Itchycoo Park

"Itchycoo Park" is a song by English rock band Small Faces, written by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane. Largely written by Lane, it was one of the first musical compositions to feature flanging, an effect at that time made possible by electro-mechanical processes. The song was not featured on any of their UK albums, but was however featured on the North American release There Are But Four Small Faces.

"Itchycoo Park"
Dutch picture sleeve
Single by Small Faces
B-side"I'm Only Dreaming"
Released4 August 1967
Recorded3–7 July 1967[1]
StudioOlympic (London)
Genre
Length2:45
LabelImmediate
Songwriter(s)Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane
Producer(s)Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane
Small Faces singles chronology
"Here Come the Nice"
(1967)		 "Itchycoo Park"
(1967)		 "Tin Soldier"
(1967)
Audio sample
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Released on 4 August 1967 by Immediate Records, the song was the Small Faces' fifth top-ten song in the UK Singles Chart, reaching a position of number three. "Itchycoo Park" became the Small Faces' sole top-forty hit in the United States, reaching number sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1968. In Continental Europe, it reached the top ten in several countries, while in Canada and New Zealand it was a number one hit. The single was re-released in December 1975, reaching number nine in the UK Singles chart, and is often attributed as the reason for the Small Faces reunion during the mid-1970s.[5]

The song has since been covered by various other recording artists, most notably by English group M People in 1995, whose dance rendition of the song reached number eleven in the UK.

The location and etymology of the titular park has long been debated, many claiming it to be Little Ilford Park in Manor Park, East London, Valentine's Park in Ilford or Wanstead Flats in Wanstead, East London.

Song profile

"Itchycoo Park" was released by Small Faces in August 1967. Together with "Lazy Sunday", "Tin Soldier" and "All or Nothing", the song is one of the band's biggest hits and has become a classic of its time.[6]

The song reached number 16 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968, during a chart run of 16 weeks.[7] In Canada, the song reached number 1.[8]

Long running British music magazine NME cites readers poll voting "Itchycoo Park" number 62 out of the top 100 singles of all time.[9]

"Itchycoo Park" climbed the charts again when it was re-released on 13 December 1975.[10]

The song was one of the first pop singles to use flanging, an effect that can be heard on the drums in the bridge section after each chorus.[11] Most sources credit the use of the effect to Olympic Studios engineer George Chkiantz who showed it to the Small Faces' regular engineer Glyn Johns; he in turn demonstrated it to the group, who were always on the lookout for innovative production sounds, and they readily agreed to its use on the single.

Although many devices were soon created that could produce the same effect by purely electronic means, the effect as used on "Itchycoo Park" was at that time an electro-mechanical studio process.[12] Two synchronised tape copies of a finished recording were played simultaneously into a third master recorder, and by manually retarding the rotation of one of the two tape reels by pressing on the flanges, a skilled engineer could subtly manipulate the phase difference between the two sources, creating the lush 'swooshing' phase effect that sweeps up and down the frequency range. The original single version was mixed and mastered in mono, and the phasing effect is more pronounced in the mono mix than in the later stereo mix.

Inspiration

The song was first conceived and largely written by Ronnie Lane, who had been reading a leaflet on the virtues of Oxford which mentioned its dreaming spires.[13]

A number of sources claim the song's name is derived from the nickname of Little Ilford Park, on Church Road in the London suburb of Manor Park, where Small Faces' singer and songwriter Steve Marriott grew up. The "itchycoo" nickname is, in turn, attributed to the stinging nettles which grew there. Other sources cite nearby Wanstead Flats (Manor Park end) as the inspiration for the song.[14]

Photo of Wanstead Flats, London E12 near Marriott's Manor Park home

Marriott and Small Faces manager Tony Calder came up with the well-known story when Marriott was told the BBC had banned the song for its overt drug references, Calder confirms:

We scammed the story together, we told the BBC that Itchycoo Park was a piece of waste ground in the East End that the band had played on as kids – we put the story out at ten and by lunchtime we were told the ban was off.[15]

Ronnie Lane said of the true location of Itchycoo Park: "It's a place we used to go to in Ilford years ago. Some bloke we know suggested it to us because it's full of nettles and you keep scratching actually".[16]

Other possible etymologies

In an interview Steve Marriott stated that Itchycoo Park is Valentine's Park in Ilford. "We used to go there and get stung by wasps. It's what we used to call it." This was reiterated by actor Tony Robinson, a childhood friend of Marriott.[17]

The term "Itchycoo" also appears in the Scots language from around the 1950s.[18]

Steve Marriott once said of The Small Faces "(We) were a mix of R&B and music hall. The R&B came from Detroit, the music hall from Stepney. That's what 'Itchycoo Park' is about… having a drink and a party."

Itchy Park refers to the grounds of Christ Church, Spitalfields in the East End of London, laid out as gardens in 1890.[19]

Personnel

According to the liner notes of the 2012 7" re-master:[20]

Small Faces

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

M People version
"Itchycoo Park"
Single by M People
from the album Bizarre Fruit II
Released13 November 1995 (1995-11-13)[37]
Genre
Length3:34
LabelDeconstruction
Songwriter(s)Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane
Producer(s)M People
M People singles chronology
"Love Rendezvous"
(1995)		 "Itchycoo Park"
(1995)		 "Just for You"
(1997)
Music video
"Itchycoo Park" on YouTube

British band M People released a dance version of "Itchycoo Park" in November 1995. The track was released as the second single from their reissued and expanded version of the 1994 Bizarre Fruit album, Bizarre Fruit II (1995). It peaked at number 11 at the UK Singles Chart and was remixed by David Morales. The song also peaked at number 21 in New Zealand, number 24 in Iceland, number 27 in Australia, and number 22 on the Eurochart Hot 100.

Critical reception

Scottish newspaper Aberdeen Press and Journal described the song as "refreshing".[38] Jose F. Promis from AllMusic deemed it an "epic version".[39] Larry Flick from Billboard noted that front woman Heather Small "whips through" the cover version "with a smooth blend of streetwise edge and sophisticated flair." He added, "Her distinctive way with a lyric is the stuff of future legends."[40] A reviewer from Music & Media felt that "chart darlings M People have reworked this Small Faces classic with equal measures of dance beats, a Billy Joel/River Of Dreams piano sound and marvellous gospel undertones. Their innovative arrangements will take them high into the charts with this one."[41]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Itchycoo Park" was directed by Maria Mochnacz.[42]

Track listing
CD single, UK & Europe (1995)
No.TitleLength
1."Itchycoo Park" (Radio Edit)3:52
2."Itchycoo Park" (M People Master Mix)6:42
3."Itchycoo Park" (Morales Classic Club Mix)7:52
4."Itchycoo Park" (Hed Boys Post-op Mix)9:04
5."Itchycoo Park" (Morales Beautiful Instrumental)6:22

Charts
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[43] 27
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[44] 22
Germany (Official German Charts)[45] 55
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[46] 24
Ireland (IRMA)[47] 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[48] 14
Netherlands (Single Top 100 Tipparade)[49] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[50] 21
Scotland (OCC)[51] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[30] 11
UK Dance (OCC)[52] 7

Uses and other notable versions

References
  1. Caiger, Rob; Flood, Tosh (2014). Greatest Hits: The Immediate Years 1967–1969 (Liner notes). Small Faces. Immediate, Charly. F 847.
  2. DeRogatis, Jim (2003). "Ten Great English Psychedelic Rock Songs". Turn On Your Mind: Four Decades of Great Psychedelic Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 162. ISBN 0-634-05548-8.
  3. "10 Essential Small Faces/Faces Songs". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "1966: The London Look". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  5. "IanMcLagan.com - The Story of the Small Faces in Their Own Words: Reunions". 19 October 2004. Archived from the original on 19 October 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  6. "Guide to British Music of the 1960s". Making Time. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  7. Hewitt & Rod Stewart, Paulo; Hellier, John (2004). Steve Marriott - All Too Beautiful.... Helter Skelter. p. 160. ISBN 1-900924-44-7.
  8. "RPM Top 100 Singles - January 27, 1968" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. "NME Readers all time top 100 singles published 1976". NME. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  10. "Top 40 Hits of Mid January 1976". everyHit.com. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  11. Hodgson, Jay (19 August 2010). Understanding Records: A Field Guide To Recording Practice. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 142. ISBN 9781441124098. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  12. Stojkovski, Dragan (6 September 2016). "Itchycoo Park". Kurrent Music. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  13. Oxford's Bridge of Sighs is mentioned in the first line. Hewitt, Paulo; Kenney Jones (1995). small faces the young mods' forgotten story. Acid Jazz. p. 99. ISBN 0-9523935-0-6.
  14. "Small Faces London- Ilford Park". Making Time. Retrieved 10 August 2007.
  15. Steve Marriott, All Too Beautiful p.154
  16. Hewitt, Paulo; Kenney Jones (1995). Small Faces: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story. Acid Jazz. p. 98. ISBN 0-9523935-0-6.
  17. Robinson, Tony (2016). No Cunning Plan. Sidgwick & Jackson. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-5098-4303-9.
  18. "ITCHY-COO". Scottish National Dictionary/Dictionary of the Scots Language. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  19. Itchy Park Retrieved 16 September 2008
  20. Anon. (2012). Itchycoo Park (Liner notes). Small Faces. Immediate Records, Charly Records. IM 057.
  21. Kent, David. (2005). Australian chart book (1940-1969). Turramurra, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-44439-5. OCLC 62561852.
  22. "Small Faces - Itchycoo Park". ultratop.be. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  23. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  24. Hung, Steffen. "Small Faces - Itchycoo Park". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  25. "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  26. "norwegiancharts.com - Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  27. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (27 January 1968). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 50. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  28. Hoffmann, Frank W.; Hoffmann, Lee Ann (1983). The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981. Scarecrow Press. p. 546. ISBN 978-0-8108-1595-7.
  29. "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World (17 February 1968): 27.
  30. "itchycoo park | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  31. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  32. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  33. "The 100 best-selling singles of 1967 [in the U.K.]". sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  34. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1968". Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  35. "RPM Top 100 of 1968 - January 6, 1969" (PDF).
  36. "British single certifications – Small Faces – Itchycoo Park". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  37. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 11 November 1995. p. 31. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  38. "Friday November 17 1995". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 17 November 1995. page 12.
  39. Promis, Jose F. "M People – The Best Of M People". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  40. Flick, Larry (10 August 1996). "Dance Trax: Gangsta-Bop Hits The Spot; Divas Dance The Night Away" (PDF). Billboard. p. 27. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  41. "Music & Media: New Releases" (PDF). Music & Media. 2 December 1995. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  42. "Itchycoo Park (1995) by M People". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  43. "M People – Itchycoo Park". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  44. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 49. 9 December 1995. p. 12. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  45. "M People – Itchycoo Park" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  46. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 149 Vikuna 23.12. '95 – 5.1. '96)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 23 December 1995. p. 44. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  47. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Itchycoo Park". Irish Singles Chart.
  48. "M People - Itchycoo Park" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  49. "M People – Itchycoo Park" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  50. "M People – Itchycoo Park". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  51. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  52. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  53. "Mr. Reliable - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  54. "Itchycoo Park, soundtrack to Severance film". 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2007.

Further reading
  • 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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