However, the band had also recently released their third studio album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake to both critical and commercial acclaim (it reached number 1 in the UK, staying on top of the charts for six weeks).

[11] As a consequence of enduring such opposing fortunes in such quick succession, Marriott suffered a crisis of confidence and developed writer's block which left him unable to compose music completely for a while afterward.

[14][15] Although Frampton made some guest appearances at a few Small Faces concerts in October, much to Marriott's dismay, his permanent addition to the band was vehemently opposed by Bassist and co-writer Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagan.

In early December, at the behest of their regular producer/engineer Glyn Johns, the Small Faces-with Frampton in tow-journeyed to France to perform as a five-piece backing band for the sessions for a new Johnny Hallyday album.

Discord between bandmates grew during the trip, and the division between them only widened as Lane and McLagan resisted what they must have considered, rightly or wrongly, as Marriott's attempt to force them to accept Frampton permanently into the group.

[16] Tensions finally came to a head on 31 December 1968 at a Small Faces performance at the Alexandra Palace where Marriott stormed off stage during (perhaps tellingly) set-closer Lazy Sunday, yelling "I Quit!

[19] This song may possibly have been considered for the Ogdens Nut Gone Flake album of 1968, but it is an uncharacteristically heavy and dour piece, and if it ever was part of the proposed tracklisting then the contrast in both the genre and sound must have led to its exclusion later (it is still a remarkable track however-a little too far ahead of its time for 1967 perhaps, it indicates the heavier musical direction that Steve Marriott would pursue later with Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am and then with his next band Humble Pie).

[24] The final studio tracks recorded by the band on 11 September 1968 were the reflective ballad "The Autumn Stone" and the contrastingly-heavy rocker "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am", each intended as the a and b side of a prospective single that was withdrawn at the last minute.

Shortly after the Small Faces breakup was officially announced in April 1969, Immediate Records began compiling various outtakes and oddities together for a projected English album release titled In Memoriam.

"The Autumn Stone" was originally slated for single release as a double A-side with "Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am", but this was cancelled by Immediate Records when label boss Andrew Loog Oldham expressed his dislike of the song.