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 70/118: Run, Run, Run by The Gestures
From: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Aphoristic Rating: 9/10
RUN, RUN, RUN – The Gestures [2:18]
(Dale Menten)
Personnel/DALE MENTEN: vocals, guitar * GUS DEWEY: guitar, vocals * TOM KLUGHERZ: bass * BRUCE WATERSTON: drums
Producer unknown
Recorded in Minneapolis, MN
Soma single #1417 (10/64); Pop #44
The Gestures were formed by four teenagers; Dale Menten on guitar and lead vocals; Donald Gregg “Gus” Dewey on guitar and backup vocals; Tom Klugherz on bass guitar and backup vocals; and Bruce Waterston on drums. They all attended high schools in Mankato, a city in Minnesota where former vice president Schuyler Colfax died from a heart attack in 1885.
The group did the usual teenage band thing – played covers of popular songs at school dances. But they also showed promise as songwriters – vocalist Dale Menten wrote ‘Run, Run, Run’ in 1963. There are several notable songs named ‘Run Run Run’ (with or without commas) from the 1960s. The Who, The Velvet Underground, and The Third Rail (also featured on Nuggets) also had songs with the same title, but The Gestures were first.
‘Run, Run, Run’ is from early in the Nuggets 1965-1968 timeline – it was recorded in late 1964. It’s very much an echo of the British Invasion – it makes sense it was a hit in the wake of Beatlemania, as its very reminiscent of the early Beatles. There’s even a hint of ‘Twist and Shout’ in the ascending chords in the introduction. The song’s good, but it’s the performance that shines with accomplished harmonies and a stinging guitar solo.
‘Run, Run, Run’ made #44 on the charts, impressive from a teenaged band from a small city. Apparently the single’s performance was hampered by distribution issues – it was a popular radio hit but wasn’t available in stores. The band only made a couple of singles before drifting apart, with Dale Menten joining another local band, The Rhythm Kings.
The Gestures recorded enough songs to furnish a 1996 compilation. They’re also performed reunion gigs in the 21st century.
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