Ogdens Nut Gone Flake - The Small Faces

Concept albums tend to be weird, or at least some fun. The Small Faces 1968 album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake is both. There were plenty of psychedelic bands knocking out albums around the end of the 60's and The Small Faces had shown they had some flair for the sound. But when they released this album they pushed the boundaries for everyone.

Ogdens Nut Gone Flake was something of an amalgamation of all the little hallmarks of the concept album. It certainly had the right cover and packaging. Coming in the shape and design of a circular tobacco tin, it was a parody of a tobacco produced in Liverpool in the 19th century.

The album contains the strange little story,e of Happiness Stan. Stan is in search of half the moon. On his quest he saves a fly, who then grows into a giant fly who Stan rides to a cave to meet Mad John the hermit. Mad John explains to Happiness Stan that the moon will come back again. Mad John then sings Stan a song about the meaning of life. Weird eh?

The best tracks from the album are Afterglow Of Your love, Song of Baker, Rene and of course Lazy Sunday.

The album was a huge commercial and critical success staying at number 1 for six weeks. However the Small Faces did not last for much longer. It seems a shame, if they had of created more albums like this thye might have had the praise the Beatles so easily and often unnecessarily achieve.

Track Listing

1. "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake"
2. "Afterglow (Of Your Love)"
3. "Long Agos and Worlds Apart"
4. "Rene"
5. "Song of a Baker"
6. "Lazy Sunday"
7. "Happiness Stan"
8. "Rollin' Over"
9. "The Hungry Intruder"
10. "The Journey"
11. "Mad John"
12. "Happydaystoytown"