Sea of Faces (song)
{{Infobox song
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| artist = The Ways and Means
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| A-side = Sea of Faces
| B-side = Make the Radio a Little Louder
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| released = 1966
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| label = Pye 7N 17277
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| producer = Ron Fairway
| chronology = UK
| prev_title = Little Deuce Coupe
| prev_year = 1966
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| next_title = Breaking Up A Dream
| next_year = 1968
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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.
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.Who Put the Bomp, Spring 1975 - [https://archive.org/details/Bomp13Spring1975/page/n41/mode/2up Page 43 Feedback]Gamma Gaana - [https://open.gaana.com/song/sea-of-faces-32 Sea of Faces]
Later, it was recorded by The Ways and Means who were managed by producer Ron Fairway,Record Mirror, No. 304 Week ending Jan. 7, 1967 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/67/Record-Mirror-1967-01-07.pdf Page 4 OUT NOW from THE WAYS AND MEANS, 'SEA OF FACES' on Pye 7N 17217]The Strange Brew - [https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/the-ways-and-means/ The Ways and Means] who would be a one-time manager of The Foundations.Melody Maker, November 11, 1967 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Melody-Maker-IDX/IDX/60s/Melody-Maker-1967-1111-IDX-1.pdf Page 1 Foundations hit top spot] Backed with the Bobby Bloom, John Linde composition, "Make the Radio a Little Louder",The Strange Brew - [https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/the-ways-and-means/ The Ways and Means]Popsike - [https://www.popsike.com/WAYS-AND-MEANS-SEA-OF-FACES-UK-1ST-PRESS-PYE-7N17217-RARE-BEAT-POP-VGEX/255122796190.html WAYS AND MEANS - SEA OF FACES UK 1ST PRESS PYE 7N17217 RARE BEAT POP VG/EX]hitparade.ch - [https://hitparade.ch/song/Bobby-Mann/Make-The-Radio-A-Little-Louder-2185739 Bobby Mann – Make The Radio A Little Louder] it was released on Pye 7N 17277.Melody Maker, 7 January 1967 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/67/Melody-Maker-1967-0107.pdf Page 2 OUT NOW FROM THE WAYS AND MEANS, SEA OF FACES] It was also released in a picture cover format in Denmark.45Cat - [https://www.45cat.com/artist/ways-and-means/dk Ways And Means - Discography, Denmark] 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.Left and to the Back, 13 April 2022 - [http://left-and-to-the-back.blogspot.com/2022/04/ways-means-little-deuce-coupe-little.html Ways & Means - Little Deuce Coupe/ The Little Old Lady From Pasadena]45Cat - [https://www.45cat.com/artist/the-ways-and-means/uk The Ways And Means - Discography]
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". The band were actually friends with Noel Redding as well.The Strange Brew - [https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/the-ways-and-means/ The Ways and Means]
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.Disc and Music Echo, January 14, 1967 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Disc/1967/DISC-&-Music-Echo-1967-01-14.pdf Page 11 PYE CHART CLIMBING SINGLES]
The song brought them a degree of success when it became a minor hit for them in January 1967.Radio London Ltd - [https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/stonewashed/carolinecharts/073%20January%2021%201967.htm Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means]The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - [https://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/chart65.htm The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967, this week 39, last week 54]
It's possible that the follow up to "Sea of Faces" could have been "Baby, Now That I've Found You". They were offered the song by Tony Macaulay but they felt that it wasn't for them. The Foundations recorded it with Clem Curtis on vocals and the song went to no. 1. They would later regret not taking up the offer.The Strange Brew - [https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/the-ways-and-means/ The Ways and Means]
Their follow up was Breaking Up a Dream" which was released on Barry Class' Trend Label.The Strange Brew - [https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/the-ways-and-means/ The Ways and Means]Melody Maker, February 10, 1968 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/68/Melody-Maker-1968-0210.pdf Page 6 FOLLOW THE NEW RECORD TREND]Beat Instrumental, February, 1968 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/6802-Beat-Instrumental-1968-02-OCR.pdf Page 24 INSTRUMENTAL NEWS, BARRY CLASS STARTS TREND RECORD LABEL]
Years later, the song was described by AllMusic reviewer Bruce Eder as "beautifully ornate and crunchy".AllMusic - [https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/ripples-vol-8-butterfly-mr0001735096 Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554), Review by Bruce Eder]
Charts
"Sea of Faces" made its debut on the Radio City City Sixty chart for the Sunday 25 December 1966 to Sunday 1 January 1967 period.The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - [https://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/chart64.htm The City Sixty, 25th December 1966 - 1st January 1967, this week 54, last week _, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means] It peaked at No. 39 for the Sunday 1st to Sunday 8 January 1967 period.The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - [https://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/chart65.htm The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967, this week 39, last week 54]The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - [https://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/chart66.htm THE CITY SIXTY Sunday 8th - Sunday 15th January 1967]
On the Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound chart, it made its debut at no. 50 on the week of Saturday, January 7, 1967
Radio London Ltd - [https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/stonewashed/carolinecharts/071%20January%207%201967.htm Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Saturday, January 7, 1967, Last week New, This week 50, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means] It had moved up no. 44 on the week of Saturday, January 14, 1967. On its third week in the chart, it peaked at no. 41 on the week of Saturday 21 January.Radio London Ltd - [https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/stonewashed/carolinecharts/073%20January%2021%201967.htm Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means]Radio London Ltd - [https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/stonewashed/carolinecharts/074%20January%2028%201967.htm Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Saturday, January 28, 1967]
It also debuted at no. 27 on the Radio London Fab Forty chart on the week of January 1, 1967.Radio London Ltd - [https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/xmas01/xfabs01/jan01/xfabforty010167.html Field's Fab Forty, Field's Fab New Year Forty for Sunday 01/01/67
Presented by Tony Blackburn
Last week _, This Week 27, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means] It held that position for another week before disappearing off the chart by Jan 21.Radio London Ltd - [https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/xmas01/xfabs01/jan01/xfabforty010167.html Field's Fab 40 for Sunday 8th January 1967
Presented by Kenny Everett
Last week 27, This week 27, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means]Radio London Ltd - [https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/jan67/jan672/fab150167.html Field's Fab Forty for Sunday 15th January 1967, Presented by Ed Stewart]
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| Chart (1967)
! Peak |
|---|
| scope="row" | Radio City City Sixty | align="center"|39The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - [https://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/chart65.htm The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967] |
| scope="row" | Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound | align="center"| 41 |
| scope="row" | Radio London Fab Forty |
Further reading
- Left and to the back, 24 November 2019 - [http://left-and-to-the-back.blogspot.com/2019/11/ways-means-sea-of-faces-make-radio.html#more Ways & Means - Sea of Faces/ Make The Radio A Little Louder]
Releases
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Singles |
| scope="col" class="unsortable" | Act
! scope="col" | Release ! scope="col" | Catalogue ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | Ways & Means
| "Sea of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" | Pye 7N 17217 | 1966 |
| scope="row" | Ways & Means
| "Sea of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" | Pye 7N 17217 | 1966 |
| scope="row" | Ways & Means
| " Sea Of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" | Pye 7N 17217 | 1966 | Denmark |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Various artist compilation appearances |
| scope="col" class="unsortable" | Title
! scope="col" | Catalogue ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| scope="row" | Butterfly: Ripples, Volume 8
| Castle Music, CMRCD 554 | 2002 / 2003 | AllMusic - [https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/ripples-vol-8-butterfly-mr0001735096 Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554)]Spectropop - [https://spectropop.com/recommends/index2002.htm Reviews 2002, Butterfly] |
| scope="row" | Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers
| Dockland Music 406514 2015899 | 2023 | junodownload - [https://www.junodownload.com/products/psychedelic-britain-flowers-fuzz/6346174-02/ VARIOUS PSYCHEDELIC BRITAIN: FLOWERS & FUZZ DOCKLAND MUSIC Cat: 406514 2015899, Released: 13 October, 2023]Spotify - [https://open.spotify.com/album/7J0ko41cGNm2GpddMQjkX2 Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers] |
| scope="row" |
| | | | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- 45Cat - [https://www.45cat.com/artist/the-ways-and-means/uk The Ways And Means - Discography (UK)]
- AllMusic - [https://www.allmusic.com/album/sea-of-faces-mw0003920600 Sea of Faces Ways And Means]
- Kentbeat - [https://kentbeat.uk/index.php/groups/184-the-ways-and-means-canterbury The Ways and Means (Canterbury)]
- flatop47 channel - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFZU3qcpWLI Ways & Means - Sea Of Faces]
- Fran Corao channel - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg-qTskll60 Ways & Means - Make The Radio A Little Louder (audio)]