Customer Reviews

Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From First Psych

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Originally released in 1972 as a big honkin' double LP, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 is one of the greatest albums ever, a wicked-awesome guided tour through some of rock 'n' roll 's lost treasures. Although Rhino Records' four-disc box set of the same title (which includes all 27 of the tracks found here) is probably the definitive reissue of this material, this is cheaper, and it's the more concise listen. And really, how can you argue with songs like these? There's the thumping garage punk of the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction," the howling proto-metal of the Amboy Dukes' "Baby Please Don't Go," and the zonked-out weirdness of the Castaways' "Liar Liar." There's also some bozo frat rock ("Farmer John"), face melting psychedelic punk ("It's-A-Happening"), and gorgeous, Spectoresque pop confection ("My World Fell Down"). And there's more where that came from! This is nothing short of pure gold, a 27 track joy from start to finish. If you find yourself wanting even more greatness, go directly to the box set. Enjoy!

I still own the original double album and recently purchased the CD. This is a remarkable classic set of exciting rock gems from the 60's. Plug it in and crank it up!! These songs showcase artists pushing the boundaries in different ways and this is the music that helped pave the way for much of what was to come to the FM dial in the next decade and beyond. Lenny Kaye did a remarkable job in selecting these songs. Awesome!

It seems others here were searching for a certain song when they first found this. In the late seventies I had a hankering to hear the 13th Floor Elevators' "You're Gonna Miss Me" (from 1966)again. The record store clerk found this album and ordered it for me. It also contains what was my favorite radio song in 1966, 'Sugar and Spice' by the Cryan Shames. Well, I'm old. I must admit I remember almost all these songs from their original era like it was yesterday. And it still remains my favorite time period for music, even though I am also a fan of Fleet Foxes and Iron and Wine, so I'm not stuck in one groove. But, for its size and price, I couldn't think of a better album to get to know the mid-sixties scene and all that it influenced later, especially if you put these smaller acts beside the Beatles, Stones, etc. It will round out your idea of the time, not to mention being great fun.

One thing interested me about the album, and now again as I listen to the CD version. Electra Records in '66 and '67 was just breaking into the rock field from being exclusively a folk label. So why did they not use any of their own tracks for this album? They had 'My Little Red Book' and 'Seven and Seven Is' by Love, all the hits by the Doors, 'Mary Mary' by Paul Butterfield, and a lot of others that fit this type of music perfectly. Why, when putting out this album, did they not use any of their own original tracks but got all of these from other labels? Just asking.

I used to have some of the "Nuggets" collections a long time ago, but over time I got rid of them because I didn't listen to them too much anymore. Then I happened to be somewhere that had the radio on to a station that played "Liar Liar" by the Castaways, & right afterward, "Ain't Got Nothin' Yet" by the Blues Magoos, and suddenly I had to have these songs again. Besides those two, the standout tracks, to me, are also "Lies" by the Knickerbockers, "7 and 7 Is" by Love, and "Incense & Peppermints" by the Strawberry Alarm Clock. This is not to say that the tracks by the Seeds, Standells, or 13th Floor Elevators are bad but I happen to own those on CD's by those bands, the standout stuff here is the "one hit wonder" sort of stuff. Then, there's "Louie Louie", which I could live safely for the rest of my life without ever hearing again, and "Wooly Bully", by Sam The Sham & the Pharoahs, which doesn't exactly fit this collection, in my mind, but hey, what do I know. The biggest reason to own any of these "Nuggets" CD's is songs by bands that you're never likely to find a full-length album by. 4 out of 5.

I had been given this album back in 1980 as a recorded cassette. It brought me back to my teenage years and some great music. However as cassette tapes did, it wore out. I am so pleased that this copy will remain with me for a long time with the same great music that fired my enjoyment of '60's one-hit wonders all over again.

I found this gem when I was searching for Sit Down I Think I Love You, by the Mojo Men. It is full of essentials from the heart of 60's music. It will bring back many memories, that is if you can remember the 60's.

This CD has some great songs on it, many of them obscure. Some of the garage bands' original songs sound like covers of tunes by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, etc. Some sound musically as good, if not better than the copied artists. I also found several musicians in these groups that went on to later play with groups who found much greater success in the music business.