Nuggets II: Touch by The Outsiders – Aphoristic Album Reviews

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 91 – Touch by The Outsiders

From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Credits

4/10. TOUCH – The Outsiders (NL)
(Wally Tax/Ronald Splinter)

PERSONNEL/WALLY TAX: vocals, harmonica * RONALD SPLINTER: lead guitar * TOM KRABBENDAM: rhythm guitar * APPIE RAMMERS: bass * LENNART “BUZZ” BUSCH: drums
Produced by JOHN B. VAN SETTEN
Recorded in Amsterdam, Holland
Relax single #45016 (1966) [Netherlands]

The Outsiders

The Outsiders formed in Amsterdam in 1964. Wally Tax and Ronald Splinter were school friends, and the band started a four-night-a-week residency at a local club, even though the members were only 15.

The Outsiders were part of the Nederbeat movement, alongside Golden Earring and Shocking Blue. But they were tougher than their contemporaries, influenced by The Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things.

The group’s unique sound had a real emotional depth, embodied by the expressive vocals of Wally Tax and the uniquely creative songwriting team of Tax and Ronald Splinter. Their music absorbed and reflected a broad range of influences–including The Pretty Things, The Byrds, Tim Hardin, Jacques Brel, and Eastern and Northern European folk traditions–while the band’s musically unschooled members approached their instruments in an entirely instinctive way that often gave their records a strange, off-kilter feel.
Mike Stax, Nuggets II liner notes

They released a series of singles and albums in the mid-1960s, before falling out of favour in the Summer of Love.

Touch

‘Touch’ was written by Tax and Splinter. It’s a taut, bluesy garage rocker. It’s effective – Tax is charismatic, and the band gets a lot of dynamic range out of a four-piece arrangement. ‘Touch’ is pitched somewhere between Them and the early Rolling Stones.

The Aftermath

Wally Tax formed the band Tax Free in 1969 – he invited Ronnie Splinter to join, but Splinter didn’t enjoy the softer music.

Wally asked me to try playing with Tax Free, but I did not like the music. I tried one time to rehearse with Tax Free. It was too soft, and it gave me a miserable feeling. I saw Jody Purpora sitting on the floor playing his guitar, singing about misery and broken love. It was too much. My ego was too small, and I left and did not touch my guitar for about 20 years.
Ronnie Splinter, Psychedelic Baby Mag

Tax died young – he struggled with tax problems in later life, as well as the grief of losing his long-term partner to a prolonged battle with cancer.

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7 Comments

Lisa or Li

September 7, 2025 / 10:04 am Reply

I like it! It has a good, pulsing beat. I like the softer parts in between.
- Aphoristical
  
  September 9, 2025 / 4:45 pm Reply
  
  I read someone describing them as the best rock band outside the US and UK in the era – might well be true.
Christian's Music Musings

September 11, 2025 / 11:01 am Reply

I generally like the bluesy garage vibe, though I think it’s also fair to say the song itself isn’t particularly memorable. Still enjoyed hearing it!
- Aphoristical
  
  September 11, 2025 / 7:40 pm Reply
  
  Yeah, I think the song is the weak point – seems like a likeable band with a lot of charisma otherwise.
Badfinger (Max)

September 19, 2025 / 3:25 pm Reply

I like this a lot….I can hear The Pretty Things in there. I love that picture you had of them…that is pretty cool.
I’ll be catching up slowly…just finished two weeks of Franchise meetings and setting up.
- Aphoristical
  
  September 21, 2025 / 8:26 pm Reply
  
  I kind of agree with Christian that the song is the weakest aspect, but it’s still good.
  - Badfinger (Max)
    
    September 22, 2025 / 2:38 am Reply
    
    I also forgot to mention “Them” ….the blues harp reminded me of them….no pun intended… not the best song in the world I agree but I do like it.