Here's proof that the best music doesn't always make the charts. "Nuggets" a 4 CD Boxed set, and it's one of only a handful of CDs that I've ever paid full price for - and it's worth every penny. It's American psychedelic/garage pop from the 60s (lots of fuzzy guitars, lots of screaming, lots of testosterone...), and by and large they weren't hits. But I'm a big fan of this kind of stuff, and trusted the compilers (Gary Stewart and Lenny Kaye) and Rhino so much, I knew it would be essential listening. Let's see... which songs may be familiar? The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie", the Electric ...  Read the complete review

This compilation contains 4 CDs of great music, mostly from the period 1964-1968, and all from the USA. This was a highly fertile period for the garage band concept in that country: inspired by British bands like the Beatles, every kid had a band or was in a band. This obviously produced it's fair share of unlistenable music, but these CDs are a compilation of some of the best music to come out of that era. Most of the tracks were regional hits, a few went national, but almost all have been forgotten, except perhaps for the ubiquitous Louie Louie by The Kingsmen. There are many stand-out tracks: the aforementioned Louie Louie, I Had Too Much To Dream Last ...  Read the complete review

For anyone even slightly interested in sixties rock music beyond the household name groups, this cd will prove a godsend Based on an early seventies single vinyl lp, that consisted of mostly minor US chart hits, it was expanded to a full four cds, including most of the original comp, plus a shedload of additional, sometimes VERY obscure local US records- and is now here reduced to one cd, that makes more stylistic sense than the full box Stylistically, the only thing holding the box set together was the era- it jumped from the deranged wildness of obscure locally released tracks such as The Bee's deranged 'voices green and purple' to the poppy ...  Read the complete review

This is just simply, a classic, and an utter joy to own. I borrowed my friends copy, after a few reccomendations from those in the know (i.e. mojo readers), and had to have it forcibly wrestled from my clammy paws when he wanted it back. It really is that good, no it really is. A basic history lesson is needed. In the 60's in America, due to the baby boom and the rise of sprawling suburban developements, a new phenomenon appeared. Kids formed bands. A huge proportion of people had a: a garage b: teenage children c: enough spare money to invest in a cheap guitar. Kids didn't wait to be taught, they just listened to blues, and ...  Read the complete review

Nuggets is often considered to be the holy grail of 60s garage and psychedelic music, and it's for good reason. On both vinyl and cd, the sounds and the remaining crackles transport you straight back to the late 60s, and it's impossible not to fall in love with the bands and tracks on this list. What makes it a truly great compilation, however, is the fact that it spurs on a need to search for other songs in the same vein. While a drain on the 'record buying budget' it's so worth it. From this album onwards it's all trawling through record shops for more of the same and other 60s genres that accompany it, but the opening of the mind to such great, classic music that was .  Read the complete review