Nazz: The Complete Nazz 1968 - 1971

The Nazz was an American rock band formed in Philadelphia in 1967. The group was founded by

guitarist and main songwriter Todd Rundgren and bassist Carson Van Osten. Drummer Thom Mooney and vocalist/keyboardist Robert "Stewkey" Antoni joined soon after. The group is best known for their debut single "Open My Eyes”, and "Hello It's Me".
                

Their name was derived from the Yardbirds' song "The Nazz Are Blue". Between 1968 and 1969, the

Nazz released two albums (Nazz and Nazz Nazz). Following the group's disbandment in 1969, a collection of archival Nazz recordings was compiled and released under the title Nazz III, and Rundgren recorded a solo version of "Hello It's Me" that reached number 5 on the U.S. charts.
                

TODD RUNDGREN

Playing lead guitar and bass, respectively, Rundgren and Van Osten were joined by drummer Thom Mooney (formerly of the Munchkins) and lead vocalist/keyboardist Stewkey (born Robert Antoni). The

Nazz had their first gig in July 1967, landing an opening slot at a Doors concert. By September, the group received some financial support from the local record store Bartoff & Warfield, who also put them in touch with John Kurland, a record promoter who was looking for a guitar pop band. Kurland took a shine to the Nazz and signed on as their manager. Throughout the fall, they practiced in their new home base of Great Neck, New York.
           

CARSON G. VAN OSTEN

Kurland and his associate, Michael Friedman, prevented the band from gigging regularly, believing that a lack of performances would increase demand for the group. The managers were were convinced that

the Nazz could be marketed as a sharp, stylish boy band for the teenybopper audience, and helped the quartet members to refashion themselves in that mode. In Phoenix, Arizona, another band called Nazz was formed at about the same time that the Nazz was formed in Philadelphia. This group released only one single before moving to Los Angeles and renaming themselves Alice Cooper. Vocalist/keyboardist Robert Antoni performed and recorded under the mononym Stewkey, which he said was a nickname he earned because he "was always stewed".
                

THOM MOONEY

             
An attempt at recording in England in January 1969 was cut short when the Musicians' Union found they had not obtained proper permission to record in the country, though before returning to the United

States the Nazz did a shopping spree to update their wardrobe, building their definitive look.
The Nazz then recorded their second album in Los Angeles in late 1968 and early 1969. Sources have claimed the album was originally called "Fungo Bat", but Rundgren, Stewkey, and Mooney have all said "Fungo Bat" was just a working title. (A fungo bat is a special baseball bat used only for practice; it is not intended to hit pitched balls.)
                

STEWKEY

Due to tensions which emerged during the recording of the album, Van Osten left shortly after it was completed. The Nazz then played a few shows as a trio, with temporary bassists filling Van Osten's slot,

before Rundgren quit as well. At this point, the Nazz's second album had still yet to be released. At Stewkey and Mooney's request, the planned double album was shortened to a single LP before being released as Nazz Nazz in May 1969. Much of what was cut was piano-based Rundgren material, influenced by singer/songwriter Laura Nyro - a far cry from the group's original Beatles-Who-Yardbirds-Cream derived sound.
                      

                       
For a short time the Nazz continued as a duo, touring with support musicians now covering for both

Rundgren and Van Osten, before formally dissolving. Rundgren had a successful career as a solo artist and with the band Utopia. His biggest solo hit was an up-tempo version of "Hello It's Me", from his 1972 Something/Anything? album, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 22 December 1973.
                 

LINE - UP

                  

Todd Rundgren - guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
Carson Van Osten - bass guitar, backing vocals (died December 22, 2015)
Stewkey - lead vocals and backing vocals, keyboards (died October 9, 2023)
Thom Mooney - drums, occasional backing vocals, percussion
              

Nazz – The Complete Nazz
Label:Cleopatra – CLO 1348, Purple Pyramid – CLO 1348
Format: 3 x CD, Compilation, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: Aug 30, 2019
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock


CD 1. NAZZ  1968     

   
01. Open My Eyes    2:44
02. Back Of Your Mind    3:46
03. See What You Can Be    3:00
04. Hello It's Me    3:57
05. Wildwood Blues    4:36
06. If That's The Way You Feel    4:49
07. When I Get My Plane    3:05
08. Lemming Song    4:26
09. Crowded    2:20
10. She's Goin' Down    4:59

BONUS TRACKS            

             

11. Nazz Radio Commercials    3:00
12. Train Kept A Rollin' (Album Outtake)    3:17
13. Magic Me (AuditionTape)    2:44
14. See What You Can Be (Audition Tape)    2:48
15. Hello It's Me (Demo)    3:47
16. Crowded (Demo)    2:44
17. Open My Eyes (Non-phased Demo)    2:35
18. Lemming Song (Demo)    4:00
19. The Nazz Are Blue (Live)    3:42
20. Why Is It Me (Woody's Truck Stop Version)    3:04
21. Hello It's Me (Mono Single Mix)    4:00
22. Open My Eyes (Mono Single Mix    2:44

Flac Size: 469 MB

CD 2. NAZZ NAZZ    1969   

                       

  
01. Forget All About It    3:31
02. Not Wrong Long    2:26
03. Rain Rider    3:55
04. Gonna Cry Today    3:20
05. Meridian Leeward    3:23
06. Under The Ice    5:46
07. Hang On Paul    2:49
08. Kiddie Boy    3:28
09. Featherbedding Lover    3:00
10. Letters Don't Count    3:26
11. A Beautiful Song    11:40

BONUS TRACKS            

               

12. Not Wrong Long (Extended Beginning)    2:45
13. Love Everywhere (Album Out-take)    6:57
14. Sing A Song (Album Out-take)    2:19
15. Sydney's Lunchbox (Album Out-take)    4:38
16. Letters Don't Count (Todd Vocal)    3:40
17. Meridian Leeward (Alternate Version)    3:45
18. Not Wrong Long (Mono Single Mix)    2:29
19. Under The Ice (Mono Single Mix)    5:32

Flac Size: 509 MB

CD 3. NAZZ III  1971 

                    

 
01. Some People    3:41
02. Only One Winner    3:05
03. Kicks    3:48
04. Resolution    2:44
05. It's Not That Easy    2:40
06. Old Time Lovemaking    2:29
07. Magic Me    3:08
08. Loosen Up    1:29
09. Take The Hand    2:16
10. How Can You Call That Beautiful?    3:39
11. Plenty Of Lovin'    3:46
12. Christopher Columbus    3:24
13. You Are My Window    6:00

BONUS TRACKS            

                

14. Magic Me (Alternate Version)    3:10
15. Resolution (Todd Vocal)    2:37
16. Only One Winner (Todd Vocal)    3:02
17. It's Not That Easy (Todd Vocal)    2:35
18. Take The Hand (Todd Vocal)    2:14
19. How Can You Call That Beautiful? (Todd Vocal)    3:50
20. Forget All About It (Todd Vocal)    3:30
21. Kicks (Long Version)    4:15
22. Some People (Mono Single Mix)    3:33
23. Magic Me (Single Mix)    3:13

Flac Size: 474 MB