Nuggets: Night Time by The Strangeloves

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 1965-1968 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 3: Night Time by The Strangeloves
Release Date: 1965
From: New York (although they pretended to be from Australia…)
Aphoristical Rating: 7/10

NIGHT TIME – The Strangeloves [2:29]
(Robert Feldman/Jerry Goldstein/Richard Gottehrer)
Personnel/BOB FELDMAN, JERRY GOLDSTEIN & RICHARD GOTTEHRER: vocals [+ unknown studio musicians]
Arranged by BASSETT HAND
A BOB FELDMAN, JERRY GOLDSTEIN, RICHARD GOTTEHRER Prod.
Recorded in New York, NY
Bang single #S-514 (12/65); Pop #30

The Strangeloves were created by producers Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, and Richard Gottehrer. They’d previously written hits for other artists, most notably The Angels’ ‘My Boyfriend’s Back’.

With musical fashions changing from girl groups to beat groups, the trio formed their own band. They fabricated a backstory where they were sheep farmers from Australia who struck it rich after creating a new crossbreed, the long-haired Gottehrer.

The Strangeloves have two songs on Nuggets, and ‘Night Time’ is the stronger selection. But it’s a strange choice for Nuggets. Created by three experienced producers, it’s a clever facsimile of 1960s garage rock rather than a genuine article.

Both songs follow the same formula, mixing a Bo Diddley beat with an infectious bubblegum pop melody. It’s cynical but effective.

Like ‘I Want Candy’, ‘Night Time’ has often been covered. Artists who’ve tackled it include Dr. Feelgood, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Bahaus, and The J. Geils Band.

Despite the initial success the “band” only made one record, breaking up in 1968. All three Strangeloves remained in the music business. Gottehrer has the most impressive CV, producing records for Richard Hell, Blondie, The Go-Go’s, and Marshall Crenshaw’s classic debut. After a 53-year gap, the three Strangeloves appeared on stage with Yo La Tengo in 2018. Bob Feldman passed away in 2023.

Read More

• Nuggets Song by Song
• 1960s Album Reviews
• Marshall Crenshaw Album Reviews

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