Sha-La-La-La-Lee

This article is about the Small Faces song. For the Manfred Mann song, see Sha La La. For The Walkers song, see Sha-La-La-La-La.

"Sha-La-La-La-Lee"
Italian picture sleeve
Single by Small Faces
B-side"Grow Your Own"
Released28 January 1966
Recorded13 December 1965
StudioIBC, London
GenreRock, beat
Length2:56
LabelDecca
Songwriters
ProducerKenny Lynch
Small Faces singles chronology
"I've Got Mine"
(1965) 		"Sha-La-La-La-Lee"
(1966) 		"Hey Girl"
(1966)

"Sha-La-La-La-Lee" is a song by the English rock band Small Faces. Released in January 1966, the single reached number three in the UK on the Record Retailer chart.[1] On the New Zealand listener chart it peaked at #8.[2] It was also the first single by the group to feature Ian McLagan on keyboards.

Background

Because Small Faces' previous song release, the Marriott/Lane composition "I've Got Mine," failed to chart in the UK, their manager, Don Arden, determined that the Small Faces would not be one hit wonders, decided to bring in well-known songwriters Kenny Lynch and Mort Shuman to make sure the group's next single would be a success.[3]

"Sha-La-La-La-Lee" was recorded on 13 December 1965 at IBC Studios in London with audio engineer John Pantry.[4]

Release and commercial performance

Trade ad for the single

Although intended to have been released on 14 January 1966,[5] "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" was released on 28 January through Decca,[6][7] with "Grow Your Own" on the B-side.[8][nb 1] Hellier and Hewitt speculate that Arden made a few "arrangements" to ensure the single would become a hit, and that the band's hectic touring schedule played part.[10] As such, the Small Faces were called to perform on a few major television shows to promote the single, including Scene At 6:30 (26 January), Ready Steady Go! (28 January), Thank Your Lucky Stars (5 February) and Top of the Pops (17 February).[11] In the United States, the single was issued through London Records.[12][nb 2] In conjunction with the US release, Small Faces were filmed in London performing "Whatcha Gonna Do About It?" and "Sha-La-La-La Lee" for the American television show Where the Action Is.[13]

The commercial-sounding song proved a big hit and reached number three in the UK singles chart.[1] Despite the success of "Sha-La-La-La-Lee," the band never really liked the song and felt it did not represent their sound, which was more R&B- and soul-oriented.[3]

Following the huge success of this song, the band developed a large female fan base, like many of their contemporaries.[14] This situation would ultimately end in Marriott becoming so disenchanted that he would leave The Small Faces in 1969 in a bid to be seen as a serious musician and form his next group, the heavier rock- and blues-sounding Humble Pie.[15]

B-side

The B-side "Grow Your Own" written by the band, is an instrumental recording and strongly influenced in style by Booker T. & the M.G.'s, of whom all the group were big fans. "Grow Your Own" heavily features Ian McLagan on the Hammond organ.[3]

Usage

In Japan, "Sha-La-La-La-Lee", arranged to French pop style, was used for the advertisement of Suzuki Alto Lapin.[16]

It was used in the second episode of the first season of the 2019 British TV series, Sex Education.

Personnel

Personnel adapted from the 2012 re-issue of Small Faces and the 2025 re-issue of The Autumn Stone, unless otherwise noted.[17]

Small Faces

Other personnel

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Sha-La-La-La-Lee"
Chart (1966) Peak

position

Australia (Kent Music Report)[19] 51
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[20] 49
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[21] 31
Malaysia (Radio Malaysia)[22] 9
New Zealand (Listener)[2] 8
Singapore (Radio Television Singapore)[23] 5
UK (Disc Weekly)[24] 1
UK (New Musical Express)[25] 2
UK (Melody Maker)[26] 1
UK (Record Retailer)[1] 3
West Germany (Media Control)[27] 15

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Catalogue number Decca F 12317.[9]
  2. ^ Catalogue number 45 9826.[9]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Roberts 2005, p. 465.
  2. ^ a b Kohler, Steve (10 June 1966). "The N.Z. Hit Parade". Flavour of New Zealand. New Zealand Listener. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Sha La La La Lee / Grow Your Own". Making Time. 2001. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  4. ^ Caiger 2025, p. 7.
  5. ^ Hellier & Hewitt 2004, p. 108; Neill 2016, p. 22.
  6. ^ Paytress 2012, p. 6; Tracy & 6 1988.
  7. ^ Anon. (22 January 1966). "New Discs from Lulu, Silkie and Small Faces" (PDF). Record Mirror. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025 – via WorldRadioHistory.
  8. ^ Hellier & Hewitt 2004, p. 108.
  9. ^ a b Tracy 1988, p. 6.
  10. ^ Hellier & Hewitt 2004, p. 109.
  11. ^ Badman & Rowlings 1997, pp. 36–39.
  12. ^ Tracy 1988, p. 5.
  13. ^ Badman & Rawlings 1997, pp. 41–42; Hellier & Hewitt 2004, p. 109.
  14. ^ Hellier & Hewitt 2004, p. 110.
  15. ^ Hewitt 1995, pp. 53–56.
  16. ^ ad of Suzuki Alto Lapin on YouTube
  17. ^ Caiger 2025, p. 7; Paytress 2012, p. 21.
  18. ^ Jones 2018, p. 67.
  19. ^ Kent 2005, p. 365.
  20. ^ "Small Faces– Sha-La-La-La-Lee" (in French). Ultratop 50. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Small Faces – Sha-La-La-La-Lee" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  22. ^ Anon. (14 May 1966). "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025 – via WorldRadioHistory.
  23. ^ Anon. (14 May 1966). "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. p. 39. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025 – via WorldRadioHistory.
  24. ^ Anon. (12 March 1966). "Disc Weekly Top 30". Disc Weekly. p. 12.
  25. ^ Anon. (12 March 1966). "NME Top Thirty". New Musical Express. p. 5.
  26. ^ Anon. (12 March 1966). "Melody Maker Pop 50" (PDF). Melody Maker. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025 – via WorldRadioHistory.
  27. ^ "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Archived from the original on 21 October 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.

Sources

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