After the Beatles landed at New York’s JFK Airport on Feb. 7, 1964, the world took notice and never was quite the same.

John, Paul, George and Ringo served as an inspiration for a legion of kids and young adults who mimicked them by picking up an instrument, growing out their hair and adopting the Beatles-esque fashions of the day.

Bands formed in every neighborhood in every town and rehearsed in garages in hopes of meeting girls and becoming the next big thing. These new bands played teen clubs, pizza parlors and any place that would have them. Not exactly an appearance on “Shindig” or “Hullabaloo,” but you’ve got to start somewhere.

Many of these bands would go on to record and score minor hits in their home towns. And then … they faded away.

“Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-68” is a collection of 118 songs from this era and serves a “great lost chapter” in the annals of music. Originally released as a single compilation of 27 songs, it wasn’t until 1998 that it was released in the expanded four-disc format.

Songs like “Dirty Water” by the Standells, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” by the Thirteenth Floor Elevators as well as “Psycho,” “The Witch” and “Strychnine” by the Sonics have been resurrected for music enthusiasts to appreciate.

These bands and many others (which I haven’t mentioned due to space constraints) would go on to inspire present day garage bands: Guided By Voices, Elf Power and the Makers (and that’s just a taste).

“Strychnine,” in particular, is a rocking number in the vein of Little Richard. The tune has all the essentials for greatness: Gerry Roslie’s voice-shredding, hair-raising vocals combined with the feverish, wailing sax of Rob Lind and the thunderous drumming of Bob “Boom Boom” Bennett. Oh, and not to mention great lyrics (“I like the taste of straight strychnine!”).

Not all the songs collected here are obscure, but the band names might be to you: “Liar, Liar” by the Castaways, “Nobody But Me” by the Human Beinz and “Incense and Peppermints” by the Strawberry Alarm Clock are just a few examples of songs that can be heard on your local oldies station.

You’re probably asking yourself, “Why should I care about what some long-haired weirdos did almost 30 years ago?”

Well, I don’t want to go off on a rant here (to quote Dennis Miller), but music today, for the most part, sounds watered down in comparison. Come on, admit it. Just how many times must our ears be tortured with the songs of yet another formulaic, sugary boy band?

On the flip side, seeking out good music is an adventure most people don’t take (for whatever reason). And yes, good music is indeed being made today, but it requires more than turning on the radio.

Speaking of radio, Chicago Tribune reporter Greg Kot recently noted that most commercial rock stations add only a few songs a week to thin existing playlists of about 20 songs. Not exactly a fair representation of our generation, is it?