My Mind's Eye (song)

"My Mind's Eye" is a song by the English rock band Small Faces, written by the band's guitarist Steve Marriott and bassist Ronnie Lane. Despite several chart hits in the UK, the Small Faces had expressed dislike with their management under Don Arden, citing creative and financial differences. At the same time the band had started experimenting with various drugs, such as LSD, which reflected itself in several compositions written during this period, including "My Mind's Eye". Musically, "My Mind's Eye" leans towards psychedelic music, being one of the group's earliest compositions to do so. The song musically quotes the Christian hymn "Gloria in excelsis Deo" through various modern Christmas carols. Lyrically, the song is introspective and revolves around a man willing to forgive people ridiculing of his spiritual leanings. "My Mind's Eye" was recorded at IBC Studios in London during September 1966.

Though intended as an album track, Arden issued "My Mind's Eye" as a single in the UK on 11 November 1966 through Decca Records. The band felt the released version felt like a demo, so they polished the track by adding overdubs retrospectively. The single became a commercial success, reaching number four on Britain's Record Retailer chart in December, and additionally reached the top-ten in several European countries. Critical reception was initially positive, with the song's melody being praised. The reception from other musicians and the band itself was mixed. Retrospectively, "My Mind's Eye" has been considered a prelude to the band's later, more experimental songs. The Small Faces severed ties with Arden shortly after the single's release, causing a legal battle which culminated in the band signing with Immediate Records under Andrew Loog Oldham.