WHERE THE ACTION IS! > Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968

Evan Schlansky

Updated:

January 18, 2024 7:22 am

Videos by American Songwriter

WHERE THE ACTION IS!

Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968

(RHINO)

[Rating; 4.5 stars]

The venerable Nuggets series is back, and it ain’t just for anglophiles and garage rock enthusiasts anymore. This one’s for rock fans, period. “I’m going out on the Strip tonight. I’m not on a stay home trip tonight,” state the Standells on the set’s opening track, “Riot on the Sunset Strip.” On this survey of all things L.A. in the late ‘60s, there are bands you know, like the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Doors, the Beach Boys, Captain Beefheart, the Mamas & the Papas, Iron Butterfly and the Monkees. They share stage time with bands with names like Modern Folk Quintet, the Peanut Butter Conspiracy, and the Everpresent Fullness, who you’d have to be a record store obsessive to know. Weighing in at 101 tracks, there are no weak cuts here, just ones that come in different shades of awesome. When even the Sonny & Cher track is a killer, (Disc 1’s “It’s Gonna Rain”), you know it’s a good comp. Other curios include Peter Fonda trying out the whole music thing (“November Night”), and October County’s far out, groovy “My Girlfriend is a Witch.” Even Dylan makes an appearance, via the Associaton’’ Byrds-y cover of “One Too Many Mornings.” Speaking of Dylan, check out P.F. Sloan’s “Halloween Mary,” which sounds like it belongs on Blonde on Blonde. No doubt Quentin Tarantino’s busy inserting all of this into his next movie soundtrack. Where the Action Is! will light your fire; break on through to the Nuggets side.