Sea of Faces (song)

Sea of Faces was a 1966 single of English group The Ways and Means. Composed by Brian Parker and Kim Fowley, it became a hit for the group in early 1967.

"Sea of Faces"
Song by The Ways and Means
A-side"Sea of Faces"
B-side"Breaking Up a Dream"
Released1967
LabelPye 7N 17277
Composer(s)Parker, Fowley
Producer(s)Ron Fairway
The Ways and Means singles chronology
"Little Deuce Coupe"
(1966)		 "Sea of Faces"
(1967)		 "Breaking Up A Dream"
(1968)

Background

"Sea of Faces" was written by Brian Parker and Kim Fowley. It was intended for the UK group, Unit Four Plus Two. At the time the song was being written, Fowley was living in England with P.J. Proby. Unit Four Plus Two did record the song but it was never released.[1][2]

Later, it was recorded by The Ways and Means who were managed by Ron Fairway, a one-time manager of The Foundations.[3][4] Backed with the Bobby Bloom, John Linde composition, "Make The Radio A Little Louder",[5][6][7] it was released on Pye 7N 17277.[8] This was the follow up to their previous single, a Beach Boys cover, "Little Deuce Coupe" bw "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" which was released on Columbia in 1966.[9][10]

Ron Fairway put them on a radio show to promote the single. The group also did a promotion for the song at the Tiles club in Oxford Street with Jimi Hendrix who had just released "Hey Joe".[11]

Along with the singles, "I don't Need Anything" by Sandie Shaw, "Sugar Town" by Nancy Sinatra, "Talk Talk" by The Music Machine and "Rosie" by Max Bygraves and Kenny Ball, "Sea of Faces" was noted as one of the Pye Records chart climbers by Disc and Music Echo in the magazine's January 14 issue.[12]

The group had a degree of success with "Sea of Faces" when it became a minor hit for them in early 1967.[13]

They followed up with Breaking Up a Dream" which was released on Barry Class' Trend Label.[14][15][16]

Years later, the song was described by AllMusic reviewer Bruce Eder as "beautifully ornate and crunchy".[17]

Charts

It got no.39 on the Radio City City Sixty chart for the Sunday 1 to Sunday 8 January 1967 period,[18] and to no. 41 on the Radio Caroline chart on the 21st.[19]

Chart (1967) Peak
position
Radio City City Sixty 39[20]
Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound 41[21]

Releases

"Sea of Faces" appears on the Butterfly: Ripples, Volume 8 released in on Castle Music, CMRCD 554 in 2002 / 2003,[22][23] and the 2023 compilation, Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers.[24]


References
  1. Who Put the Bomp, Spring 1975 - Page 43 Feedback
  2. Gamma Gaana - Sea of Faces
  3. Record Mirror, No. 304 Week ending Jan. 7, 1967 - Page 4 OUT NOW from THE WAYS AND MEANS, 'SEA OF FACES' on Pye 7N 17217
  4. Melody Maker, November 11, 1967 - Page 1 Foundations hit top spot
  5. The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  6. Popsike - WAYS AND MEANS - SEA OF FACES UK 1ST PRESS PYE 7N17217 RARE BEAT POP VG/EX
  7. hitparade.ch - Bobby Mann – Make The Radio A Little Louder
  8. Melody Maker, 7 January 1967 - Page 2 OUT NOW FROM THE WAYS AND MEANS, SEA OF FACES
  9. Left and to the Back, 13 April 2022 - Ways & Means - Little Deuce Coupe/ The Little Old Lady From Pasadena
  10. 45Cat - The Ways And Means - Discography
  11. The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  12. Disc and Music Echo, January 14, 1967 - Page 11 PYE CHART CLIMBING SINGLES
  13. Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means
  14. The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  15. Melody Maker, February 10, 1968 - Page 6 FOLLOW THE NEW RECORD TREND
  16. Beat Instrumental, February, 1968 - Page 24 INSTRUMENTAL NEWS, BARRY CLASS STARTS TREND RECORD LABEL
  17. AllMusic - Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554), Review by Bruce Eder
  18. The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967
  19. Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means
  20. The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967
  21. Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means
  22. AllMusic - Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554)
  23. Spectropop - Reviews 2002, Butterfly
  24. Spotify - Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers
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