A casual rock fan would probably be surprised to find the word “punk” applied to the 1960s, a decade remembered by most for the Beatles, harmony pop, and flower power. However, there was another scene, even if it wasn’t recognized as such at the time. In fact, it wasn’t until 1972 that this genre was even thought of as a genre. That magical year was the one in which the incomparably influential “Nuggets” compilation came out on Elektra Records. Composed entirely of one-hit-wonders and regional favorites of the mid-to late 60s, the album was the first to acknowledge and celebrate the 60s garage rock scene. “Nuggets” was also crucial for being the first documented occasion that the term “punk-rock” was applied to such music. Featuring the likes of Billboard bottom dwellers like The Electric Prunes, Standells, Seeds, and the Shadows of Knight, “Nuggets” sold well and redirected attention to these “little bands” of the 1960s. Through other popular compilations and reissues, interest in the garage rock genre grew into what is now thought of by many as the largest market in reissued rock. All that said, here are my ten recommendations of essential recordings for those interested in getting interested in '60s punk. In no particular order, they are:

1: The Seeds
Flower Punk 3-CD Box Set

(GNP Crescendo 1965-1969, Demon/Drop Out 1996)

http://www.geocities.com/spectropop/hsoftcurtb1.html#start

It seems to me that the Seeds are to '60s garage punk what the pope is to Catholicism. They are quintessential. I remember that my love affair with the Seeds began after hearing their biggest hit “Pushin’ Too Hard” played in a rare moment of good taste on the local “oldies” station. It was nothing less than shocking to me. It was raw, dirty, and menacing even thirty years old. The singer’s voice was strained and snotty, the keyboard work oddly baroque, and the lead guitar trebly and ragged. The guitar solo itself is still nothing less than inspired and inspiring. In short, “Pushin’ Too Hard” was everything I needed to know about 60s punk. The band itself was also unequivocally punk. Made up of four genuinely eccentric misfits, the Seeds combined an artful mastry of simple rock structures with a consciously subversive image to create a style all their own. They were always on the edge, and the teen magazines loved reporting on how much weirder they were than Herman’s Hermits. They were alternative rock before anyone even conceived of such a thing. Flower Punk contains all the material they released for GNP Crescendo records along with some unreleased material which didn’t see the light until later. Basically, we’re talking about 62 well-written, well-executed little punk rock ditties. Within those, there are many truly exceptional ones. These guys were so cool and this box set is worth every single penny.

2: The Shadows of Knight
Gloria

(Dunwich 1966/Sundazed 1998)

http://www.bassicleemusic.com/shadows/

The fact that they recorded and had a hit with a song by Van Morrison’s seminal band Them alone makes the Shadows of Knight a shoe-in for inclusion in the annals of 60s punk. This band of trouble-making Chicago teenagers made some awesome recordings and tore up some serious stuff in their day. This, their first album, is a perfect slice of what they were capable of delivering: raw, gutsy garage rock stemming from a love for the blues. The band made some very raw and aggressive records, and every song is a winner.

3: Terry Knight and the Pack
(Self-Titled)

(Lucky Eleven) 1966

Although their material has never been reissued on compact disc, Terry Knight and the Pack made some great recordings. This first album came out in 1966 and featured a very listenable mix of rock covers and interesting originals. Although their biggest hit was the 1966 ballad “I (Who Have Nothing)” (#46), the band was well known in the Midwest, where they had a number of regional hits. In places like Detroit and Cleveland, their records sold well. This album was one of the first garage LP’s I ever purchased, and I still think of it very fondly. It’s about time that this and their second album Reflections were reissued on CD.

4: Electric Prunes
Lost Dreams

(Reprise 1966-1967/Birdman 2000)

http://www.electricprunes.com/

You can’t read the title of the song “I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)” without wanting to hear it. It was a great song, and the Prunes had many other great ones too. This CD is a compilation of recordings they made for Reprise records during their original incarnation, before their Mass in F Minor album which both elevated and killed their career. More ambitious fans might prefer reissues of their original albums, but this compilation is a nice sample of their best and most punk oriented material.

5: Love
(Self-Titled)

(Elektra 1966/Elektra 2002 Euro)

http://the-m-files.com/love/m2indexframe.html

Love was the hippest of the hip new LA bands. Their image and sound were the brainchild of leader Arthur Lee, who formed them into one of the very most interesting bands of the 1960s. Their effortlessly artful blend of folk-rock, garage, and psychedelia have earned them an enviable position in the history of rock. This first album is their most simplistic, but it’s also probably their most punk rock oriented. It features their first hit “My Little Red Book”, a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Although each of their albums has its own value, there remains something special about their debut.

6: The Outsiders
(Self-Titled)

(Relax 1967/Pseudonym 1994)

http://home.iae.nl/users/vdmark/outsiders/outbioe.htm

Although 60s punk was thought of as primarily an American phenomenon, the sound spread around the world, as evidenced by this great band from Holland. This first album featured live material as well as studio work, all of which is punky and great. Their sound was impossibly raw, probably too much so even for the US market. The Outsiders proved that the garage punk attitude was an international phenomenon. They raised hell in Holland like the US punk bands raised in the US. This album is full of great sounds which combine punk style with uniquely European songwriting, and it’s a great introduction to international 60s beat music.

7: The Standells
Dirty Water

(Tower 1966/Sundazed 1994)

http://www.phinnweb.com/retro/garage/standells/

Although they started off as a rather pedestrian LA club band, they changed their style to punk when they were taken under the wings of producer Ed Cobb in 1965. Their biggest hit “Dirty Water” had a hooky riff enough attitude to endear. Though their material was varied, their albums are enjoyable on the whole and are composed of a mix of covers and originals. This first album features their classic “Dirty Water” along with a host of other fine and gritty rock recordings.

8: Music Machine
Turn On

(Original Sound 1966/Collectables 1999)

www.bonniwellmusicmachine.com/

These guys were so punk that it was scary. They were undeniably the first band to use dark, sinister imagery to sell their product. They also pioneered and innovated the use of the fuzztone. Their 1966 hit “Talk Talk” was a dark, fast punk tune complete with unusual lyrics and bizarre imagery. It was exactly the type of song that disc jockeys at the time tended to steer clear of due to its potential to alienate listeners, and yet somehow the song reached #15 in the Billboard Top 40. The formula for success used on “Talk Talk” was used on the Music Machine’s other material, making it very distinctive and unique stylistically.

9: The Chocolate Watchband
No Way Out

(Tower 1967/Sundazed 1994)

www.chocolatewatchband.com/

LA’s answer to the Rolling Stones, the Chocolate Watchband made some very cool records even despite the fact that their producer was always messing with them. Their first album *No Way Out* featured a great selection of aggressive punk tunes as well as some trippier material. The group covered other artists’ hits with verve and distinction, and they both found and wrote themselves some excellent original material.

10: Various Artists
Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968

4-CD Box Set

(Rhino 1998)

I sure wish this had been available when I first became interested in this type of music, as it is truly an excellent resource and collection of music. This box set features the best and most significant American 60s punk bands, including popular groups, one-hit-wonders, and no-hit-wonders. Although certainly there are omissions and a few “off” choices, this remains a great compilation and is an excellent starting point for those interested in 60s garage punk.

Various Artists
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond 1964-1969

4-CD Box Set

4 more CDs of garage greatness from the UK and Europe mostly. Again, one-hit wonders and some of the greatest rock 'n roll you will ever hear. As essential as Nuggets in its own way - David Fufkin