The Universal (Small Faces song)

Single infobox
Name = The Universal


Cover size =
Artist = Small Faces
B-side = "Donkey Rides, A Penny, A Glass"
Released = June 28 1968
Recorded = 1968
Format = 7"
Genre = R&B
Length =
Label = Immediate Records
Writer = Marriott/Lane
Producer = Marriott/Lane
Certification =
Reviews =
Chart position = UK #16
Last single = "Lazy Sunday"
(1968)
This single = "The Universal"
(1968)
Next single = "Afterglow (Of Your Love)"
(1969)

"The Universal" is a UK single released by English R&B influenced group Small Faces on June 28 1968 and reached number 16 staying in the UK Singles Chart for a total of 11 weeks. [cite book
last =Hewitt/Hellier
first =
authorlink =
title =Steve Marriott - All Too Beautiful...
publisher = Helter Skelter
date = 2005
pages = 174
isbn =1-900924-44-7]

ong profile

"The Universal" was originally titled by Steve Marriott as "Hello the Universal" but due to an error early in the single's production and manufacture was instead printed as the shorter "The Universal", and due to the costs involved never corrected. The erratic sounding song was partly tape recorded by Marriott in the garden of his Essex home at the time, Beehive Cottage. His dogs can clearly be heard barking in the background, the song was further enhanced and other instruments added later in the recording studio. [cite book
last =Hewitt/Hellier
first =
authorlink =
title =Steve Marriott - All Too Beautiful...
publisher = Helter Skelter
date = 2005
pages = 173
isbn =1-900924-44-7]

After the success of the Small Faces previous song " Lazy Sunday" Marriott especially, was disappointed that the song only reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart, Marriott was quoted at the time as saying that "The Universal" was the best song he had ever written. [cite book
last = Hewitt
first = Paulo
coauthors = Kenney Jones
title = small faces the young mods' forgotten story
publisher = Acid Jazz
date = 1995
pages = pp.127
month =
isbn = 0 9523935 0 6 ]

"People keep saying that "Universal" is a send-up of Dylan or the one-man-band - they don't seem to realise that it's a serious record. Which proves that they don't really listen to it because if they did they'd understand what it's all about. It's about getting up in the morning and going outside and saying hello to the Universe" - Steve Marriott - August 1968 [cite book
last = Hewitt
first = Paulo
coauthors = Kenney Jones
title = small faces the young mods' forgotten story
publisher = Acid Jazz
date = 1995
pages = pp.128
month =
isbn = 0 9523935 0 6 ]

"The Universal" was the final official song released by Small Faces before they disbanded in 1969. Their record label Immediate would release "Afterglow (Of Your Love)" as the unofficial final song by the group.

References

ee also

Small Faces discography

External links

* [http://www.thesmallfaces.com/ The Small Faces Official website]
* [http://www.stevemarriott.co.uk/ The Official Steve Marriott website]
* [http://www.ronnie-lane.com/ The Official Ronnie Lane website]