126. The Small Faces - Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (1968)




















Track Listing

1. Ogden's 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. Hungry Intruder
10. Journey
11. Mad John
12. Happy Days Toy Town

Review

If nothing else could be said about this album, it does have one of the greatest album covers in the history of album covers. That said, it is not just a pretty face. There are some things to love here, as well as some to like but not really love.

The album is effectively two albums, the first consisting of the first 6 tracks, up to Lazy Sunday and the second consisting of Side B. Honestly Side A is the far better one, and there is really very little fault to be found in it. Side B is another story.

Side B is a concept side, and concept albums were all the rage these days. In this case it's the story of Happiness Stan and a completely insane fairy tale in which he goes in search of the other half of the moon. All these tracks are put together by the narration of Stanley Unwin not doing much to help you understand what the fuck is going on. It is however quite funny, but unfortunately the songs seem to lose themselves in the confines of the concept making for not such a great side.

Side A is a pearl however, from the title track to Lazy Sunday, it's all good. So definitely give it a listen. Napster doesn't stream it, but Amazon stocks it, either in the UK or US.

Track Highlights

1. Lazy Sunday
2. Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
3. Afterglow (Of Your Love)
4. Rene

Final Grade

7/10

Trivia



From Wikipedia:

The Happiness Stan Story:

When Stan looks up in the sky and sees only half the moon, he sets out on a quest to search for the missing half. Along the way he saves a fly from starvation, and in gratitude the insect tells him of someone who can answer his question and also tell him the philosophy of life itself. With his magic power Stan intones, "If all the flies were one fly, what a great enormous fly-follolloper that would bold," and the fly grows to gigantic proportions. Seated on the giant fly's back Stan takes a psychedelic journey to the cave of Mad John the hermit, who explains that the moon's disappearance is only temporary, and demonstrates by pointing out that Stan has spent so long on his quest that the moon is now full again. He then sings Stan a cheerful song about the meaning of life.