Greatest Hits: The Immediate Years 1967-1969

All but a one-hit wonder footnote to the British Invasion in the U.S., Small Faces were one of the more popular and prevalent acts of the mid-'60s explosion of mod-influenced rock bands in their U.K. home. More or less a hit factory from their earliest singles on, the band never hit a stride quite as brilliant as the time period showcased on Greatest Hits: The Immediate Years 1967-1969. A combination of locked-in performances, astonishingly infectious pop songwriting, and openness to experimentation and chance in the studio resulted in some of the band's most exciting and stylized material. Included on this collection's 20 tracks are better-known hits like the ubiquitous "Itchycoo Park" and "Here Come the Nice," as well as stellar cuts like "Green Circles" and the daydreamy and organ-heavy "Afterglow of Your Love." ~ Fred Thomas