Another 100 albums, and it took me just under a month more than the previous batch! This time around, I’ll try to make this Best Of more comprehensive and less predictable. These songs are from 1967 to 1970 now, which is interesting considering that last time around it was 1955 to 1967. Just goes to show how huge the musical explosion started by the summer of love was!
I’ve decided to go with a Top 10 rather than Top 5 for albums this time, because last time was way too predictable and some great albums got left out. And so without further ado…
Current year in music: 1970
No. 1: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Lennon’s sendoff to The Beatles and 60s optimism – an emotional, gritty and lyrically powerful album that also manages to be extremely enjoyable to listen to with its slimy chords and yelling.
No. 2: Ananda Shankar (1970)
Pioneering the stupidly simple concept of “Sitar Rock”, this was utterly entrancing to listen to and completely unique, from the Rock covers to the classical epics.
No. 3: The Beatles | The White Album (1968)
A ridiculous amount of incredible songs, with a heavier and less psychedelic sound, clearly showing the now divergent styles of each Beatle – essential listening.
No. 4: The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Electric Ladyland (1968)
Quite possibly Hendrix’s best album, more refined but just as blazing. Many of his biggest hits are found here, ending this band’s career with a massive bang.
No. 5: Led Zeppelin II (1969)
This includes many of Zeppelin’s best-known songs – coming out a mere few months after their debut, raw and unhinged power such as this is a rare thing indeed.
No. 6: The Velvet Underground | White Light / White Heat (1968)
Very quirky if not flat-out insane; this is an onslaught of overdriven distortion and primal pounding. Look for the ridiculous 18-minute “Sister Ray”.
No. 7: Johnny Cash At San Quentin (1969)
This album will shatter your perceptions of Country, painting a perfect picture of Cash’s defiant showmanship and catchy music inside that prison in 1969.
No. 8: Frank Zappa | Hot Rats (1969)
Zappa shows off his knack for incredibly unpredictable and original songwriting as well as his prodigal technical skill in this snarky Jazz/Rock instrumental epic.
No. 9: The Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
Somehow meshes Pop, Jazz, Rock, Blues and Psychedelia together into a catchy and flaming 80-minute record that gets more and more experimental as it goes along.
No. 10: The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
Rivals and sometimes surpasses some of The Beatles’ efforts, this bopping nod to rural England is nothing short of a 60s Pop masterpiece.
These songs are not on the 10 albums above, and I tried to avoid songs that are too popular, like The Beatles or Hendrix. These span a ton of genres, but I promise there is a lot to love in each one!
In the chronological order that I heard them, with working links as of this post:
—-1968—-
Os Mutantes – A Minha Menina
(from Os Mutantes)
A quirky, very odd, very psychedelic Brazilian track.
Luckie – Laura Nyro
(from Eli and the Thirteenth Confession)
A completely unique voice, and a contagiously elated song.
Fakin’ It – Simon & Garfunkel
(from Bookends)
A more upbeat track than usual, with some neat pacing tricks.
I Ain’t Superstitious – Jeff Beck
(from Truth)
If you like guitar solos and wah wah, look no further.
Maybe After He’s Gone – The Zombies
(from Odessey and Oracle)
This is 60s Hippie pop at its best.
—-1969—-
Smiling Phases – Blood, Sweat & Tears
(from Blood, Sweat & Tears)
An intriguing mix of 60s Pop and Jazz.
I’m Free – The Who
(from Tommy)
Pinball Wizard was too obvious – this one is awesome too!
Son Of A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
(from Dusty In Memphis)
Ridiculously soulful, yet oddly catchy.
What Goes On – The Velvet Underground
(from The Velvet Underground)
Since when is repetitive garage rock thumping bad?
Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zeppelin
(from Led Zeppelin)
When this song reaches its climax, prepare to do the same.
Stand! – Sly and The Family Stone
(from Stand!)
Happy, experimental hippie rock/soul with neat vocal tricks.
On Sir Francis Drake – The Youngbloods
(from Elephant Mountain)
Quite possibly the best use of an organ I’ve ever heard. Contagious.
Walk On By – Isaac Hayes
(from Hot Buttered Soul)
The single best soul song I have ever heard. Incredibly badass, with tinges of Westerns.
21st Century Schizoid Man – King Crimson
(from In The Court Of The Crimson King)
Gritty progressive rock with more brass than you can shake a creepy album cover at.
Matty Groves – Fairport Convention
(from Liege & Lief)
A sprawling Folk Rock epic with a catchy chorus and a brilliant solo.
The Old Man’s Back Again (Dedicated To The Neo-Stalinist Regime) – Scott Walker
(from Scott 4)
This sounds like it could be in a Bond movie.
—-1970—-
Ramble Tamble – Creedence Clearwater Revival
(from Cosmo’s Factory)
My favourite Creedence track, with brilliant layering of amazing riffs.
Morning Will Come – Spirit
When I Touch You – Spirit
Street Worm – Spirit
(from The Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus)
Short and sweet, but incredibly catchy Rock.
Waiting For The Sun – The Doors
(from Morrison Hotel)
Love those guitar/keyboard breakdowns.
I Found Out – John Lennon
(from Plastic Ono Band)
Okay, so I lied, this is in Album No.1 up there. Whatcha gonna do, this song rules.
Moondance – Van Morrison
(from Moondance)
Laidback, Jazzy, uplifting and will get stuck in your head for days.
Cecilia – Simon & Garfunkel
(from Bridge Over Troubled Water)
Exotic influences and percussion-heavy song that’s hard not to bop along to.
Wild World – Cat Stevens
(from Tea For The Tillerman)
Simple yet beautiful song, the essence of early 70s hippies.
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