Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968 (Original Compilation Album / CD1) Poll

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This hasn't been done yet? I couldn't find a poll in the search so here it is at long last. Have a Nice Decade will return after at least a couple of these CD's have their day. Poll will last five days.

"Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era is a compilation album of American and British pop and rock songs from the mid- to late 1960s, assembled by Jac Holzman, founder of Elektra Records. Assisting him was Lenny Kaye, who later became the guitarist for the Patti Smith Group. Together, the two men assembled a 2-LP set. The album was originally released by Elektra Records in 1972, and reissued, with a new cover design, in 1976 by Sire Records. The liner notes, penned by Lenny Kaye and containing one of the first uses of the term "punk rock", gave a brief biography of each band.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 196 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time"

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/6e/00/84d5024128a0f6983578f010.L.jpg

Poll Results

OptionVotes
1. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - Electric Prunes 8
14. You're Gonna Miss Me - Thirteenth Floor Elevators 8
9. Pushin' Too Hard - Seeds 8
11. Don't Look Back - Remains 6
25. Open My Eyes - Nazz 6
2. Dirty Water - The Standells 4
15. Psychotic Reaction - Count Five 4
10. Moulty - Barbarians 4
4. Lies - The Knickerbockers 2
3. Night Time - Strangeloves 2
6. A Public Execution - Mouse 2
13. Liar, Liar - Castaways 2
22. Sit Down, I Think I Love You - Mojo Men 1
24. My World Fell Down - Sagittarius 1
7. No Time Like the Right Time - Blues Project 1
23. Run, Run, Run - Third Rail 0
26. Farmer John - Premiers 0
21. Let's Talk About Girls - Chocolate Watch Band 0
20. Tobacco Road - Blues Magoos 0
19. Baby Please Don't Go - Amboy Dukes 0
18. Sugar and Spice - Cryan Shames 0
17. Romeo & Juliet - Michael & The Messengers 0
16. Hey Joe - Leaves 0
12. An invitation to Cry - The Magicians 0
8. Oh Yeah - Shadows Of Knight 0
5. Respect - Vagrants 0
27. It's-A-Happening - Magic Mushrooms0


Bee OK, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:25 (seventeen years ago)

There was an awful poll for every single Nuggets related thing ever, I think.

Alex in SF, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:31 (seventeen years ago)

2. Dirty Water - The Standells

milo z, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:32 (seventeen years ago)

i kind of remember that but couldn't find it. anyways each CD should get it's own thread i think.

x-post

Bee OK, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:33 (seventeen years ago)

About a dozen of these tracks could qualify depending on my mood, but I'm gonna pick the Prunes for right now:

1. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - Electric Prunes
2. Dirty Water - The Standells
3. Night Time - Strangeloves
6. A Public Execution - Mouse
9. Pushin' Too Hard - Seeds
13. Liar, Liar - Castaways
14. You're Gonna Miss Me - Thirteenth Floor Elevators
15. Psychotic Reaction - Count Five
20. Tobacco Road - Blues Magoos
21. Let's Talk About Girls - Chocolate Watch Band
24. My World Fell Down - Sagittarius
25. Open My Eyes - Nazz

Alex in SF, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:38 (seventeen years ago)

i have played this thing to death, possibly the greatest compilation ever made.

"Dirty Water" - The Standells (just get the nod over many, many others.)

Bee OK, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:39 (seventeen years ago)

Pushin too Hard! (TOOOO HAAARRD!)

Trip Maker, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:40 (seventeen years ago)

Pretty sure we've done this before, but Sagittarius it is anyway.

Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:40 (seventeen years ago)

like i said, i couldn't find it, it's not under "Nuggets" in search. can someone link the original poll if found, thanks.

Bee OK, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 21:43 (seventeen years ago)

This week? Blues Project.

dan selzer, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 22:05 (seventeen years ago)

Remains remain my fave. Second best is prolly "Open My Eyes." I love when the 1960s dance!

Kevin John Bozelka, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 23:17 (seventeen years ago)

Pushin' Too Hard - Seeds

Raw Patrick, Tuesday, 17 June 2008 23:28 (seventeen years ago)

"liar liar" over "psychotic reaction" over "dirty water" but yeah this changes minute to minute

balls, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 02:54 (seventeen years ago)

open my eyes

electricsound, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 02:55 (seventeen years ago)

But as noted above, that was an awful poll.

Kevin John Bozelka, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 03:12 (seventeen years ago)

thanks, that poll was pointless.

no wonder i couldn't find it.

Bee OK, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 03:13 (seventeen years ago)

Tough choice - coulda gone with nearly everything but it came down to Dirty Water vs Open my Eyes. Today, Rundgren for the win!

Bill E, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 04:03 (seventeen years ago)

electric prunes for me.

t0dd swiss, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 04:58 (seventeen years ago)

Mouse!

Mark G, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 09:10 (seventeen years ago)

A close tie between 'Lies' and 'Liar Liar'. The Knickerbockers win for now.

zeus, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 09:20 (seventeen years ago)

"Now there's just one thing that I need
Not sympathy and I don't want no pity
But a girl, a real girl
One that really loves me
And then I'll be the complete man
So I'm gonna tell you right now, listen..."

Tom D., Wednesday, 18 June 2008 09:22 (seventeen years ago)

Nazz/Seeds dilemma.

gnarly sceptre, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 11:41 (seventeen years ago)

Moulty! That's my jam.

myndbloom, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 14:00 (seventeen years ago)

Considered The Watchband, The Castaways and The Shadows of Night, but in the end I went for The Seeds, mainly cos I'm really enjoying their albums at the moment.

Dr.C, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 14:15 (seventeen years ago)

MOULTY!!!

the next grozart, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 14:47 (seventeen years ago)

13. Liar, Liar - Castaways

^^

and what, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 15:14 (seventeen years ago)

i also love that cover, with the big hand controlling the music.

Bee OK, Thursday, 19 June 2008 01:26 (seventeen years ago)

Remains 4ever.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 19 June 2008 01:30 (seventeen years ago)

open my eyes.
close 2nd: psychotic reaction,too much to dream/youre gonna miss me

Zeno, Thursday, 19 June 2008 01:31 (seventeen years ago)

I went with 13th Floor Elevators, then immediately regretted not going for the Premiers instead. (Count Five, Standells, Mouse, Prunes, Amboy Dukes, Seeds, etc. also in the running.)

Have never comprehended what people hear in the Remains song, though, oddly enough.

xhuxk, Thursday, 19 June 2008 02:08 (seventeen years ago)

Can't decide between Standells and Seeds.

aldo, Thursday, 19 June 2008 08:23 (seventeen years ago)

"Open My Eyes." It's like the Nazz thought, "We'll make 'Can't Explain' even MORE thrilling," and succeeded.

inhibitionist, Thursday, 19 June 2008 08:41 (seventeen years ago)

Predictions for least votes - sugar and spice?

The Wayward Johnny B, Thursday, 19 June 2008 09:06 (seventeen years ago)

bump, VOTE!

Bee OK, Saturday, 21 June 2008 02:18 (seventeen years ago)

'psychotic reaction'.

haitch, Saturday, 21 June 2008 04:27 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ILX System, Saturday, 21 June 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

ILX System, Sunday, 22 June 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

Personally, I think the first 5 seconds of "Open My Eyes" is the only thing that sounds like "I Can't Explain."

billstevejim, Sunday, 22 June 2008 23:16 (seventeen years ago)

19. Baby Please Don't Go - Amboy Dukes 0
16. Hey Joe - Leaves 0
8. Oh Yeah - Shadows Of Knight 0

:(

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 23 June 2008 02:47 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

I voted for "Open My Eyes". I've always thought that was a really exciting song. It is like all of the parts of 60s psychedelic rock pop boiled down to a sweet sugary morsel. There is a whole lot packed into that tune, it has a big fuzzy yet melodic guitar riff, arranged layered harmony vocals on the chorus, late 60s trippy phasing on the bridge which leads into a drum freakout with an aggressive but melodic guitar solo and the lyrics are a total druggy head game. I think it is the best thing Todd Rundgren ever did by a couple of steps.

This one is hard, as it has a bunch of killer tunes. I'm not sure that You're Gonna Miss Me is my favorite Roky Erickson song, but Open My Eyes has always had a thing on me. I was always so bummed that the rest of that Nazz album is just really average, which is something you cannot say about some of the 13th Floor Elevators records.

earlnash, Sunday, 13 July 2008 03:37 (seventeen years ago)

The Standells' Dirty Water LP has some other good tracks, like "Medication" and "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White." Always wondered about Mouse And The Traps' albums, or other singles, for that matter.

dow, Sunday, 13 July 2008 18:38 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Personally, I think the first 5 seconds of "Open My Eyes" is the only thing that sounds like "I Can't Explain."

Yeah, then it turns into "Walk, Don't Run"

Myonga Vön Bontee, Tuesday, 29 July 2008 16:07 (seventeen years ago)

fifteen years pass...

Giving this (specifically the original album/first CD) a listen for the first time in years and years for a writing project and damn, it remains such a fun listen. In the era of playlists and all, looking back to a prime example of brilliant selections and sequencing like what Lenny Kaye put together here is a heck of a thing. "HEY MOULTY!"

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 03:29 (one year ago)

I was lucky enough to get a copy of the recent expanded boxset which also includes vol 2 and a bonus disc, as well as loads of liner notes and a new interview with Kaye. The bonus disc's final track is "I'm Five Years Ahead of My Time" by The Holy Modal Rounders, which is an excellent way to finish things.

Critique of the Goth Programme (Neil S), Wednesday, 5 June 2024 09:14 (one year ago)

Third Bardo, surely!

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 June 2024 12:55 (one year ago)

haha yes that's right, I think Holy Modal Rounders feature elsewhere

Critique of the Goth Programme (Neil S), Thursday, 6 June 2024 07:15 (one year ago)

Not seeing Holy Modal Rounders included on a Nuggets set. They are on the Easy Rider s/trk. & have been reasonably well known for their late 60s work. Indian War Whoop, Moray Eels Eat The and a couple of others are worth picking up as freak folk . They were probably even odder as an acoustic duo earlier. I think they were one of the first bands to have the word psychedelic in one of their songs too.

Stevo, Thursday, 6 June 2024 09:37 (one year ago)

yes you're right, apologies. I don't know how I got that mixed up!

Critique of the Goth Programme (Neil S), Thursday, 6 June 2024 09:39 (one year ago)

a classic case of Third Bardo/Holy Modal Rounders confusion

Critique of the Goth Programme (Neil S), Thursday, 6 June 2024 09:41 (one year ago)

the 2 4xCD boxed sets are essential. from 1998 and 2001. in my opinion. the books/notes are essential by themselves. Mike Stax outdid himself.

fun fact: i wrote the entries for both boxes in the last Rolling Stone Album Guide. I know! Who knew?

scott seward, Thursday, 6 June 2024 12:41 (one year ago)

So you're the guy!

And yes, both essential; I do also like the Children of Nuggets follow-on too. Been doing some relistening for a forthcoming project.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 June 2024 13:39 (one year ago)

There were a bunch of boxes that were not "Nuggets" as such, but cover their time period in the same way. "No Thanks" for the UK punk years, and "Brit Box" for the Britpop years.

Mark G, Thursday, 6 June 2024 13:47 (one year ago)

Both not available as such in the UK, btw

Mark G, Thursday, 6 June 2024 13:48 (one year ago)

"Sisters of Nuggets" = One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost & Found

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 6 June 2024 14:11 (one year ago)

Giving this (specifically the original album/first CD) a listen for the first time in years and years for a writing project and damn, it remains such a fun listen. In the era of playlists and all, looking back to a prime example of brilliant selections and sequencing like what Lenny Kaye put together here is a heck of a thing. "HEY MOULTY!"

― Ned Raggett

"moulty" is a great song! me being me i'm more interested in the _other_ big hit barbarians song. it gets overlooked that a lot of the reason the "straights" were so triggered by the hippies was because to them, long hair was a form of genderfuck. not consciously so - i think a lot of it stems from the beatles. none of them were queer and they took care to _not_ look queer. the "straights" couldn't tell, though. i'm _very_ in favor of heterosexuals confusing "straights". people get mad about harry styles but me i genuinely think men in dresses are the same kind of awesome as longhairs in the '60s were.

Kate (rushomancy), Thursday, 6 June 2024 14:17 (one year ago)

the rubble boxes - though bootleg-y - are likewise esential. to me anyway. originally on vinyl. 20 volumes. 20 CDs. on two boxes. they don't seem to be that expensive used. they focus more on the u.k./freakbeat end of things like the second Nuggets box.

scott seward, Thursday, 6 June 2024 14:20 (one year ago)

When I was psych-mad and downloading in the late 00s, I think I downloaded the entire Rubbles and burned a few to CDr. They sounded so bad! But good, too.

I think there was also a Pebbles comp along the same lines.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 6 June 2024 14:37 (one year ago)

Yeah Pebbles, Boulders and Rubble are kinda the big three in terms of initial obvious Nuggets knockoffs, thus their names. Then you've got things like Back From the Grave, Chocolate Soup For Diabetics, etc. This is all part of the project I'm doing, BTW! You'll see the results in a few more weeks.

Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 June 2024 14:39 (one year ago)

Nice.

il lavoro mi rovina la giornata (PBKR), Thursday, 6 June 2024 14:43 (one year ago)

i made a playlist of all the Prae-Kraut Pandemonium comps:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE1-7P1reTFjmg-Bj0U65sFa35MypyZn5

scott seward, Thursday, 6 June 2024 14:49 (one year ago)

Nuggets is too poppy (“Liar Liar”? “Sugar and Spice”?). I prefer the Pebbles series which is heavier and more rockin’. “Green Fuz” is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 6 June 2024 19:27 (one year ago)

I always wondered if there was any real criterion to Nuggets and really enjoyed Kaye's explanation at those recent anniversary shows - "It's a 'nugget' if you dug it." Works for me!

birdistheword, Thursday, 6 June 2024 20:56 (one year ago)

Liar Liar is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

bulb after bulb, Thursday, 6 June 2024 21:17 (one year ago)

I always wondered if there was any real criterion to Nuggets and really enjoyed Kaye's explanation at those recent anniversary shows - "It's a 'nugget' if you dug it." Works for me!

I know I've seen that line in print somewhere, maybe another compilation album (I thought it was the original Nuggets release, but I checked and didn't see it).

eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Thursday, 6 June 2024 23:16 (one year ago)

Okay! I mentioned that writing project I was working on and it is live!

https://theshfl.com/guide/The-Nuggets-Legacy

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 15:25 (one year ago)

very cool.

scott seward, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 16:03 (one year ago)

i've never seen that website before.

scott seward, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 16:07 (one year ago)

nice work. hadn't heard of Banzai Freakbeat or Chains And Black Exhaust before, have to check those out

can see why you might've left these out as they are quite similar to Back From The Grave (for obvious reasons, as Crypt/Tim Warren were involved in all of them) - to the extent that I'm not exactly sure why they are different series - but would also recommend Teenage Shutdown and Garage Punk Unknowns (and more recently Last of the Garage Punk Unknowns) to anyone who wants more of the garage rock side of things

Colonel Poo, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 16:52 (one year ago)

i've never seen that website before.

Been writing for them for a few years now. It's pretty great! I have a slew of reviews up plus a number of guides (listed as 'articles' in the menu at the top)

https://theshfl.com/recommender/Ned-Raggett

hadn't heard of Banzai Freakbeat or Chains And Black Exhaust before, have to check those out

Chains got a lot of attention in the early 00s that's for sure, including on here and elsewhere. Dominique Leone's Pitchfork review gives a sense of it. In ways it kinda feels like a Numero release just pre-Numero, or rather the same year they started, only without the extensive liners etc. Banzai was utterly unknown to me until a few months back! During my record shopping in LA in March around PopCon I found it randomly for very cheap, as I did the first of the Soft Sounds series, which I had wanted to look into for a while but was a little unsure about paying a lot for. I was already thinking about the guide by then and they turned out to be excellent additions, and I'm currently picking up more Soft Sounds and its distaff stuff as I find it.

would also recommend Teenage Shutdown and Garage Punk Unknowns (and more recently Last of the Garage Punk Unknowns) to anyone who wants more of the garage rock side of things

Yeah I have all the Garage Punk Unknowns and as you rightly indicate, they could easily fit in, but Tim's taste is...let's say rather specific. I figured just highlighting the main series is enough, especially since the guide was meant to be a partial response TO his way of looking at things.

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 17:23 (one year ago)

Been waiting 22 years and counting for a Chains And Black Exhaust vinyl release.

stirmonster, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 18:22 (one year ago)

This is epic!

Brad C., Tuesday, 18 June 2024 18:41 (one year ago)

Great write up, Ned. Gonna have to dive into some of these.

husked, tonal wails (irrational), Tuesday, 18 June 2024 18:47 (one year ago)

This looks great, Ned, thanks. Looking forward to digging into the article -- except for _Nuggets II_ I'm pretty ignorant of the non-US/UK stuff.

Jeff Wright, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 19:04 (one year ago)

Thanks all! One thing I'll add, BTW, is that playlists for each album are available as well (which given the bootleg status of some of them makes it helpful for a sample). Just go to any individual review page and hit the 'play' button at the top; for formal releases Shfl usually points to where you can stream it, but for bootlegs or things that are out of print, YouTube playlists are the way to go. And that may sound weird for some of this but believe it or not, Rhino, as in the actual official Rhino account on YouTube, created its own random playlist for both the Nuggets I and II boxes that way!

Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 June 2024 19:05 (one year ago)


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