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 71/118: I Need You by The Rationals
From: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Aphoristic Rating: 8/10
I NEED YOU – The Rationals [2:12]
(Ray Davies)
Personnel/SCOTT MORGAN: vocals, guitar * STEVE CORRELL: lead guitar, vocals * TERRY TRABANDT: bass, vocals * BILL FIGG: drums
Arranged by JEEP HOLLAND
Produced by JEEP HOLLAND for A-SQUARE PRODUCTIONS
Recorded in Detroit, MI [1965]
First issued as A2 single #A2-402 (6/68)
The Rationals formed in junior high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan. By 1966, when they were still in their mid-teens, they were playing gigs all over Michigan and adjoining states, and appearing on TV. They took their name from the mathematical term rational numbers, suggested by the older brother of guitarist Steve Correll.
Like many Nuggets bands, The Rationals’ career was a series of lost opportunities – they turned down a 1966 offer to sign with Atlantic Records, while in 1968 lead vocalist Scott Morgan declined an offer to front Blood, Sweat & Tears. Fellow Michigan musician Iggy Pop was a fan – he played bass drum on their single ‘Feelin’ Lost’ and later reused the lyrics of The Rationals’ song ‘Leavin’ Here’ on his 1980 tune ‘Get Up and Get Out’.
Confusingly, in a relatively brief career, The Rationals recorded two different songs titled ‘I Need You’ – a cover of a soulful Chuck Jackson song and a cover of an early Kinks song. It’s the cover of The Kinks song that’s featured on Nuggets.
‘I Need You’ is an overlooked early Kinks song – it’s a follow-up to their early garage-rock hits like ‘You Really Got Me’ and ‘All Day and All of the Night’. Oddly, The Rationals’ cover was recorded in 1965 but wasn’t released until 1968. By this time it was an anachronism, left behind by three years of lightning-paced development in popular music. It’s a good song – The Kinks version is stronger to my ears, with a tougher sound and Ray Davies’ charismatic vocal. The Rationals’ version is also worthy, however; their lighter version sounds like early power pop.
The Rationals recorded their only full length album in 1970. Scott Morgan has remained in music, including a stint in the Detroit supergroup Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, with the MC5’s Fred Smith, Scott Asheton of the Stooges, and Gary Rasmussen of the Up. Fred Smith later married Patti Smith – the pair were introduced by Lenny Kaye, the collator of the original Nuggets album.
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That “missed opportunities” quote is pretty funny and pretty apt for so many bands. The Kinks are a big deal for me and so it’s interesting that I have no knowledge of this song at all. Not sure it adds much of anything to their catalog but it’s pretty crunchy. Plus, couldn’t anybody play guitar in these bands? Most of the time it’s just a mish-mash of notes.
I have a bunch of Kinks albums and have never heard that song either. It’s an early single that’s in the same vein as ‘All Day and All of the Night’ and ‘You Really Got Me’ – I guess it gets overshadowed by those.
That’s a really good tune, Graham. Agree, the original by The Kinks has more bite. But I also like the cover by The Rationals. Interesting they refused an offer to sign with Atlantic. Many bands, no matter how talented, never get a chance to sign a record deal. I wonder how they felt about it later.
They did get a record deal, but just with a smaller local label.
I didn’t know this song…wow. I like the Kinks version a little more but…I like the guitar on the Rationals…it’s bright and dirty. Yea turning down Atlantic wasn’t the smartest move. There has to be regret for that.
I looked at their discography… 4 compilation albums. They must have some popularity.
Yeah, I haven’t heard the early Kinks albums, just have a greatest hits but that song isn’t on it. I think there’s talent there, although maybe not so much as songwriters?
I checked their discography… most of what I saw was covers.