A++ rock 'n' roll obscurity from the swingin' 60s
Laszlo Matyas | 07/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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!"
Fantastic and Classic
Radjack | Florida | 06/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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!"
Mostly worth having but for a couple clunkers
S. Boone | Louisville, KY | 07/03/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Track Listings (27) - Disc #1