Customer Reviews

Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What raises this collection above the norm is the selection of obscure tracks by the lesser known bands of the California scene of the middle 60's. There is a sprinkling of familiar songs spread throughout the collection, but the lion's share are tracks you've never heard before, some not so great, but many a delight. Add to that one of the best packages I've ever seen in a box set; a large format book packed with rare photos and details about the bands and songs.
This collection is a must have, one of Rhino's best ever.

Lot's of reviewers have gone after Rhino Records concerning their box set releases. Sound quality, packaging, track selection of past sets have been a big issue of nasty negatives for many reviewers. Well, about this set entitled: "Love Is The Song We Sing"-San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970, I will go on record to say that Rhino, has really hit a home run here.

This is a hardcover book of 120 pages, filled with great text and some wonderful photographs of the biggest American music city of the 1960's. Packed into this insightful book are 4 amazing audio compact discs of music. All the right bands are here with only a few of my personal favorites missing.
From the Beau Brummels {the first SF band to recieve air-play} thro to the Youngblood's massive 1969 hit of Dino Valenti's: "Get Together", good and bad, loud and soft, this was the sixties, that I remember growin' up in, and it was the most magical place on the planet Earth (along with London/ Liverpool.}

Two AM radio stations were our: 'Colors'. They were 1260 KYA and KFRC. On tiny transistor radios we could listen to: The Jefferson Airplane or Moby Grape, just as often as: The Beatles or The Stones. Wild posters on storefront walls and windows or streetposts in day glo, advertised dance hall concerts featuring: "The Mystery Trend" or "The Sons Of Champlin". R.Crumb was peddling a strange little 'Comix' book outta a baby's carriage on Haight Street. It was for me, at the time, the very center of The universe.

The song selection over the course of these four Discs is indeed vast, with The Dead and Quicksilver right next to The Family Tree and Public Nuisance. There are 77 selections in this collection, some bands you have heard of: "Santana" and "Steve Miller Blues Band", to some that you only knew from posters: "The Oxford Circle" and "The Mojo Men" and some groups, I sure can't remember at all: "Butch Engle & The Styx" and "Teddy And His Patches". From bands that sounded just like: The Yarbirds, as: "The Count Five" with the garage anthem: "Psychotic Reaction" to the soaring violin of David LaFlamme and It's A Beautiful Day's, classic: "White Bird". This box/book is quite a ride of through an era of music and history.

This box set along with the great book: "San Francisco Rock", 1965-1985, by Jack McDonough, are two sides of the same coin. Rhino Records, have really produced an enjoyable set of music and history with this excellent package. It is an honest account {with the good & the bad included} of what went down in northern California, from: 1965-1975. Some of this music drives my wife and kids crazy...and, that is exactly what it is supposed to do! This is not for everyone....but, if your ears still work and you are ready to expand your mind a bit sideways, over under down....This could be your: "E-Ticket" to the Magic Kingdom.
FIVE STARS !!!

There are a few very well known songs here, but wisely Alec Palao decided to give the main focus to lesser known artists and songs, while still giving ample coverage to all of the giants of the scene and moment. Very beautifully composed 120 page hardcover book with essays and tons of photos as well as track-by-track commentary from Palao. I grew up on this music and still there are many songs or versions of songs I'd never heard before. The single version of Dark Star?! Too bad Rick Griffin didn't live long enough to do the metallic-on-black cover art. Anyway, DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

Nuggets box sets is what got me started getting into garage style music from obscure bands. It's now been almost 6 years and I am still finding gems. My [...] site is a testament to that.
Anyway I got this "box set" or should we say "book set" because the enclosed book is one of the finest I have ever seen that came with CD's.
[...] did a fine review of this 4CD set and I concur with them.
And as for the reviews here, there are for the most part accurate, especially the one about being careful taking them out to play. When I first saw how tightly they were inside I decided to be VERY CAREFUL ON TAKING THE CD'S OUT. Whew no scuff marks.

After listening to the set a few times I came to the conclusion that disks 3 & 4 have the most 5-star rated songs. I did manage to get seventeen 5-star songs out of the set. Yes the big names are here, but I was interested in the more unknown bands (being a garage-head), and there are some good ones. Below are IMO 5-star songs:

(Disc 1)
(8) It's No Secret - Jefferson Airplane - 1965 - " QUOTE: Although originally recorded on the Airplane's debut album in 1966 with excellent results, the band continued to keep it in their live sets through the years."

(Disc 2)
(2) Suzy Creamcheese - Teddy & His Patches - 1966 - "One of the MOST psychotic songs to be ever made. Garage Sci-Fi/Psych beat." - Love Is The Song We Sing: Suburbia (Rhino Disc 2)-2007.
(18) Thing In "E" - Savage Resurrection - 1967 - "A quirky Pop-Rock song that will CATCH your attention. BEST garage style song in this box set. " - Love Is The Song We Sing: Suburbia (Rhino Disc 2)-2007.

(Disc 3)
(3) Somebody To Love (LP Version) - The Great! Society - No.05 on 5/6/1967 - "9 weeks Top 40, by Jefferson Airplane. First recorded by the Great Society in 1966; The BEST version. Good first impression." - Love Is The Song We Sing: Summer Of Love (Rhino Disc 3)-2007.
(6) Omaha - Moby Grape - 1967 - " It's got that late '60s Folk-Rock beat."
(9) Codine - Quicksilver Messenger Service - 1967 - " A classic song from that era."
(10) Down On Me (Live) - Big Brother & The Holding Company - 1968 - " Janis Joplin was one of the PILLERS of rock in the late '60s IMHO."
(11) Think Twice - Salvation - 1967 - " A soft folksy song that works it way into some fine rock guitar riff. Notable drum work."
(12) White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane - No.08 on 7/1/1967. 9 weeks Top 40.
(13) Roll With It - Steve Miller Band - 1967 - " One of my FAVORITE bands. I followed them for the longest time."

(Disc 4)
(1) Evil Ways - Santana - No.09 on 2/7/1970. 11 weeks Top 40. - " A CLASSIC from this era."
(2) Red The Sign Post - Fifty Foot Hose - 1968 - "HEAVY metal/Psychedelic at times. Female vocals." - Love Is The Song We Sing: "The Man Can't Bust Our Music" (Rhino Disc 4)-2007.
(6) Amphetamine Gazelle - 1968 - " ROLL up a dollar bill and snort this fast paced folk-rocker."
(13) White Bird - It's A Beautiful Day - 1969 - "QUOTE: This is perhaps the best-known track from Bay Area psychedelic pop rockers."
(15) Fool (Single Version) - Blue Cheer - 1970 - " Garage style song."
(17) Mercedes Benz - Janis Joplin - 1970 - "QUOTE: ...studio version recorded October 1, 1970, possibly the final complete vocal take Janis put to tape, that is legend."
(18) Get Together - The Youngbloods - No.05 on 8/2/1969 - "One of my BEST and FAVORITES. This song defines the late '60s." - Love Is The Song We Sing: "The Man Can't Bust Our Music" (Rhino Disc 4)-2007

I was immediately attracted to this collection. I was a big fan of the first two Nuggets sets, both for their eclectic track selection and detailed scholarship ( especially when so little was known about some of the more obscure groups.) Even more exciting was the fact that it was the story of the San Francisco music scene; the place where I spent my childhood and the music I listened to. Could they really get this right, I sure hoped so.

Like many great scenes, some of the most definite expressions of this cultural earthquake came early. The Beau Brummels were really the first great San Francisco band. They took the Folk-Rock style so ubiquitious in the mid 60s and fused it with the energy of the English Invasion, very much as their counterparts the Byrds did in Southern California. They were not alone, with other bands like the Mojo Men, the We Five, and the Vejtables bringing a local presence to AM radio, to mix with Motown and Liverpool. The first disc really captures this moment, when the elements combined to bring the message of folk music, the electricity of the Beatles and the awareness of generational change together. Something was definitely happening and even Mr Jones knew it. The Dead were still a bar band named the Warlocks and their great "Can't Come Down" gives you a glimpse of their unique power, before they discovered 30 minute jams. Perhaps the most psychedelic band at this point in time were Country Joe and the Fish whose magnificent original version of "Section 43" is here along with the pre-Grace Airplane led by Marty Balin.

Disc 2 brings us the wider scene, the groups on the penninsula and other parts of the Bay Area that contributed to the tapestry. Most of these groups never found the recognition beyond a fine single or an impossible to find album, and this dic is a great treasure trove for even the most hardcore collectors. The momentum is building, the revolution is almost here.

We arrive at the Haight on disc 3, begining with the best recorded moment by the legendary Charlatans, "Alabama Bound." Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Airplane and Dead in their glory; so much was happening all at once. But we also had the Mystery trend, Serpent Power, Blue Cheer and Sly and the Family Stone. It was not a monolitic sound so much as a diverse embarrassment of riches, elements of R&B, Folk, Pop, Acid Rock and outright weirdness all going on on the same stage and echoing in the ears and often-expanded minds of the locals and runaways that populated the streets.

The final disc covers the aftermath of the explosion, with bands like Santana, It's a Beautiful Day and the Sons of Champlin getting their moment in the fog, if you will. Of all the discs, this one is the most familiar in terms of track selection, the energy diminishes despite the greatness of individual efforts. The Summer is over kids, back to real life.

The packaging is really singular in the history of cd packaging, not a booklet, a bonafide book. Great and previously unseen photos along with the complete backstory on everyone, famous and one-hit wonders alike. I do agree the discs are best removed and stored in jewel cases. This is time travel to a glorious past and history of a turbulant era as well. There is certainly tragedy and wistful sadness here as well as joy and love, but that is what makes it great art as well as cherished memories. They got it right.

The book style packaging for this set is wonderful for it's high quality and content. This is the best book/box set I've ever seen except for the CD storage. Rhino is now packaging all of their sets with the CDs tightly packaged in cardboard such that they must be damaged to be removed and then there's no way to put them back for storage without further damage. People need to start complaining directly to Rhino about this. The music on this set is wonderful but it's mostly well known material unlike some of the nugget sets. It would have been nice to see a little more lesser known tracks mixed in. If not for the CD packaging this would be the nicest box set I own.

Being a mid-western 70's kid, I missed the summer of love and the whole 60's thing, but this has to be as close as you can get to it. Well thought-out, very nicely packaged, and totally cool.

I'm glad to have this!

Prehaps the best cd collection that RHINO has ever put together.Notice I said cd set not 'boxed set ' as this collection is housed in a magnificent book configuration that is almost worth the price on it's on. I cant think of a better set to introduce one to the SF scene than this. But to tell the truth ( and i'm not knocking it here) it's kindve a giant sampler for UK ACE/BIG BEAT NUGGETS FROM THE GOLDEN STATE series.If you like this sets you need to buy these cd's too . If your like me and have most of the BIG BEAT cd's there's still enough obscure ditties to warrant buying this set. Not sure if the sound quality is any better or aout the same but it's real good. This is a must have .

As a twenty-year collector of psychedelia and longtime fan of the major San Francisco acts, this latest box set celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Summer Of Love was welcome. Even the most avid collectors will be hard-pressed to have heard every one of the obscure acts in this set, especially the ones represented on disc two. The box comes with an outstanding booklet featuring many rare photos and comprehensive liner notes, although the real focus is the music itself. After so many decades of being recognized as a "golden age", one gets to hear for oneself if all those dozens of obscure hippie bands produced anything of lasting worth.

For starters, it must be stated that this box only covers one aspect of the SF sound; the 20-minute guitar jams do not appear, although the single version of "Dark Star" does. The verdict on what is there is mixed; the major San Francisco acts were all great, although the ragbag
of more obscure acts, while incredibly diverse in sound and style, run the gamut from incredibly dated to surprisingly listenable. This is essential for any fan of the period, but for the cream of the SF sound I'd buy releases from the major acts (Dead, Airplane, Big Brother, Steve Miller, Santana)before this.

Okay, so I finally got the new Nuggets box. Or at least I think it's a Nuggets box as Rhino put that word so far back in the title as to be almost an afterthought. It's a four-disc set like the other three so for argument's sake let's call it the fourth in the series. It's certainly designed to be a Nuggets compilation as San Francisco is practically the last city one would think of to form a basis of garage rock and the liner notes look askance at all the acid-fried jamming of the Bay Area's usual suspects to concentrate on the more primitive aspects of the local music scene. I say "local" but the bands profiled in this epic set are from all over Northern California. But in order to serve the thesis that the Bay Area was home to scads of great Nuggets-type bands the definition of "San Francisco" had to be enlarged somewhat and with that said they did a great job!
First off the packaging is great. It's in a book-like form with loads of color and black and white pictures, many of which take up a full page. The opening shot of the Dead, Quicksilver, Big Brother, the Airplane and the Charlatans is beautiful and one I'd never seen. The discs are all crammed into the back page and are far too tight which may cause some scratching when you pull them out. I had a problem with disc one having some glue from the book on it and the last two songs wouldn't play. I had to go home and use some lighter fluid to clean it off and now it plays fine, so consider yourself warned.
The music runs the gamut from the obvious to the never-heard-before with the emphasis much more on the latter. They unearthed more Nuggets-like gems from the Bay Area than I thought I'd ever hear and put 'em right alongside the Dead, Country Joe, the Airplane, etc. If you liked the last three boxes you'll enjoy this one and the packaging beats 'em all.