The Small Faces – Live at The Twenty Club, 1966 (Vinyl & CD Review)
For this review we’re heading right back to January 1966—to a small club in Belgium—and to a teenage band who were about to set the UK music scene on fire: The Small Faces.
This new release from Nice Records captures the energy, swagger, and sheer raw talent of a group still at the beginning of their story. Presented as both a 2LP blue & white vinyl deluxe set and a beautifully produced CD edition, this is a genuine historical document—one that shines a bright light on just how good The Small Faces were on stage.
Right from the off, Nice Records deserve a round of applause. The packaging on both formats is superb.
The Vinyl Edition
A sturdy gatefold sleeve, already supplied inside a durable protective outer jacket—a really nice touch.
Striking band photo across the centre spread.
Two full essays by Martin Payne, giving brilliant context on the band’s early days and the atmosphere of the era.
White vinyl for sides 1 & 2, blue vinyl for sides 3 & 4.
Now, whether the demographic buying this are bothered about coloured vinyl over classic black is up for debate—but visually it’s gorgeous.
The CD Edition
Again, shipped inside a Japanese-style protective outer sleeve.
A matte-finish digipak with the same striking gatefold image.
A booklet containing the full essay from the vinyl version, track details and more.
As someone who prefers digipaks myself, this is exactly the kind of attention to detail that makes a release feel special.
Sound Quality – 1966 in a Belgian Club, But Better Than You Think
Let’s be clear: this isn’t Live and Dangerous or Made in Japan. It’s a small-club recording from 1966, captured long before multitrack live albums became the norm.
But here’s the important bit—
It’s far beyond a bootleg, and it’s full of life, energy, and authenticity.
These are two different sets, early and late, so some tracks appear twice. But that only reinforces how tight and confident they were.
Steve Marriott’s Voice – A Revelation
Steve Marriott, aged about 18, is already delivering that voice—
that gut-level, blues-drenched, gritty roar that later made Humble Pie legendary.
You can hear the beginnings of his Fillmore-era vocal style five years before Performance: Rockin’ the Fillmore.
His between-song patter, his phrasing, the way he builds up a scream or throws in an ad-lib… it’s all there.
A Surprise for Zeppelin Fans… “You Need Loving”
This absolutely floored me.
The song “You Need Loving” appears in both sets. And as I’m listening, I thought:
“Hang on… I know this… why do I know this?”
Because Led Zeppelin clearly knew it too.
Whole sections—musically and lyrically—would later form the backbone of “Whole Lotta Love.”
We all know Zeppelin borrowed liberally from the blues, Jeff Beck’s Truth, and elsewhere. But hearing these Small Faces teenagers belting out lines that Plant would echo almost word-for-word three years later is… well, fascinating.
These lads were 17 years old. Kenny Jones was still essentially a kid on his first trip abroad. The confidence and power on display is staggering.
The Performance – Blues, Pop, R&B, and Pure Mod Attitude
Tracks like What’cha Gonna Do About It, Baby Please Don’t Go, Land of 1000 Dances—they’re delivered with fire, grit, humour and heart.
If you’re a fan of The Small Faces—
this is an essential historical document.
If you’re a fan of 60s British pop, R&B, Mod culture, or the early years of rock—
this is a fascinating snapshot of the era.
And if you’re simply curious about hearing Steve Marriott becoming Steve Marriott, the seeds of Humble Pie, and even the roots of Led Zeppelin, then this is absolutely worth your time.
Both formats from Nice Records are beautifully produced, thoughtfully assembled, and genuinely insightful.
Highly recommended.
ORDER THE VINLY OR CD COPY FROM HERE
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
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