NP: Died Pretty and Small Faces

Died Pretty's classic breakthrough "Doughboy Holiday" has been spending some time on the CD rotel at the I-94 Bar lately, as part of a swot to prepare for an interview with the always entertaining Ronnie Peno.

If you haven't heard, DP are back for the Don't Look Back series of retrospective festival shows, reprising "Doughboy" with that album's line-up.

There's no doubt "Doughboy" deserves its place as a classic amalgam of rock and roll, pop and psychedelica. DP had been growing as a live act in leaps and bounds, but this long player clearly placed them at the forefront of the Australian underground. Hugh Jones' production is strong and was friendly enough to grab radio airplay. The melodies in the best songs were arguably the band's best yet and of course the album spawned "D.C.", a masterpiece (although "Godbless" was my pick.)

The Peno piece is upcoming at the Bar this week, otherwise here are the DP dates. They're going out in tandem with Ed Kuepper who will reprise his own ARIA-winning breakthrough, the shimmering "Honey Steel's Gold".

Friday Feb 8th: Sydney - Enmore Theatre *

Ticketek: Online - www.ticketek.com.au or phone - 132 849.
Also online from www.enmoretheatre.com.au
Or in person at the Enmore Theatre box office
Ticket price: $ 55.40
(includes GST and booking fees - some transaction fees may apply)
* Also appearing Ed Kuepper performing Honey Steels Gold

Saturday Feb 9th: Brisbane - Tivoli *

Online: www.ticketek.com.au or phone: 132 849.
Online from: feelpresents.oztix.com.au
Plus Rocking Horse record store
Ticket price: $ 49.40
(includes GST and booking fees - some transaction fees may apply)
* Also appearing Ed Kuepper performing Honey Steels Gold

Thursday Feb 14th: Adelaide - The Gov
Venue-tix: Online www.venuetix.com.au or ph: 8225 8888
Direct from The Gov - phone: 8340 0744
Ticket price: $ 40.00 + booking fee

Friday 15th: Melbourne - The Forum

Online: www.ticketek.com.au or phone: 132 849
Ticket price: $ 52.50
(includes GST and booking fees - some transaction fees may apply)
* Also appearing Ed Kuepper performing Honey Steels Gold

Saturday Feb 16th: Fremantle - Fly By Night

Online: www.bocsticketing.com.au
Or BOCS ticketing - phone: (08) 9484 1133
Ticket price: $ 40.00 + booking fee

So what's this got to do with the Small Faces? Not much other than the fact that their Snapper Records re-issue of "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" has been jostling with "Doughboy Hollow" for CD player time.

I scored the CD re-issue overseas last year and it underlines what a great band the Small Faces became around about this time. Nobody in England in 1967 – other than maybe The Kinks – did this rural-tinged, whimsical but rocking stuff so well. With the Small Faces, you had the bonus of Steve Marriott's distinctive, blues-schooled and turbocharged soul pipes.

History should be kind to the Small Faces but they sort of get lost in the wash. The bulk of the band went and teamed with Woodie and Old Rooster Hair and became The Faces; Steve went onto Humble Pie- and then off-the-rails. (I was going to say Marriott was a combustible character till I remembered he died in a house-fire.)

Of course "Itchycoo Park" spawned a whole crop of people over-using flanging as a production effect, but nobody's legacy is perfect. The Snapper re-ish includes 14 bonus tracks, out-numbering the original cuts by a good way. If you're going to do a re-ish, re-master it properly and give people extras as another compelling reason to buy it.