Everybody’s gotta start somewhere. And for musicians, that’s often with a band. As a solo act you’ve got more control, but it can be a lonely venture. In a group you’re a united front, all of you sharing the same experiences, the ups and downs, the twists and turns, as a gang.

The downside, of course, is conflict.

Nazz formed in Philadelphia in 1967, taking their name from a song by The Yardbirds titled “The Nazz Are Blue,” which, in turn, took its name from a 1952 piece called “The Nazz” by comedic hipster monologuist Lord Buckley. Buckley’s Nazz specifically referred to Jesus (of NAZareth), but the term evolved over the years to refer to any cool, hip, with it person.

Unlike most bands, who might draw attention by playing a riveting live gig, Nazz caught the eye — rather than the ear — of a manager while hanging out at a hotel bar, simply because they looked like a rock band (and presumably looked very cool in groovy threads and long hair). Management initially attempted to market them like The Monkees — a bizarre choice given that the band favored a harder-edged brand of power pop. Their music does not scream bubblegum.

All of the band’s songs were written by its lead guitarist, Todd Rundgren, who had previously played in a blues rock outfit until deciding he wanted to marry the production and arrangements of The Beatles with the tough sound of UK rock groups like The Yardbirds and The Who. This is evident in the fiery first single by Nazz, “Open My Eyes,” with its propulsive verses and chorus giving way to a languid, very Rundgrenesque bridge highlighting the group’s lush vocal harmonies.

Released in 1968, “Open My Eyes” fell just outside the Hot 100 (onto the chart known as Bubbling Under). That same year, Rundgren discovered the music of piano-playing singer-songwriter Laura Nyro and his own songs began to shift, emphasizing keyboards rather than guitars. He also began to assert dominance in the studio, taking a strong hand in producing and arranging the songs. The other members of the band bristled at both the new musical direction and Rundgren’s growing need for control and the ensuing tensions eventually broke up the band.

Rundgren, of course, immediately launched a solo career (scoring his biggest hit a few years later with “Hello It’s Me,” a remake of a song he originally recorded with Nazz — but now with loads of piano) and soon became a much in-demand producer (who we’ve met in previous posts on Meat Loaf, The New York Dolls, and XTC). But it all started with a little four-piece band trying to take on the world.

And here is their stoned lugubrious take on “Hello It’s Me”:

Side note: if you’re unfamiliar with Lord Buckley (and chances are, that’s the case), he’s a fascinating cat with a crazy life story and was a favorite of many musicians, comedians, and actors in the 60s and 70s (plus, Al Capone called him “the only person who could make me laugh” — which is some kind of praise).