On this day, 9 April 1966, rock and pop band The Small Faces played Sophia Gardens supported by Lou Christie, Martha & The Vandellas, Slade Brothers, The Koobas, Fran & Alan and Alan Field & The Time Box.
The band had recently released their biggest hit so far in their career with Sha-La-La-La-Lee which peaked at #3 in the UK singles chart.
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.
"Sha-La-La-La-Lee" was recorded on 13 December 1965 at IBC Studios in London with audio engineer John Pantry.
Following the huge success of this song, the band developed a large female fan base, like many of their contemporaries. 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.