

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 92 – My Life by Thor’s Hammer
From: Keflavik, Iceland
10
Credits
4/12. MY LIFE – Thor’s Hammer (Iceland)
(Gunnar Thordarson/Petur Ostlund)
PERSONNEL/GUNNAR THORDARSON: vocals, lead guitar * ERLINGUR BJORNSSON: rhythm guitar, vocals * RUNAR JULIUSSON: bass, vocals * PETUR OSTLUND: drums
Producer(s) unknown
Recorded in London, England
From the EP Umbarumbamba, Parlophone #CGEP-62 (1966) [U.K. export for Iceland]
Thor’s Hammer
Hlijomar (in English, the Sounds or the Chords) formed in Keflavik, Iceland, in 1963. They quickly became Iceland’s biggest band, supporting some visiting British acts on their Icelandic tours.
They named themselves Thor’s Hammer for English-language recordings made in London. Thor’s Hammer recorded the 1966 EP, Umbarumbamba, for Parlophone. It’s now a collector’s item. There’s an online auction from 2007 where a copy sold for US $1775.
Formed in 1964 in the city of Keflavik, Hljólmar began their recording career early the following year and quickly became popular with Icelandic teens. Their initial releases were sung in their native tongue, but the group and their record company quickly realized that to export the group’s popularity, they would need to sing in English and adjust the band’s name accordingly.
In late 1965 Thor’s Hammer traveled to England for recording sessions, which included ones for tracks that were to be used in an upcoming movie starring the band, called Umbarumbamba. Among the songs recorded was “My Life,” a wild yet melodic rocker, bursting with harmonies and some crackling fuzz guitar work. The song was released on an EP, issued in conjunction with the movie in the fall of 1966. The film was something of a flop, however, and the record consequently sold poorly.
Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes
My Life
‘My Life’ is one of the strongest songs on Nuggets II. It combines the pop sense of The Beatles with the aggression of The Who. Drummer Peter Ostlund has a similar free-flowing style to Keith Moon. It should be on oldies stations everywhere.
The Aftermath
Bassist Rúnar Júlíusson also played football for Iceland.
The members later formed Trúbrot, a progressive rock band. The 2001 compilation From Keflavik With Love, collects all of the band’s English-language output, as well as some of their Icelandic tracks.
Read More
More Nuggets
Nuggets: Psycho by The Sonics

Nuggets II: Glendora by Downliners Sect

Nuggets: 7 and 7 Is by Love

Nuggets II: It’s My Fault by The Rattles

Nuggets II: Sad by The (Australian) Playboys

Nuggets II: Love Hate Revenge by Episode Six

Nuggets II: Real Crazy Apartment by Winston’s Fumbs

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

Nuggets: I Need You by The Rationals

Nuggets: A Question of Temperature by The Balloon Farm

Nuggets: Too Many People by The Leaves

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

Nuggets: Open My Eyes by Nazz

Nuggets: Action Woman by The Litter

Nuggets: Lies by The Knickerbockers

Nuggets II: Here Come the Nice by The Small Faces

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

Nuggets II: Kicks and Chicks by The Zipps

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

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

Nuggets: Nobody But Me by The Human Beinz

Nuggets: Farmer John by The Premiers

Nuggets: Talk Talk by The Music Machine

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

Nuggets: Fight Fire by The Golliwogs

Nuggets II: One Third by The Majority

Nuggets: Out Of Our Tree by The Wailers

Nuggets: I See the Light by The Five Americans

Nuggets: Falling Sugar by The Palace Guard

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

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

Nuggets II: My Life by Thor’s Hammer

Sugar and Spice by The Cryan’ Shames

Nuggets: No Friend of Mine by The Sparkles

Nuggets: Oh Yeah by The Shadows of Knight

10 Best Songs on the Nuggets Boxset

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

Nuggets: Mindrocker by Fenwyck

Nuggets: Psychotic Reaction by Count Five

Nuggets: The Witch by The Sonics

Nuggets: Bad Girl by The Zakary Thaks

Nuggets: Night Time by The Strangeloves

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

Nuggets II: Flight from Ashiya by Kaleidoscope

Nuggets: Jack of Diamonds by The Daily Flash

Nuggets II: Get Yourself Home by The Fairies

Nuggets II: I Wish I Was Five by Scrugg

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

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

Nuggets: Don’t Look Back by The Remains

Nuggets: I Live in the Springtime by The Lemon Drops

Nuggets: Pushin’ Too Hard by The Seeds

Nuggets II: Come On by The Atlantics

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

Nuggets: Why Pick On Me by The Standells

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

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

Nuggets II: Bad Little Woman by The Wheels

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

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

Nuggets: I Wonder by The Gants

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

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

Nuggets: You Must Be A Witch by The Lollipop Shoppe

Nuggets: Just Like Me by Paul Revere & the Raiders

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

Nuggets: Strychnine by The Sonics

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

Nuggets: Little Bit O’Soul by The Music Explosion

Nuggets: The Little Black Egg by The Nightcrawlers

Nuggets II: Pictures of Matchstick Men by The Status Quo

Nuggets: Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Nuggets: You Ain’t Tuff by The Uniques

Nuggets: Moulty by The Barbarians

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

Nuggets: Story of My Life by The Unrelated Segments

Nuggets: Who Do You Love by The Woolies

Nuggets: She’s My Baby by The Mojo Men

Nuggets: The Trip by Kim Fowley

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

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

Nuggets: Going All the Way by The Squires

Nuggets II: No Presents For Me by The Pandamonium

Nuggets: Romeo and Juliet by Michael and the Messengers

Nuggets: Primitive by The Groupies

Nuggets: Knock, Knock by The Humane Society

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

Nuggets: Spazz by The Elastik Band

Nuggets: It’s Cold Outside by The Choir

Nuggets: Sweet Young Thing by The Chocolate Watchband

Nuggets: Johnny Was A Good Boy by Mystery Trend

Nuggets: Little Girl by Syndicate of Sound

Nuggets: Run, Run, Run by The Third Rail

Nuggets: Bad Little Woman by The Shadows of Knight

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

Nuggets: Codine by The Charlatans

Nuggets II: Rosalyn by The Pretty Things

Nuggets: Hold Me Now by The Rumors

Nuggets: Why Do I Cry by The Remains

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

Nuggets: Voices Green and Purple by The Bees

Nuggets: Blackout of Gretely by GONN

Nuggets: Tobacco Road by Blues Magoos

Nuggets II: Nothin’ by Ugly Ducklings

Nuggets: One Track Mind by The Knickerbockers

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

Nuggets II: Break It All by Los Shakers

Nuggets: Run, Run, Run by The Gestures

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

Nuggets: Outside Chance by The Turtles

Nuggets: Complication by The Monks

Nuggets: Last Time Around by The Del-Vetts

Nuggets: Respect by The Vagrants

Nuggets: An Invitation to Cry by The Magicians

Nuggets II: The Train to Disaster by The Voice

Nuggets: Double Yellow Line by The Music Machine

Nuggets: Liar, Liar by The Castaways

Nuggets: Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock

Nuggets II: Bat Macumba by Os Mutantes

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

Nuggets: I Want Candy by The Strangeloves

Nuggets: Louie Louie by The Kingsmen

Nuggets: Mirror Of Your Mind by We The People

Nuggets: Mr. Pharmacist by The Other Half

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

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

Nuggets II: Dance Around the Maypole by Acid Gallery

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

Nuggets: A Public Execution by Mouse

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

Nuggets II: Slaves Time by The Slaves

Nuggets II: No More Now by The Smoke

Baby, Please Don’t Go by The Amboy Dukes

Nuggets: Steppin’ Out by Paul Revere & the Raiders

Nuggets: So What! by The Lyrics

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

Nuggets II: The Bitter Thoughts Of Little Jane by Timon

Nuggets II: Vacuum Cleaner by Tintern Abbey

Nuggets: Time Won’t Let Me by The Outsiders

Nuggets: Live by The Merry-Go-Round

Nuggets: Love's Gone Bad by The Underdogs

Nuggets II: Touch by The Outsiders

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

Nuggets: Journey to Tyme by Kenny and the Kasuals

Nuggets: My World Fell Down by Sagittarius

Nuggets: Hey Joe by the Leaves

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

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

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

Nuggets: Laugh, Laugh by The Beau Brummels

Nuggets: Follow Me by Lyme & Cybelle

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

Nuggets: Optical Sound by The Human Expression

Nuggets: Dirty Water by The Standells

Nuggets II: No Good Without You Baby by The Birds

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

Nuggets: Blackout of Gretely by GONN

Nuggets II: Dance Around the Maypole by Acid Gallery

Nuggets: Action Woman by The Litter

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

Baby, Please Don’t Go by The Amboy Dukes

Nuggets: Run, Run, Run by The Gestures

Nuggets: 7 and 7 Is by Love

Nuggets: Out Of Our Tree by The Wailers

Nuggets II: Flight from Ashiya by Kaleidoscope

Nuggets II: Touch by The Outsiders

Nuggets: Louie Louie by The Kingsmen

Nuggets: Why Do I Cry by The Remains

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

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

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

Nuggets: Time Won’t Let Me by The Outsiders

Nuggets: I Wonder by The Gants

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

Nuggets: Run, Run, Run by The Third Rail

Nuggets: Farmer John by The Premiers

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

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

Nuggets: Voices Green and Purple by The Bees

Nuggets II: Sad by The (Australian) Playboys

Nuggets: Strychnine by The Sonics

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

Nuggets: Double Yellow Line by The Music Machine

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

Nuggets: I Need You by The Rationals

Nuggets: Jack of Diamonds by The Daily Flash

Nuggets II: Love Hate Revenge by Episode Six

Nuggets: The Witch by The Sonics

Nuggets: Tobacco Road by Blues Magoos

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

Nuggets II: Slaves Time by The Slaves

Nuggets: Follow Me by Lyme & Cybelle

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

Nuggets: Open My Eyes by Nazz

Nuggets: Steppin’ Out by Paul Revere & the Raiders

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

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

Nuggets II: Glendora by Downliners Sect

Nuggets II: Nothin’ by Ugly Ducklings

Nuggets: Psycho by The Sonics

Nuggets: Love's Gone Bad by The Underdogs

Nuggets: Journey to Tyme by Kenny and the Kasuals

Nuggets: Optical Sound by The Human Expression

Nuggets II: Bat Macumba by Os Mutantes

Nuggets: Nobody But Me by The Human Beinz

Nuggets: Hold Me Now by The Rumors

Nuggets II: Come On by The Atlantics

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

Nuggets: A Question of Temperature by The Balloon Farm

Nuggets II: My Life by Thor’s Hammer

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

Nuggets: Respect by The Vagrants

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

Nuggets: I Want Candy by The Strangeloves

Nuggets: Too Many People by The Leaves

Nuggets: Little Girl by Syndicate of Sound

Nuggets: Just Like Me by Paul Revere & the Raiders

Nuggets II: The Bitter Thoughts Of Little Jane by Timon

Nuggets: Romeo and Juliet by Michael and the Messengers

Nuggets: Talk Talk by The Music Machine

Nuggets II: Pictures of Matchstick Men by The Status Quo

Nuggets: Mirror Of Your Mind by We The People

Nuggets: Sweet Young Thing by The Chocolate Watchband

Nuggets: Going All the Way by The Squires

Nuggets II: It’s My Fault by The Rattles

Nuggets: Story of My Life by The Unrelated Segments

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

Nuggets II: Get Yourself Home by The Fairies

Nuggets: Spazz by The Elastik Band

Nuggets: Dirty Water by The Standells

Sugar and Spice by The Cryan’ Shames

Nuggets: Codine by The Charlatans

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

Nuggets: I See the Light by The Five Americans

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

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

Nuggets: Psychotic Reaction by Count Five

Nuggets: Hey Joe by the Leaves

Nuggets: Primitive by The Groupies

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

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

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

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

Nuggets II: Real Crazy Apartment by Winston’s Fumbs

Nuggets: Falling Sugar by The Palace Guard

Nuggets: So What! by The Lyrics

Nuggets: Mr. Pharmacist by The Other Half

Nuggets II: Vacuum Cleaner by Tintern Abbey

Nuggets II: No Good Without You Baby by The Birds

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

Nuggets II: One Third by The Majority

Nuggets: One Track Mind by The Knickerbockers

Nuggets: Complication by The Monks

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

Nuggets: I Live in the Springtime by The Lemon Drops

Nuggets: An Invitation to Cry by The Magicians

Nuggets: Oh Yeah by The Shadows of Knight

Nuggets: Live by The Merry-Go-Round

Nuggets: Last Time Around by The Del-Vetts

Nuggets: It’s Cold Outside by The Choir

Nuggets: Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Nuggets: A Public Execution by Mouse

Nuggets: The Trip by Kim Fowley

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

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

Nuggets II: Bad Little Woman by The Wheels

Nuggets: Why Pick On Me by The Standells

Nuggets: Little Bit O’Soul by The Music Explosion

Nuggets: No Friend of Mine by The Sparkles

Nuggets: Mindrocker by Fenwyck

Nuggets II: No Presents For Me by The Pandamonium

Nuggets II: Kicks and Chicks by The Zipps

Nuggets: Bad Girl by The Zakary Thaks

Nuggets: Night Time by The Strangeloves

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

Nuggets: Outside Chance by The Turtles

Nuggets: Fight Fire by The Golliwogs

Nuggets: You Ain’t Tuff by The Uniques

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

Nuggets: Lies by The Knickerbockers

Nuggets: Moulty by The Barbarians

Nuggets: Liar, Liar by The Castaways

Nuggets: She’s My Baby by The Mojo Men

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

Nuggets: The Little Black Egg by The Nightcrawlers

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

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

Nuggets: Johnny Was A Good Boy by Mystery Trend

Nuggets II: I Wish I Was Five by Scrugg

Nuggets: Who Do You Love by The Woolies

Nuggets II: Rosalyn by The Pretty Things

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

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

Nuggets II: Here Come the Nice by The Small Faces

Nuggets: Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock

Nuggets II: No More Now by The Smoke

Nuggets II: Break It All by Los Shakers

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

Nuggets: Laugh, Laugh by The Beau Brummels

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

Nuggets: You Must Be A Witch by The Lollipop Shoppe

10 Best Songs on the Nuggets Boxset

Nuggets: Don’t Look Back by The Remains

Nuggets: My World Fell Down by Sagittarius

Nuggets II: The Train to Disaster by The Voice

Nuggets: Knock, Knock by The Humane Society

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

Nuggets: Bad Little Woman by The Shadows of Knight

Nuggets: Pushin’ Too Hard by The Seeds

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

8 Comments
Leave a ReplyCancel reply
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:
More review pages
Television Album Reviews
1970s - Punk and New Wave



I add new blog posts to this website every week. Browse the archives or enjoy these random selections:
More blog posts
10 Best Cat Stevens Songs
1970s,Song Lists,The Ten Best Songs By...
The Ten Best Songs by The Jam
1970s - Punk and New Wave,The Ten Best Songs By...
Fever by Carly Rae Jepsen: Great B-Sides
2010s,Great B-Sides,Song of the Week
Inside and Out by Genesis: Great B-Sides
1970s,Great B-Sides

Carly Rae Jepsen: Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
2010s,Album Rankings
Subscribe
Subscribe to receive new posts from Aphoristic Album Reviews.









I vaguely remember this band.
There’s also the one with two rs, which might be more your thing?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorr%27s_Hammer
Not a bad song, and with their sound and vocals, they really could have passed for British.
Yup, definitely Anglophiles.
My Life… it’s like bottled chaos with those drums…I like it because it’s like a burst of adrenaline. They probably mixed those drums a little too loud for radio….but I love it….that fuzz guitar in the background has a great tone.
I like how they mixed the drums loud because the drumming is the best bit – whole band’s cool though.
Surely Andy Partridge heard this before doing The Dukes…
Yeah, can hear some similarities for sure. Plus Partridge seems like he’d be a big sixties pop nerd.