Misplaced Pages

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.

Later, it was recorded by The Ways and Means who were managed by producer Ron Fairway, who would be a one-time manager of The Foundations. Backed with the Bobby Bloom, John Linde composition, "Make the Radio a Little Louder", it was released on Pye 7N 17277. It was also released in a picture cover format in 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Their follow up was Breaking Up a Dream" which was released on Barry Class' Trend Label.

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

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. It peaked at No. 39 for the Sunday 1st to Sunday 8 January 1967 period.

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

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

Further reading

• Left and to the back, 24 November 2019 - Ways & Means - Sea of Faces/ Make The Radio A Little Louder

Releases

References

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

External links

• 45Cat - The Ways And Means - Discography (UK)
• AllMusic - Sea of Faces Ways And Means
• Kentbeat - The Ways and Means (Canterbury)
• flatop47 channel - Ways & Means - Sea Of Faces
• Fran Corao channel - Ways & Means - Make The Radio A Little Louder (audio)

• Pye Records singles
• 1967 singles
• Songs written by Kim Fowley
• Psychedelic pop songs