Here Come the Nice
Encyclopedia
"Here Come the Nice" is a song released by English
rhythm and blues
group Small Faces. It peaked at number 12 in the UK singles chart
in 1967. It was their first release on new label Immediate after moving from Decca
.
/beat song written by Steve Marriott
and Ronnie Lane
. For reasons unknown the single escaped censorship, despite the fact that the song makes overt drug references and mentions the taking of "speed" (an amphetamine
) a popular drug in the sixties, especially with mods - He makes me feel like no-one else could/He knows what I want/He's got what I need/He's always there/If I need some speed. Under the stricter Don Arden
the single would never have seen the light of day, however Andrew Loog Oldham
at Immediate had no problems with the song's release.
The song title has often been mis-quoted as "Here Comes the Nice" after a record sleeve misprint.
The title of the song comes from the comedian
Lord Buckley
monologue
, 'Here Comes Da Nazz' which was popular with the group.
The record is also notable for its innovative ending - instead of the customary fade out
, it uses a combination of studio effects to simulate the inevitable "come-down" from the speed "high". This was created by editing two elements together - the first element was created by using the variable speed control on the master tape recorder to slow down the playback of the song's final chord, which slides down rapidly in pitch before an abrupt cut to the second element, a sequence of crashing, chaotic sounds created by striking and strumming on resonating piano strings. The mono and stereo mixes of the single differ slightly in the timing of this effect, with the 'pitch drop' effect coming in slightly earlier in the mono mix than in the stereo mix.
The single's B-side "Talk To You" is a more straight-forward punchy R&B song; the song's subject matter is said to be about Marriott's romantic relationship with Chrissie
, super model Jean Shrimpton
's younger sister.
featuring Midge Ure
and Glen Matlock
(ex Sex Pistols
) made a version of "Here Come the Nice" on the B-side of their single "Marching Men" in 1978, both were fans of Small Faces music.
Noel Gallagher
& Paul Weller
have played the song live.
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...
rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
group Small Faces. It peaked at number 12 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 ...
in 1967. It was their first release on new label Immediate after moving from Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
.
Song profile
The song "Here Come the Nice" is a psychedelicPsychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
/beat song written by Steve Marriott
Steve 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...
and Ronnie Lane
Ronnie Lane
Ronald Frederick "Ronnie" Lane was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands; the Small Faces where he was nicknamed "Plonk", – and, after losing the band's frontman, Faces, with two new...
. For reasons unknown the single escaped censorship, despite the fact that the song makes overt drug references and mentions the taking of "speed" (an amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
) a popular drug in the sixties, especially with mods - He makes me feel like no-one else could/He knows what I want/He's got what I need/He's always there/If I need some speed. Under the stricter Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
the single would never have seen the light of day, however Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham
Andrew Loog Oldham is an English producer, talent manager, impresario and author. He was manager and producer of The Rolling Stones from 1963, and was noted for his flamboyant style.-Biography:...
at Immediate had no problems with the song's release.
The song title has often been mis-quoted as "Here Comes the Nice" after a record sleeve misprint.
The title of the song comes from the comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Lord Buckley
Lord Buckley
Lord Richard Buckley was an American stage performer, recording artist, monologist, and hip poet/comic...
monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
, 'Here Comes Da Nazz' which was popular with the group.
The record is also notable for its innovative ending - instead of the customary fade out
Fade out
Fade out or Fadeout may refer to:*Fade , a cinematographic technique causing the picture to darken and disappear or the reverse...
, it uses a combination of studio effects to simulate the inevitable "come-down" from the speed "high". This was created by editing two elements together - the first element was created by using the variable speed control on the master tape recorder to slow down the playback of the song's final chord, which slides down rapidly in pitch before an abrupt cut to the second element, a sequence of crashing, chaotic sounds created by striking and strumming on resonating piano strings. The mono and stereo mixes of the single differ slightly in the timing of this effect, with the 'pitch drop' effect coming in slightly earlier in the mono mix than in the stereo mix.
The single's B-side "Talk To You" is a more straight-forward punchy R&B song; the song's subject matter is said to be about Marriott's romantic relationship with Chrissie
Chrissie Shrimpton
Chrissie Shrimpton is a former 1960s English model and actress. She is the younger sister of model Jean Shrimpton and was the girlfriend of Mick Jagger from 1963 to 1966.-Films:*G.G...
, super model Jean Shrimpton
Jean Shrimpton
Jean Rosemary Shrimpton is an English model and actress. She was an icon of Swinging London and is considered to be one of the world's first supermodels....
's younger sister.
Other versions
The Rich KidsThe Rich Kids
Rich Kids were a short-lived, seminal new wave band from London, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock following his departure from The Sex Pistols. The band also included future Ultravox member Midge Ure, and Rusty Egan, who later went to found Visage.-Career:...
featuring Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
and Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
(ex Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
) made a version of "Here Come the Nice" on the B-side of their single "Marching Men" in 1978, both were fans of Small Faces music.
Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
& Paul Weller
Paul Weller
Paul Weller is an English singer-songwriter. Starting with the band The Jam , Weller then went on to branch out musically to a more soulful style with The Style Council...
have played the song live.