Nazz (album)


Nazz is the debut album by American rock group Nazz. It was released in 1968. The album spawned two singles, "Open My Eyes" and "Hello It's Me", with the latter reaching number 66 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. "Open My Eyes" failed to chart but came to be regarded as a psychedelic rock classic, appearing on several compilations of the genre. "Hello It's Me" became a hit when Nazz guitarist Todd Rundgren re-recorded it for his 1972 solo album Something/Anything?.
The track "Open My Eyes" was accompanied by a promo video, directed by Ray Dennis Steckler. Nazz peaked at number 118 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart.
The album was remastered and rereleased in 2006 with bonus tracks by Sanctuary Records Group.

Background and recording

Following a showcase at the Boston Tea Party in January 1968, The Nazz were signed by Screen Gems-Columbia. In April 1968 the band entered the eight-track recording studio I. D. Sound Studios in Hollywood, California. By this time the band had all the songs they needed for their first album written, most of which favored a guitar-oriented sound, since lead vocalist/keyboardist Stewkey enjoyed being front man much more than being a keyboardist.
The song "If That's the Way you Feel" was heavily inspired by the work of Jimmy Webb. Guitarist Todd Rundgren said writing the song was "Really laborious for me, I didn't really know how to write music. Shorty Rogers did the arrangement and had to do a lot of corrections."
After considering and then discarding the idea of having Felix Pappalardi produce the album, the Nazz picked Bill Traut instead. According to Rundgren, " didn't really do anything except read the trade papers. He didn't have any music suggestions. We should have got someone like Glyn Johns." Rundgren was dissatisfied with Traut's final mix of the album, so the Nazz went to a studio in New York to do overdubs and remixing for two tracks, "Open My Eyes" and "Hello It's Me". The Nazz wanted a flanging effect for "Open My Eyes" but the studio engineers did not know how to create it; Rundgren discovered how to do it accidentally while playing with a two-track tape machine.

Track listing

All songs written by Todd Rundgren, except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Open My Eyes" – 2:48
  2. "Back of Your Mind" – 3:48
  3. "See What You Can Be" – 3:00
  4. "Hello It's Me" – 3:57
  5. "Wildwood Blues" – 4:39

Side two

  2. "If That's the Way You Feel" – 4:49
  3. "When I Get My Plane" – 3:08
  4. "Lemming Song" – 4:26
  5. "Crowded" – 2:20
  6. "She's Goin' Down" – 4:58

2006 Castle Music reissue bonus tracks

  2. "Nazz Radio Commercials" - 3:02
  3. "Train Kept A-Rollin'" - 3:22
  4. "Magic Me" - 2:47
  5. "See What You Can Be" - 2:52
  6. "Hello It's Me" - 3:51
  7. "Crowded" - 2:48
  8. "Open My Eyes" - 2:40
  9. "Lemming Song" - 4:04
  10. "The Nazz Are Blue" - 3:47
  11. "Why Is It Me?" - 3:09
  12. "Hello It's Me" - 4:06
  13. "Open My Eyes" - 2:05

Personnel

Nazz

Technical

Charts

Album
YearChartPosition
1968US Billboard Pop Albums118

Single
YearSingleChartPosition
1968"Open My Eyes"Billboard Pop Singles112
1969"Hello It's Me"Canada RPM Singles Chart39
1969"Hello It's Me"Billboard Pop Singles66