Nuggets: I See the Light by The Five Americans

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 49/118: I See the Light by The Five Americans
Release Date: 1965
From: Durant, Oklahoma
Aphoristic Rating: 7/10

I SEE THE LIGHT – The Five Americans [2:10]
(Norman Ezell/Mike Rabon/John Durrill)
Personnel/JOHN DURRILL: vocals, organ * MIKE RABON: lead guitar, vocals * NORMAN EZELL: guitar, vocals * JIM GRANT: bass, vocals * JIMMY WRIGHT: drums
Produced by DALE HAWKINS
Recorded in Tyler, TX
Abnak single #A-109 (11/65); HBR single #HBR-454 (12/65); Pop #26

The five American members of the Five Americans met in college in Durant, Oklahoma. They formed in 1962, before the British Invasion hit, and started playing Duane Eddy and Bo Diddley songs. They started covering The Beatles and added a Vox Continental organ.

The Five Americans had a bigger hit with ‘Western Union’, although the garage sound of ‘I See The Light’ makes it a better fit for Nuggets. The Five Americans are strong musicians – there’s a cool organ part and good use of dynamics. But at the same time, ‘I See The Light’ is a pedestrian song and it features one of the less impressive vocals on Nuggets.

The band members largely pursued careers outside of music – guitarist Norman Ezell became a minister, while the other guitarist earned a master’s degree in public school administration. Organist John Durrill wrote “Dark Lady” for Cher and “Misery and Gin” for Merle Haggard, and was also a member of The Ventures.

On August 26, 2016, Ryan Nazari, an Oklahoma City Thunder fan, created a petition to change the city’s name to “Westbrook” because Kevin Durant left the team for the Golden State Warriors that received 1,999 supporters.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durant,_Oklahoma

Read More

• Nuggets Song by Song
• 1960s Album Reviews

Related articles:

Nuggets: Complication by The Monks Nuggets: Pushin’ Too Hard by The Seeds Nuggets: Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock Nuggets: Blue's Theme by Davie Allan & the Arrows