Whatcha Gonna Do About It

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“Whatcha Gonna Do About It”
“Whatcha Gonna Do About It” cover
Single by Small Faces
from the album Small Faces
B-side "What's a Matter Baby" (Byers / Clyde Otis)
Released August 6, 1965
Format 7"
Recorded 1965, Pye Studios, London Flag of England
Genre R&B, British Invasion
Length 1:59
Label Decca
Writer(s) Ian Samwell (lyrics)
Steve Marriott
Ronnie Lane (melody)
Producer Ian Samwell
Small Faces singles chronology
- "Whatcha Gonna Do About It"
1965		 "I've Got Mine"
1965

"Whatcha Gonna Do About It" was the debut single released by the English R&B, mod group Small Faces, released in the UK on August 6, 1965. The song peaked at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart, and stayed on chart for a total of 14 weeks.[1]

Contents

[edit] Song profile

The songwriting duo of the group Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane already had the melody for the song, the inspiration coming from Solomon Burke's hit record "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love", however they had no lyrics so Don Arden quickly brought in Ian Samwell to provide the words for the song. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 27 and rose to number 14 just missing the all important Top Ten.[2]

Arden, in later years admitted to spending £12,000 chart fixing to ensure the band's debut song would be a hit.[3] In an interview Arden denied it was cheating: "I had a saying, you can't polish a turd. In other words, if the record's no good to begin with it still won't be any good after you've wasted your time and money getting it played."[4]

[edit] Covers

The Sex Pistols would later record a cover version of "Whatcha Gonna Do About It".[5]changing the lyrics from I want you to know that I LOVE you baby -to:- I want you to know that I HATE you baby Apart from John Lydon the Sex Pistols were known to be fans of the Small Faces music.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Steve Marriott All Too Beautiful ISBN 10900924447 p.99
  2. ^ Small Faces the young mods forgotten story ISBN 0952393506 p.44
  3. ^ Chart fixing
  4. ^ Arden states chart fixing not cheating Retrieved 21/09/07
  5. ^ Steve Marriott - All Too Beautiful
  6. ^ Union Square Music

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Small Faces
Steve Marriott | Ronnie "Plonk" Lane | Kenney Jones | Ian "Mac" McLagan
Former members
Jimmy Winston (1965 – 1966)
Discography
Small Faces (1966) – From the Beginning (1967) – Small Faces (1967) – Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (1968) – The Autumn Stone – Playmates – 78 In The Shade – Itchycoo Park
Live albums (The BBC Sessions)
BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1965) – BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1965) – BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1966) – BBC Session (Saturday Club) (1966) – BBC Session (Top Gear) (1968) – 1968 Sessions – The Final Tour (1969)
7" Singles
"Whatcha Gonna Do About It"/"What's a Matter Baby" (1965) – "I've Got Mine"/"It's Too Late" (1965) – "Sha-La-La-La-Lee"/"Grow Your Own" (1966) – "Hey Girl"/"Almost Grown" (1966) – "All or Nothing"/"Understanding" (1966) –  – " My Mind's Eye"/"I Can't Dance With You" (1966) – "I Can't Make It"/"Just Passing" (1967) – "Patterns"/"E Too D" (1967) – "Here Come the Nice"/"Talk To You" (1967) – "Itchycoo Park"/"I'm Only Dreaming" (1967) – "Tin Soldier"/"I Feel Much Better" (1967) – "Lazy Sunday"/"Rollin' Over" (1968) – "The Universal"/"Donkey Rides, A Penny, A Glass" (1968) – "Afterglow (Of Your Love)"/"Wham Bam Thank You Mam" (1969) – "Itchycoo Park" (re – release) (1975) – "Lazy Sunday" (re – release) (1976)
Other related people
Don Arden – Andrew Loog Oldham – Tony Calder – Glyn Johns