Nuggets (series)


Nuggets is a series of compilation albums, started by Elektra Records in 1972 and continued by Rhino Records thereafter. The series focuses primarily on relatively obscure garage and psychedelic rock songs from the 1960s, but with some hits and pop-oriented songs also included.
In 1972, Elektra released Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968, compiled by Lenny Kaye. The later series by Rhino consists of 12 vinyl-only and three single-CD albums, all released during the 1980s. In 1998, Rhino issued a 4-CD Nuggets box set, which was essentially the original 1972 LP with 91 bonus tracks. Four more box sets and four single-CDs releases followed.
The music on Rhino's 1984–1989 Nuggets series is similar to that on Kaye's original compilation. While many of the songs on the 1980s series' 15 albums appeared on the original Nuggets double LP, others were new to the series and some eventually wound up on Rhino's 1998 box set. Although most of the music was recorded by US groups, there are some exceptions, such as the Troggs and the Easybeats.
In 2012, Australian label Festival Records issued their own CD compilation titled Down Under Nuggets: Original Australian Artyfacts, 1965–1967, followed by a vinyl release the following year.

Discography

Original compilation: 1972

The original 1972 Nuggets compilation was a 2-LP set of 27 American psychedelic and garage rock singles that were originally released during the mid-to-late 1960s. It was created by Lenny Kaye, and was reissued with a new cover design by Sire Records in 1976. For more information:

''Nuggets'', volumes 1 through 12: 1984–1985

Rhino issued a 12-volume series of Nuggets LPs in 1984–1985; there are 168 tracks across the 12 volumes. All tracks are by American performers, and the LPs feature a mix of garage rock, folk rock, pop and other related genres.
The 12-volume Nuggets series had a broader scope than the original LPs, and only 16 of the 27 tracks on the original Nuggets 2-LP set were included in the 12 volume series.
Many tracks from the 12-volume series were later included in the 1998 Nuggets 4-CD box set. Of the 116 tracks in the CD box set, 72 are found in the 12-volume LP series.

''Nuggets, Volume 1: The Hits'' (1984)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
The LeavesHey JoeYesYesUS #31
The Electric PrunesI Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)YesYesUS #11
The Five AmericansI See the LightYesUS #26
The StandellsDirty WaterYesYesUS #11
The Human BeinzNobody But MeYesUS #8
Blues Magoos(We Ain't Got) Nothin' YetYesUS #5
The BarbariansAre You a Boy or Are You a GirlYesUS #55
The SeedsPushin' Too HardYesYesUS #36
The Music MachineTalk TalkYesUS #15
Count FivePsychotic ReactionYesYesSFUS #5
The Balloon FarmA Question of TemperatureYesUS #37
NazzOpen My EyesYesYesUS #112
The Amboy DukesJourney to the Center of the MindYesUS #16
Blue CheerSummertime BluesSFUS #3

''Nuggets, Volume 4: Pop, Part Two'' (1984)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
The Merry-Go-RoundLiveYesUS #63
The OutsidersLost In My World
The Royal GuardsmenBaby Let's WaitUS #35
Teddy & The PandasWe Can't Go On This WayUS #103
The ParadeShe Sleeps Alone
The E-TypesPut The Clock Back On The WallYes
The Palace GuardFalling SugarYes
The KnickerbockersOne Track MindYesUS #46
The ChartbustersShe's The OneUS #33
The Palace GuardAll Night LongLA
lyme & cybelleFollow MeYesUS #65
The Long Island Sound1, 2, 3 And I Fell
The RumorsWithout Her
The Yellow BalloonYellow BalloonLAUS #25

''Nuggets, Volume 7: Early San Francisco'' (1985)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
The Beau BrummelsLaugh, LaughYesUS #15
The Beau BrummelsJust a LittleUS #8
The Mojo MenDance with MeUS #61
The Mojo MenShe's My BabyYesSF
The Vejtables[I Still Love (band)|Love You (The Vejtables song)|I Still Love You]
The VejtablesThe Last Thing on My Mind
Jan AshtonCold Dreary Morning
We FiveYou Were on My MindSFUS #3
We FiveYou Let a Love Burn Out
The CharlatansCodineYes
The Great SocietySomebody to LoveSF
The Great SocietyFree AdviceSF
Country Joe and the FishBass Strings
The TikisI Must Be Dreaming

''Nuggets, Volume 9: Acid Rock'' (1985)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
Love7 and 7 IsYesUS #33
The ByrdsEight Miles HighUS #14
The Grass RootsFeelings
The First EditionJust Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)US #5
SteppenwolfMagic Carpet RideUS #3
The Young RascalsIt's WonderfulUS #20
The MonkeesPorpoise SongHUS #62
The TurtlesShe's My GirlUS #14
Strawberry Alarm ClockIncense and PeppermintsYesUS #1
The SeedsThe Wind Blows Your Hair
Vanilla FudgeYou Keep Me Hangin' OnUS #6
Iron ButterflyIn-A-Gadda-Da-Vida US #30
The Chambers BrothersTime Has Come TodayUS #11
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental BandI Won't Hurt You

''Nuggets, Volume 11: Pop, Part Four'' (1985)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
The Grass RootsLet's Live For TodayUS #8
The Left BankePretty BallerinaUS #15
MontageI Shall Call Her Mary
Gene ClarkEchoes
The Sunshine CompanyHappyUS #50
The MagiciansAn Invitation To CryYesYes
Fever TreeSan Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)US #91
Lee MichaelsHello
The Third RailRun, Run, RunYesYesUS #53
The CrittersMr. Dieingly SadUS #17
Blues MagoosI Can Hear The Grass Grow
The Blues ProjectNo Time Like The Right TimeYesYesUS #96
The American BreedStep Out Of Your MindUS #24
KeithAin't Gonna LieUS #39

''Nuggets, Psychedelic Sixties'': 1986–1989

Beginning in 1986, Rhino curated another configuration of Nuggets volumes, this time on CD. These volumes drew from the original Nuggets 2-LP set, and the later 12-volume LP series, but also included tracks completely new to the Nuggets series. As well, a handful of tracks were from non-American acts, specifically tracks by the Troggs and the Easybeats.
The 3CD collection consists of 54 tracks. This iteration of Nuggets has an extremely different track listing when compared to the original LPs:
  • Only 11 of the 27 tracks on the original Nuggets 2LP set are featured across these three CDs.
  • Only 37 of the 168 tracks from the 12-LP series are featured across these 3 CDs.
As well, numerous tracks from these three CDs were later incorporated into the later Nuggets 4CD box set -- although many, many tracks were not ported over into the CD box set. Of the 116 tracks on the 1998 4CD box set, 32 are featured in this 3CD series.
  • Tracks included on the original 1972 compilation are noted in the columns labelled Nuggets 2LP.
  • Tracks included on the later 1998 4-CD box set are noted in the columns labelled Nuggets Box.
  • Tracks included in specialized Nuggets compilations are noted in the Other column.
  • *Tracks marked II appear on Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969
  • *Tracks marked LP followed by a number appear on that volume number in the 12-LP Nuggets LP series

''Nuggets: A Classic Collection from the Psychedelic Sixties'' (1986)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
The StandellsDirty WaterYesYesLP1
The SeedsPushin' Too HardYesYesLP1
Count FivePsychotic ReactionYesYesLP1
The Chocolate WatchbandLet's Talk About GirlsYesYes
The EasybeatsFriday On My MindII
The Five AmericansI See The LightYesLP1
The StandellsWhy Pick On MeYes
Syndicate of SoundLittle GirlYesLP12
The MonkeesPleasant Valley Sunday
The KnickerbockersLiesYesYesLP3
The Beau BrummelsLaugh, LaughYesLP7
The TroggsWild Thing
The EasybeatsHeaven And Hell
The MonkeesValleri
NazzOpen My EyesYesYesLP1
The Beau BrummelsJust A LittleLP7
The SeedsCan't Seem To Make You MineYesLP2
The Amboy DukesJourney To The Center Of The MindYesLP1

''More Nuggets: Classics from the Psychedelic Sixties, Vol. 2'' (1987)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
Blues Magoos Nothin' YetYesYesLP1
The SeedsMr. Farmer
The StandellsSometimes Good Guys Don't Wear WhiteYes
The CastawaysLiar, LiarYesYes
Captain Beefheart and his Magic BandDiddy Wah DiddyYesLP6
The Chocolate WatchbandAre You Gonna Be There ?YesLP2
The Music MachineTalk TalkYesLP1
The Merry-Go-RoundLiveYesLP4
The Five AmericansWestern Union
The NightcrawlersThe Little Black EggYesLP6
The ParadeSunshine GirlYesLP3
The Merry-Go-RoundYou're A Very Lovely WomanLP3
The Left BankeDesiree
Boyce & HartI Wonder What She's Doing TonightLP3
MouseA Public ExecutionYesYesLP6
The StandellsTry ItLP2
The Chocolate WatchbandSweet Young ThingYesLP6
The EasybeatsGonna Have A Good Time

''Even More Nuggets: Classics from the Psychedelic Sixties, Vol. 3'' (1989)

ArtistTitleNuggets 2LPNuggets BoxOtherNotes
The Electric PrunesI Had Too Much To Dream YesYesLP1
The Shadows of KnightGloriaLP2
We The PeopleMirror Of Your MindYesLP6
Strawberry Alarm ClockIncense And PeppermintsYesLP9
Max Frost & The TroopersShape Of Things To ComeYesLP12
The First EditionJust Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)LP9
The WooliesWho Do You LoveYesLP12
The BarbariansAre You A Boy Or Are You A GirlYesLP1
The KnickerbockersOne Track MindYesLP4
The Grass RootsLet's Live For TodayLP11
Danny HuttonRoses And Rainbows
The CyrkleRed Rubber BallLP3
The Third RailRun, Run, RunYesYesLP11
Dino, Desi & BillyI'm A Fool
The Sunshine CompanyBack On The Street AgainLP10
The E-TypesPut The Clock Back On The WallYesLP4
The Chambers BrothersTime Has Come TodayLP9
The Grass RootsOnly When You're LonelyLP10

''Nuggets'' box sets: 1998–2009

A series of Nuggets box sets have been issued. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968

Other single-disc compilations

Two single disc compilations of softer Nuggets material were issued in 2004. These compilations tended toward orchestrated, mildly psychedelic music, and did not feature a typical Nuggets rock or garage rock sound:Hallucinations: Psychedelic Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults Come to the Sunshine: Soft Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults
The above two CDs were reissued the following year with unchanged track listings, but with new titles and artwork:My Mind Goes High: Psychedelic Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults A Whole Lot of Rainbows: Soft Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults
The most recent Nuggets compilation featured tracks from performers working in Australia and New Zealand in the late 1960s, and very definitely focused on garage rock and similarly harder material:
  • ''Down Under Nuggets: Original Australian Artyfacts, 1965–1967''