The Nazz (album)
Encyclopedia
Nazz is the debut album by psychedelic rock
group the Nazz
. Released in 1968, the album influenced glam rock
and power pop
artists such as David Bowie
and Big Star.
The track "Open My Eyes" has been said to be the inspiration behind one of the earliest songs written by KISS
, "Love Her All I Can", a song originally intended for the pre-KISS band Wicked Lester
. The song would appear on the 1975 KISS album Dressed to Kill
. "Open My Eyes" was accompanied by a promo video, directed by Ray Dennis Steckler
. The Nazz album cover is also rumored to have inspired that of KISS' debut as well as Queen
's Queen II
.
The album also featured the original version of what would become frontman Todd Rundgren
's signature song, "Hello It's Me
", which Rundgren himself would re-record several years later as a solo single for his famous double album, Something/Anything?
.
Nazz peaked at #118 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart, while the original "Hello It's Me" single peaked at #66 on the Pop Singles chart.
The album was remastered and rereleased in 2006 with bonus tracks by Sanctuary Records Group.
later in the 1970s. It was later covered by Groove Theory
for their eponymous album
in 1995. It was also covered by neo-soul artist John Legend
in the mid 2000s. Australian rock group You Am I
covered Open My Eyes at selected gigs in late 2009 with Davey Lane
taking the lead vocal.
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
group the Nazz
The Nazz
Nazz was a psychedelic and garage rock band from the 1960s. The band was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1967 by Todd Rundgren and Carson Van Osten...
. Released in 1968, the album influenced glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
and power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
artists such as David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Big Star.
The track "Open My Eyes" has been said to be the inspiration behind one of the earliest songs written by KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, "Love Her All I Can", a song originally intended for the pre-KISS band Wicked Lester
Wicked Lester
Wicked Lester was the name of the New York-based rock and roll group that would eventually come to be known as Kiss. The band, under its original name, Rainbow, formed in 1970. The most notable original members were bassist Gene Klein, , and rhythm guitarist Stanley Eisen. The two would later be...
. The song would appear on the 1975 KISS album Dressed to Kill
Dressed to Kill
Dressed to Kill is a 1980 erotic crime thriller film written and directed by Brian De Palma. It stars Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen in a Golden Globe nominated performance. The original music score is composed by Pino Donaggio. The film is marketed with the tagline "Brian De Palma,...
. "Open My Eyes" was accompanied by a promo video, directed by Ray Dennis Steckler
Ray Dennis Steckler
Ray Dennis Steckler , also known by the pseudonym Cash Flagg, was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor best known as the low-budget auteur of such cult films as The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies...
. The Nazz album cover is also rumored to have inspired that of KISS' debut as well as Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's Queen II
Queen II
Queen II is the second album by British rock group Queen, released in March 1974. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London in August 1973 with co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Cable, and engineered by Mike Stone....
.
The album also featured the original version of what would become frontman Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
's signature song, "Hello It's Me
Hello It's Me
"Hello It's Me" is a Billboard #5 hit song composed by Todd Rundgren that has been recorded numerous times, and would become Rundgren's best-known song.- Background :...
", which Rundgren himself would re-record several years later as a solo single for his famous double album, Something/Anything?
Something/Anything?
Something/Anything?, released in 1972, is Todd Rundgren's third solo album. It peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold three years after its release, and remains the singer-songwriter's best-selling album...
.
Nazz peaked at #118 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart, while the original "Hello It's Me" single peaked at #66 on the Pop Singles chart.
The album was remastered and rereleased in 2006 with bonus tracks by Sanctuary Records Group.
Side 1
- "Open My Eyes" – 2:48
- "Back of Your Mind" – 3:48
- "See What You Can Be" – 3:00
- "Hello It's Me" – 3:57
- "Wildwood Blues" (Rundgren, Thom Mooney, Robert "Stewkey" Antoni, Carson Van Osten) – 4:39
Side 2
- "If That's the Way You Feel" – 4:49
- "When I Get My Plane" – 3:08
- "Lemming Song" – 4:26
- "Crowded" (Mooney, Stewkey) – 2:20
- "She's Goin' Down" – 4:58
2006 Reissue CD Bonus Track (Sanctuary Records)
- "Nazz Radio Commercials" - 3:02
- "Train Kept A-Rollin'Train Kept A-Rollin'"Train Kept A-Rollin" is a song written by Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, and Lois Mann. Bradshaw first recorded the song as a jump blues in 1951—his best known recording. After a rock and roll version of the song was recorded and released by Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio in 1956, numerous...
" (album outtake) (Tiny BradshawTiny BradshawMyron C. Bradshaw was an American jazz and rhythm and blues bandleader, singer, composer, pianist, and drummer from Youngstown, Ohio.-Early years:...
, Howard Kay, Lois Mann) - 3:22 - "Magic Me" (pre-LP audition tape) - 2:47
- "See What You Can Be" (pre-LP audition tape) - 2:52
- "Hello It's Me" (demo) - 3:51
- "Crowded" (demo) - 2:48
- "Open My Eyes" (non-phasedPhasingIn the compositional technique phasing, the same part is played on two musical instruments, in steady but not identical tempo...
demo) - 2:40 - "Lemming Song" (demo) - 4:04
- "The Nazz Are Blue" (live) (Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Keith RelfKeith RelfKeith William Relf , was a musician best known as the lead singer and harmonica player of The Yardbirds. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic duo Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty, followed by Renaissance, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf, then hard rock...
, Paul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-Smith is best known as a founding member and bassist of the 1960s English band, The Yardbirds, a group that spawned such noteworthy musicians as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page...
, Chris DrejaChris DrejaChris Dreja was the rhythm guitarist, and later bassist, in the 1960s British band, The Yardbirds.-Early life:...
, Jim McCartyJim McCartyJim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
) - 3:47 - "Why Is It Me?" (early version of "Lemming Song" by Woody's Truck Stop) - 3:09
- "Hello It's Me" (mono single mix) - 4:06
- "Open My Eyes" (mono single mix) - 2:05
Nazz
- Robert "Stewkey" Antoni - Keyboards, Vocals
- Thom Mooney - Drums
- Todd RundgrenTodd RundgrenTodd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
- Guitar, Vocals, String Arrangements, Mixing - Carson Van Osten - Bass, Vocals
Production
- Joel Brodsky - Photography
- Michael Friedman - Producer, Photography
- Chris HustonChris HustonChristopher J 'Chris' Huston is a British born record engineer and guitarist.Huston arrived in Wallasey, near Liverpool, toward the end of World War II from an orphanage in North Wales...
- Associate Producer - Bill Inglot - Remastering, Digital Remastering
- Jon LandauJon LandauJon Landau is an American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.He is currently the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
- Liner Notes - Ken Perry - Remastering, Digital Remastering
- Bill Traut - Producer
Cover versions
Todd Rundgren later recorded a solo version of "Hello It's Me". The song was also covered by The Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
later in the 1970s. It was later covered by Groove Theory
Groove Theory
Groove Theory is an American R&B duo, with former member, singer-songwriter Amel Larrieux and songwriter/producer/actor, Bryce Wilson. The group is best known for their 1995 pop/R&B hit, "Tell Me," which reached the top five of Billboard 's Hot 100 and the US Billboard R&B chart.-Early years:The...
for their eponymous album
Groove Theory (album)
-Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*a&r – Paris Davis*art direction – Carol Chen*bass – Darryl Brown, Eric "Ebo" Butler, Kirk Lyons*design – Sean Evans*drums – Ralph Rolle...
in 1995. It was also covered by neo-soul artist John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
in the mid 2000s. Australian rock group You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
covered Open My Eyes at selected gigs in late 2009 with Davey Lane
Davey Lane
David Lane, also known as Davey Lane , is an Australian musician, lead guitarist of You Am I , and frontman of The Pictures...
taking the lead vocal.