Wikipedia

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"Make the Radio a Little Louder"
Released1966
LabelPye 7N 17277
Composer(s)Parker, Fowley
Producer(s)Ron Fairway
UK chronology
"Little Deuce Coupe"
(1966) 		"Sea of Faces"
(1966) 		"Breaking Up A Dream"
(1968)

Background

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"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 producer Ron Fairway,[3][4] who would be a one-time manager of The Foundations.[5] Backed with the Bobby Bloom, John Linde composition, "Make the Radio a Little Louder",[6][7][8] it was released on Pye 7N 17277.[9] It was also released in a picture cover format in Denmark.[10] 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.[11][12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

The song brought them a degree of success when it became a minor hit for them in January 1967.[15][16]

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.[17]

Their follow up was Breaking Up a Dream" which was released on Barry Class' Trend Label.[18][19][20]

Years later, the song was described by AllMusic reviewer Bruce Eder as "beautifully ornate and crunchy".[21]

Charts

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"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.[22] It peaked at No. 39 for the Sunday 1st to Sunday 8 January 1967 period.[23][24]

On the Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound chart, it made its debut at no. 50 on the week of Saturday, January 7, 1967 [25] 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.[26][27]

It also debuted at no. 27 on the Radio London Fab Forty chart on the week of January 1, 1967.[28] It held that position for another week before disappearing off the chart by Jan 21.[29][30]

Chart (1967) Peak
position
Radio City
City Sixty 		39[31]
Radio Caroline
Countdown Of Sound 		41

[32]

Radio London
Fab Forty 		27[33]

Further reading

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Releases

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Singles
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Ways & Means "Sea of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" Pye 7N 17217 1966 Yellow label promo[34]
Ways & Means "Sea of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" Pye 7N 17217 1966 Red label stock[35]
Ways & Means " Sea Of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" Pye 7N 17217 1966 Denmark
picture cover stock release[36]
Various artist compilation appearances
Title Catalogue Year Notes
Butterfly: Ripples, Volume 8 Castle Music, CMRCD 554 2002 / 2003 [37][38]
Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers Dockland Music 406514 2015899 2023 [39][40]

References

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  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. ^ The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  5. ^ Melody Maker, November 11, 1967 - Page 1 Foundations hit top spot
  6. ^ The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  7. ^ Popsike - WAYS AND MEANS - SEA OF FACES UK 1ST PRESS PYE 7N17217 RARE BEAT POP VG/EX
  8. ^ hitparade.ch - Bobby Mann – Make The Radio A Little Louder
  9. ^ Melody Maker, 7 January 1967 - Page 2 OUT NOW FROM THE WAYS AND MEANS, SEA OF FACES
  10. ^ 45Cat - Ways And Means - Discography, Denmark
  11. ^ Left and to the Back, 13 April 2022 - Ways & Means - Little Deuce Coupe/ The Little Old Lady From Pasadena
  12. ^ 45Cat - The Ways And Means - Discography
  13. ^ The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  14. ^ Disc and Music Echo, January 14, 1967 - Page 11 PYE CHART CLIMBING SINGLES
  15. ^ Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means
  16. ^ The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967, this week 39, last week 54
  17. ^ The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  18. ^ The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
  19. ^ Melody Maker, February 10, 1968 - Page 6 FOLLOW THE NEW RECORD TREND
  20. ^ Beat Instrumental, February, 1968 - Page 24 INSTRUMENTAL NEWS, BARRY CLASS STARTS TREND RECORD LABEL
  21. ^ AllMusic - Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554), Review by Bruce Eder
  22. ^ The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixty, 25th December 1966 - 1st January 1967, this week 54, last week _, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means
  23. ^ The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967, this week 39, last week 54
  24. ^ The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - THE CITY SIXTY Sunday 8th - Sunday 15th January 1967
  25. ^ Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Saturday, January 7, 1967, Last week New, This week 50, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means
  26. ^ Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means
  27. ^ Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Saturday, January 28, 1967
  28. ^ Radio London Ltd - 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
  29. ^ Radio London Ltd - Field's Fab 40 for Sunday 8th January 1967
    Presented by Kenny Everett
    Last week 27, This week 27, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means
  30. ^ Radio London Ltd - Field's Fab Forty for Sunday 15th January 1967, Presented by Ed Stewart
  31. ^ The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967
  32. ^ Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means
  33. ^ Radio London Ltd - 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
  34. ^ Popsike - Ways And Means - Sea of Faces/ Make the Radio a Little Louder - 60s Mod Garage
  35. ^ Popsike - WAYS AND MEANS - SEA OF FACES UK 1ST PRESS PYE 7N17217 RARE BEAT POP VG/EX
  36. ^ 45Cat - Ways And Means - Discography, Denmark
  37. ^ AllMusic - Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554)
  38. ^ Spectropop - Reviews 2002, Butterfly
  39. ^ junodownload - VARIOUS PSYCHEDELIC BRITAIN: FLOWERS & FUZZ DOCKLAND MUSIC Cat: 406514 2015899, Released: 13 October, 2023
  40. ^ Spotify - Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers
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