Before he became Patti Smith’s lead guitarist, Lenny Kaye compiled the 2 album set, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era. Released in 1972, the two-LP set covered American garage rock and psychedelia from the years 1965 to 1968 and was a major influence on punk rock. Rhino Records reissued an expanded version of the set in 1998, with 118 tracks in total. I’m profiling and rating each of these 118 tracks, working backwards.
Track 70/118: Run, Run, Run by The Gestures
From: Mankato, Minnesota
Aphoristic Rating: 9/10
RUN, RUN, RUN – The Gestures [2:18]
(Dale Menten)
Personnel/DALE MENTEN: vocals, guitar * GUS DEWEY: guitar, vocals * TOM KLUGHERZ: bass * BRUCE WATERSTON: drums
Producer unknown
Recorded in Minneapolis, MN
Soma single #1417 (10/64); Pop #44
The Gestures were formed by four teenagers; Dale Menten on guitar and lead vocals; Donald Gregg “Gus” Dewey on guitar and backup vocals; Tom Klugherz on bass guitar and backup vocals; and Bruce Waterston on drums. They all attended high schools in Mankato, a city in Minnesota where former vice president Schuyler Colfax died from a heart attack in 1885.
The group did the usual teenage band thing – played covers of popular songs at school dances. But they also showed promise as songwriters – vocalist Dale Menten wrote ‘Run, Run, Run’ in 1963. There are several notable songs named ‘Run Run Run’ (with or without commas) from the 1960s. The Who, The Velvet Underground, and The Third Rail (also featured on Nuggets) also had songs with the same title, but The Gestures were first.
‘Run, Run, Run’ is from early in the Nuggets 1965-1968 timeline – it was recorded in late 1964. It’s very much an echo of the British Invasion – it makes sense it was a hit in the wake of Beatlemania, as its very reminiscent of the early Beatles. There’s even a hint of ‘Twist and Shout’ in the ascending chords in the introduction. The song’s good, but it’s the performance that shines with accomplished harmonies and a stinging guitar solo.
‘Run, Run, Run’ made #44 on the charts, impressive from a teenaged band from a small city. Apparently the single’s performance was hampered by distribution issues – it was a popular radio hit but wasn’t available in stores. The band only made a couple of singles before drifting apart, with Dale Menten joining another local band, The Rhythm Kings.
The Gestures recorded enough songs to furnish a 1996 compilation. They’re also performed reunion gigs in the 21st century.
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I like this band…they were super tight. This song is and the song “Don’t Mess Around” is good as well. It’s a shame about the distribution problems…that wrecked quite a few bands.
Had you heard them before? I haven’t checked out their other stuff, but pretty impressive for teenagers.
No I haven’t. I’ve listened to a few since…and I do agree they are impressive.
This one’s alright. Nothing super-special but not bad either. I’d say it’s like a mid-range Nugget. I watched a different video of this song and these guys looked like they’re about 12 years old.
They were still high school students when they recorded this, I think. It’s pretty impressive – the song is fine, but it’s the playing and singing that’s impressive for me.
This sounds really cool, Graham. I like the driving beat and the harmony singing isn’t shabby either. And, yeah, decent guitar solo!
The Gestures seem to be yet another example of a band where proper marketing of their music could have made a real difference in their career. There was definitely some talent there!
Thank God we resolved the issue of Schuyler Colfax! I guarantee you that if I stopped 1,000 Americans on the street in NYC there might be one – a historian – who would recognize that name. Talk about no impact. As to the song, not bad. At least it doesn’t sound like the Yardbirds or Them for a change.
Wasn’t he from the Civil War or something? I can’t remember exactly but I know he was some kind of old-timey guy, maybe like a general in the Civil War??
You know more than I do. Don’t recognize the name at all
I was kind of close. He was the 17th Vice President during Ulysses S Grant. I guess that’s pretty closely related to the Civil War.
He’s portrayed in the Lincoln movie from ten years ago – I watched it recently but fell asleep for a lot of it.
I don’t think I saw the whole movie either cuz I remember it was really long. I liked it though and I liked like the actors and the way it looked and everything.
I don’t think Mankato, Minnesota, has many claims to fame. I’d never heard of it or any of the famous people born there listed in its Wikipedia article.