The Universal (Small Faces song)
Encyclopedia
"The Universal" is a UK single released by English
R&B influenced group Small Faces on 28 June 1968
and reached number 16 staying remaining in the top-40 for a total of 10 weeks.
as "Hello the Universal" but due to an error early in the single's production and manufacture was instead printed as the shorter "The Universal", and due to the costs involved never corrected.
The erratic sounding song was partly tape recorded by Marriott in the garden of his Essex
home at the time, Beehive Cottage. His dogs can clearly be heard barking in the background, the song was further enhanced and other instruments added later in the recording studio.
One of Marriott's dogs, Seamus, was also recorded howling in the studio for the Pink Floyd
track of the same name, from their 1970 album Meddle
.
After the success of the Small Faces previous song "Lazy Sunday
" Marriott especially, was disappointed that the song only reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart
, Marriott was quoted at the time as saying that "The Universal" was the best song he had ever written.
"The Universal" was the final official song released by Small Faces before they disbanded in 1969
. Their record label Immediate
would release "Afterglow (Of Your Love)
" as the unofficial final song by the group.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
R&B influenced group Small Faces on 28 June 1968
1968 in music
-Events:*January 4 – Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding.*January 6 – Gibson Guitar Corporation patents its Gibson Flying V electric guitar design....
and reached number 16 staying remaining in the top-40 for a total of 10 weeks.
Song profile
"The Universal" was originally titled by Steve MarriottSteve Marriott
Stephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
as "Hello the Universal" but due to an error early in the single's production and manufacture was instead printed as the shorter "The Universal", and due to the costs involved never corrected.
The erratic sounding song was partly tape recorded by Marriott in the garden of his Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
home at the time, Beehive Cottage. His dogs can clearly be heard barking in the background, the song was further enhanced and other instruments added later in the recording studio.
One of Marriott's dogs, Seamus, was also recorded howling in the studio for the Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
track of the same name, from their 1970 album Meddle
Meddle
Meddle is the sixth studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. It was released in October 1971.The album was recorded at a series of locations around London, including Abbey Road Studios...
.
After the success of the Small Faces previous song "Lazy Sunday
Lazy Sunday (song)
"Lazy Sunday" is a song by English beat band Small Faces, reaching number two on the UK singles chart in 1968 . It was written by the Small Faces songwriting duo Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, and appeared on the band's 1968 concept album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake and preceded the album as a...
" Marriott especially, was disappointed that the song only reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, Marriott was quoted at the time as saying that "The Universal" was the best song he had ever written.
"People keep saying that "Universal" is a send-up of Dylan or the one-man-band - they don't seem to realise that it's a serious record. Which proves that they don't really listen to it because if they did they'd understand what it's all about. It's about getting up in the morning and going outside and saying hello to the Universe" - Steve Marriott - August 1968
"The Universal" was the final official song released by Small Faces before they disbanded in 1969
1969 in music
-Events:Perhaps the two most famous musical events of 1969 were concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hells Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event...
. Their record label Immediate
Immediate
Immediate may refer to:* Immediacy * Immediate Records, a British record label* The Immediate, an Irish rock group* Immediate Music, a music composition company...
would release "Afterglow (Of Your Love)
Afterglow (Of Your Love)
"Afterglow Of Your Love" is the unofficial final single released in 1969 by the English Rock group the Small Faces. The song managed to reach #36 in the UK Singles Charts....
" as the unofficial final song by the group.