As far as psychedelic/garage compilations are concerned, Nuggets is the true original. 40 years ago, the first Nuggets double LP was released on Elektra Records, and has been possibly one of the most influential series that caters to psychedelic music. Since the release of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968, it has been reissued a few times, sold on TV infomercials in the 80’s & 90’s, and expanded and released by Rhino Records in 1998 in a 4 CD box set. The double LP and single CD are being re-released NOVEMBER13th.

4 years later in 2001, Rhino released Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969, which continued the series in a respected box set, and dug a little deeper to bring out choice nuggets from around the world. This worldly collection, molds well with the liked collection of Rubble, Fading Yellow, and Pebbles. I connected a bit more the the song selection on this collection than with the first Nuggets box set. More for the fact that I could hear songs from the first Nuggets collection on oldies radio, and Nuggets II I really couldn’t.

In 2004, Hallucinations: Psychedelic Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults was released in a single disc collection on Rhino Handmade. It was a limited release of 7,500 discs, and were all songs from the library of associated Warner Brothers music groups. The same year, Come to the Sunshine: Soft Pop Nuggets from the WEA Vaults continued the series with more songs from the Warner Brothers library.

Although these four collections covered psychedelic music from the 60’s, psychedelic music continued to be recorded through the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Rhino Records was well aware of that at compiled another 4 disc box set appropriately titled Children of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the Second Psychedelic Era, 1976–1995. Most of the music on this set were taken from the paisley rock scene in the 80’s, where the term neo psychedelic was derived. Comparing this collection to that of the music of the 1960’s is impossible to compare, yet I feel this continued series of Nuggets was a genuine collection of great artifacts. I feel it’s main purpose was to display the creative energy that carried the tag of psychedelic music of 60’s with a new breed of 80’s technology and sound.

The Nuggets story doesn’t quite end there. When I think of psychedelic music that was being made in the US in the 60’s, I would think of California. More specifically I would think of San Francisco. That’s where the Nuggets story continues with Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970 released in 2007. This is a solid 4 disc collection which does a good job on focusing on the San Francisco scene. Of course the typically known bands make there appearance on this set, but quite a few lesser known moments appear throughout this set.

In 2009, Rhino ventures south of Frisco to focus on the Los Angeles scene in Where the Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965–1968. Being from Los Angeles, this set hit a home run with me. It featured key songs from the Sunset Strip and the sounds from the neighboring communities.

Now where would Nuggets want to focus on next? New York? Mid West? Down South perhaps? Not those areas quite yet. How about down under in Australia? Yes Australia, and why not? Down Under Nuggets: Original Australian Artyfacts 1965-1967 continues the Nuggets series on NOVEMBER 16th. The set list of this new collection has not been released yet, but with the name Nuggets on it, how could you lose. Along with this collection being released, it will be accompanied with yet another collection of Australian bands paying tribute with covers of songs from the original Nuggets collection. This collection entitled Nuggets: Antipodean Interpolations of the First Psychedelic Era will also be released on NOVEMBER 16th.

Sir Psych

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