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 to 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 56/118: Little Girl by Syndicate of Sound
From: San Jose, California
Aphoristic Rating: 9/10
LITTLE GIRL – Syndicate Of Sound [2:25]
(Bob Gonzalez/Don Baskin)
Personnel/DON BASKIN: vocals * LARRY RAY: lead guitar * JOHN SHARKEY: guitar * BOB GONZALEZ: bass * JOHN DUCKWORTH: drums
Produced by GARRIE THOMPSON
Recorded in San Francisco, CA
Hush single #G-228 (2/66); Bell single #640 (4/66); Pop #8
The members of the Syndicate of Sound played together in the Pharoahs and Lenny Lee and the Nightmen. After winning a Bay Area “Battle of the Bands” they recorded the unsuccessful single ‘Prepare for Love’.
Their second single, ‘Little Girl’, was much more successful. It became a regional hit in California and was picked up for national distribution. Deservingly, it became a top ten Billboard hit – it’s full of guitar hooks, and has a likeable lead vocal.
Syndicate of Sound supported notable acts like The Yardbirds, Neil Diamond, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Left Banke, and the Rascals. They drifted apart, however – John Duckworth joined the 6th Army Band rather than risk the draft. By 1970, vocalist Don Baskin was the only remaining original member and broke up the band.
None of the band’s subsequent songs reached the top 40, leaving them as a one-hit-wonder. ‘Little Girl’ is on permanent rotation in the one-hit-wonder section of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
‘Little Girl’ has been covered multiple times – by The Residents, The Divinyls, and The Dead Boys, while R.E.M. played it at early live shows. UK punk band The Banned reached the top 40 with their cover of the song.
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Instantly recognized this fabulous tune. The drums are great on it along with the vocals and guitars. Good to know some history of it.
I’d never heard it before. Definitely one of the stronger Nuggets.
Being ancient, I fondly remember this tune. Of course, being born & raised in the San Jose area where the band originated, it’s natural I would have heard it a lot on the radio.
Cool – there’s been another San Jose band from Nuggets if I remember correctly?
One of New Zealand’s most famous 1960s songs is Ray Columbus and The Invaders’ ‘She’s A Mod’. They lived over the back fence from my mum in the 1960s, and she could hear them practicing.
Great tune with a neat sound. While I’m also no longer 18, I didn’t know it! 🙂
I barely knew any of the Nuggets tunes – just a few obvious ones like ‘Louie Louie’.
****Top 5 Nugget****
It might squeak into my top ten. I’ve barely handed out any 10s so far.
Another one I didn’t have to listen to. Have heard it 10,000 times. Intro chords: A-D-G-C-G
Have you played it before? It’s impressive that you remember the opening chords.
Not too long ago I heard it on the radio and wanted to figure out that progression. Never played it in a band and likely never will. Musicians are a bunch of ego-driven jerks so I prefer to play by myself.
I’ve always liked this song… very catchy and he seems so damn happy singing it. Its a good one. I like more of the raw nuggets more but…yea this one would be in my top 10 or so.
Yeah, I think I tend to gravitate to the edgy ones too.