The success of Rhino’s 1998 Nuggets boxset justified a follow-up. The first volume was US-based, so the sequel covers the rest of the world.
Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire and Beyond, 1964–1969 was released 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 108 – It’s My Fault by The Rattles
From: Hamburg, Germany
Released: 1966
6
Length: 2:08
Credits
4/27. IT’S MY FAULT – The Rattles (Germany)
(Achim Reichel)
PERSONNEL/ACHIM REICHEL: vocals, guitar * HERMAN “RUGY” RUGENSTEIN: guitar, vocals * HERBERT HILDEBRANDT: bass, vocals * RICHARD “DICKY” TARRACH: drums
Producer(s) unknown
Recorded in Hamburg, Germany
From the album Hurra Die Rattles Kommen, Star Club #SM-158013 (1966) [Germany]
The Rattles
1960—Rattles are being founded by Herbert Hildebrandt and Achim Reichel
https://www.rattles.de/band_bio_ENG.php
A beat band from Hamburg, The Rattles played the same sketchy clubs as The Beatles. They shared the bill with The Beatles several times in 1962. They also appeared in the German film ‘Hurra! Die Rattles Kommen!’ (‘Hurray! The Rattles Are Coming!’), which chronicled their 1966 German tour with The Beatles.
The Rattles were popular in Germany but only occasionally flirted with success in the English-speaking world. Their verion of ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah’ charted in the UK in 1964, while their biggest hit was 1970’s ‘The Witch’, which reached the UK top ten.
Unfortunately, Reichel was drafted into the army soon afterwards and was forced to leave the band. Undeterred, The Rattles took on new members and managed something of a comeback, releasing a string of records and eventually scoring a worldwide hit in 1970 with “The Witch.” By that time they were almost unrecognizable as the mop-tops of their Star Club heyday.
Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes
1990—The Rattles are being elected to the millenium band in Hamburg by the Berlin newspaper “Berliner Morgenpost”
https://www.rattles.de/band_bio_ENG.php
Reproduction of “The Witch”
It’s My Fault
Given The Rattles’ other success, it’s surprising that ‘It’s My Fault’ was chosen for the boxset. It’s a competent blues song, with a Bo Diddley beat. The best part is the guitar – there’s some nice riffing and an accomplished solo. Vocalist Achim Reichel is talented, but lacks the charisma needed to make ‘It’s My Fault’ compelling.
The Rattles are still an active band. According to Wikipedia “In 2010, to mark their 50th stage anniversary, the band signed with the Hamburg music label Edel Records and released a new studio album, Rattles 50 , with 14 new songs in a new, modern sound. At the same time, newly arranged and recorded Greatest Hits were released. To this day, they regularly play at festivals and events with founding member Hildebrandt.”
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Not a bad song. I mainly know about The Rattles by name. In the ’70s, Achim Reichel launched a solo career, singing German songs. In the ’80s, he had a hit in Germany with “Fledermaus” (translation: bat). As of last year, Reichel (who is now 81) was still touring!
There’s a famous opera named Die Fledermaus, right?
I assumed The Rattles were big in Germany from their press.
You’re right, “Die Fledermaus” is an operetta from the 19th century by Austrian composer Johann Strauss. I don’t believe Achim Reichel’s song has anything to do with it. The Rattles had a bunch of top 30 hits in Germany during the ’60s. Other than their name, I don’t know the band.
I like the song a lot. Right up my garage loving alley. I agree with you about the guitars…the rhythm has a super tone…his voice fits this perfectly.
What a huge contrast between the three songs though. The Witch…that is really different and what a video.
They seem a bit opportunistic, right? Like talented enough to make quite different songs, but not necessarily a clear artistic vision to forge their own sound.
I agree with that…they acted like chameleons to what was going on…