I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone Magazine's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Album: #196
Album Title: Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965- 1968
Artist: Multiple
If you are familiar with the troubling and sometimes odious controversies that have followed this angry media personality over the past few decades, you may have a suspicion about where this story is going – that I regretted spending money on this ticket. However, I am not. Within his range and style, "The Nuge" is a pretty good guitar player and there are still a few of his songs that I like -- mainly for old times’ sake. As I have said in previous posts, I generally try to separate the "art" from the "artist”.
The regrettable decision I made came the next day when I arrived in my first period history class proudly wearing the official concert shirt I bought at the show. I thought I would enjoy several nods of envy from my fellow rockers in the room. Instead, my history teacher looked at me and said... "Is that a naked man on your shirt?" (See below for evidence of the offending frock).
The class exploded with laughter as I clumsily defended the clothing choice that I was regretting more deeply with every beat of my racing, teen-age heart. I am not sure why I was trying to convince a stodgy, suited, 50-year-old high-school educator that a "Nugent shirt" was actually cool. I suspect I was trying to convince myself that this expensive ($10 was a lot of money in 1981) piece of memorabilia was worth the freight. The shirt remained in my bedroom closet for most of the next few years. It’s probably in a box in my mom's basement, and being in top condition it would likely fetch more than $100 from online vintage resellers. So, perhaps I didn’t make a bad investment after all.
Long before his solo career, Nugent belonged to the psychedelic, garage rock band The Amboy Dukes who had a hit single with Journey To The Center Of Your Mind. Released in 1968, the song reached #16 on the Billboard Charts and was a thinly veiled celebration of the mind-altering drugs that were wildly popular that decade, including L.S.D. and magic mushrooms. Nugent, who is now known for his ardent anti-drug advocacy, has claimed he had no idea what the song was about, which seems dubious unless the now aging rocker was terribly naive in his twenties…while playing in a self-described "acid rock" band.
The Amboy Dukes are among 27 bands that appeared on the 1972 compilation record, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era, 1965 - 1968. The disc was painstakingly curated by Lenny Kaye, a writer and clerk at the Village Oldies in Greenwich Village, New York City, at the time. Kaye later became the guitarist for the Patti Smith Group whose debut album, Horses, ranks at #44 on The 500 list.
Kaye appeared on the most recent episode of The 500 Podcast and provided a rich and fascinating insight into the development of the outstanding collection of the eclectic songs he assembled. He also discussed the follow-up album, Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from The British Empire And Beyond, which was released as a four CD Box set in 2001. I encourage readers to take a listen to the podcast for a much deeper dive into the history of these bands and their music. Kaye even hints there are talks about a Nuggets III production.
In previous posts, I have questioned the inclusion of compilation records on The 500 list. I need to amend that stance. My view now holds that anthologies are more than the sum of their parts; this one is akin to a love letter about the music of a generation.
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Garage Rock
Recorded: Multiple Studios
Released: October, 1972
My age at release: 7
How familiar was I with it before this week: Surprisingly, many.
Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at 405, moving down 209 spots.
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Dirty Water
Like any kid trying to fit in, I made some regrettable fashion choices in high school. Most of them, including bleaching a blond streak in my hair, I look back on with affection. However, one decision still generates a cringey shudder when I think about it. It all started when I purchased tickets to see American rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Ted Nugent when he brought his 1981 World Tour to my hometown of London, Ontario, in support of his sixth studio release, Scream Dream.
Recorded: Multiple Studios
Released: October, 1972
My age at release: 7
How familiar was I with it before this week: Surprisingly, many.
Is it on the 2020 list? Yes, at 405, moving down 209 spots.
Song I am putting on my Spotify Playlist: Dirty Water
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| Ted Nugent performing live in the 80s.\ |
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| I found a photo of a vintage shirt, exactly like mine, online. |
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| A closer look at the shirt's logo - taken from Nugent's "Intensities in 10 Cities" live album, released the same year. |
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| Lenny Kaye, working at Village Oldies - early 70s. |
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| Album cover for Nuggets II release (2001) |
Kaye is passionate about the rare and oddball music he discovered through his writing and work at the Oldies Record Shop, and that shines through on this beautiful tapestry of fascinating and engaging songs. The liner notes, authored by Kane, are further testament to the affection he has for the selections on Nuggets I. It also contains one of the first uses of the term "punk rock" -- a genre of music that exploded a few years after release of Nuggets I. The liner notes begin with a title that captures the spirit of this record, and I smiled when I read it -- "It's a Nugget if you Dug it".
Epilogue:
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| Wawa, Ontario, known for its beautiful landscape and giant goose statue. |
"Do you know who that was?" the cashier asked me as I ordered. "Ted Nugent" she said, excitedly answering her own question before I could respond.
I turned to see the door of a large pick-up truck close, so I couldn't confirm the information -- but, who would lie about seeing Ted Nugent at dawn in a Tim Hortons in Wawa, Ontario?
At least he had more clothes on.
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