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 1965-1968 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 30/118: Nobody But Me by The Human Beinz
Release Year: 1967
From: Youngstown, Ohio
Aphoristic Rating: 9/10
NOBODY BUT ME – The Human Beinz [2:17]
(Ronald Isley/O’Kelly Isley/Rudolph Isley)
Personnel/JOHN “DICK” BELLEY: vocals, lead guitar * JOE “TING” MARKULIN: guitar * MEL PACHUTA: bass * MIKE TATMAN: drums
Produced by ALEXIS DeAZEVEDO
Recorded in Cleveland, OH
Capitol single #5990 (9/67); Pop #8
The Human Beinz were originally known as The Premiers. They changed their name to The Human Beingz, but their record label intentionally misspelled their name. This was an attempt to tie in with 1967’s Human Be-In, an event in San Francisco that helped to cement the 1960s counterculture.
Most Nuggets bands are famous for their originals. The Human Beinz’ best-known song is a cover. The song was originally written and recorded by The Isley Brothers. Their 1962 version failed to chart.
The Human Beinz’s interpretation is much more successful. They smooth out some of the song’s rough edges, making an infectious and deserved hit. It reached the top ten in the US, where none of their other tracks made the top 40.
“The most negative song to hit the Top 40,” noting that the word “no” is sung over 100 times in a mere 2:16. Marsh also counts the word “nobody” 46 times more; he adds “for balance, they throw in the word Yeah once”.
Dave Marsh, The Book of Rock Lists, quoted on Wikipedia
The Human Beinz’s cover of ‘Nobody But Me’ has accompanied memorable scenes in The Office and Kill Bill. It’s a beloved 1960s hit, adding some R&B to garage rock.
While the band never had another hit in the US, they enjoyed two #1 hits in Japan in the late 1960s. They broke up in 1969, but have reunited in 2007.
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Never heard the Isley Brothers original or even knew it existed. Did not know this song by its title but immediately recognized it. Really enjoyed the video you chose. From the golden days of TV.
Yup, it’s one of those covers that eclipses the original. Like Respect.
OK now you have me wondering who did Respect first?!
Just looked it up. Otis Redding!?!? Consider me shocked.
Great song that sounds a bit more mainstream than most of the others on Nuggets, which isn’t a criticism – I actually like it. We also got some interesting trivia from Dave Marsh on the “no’s”. I guess he had to count them all! 🙂
Yeah, it’s not a perfect fit on Nuggets. But it kind of makes sense to include it – doesn’t seem like people would rush out and buy a Human Beinz’s record.
Good sixties song..I’ve always liked this one. I heard this on an oldies channel in the 80s…The Office intro this was part of…was one of the best they did.
Have never seen that footage of Emma Peel and Steed dancing! Weird and brilliant…
10/10
Have always liked this song, ever since hearing it back when it was a hit, and also had no idea it was originally recorded by the Isley Brothers.
Except they changed the names of the dances in the song. They do the Shingaling, the Skate, the Boogaloo and the Philly. But the Isley Brothers did the Twist, the Shout, the Potato, and the Sock Hop.You gotta understand that dance crazes came and went real, real fast in the 60s. If you were still doing the twist in 1967 people would just think you’re totally ridiculous and irrelevant. Lmao.
Had your fill of Quadrilles
The Madison and cheap thrills
Bored with the Beguine
The samba isn’t your scene
And the Fandango and the tango. I can’t remember the other ones. I think waltz.