The original Nuggets LP on Elektra (1972) “Original Artyfacts from the First Psychodelic Era 1965 - 1968″  The seminal and influential double-record compilation of American garage band rock singles produced by Elektra founder Jac Holzman and Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith’s guitarist and husband).  I discovered this in 1978 in Boston’s Kenmore Square - fittingly at a used record shop called “Nuggets” (Nuggets was next to “The Rat,” i.e., the Rathskeller, a raw basement concert venue that featured many local punk bands.)

Nuggets spawned an entire cottage industry of small record labels dedicated to unearthing and releasing obscure but worthy garage and psychedelic rock music from the 1960s.  Contrary to popular belief, more than a third of the original Nuggets were American Top 40 hits.  Among them “Dirty Water” (Standells), “Liar, Liar” (Castaways), and at number five the highest-charting 45 of the bunch, “Psychotic Reaction” (Count Five).  Several sides never made the Top 200 including “Let’s Talk About Girls” (Chocolate Watchband), “Don’t Look Back” (Remains), and “An Invitation to Cry” (Magicians).  Nuggets influenced Patti Smith, The Ramones, The Talking Heads and R.E.M. .  Each track is also given a brief bio which was researched and penned by Kaye. His comments go beyond the facts and figures of the typical discography, relating to the music as the personal experience that it was.

(14 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)

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Joe Newman: “Counting Five in Sweden”   With Basie-ites Frank Wess, Al Grey, Nat Pierce, Eddie Jones and Sonny Payne.  Label: Metronome 15018   12″ LP 1959  Design: Stig Söderqvost  Photo: Bengt H. Malmqvist

Joe Newman with his (then) new wife, Rigmor Newman.  This cover was pulled from distribution so as not to offend with the image of a happy and happily integrated couple.  His tune “To Rigmor,” (recorded around the same time) was dedicated to her.  In the early 90’s Rigmor married Harold Nicholas (of the Nicholas Brothers).

(13 votes, average: 4.31 out of 5)

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The Rolling Stones “Jumping Jack Flash” (released originally in May 1968 b/w “Street Fighting Man”) and “Honky Tonk Women”  (released originally in July 1969 b/w “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”) Decca Records

One picture has the band with Brian Jones and the other with Mick Taylor.  Taylor, who at 17 had replaced Eric Clapton in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, joined the Stones in June, 1969.  Jones died in July, a month later.  Though Brian was at the recording of “Honky Tonk Women” in early ‘69, by the time it was released he was out of the band and replaced by 20-year old Taylor whose guitar work was overdubbed for the release of the single.   Mick Taylor was with the Stones until he left the group in December of 1974, to be replaced by Ron Wood.  Many would say that the Mick Taylor years were the band’s greatest period.

(20 votes, average: 4.35 out of 5)

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Bruce Murdoch “33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute”  Stormy Forest Records (1971)  Canadian folky.  Here’s a nice post about this record.  Thanks again to Joe in Maine!

(16 votes, average: 3.56 out of 5)

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The Gorden Jenkins Voices & Orchestra  “Let*s Duet”  Warner Bros. Records  Courtesy of lp cover lover Joe Harrington.

(20 votes, average: 4.05 out of 5)

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Subtle Sounds  The Johnny Pate Trio with Ron Bright, piano and Charles Walton, drums.  Gwen Stevens does vocal duties.  Johnny Pate’s very rare first album on the Chicago label Gig courtesy of lp cover lover, Michel in France!  Read here about Johnnie’s work arranging on landmark Chicago soul recordings for Major Lance and The Impressions.

(18 votes, average: 4.17 out of 5)

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Buddy Childers Quartet  With Arnold Ross, piano; Harry Babasin, bass; Boone Stines, drums.  Recorded in 1956  Liberty Records  LIH-6013  Here’s a rare record offered up by lp cover lover, Michel in France who writes, “Buddy Childers’s first (of two) liberty albums : a fine session, with a guy that could have been the missing link between Chet and Miles.”

TRACKS:  Buffy; You Call It Madness; Holiday House Take 1; Holiday House Take 2; It’s Gotta Be Happy;  You Go To My Head; Indiana; Bernie’s Tune

(11 votes, average: 3.18 out of 5)

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“Down and Out Blues”  Sonny Boy Willamson sings  (1959) Checker Records  Cover by Don Bronstein  (No that’s not Rice Miller - aka Sonny Boy - on the cover!)

Sonny’s debut album, he was 60 years old when this was released by Chess Records.  “Down and Out Blues” is full of songs that have become blues staples, including “Don’t Start Me to Talkin’,” “Fattening Frogs for Snakes and “Your Funeral and My Trial.” Chess Records’ crack regulars, spearheaded by Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Fred Below, Otis Spann and Robert Jr. Lockwood provide suitably gritty support to Sonny Boy’s blues harp, helping to make this 12-song, 34 minute set some of the best electric blues ever recorded.

(18 votes, average: 3.72 out of 5)

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