The 1968 song Steve Marriott wrote as a “total piss-take” that hit number two in the charts
Small Faces released ‘Lazy Sunday’ in 1968, despite Steve Marriott’s objections that the song was a “total piss-take” and not intended for mainstream audiences. Its unexpected success made it one of the band’s biggest commercial hits, while also sharpening tensions over their musical direction.
The track appeared on the concept album Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake and reached number two in the UK singles chart within a month of its April release, behind Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’. Keyboardist Ian McLagan recalled that the band developed the song’s playful refrain while joking around. Marriott later left the group, with its shift towards whimsical pop among the factors cited in his departure.
- ‘Lazy Sunday’ began as a joke song.
- It reached number two in the UK.
- Its success reflected tensions over the band’s direction.