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 from 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 112: Hold Me by The Rumors
Release Date: 1965
From: Los Angeles, California
Rating: 8/10
HOLD ME NOW – The Rumors [2:27]
(Benson Turner/Norman Prinsky)
Personnel/BEN TURNER: vocals, organ * ED BURKEY: guitar * LARRY SCHER: bass * NORMAN PRINSKY: drums
Arranged by ED BURKEY
Produced by THE RUMORS
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA
Gemcor single #5002 (7/65)
The Rumors are one of the most obscure bands compiled on Nuggets – they only released one single, and they don’t even have their own Wikipedia article.
Their only single, ‘Hold Me Now’ was composed by singer and organist Ben Turner and drummer Norman Prinsky. The composition of ‘Hold Me Now’ is clearly indebted to ‘Louie Louie’, but there’s enough happening in the mix to make it a fun record. The swirling organ part and Eddie Burkey’s surf-influenced guitar provide lots of energy, while Turner’s vocal is assertive.
It’s hard to find much information about the band, but Prinsky went on to earn a Ph. D in English and became a professor at Augusta State University, Georgia.
Update – Dr Prinsky wrote in 2026, and supplied this info:
Greetings from Mr. or *Dr.* Prinsky, associate professor *emeritus* at Augusta University. Augusta College morphed to Augusta State University, to Regents University, to Augusta University. Band members only got one or two 45 rpm’s themselves, while dozens were given to various radio stations on a promotional trip to the hinterlands of Fresno and Bakersfield, including two early-morning TV appearances to lip sync the record.
The best version of both songs of the 45 rpm is to be found on CD “The Cicadelic 60s Volume 8” / Collectables COL 0708. Web address: http://www.oldies.com or http://www.cicadelic.com. Good photo of the core of the group on the back cover of The Cicadelic 60s, Vol. 8. “Hold Me Now,” the A-Side, is really mostly Ben Turner, as per the BMI credit to “Turner” on the 45 rpm, including the idea of the solo bass-drum intro. I was brought in, partly on the basis of my composing words, music, and arrangement, of the B-side, “Without Her,” to tweak the lyrics of the song, and did get a credit from BMI. (Compare the character “Word Man” in the movie “Eddie and the Cruisers.”
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Read about the discographies of musical acts from the 1960s to the present day. Browse this site's review archives or enjoy these random selections:
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Another cool tune by a band I had never heard of before. Reminds me a bit of Them.
I really enjoy your series and envy your dedication to rank all 118 tracks on this intriguing collection. Thanks for doing that!
It’s actually expediency! Way easier writing about just one song than making huge lists and stuff. I needed some easier blog topics for the summer holidays.
I like that organ going on in the background. I wish I heard more in today’s music.
It’s like 3 minutes of bottled energy…I love the simplicity of this. I checked with a buddy of mine…he has the Rhino collection. I’m not sure which version he has though…
I don’t know if the original version was ever released on CD, so maybe he has the full shebang. I wonder if there are cheap copies now lots of people have ditched their CD collections.
I’m calling him tomorrow. He must have the CD because yes he did say cd.
Holy ____ Graham… check out Ebay…no it has not gone down…it’s pretty crazy. Are they collectors items? I saw a cassette for 420 dollars…seriously.
Might be time for an email to Mr. Pinsky at Augusta State to see about more info! 😉
Greetings from Mr. or *Dr.* Prinsky (note the “r”), associate professor *emeritus* at Augusta University. Augusta College morphed to Augusta State University, to Regents University, to Augusta University. Band members only got one or two 45 rpm’s themselves, while dozens were given to various radio stations on a promotional trip to the hinterlands of Fresno and Bakersfield, including two early-morning TV appearances to lip sync the record. The best version of both songs of the 45 rpm is to be found on CD “The Cicadelic 60s Volume 8” / Collectables COL 0708. Web address: http://www.oldies.com or http://www.cicadelic.com. Good photo of the core of the group on the back cover of The Cicadelic 60s, Vol. 8. “Hold Me Now,” the A-Side, is really mostly Ben Turner, as per the BMI credit to “Turner” on the 45 rpm, including the idea of the solo bass-drum intro. I was brought in, partly on the basis of my composing words, music, and arrangement, of the B-side, “Without Her,” to tweak the lyrics of the song, and did get a credit from BMI. (Compare the character “Word Man” in the movie “Eddie and the Cruisers.”
Thanks for writing in, and apologies for spelling your name wrong in the article. I’ve added that info to the main article.
I just like the sound of this stuff. Good one Aph.
One of my favorites so far! Love it, Whats with the Frankenstein still on the video though – strange,