Customer Reviews

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (Spec)

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A previous reviewer has described this as "quite simly the greatest concept album of all time"...and I agree. Unfortunately this is not that album it is simply a compilation of some of the tracks off the original album. Imagine my disappointment to discover Stanley Unwin's opening lines "Are you all sitting comftebole two square on your botties?" wiped from the album's opening ....given that this was a concept album this seems to me to be the ultimate in arrogance...as is placing an extra track (which is extremely mediocre) in the middle of the album. The original narrative weaves the songs together to provide a complete work of art so I don't think this album should be sold under the title of the original. This kind of artistic vandalism is akin to overpainting the Monalisa's smile!

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake produced in 1967 is quite simply the best concept album of all time. Harder, meatier and grittier than Sergeant Pepper's, it was also more coherent with a subtle yet definitive storyline (involving the moon and a boy). All songs are well composed over several levels of musical sophistication, making the experience of listening to the album deeply satisfying. The inclusion of Stanley Unwin in the production of the album was a feat of musical genius. Stan brings to it a more meaningful and believable psychodelic element than most other concept albums have. With its mix of melodic rock tunes with their long 'jamming session' endings, ballards and psychodelic interludes Ogden's can be listened to over and over again in pure enjoyment.