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

The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The sequel covers the rest of the world since the first volume only chronicled the USA.

Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 emerged in 2001. It features music from countries such as Iceland, Uruguay, and Japan. I’m profiling and rating each of the 109 tracks, working backwards.

Track 103 – But You’ll Never Do It, Babe by The Boots

From: West Berlin, Germany

7

Credits

4/23. BUT YOU’LL NEVER DO IT BABE – The Boots
(Brian Smith/Terry Fox)

PERSONNEL/WERNER KRABBE: vocals * JURG “JOCKEL” SCHULTE-ECKEL: lead guitar * ULI GRUN: organ, harmonica, rhythm guitar * BOB BRESSER: bass * HEINZ HOFF: drums
Producer(s) unknown
Recorded in Berlin, Germany
Telefunken single #U-55881 (1965) [Germany]

The Boots

There’s little information available about The Boots. They’re the most obscure Nuggets band I’ve covered so far – the only info I could find was a lengthy All Music Guide paragraph. The Boots have two songs on Nuggets – ‘Gaby’ is much stronger for my money.

The band’s main attraction is lead guitarist Jurg “Jockel” Schulte-Eckel. Predating Hendrix, he playing his guitar with screwdrivers and the occasional beer bottle. 

But You’ll Never Do It, Babe

The Boots were essentially a covers band – their debut album also featured versions of ‘Gloria’ and ‘She’s About A Mover’. ‘But You’ll Never Do It, Babe’ was written by obscured Watford band Cops ‘n Robbers.

I was set to give it a low rating – it’s a mediocre blues song. But Jockel’s guitar solo is straight fire, singlehandedly justifying this song’s placement on Nuggets.

The Boots’ first single in 1965, “But You’ll Never Do It Babe,” exemplified their powerful, uncompromising R&B sound. A wild performance with tough, heavily accented vocals, it skids off into near chaotic rave-ups dominated by Jockel’s savage guitar leads. Originally written and recorded by the English Cops’n’Robbers, “But You’ll Never Do It Babe” was later covered by The Pretty Things. But for sheer excitement, The Boots’ version–which also appeared on their first album, Here Are The Boots–surpasses them all.

Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes

Subsequent career

The Boots’ career was short-lived. Lead singer Werner Krabbe left after the 1966 release of ‘Gaby’. The band struggled on for another record, Beat With The Boots and the Sanford Alexander Beat, where they covered ‘Green Onions’ and ‘It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World’.

Read More

• Nuggets Song by Song
• 1960s Album Reviews

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