For my man Psyclist, in the style of the other day's post, here are some more complete albums and/or
anthologies by some of the great Nuggets-era bands....really enjoyed the albums the other day in a goofy sort of way, once again these are far from "classic" albums in general, but they are interesting in their own way, a different view of these artists other than being observed in light of their one or two "hits", lumped together in (admittedly wonderful) various artists compilations.
So, let us begin with the underappreciated Peanut Butter Conspiracy, from Los Angeles ca. 1966....they consisted of guitarist/vocalist John Merrell, vocalist Sandi Robison, bassist/vocalist Alan Brackett, guitarist/vocalist Jim Cherniss, and drummer Spencer Dryden. They released a pair of very good albums, "The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading" (great title) and "The Great Conspiracy"....I've got em both but I think that would maybe be a bit much, so let's go instead with "Living Dream" which focuses on the highlights of both albums.....this is really fine pop-psych, their best known number "It's a Happening Thing" is here, as well as lesser-known (but still way cool) stuff like "Why Did I Get So High" and "Turn on a Friend".....HIGHLY recommended for the uninitiated
The Remains were legendary in Boston, and of course gave us one of the greatest of all singles of the Nuggets era, "Don't Look Back" (as well as the lesser "Why Do I Cry").....they released but one album, and a very good album it is, here it is in all of it's glory......the Remains were guitarist/vocalist Barry Tashian, keyboardist/vocalist Bill Briggs, bassist/vocalist Vern Miller, and drummer Chip Damiani.....better known than the above discussed Peanut Butter Conspiracy (thanks to appearing on "Nuggets" I would guess), but also highly, highly recommended if you are not already indoctrinated.Mouse and the Traps, from Texas, are best known for the incredible "A Public Execution", THE most perfect Dylan ever recorded, and a handful of other singles.....we have here "The Fraternity Years 1966-68", which includes all of their singles for that label (as best as I can determine they never released a "proper" album)......nothing here comes close to being as great as "A Public Execution", but it has its moments ("Maid of Sugar Maid of Spice", "Sometimes You Just Can't Win").
The Blues Magoos released a pair of excellent albums, the (now) nearly comical sounding "Psychedelic Lollipop" and "Electric Comic Book", which both fit nicely onto a single CD......best known for "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" which missed Nuggets, which is fine because Nuggets contained the mind-melting definitive version of the oft-covered "Tobacco Road". They underwnt numerous lineup changes and actually did release a few forgettable albums after these two, but these are the ones you want.
Finally,we have the Electric Prunes, who had about 100 different members and existed in one form or another for about 50 years, releasing about 75 albums, but whose REAL claim to fame was the fantastic "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" (The first time I heard it as a kid, I loved it, thinking the lyric was "I had too much to DRINK last night").....they also gave us the nearly-as great "Get Me to the World On Time", with its way cool intro ("here I go.....higher, higher....here I go....higher higher")......they had another interesting track or two, and what we have from them is a good compilation, "Lost Dreams" which touches all the bases and pretty much keeps the "garbage time" portion of their existence to a minimum........
THE PEANUT BUTTER CONSPIRACY-LIVING DREAM-01 It's a Happening Thing/02 Twice Is Life/03 You Can't Be Found/04 Why Did I Get So High/05 Dark On You Now/06 The Most Up To Now/07 Peter Pan/08 Turn On a Friend (To the Good Life)/09 Lonely Leaf/10 Pleasure/11 Too Many Do/12 Living Loving Life/13 Captain Sandwich/14 Living Dream/15 Ecstacy/16 Time Is After You/17 Wonderment/18 I'm a Fool/19 It's So Hard
THE REMAINS-01 Why Do I Cry/02 When I Want to Know/03 Ain't That Her/04 All Good Things/05 I'm Talking About You/06 My Babe/07 Say You're Sorry/08 Baby I Believe In You/09 You Got a Hard Time Comin'/10 I Can't Get Away From You/11 Me Right Now/12 Time of Day/13 Once Before/14 But I Ain't Got You/15 Diddy Wah Diddy/16 Mercy Mercy Mercy/17 Lonely Weekend/18 Heart/19 Thank You/20 Say You're Sorry/21 Don't Look Back
THE ELECTRIC PRUNES-LOST DREAMS-01 Shadows/02 Ain't It Hard/03 Little Oliver/04 I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)/05 I've Got a Way of My Own/06 Luvin'/07 I Happen To Love You/08 Are You Lovin Me More (But Enjoying It Less)/09 Hideaway/10 Try Me On For Size/11 The Great Banana Hoax/12 You Never Had It So Good/13 Dr Do-Good/14 Get Me To the World On Time/15 Captain Glory/16 World of Darkness/17 Train for Tomorrow/18 Big City/19 Wind Up Toys/20 It's Not Fair/21 Sold to the Highest Bidder/22 Everybody Knows You're Not In Love/23 Long Day's Flight