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Personal
Favourite Sixties Records
I haven't
even scratched the surface of all the great sixties albums, a
decade as far as musical revolutions go, was the most significant,
with British bands like The Beatles dominating the list. Although
the early seventies gave us more frequency of classic albums
with better production techniques and fully realised concepts,
the sixties was on par and in many cases surpassing the seventies
era in terms of quality. This is the most limiting list in my
guide as album were only seriously considered by artists and
record labels until 1965. Before Bob Dylan turned the album format
into a serious artist outlet, most albums were a couple of great
singles padded out with absolute filler, thus not really worth
considering owning by me personally.
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1 |
The Beatles
- 'Revolver' (1966) |
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 It's difficult to judge
which was the Beatles greatest album, as any their late sixties
releases could hold the title, but 'Revolver' would certainly
challenge very strongly for #1 position such was it's impact
and significance to music. You can't argue with the likes of
the orchestral 'Eleaner Rigby' or the experimental 'Tomorrow
Never Knows' the song which Chemical Brothers kept trying to
replicate on their hits 'Setting Sun' and 'Let Forever Be'. Then
there is the opening 'Taxman' a jaunty rocker with cynical lyrics
penned by the late George Harrison. Include the children's favourite
'Yellow Submarine' and druggy 'I'm Only Sleeping', and we have
one the greatest albums of all time regardless of genre. |
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2 |
Beach Boys -
'Pet Sounds' (Capitol
1966) |
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 The
brainchild of creative genius Brian Wilson, 'Pet Sounds' was
an intense, lush masterpiece of harmonious splendor. Obsessed
by competing with the groundbreaking 'Revolver' the Beatles released
a year earlier, Wilson holed himself into his studio to create
an album of great ambition and scope in tracks of 'Caroline No'
and 'God Only Knows' caliber. That 'Pet Sounds' was overshadowed
by the Beatles' culture-defining 'Sgt. Pepper' proved to be one
of life's great injustices. As the decades past, 'Pet Sounds'
has remained one of the most celebrated albums of the era, continuously
praised, pored over and analysed, and for good reason, the vocal
harmonies are beyond compare, the songs so soothing they blissfully
float from the speakers. |
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3 |
Jimi Hendrix
- 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience' (1967) |
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 Easily amongst the finest
debuts of all time, Hendrix was a breath of fresh air on the
rock scene, using his guitar in ways no-one before or since could
fathom. Completing the line-up by drummer Mitch Mitchell and
bassist Noel Redding, the trio were a tight and efficient rock
band as well, knocking out material of a sublime nature. Instantly
recognisable intros to 'Foxy Lady' and bonus track 'Purple Haze'
still creates excitement. What makes a great record even better
is that recent editions of the debut include early singles and
B-Sides like the before mentioned 'Purple Haze', 'The Wind Cries
Mary', 'Hey Joe' and 'Stone Free' that match or in some circumstances
surpass the original material. |
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4 |
The Beatles
- 'The White Album' (Apple
1969) |
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 Recorded
amidst tensions and conflicting interests, the huge double album
with a blank cover was a fascinating insight into the different
facets of the four Beatles, from out-and-out rockers 'Helter
Skelter' and 'Back In The USSR' to the avant-garde of 'Revolution
No.9' and threatening 'Happiness Is A Warm Gun'. Tucked away
is Harrison's finest hour 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' a stunning
exercise in the art of song writing. Unlike many double albums,
'The White Album' is remarkably consistent, even the throw-away
moments like 'Honey Pie' and 'Bungalow Bill' having some worth,
and Paul McCartney's rollicking 'Let's Do It In The Road' is
rescued by it's energy and charm. The album has got everything;
from the intelligent phrasings, wild experimentation with song
structures, songs that can be interpreted in many ways, like
Charles Manson did with 'Piggies', the proto-punk of 'Helter
Skelter', and lovely acoustic moments like 'Martha' and 'Julia'.
It all shows a band at the peak of their creativity, when the
greatest band on Earth could play anything and pull it off. |
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5 |
Led Zeppelin
- 'Led Zeppelin I' (1969) |
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 Reportedly
recorded in just thirty hours, the eponymous debut album incorporated
heavy blues-based structures with a classical undertone, resulting
in one of rock's most impressive debuts. It catches the early
live Led Zep experience in the studio, a band eager to document
all those hard touring days onto tape. The spontaneous vibe adds
youthful energy, most notably on the rapid-fire rock of 'Communication
Breakdown' contrasting well with acoustic instrumental 'Black
Mountain Side', showing diversity and dynamic proficiency within
the music that was later explored on follow-up 'Led Zeppelin
II'. The techniques Jimmy Page played with his axe was an eye-opener
for the competition at the close of Sixties, the creepy guitar
tone and deadly slow riff to 'Dazed & Confused' gave Blues
a sinister re-working, and John Bonham pounded his drums with
such ferocity, it felt like the drumkit would collapse with the
power at any time. |
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6 |
Jimi Hendrix
- 'Electric Ladyland' (1967) |
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 The
greatest guitarist of all time™ delivered his most complete
album after wowing audiences during the late 60s with breathtaking
guitar playing. Experimental in places ('Burning The Midnight
Oil') and straight forward in others ('Long Hot Summer Night'),
it's not until the final two tracks that the album hits it's
peak with the flawless reading of Dylan's 'All Along The Watchtower'
and ending with the guitar workout of 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)'.
An album every wannabe guitarist needs to own to show how it's
really done. |
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7 |
The Beatles
- 'Sgt Pepper Lonely Heart's Club Band' (1967) |
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 Expanding on 'Revolver's
breaking the rulebook on experimentation, 'Sgt Pepper…'
became the landmark album of the decade, the moment when critic
snobs were forced to admit pop music was here to stay as a serious
art form. Dominated by Paul McCartney's compositions, there are
clever arrangements in abundance; 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds'
is psychedelia at it's finest while 'A Day In The Life' is the
album's masterpiece, a haunting and dynamic social commentary.
It's apparent that John Lennon was pushed into the background
with fewer contributions than usual, but everyone in the band
including "fifth" member George Martin on production
duties are at the top of their creatively that grew even more
on the later 'White Album'. |
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8 |
Bob Dylan -
'Highway 61 Revisited' (1965) |
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 As
Dylan's first fully-fledged electric album, controversy beckoned
as folk purists were left angered at his leap into the rock medium.
Effectively fusing folk based sensibilities to R&B, a new
type of rock music was created that went beyond traditional forms
that contemporaries were using. Bookended by 'Like A Rolling
Stone' and 'Desolation Row', 'Highway 61 Revisited' is Dylan's
most consistently brilliant album. |
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9 |
Love - 'Forever
Changes' (1967) |
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 This
is no retro hippy record, sublime textures and refusing to sound
dated in any way, 'Forever Changes' has always been a critic-friendly
record, always high on the "All Time Greatest" lists.
This is with good reason, lush orchestral passages in melodic
folk-rock songs gave way to standouts 'Alone Again Or' and 'A
House Is Not A Motel' that still resonate strongly today. |
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10 |
The Beatles
- 'Abbey Road' (1969) |
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 The last studio Beatles
album, 'Abbey Road' was a glorious send-off, even though 'Let
it Be' was released afterwards although recorded before. George
Harrison gave the world the exceptional 'Something' and 'Here
Comes The Sun', Lennon & McCartney gave further evidence
of their songwriting talents in the oft-covered 'Come Together'
and the celebrated ending suite of half-finished ideas on Side
Two. Even Ringo Starr excelled himself on the pure pop of 'Octopus's
Garden'. Topped off with the iconic album cover of the band using
the zebra crossing next to their Abbey Studios and you have the
ultimate send-off from a band ready to implode. |
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11 |
The Rolling
Stones - 'Let It Bleed' (1969) |
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 Containing
arguably The Stone's most praised song, 'Gimme Shelter', 'Let
It Bleed' was a juggernaut of an album, fusing Keith Richard's
guitar riffs with Jagger's chilling lyrics that covered sex and
death in 'Midnight Rambler' and gave Richard's singing debut
in the ravaged 'You Got The Silver'. Covering Robert Johnson's
Blues standard 'Love In Vain', The Stones had managed to mould
the blues their own image. |
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12 |
The Doors -
'The Doors' (1967) |
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 The
Doors have made a strong body of work between their short, yet
prolific career but the debut remains the band's most convincing
album. With the alluring Jim Morrison penning poetic lyrics set
to a classic rock beat, the number of show-stopping songs is
vast from the instantly recognisable 'Light My Fire' through
'Back Door Man', 'Soul Kitchen' and the enduring 'The End', one
of the decade's most predominant recordings. |
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13 |
The Velvet Underground
- 'Velvet Underground & Nico' (1967) |
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 Failing
to sell on initial release, Andy Warhol's pet project modestly
became one of the Sixties key releases. Openly addressing drugs,
sex and sub-culture, Lou Reed's dark and depraved lyrics dealt
with S&M ('Venus In Furs'), the sleazy side of socializing
('All Tomorrow's Parties') and 'Heroin' became the first rock
song to try and explain the highs and lows of taking smack. Possibly
the most influential alternative record released. |
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14 |
Rolling Stones
- 'Beggar's Banquet' (1968) |
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 From the gritty album cover
of a filthy public toilet to the sinister 'Sympathy For The Devil'
and hard rocking 'Street Fighting Man', 'Beggar's Banquet' captured
the Stones in excellent form. The majority of the tracks however
concentrated on the Blues, with several basic in their arrangements.
The essence of pure Blues was successfully played, with 'Stray
Cat Blues' seeping Stones decadence and sleaze from its pores. |
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15 |
Bob Dylan -
'Blonde On Blonde' (1966) |
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 Containing the
richest set of songs in a double album format, Bob Dylan continued
the gold streak of classic recordings during the sixties with
one of his most revered albums in 'Blonde On Blonde'. Backed
by his touring band The Hawks, Dylan made moving ballads (Visions
of Johanna) and used a diverse use of instruments in brass, pianos
and organs (Rainy Day Women #12 & 35). As always it was Dylan's
witty and intelligent wordplay that delighted most, with tales
told with imagery and vivid marvel. |
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16 |
The Who - 'Tommy'
(1969) |
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 A fully-blown and propitious
concept album based on a deaf, dumb, and blind boy was highly
ambitious from the band, which Pete Townsend virtually wrote
all himself. Like the 'Quadrophenia' album released five years
later, the songs work as a narrative of a boy's story, about
being a 'Pinball Wizard' who's 'Not Going To Take It'. What could
have been off-putting - a spawling and indulgent rock opera -
is saved by the brilliant songs, 'I'm Free' uses a simple guitar
line and pop melody and 'Underture' is a theatrical 10 minute
instrumental of grand ideas. |
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17 |
The Doors -
'Strange Days' (1967) |
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 The sophomore 'Strange
Days' was certainly no slump, although not containing sure-fire
masterpieces; this was the most all-inclusive Doors album with
the songs all feeling perfectly at home together. The minor chart
single 'Love Me Two Times' was poppy and slight when compared
to the dark and creepy 'People Are Strange' and the title track.
The funky 'Moonlight Drive' and the 11 minute closer 'When The
Music's Over' were bombastic and epic, resulting in an under-estimated
release from the Doors back catalogue, when compared to the critical
acclaim the debut and 'LA Woman' receive. |
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18 |
The Byrds -
'Younger Than Yesterday' (1967) |
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 Time has been kind to 'Younger
Than Yesterday' as it was ignored back in 1967, a year that saw
other bands release landmark albums overshadowing the diverse
blend of folk-rock, psychedelia, and early country-rock. As songwriters,
Crosby, McGuinn, and Hillman enhanced their talents, the glitzy
'Everybody's Been Burned' and mocking single 'So You Want to
Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star' rising above the rest. At the height
of flower-power, The Byrds wrote 'Renaissance Fair' that defines
an era. |
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19 |
Scott Walker
- 'Scott Walker 2' (1968) |
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 Like a hard-bitten Bacharach,
Scott Walker channelled some of his idiosyncratic and morose
lyrics into the MOR music, but whereas his contemporaries were
crooning tales of innocent love, Walker was going down the path
of eccentric subjects - prostitutes, transvestites and suicidal
brooders. As Walker's biggest commercial success, his second
album is an assorted collection of schmaltzy orchestral arrangements
ranging from grand pop (hit single 'Jackie') to cynical romanticism
('The Girl And The Dogs') that always made for compelling contrasts,
the lyrics feeling strange next to the orchestral warmth. |
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20 |
Captain Beefheart
And The Magic Band - 'Trout Mask Replica' (1969) |
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 The
record is living proof of Beefheart's bizarre genius; a bewildering
and always mesmerizing journey into the crazed mind an intensely
experimental band at their artistic peak. Containing no less
than 28 tracks, the standard rock set-up of guitars, bass and
drums was used but performed as if the band were not even in
the same room. Different. |
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ALBUMS OF THE
1960'S (# 21 - 40) |
21.
The Beatles - 'Rubber Soul' (1965)
22. The Who - 'The Who Sell Out' (1967)
23. Velvet Underground - 'White Light / White Heat' (1967)
24. The Stooges - 'The Stooges' (1969)
25. Pink Floyd - 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn' (1967)
26. Jimi Hendrix - 'Axis: Bold As Love' (1967)
27. Bob Dylan - 'Bringing It All Back Home' (1965)
28. The Band - 'The Band' (1969)
29. Van Morrison - 'Astral Weeks' (1968)
30. The Beatles - 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964)
31. The Byrds - 'Mr. Tambourine Man' (1965)
32. Rolling Stones - 'Aftermath' (1966)
33. Love - 'Da Capo' (1967)
34. Beach Boys - 'Smiley Smile' (1967)
35. Johnny Cash - 'At Folsom Prison' (1968)
36. The Beatles - 'Magical Mystery Tour' (1967)
37. The Who - 'My Generation' (1965
38. Bob Dylan - 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan' (1964)
39. The Byrds - 'Mr Tambourine Man' (1965)
40. Beach Boys - 'Today' (1965)
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