

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 60/118: Fight Fire by The Golliwogs
From: El Cerrito, California.
Aphoristic Rating: 8/10
FIGHT FIRE – The Golliwogs [2:24]
(John Fogerty/Thomas Fogerty)
Personnel/TOM FOGERTY: vocals, guitar * JOHN FOGERTY: lead guitar, vocals * STU COOK: bass * DOUG CLIFFORD: drums
Produced by PAUL ROSE
Recorded in San Francisco, CA
Scorpio single #405 (2/66)
If you’re paying attention to the credits above, you’ll probably recognise the names of The Golliwogs. John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford went on to find fame as Creedence Clearwater Revival. But the origins of the band go back to 1959 when they formed at Portola Junior High School as The Blue Velvets. They were briefly named Vision before Fantasy Records insisted on naming them The Golliwogs.
The Golliwogs released 21 singles between 1964 and 1967, with little hint of the phenomenal success they’d enjoy shortly after their rebranding. ‘Fight Fire’ is different from the swampy sound that would bring them success; most notably, Tom Fogerty is on lead vocals. He’s very competent but doesn’t bring the same charisma as his younger brother. There’s less grit in their sound – they’re closer to Liverpool’s Merseybeat than to the Louisiana swamps. Even in their embryonic form, they’re enjoyable; ‘Fight Fire’ is a strong Nugget.
In 1968, The Golliwogs were given the option to rename themselves before releasing their debut album – they chose Creedence Clearwater Revival.
According to interviews with band members twenty years later, the name’s elements came from three sources: Tom Fogerty’s friend Credence Newball, whose name they changed to form the word Creedence (as in creed); a television commercial for Olympia Brewing Company (“clear water”); and the four members’ renewed commitment to their band.
Wikipedia
The changes in the band’s sound were significant, but it presumably helped to switch to a less controversial name. Between May 1968 and December 1970 CCR were prolific and extraordinarily successful. Two of their six albums in that period topped the US charts, while they also enjoyed five #2 singles, albeit without a #1.
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Nuggets: Why Pick On Me by The Standells

Nuggets: Get Me to the World on Time by The Electric Prunes

Nuggets: It’s Cold Outside by The Choir

Nuggets: Beg, Borrow, And Steal by The Rare Breed

Nuggets: It’s A-Happening by The Magic Mushrooms

Nuggets: Follow Me by Lyme & Cybelle

Nuggets: She’s About A Mover by Sir Douglas Quintet

Nuggets II: The Bitter Thoughts Of Little Jane by Timon

Nuggets: Little Girl by Syndicate of Sound

Nuggets: Diddy Wah Diddy by Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

Nuggets: Time Won’t Let Me by The Outsiders

Nuggets: Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Nuggets: Why Do I Cry by The Remains

Nuggets: She’s My Baby by The Mojo Men

Nuggets: Jack of Diamonds by The Daily Flash

Nuggets: Laugh, Laugh by The Beau Brummels

Nuggets: Nobody But Me by The Human Beinz

Nuggets: Can’t Seem To Make You Mine by The Seeds

Nuggets: Sit Down, I Think I Love You by The Mojo Men

Nuggets: So What! by The Lyrics

Nuggets: Who Do You Love by The Woolies

Nuggets II: Rosalyn by The Pretty Things

Nuggets: Run, Run, Run by The Third Rail

Nuggets: Stop! Get A Ticket by Clefs of Lavender Hill

Nuggets: The Little Black Egg by The Nightcrawlers

Nuggets II: No Presents For Me by The Pandamonium

Nuggets: Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love) by The Swingin’ Medallions

Nuggets: Codine by The Charlatans

Nuggets: Put the Clock Back on the Wall by The E-Types

Nuggets: Farmer John by The Premiers

Nuggets: Moulty by The Barbarians

Nuggets: I See the Light by The Five Americans

Nuggets: Let’s Talk About Girls by The Chocolate Watchband

Nuggets II: Pictures of Matchstick Men by The Status Quo

Nuggets: Night Time by The Strangeloves

Nuggets II: Nothin’ by Ugly Ducklings

Nuggets: Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White by The Standells

Nuggets II: Real Crazy Apartment by Winston’s Fumbs

Nuggets II: One Third by The Majority

Nuggets: The Witch by The Sonics

Nuggets: I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) by The Electric Prunes

Nuggets: What Am I Going to Do? by The Dovers

Nuggets II: I Wish I Was Five by Scrugg

Nuggets: Open Up Your Door by Richard & the Young Lions

Nuggets: Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock

Nuggets: (Would I Still Be) Her Big Man by The Brigands

Nuggets: I’m Gonna Make You Mine by The Shadows of Knight

Nuggets: Talk Talk by The Music Machine

Nuggets: Just Like Me by Paul Revere & the Raiders

Nuggets: Respect by The Vagrants

Nuggets: The Trip by Kim Fowley

Nuggets: Journey to Tyme by Kenny and the Kasuals

Nuggets II: Glendora by Downliners Sect

Nuggets: Liar, Liar by The Castaways

Nuggets: Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love In) by The Chocolate Watchband

Nuggets: Action Woman by The Litter

Nuggets: Journey To The Center Of The Mind by The Amboy Dukes

Nuggets: At the River’s Edge by New Colony Six

Nuggets: You Must Be A Witch by The Lollipop Shoppe

Nuggets: You’re Gonna Miss Me by The 13th Floor Elevators

Nuggets: Complication by The Monks

Nuggets: Steppin’ Out by Paul Revere & the Raiders

Nuggets: Hold Me Now by The Rumors

Nuggets: You Burn Me Up and Down by We The People

Nuggets: Bad Little Woman by The Shadows of Knight

Nuggets: Mindrocker by Fenwyck

Nuggets: I Need You by The Rationals

Nuggets: Oh Yeah by The Shadows of Knight

Nuggets II: Sad by The (Australian) Playboys

Nuggets: No Time Like The Right Time by The Blues Project

Nuggets: Too Many People by The Leaves

Nuggets II: Flight from Ashiya by Kaleidoscope

Nuggets: Psycho by The Sonics

Nuggets II: Break It All by Los Shakers

Nuggets: Knock, Knock by The Humane Society

Nuggets II: You Can Be My Baby by The Red Squares

Nuggets: My World Fell Down by Sagittarius

Nuggets II: The Train to Disaster by The Voice

Nuggets: Johnny Was A Good Boy by Mystery Trend

Nuggets II: My Life by Thor’s Hammer

Nuggets: Last Time Around by The Del-Vetts

Nuggets: I’m Five Years Ahead of My Time by The Third Bardo

Nuggets: Blackout of Gretely by GONN

Nuggets: (We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet by the Blues Magoos

Nuggets: I Wonder by The Gants

Nuggets II: When The Alarm Clock Rings by the Blossom Toes

Nuggets: An Invitation to Cry by The Magicians

Nuggets II: No More Now by The Smoke

Nuggets: 7 and 7 Is by Love

Nuggets II: The Madman Running Through The Fields by Dantalian’s Chariot

Nuggets II: Kicks and Chicks by The Zipps

Nuggets II: Bat Macumba by Os Mutantes

Nuggets II: Touch by The Outsiders

Nuggets: Mr. Pharmacist by The Other Half

Nuggets II: Slaves Time by The Slaves

Nuggets: Dirty Water by The Standells

Nuggets: A Question of Temperature by The Balloon Farm

Nuggets: Pushin’ Too Hard by The Seeds

Nuggets: I Ain’t No Miracle Worker by The Brogues

Nuggets: Going All the Way by The Squires

Nuggets: Fight Fire by The Golliwogs

Nuggets II: Vacuum Cleaner by Tintern Abbey

Nuggets: Hey Joe by the Leaves

Nuggets: Strychnine by The Sonics

Nuggets II: It’s My Fault by The Rattles

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Nuggets II: Here Come the Nice by The Small Faces

Nuggets II: I’m Your Witchdoctor by Chants R&B

Nuggets II: How Does It Feel to Feel by The Creation

Nuggets: Little Bit O’Soul by The Music Explosion

Nuggets: One Track Mind by The Knickerbockers

Nuggets: Are You A Boy Or Are You A Girl by The Barbarians

Nuggets: Bad Girl by The Zakary Thaks

Nuggets: Falling Sugar by The Palace Guard

Nuggets: Tobacco Road by Blues Magoos

Nuggets II: Why Don’t You Smile Now by Downliners Sect

Nuggets: Story of My Life by The Unrelated Segments

Sugar and Spice by The Cryan’ Shames

Nuggets: Double Yellow Line by The Music Machine

Nuggets: Optical Sound by The Human Expression

Nuggets: Don’t Look Back by The Remains

Nuggets II: Come On by The Atlantics

Nuggets: Romeo and Juliet by Michael and the Messengers

Nuggets: Sweet Young Thing by The Chocolate Watchband

Nuggets: Blue's Theme by Davie Allan & the Arrows

Nuggets: Louie Louie by The Kingsmen

Nuggets: Open My Eyes by Nazz

Nuggets: Run, Run, Run by The Gestures

Nuggets II: Get Yourself Home by The Fairies

Nuggets: Lies by The Knickerbockers

Nuggets: Psychotic Reaction by Count Five

Nuggets II: No Good Without You Baby by The Birds

Nuggets: No Friend of Mine by The Sparkles

Nuggets: Maid of Sugar – Maid of Spice by Mouse and the Traps

Nuggets: Shape of Things to Come by Max Frost & The Troopers

Nuggets: Live by The Merry-Go-Round

Nuggets: Love's Gone Bad by The Underdogs

Nuggets II: But You’ll Never Do It, Babe by The Boots

Nuggets: I Want Candy by The Strangeloves

Nuggets: You Ain’t Tuff by The Uniques

Nuggets: Out Of Our Tree by The Wailers

Nuggets: Spazz by The Elastik Band

Nuggets: A Public Execution by Mouse

Nuggets: Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) by The Hombres

Nuggets: I Live in the Springtime by The Lemon Drops

Nuggets: I Think I’m Down by the Harbinger Complex

Nuggets: Mirror Of Your Mind by We The People

Nuggets: Primitive by The Groupies

Nuggets: Voices Green and Purple by The Bees

Nuggets II: I’m Just A Mops by The Mops

Baby, Please Don’t Go by The Amboy Dukes

Nuggets: Outside Chance by The Turtles

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Wow they do sound quite different, more 50s to me.
Yup, quite different with the older Fogerty singing.
I never knew what to think about this one cuz I really like the music but I think it’s kind of a crummy song. I’m not sure if it’s one that I would keep on Nuggets or take it off. I’d probably keep it just because of who it is. Idk.
I like the song – it’s a little generic, but I think there’s a nice tune there.
I had a cassette of the Golliwogs which featured the song “Little Black Egg.” I like the early to mid-sixties sound…I can hear a rhythm slightly like Gloria going on. I like it. They were well-produced for that time.
Hard to believe what they morphed into from this. I think Tom and John wrote a few songs also through that time.
Yup, it is a bit like ‘Gloria’. I guess music changed a lot in those couple of years – it swung back to roots-based music with The Band in 1968, and CCR with John on vocals fitted into that really well.
I agree a pretty good Nuggets song. I knew the Golliwogs were the predecessor to CCR but had not heard any of their tunes. Solid garage rock sound!
I hadn’t heard them before either – interested in hearing some more.
Wow. There’s a surprise. Not only do they not sound like CCR – they also don’t sound like the Yardbirds. That is an amazing transformation. I must say I rather like it but there wasn’t enough identity there to do anything. It reminds me of how Springsteen was in a bunch of competent but indistinguishable bands till one day he said Screw It and took over
Yeah, I think you’re right about the lack of identity. I like Tom Fogerty’s quote: “I could sing, but John had a sound!”
A distinctive sound.
This has a lo-fi garage rock sound, and though pretty good, it’s not ‘hit’ quality. And The Golliwogs was an awful name for a rock band!
I think it’s a well-written song, but doesn’t jump out like a surefire hit. The Golliwogs is a terrible name – I assume it was borderline unacceptable back even then.
I like this one. The edge is there. Max’s comment works for me.
Nice you have you back, and glad you enjoyed…
Classic song. The blurb says it was written by John and Tom Fogerty but the 45 label lists Wild-Green as composers. Who are they?