"Five Guys Walk Into A Bar..". by FACES - A Review Of the 2004 Rhino 4CD Book Set...Featuring Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones...

"...How's That Ron? Very Nice!"

Such is the industry-wide legacy of THE FACES, when Glen Matlock of THE SEX PISTOLS auditioned for the band - he played "Three Button Hand Me Down" and immediately got the job, Slash from GUNS 'N' ROSES, Jeff Tweedy from WILCO, Rich Robertson from THE BLACK CROWES and Gaz Coombes from SUPERGRASS all wax lyrical about the only British Rock 'n' Roll band to seriously rival (and at times beat) The Rolling Stones. 

And this fantastically evocative 4CD Book Set from the mighty reissue label of Rhino only hammers home their legend - offering up a lethal mixture of new and old with a boozy swagger than would make most modern bands blush. Here are the champers...

Released July 2004 - "Fives Guys Walk Into A Bar..." by FACES on Warner Brothers/Rhino 8122-78233-2 (Barcode 081227823320) is a 4CD Book Set of Remasters covering 1970 to 1975 and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (77:41 minutes):
1. Flying - from their debut LP "First Step", also the A-side of a UK 7" single issued February 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 8005
2. On The Beach - from their 2nd LP "Long Player"
3. Too Bad - from their 3rd album "A Nod's As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse" - credited in the USA as "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...To A Blind Horse")
4. If I'm On The Late Side - from their 4th and last studio album "Ooh La La"
5. Debris - as per 3. Also the B-side of "Stay With Me", a 3 December 1971 UK 7" single on Warner Brothers K 16136.
Note the US B-side was the album track "You're So Rude" on Warner Brothers WB 7545
6. Jealous Guy [John Lennon cover] - an "Ooh La La" outtake
7. Evil (Rehearsal) - a Willie Dixon song (done by Howlin' Wolf) - from their first rehearsals recorded in the Summer of 1969
8. As Long As You Tell Him - the non-album B-side to "You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything..."
 - a 7" single released November 1974 on Warner Brothers K 16494 in the UK and May 1975 in the USA on Warner Brothers WBS 8102
9. Maggie May (Live/BBC) - from The BBC Radio 1 Program Top Gear recorded 28 September 1971
10. Cindy Incidentally (Alternate Mix) - an "Ooh La La" outtake
11. Maybe I'm Amazed (Live/BBC) - a Paul McCartney cover recorded for the BBC TV Program "Sounds For Saturday: The Music Of The Faces" on 26 October 1971
12. Insurance - an instrumental "Ooh La La" outtake
13. I Came Looking For You (Rehearsal) - from a quick shag at THE MARIE ANTOINETTE HOTEL in New Orleans, Louisiana recorded 25 July 1971
14. Last Orders Please - as per 3
15. Wyndlesham Bay (Jodie) - an "Ooh La La" outtake
16. I Can Feel The Fire (Live) - from a concert at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino in California recorded 7 March 1975
17. Tonight's Number - from the RONNIE WOOD and RONNIE LANE album "Mahoney's Last Stand", an Original Soundtrack LP released in 1976 on Atlantic.
It was also a 7" single in the UK on Atlantic K 50308
18. Come See Me Baby (The Cheater) - an "Ooh La La" outtake
[Note: 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 18 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

Disc 2 (79:10 minutes):
1. Pool Hall Richard - a non-album 7" single first released 30 November 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 16341 as the A-side
2. You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It) (Live/BBC) - recorded 1 April 1973 for the BBC Radio 1 Program 'In Concert'
3. Glad And Sorry - from "Ooh La La" album
4. Shake, Shudder, Shiver (Rehearsal) - as per 7 on Disc 1
5. Miss Judy's Farm (Live/BBC) - as per 2 on Disc 2
6. Richmond - from "Long Player" album
7. That's All You Need - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album
8. Rear Wheel Skid - the non-album B-side to the 7" single of "Had Me A Real Good Time"
 - released 13 November 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WB 8018 and 21 October 1970 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7442
9. Maybe I'm Amazed - a 6 April 1971 US 7" single on Warner Brothers WB 7483. It's a non-album edit of the full album version which is on "Long Player"
10. (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right - a Homer Banks cover and an "Ooh La La" outtake
11. Take A Look At The Guy (Live) - as per 16 on Disc 1
12. Flags And Banners - from "Ooh La La" album
13. Bad 'n' Ruin (Live/BBC) - recorded 19 April 1971 for the BBC TV Program 'Disco 2'
14. Around The Plynth [Album Version at 5:56 minutes] - from the "Long Player" album. Note: in the USA there was a 7" single edit at 4:02 minutes released 29 April 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 7393 with "Wicked Messenger" from the album as its B-side (a Bob Dylan cover). It was also credited to the SMALL FACES and is unfortunately not on this box set.
15. Sweet Lady Mary - from the "Long Player" album
16. Had Me A Real Good Time [Album Version 5:53 minutes] - from the "Long Player" album. Note: the US 7" single released 21 October 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 7442 and 13 November 1970 in the UK on Warner Brothers WB 8018 both used `edits'. If you program this track on your PC or Mac to end at 2:53 minutes - you will get that 7" single edit. Its non-album instrumental B-side "Real Wheel Skid" is Track 8 on Disc 2.
17. Cut Across Shorty (Live/BBC) - an Edie Cochran cover version recorded 13 May 1971 for the BBC Radio 1 Program 'John Peel's Sunday Concert'
[Note: 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13 and 17 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

Disc 3 (74:24 minutes):
1. You're So Rude - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album. Also the American B-side to "Stay With Me" (see Track 5 on Disc 1)
2. (I Know) I'm Losing You (Live/BBC) - as per Track 11 on Disc 1
3. Love Lives Here - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album
4. I'd Rather Go Blind (Live) - an Etta James/Chicken Shack cover - as per Track 16 on Disc 1
5. Hi-Heel Sneakers/Everybody Needs Somebody To Love - studio outtake from the FACES last recording session at Air Studios in London, 27 January 1975
6. Getting' Hungry - A Beach Boys cover - as per Track 5 on Disc 3
7. Silicone Grown - from "Ooh La La" album
8. Oh Lord I'm Browned Off - non-album B-side to the 7" single of "Maybe I'm Amazed" - see Track 9 on Disc 2
9. Just Another Honky - from "Ooh La La" album
10. Open To Ideas - as per Track 5 on Disc 3. First appeared as a new song on the 1999 Best Of CD compilation "Good Boys...When They're Asleep"
11. Skewiff (Mend The Fuse) - the non-album instrumental B-side to "Cindy Incidentally"
- released 5 February 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7681 and 9 February 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 16247
12. Too Bad (Live) - from a concert at Tampa Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida recorded 30 April 1972
13. Rock Me - as per Track 5 on Disc 3
14. Angel (Live/BBC) - a Jimi Hendrix cover - as per Track 2 on Disc 2
15. Stay With Me (Live/BBC) - as per Track 11 on Disc 1
16. Ooh La La - from "Ooh La La" album. Also issued as a 7" single 6 June 1973 in the USA on Warner Brothers WB 7711 with the album track "Borstal Boys" as its B-side
[Note: 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14 and 15 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

Disc 4 (76:28 minutes):
1. The Stealer (Live/BBC) - a Free cover - as per track 2 on Disc 2
2. Around The Plynth/Gasoline Alley (Live/BBC) - from the BBC Radio Program `Top Gear' recorded 15 September 1970
3. You Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (Even Take The Dog For A Walk, Mend A Fuse, Fold Away The Ironing Board, Or Any Other Domestic Short Comings)
- a non-album 7" single released 11 November 1974 in the UK on warner Brothers K 16499 and 28 May 1975 in the USA (as an edit) on Warner Brothers WBS 8102
4. I Wish It Would Rain (Live) - a Temptations cover - non-album B-side of "Pool Hall Richard" released 30 November 1973 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 16341
5. Miss Judy's Farm (Live/BBC) - as per Track 11 on Disc 1
6. Love In Vain (Live/BBC) - as per Track 17 on Disc 2
7. My Fault (Live/BBC) - from the BBC Radio 1 Program 'Radio 1 Club' recorded 12 February 1973
8. I Feel So Good (Rehearsal) - as per Track 7 on Disc 1
9. Miss Judy's Farm - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album
10. Three Button Hand Me Down - from "First Step" album. It was also the B-side of their debut British single "Flying" released February 1970 on Warner Brothers WB 7150
11. Cindy Incidentally - from "Ooh La La" album. Also issued as a 7" single - see Track 11 on Disc 3
12. Borstal Boys - from "Ooh La La". Also issued a 7" single - see Track 16 on Disc 3
13. Flying (Live/BBC) - from the BBC Radio 1 Program `Dave Lee Travis' recorded 10 March 1970
14. Bad 'n' Ruin - from "Long Player" album
15. Dishevelment Blues - a non-album exclusive track recorded for the UK 'NME Magazine April 1973' issue - recorded 5 April 1973
16. Stay With Me - from "A Nod's As Good As A Wink..." album. Also issued as a 7" single - see Track 5 on Disc 1
[Note: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED]

The attached 62-page colour booklet is a fabulous fan-fest - loads of foreign picture sleeves, press clippings, live photos and all manner of boozy tour shenanigans. There's a FACES towel with Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenny Jones embroidered beneath the 'Faces' logo. Testimonials come from all the luminaries mentioned above as well as witty remembrances from the boys and a great set of liner notes by noted writer DAVID FRICKE. It really captures the fun of the band and the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of their 4 studio albums. No domestic shortcomings here.

The DAN HERSCH and BILL INGLOT remasters are just 'so' good. These two long-time in-house tape engineers have handled so much primo WEA material across the years for Rhino - Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding to name but a few legends - but I bet they got their jollies transferring and digitally preserving this catalogue. The audio is wonderful - muscular, clear and full of that 'live-in-the-studio' feel original Producers Glyn Johns, Mike Bobak and Ron Nevison got for the Faces at the time.

The Box Set mentions the "Coast To Coast" American Live album in 1973 on Mercury Records but doesn't feature any tracks from it. You get three tracks out of 10 from the debut LP "First Step", five out of 9 from the 2nd LP "Long Player", 8 out of 9 from "Nod" ("Memphis" is the missing song) and 8 from the 10 from "Ooh La La" ("Fly In The Ointment" and "My Fault" are the missing cuts). The rest are non-album singles, B-sides, a Flexi Disc exclusive and a whopping 32 Previously Unreleased.

The first thing you notice (and appreciate) about the actual songs is that IAN McLAGAN wisely hasn't sequenced the set chronologically (which he felt would have been boring). Instead he jumbles it up and the result is a play list on each CD that flits from one LP to another with an array of top quality PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED material bolstering up the rowdy proceedings in-between. It makes each disc feel like you're hearing the band anew - a thrill at every turn.

A scan across the disc details listed above will show that there's a large haul of outtakes from "Ooh La La" ("Come See Me Baby..." is great) but disappointingly zip from their undisputed masterpiece "Nod". Still the slide-fest that is "Around The Plynth" seguing into "Gasoline Alley" is a belter - properly produced BBC quality. And the Soulfulness of the band kicks in when covering the Homer Banks classic "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right" at their first rehearsals (the boy's witter banter in the run out moments titles this review). The shadow of Ronnie Lane lingers everywhere (the set is dedicated to him) - and I don't care how many times I hear either "Debris" of "Glad And Sorry" - they make me weak at the knees. And is it any wonder The Stones had to have Ronnie Wood - his axework throughout is just brill. On the downside you can actually hear Rodders' disinterest on the final 1975 sessions covering songs they used to once die for. But it all ends on the glory of "Stay With Me" and who could ask for more...

Raise a glass of Dom Perignon to this sensational British band and prepare the neighbours in advance...because things are going to get a bit rowdy 'round your house...

“Small Faces” (Immediate LP) DELUXE EDITION by SMALL FACES. A Review Of The June 1967 Album Now Remastered & Reissued On A 2012 2CD DELUXE EDITION.

"…What Did You Do There? I Got High!"

Monday 7 May 2012 sees the UK release of a whopping four DELUXE EDITIONS for Small Faces fans (15 May 2012 in the USA) - and while number 3 in the pack lacks the celebrated glory of it’s illustrious follow up ("Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake") – "Small Faces" is for many fans 'the' criminally forgotten LP on Immediate Records. This DELUXE EDITION of it however is not without its niggles…

Here are the finite details for Universal/Sanctuary 278 134-5:

Disc 1 (52:47 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are the MONO version of "Small Faces" - their 3rd studio album released 23 June 1967 in the UK on Immediate Records IMLP 008

BONUS TRACKS (15 to 22):

"Here Comes The Nice", "Itchycoo Park", "I'm Only Dreaming", "Tin Soldier", "I Feel Much Better", "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me (Alternate Mix)" (20), "Eddie's Dreaming (Alternate Mix)" (21) and "Green Circles (Take 1: Alternate Mix 3)" (22)

[Note: 20 to 22 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED VERSIONS]

Disc 1 will also allow fans to line up the 3 x UK 7" singles that were issued (in Mono) around the LP (track number after title):

1. Here Comes The Nice (15) b/w Talk To You (11) – released 2 June 1967 on Immediate IM 050

2. Itchycoo Park (16) b/w I'm Only Dreaming (17) – released 4 August 1967 on Immediate IM 057

3. Tin Soldier (18) b/w I Feel Much Better (19) – released 2 December 1969 on Immediate IM 062

Disc 2 (53:54 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are the STEREO version of "Small Faces" - on Immediate Records IMSP 008

BONUS TRACKS (15 to 23 – all are Stereo except 21 and 23 which are Mono):

"Just Passing", "Itchycoo Park", "Here Comes The Nice", "Don't Burst My Bubble", "Things Are Going To Get Better (Alternate Version)", "I Can't Make It (Session Version)", "Green Circles (Alternate Take 2)" (21), "Tin Soldier" and "(If You Think You're) Groovy (Backing Track)" (23)

[Note: 21 and 23 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Versions]

UK and USA LP Differences:

The American LP was belatedly released in February 1968 as "There Are But Four Small Faces" in Stereo (only) on Immediate Z12 52002 - and with different artwork front and rear. Also to accommodate their lone US hit single "Itchycoo Park" (lyrics above) – the tracks were jiggered around giving "Itchycoo Park" pride of place as Track 1 on Side 1. Essentially the US album dropped 7 tracks of the English LP ("Something I Want To Tell You", "Feeling Lonely", "Happy Boys Happy", "My Way Of Giving", "Become Like You", "All Our Yesterdays" and "Eddie's Dreaming") - took the remaining 7 and added on the 5 non-album sides of the 3 x British 7" singles mentioned above to make a 12-track LP. To sequence the AMERICAN LP in 'both' MONO and STEREO from this 2CD DELUXE EDITION you line the tracks up as follows:

MONO (CD 1)

Side 1:

1. "Itchycoo Park" (16)

2. "Talk To You" (11)

3. "Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire" (13)

4. "My Way Of Giving" (6)

5. "I'm Only Dreaming" (17)

6. "I Feel Much Better" (19)

Side 2:

1. "Tin Soldier" (18)

2. "Get Yourself Together" (9)

3. "Show Me The Way" (12)

4. "Here Come The Nice" (15)

5. "Green Circles" (7)

6. "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me" (1)

STEREO (CD 2 – note – see Omissions)

Side 1:

1. "Itchycoo Park" (16)

2. "Talk To You" (11)

3. "Up The Wooden Hills To Bedfordshire" (13)

4. "My Way Of Giving" (6)

5. "I'm Only Dreaming" [see Omissions]

6. "I Feel Much Better" [see Omissions]

Side 2:

1. "Tin Soldier" (22)

2. "Get Yourself Together" (9)

3. "Show Me The Way" (12)

4. "Here Come The Nice" (17)

5. "Green Circles" (7)

6. "(Tell Me) Have You Ever Seen Me" (1)

OMMISIONS:

Eagle-eyed collectors will notice that the 35th Anniversary 2CD set that came out in 2002 in the UK on Sanctuary has 48 tracks - while this 2012 2CD Deluxe Edition has less - 45. The three that are missing are "I Can't Make It" and "Just Passing" – a 3 March 1967 UK single-only release on Decca F 12565 – it's been put on the "From The Beginning" Deluxe Edition (as befits the label). The 3rd missing track is called "Album Sampler" on Immediate AS 1. It was a 1-sided UK-only Promo 45 issued just prior to the album's release and contains Mono excerpts of 5 songs with 'groovy' advert dialogue about 'aware minds' – it runs to 3 minutes and rather clumsily it's been left off here. To add insult to injury this legendary £200+ rarity is pictured on Page 10 of the booklet. 

There are minor artwork niggles too. The 2002 CD had a card wrap with the UK artwork on the outside (which is right and proper), but rather cleverly the foldout inlay inside featured 5" artwork for the US "There Are But Four Small Faces" LP as its lead page with the rear LP artwork on the back page. This new booklet relegates the American front cover to a snap shot on Page 21 and the rear sleeve has disappeared altogether. Worse than that however is the missing STEREO versions of "I Feel Much Better" and "I'm Only Dreaming" (on the 2002 2CD set) which would have allowed American fans to sequence their version of the album complete. All these exclusions are a tad sloppy to say the least. Music wise – the point would be that if you want "Album Sampler" and especially those 2 Stereo versions – then don't throw away that old Sanctuary issue just yet.

UNRELEASED:

As already highlighted above there are 5 PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED VERSIONS - unfortunately the liner notes don’t make any reference to them. In fairness to Mark Paytress – he probably didn’t have access to what was being lined up for the release as he composed his appraisals – but again – it short-changes the fans info-wise. What is here however is very good. The "Green Circles" outakes are excellent and the mythical "Groovy" track now appears as a 'backing track' when some thought it didn't exist at all.

PACKAGING:

The first thing you notice about this Deluxe Edition is the quality of the reproduction. The album sleeve pictured on the 2002 Sanctuary double had slightly faded colours – no such mistake here. The front sleeve repro is really crisp - beautifully done - as are the superb images in the booklet. The inner flaps of the foldout digipak have Melody Maker and Record Mirror reviews from 1967, the original mono LP label is reproduced beneath the see-through plastic trays and each CD is a different picture disc. The 24-page booklet is gorgeous – rare European picture sleeves for "Tin Soldier" and "Here Comes The Nice" (the German issue of this is a belter), pictures of ultra-rare Emidisc Acetates, publicity shots of The Small faces with Immediate label notables like PP Arnold, Chris Farlowe and Twice As Nice - and even an Olympia Sound Studios master-tape box. The new liner notes are by respected writer MARK PAYTRESS and are filled with facts and recent interviews with Jones and McLagan. It’s a lovely thing to look at and a solid read.

SOUND:

But the real meat for fans will be the NEW REMASTERS from best-ever sources and overseen by surviving members of the band - KENNEY JONES and IAN McLAGAN. Tape Research and Recovery is by ROB CAIGER, Tape Restoration and Transfer from Analogue is by ROB KAYLACH and Mastering by NICK ROBBINS. The punch is fantastic especially on fan favourites like "Get Yourself Together", that great guitar opening on "Talk To You" and the psychedelic swirl of "Green Circles". I find the sonic difference between the MONO and STEREO mixes is marked – I thought "My Way Of Giving" in Mono is fabulous - while the opening "Darlings Of Wapping…" dialogue and brass of "All Our Yesterdays" is HUGE in Stereo. The drums, bass and acoustic guitars on "Up The Wooden Hills…" sound amazing - as does the piano-happy intro to the album finisher "Eddie's Dreaming". Fans will love the clarity on the brilliant singles – gems like "Tin Soldier" and "Here Comes The Nice".

To sum up – part of me feels I should dock a star for those sloppy exclusions – but I've been enjoying the listen too much (the sound and overall presentation just 'so' good). This double also made be bite the bullet and acquire the first two Deluxe Editions as well – the Decca sets "Small Faces" and "From The Beginning" - and I can report that they’re truly gorgeous too.

Will we ever know their like again – I doubt it. In fact the dialogue in the "Album Sampler" promo bragged that the Small Faces were "small of stature, but great of music…" – and on the strength of these reissues – you have to say that the Immediate Records motormouth was absolutely on the money. It really is "all too beautiful…"

“Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake” by SMALL FACES. A Review Of The 1968 Album Now Remastered And Reissued Onto A 3CD DELUXE EDITION In 2012.

“Are You All Sitty Comftybold Two Square On Your Botty? Then I’ll Begin…”

**** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE 2012 3CD 'DELUXE EDITION' ***

Monday 7 May 2012 sees the UK release of a whopping four DELUXE EDITIONS for Small Faces fans (15 May 2012 in the USA) - and for many their 1968 masterpiece "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" (a Number 1 album in the UK) will be 'the' jewel in a very tasty set of crowns.

Here are the finite details for Universal/Sanctuary 276 523-5:

Disc 1 (38:30 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are the MONO version of "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" - their fourth studio album released 24 May 1968 in the UK on Immediate Records IMLP 012

Disc 2 (41:17 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 are all PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED (Track 8 Previously Unreleased on CD)

1. Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (Early Session Version - Mono)

2. Afterglow (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

3. Long Agos And Worlds Apart (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

4. Rene, The Dockers Delight (Early Session Mix - Stereo)

5. Song Of A Baker (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

6. Lazy Sunday (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

7. Happiness Stan (Backing Track - Mono)

8. Bun In The Oven (Early Session Mix - Mono)

9. The Fly (Take 4 - Instrumental Version - Stereo)

10. Mad John (Take 7 - Early Session Version - Stereo)

11. HappyDaysToyTown (Alternate USA Mix - Stereo)

12. Kamikhazi (Take 7 - Backing Track - Mono)

13. Every Little Bit Hurts (Early Session Mix - Mono)

14. Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (Alternate Take - Phased Mix - Stereo)

Disc 3 (38:21 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 12 are the STEREO version of "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" - on Immediate Records IMSP 012

[Note: in advance of the album "Lazy Sunday" b/w "Rollin' Over" was released 5 April 1968 as a 7" single in the UK on Immediate IM O64 (mono mixes above).

"Afterglow" was also released as 7" single in the UK (credited as "Afterglow Of Your Love") in March 1969 on Immediate IM 077 with the non-album track "Wham Bam Thank You Man" as its B-side.

That song is NOT on here]

PACKAGING:

Since Universal stopped using titled plastic slip-around wraps on their DELUXE EDITIONS - they've plumed instead for a bit of sticky tape at the base that you have to cut and split to get open - not the most graceful of presentations it has to be said. But once inside the detail is impressive. As fans will know "Ogdens'..." was released in the most beautiful and elaborate artwork designed by Mick Swan - a foldout five-flaps circular-sleeve based on a Victorian tobacco tin (name changed by the boys to avoid copyright infringement). Folded out in full - it featured two colour prints on the inside and 4 black and white snaps of the band on the other flaps. The Mono and Stereo CDs contain 'variants' of the gorgeous colour prints by Pete Brown and Nick Tweddell (the actual LP ones are in the booklet) while Gered Mankowitz's black and white 'spider's web' snaps of the band that filled each of the other circles are reproduced on the card flaps. Beneath the two see-through CD trays are repros of the labels for Side 1 and Side 2 of the original 1968 Stereo LP.

The booklet is lovely - 24 colour pages filled with Immediate memorabilia, rare worldwide 7" picture sleeves for both "Lazy Sunday" and "Afterglow Of Your Love" and even a battered-looking Scotch tape box. The liner notes by MARK PAYTRESS are typically informative and fact-filled (such a good writer) and give you great insights into the album's formation, Stanley Unwin's "Unwinese" gobbledegook English that fills Side 2's "Happiness Stan" suite and indeed the general creative mayhem that surrounded this most beloved of English albums. I particularly like the Immediate Records trade advert that uses a re-wording of "Our Father" (The Lord's Prayer) to sell the LP ("...and deliver us Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake..." etc) - blinding!

SOUND:

But the real meat for fans will be the NEW REMASTERS from best-ever sources and overseen by surviving members of the band - KENNEY JONES and IAN McLAGAN. Tape Research and Recovery is by ROB CAIGER, Tape Restoration and Transfer from Analogue is by ROB KAYLACH and Mastering by NICK ROBBINS - and man have they collectively done a bang-up job. Little will prepare fans for the sonic whack off this...

"Ogdens'..." for me has always been a two-sided production job - Side 1 is good - but Side 2 is stupendous - and that feeling continues on this reissue. The extensive use of guitar 'phasing' on Side 1 gives the tracks that evocative 60t's feel for sure - but it also sounds sonically compromised somehow - Side 2 does not. Take the strings and opening Stanley Unwin dialogue on "Rollin' Over" (his words title this review) - it's unbelievably clear and full of presence. Then when the band does kick in with that riff and harmonica blasting - it's awesome. The drums and acoustic guitars that open "Mad John" are HUGE - as is the drums and organ on the STEREO mix of "The Journey". The last remaster I had was good - but this is so much better and musically sweeter. And "Lazy Sunday" has never sounded so glorious. "Song Of A Baker", "Rene" - it's all a triumph...

UNRELEASED:

A "...1, 2, 3, 4..." vocal count-in gives us a stringed-up and heavily phased "Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake" that is fascinating - and even in its unfinished form - sounds extraordinary - like something from another world. Unfortunately you can understand why the 'Alternate USA Stereo' mixes have stayed in the can - Marriott's vocals echoed to a ridiculous degree in the mix - almost to a point where it's all you hear. Better is the 'Early Session Mix' of "Rene" which accentuates the drums and sees the piano and organ stretch out (the lyrics still make me laugh). The opening plucked strings of "Happiness Stan" sound bare without Unwin's witty vocals following - but I love the harpsichord and keyboard playing to the fore as the song progresses. "Bun In The Oven" turns out to be an early session version of "Rollin' Over" which is rougher than the finished article but just as powerful. Even in rehearsal mode Steve Marriott lays into Brenda Holloway's Motown classic "Every Little Bit Hurts" with great results and feeling. "The Fly" is an acoustic instrumental version of "The Hungry Intruder" with a count-in and along with another band-instrumental "Kamikhazi" (so-funky-Small Faces) for me are the highlights on here.

NIGGLES:

The cracking non-album B-side to "Afterglow Of Your Love" is "Wham Bam Thank You Man" - but it’s nowhere to be seen. Nor is the near 7-minute Alternate Stereo version of “Wham…” that turned up on the "Darlings Of Wapping Wharf Launderette" 2CD set in 1999 - strange omissions to say the least. Maybe they're been kept back for that other missing piece in the jigsaw - the Immediate Records double-album "Autumn Stone" from 1969? Most fans will already have "Wham Bam..." track from preceding comps of course - but it's a point worth making. And bluntly I miss the sheer visual impact of the vinyl album artwork...(vinyl is due in full repro glory soon).

To sum up - while Disc 2 may not exactly set the Universe on fire - there are some unheard nuggets worth the admission price. But for me it's the brilliantly released remasters that thrill the most. Both Jones and McLagan are to be praised for keeping the recorded legacy of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane alive - and in such style.

What a band - and what an album. 44 years on and it still blows you away.

"What up man!" indeed.