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.Who Put the Bomp, Spring 1975 - Page 43 FeedbackGamma Gaana - Sea of Faces

Later, it was recorded by The Ways and Means who were managed by producer Ron Fairway,Record Mirror, No. 304 Week ending Jan. 7, 1967 - Page 4 OUT NOW from THE WAYS AND MEANS, 'SEA OF FACES' on Pye 7N 17217The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means who would be a one-time manager of The Foundations.Melody Maker, November 11, 1967 - Page 1 Foundations hit top spot Backed with the Bobby Bloom, John Linde composition, "Make the Radio a Little Louder",The Strange Brew - The Ways and MeansPopsike - WAYS AND MEANS - SEA OF FACES UK 1ST PRESS PYE 7N17217 RARE BEAT POP VG/EXhitparade.ch - Bobby Mann – Make The Radio A Little Louder it was released on Pye 7N 17277.Melody Maker, 7 January 1967 - Page 2 OUT NOW FROM THE WAYS AND MEANS, SEA OF FACES It was also released in a picture cover format in Denmark.45Cat - Ways And Means - Discography, 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.Left and to the Back, 13 April 2022 - Ways & Means - Little Deuce Coupe/ The Little Old Lady From Pasadena45Cat - The Ways And Means - Discography

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.The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means

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.Disc and Music Echo, January 14, 1967 - Page 11 PYE CHART CLIMBING SINGLES

The song brought them a degree of success when it became a minor hit for them in January 1967.Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & MeansThe Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967, this week 39, last week 54

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.The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means

Their follow up was Breaking Up a Dream" which was released on Barry Class' Trend Label.The Strange Brew - The Ways and MeansMelody Maker, February 10, 1968 - Page 6 FOLLOW THE NEW RECORD TRENDBeat Instrumental, February, 1968 - Page 24 INSTRUMENTAL NEWS, BARRY CLASS STARTS TREND RECORD LABEL

Years later, the song was described by AllMusic reviewer Bruce Eder as "beautifully ornate and crunchy".AllMusic - Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554), Review by Bruce Eder

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.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 It peaked at No. 39 for the Sunday 1st to Sunday 8 January 1967 period.The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967, this week 39, last week 54The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - THE CITY SIXTY Sunday 8th - Sunday 15th January 1967

On the Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound chart, it made its debut at no. 50 on the week of Saturday, January 7, 1967 Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Saturday, January 7, 1967, Last week New, This week 50, Sea Of Faces Ways & Means 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.Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & MeansRadio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Saturday, January 28, 1967

It also debuted at no. 27 on the Radio London Fab Forty chart on the week of January 1, 1967.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 It held that position for another week before disappearing off the chart by Jan 21.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 & MeansRadio London Ltd - Field's Fab Forty for Sunday 15th January 1967, Presented by Ed Stewart

Chart (1967) Peakposition Radio City City Sixty39The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame - The City Sixties, The City Sixty, 1st - 8th January 1967 Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound 41 Radio London Ltd - Radio Caroline Countdown Of Sound, Last week 44, This week 41 Sea Of Faces, Ways & Means Radio London Fab Forty 27Radio 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

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

Releases

+ Singles Act Release Catalogue Year Notes Ways & Means "Sea of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" Pye 7N 17217 1966 Yellow label promoPopsike - Ways And Means - Sea of Faces/ Make the Radio a Little Louder - 60s Mod Garage Ways & Means "Sea of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" Pye 7N 17217 1966 Red label stockPopsike - WAYS AND MEANS - SEA OF FACES UK 1ST PRESS PYE 7N17217 RARE BEAT POP VG/EX Ways & Means " Sea Of Faces" / "Make the Radio a Little Louder" Pye 7N 17217 1966 Denmarkpicture cover stock release45Cat - Ways And Means - Discography, Denmark

+ Various artist compilation appearances Title Catalogue Year Notes Butterfly: Ripples, Volume 8 Castle Music, CMRCD 554 2002 / 2003 AllMusic - Ripples, Vol. 8: Butterfly, Various Artists, (CD - Castle Music Ltd. #CMRCD 554)Spectropop - Reviews 2002, Butterfly Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers Dockland Music 406514 2015899 2023 junodownload - VARIOUS PSYCHEDELIC BRITAIN: FLOWERS & FUZZ DOCKLAND MUSIC Cat: 406514 2015899, Released: 13 October, 2023Spotify - Psychedelic Britain: Fuzz and Flowers

References

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)