Out Now · Third Man Records

Best Collection

The definitive anthology from Los Angeles power pop originators The Nerves, marking 50 years since their debut EP. 66 minutes, newly remastered from the original source material.

Digital · CD · Limited-edition 2×LP colored vinyl with liner notes by founding member Peter Case

Featured in SPIN · Reviewed by FLOOD · A Qobuz featured album

Buy the Record Stream It Hear “When You Find Out”

 

Jack Lee · Peter Case · Paul Collins

The Band

Jack Lee

Guitar and vocals

He wrote “Hanging on the Telephone” and “Come Back and Stay”. 1952 to 2023. His archive is at jackleearchives.com

Peter Case

Bass and vocals

He went on to form The Plimsouls and a long solo career, at petercase.com

Paul Collins

Drums and vocals

He went on to form The Beat, also known as Paul Collins’ Beat, at thepaulcollinsbeat.com

Third Man Records · 29 tracks

Best Collection Tracklist

  1. Hanging On The Telephone
  2. When You Find Out
  3. Give Me Some Time
  4. Working Too Hard
  5. Are You Famous
  6. Letter To G
  7. Day In And Day Out
  8. You Won’t Be Happy
  9. Stand Back And Take A Good Look
  10. Many Roads To Follow
  11. Why Am I Lonely?
  12. Come Back And Stay / I Need Your Love
  13. Any Day Now
  14. Will You Come Through?
  15. One Way Ticket
  16. Paper Dolls
  17. Walking Out On Love
  18. House On The Hill
  19. Little Suzy
  20. Radio Station
  21. Everyday Things
  22. Do You Wanna Love Me?
  23. Thing Of The Past
  24. I Don’t Fit In
  25. USA
  26. Let Me Into Your Life
  27. I Need Your Love
  28. One Way Ticket (Demo)
  29. Paper Dolls (Demo)

Best Collection · Out now

Common Questions

Who were The Nerves?

The Nerves were an American power pop trio formed in San Francisco in 1974 and based in Los Angeles, made up of Jack Lee, Peter Case, and Paul Collins. They released only one four-song EP in 1976 before splitting in 1978, yet they became one of the most influential bands in power pop and helped write the DIY playbook by booking their own national tour.

When was The Nerves ’Best Collection’ released?

The Nerves - Best Collection is out now. It was released on October 23, 2026 via Third Man Records, marking the 50th anniversary of the band’s 1976 debut EP. It is available digitally, on CD, and as a limited-edition 2xLP colored vinyl with liner notes by founding member Peter Case.

What songs are on The Nerves’ ’Best Collection’?

Best Collection has 29 tracks. It opens with the four songs from the band’s 1976 debut EP: ’Hanging On The Telephone’, ’When You Find Out’, ’Give Me Some Time’ and ’Working Too Hard’. It also includes ’Come Back And Stay / I Need Your Love’, ’Paper Dolls’, ’One Way Ticket’, ’Walking Out On Love’, ’Radio Station’ and demo versions of ’One Way Ticket’ and ’Paper Dolls’.

What have critics said about ’Best Collection’?

SPIN ran a feature on the band and the anthology, ’The Nerves: 4 Songs, 50 Years’ by Cary Baker, on October 20, 2026. FLOOD reviewed Best Collection on October 21, 2026, and Qobuz chose it as a featured album on release day.

What famous songs did The Nerves write?

The Nerves wrote ’Hanging on the Telephone,’ composed by Jack Lee and later a hit for Blondie in 1978. Jack Lee also wrote ’Come Back and Stay,’ a global hit for Paul Young. The Nerves’ lead single ’When You Find Out’ was written by bassist Peter Case.

What happened to the members of The Nerves?

After The Nerves split in 1978, Peter Case formed The Plimsouls (’A Million Miles Away’) and went on to a Grammy-nominated solo career, and Paul Collins formed The Beat, also known as Paul Collins’ Beat. Jack Lee continued as a songwriter until his death in 2023, and his catalogue is now held by the Jack Lee Archives at jackleearchives.com.

If you like The Nerves, what else should you listen to?

Fans of The Nerves often enjoy Blondie, Buzzcocks, The Plimsouls, Paul Collins’ Beat, Big Star, The Romantics, and other power pop and early new wave bands.