Guitarist, songwriter, and author Lenny Kaye (the Patti Smith Group) joins us on the golden anniversary of Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era for a conversation, reading, and performance of a few songs.
In 1972, Lenny was given artistic license by Elektra Records president Jac Holzman to curate an anthology showcasing rock and roll’s overlooked songs from the rich period between 1965 and 1968. He assembled obscure album cuts that had gone unnoticed, singles that fell through the cracks, and one-hit wonders that needed recontextualization.
While the original two-disc collection contained many styles of music, its emphasis was on what would become known as garage rock—newly empowered by the British Invasion as it was translated to America. The songs were brimming with attitude, self-declaration, and barely controlled mania, inspiring a generation yearning to feel the power of electricity and psychic transformation.
The album, along with its many offshoots, has since become a touchstone of rock and roll’s immediacy and reinvention, keeping alive a host of great songs that have become classics over the years.
Following the program, there will be a signing and select merchandise available for purchase. Also join Lenny Kaye and Friends a few days later for a full concert at the Beachland Ballroom on Friday, March 27:
https://www.beachlandballroom.com/shows/nuggets-celebration-27-mar
