Nuggets is a series of compilation albums, started by Elektra Records in 1972[1] and continued by Rhino Records thereafter.[2] The series focuses primarily on relatively obscure garage and psychedelic rock songs from the 1960s, but with some hits and pop-oriented songs also included.[2]
In 1972, Elektra released Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968, compiled by Lenny Kaye.[1] The later series by Rhino consists of 12 vinyl-only and three single-CD albums, all released during the 1980s. In 1998, Rhino issued a 4-CD Nuggets box set, which was essentially the original 1972 LP with 91 bonus tracks.[2] Four more box sets and four single-CDs releases followed.
The music on Rhino's 1984–1989 Nuggets series is similar to that on Kaye's original compilation. While many of the songs on the 1980s series' 15 albums appeared on the original Nuggets double LP, others were new to the series and some eventually wound up on Rhino's 1998 box set. Although most of the music was recorded by US groups, there are some exceptions, such as the Troggs (English) and the Easybeats (Australian).
In 2012, Australian label Festival Records issued their own CD compilation titled Down Under Nuggets: Original Australian Artyfacts, 1965–1967,[3] followed by a vinyl release the following year.[4]
The original 1972 Nuggets compilation was a 2-LP set of 27 American psychedelic and garage rock singles that were originally released during the mid-to-late 1960s. It was created by Lenny Kaye, and was reissued with a new cover design by Sire Records in 1976. For more information:
Rhino issued a 12-volume series of Nuggets LPs in 1984-1985; there are 168 tracks across the 12 volumes. All tracks are by American performers, and the LPs feature a mix of garage rock, folk rock, pop and other related genres.
This iteration of Nuggets has an extremely different track listing when compared to the original LPs. All told, only 16 of the 27 tracks on the original Nuggets 2LP set are featured in this 12 volume series.
As well, numerous tracks from these LPs were later incorporated into the later Nuggets 4CD box set -- although many, many tracks were not ported over into the CD box set. Of the 116 tracks on the 1998 4CD box set, 72 are featured in this 12-volume LP series.
Beginning in 1986, Rhino curated another configuration of Nuggets volumes, this time on CD. These volumes drew from the original Nuggets 2-LP set, and the later 12-volume LP series, but also included tracks completely new to the Nuggets series. As well, a handful of tracks were from non-American acts, specifically tracks by The Troggs (England) and The Easybeats (Australia).
The 3CD collection consists of 54 tracks. This iteration of Nuggets has an extremely different track listing when compared to the original LPs:
As well, numerous tracks from these three CDs were later incorporated into the later Nuggets 4CD box set -- although many, many tracks were not ported over into the CD box set. Of the 116 tracks on the 1998 4CD box set, 32 are featured in this 3CD series.
A series of Nuggets box sets have been issued.
Two single disc compilations of softer Nuggets material were issued in 2004. These compilations tended toward orchestrated, mildly psychedelic music, and did not feature a typical Nuggets rock or garage rock sound:
The above two CDs were reissued the following year with unchanged track listings, but with new titles and artwork:
The most recent Nuggets compilation featured tracks from performers working in Australia and New Zealand in the late 1960s, and very definitely focused on garage rock and similarly harder material: