Lenny Kaye is best known as Patti Smith's guitarist. But his greatest contribution to music history may actually be an earth-shattering collection of garage and psych tunes called Nuggets.
'It's-A-Happening' is my favorite track on the compilation. The Magic Mushrooms had enough material for one side of an LP, as they released two more singles after it. All are good, but none are as wild as that first outrageously wild A-side.
For sure! I gotta say, "Psychotic Reaction" by the Count Five is the one that really hammered me over the head the first time I heard it. Probably still my favorite when push comes to shove.
I have both Nuggets I an II plus the Children of Nuggets collections (and an obscure Aussie Nuggets CD) as well all the Pebbles CDs and (my pride and joy)… the full Fading Yellow series. All great collections of…
“…songs from 1965 to 1968 with their distinct DIY junk-shop ethos, untethered experimentation and charming naivete of primitive thumping, searing fuzztones, and bong-rattling bass are a reminder of what it sounded like when rock bands were the underdogs that emerged from the traditions of psychotropic indulgence and sonic experimentation.”
Add to that the fabulous “Where the Girls Are” series.
Also, loved the background info of YES - another of my favourite bands.
The cobbled-together playlists on Spotify are kinda your best bet. The ones I've included in the article have some gaps in availability (and the occasionally ghastly modern re-recorded--see Hombres "Let It All Hang Out) but they cover about 95% of it. I'm a vinyl guy at heart, but David P. is right--it's all about the CD compilations from '98 and 2001.
Great piece!
Thanks Alan!
My best bud has a 1st pressing signed by practically every participant. Fact.
That's a pretty solid achievement right there, man.
'It's-A-Happening' is my favorite track on the compilation. The Magic Mushrooms had enough material for one side of an LP, as they released two more singles after it. All are good, but none are as wild as that first outrageously wild A-side.
For sure! I gotta say, "Psychotic Reaction" by the Count Five is the one that really hammered me over the head the first time I heard it. Probably still my favorite when push comes to shove.
Great story! :)
I have both Nuggets I an II plus the Children of Nuggets collections (and an obscure Aussie Nuggets CD) as well all the Pebbles CDs and (my pride and joy)… the full Fading Yellow series. All great collections of…
“…songs from 1965 to 1968 with their distinct DIY junk-shop ethos, untethered experimentation and charming naivete of primitive thumping, searing fuzztones, and bong-rattling bass are a reminder of what it sounded like when rock bands were the underdogs that emerged from the traditions of psychotropic indulgence and sonic experimentation.”
Add to that the fabulous “Where the Girls Are” series.
Also, loved the background info of YES - another of my favourite bands.
Thanks Geoff! Oh man--not too familiar with Fading Yellow. Sounds like another rabbit hole I'll be tumbling down;-). Much obliged!
The 1998 Rhino CD version is astonishing to listen to.
Absolutely. I consider the full 4-disc collection pretty much essential.
I struggled with this one as I couldn’t find it anywhere to give it a listen - the best I could do was a playlist on Spotify.
The cobbled-together playlists on Spotify are kinda your best bet. The ones I've included in the article have some gaps in availability (and the occasionally ghastly modern re-recorded--see Hombres "Let It All Hang Out) but they cover about 95% of it. I'm a vinyl guy at heart, but David P. is right--it's all about the CD compilations from '98 and 2001.
Good to hear that it’s got cred! It’s on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time but I was skeptical.
100% legit.