"Nuggets (Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968)" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Based on the October 1972 Lenny Kaye Compiled Genre Retrospective 2LP Set issued on Elektra Records in the USA (no UK Release) – Expanded 4CD Version Featuring The Electric Prunes, The Seeds, Count Five, The Shadows Of Knight, The Barbarians, The Standells, The Blues Magoos, The Amboy Dukes, The Outsiders, The Chocolate Watch Band, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Capt. Beefheart, Beau Brummels, The Hombres, New Colony Six, Blue Magoos and many more (September 1998 US Rhino/Elektra 118-Track 4CD Long Box with 100-Page Booklet and Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

September 1998 US-Only Rhino 4CD Box Set 

EXPANDED EDITION of the October 1972 Double-Album on Elektra Records

 

June 2006 UK Rhino Single-CD Reissue and Remaster of the 2LP set only

 

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"...Psychotic Reaction..."

 

Whenever we bought in a decent vinyl collection in Reckless in Berwick Street or Islington (and usually from a guy of a certain age), we would get misty-eyed leering down at a copy of "Nuggets" – a fabulous double-album compilation released early October 1972 on Elektra Records in the USA. Compiled by genre enthusiast Lenny Kaye and comprising of 27 slices of Sixties Psych, Garage and all manner of Acid-Infused Fuzz-Guitar Alternative Rock - even three and half decades ago "Nuggets" regularly went for over £50 (back when that was pricey). It had an almost semi-mythical reputation often only ever lasting minutes on our swinging-dick display wall of latest arrivals. So it's rare a CD Reissue does the same.

 

But this 4CD Expanded 118-Track Box Set of "Nuggets (Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968)" has entered legend too since its September 1998 US-only release. It placed the double-album Remastered onto CD1 with 27-Tracks and then blew that up by a whopping 91 more rarities on CDs 2, 3 and 4. A 100-Page Long Booklet, sympathetic remasters for notoriously Lo-Fi material  – all in all – a genuine blast from the good people at Rhino. Hell – in June 2006 – they reissued the double-album onto 1CD in Mini LP Repro Card Sleeve (pictured above also) and just past (April 2023 to be exact) has seen yet another Remaster/Reissue of the original double expanded this time into a 50th Anniversary 5LP version for Record Store Day. But it's Rhino's 1998 4CD Long Box (a first volume of three) that makes fans and collectors weak at the knees. Let's get psyched...

 

US released 15 September 1998 – "Nuggets (Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968)" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Rhino R2 75466 (Barcode 0 8122-75466-2 5) is a 4CD Long Box with Dan Hersch and Bill Inglot Remasters (Based on the December 1972 Lenny Kaye Compiled Genre Retrospective 2LP Set issued on Elektra Records in the US) that plays out as follows (all tracks are US 45-singles unless otherwise stated):

 

CD1 – The Original Nuggets - (76:29 minutes):

1. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - THE ELECTRIC PRUNES (November 1966, Reprise 0532, A-side)

2. Dirty Water - THE STANDELLS (November 1965, Tower 185, A-side)

3. Night Time - THE STRANGELOVES (January 1966, Bang Records B-514, A-side)

4. Lies - THE KNICKERBOCKERS (November 1965, Challenge 59321, A-side)

5. Respect - THE VAGRANTS (Mono) (March 1967, Atco 45-6473, B-side of "I Love, Love You (Yes I Do)")

6. A Public Execution - MOUSE (Mono) (February 1966, Fraternity F-956, A-side)

7. No Time Like The Right Time - THE BLUES PROJECT (February 1967, Verve Forecast KF 5040, A-side - written by and featuring Al Kooper)

8. Oh Yeah! - THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT (May 1966, Dunwich DX 122, A-side)

9. Pushin' Too Hard - THE SEEDS featuring Sky Saxon (July 1966, G.N.P. Crescendo GNP 372, A-side)

10. Moulty - THE BARBARIANS (Mono) (January 1966, Laurie LR 3326, A-side)

11. Don't Look Back - THE REMAINS (Mono) (August 1966, Epic 5-10060, A-side)

12. An Invitation To Cry - THE MAGICIANS (Mono) (November 1965, Columbia 4-43435, A-side, featuring Allan Jacobs of Jake & The Family Jewels and Gary Bonner)

13. Liar, Liar - THE CASTAWAYS (June 1965, Soma 1433, A-side)

14. You're Gonna Miss Me - THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR ELEVATORS (Mono) (May 1966, International Artists IA-107, A-side, featuring Roky Erickson)

15. Psychotic Reaction - COUNT FIVE (July 1966, Double Shot 104, A-side)

16. Hey Joe - THE LEAVES (Mono) (April 1966, Mira 222, A-side)

17. Romeo And Juliet - MICHAEL & THE MESSENGERS (Mono) (June 1967, U.S.A. Records 874, A-side)

18. Sugar And Spice - THE CRYAN SHAMES (Mono) (June 1966, Destination 624, A-side)

19. Baby Please Don't Go - THE AMBOY DUKES (January 1968, Mainstream 676, A-side, featuring Ted Nugent)

20. Tobacco Road - BLUES MAGOOS (June 1966, Mercury 72590, A-side)

21. Let's Talk About Girls - THE CHOCOLATE WATCH BAND (from the 1967 LP "No Way Out" on Tower Records ST-5096 in Stereo)

22. Sit Down, I Think I Love You - THE MOJO MEN (Mono) (December 1966, Reprise 0539, A-side, Arranged by Van Dyke Parks, Buffalo Springfield cover, song written by Stephen Stills)

23. Run, Run, Run - THE THIRD RAIL (Mono) (June 1967, Epic 5-10191, A-side)

24. My World Fell Down - SAGITTARIUS (Mono) (May 1967, Columbia 4-44163, A-side, featuring Lead Vocals by Glen Campbell with Backing Vocals from Bruce Johnston, Gary Usher and Terry Melcher and Larry Knechtel of Bread on Keyboards)

25. Open My Eyes - NAZZ (July 1968, SGC Records 45-001, A-side, featuring Todd Rundgren)

26. Farmer John - THE PREMIERS (May 1964, Warner Brothers 5443, A-side)

27. It's-A-Happening - THE MAGIC MUSHROOMS (Mono) (September 1966, A&M Records 815, A-side)

NOTES on CD1:

Tracks 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24 and 27 in MONO

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 25 and 26 in STEREO

VINYL SETS:

Tracks 1 to 27 are the original genre retrospective 2LP compilation "Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968" - released early October 1972 in the USA on Elektra Records 7E-2006 (no UK release).

 

A Remastered 2LP VINYL Reissue came out June 2006 on Rhino/Elektra 5101-12419-1 (Barcode 5051011241918), a January 2021 2LP VINYL Reissue was on Rhino/Elektra R1 2006 (081227971113) and most recently, an April 2023 Record Store Day 5oth Anniversary 5LP Expanded Box Set came out on Rhino/Elektra R1 695185 (603497838332).

 

CD2 – Volume 2 - (77:13 minutes):

1. Talk Talk – THE MUSIC MACHINE (July 1966, Original Sound OS-61, B-side of "Come On In")

2. Last Time Around – THE DEL-VETTS (June 1966, Dunwich D-125, A-side)

3. Nobody But Me – THE HUMAN BEINZ (August 1967, Capitol 5990, A-side – Isley Brothers cover)

4. Journey To Tyme – KENNY & THE KASUALS (August 1966, Mark MR 1006, A-side – Reissued November 1966, United Artists UA 50085, A-side)

5. No Friend Of Mine – THE SPARKLES (March 1967, Hickory 45-1443, A-side)

6. Outside Chance – THE TURTLES (July 1967, White Whale WW 234, A-side, co-write credit by Lyme which was Warren Zevon)

7. Action Woman – THE LITTER (January 1967, Scotty 803G-6710, A-side with "Legal Matter" on the B-side – re-released September 1967, Warwick 944S-6712 with "Whatcha Gonna Do About It?" on the B-side)

8. Spazz – THE ELASTIK BAND (November 1967, Atco 45-6537, A-side)

9. Sweet Young Thing – THE CHOCOLATE WATCH BAND (January 1967, Uptown 740, A-side – Written and Produced by Ed Cobb)

10. Incense And Peppermints – STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK (May 1967, Uni 55018, A-side)

11. I Ain't No Miracle Worker – THE BROGUES (September 1965, Challenge 59311, B-side of "Don't Shoot Me Down")

12. 7 And 7 Is – LOVE (July 1966, Elektra EK-45605, A-side – Both A&B Sides featuring and written by Arthur Lee)

13. Time Won't Let Me – THE OUTSIDERS (January 1966, Capitol 5573, A-side)

14. Going All The Way – THE SQUIRES (September 1966, Atco 45-6442, A-side)

15. I'm Gonna Make You Mine – THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT (November 1966, Dunwich 45-141, A-side)

16. The Trip – KIM FOWLEY (1965, Corby CR-206, A-side)

17. Can't Seem To Make You Mine – THE SEEDS (August 1965, GNP Crescendo GNP 354, A-side, featuring Sky Saxon)

18. Why Do I Cry – THE REMAINS (March 1965, Epic 5-9783, A-side)

19. Laugh Laugh – BEAU BRUMMELS (April 1967, Vault V-O-1, A-side)

20. The Little Black Egg – THE NIGHTCRAWLERS (August 1965, Lee 1012, A-side, featuring Ric Ocasek later with The Cars)

21. I Wonder – THE GANTS (January 1967, Liberty 55940, B-side of "Greener Days")

22. I See The Light – THE FIVE AMERICANS (November 1965, ABNAK A-109, A-side – reissued November 1965, HBR Records HBR 454, A-side, featuring Dale Hawkins as Producer)

23. Who Do You Love – THE WOOLIES (November 1966, Dunhill 45-D-4052, A-side)

24. Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) - SWINGIN' MEDALLIONS (February 1966, 4 Sale 6-6230, B-side of "Here It Comes Again" – reissued March 1966, Smash S-2033 as the A-side (Plug Side) with "Here It Comes Again" on the flip)

25. Live – THE MERRY-GO-ROUND (January 1967, A&M Records 834, A-side, written by and featuring Emitt Rhodes)

26. Steppin' Out – PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS (August 1965, Columbia 4-43375, A-side, Produced by Terry Melcher)

27. Diddy Wah Diddy – CAPTAIN BEEFHEART and HIS MAGIC BAND (April 1966, A&M Records 794, A-side – Bo Diddley cover version, Writer Willie Dixon of Chess Records fame)

28. Strychnine – THE SONICS (from the March 1965 US Debut LP "Here Are The Sonics!!!" on Etiquette Records ET-LPS-024 in Stereo, featuring Rob Lind on Vocals and Saxophone)

29. Little Girl – SYNDICATE OF SOUND (February 1966, Hush G-228, A-side – Reissued April 1966, Bell 640, A-side)

30. (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet – BLUES MAGOOS (October 1966, Mercury 72622, A-side)

31. Shape Of Things To Come – MAX FROST & THE TROOPERS (May 1968, Tower 419, A-side – a Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil song that featured in the 1968 Movie "Wild In The Streets")

NOTES on CD2:

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24 to 26, 29, 30 and 31 in STEREO

Tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14 to 17, 21, 23, 27 and 28 in MONO

 

CD3 – Volume 3 - (76:40 minutes):

1. Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) – THE HOMBRES (July 1967, Verve Forecast KF 5058, A-side)

2. Fight Fire – THE GOLLIWOGS (March 1966, Scorpio 405, A-side, John and Tom Fogerty pre Creedence Clearwater Revival)

3. At The River's Edge – NEW COLONY SIX (April 1966, Sentaur 1202, A-side)

4. Jack Of Diamonds – THE DAILY FLASH (August 1966, Parrot 45-PAR 308, B-side of "Queen Jane Approximately")

5. Follow Me – LYME & CYBELLE (February 1966, White Whale WW 228, A-side, featuring Warren Zevon)

6. It's Cold Outside – THE CHOIR (April 1967, Roulette R-4738, A-side)

7. Beg, Borrow And Steel – THE RARE BREED (April 1966, Attack AR 1401, A-side – Relaunched using same recording as OHIO EXPRESS on Cameo C-483 in June 1967 and that charted, peaking at No.28)

8. She's About A Mover – SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET (February 1965, Tribe 45-8308, A-side, featuring Doug Sahm)

9. Little Bit O' Soul – THE MUSIC EXPLOSION (March 1967, Laurie LR 3380, A-side, cover version of a March 1965 UK 45 by The Little Darlings on Fontana TF 359)

10. Put The Clock Back On The Wall – THE "E" TYPES (March 1967, Tower 325, A-side, Written by Alan Gordon and Gary Bonner who were both in The Magicians in 1965 and 1966 on Columbia Records – they did not record this song with The Magicians)

11. Falling Sugar – THE PALACE GUARD (February 1966, Orange Empire OE-400, A-side, group featured Emitt Rhodes of The Merry-Go-Round and Solo fame)

12. Run, Run, Run – THE GESTURES (October 1964, Soma 1417, A-side)

13. I Need You – THE RATIONALS (January 1968, A2 Records A2-107, A-side, Goffin & King song, Kinks cover from their "Kinda Kinks" album in 1965)

14. Knock, Knock – THE HUMANE SOCIETY (April 1967, Liberty 55968, B-side to "Tip-Toe Thru The Tulips With Me")

15. Primitive – THE GROUPIES (January 1966, Atco 45-6393, A-side)

16. Psycho – THE SONICS (January 1965, Etiquette ET-11, B—side of "The Witch" – for the A-side see Track 16 on CD4 and a debut album track called "Strychnine", Track 28 on CD2)

17. So What!! – THE LYRICS (November 1965, Era 3153, B-side of "They Can't Hurt Me")

18. You Must Be A Witch – THE LOLLIPOP SHOPPE (March 1968, Uni 55050, A-side)

19. A Question Of Temperature – THE BALLOON FARM (September 1967, Laurie LR 3405, A-side – band-members Mike Appel and Don Henry later with The Huck Finn)

20. Maid Of Sugar–Maid Of Spice – MOUSE AND THE TRAPS (April 1966, Fraternity F-966, A-side)

21. You Ain't Tuff – THE UNIQUES (December 1965, Paula 231, A-side, featuring Joe Stampley)

22. Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White – THE STANDELLS (July 1966, Tower 257, A-side, featuring Ed Cobb)

23. She's My Baby – THE MOJO MEN (December 1965, Autumn 27, A-side with "Fire In My Heart" as the B-side – Reissued and Remixed, June 1966, Reprise 0486, A-side, with "Do The Hanky Panky" on the flipside – Reprise Version used)

24. Story Of My Life – UNRELATED SEGMENTS (January 1967, HBR Records HBR-514, A-side)

25. I'm Five Years Ahead Of My Time – THE THIRD BARDO (May 1967, Roulette R-4742, A-side, Teddy Randazzo Production and Arrangements)

26. Mirror Of Your Mind – WE THE PEOPLE (July 1966, Challenge 59333, A-side)

27. Bad Little Woman – THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT (August 1966, Dunwich 45-128, A-side)

28. Double Yellow Line – THE MUSIC MACHINE (April 1967, Original Sound OS-71, A-side, featuring Sean Bonniwell)

29. Optical Sound – THE HUMAN EXPRESSION (May 1967, Accent AC 1226, A-side)

30.Journey To The Center Of The Mind – THE AMBOY DUKES (May 1968, Mainstream 684, A-side, featuring Ted Nugent)

NOTES on CD3:

Tracks 1, 9, 16, 27 and 30 are STEREO – all others in MONO

 

CD4 – Volume 4 (75:23 minutes):

1. Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In) – THE CHOCOLATE WATCH BAND (October 1967, Tower 373, A-side)

2. Too Many People – THE LEAVES (July 1965, Mira 202, A-side)

3. (Would I Still Be) Her Big Man – THE BRIGANDS (April 1966, Epic 5-10011, B-side of "I'm A Patient Man")

4. Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl – THE BARBARIANS (July 1965, Laurie LR 3308, A-side)

5. Wooly Bully – SAM THE SHAM And THE PHARAOHS (February 1965, MGM K13322, A-side)

6. I Want Candy – THE STRANGELOVES (May 1965, Bang B-501, A-side)

7. Louie Louie – THE KINGSMEN (June 1963, Jerden 712, A-side – Reissued October 1963, Wand 143, A-side)

8. One Track Mind – THE KNICKERBOCKERS (February 1966, Challenge 59326, A-side)

9. Out Of Our Tree – THE WAILERS (October 1965, Etiquette ET-21, A-side)

10. I Think I'm Down – HARBINGER COMPLEX (August 1966, Brent 7056, A-side)

11. What Am I Going To Do – THE DOVERS (September 1965, Miramar 118, B-side of "She's Gone")

12. Codine – THE CHARLATANS (Unreleased 1966 US 45-Single on Kama Sutra)

13. Johnny Was A Good Boy – THE MYSTERY TREND (March 1967, Verve VK-10499, A-side)

14. Stop – Get A Ticket – CLEFS OF LAVENDER HILL (July 1966, Date 2-1510, A-side)

15. Complication – THE MONKS (April 1966, German 45-Single on Polydor International 52 951, B-side of "Oh, How Do Now")

16. The Witch – THE SONICS (January 1965, Etiquette ET-11, A-side, for the B-side "Psycho", see Track 16 on CD3 and a debut album track called "Strychnine", Track 28 on CD2)

17. Get Me To The World On Time – THE ELECTRIC PRUNES (March 1967, Reprise 0564, A-side)

18. Mr. Pharmacist – THE OTHER HALF (November 1966, GNP Crescendo GNP 378, A-side)

19. Open Up Your Door – RICHARD AND THE YOUNG LIONS (July 1966, Philips 40381, A-side)

20. Just Like Me – PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS (November 1965, Columbia 4-43461, A-side, Produced by Terry Melcher, cover version of a 1965 US 45 by The Wilde Knights originally on Star Bright 3052, A-side)

21. You Burn Me Up And Down – WE THE PEOPLE (September 1966, Challenge 59340, B-side of "He Doesn't Go About It Right")

22. I Live In The Springtime – THE LEMON DROPS (August 1967, Rembrandt 5009, A-side)

23. Mindrocker – FENWYCK (June 1967, Challenge 59369, A-side)

24. Hold Me Now – THE RUMORS (June 1965, Gemcor 5002, A-side)

25. Love's Gone Bad – THE UNDERDOGS (January 1967, V.I.P. Records V.I.P.-25040, A-side, a cover version of a 1965 45-single by Chris Clark also on the Motown label imprint V.I.P. Records)

26. Why Pick On Me – THE STANDELLS (October 1966, Tower 282, A-side, featuring Ed Cobb)

27. Bad Girl – THE ZAKARY THAKS (July 1966, J-Beck J-1006, A-side – Reissued November 1966, Mercury 72633, A-side)

28. Blackout Of Gretely – GONN (January 1967, Emir SS-9217-01, A-side)

29. Voices Green And Purple – THE BEES (November 1966, Liverpool 45LIV-62225, A-side)

30. Blues' Theme – THE ARROWS Featuring DAVIE ALLAN (November 1966, Tower 295, A-side, Instrumental)

NOTES ON CD4:

Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 14, 15, 17, 20, 22, 23 are STEREO – all others in MONO

 

October 1972 was only three years after the Swinging Decade had ended and referenced by Kaye as a 60ts Retro Compilation (which was highly unusual at the time) - Elektra Records' 2LP set "Nuggets..." was sort of a Punk Rocker in all but name and snotty artwork. Arguably the first Punk Rock Origins anthology. 

 

Remastered by Rhino stalwarts BILL INGLOT and DAN HERSCH at Digiprep using Mono and Stereo Masters (where available), this September 1998 reinterpretation sports Audio that in truth flits from great to grunge via the closet and the school bathroom (as you might expect from largely homegrown recordings). The big label tracks are of course professionally done as Engineers undoubtedly struggled to contain kids of a trip man. But Audiophile lovers need to look away now. Having said that, anyone buying the "Nuggets..." Box can still expect an across-the-board decency of transfer. It's all about the musical journey and discovery and the sheer bravura of it all. Also, Rhino have had a long thematic history with the famous 2LP set as they reissued no less than fifteen "Nuggets" VINYL LPs throughout the Eighties before the CD format ousted Vinyl from their schedules completely.

 

The 100-page booklet beneath the lid and atop the two-deep jewel case bays is a thing of absolute wonder and a fact-fest for nerds/chroniclers like me. I cannot imagine the thousands of hours it took to collate this. Any collector will know that these US 45s are so damn rare and valuable that accumulating even half of these would require a bank heist of considerable planning (The Bees track alone tail-ending CD4 is said to be closing in on £3000, but at that auction-only level, all bets are off). So it’s pretty thrilling to see those Independent Labels reproduced in all their hero-like snotty have-a-go glory - with the occasional big boy like Atco or Capitol or United Artists or Epic or Liberty who you suspect stumbled on these progressive chappies with their far-out sounds more by accident than commercial design.

 

The front and rear cover has a colour collage of record sleeves (The Sonic Booms, The Gants etc) while the 4CDs continue with variants of the famous front cover design – cartoon guitar-playing guys and gals - very Crumb and very cool. Each song gets an individual analysis (Title, Personnel, Chart Position if any etc) and as you turn the pages, you see (usually) a promo photo of the artists and any other trade magazine advert or period poster Rhino could find. Have to love pictures sleeves for The Lollipop Shoppe, The Magicians, Richard And The Young Lions, The Strangeloves, The Electric Prunes, Max Frost And The Troopers on Tower whilst the occasional British LP and UK 45 show up too. And Rhino have even reproduced the 'Something Out Of The Ordinary' Elektra Records inner bag that came with late 1972 original 2LP set – nice attention to detail and respect to LENNY KAYE and his rather brill little double-bubble of 60ts trouble. To the happening music...

 

The fabulous "An Invitation to Cry" by The Magicians is a gem - the band containing Allan Jacobs who would become Bunky and later Jake & The Family Jewels. I've raved about their melodic brilliance and reviewed a superb Sundazed CD compilation named after their song here which also contains "I'll Tell the World About You" - covered beautifully by Joe Walsh on his 1972 debt solo album "Barnstorm" - a Magicians ballad. Texan Rocky Ericson headed up The Thirteen Floor Elevators and penned the cool inclusion here of "You're Gonna Miss Me". The legendary first album on International Artists has been bootlegged so many times because originals are so scarce and valuable - Rhino reproducing the yeah-man "...look closely at the cube of sugar I have clutched in my hand..." liner notes to that LP on Page 14 of the packed booklet. But surely everyone's crave has to be the snot-nosed groovy brilliance of "Psychotic Reaction" by Count Five who boasted future editor Greg Shaw of "Who Put The Bomp" and whose classic raver even got a release on Pye International in Blighty (7N.25393 being a £75+ 45 rpm rarity).

 

Dino Valenti's "Hey Joe" gets probably the best 60ts version from The Leaves (Bobby Arlin would go on to be in Hook while Jim Pons would join The Turtles and later the Mothers). Michael & The Messengers took a cover of The Reflections song "(Just Like) Romeo & Juliet" (a 1964 hit for the Detroit group on Golden World Records GW 9), dropping the bracketed beginning, and made a fair fist of it too. The cool-but-gimmick named Chicago group The Cryan Shames took an old English toast and marmalade Searchers pop-hit "Sugar And Spice" and gave it some US razzle - first issued on the independent Destination Records label only to see the mighty Columbia thereafter take the Shames baton. And no doubt that Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes were listening to Van Morrison's THEM for "Baby Please Don't Go" rather than the Joe Williams original - a right raver in 1967.

 

John Loudermilk gave Blues Magoos another Greenwich Village cafe yeah-yeah moment in their cover of his famous rocker "Tobacco Road" - very cool stuff on Mercury Records in June 1966. Artie Resnick co-wrote "Good Lovin'" with Rudy Clark and gifted a monster hit to The Young Rascals - for his own band The Third Rail he came up with "Run, Run, Run" - co-penned with his wife and that bubblegum pop purveyor Joey Levine. And while it feels more Sunshine Pop than Psych, I'd argue its a cool inclusion - rounded off at the end of the compilation by Todd Rundgren's Nazz doing the brill "Open My Eyes" and Gary Usher's Sagittarius - another with-it yeah-baby band that was getting all Zodiac and Horse-Man with a bow-and-arrow on us in the summer of 1967.

 

The Outsiders debut single "Time Won't Let Me" from January 1966 is seminal in that its often cited as the beginning of Horn Rock – not just a Saxophone or a lone Trumpet – but a fuller Brass sound of its own standing. The bigger band concept of course led to purveyors of Horn Rock in 1968 and 1969 – Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago Transit Authority especially (as they were originally known) – all though you could argue that James Brown had been doing Horn Soul with the JBs for years (on stage and off). It may have seemed cool or even revolutionary in late 1966, but the less than enlightened girl-you-will-do-what-ever-I-demand lyrics in The Shadows Of Knight track "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" would not pass a Woke-O-Meter nowadays (and perhaps rightly so) – but you gotta dig that Fuzz Guitar! The audio quality on the dangerous and inciting Kim Fowley track "The Trip" is admittedly the wrong side of gruff, but as a scene changer and zeitgeist moment, you can understand its place here. I remember I once sold a UK Demo Variant of The Seeds second British 45 "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" (it came out on Vocalion in Blighty, GNP Crescendo in the US as their debut) in a very VG state for over six times the Record Collector Price Guide guesstimate and the punter was practically shaking in his boots. Ugly Things USA repro’d the Bees US 45 in late 2012 complete with its rare picture sleeve – as the original in any state is a four-figure record, even the limited edition repro goes for dosh.

 

Speaking of rare...Ace Records of the UK put out the hard-to-find-intact Debut LP "Here Are The Sonics!!!" by The Sonics on their Hip Pocket CD Reissue Series in February 2007 - Ace/Big Beat Records CDHP 022 coming in a dinky little Mini LP Card Sleeve Repro. You can still locate the CD easy and it’s a budget way of getting digital on a Vinyl Album that easily pushed $300 or more for decades – an album even Kurt Cobain cited re its drums sound. It will not come as a surprise to collectors and fans that Rhino were smart enough to include both sides of The Sonics monster 45 on Etiquette – with "The Witch" on the A-side and an equally wild slice of proto Punk on the flipside called "Psycho". And another strong contender for both sides great (goody two shoes, I call them) goes to the Blues Magoos and their October 1966 outing on Mercury Records - "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" with the more Garage R&B "Gotta Get Away" on the flipside. In fact and in general - B-sides figure large in this collection – San Diego band The Lyrics and The Humane Society saving us all from their A-side cover version of a Tiny Tim horror. And on it goes...

 

I suspect that this 1998 Box Set Beast will still be picking up cool-aid accolades decades from now (2023) and way past my passing. Rhino have always been a favourite Reissue Label of mine, but with "Nuggets..." they took an already great original and expanded it twenty fold (and with class).

 

Rhino went on to make a follow-up 4CD extravaganza in "Nuggets II" released 2001 on Rhino R2 76787 that dealt with the Rest of the World Psych and Garage (UK, Europe, Japan, Australia etc) and followed that in turn with door number three called "Children Of Nuggets" in 2005 covering bands from 1976 to 1995 who were influenced by the original (Bow Wow Wow doing I Want Candy by The Strangeloves and The Fall doing Mr. Pharmacist by The Other Half) – another 4CD Box on Rhino R2 74639. Again both of those are beautifully collated and presented whilst true die-hards go after the fifteen vinyl LPs Rhino reissued in the "Nuggets" series during the 1980s. But somehow (although all good of course) – they were and are not - the one.

 

Get your Original Artyfacts here folks and remember people (as The Thirteenth Floor Elevators liner notes wisely inform us) - "...take on the superficial aspects of the quest..." I do man! I do!

"Achtung Baby" by U2 – November 1991 UK Eight Album (Seventh Studio) on Island Records featuring Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. with Producers/Remixers Brian Eno, Steve Lillywhite, Daniel Lanois, Flood, Paul Oakenfold, Steve Osborne, Ian Bryan, Paul Barrett, Apollo 440, The Stereo MCs, David Morales, Pete Heller, Terry Farley (and more) with Filmmakers Kevin Godley, Richie Smyth, Davis Guggenheim, Phil Joanou, Mark Pellington, Maurice Linnane, Anton Corbijn (and more). Also includes their ninth album (eighth studio) "Zooropa" from July 1993 and its Tour as a thematic part of the Box Set with Guest Johnny Cash (October 2011 UK Mercury/Interscope (20th Anniversary) 'Super Deluxe Edition' LP-Sized Box Set with 6xCDs, 4xDVDs, 92-Page Hardback Book, 16 x LP-Sized Achtung Baby Artprints and Arnie Acosta Mastering) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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*****

"...Even Better Than The Real Thing..."

 

The first things that hits you about this 'Super Deluxe Edition' LP-Sized Box Set of the November 1991 genre-breakthrough U2 album "Achtung Baby" is the weight.

 

Released late October 2011 as a massively comprehensive 20^th Anniversary Box Set - it came loaded to the gunnels - 6 x CDs, 4 x DVDs, a 92-Page LP-Sized Hardback Book and a separate pouch holding 16 x LP-Sized Achtung Baby Artprints. And more than any other Super DE I have, the presentation went a long way to creating a superb balance between AUDIO and VIDEO – in fact you could argue (sure they are not BLU RAYS) that the Visuals are where it is at for collectors – years of effort and documenting having gone into them.

 

The ARNIE ACOSTA Mastering is both old and new – Guitarist The Edge admitting that a full on Remaster has not taken place here because they went to such extraordinary lengths to get that original in-yer-face grunge sound on the 1991 album in the first place (get away from the Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum U2 in 1987 and 1989 that preceded it). Edge advises that some tweaking here and there has taken place, but most did not get Remastered and I for one loved how it sounded then and now.

 

A proper nerdy fan back in the day - I was one of those guys who bought all five CD singles that came off the monster Number 1 album and their duo partners (CD2's) – so CD3 "Über Remixes" and CD4 "Unter Remixes" are just gathering up what many die-hard fans will probably already have. But what a listen it is – the huge array of Guest Producers and Remixers - Brian Eno, Steve Lillywhite, Daniel Lanois, Flood, Paul Oakenfold, Steve Osborne, Ian Bryan, Paul Barrett, Apollo 440, The Stereo MCs, David Morales, Pete Heller, Terry Farley (and more) with Filmmakers like Kevin Godley (of 10cc fame), Anton Corbijn, Smyth, Davis Guggenheim, Mark Pellington and many more.

 

The legendary dancefloor goodies of "Salomé (Zooromancer Remix)" and "Even Better Than The Real Thing (The Perfect Mix)" are fantastic reinterpretations - while CD6 called "Kindergarten – The Alternative Achtung Baby" is a great idea and a genuinely fresh look. I wouldn't call it better than the (ahem) real thing, but I liked it and appreciate the effort. And I dig the "Zooropa" album being included as CD2 because it was Part 2 of the whole German reinvention vibe and look – even if it wasn't a patch on its album predecessor. To the details...

 

UK released 28 October 2011 - "Achtung Baby" by U2 on Mercury/Interscope 2779370 (Barcode 602527793702) is a 20^th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition Box Set with 6xCDs and 4xDVDs, a 92-Page Hardback Book, 16xLP-Sized Art Prints and Previously Unreleased Audio and Visual Material that play out as follows:

 

CD1 "Achtung Baby" (55:27 minutes):

1. Zoo Station [Side 1]

2. Even Better Than The Real Thing

3. One

4. Until The End Of The World

5. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horse

6. So Cruel

7. The Fly [Side 2]

8. Mysterious Ways

9. Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

10. Ultra Violet (Light My Way)

11. Acrobat

12. Love Is Blindness

Tracks 1 to 12 are their ninth album (Eighth studio) "Achtung Baby" – released 18 November 1991 in the UK/EUROPE on Island 262 110 (CD) and 19 November 1991 in the USA on Island 314-510 347-2. Produced by BRIAN ENO and DANIEL LANOIS – it peaked at No.1 in the UK and USA.

 

CD2 "Zooropa" (51:19 minutes):

1. Zooropa [Side 1]

2. Babyface

3. Numb

4. Lemon

5. Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

6. Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car

7. Some Days Are Better Than Others

8. The First Time

9. The Dirty Day

10. The Wanderer [with Johnny Cash]

Tracks 1 to 10 are their ninth album (eight studio) "Zooropa" – released 3 July 1993 in the UK on Island CIDU29 (518047-2) and 5 July 1993 in the USA on Island 314-518 047-2. Produced by BRIAN ENO, FLOOD and THE EDGE – it peaked at No. 1 in the USA and UK.

 

CD3 "Über Remixes" (67:16 minutes):

1. Night And Day (Steel String Remix) – Youth Remix, 6:58 minutes

2. Even Better Than The Real Thing (The Perfecto Mix) – Paul Oakenfold and Steven Osborne Remix, 6:37 minutes

3. Mysterious Ways (Solar Plexus Extended Club Mix) – Howard Gray, Steve Lillywhite and Trevor Gray Remix, 7:01 minutes

4. Lemon (The Perfecto Mix) – Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne Remix, 8:56 minutes

5. Can't Help Falling In Love (Triple Peaks Remix) – Ian Bryan and Paul Barrett Remix, 4:35 minutes

6. Lady With The Spinning Head (Extended Dance Mix) – Alan Moulder, 6:08 minutes

7. Even Better Than The Real Thing (V16 Exit Wound Remix) – Apollo 440 Remix, 3:19 minutes

8. Mysterious Ways (Ultimatum Mix) – Stereo MCs Remix, 5:01 minutes

9. The Lounge Fly Mix – Flood Mix, 6:28 minutes

10. Mysterious Ways (The Perfecto Mix) – Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne Remix, 7:06 minutes

11. One (Apollo 440 Remix) – Apollo 440 and Steve Lillywhite Remix, 5:03 minutes

NOTES:

Track 11 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

CD4 "Unter Remixes" (69:11 minutes):

1. Mysterious Ways (Tabla Motown Remix) – Apollo 440 Remix, 4:27 minutes

2. Mysterious Ways (Apollo 440 Magic Hour Remix) – Apollo 440 Remix, 4:26 minutes

3. Can't Help Falling In Love (Mysterious Train Dub) – Paul Barrett Remix, 8:29 minutes)

4. One (Apollo 440 Ambient Mix) – Apollo 440 and Steve Lillywhite Remix, 5:07 minutes

5. Lemon (Momo's Reprise) – David Morales Remix, 4:08 minutes

6. Salomé (Zooromancer Remix) – Pete Heller and Terry Farley Remixes, 8:02 minutes

7. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Trance Mix) – Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne Remix, 6:47 minutes

8. Numb (Gimme Some More Dignity Mix) – Rob D and Rollo Remix, 8:47 minutes

9. Mysterious Ways (Solar Plexus Magic Hour Remix) – Apollo 440, Howard Gray, Steve Lillywhite and Trevor Gray Remix, 8:14 minutes

10. Numb (Soul Assassins Mix) – The Soul Assassins Remix, 3:57 minutes

11. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Apollo 440 Stealth Sonic Remix) – Apollo 440 Remix, 6:42 minutes

NOTES:

Track 4 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

 

CD5 "B-sides And Bonus Tracks" (65:17 minutes):

1. Lady With The Spinning Head (UV1)

2. Blow Your House Down

3. Salomé (Backing vocals by Paul Barrett and Ian Bryan)

4. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Single Version)

5. Satellite Of Love (Lou Reed cover, Additional Vocals by Gavin Friday)

6. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horse (Temple Bar Remix)

7. Heaven And Hell

8. Oh Berlin

9. Near The Island

10. Down All The Days

11. Paint It Black (Rolling Stones cover)

12. Fortunate Song (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)

13. Alex Descends Into Hell For A Bottle Of Milk/Korova 1

14. Where Did It All Go Wrong?

15. Everybody Loves A Winner

16. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Fish Out Of Water Remix)

 

CD6 "Kindergarten – The Alternative Achtung Baby" (60:23 minutes):

1. 'Baby' Zoo Station

2. 'Baby' Even Better Than The Real Thing

3. 'Baby' One

4. 'Baby' Until The End Of The World

5. 'Baby' Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horse

6. 'Baby' So Cruel

7. 'Baby' The Fly

8. 'Baby' Mysterious Ways

9. 'Baby' Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

10. 'Baby' Ultra Violet (Light My Way)

11. 'Baby' Acrobat

12. 'Baby' Love Is Blindness

 

DVD1 "From The Sky Down – A Documentary" (1 hour, 15 minutes)

Includes Glastonbury Festival Performance

 

DVD2 "The Videos"

17 Videos from "The Fly" filmed in September 1991 to "Numb" filmed in 1993

Directors include Richie Smyth, Anton Corbijn, Kevin Godley, Mark Pellington, Phil Joanou, Wim Wenders, Mark Neal and many more – includes Greenpeace footage from 1992

1. The Fly (Directors, Jon Klein and Richie Smyth)

2. Mysterious Ways (Director, Stéphane Sednaoui)

3. One (Director, Anton Corbijn)

4. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Director, Kevin Godley)

5. One (Buffalo Version) (Director, Mark Pellington)

6. One (Restaurant Version) (Director, Phil Joanou)

7. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horse (Director, Phil Joanou)

8. The Fly (Performance Only) (Director, Richie Smyth)

9. Even Better Than The Real Thing (The Perfecto Mix) (Director, Richie Smyth)

10. The Fly (Text Only) (Director, Mark Pellington)

11. Until The End Of The World (Live) (Director, Maurice Linnane)

12. The Fly (Live From The Stop Sellafield Concert)

13. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Live From The Stop Sellafield Concert)

14. Love Is Blindness (Director, Matt Mahurin)

15. Lemon (Director, Mark Neale)

16. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) (Director, Wim Wenders)

17. Numb (Director, Kevin Godley)

18. Numb (Video Remix) (Director, Emergency Broadcast Network)

 

DVD3 "Bonus Material"

1. Zoo TV Special – A Documentary (Filmed in the USA August 1992 by Kevin Godley – 1 hour and 10 minutes)

2. MTV's Most Wanted - ZooTV Special (Filmed in the USA by Justin Murphy, 45:33 minutes)

3. MTV Rockumentary (Filmed in the USA by Maurice Linnane, 24:13 minutes)

4. U2 on Naked City, 1993 (11:46 minutes)

5. U2 on TV-AM, 1992 (15:12 minutes)

6. Trabantland Documentary (Director, Maurice Linnane, 7:54 minutes)

7. ROM Content (Screensavers, Web-links, Desktop Wallpapers etc)

 

DVD4 "Zoo TV Live From Sydney – The Concert" (1 hour and 58 minutes)

1. Show Opening

2. Zoo Station

3. The Fly

4. Even Better Than The Real Thing

5. Mysterious Ways

6. One

7. Unchained Melody

8. Until The End Of The World

9. New Year's Day

10. Numb

11. Angel of Harlem

12. Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

13. Satellite Of Love

14. Dirty Day

15. Bullet The Blue Sky

16. Running To Stand Still

17. Where The Streets Have No Name

18. Pride (In The Name Of Love)

19. Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car

20. Lemon

21. With Or Without You

22. Love Is Blindness

23. Can't Help Falling In Love

 

A quick look to the rear artwork of the Box set to check for original artwork and we see that the square photo of Adam Clayton's genitals are the covered up X-ed Version (the British and European originals had his full lunch pale on display) and none of the 16 Art Prints inside the embossed Baby Face Star and Car Logo pouch have the naughty version either (no balls, har har). The LP-Sized Card Art Prints are essentially large version of the photos used on the cover and in the booklet – the Trabant, U2 ring, the Band dressed as women like the Rolling Stones did back in the day – all that stuff. It all has that blurred look, but mostly you will look at them once and forget about them.

 

The hardback book however is properly gorgeous. Stunning photos buffer the writing, essays coming from Andrew Mueller where he sets the Berlin scene. That is followed by Producer Daniel Lanois talking about a blur of creation and intensity, Photographer and Band Depicter Anton Corbijn remembering five full months creating the graphics with the Band in Germany, Morocco, Tenerife and Dublin (the most they ever spent working on an image and look). Martin Scholz discusses other artists that had taken to Germany's capitol city too (Bowie, Iggy Pop and Depeche Mode) which is followed by a full LP-sized page showing the handwritten lyrics to "One" – a song he refers to in his superb essay. There is a reprint of the Martin Wroe article in the 1991 Propaganda Magazine (Issue No.14) that includes interviews with Edge and Bono as they struggled - and then a very Irish slant from Brian Eno described the restless creative nature of the four – the Producer most associated with this great band. Eno explains that the yearlong recordings did not produce a polish he calls democratically neutered – but instead represented a search that ultimately produced a result even they initially thought was beyond them – an album of musical oxymorons - as he describes it. And so on to minutely detailed track-by-track credits. To the actual music...

 

Deliberately breaking away from their previous sound and determined to move forward (reinvent) - "Zoo Station" acts more as a Mission Statement than as a starter to the new U2. It grunts out of your speakers and takes the punter by surprise. This was their David Bowie in Berlin moment – we start all over again as something different whether you wanted the old or not. And yet their updated sound was strikingly commercial. The 1991 album provided five singles out of its twelve tracks and enough Remixes and Promos to sink a collector’s monetary nest egg - "The Fly" (October 1991), "Mysterious Ways" (November 1991), "One" (February 1992), "Even Better Than The Real Thing" (June 1992) and "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" (November 1992).

 

Producers DANIEL LANOIS and BRIAN ENO and Engineer MARK "Flood" ELLIS worked with the band to get that almost garish gruff sound (a deliberate decamp to the Hansa Studio in Berlin after initial Demo Sessions in Dublin). The artwork too was less black and white single-photo posturing in deserts and stage lamps and more Trashy Glam Rock in its abandon, clothing and gimmicks. The in-yer-face front and rear cover collages with their barrage of blurred images added too - lipstick smudges, bling festooned pants, Trabant cars and even dressing up as pouting tarts – saw the band literally Rock Out With Your Cock Out (or at least Adam did). In some ways too – the fall of the Berlin Wall with images of people chiselling at concrete and cutting wires and toppling domineering statues of old regimes – played into the reinvention. They had ended the Eighties as the biggest Rock Band in the World but began the new decade of change feeling like they were already the old dreaded farts in the rear view mirror – pastiches of Rock and Roll instead of actual purveyors. Something had to change and "Achtung Baby" – complete with its deliberately off-the-cuff title – was that move forward.

 

It helped though that the new songs were actually fantastic – hooky choruses – and every one becoming monster in the live environment - which is why the Tour documents on DVD in the back pouch of the Hardback Book represent such a full picture of the two years that engulfed them. To this day there is a magnificence to "One" – a song that was surely another "Every Breath You Take" moment – powerful, epic and yet entirely within the new soundstage. Making the 1993 follow-up album "Zooropa" listen Number 2 is actually quite a smart move because in overall context it works. "Lemon", "Stay..." and the wonderful Johnny Cash duet on "The Wanderer" brought together two giant talents in a perfect yet new way.

 

CD3 and CD4 present interesting and cool listens – CD3 opens with a B-side to "One" - the pinging guitars and Drum whacks of "Night And Day (Street String Remix)" from the Cole Porter Tribute Album project "Red Hot + Blue" in 1990. The famous Lounge Lizard standard is utterly transformed by a near-seven-minute Electronic Dance meets Rock soundscape - a clever starter-for-ten that sets the Remix scene - somehow Youth making the band sounding like they naturally recorded the song this way. Love, love, love The Perfecto Mix of "Even Better Than The Real Thing" – the perfect blend of Rock and Dance in a single that could have easily a stand-alone release. Fans will head for Track 11 – the first of two Previously Unreleased Versions by Apollo 440 - "One" preceded by the sound of children giggling against a backdrop of church organ – then that guitar – and it works. It does not take on the original, but it is interesting. The Non-LP B-side "Lady With The Spinning Head" (a B-side for "Even Better Than The Real Thing") gets a full-force Audio assault – an Alan Moulder Dance Remix that is fantastically attacking but in all the right ways – Edge going ape on the Guitar while Mullen locks into a tight drum pattern that sounds huge. Another favourite is the Egyptian Reggae vibe to the Ultimatum Mix of "Mysterious Ways" – offsetting the disappointing Lounge Fly Mix that somehow manages to emaciate all the power of the grab-your-throat original – but not in a good way.

 

Amongst the B-sides and Outtakes on CD5 is an excellent "Blow Your House Down" – a drug of choice rocker that could easily have been a Rattle & Hum throwback and was probably left off because it wasn't radical enough for the new direction. "Salome" has always been a fave in any form – gotta love the riffage guitar of the standard B-side version to "Even Better Than The Real Thing" and then the extraordinary Zooromancer Mix on CD2. The Lou Reed classic "Satellite Of Love" is a so-good fit for U2 (a B-side to "One") while another newbee "Heaven And Hell" feels like a possible epic in the making – five-minutes of ballad with Declan Gaffney on Backing Vocals. The Sessions Outtakes continue with "Oh Berlin" – another track recorded at Artillery Studios in London – where Bono starts singing some lines in German – it’s good but again you can hear why it was left behind despite some lovely old-style guitar work from The Edge.

 

The pretty instrumental "Near The Island" might only be 2:56 minutes long with just Acoustic Guitar and a Piano – but it has a calm at the centre of the storm loveliness that will one day see it used in a movie. Two more new come in the shape of "Down All The Days" that feels like a Rattle & Hum song reworked while "Everybody Loves A Winner". They then cover The Rolling Stones with "Paint It Black" and Creedence Clearwater Revival with "Fortunate Son" and Maria McKee shares duet vocals with Bono on the old William Bell Soul single "Everybody Loves A Winner" (originally on Stax in 1967). The Remixes end with The Fish Out Of Water Version of "Even Better Than The Real Thing" from the U2360 Tour – short and sweet.

 

The movie/documentary samples everyone from Kraftwerk ("Man Machine") to The Clash ("Should I Stay Or Should I Go") to Iggy Pop doing "Lust For Life" to The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" to the obvious "Heroes" by Bowie and the co-write with Iggy on "Some Weird Sin". There are Glastonbury Festival performances in the UK – BBC interviews – "From The Sky Down" is a hugely comprehensive display that in itself is complimented by an actual gig on another DVD with the full bore of ZooTV in Australia – the crowd completely transfixed as Can’t Help Falling in Love plays out the spectacle. There is even Dolby 5.1 Sound in DVD1 and DVD4.

 

You could argue that overload might be a good word to describe this Box Set and the Uber Deluxe Version has indeed gone into legend as just that (it's been deleted years and has a three-figure price premium because of that). But somehow "Achtung Baby" and its sibling "Zooropa" could only be this way – big – loud – brash and frankly unapologetic for being so. Let your fingers wander all over this bad boy and just this once – excess is the one to bless...