This week’s news and gossip

TRUTH

Just as last weeks news was being posted the Official Album Charts for this week was released and the 1968 album Truth by The Jeff Beck Group was up from number 88 to 52

The Small Faces

Small Faces fans are in for a treat next month with not one but two limited edition vinyl re-releases, first up is..

The Small Faces
The Small Faces White
Heavyweight Vinyl £25.00
Release Date: 24/02/2023

Presented on solid white vinyl, Small Faces is the second studio album by Small Faces, released through Immediate Records on 23 June 1967. The Immediate album shares its name with their 1966 Decca debut album, which has led to some confusion regarding the titles and as a result, this album has been unofficially dubbed The First Immediate Album by fans.

Considered to be the artistic breakthrough for the group in terms of songwriting and composition, and marks their transition from a mod-influenced blue-eyed soul/R&B band to a psychedelic studio group. It was the band’s first LP to contain solely original compositions and includes ‘Green Circles’, ‘Talk To You’ and ‘(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me’.

The album reached number 12 on the UK charts, becoming their only original studio album to chart outside the top-10, but is considered by many fans to be the groups best album.

SIDE A

1. (Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me
2. Something I Want To Tell You
3. Feeling Lonely
4. Happy Boys Happy
5. Things Are Going To Get Better
6. My Way Of Giving
7. Green Circles

SIDE B

1. Become Like You
2. Get Yourself Together
3. All Of Our Yesterdays
4. Talk To You
5. Show Me The Way
6. Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire
7. Eddie’s Dreaming Tweet about The Small Faces White

Then the classic album Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake Gold gets the treatment

The Small Faces
Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake Gold
Heavyweight Vinyl £25.00
Release Date: 24/02/2023

Presented on limited edition gold vinyl, ‘Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake’ is the third studio album, and only concept album by the Small Faces. Originally released in May 1968, the LP peaked at number one on the UK Album Charts the following month, where it remained for six weeks and is the Small Faces’ best-known and most successful album.

Including the hit tracks ‘Lazy Sunday’, ‘Ogdens Nut Gone Flake’ and ‘Rene’, side two of the LP is based on an original fairy tale concept about a boy called Happiness Stan – six songs interlinked with narration provided by comic performer Stanley Unwin in his unique, nonsensical private language.

It ultimately became the group’s final studio album during their original incarnation. The album title and distinctive packaging design was a parody of Ogden’s Nut-brown Flake, a brand of tinned loose tobacco that was produced in Liverpool from 1899 onwards by Thomas Ogden.

SIDE A

1. Ogdens` Nut Gone Flake
2. Afterglow
3. Long Ago’s And Worlds Apart
4. Rene
5. Song Of A Baker
6. Lazy Sunday

SIDE B

1. Happiness Stan
2. Rollin` Over
3. The Hungry Intruder
4. The Journey
5. Mad John
6. Happydaystoytown

To pre-order go to

https://townsendmusic.store/products/artist/The+Small+Faces?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=email

Kenney Jones puts Hurtwood on the market

The polo club owned by Kenney Jones that faced opposition from villagers has gone on the market. Hurtwood Park Polo Club is currently being listed for £5 million with any successful buyer getting 10 acres of land including a 3,000 sq ft barn used for weddings and events.

The club tried to expand over the past decade but faced opposition from local environmental groups. Reacting to the news, Val Henry, a Conservative who represents Ewhurst at Waverley Borough Council, said it was tough to say why Mr Jones had decided to sell up with the family not in contact with the local community for some years. “It’s been around for quite a long time now and over the years it’s done a lot of good for the community,” she said. “It depends on what their intentions are for the future, I don’t know what their personal circumstances are to be quite honest.

Congratulations Liam and Nicole Ann

After last weeks Ruby’s baby news, Rod got more good news this week from his son Liam who revealed his own happy news to his followers on social media, that he and Nicole Ann are expecting a baby boy, and his family were quick to react.

“Mom + Dad | Baby Boy joins us in May,” he captioned a video which sees him and his partner, Nicole Ann, posing together during the first months of the pregnancy and even doing a gender reveal next to their Christmas tree.

Liam’s Mum Rachel Hunter, who is set to become a grandmother for the first time, commented on the clip.

“Love you guys so exciteeddd the best Mum and Dad ever!! I can’t wait!! Finally I get to tell everyone. Didn’t have my glasses on and put up the wrong heart!!!”

Sister Renee Stewart added: “Love you guys,” whilst Ruby Stewart remarked: “(Ugly crying) love you guys so happy for you two.”

Kimberly Stewart wrote: “The best. Love you both,” and Rod’s wife Penny Lancaster added: “Beautiful, I can’t help watching it over and over again.”

This weeks Rod Art

We always try to bring you something different in the Rod Art section and this week we feature this fantastic piece by Columbian artist Wilesly who told SMILER this week ‘My style of art is a “Manga / Anime” Style, I started using the draft with pencils, and after I use a lot of Sharpie markers to give all those colors to the artwork. Finally I scan the drawing to retouch the image in photoshop saturating all the colors’.

‘Rod Stewart inspired me to make that artwork because he is an amazing retro star!!! I started to listen his music since 2017 when he performed “Do ya think im sexy” with DNCE at the palms casino in Las Vegas. I was in vegas twice (2014 and 2022) but I didnt had the opportunity to see him performing on stage, thats definitely in my life-Bucket List. Big Hugs from Colombia!!!’

To see more amazing art work by Wilesly go to https://www.instagram.com/wilesly/

Looking for a used car?

Need a new second had car?..How about a 1977 Lamborghini Countach that was once owned by Rod.

Rod had the car delivered brand new to him in 1977 while on tour in Australia, and it is one of only 157 examples of the first-series LP400 ‘Periscopio’ models produced.

The LP400 was brought to the United Kingdom in 1987, and was in Rod’s ownership for 25 years, before he sold it in 2002. Rod converted it to a targa-style open-top configuration, but it was later reversed to original ‘Periscopio’ specification. The car was first painted with Tobacco trim, and followed him when he relocated to Los Angeles. But this isn’t the first time it’s gone to auction, Last February, someone bought it in Paris for $940, 919, which set a new record for an auctioned Countach and it looks like it could go for even more when it hits the market this February.

So If you think it would look good on your drive it’s currently being priced at between €950,000 and €1,050,000 on car auction site Sotheby’s.

Noisy neighbour ?

Rod has got a new neighbour in Dublin after Manchester United and Republic of Ireland legend Roy Keane bought a swanky new home, one of 215 units in Lansdowne Place with prices ranging between €825,000 and €6.5 million.

The prestigious development in the heart of Dublin 4 sits on a 6.8-acre site which formerly hosted the Berkeley Court Hotel and Jurys Hotel.

Speaking to talkSPORT, back in 2021 Rod said of Keane “I think Roy can be a bit of a bully sometimes, I admired him as a player but he’s a bit of a bully.”

Asked to elaborate on his claims, he explained: “I think there is a way of speaking your mind and I think he is far too aggressive.

“He was an elite player but do you think he would – do you think he could be a good manager with that approach?”

And Finally..

Many members of SMILER and other Rod groups will have known Marcus Van -Willing who was a big fan of Rod’s

On Friday last week family and friends of Marcus celbrated his life in a service at Grimby Crematorium after his family announced that Marcus died peacefully at his home on December 12th aged 67.

See you next week.