I first picked up "Nuggets The Hits" in '85 , tho' I was aware of Pebbles and other comps , because it had all my favorite Garage Rock HITS THAT , BACK THEN ,YOU COULD STILL HEAR ON THE RADIO.
But , some were songs I'd only heard OF , like "Are You A Boy or are You a Girl" (Could'nt believe how sloppy and raw that sounded , to still be an AM RADIO HIT.). I knew about Blue Cheer , but had never heard them until I got that comp. Blew my HEAD off !!! I knew they were considered the First Heavy Metal band , but I had no idea they could make so much Modern Metal , Punk , and , yes , Hardcore , sound lame.
I was hooked , after that. I think bands have been pretty good about acknowledging them , but , it took the Stoner Rock Movement to make people see the connection. Last time Blue Cheer played in Chicago was with three of four Stoner Rock bands. They were'nt even on top of the bill , but , they made an easy meal of all the other bands (In a friendly way. It helped that the audience was receptive to every band that night.).
But , The Balloon Farm , what a great single that is . Brownsville Station did a great Metallic Version of "A Question of Temperature", and , of course , Lords of The New Church did a good version , too (Stiv always sounded like the guy from The Balloon Frm to me !).
