Nuggets - Disc 2 (Various Artists, 1998)

Nuggets was and still is the "gold standard" of the 1960's garage/psych scene. From the original Nuggets compilation (disc 1 of this box set), a veritable horde of followers emerged, each trying to outdo the others in the obscurity department. Nuggets led to Pebbles, Pebbles to Gravel, Gravel to Rubble, and Rubble to Trash and everything in-between.

The three additional discs of Nuggets emerged with the box set in 1998 and clearly show the influence of the rival comps more than the original Nuggets did. The original Nuggets, which was groundbreaking in the early 1970's, capturing a scene that may have otherwise slipped away, had been somewhat co-opted by the more comfortable embrace of Time-Life series retrospectives and other big-picture 1960's compilations. This is not to say it's no good anymore, but most the tracks should be familiar to those who enjoy the music of the era. Disc 2 begins with a karate chop courtesy of the Music Machine, followed up by a swift kick to the groin by the Del-Vetts, neither of which received their invitation to the original Nuggets ball. Although there are still some familiar faces (or at least their songs) in the form of the Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Turtles and Paul Revere & the Raiders, this disc is full of Pebbles-grade misfits like the Sonics, the Seeds, the Litter and the Elastik Band.

Discs 3 and 4 use a similar approach, with plenty of bad-ass angry bands playing alongside their folkier counterparts in a way that only the 1960's could capture, before the ranks permanently broke in the following decade. One major difference between this first Nuggets box set and Nuggets II, which covers the rest of the world, is that many/most of the artists here are pretty much in the peak of their careers (some of which were very brief careers indeed), whereas Nuggets II artists tend to sport a number of "before they were famous" types, like Marc Bolan, Jeff Lynne, and half of the membership of Yes.

If you don't have these box sets and you like this kind of music, get them!!! They are the gateway to a lifetime of listening enjoyment in the form of grittier and more obscure gems from the golden age of rock. For extra credit, there are a couple "local" Nuggets for San Francisco and Los Angeles that largely avoid duplication with other Nugget experiences, while the Children of Nuggets is, as advertised, from a later time and may not appeal so much, though your New Wave friends may take an interest.