OGDENS’ NUT GONE FLAKE 5 0 TH ANNIVERSARY BOX S ET

Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake album, when first released back in ’68, was genuinely a ground-breaking LP. Unconventional original artwork and packaging, along with, certainly at the time, controversial advertising in the music media preceding the release notwithstanding, the music content was truly innovative. Part psychedelia, part early progressive rock, part latter day Cockney music hall, part continuation of mod-pop/classic 60s British guitar music and, in its entirety, a work of genius.

It was four musicians at their peak, individually as well as collectively, creating, arguably, the first concept album. Side two of the original vinyl album interprets the fairy tale of a little boy, a scorching number that 50 years on still remains fresh sounding. Happiness Stan and his search for the ‘missing’ half of the moon, encountering all manner of weird beings on his journey, including a giant fly! Added to which are Professor Stanley Irwin’s narrations, using a mix of his unique Unwinese peppered with popular 60s slang.

Contained within the Happiness Stan tale is Rollin’ Over, Side one contains some of the Small Faces’ finest moments, including the wired and fired, blue-eyed soul Afterglow, proto-rock meets raw British R&B on Song of A Baker, a pair of raucous sing along with Stevie knees-ups with Lazy Sunday and Rene, with Marriott laying his cockney accent on with a shovel. Opening and title track is an instrumental workout heavily inspired by earlier Small Faces single I Got Mine. It was penned by all four members of Small Faces, although the Marriott/Lane partnership is credited with the lions share, both Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones contributed. Critically acclaimed in the UK 50 years ago, it took considerably longer for American music fans to firstly, get, and secondly appreciate the mastery of Ogdens’. Being recorded and released at the peak of the late 60s UK psychedelia era, the ‘Nut Gone’ inclusion on the spoof tobacco tin packaging and title suggested that listening to Ogdens’ could make it seem as though ‘your’ nut had gone! In recording techniques Ogdens’ was equally ground-breaking, with studio engineer Glynn Johns largely credited with introducing both phasing and flanging on the record. Remastered using all available current technology, to supervising producer (and last surviving band member) Kenney Jones’ high standards. There’s the three-disc vinyl, consisting of mono and stereo Ogdens’ discs plus out-takes and rarities disc, in both formats. The CD set has a DVD with remastered footage of seven tracks from BBCs Colour Me Pop, plus Immediate records promotional film of Lazy Sunday These 50th anniversary Box Sets are superbly packaged and a must-have for Small Faces fans old and new. The ultimate version(s) of the iconic album. Review: Sarge