As I write this latest blog, the world is learning of the passing of the comedy genius of Ronnie Corbett. He was famously one half of the Two Ronnies often playing the straight guy to the comic genius of Ronnie Barker. That is how it often goes in the world of entertainment; the collaboration of two talents in which one gets more than it's fair share of adulation and attention. So too it was with Ronnie Lane but what a story there is to tell. Tomorrow is April 1st and appropriately enough, this icon of English whimsy would have turned 70 but fate dealt him a rotten hand.
So who exactly was Ronnie Lane you may ask? Well, if you lived through the ground breaking music of the mid sixties through to the late seventies, you will probably be familiar with lots of songs which wouldn't have even existed but for Ronnie. He was one of the founding members of a group whose brief time together has influenced Led Zepellin, Oasis, the Jam and Blur to name but a very few.
The Small Faces all hailed from the East End of London and were all less than five feet five inches tall. Along with the Who, they were the early flag bearers of the Mod youth movement. Their song writing partnership of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane rivalled that of Lennon and McCartney for the three years period they were together. "All or Nothing", "Itchycoo Park", "What'cha gonna do about it?", "Tine Soldier", and many others all came from the songwriting pens of Marriott and Lane. "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" in 1968 was one of the very earliest concept albums which topped the British charts for several weeks spawning songs such as "Lazy Sunday", "Afterglow" and "Song of a Baker". The Small Faces made no money despite a prolific and successful output between 1965 and New Year's Eve 1968. That was the point at which the lead singer and co-songwriter Steve Marriott announced his departure to form Humble Pie which ultimately did what the Small Faces never could; Humble Pie cracked the lucrative American market.
It is difficult to explain just how gifted Marriott was. Suffice to say that it too the acquisition of Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to replace him. But the remaining three Small Faces (Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones) needed the work and so welcomed the two rejects from the ill-fated Jeff Beck group.
The Faces (as they were now called) were arguably the fore-runners of the "pub-rock" which heralded the ascent of bands like Free and Slade. Theirs was a bawdy, raucous style steeped in the loose, blues style. An early Faces favourite was the Ronnie Lane number, "Ooh la-la". Rod Stewart couldn't sing it live because it was in the wrong key for his gravelly voice so duties were invariably shared between the two Ronnies, Lane and Wood. The song is simple enough but the theme is one with which we can all resonate, "I wish that I knew all I know now, when I was younger". It tells the story of a young man taking advice from his worldy wise grandfather and reminds us of the value of listening before it's too late. Very simple but very powerful.
As the Faces became more commercial and more obsessed with money and earning, Ronnie Lane yearned more for a simple rustic life in which he could let his music flow free from the constraints of corporate demands. His output with bands such as Slim Chance was extraordinary. "How come?" was an early example of his song-writing prowess free from the pressure of music executives. Next to Ray Davies of the Kinks, Ronnie Lane was the chief proponent of the quintessential English whimsy beloved of music fans all over the world. Although he had been the solid bass player for both the Small Faces and the Faces, he now tended to play acoustic guitar with a backing band featuring such luminaries as Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle. That phase of his life was less to do with money and more to do with the sheer joy of the music.
It was in 1977 during recording of the album "Rough Mix" with Pete Townshend of the Who that his health started to cause concern top those around him. It transpired that his odd behaviour was a result of him being in the early stages of the multiple sclerosis which would ultimately claim his life all too soon at the age of 51 in 1997. That album still stands as a gem and sales were suppressed by the record company because it was feared that the new collaboration could result in the demise of the Who and the Rolling Stones due to the involvement of various key personnel from both groups. The song which I adore is the aptly named "April Fool" penned by the great Ronnie Lane.
On April 1st 2016, Ronnie Lane would have been 70 years old and we never know what musical gems were kept from us due to the ravages of multiple sclerosis. He remains much missed by an army of fans who hanker after his type of music.
So who exactly was Ronnie Lane you may ask? Well, if you lived through the ground breaking music of the mid sixties through to the late seventies, you will probably be familiar with lots of songs which wouldn't have even existed but for Ronnie. He was one of the founding members of a group whose brief time together has influenced Led Zepellin, Oasis, the Jam and Blur to name but a very few.
The Small Faces all hailed from the East End of London and were all less than five feet five inches tall. Along with the Who, they were the early flag bearers of the Mod youth movement. Their song writing partnership of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane rivalled that of Lennon and McCartney for the three years period they were together. "All or Nothing", "Itchycoo Park", "What'cha gonna do about it?", "Tine Soldier", and many others all came from the songwriting pens of Marriott and Lane. "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" in 1968 was one of the very earliest concept albums which topped the British charts for several weeks spawning songs such as "Lazy Sunday", "Afterglow" and "Song of a Baker". The Small Faces made no money despite a prolific and successful output between 1965 and New Year's Eve 1968. That was the point at which the lead singer and co-songwriter Steve Marriott announced his departure to form Humble Pie which ultimately did what the Small Faces never could; Humble Pie cracked the lucrative American market.
It is difficult to explain just how gifted Marriott was. Suffice to say that it too the acquisition of Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to replace him. But the remaining three Small Faces (Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones) needed the work and so welcomed the two rejects from the ill-fated Jeff Beck group.
The Faces (as they were now called) were arguably the fore-runners of the "pub-rock" which heralded the ascent of bands like Free and Slade. Theirs was a bawdy, raucous style steeped in the loose, blues style. An early Faces favourite was the Ronnie Lane number, "Ooh la-la". Rod Stewart couldn't sing it live because it was in the wrong key for his gravelly voice so duties were invariably shared between the two Ronnies, Lane and Wood. The song is simple enough but the theme is one with which we can all resonate, "I wish that I knew all I know now, when I was younger". It tells the story of a young man taking advice from his worldy wise grandfather and reminds us of the value of listening before it's too late. Very simple but very powerful.
As the Faces became more commercial and more obsessed with money and earning, Ronnie Lane yearned more for a simple rustic life in which he could let his music flow free from the constraints of corporate demands. His output with bands such as Slim Chance was extraordinary. "How come?" was an early example of his song-writing prowess free from the pressure of music executives. Next to Ray Davies of the Kinks, Ronnie Lane was the chief proponent of the quintessential English whimsy beloved of music fans all over the world. Although he had been the solid bass player for both the Small Faces and the Faces, he now tended to play acoustic guitar with a backing band featuring such luminaries as Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle. That phase of his life was less to do with money and more to do with the sheer joy of the music.
It was in 1977 during recording of the album "Rough Mix" with Pete Townshend of the Who that his health started to cause concern top those around him. It transpired that his odd behaviour was a result of him being in the early stages of the multiple sclerosis which would ultimately claim his life all too soon at the age of 51 in 1997. That album still stands as a gem and sales were suppressed by the record company because it was feared that the new collaboration could result in the demise of the Who and the Rolling Stones due to the involvement of various key personnel from both groups. The song which I adore is the aptly named "April Fool" penned by the great Ronnie Lane.
On April 1st 2016, Ronnie Lane would have been 70 years old and we never know what musical gems were kept from us due to the ravages of multiple sclerosis. He remains much missed by an army of fans who hanker after his type of music.
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