00individual was extremely fortunate to have experienced all of these albums when they were first released and first heard on the radio, turntable or tape-deck.
They all share a universal fact in that every track on every album is classic and therefore provide stimulating repeat listenings.
While many of these are cultural time-stamps on the specific times in 1960’s Pop Culture History, they also represent the Counter-Culture state of mind reflecting and encouraging the mass upheaval of society’s unquestioned traditions and values.
This resulted in a revolution that eventually touched on nearly every aspect of life.
The 1960s
In the early ’60s – as a pre-teen life was a unique environment of truly carefree innocence.
The mid-60’s – Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll, countered the War, Injustice and assassinations and saw the height of Pop Culture.
The late 60s – were a very magical, mind-expanding, consciousness raising, and sobering time.
But many of the Counter Culture could see the psychedelic spray-painted writing on the wall, intended as both a limited-time warning and a celebratory declaration, it read: Enjoy.
00individual followed that prophetic mind-set and was able to extend a psychedelic lifestyle up to the mid to late ’70s – at which time much of the Tribe, and Brothers and Sisters around the Nation began to splinter and create their own familial Tribes, or seriously sought their own dreams.
The History
History has already proven the 1960s to be the best economic decade ever and the height of Pop Culture as an influence on society and the phenomenal rise of Rock ‘n’ Roll as a voice and an emotional outlet – and if it were not for those nasty assassinations and that unnecessary war – the 1960s would be untouchable as the Best Decade Ever in History!
The Sincere Thanks
00individual has never stopped thanking all the Gods responsible for granting his soul the perfect specific time-frame to experience life on the earth plane, then, and now.
The List
Let’s start off chronologically with 00individual’s first album purchase at age 11
– the King of the Surf Guitar and Electric Guitar God:
DICK DALE and his DELTONES
SURFERS’ CHOICE – 1962
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A Preternatural Transcendent Killer Album packed with seminal Space Rock Instrumental Gems:
the VENTURES
THE VENTURES IN SPACE – 1964
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This is one of the most Bad-Ass Albums ever!
00individual connected to this music on a primal level, back then and now – it seems like home. This is raw and honest and it all becomes very mystical and sometimes spiritual when music has the power to touch your soul – and become part of it.
Oh, and Van’s the MAN!
THEM
THEM (Here Comes the Night) – July 1965
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Predecessors for nearly all Psychedelic Heavy Metal Hard Rock Blues bands to follow – The Yardbirds were on a far more advanced approach to Rock than anyone on the scene at that time.
the YARDBIRDS
HAVING A RAVE UP – November 20, 1965
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This as a classic Rock Album; the spirit of Rock goes far deeper than volume and virtuosity.
And as a Historic Album, there is no question as Sunshine Superman is recognized as the
First Psychedelic Song . . . and then there’s “Season of the Witch”.
DONOVAN
SUNSHINE SUPERMAN – September 1966
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To hear the Doors debut album for the first time is an exhilarating experience for anyone – to hear the Doors’ debut album for the first time at age 16 in 1967 was a life-changing experience.
the DOORS
the DOORS – January 4, 1967
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The first time 00individual heard the Jimi Hendrix Experience “Are You Experienced” album was on an 8-track tape in my buddy’s ’52 Chevy. He was into R ‘n’ B and bought the new release tape thinking that the Experience was a new English soul group. We were going to cruise around but once the tape started we sat mesmerized – experienced.
the JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED – May 12, 1967
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This was the true essence of 1967 – this wasn’t about carnival characters – this was about us, this spoke to us.
A perfect non-concept concept album – a brilliant timeless piece of Rock Art.
LOVE
FOREVER CHANGES – November 1967
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. . . a special magic of innocence, wonder and psychedelic imagery with a sound that really fit and amplified the feelings we were experiencing – that everyday thrill and anticipation of a time when just being alive was enough to insure yet another day of exciting potential because
Heaven is in your Mind
TRAFFIC
HEAVEN IS IN YOUR MIND/MR. FANTASY
December 1967
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So here we have a man who was able to absorb the positive introspective Brotherly Love vibe and had the knowledge of what the Psychedelic Experience offered and through a unique combination of Words and Music preserved feelings of the ’60s for historic posterity.
Another excellent non-concept concept album.
JOHNNY RIVERS
REALIZATION – January 1968
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This album got heap strong power.
And to prove the primal potency of this album, upon 00individual’s virgin whiff of this bewitching funky goo he became addicted for life!
“Dey cawl mey . . .”
DR. JOHN, THE NIGHT TRIPPER
GRIS-GRIS – January 22, 1968
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After “Fresh Cream” and “Disraeli Gears” Cream dominated with this impressive Psychedelic Harder Rock Blues classic double album. This was CREAM. This was some serious shit.
CREAM
WHEELS OF FIRE – AUGUST 1968
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“Carnival of Life”, kicks ass and was released when 00individual was 17 in 1968 and experiencing the wondrous effects of marijuana and first trip on Mescaline and the album became an imprint of the beginning of a life-long journey of consciousness-raising, mind-expansion, awareness and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
LEE MICHAELS
CARNIVAL OF LIFE – 1968
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One of 00individual’s personal Top 23 All-Time Favorite Rock Albums;
truly Historic and Classic – to the core.
Back when future superstars; Beck, Wood, Stewart and Hopkins, were young and hungry and cutting loose – Moon’s in there too.
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Arthur Brown’s Crazy World collided with ours and brought forth Psychedelic Shock Rock filled with insane lyrics and high drama by a crazy wildman with his hair-on-fire.
But don’t be fooled, every track on this album is a gem. These addictive songs are driven with unique hooks and riffs by a band that created one of the most memorable imprints of the Psychedelic era. 00individual loves this album!
The CRAZY WORLD of ARTHUR BROWN
September 1968
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. . . and there we were, witnessing the birth of Electric Ladyland. In late ’68 we were chosen to connect to a higher level of Sophisticated Psychedelic Sounds. Shit got primal with deep emotion as Hendrix carved arcane future history with his supernatural ax.
JIMI HENDRIX
ELECTRIC LADYLAND – October 25, 1968
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If we can really look and listen to the essence of how and what music – Rock ‘n’ Roll – moves us, touches our soul, transcends genres, and is truly iconic, historic and pleasurable to our senses,
then “Astral Weeks” is that.
VAN MORRISON
ASTRAL WEEKS – November 1968
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00individual was almost 18 years old when this Rock ‘n’ Roll Monster was released and set a new standard for all those bands who followed.
Like the emergence of Hendrix firing off soundwaves of what was possible; this album created a huge impact – Led Zeppelin just blew the roof off of what we knew about Rock – and the Blues.
LED ZEPPELIN
LED ZEPPELIN – January 12, 1969
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This was a perfect “summer of ’69” album that seemed ubiquitous.
The Who Rocked through a double album with many high-watermark highlights. The tracks emanated a positive sound and an empowered theme that touched on empathetic feelings – as if we were all a little bit “Tommy” at that time in our lives.
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“Then Play On”, was of so full of excellent songs that it had two U.S. versions released; the original September release and the later November release swapping-out Danny Kirwan’s “When You Say” and “My Dream” to make way for Green’s Rock Epic “Oh Well” single parts 1 & 2.
A Stone Solid Classic masterful display of the Best Kick-Ass Cool English Blues Rock . . . and Beyond.
FLEETWOOD MAC
THEN PLAY ON – September 9, 1969
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The Beatles give us their best and final album filled with Rockers and infectious goodies. This album has always had a mystical quality that 00individual cannot separate from the music. It’s all good, pleasurable even, like a time machine for the mind and senses, still, mysterious, cool, hip . . . like the ’69 times and our state of minds.
the BEATLES
ABBEY ROAD – September 26, 1969
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Led Zeppelin began 1969 with their debut album and then ended ’69 with Led Zeppelin II – they owned 1969!
And that was a massive accomplishment as 1969 was the Second Best Year for Rock Album Releases (and in retrospect possibly #1)
LED ZEPPELIN
LED ZEPPELIN II – October 22, 1969
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It’s nice to realize (fantasize?) that as long as there are Rockers with Spirit, long after the population of the ’60’s and ’70’s Counter Culture is gone, this album will prevail.
Let It Bleed, in its entirety and/or with its individual iconic tracks, empowered the strengths needed of the last-years-as-a-teenager transition into a new level of life full of limitless possibilities.
A highly emblematic album of that very heightened time in history.
The ROLLING STONES
LET IT BLEED – December 5, 1969
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ROCK ON!
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Check out the rest of the
Top 69 Historic & Classic 1960s Rock Albums
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00INDIVIDUAL 
