created by striking and strumming on resonating piano strings. The mono and stereo mixes of the single differ slightly in the timing of this effect, with the 'pitch drop' effect coming in slightly earlier in the mono mix than in the stereo mix.

The single's B-side "Talk To You" is a more straightforward punchy R&B song; the song's subject matter is said to be about Marriott's romantic relationship with Chrissie, super model Jean Shrimpton's younger sister.[3]

Other versions

The Rich Kids featuring Midge Ure and Glen Matlock (ex Sex Pistols) made a version of "Here Come the Nice" on the B-side of their single "Marching Men" in 1978, both were fans of Small Faces music.[4]

Noel Gallagher & Paul Weller have played the song live.

See also

References/Notes

Notes:

  1. ↑ small faces the young mod's forgotten story p.94
  2. ↑ Steve Marriott All Too Beautiful p.149
  3. ↑ Steve Marriott All Too Beautiful pg.149
  4. ↑ Buzzcocks also covered the song, with Steve Diggle on vocals. Twelker, Uli; Schmitt, Roland. The Small Faces & Other Stores. Sanctuary Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 1-86074-392-7.

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
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