1970′s Historic & Classic Rock Albums . . . . . . . . . . TOP 13 ALBUMS of the 1970 DECADE

EXPERIENCE ROCK HISTORY!

The 1970 Decade came on like gangbusters!  Always wanted to use that phrase, anyway it was true, the sixties’ unloaded nothing less than a tommy-gun spray of individual thought. This freedom of thought triggered the upheaval of unquestioned traditional life that allowed people to break out and enjoy free-form individualistic lifestyles, enriched with open-mindedness and the inner-drive to better oneself.

Although the Love Generation and the Summer of Love were rich history, it was the new decade that served as the exciting natural progression of the excessive “height of the ’60s”, but at the same time the ’70s exposed signs of the end of the dream, a seriously fully-realized corporeal dream.

As one can see, the Rock of the ’70s Decade, unlike Rock’s rise of the ’60s, became marginalized by the dominant Singer/Songwriters of the “Love Songs of the ’70s”, as well as the equally dominant Disco uprising.  But Rock wasn’t entirely devoid of blame – the Rock Spirit had thinned – it was still there, but in sparks, not explosions.

By the end of the ’70s the Counter-Culture had seen, heard and experienced the Historic and Classic days and years when music was in the air, magick was in the blood, adventure was a Trip away, and positive accomplishments had been made.  This era had slipped away and dissipated; the Tribes became a diaspora from a world they created.

But for a blinding light moment in history the ’70s reigned.  The cultivated knowledge and experience of the ’60s created a much wider and deeper Counter-Culture in the ’70s where every faction of life pushed the limits of possibilities.  The Triad of Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll were front and center, with music providing prime assistance to push those limits to unexplainable and unimaginable heights.

If there was even the slightest doubt whether the ’70s could match or surpass the ’60s, it was quickly gone – check out the historic albums all released in just the first year of 1970!
A distillation of 13 albums from just the year 1970 would be tough, so please bear with the omissions of certain well-known historic albums from the entire decade that are well-documented elsewhere, as they are considerately sacrificed to allow other equally important but lesser known albums their due.

The Top 13 albums are not based on best sellers, chart ratings, or desert island choices, these are based on the prevailing Vibe and are specific representations of massive explosions of innovative excellence in creativity and relevance in Music and Rock History.  Rock was a direct-connect to the expression of what it was like to live during that time and these albums represent important and influential time-stamps of once-in-a-lifetime experiences when music was downright intoxicating.

The highly prolific nature of bands’ album releases in the ’70s was amazing and a Top 500 would be a much more satisfying post – however, 00individual does offer  a sensual and satisfying Top 79 Historic & Classic 1970s Rock Albums for your pleasure, or for an extended quickie try the Top 23 Historic & Classic 1970’s Rock Albums.  If it’s a “Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma’am” you’re lookin’ for, you’re in luck, 00individual is all about the excruciating SadoMasochistic madness of reducing subjects to their Top 13 essence.  Here ’tis:

TOP 13 ALBUMS of the 1970 DECADE

The WHO
LIVE AT LEEDS – May 16, 1970

A Rolling Stone readers’ poll in 2012 ranked “Live at Leeds” as the best live album of all time.  That’s something that any Rocker instinctively knows.  It is so far out in front of any other that the WHO own that title for all time.  There will never ever be a period in any future history where the absolute thrill of this album by Iconic Rock Gods could be matched – it’s an impossibility – Historic Rock ‘n’ Roll lightning only strikes once – especially during the era of Historic Cultural Revolution that altered society forever!

Just listening to the opening track, “Young Man Blues”, from the original “Leeds” album, gives 00individual shivers all over!  The “Young Men” were in supernatural top form!

Thrill to the Best WHO Concert Ever – The WHO – June 14, 1970 – Anaheim Stadium  (scroll down past Hendrix).

QUATERMASS
QUATERMASS – May 1970

QUATERMASS were easily one of the underlying seminal forces of Metal / Prog  / Blues / Rock and are by far the Best Unknown Band EVER (along with Rumplestiltskin) that somehow slipped through the entire Rock History canon.  00individual is still mystified that this album by a superb power trio did not become as popular as any Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple album of its time. Each song on the album is 100% strong, no filler, solid super Hard Rock with an incredible use of a real string orchestra.  This is the definitive synthesis of Rock and Classical Orchestration; violins, cellos, violas; that counter-point and blend seamlessly into a beyond-belief sonic orgasmic SuperRockFest.

This is/was as about as close as you can get to a perfect album on all counts, the song-writing and lyrics are deep and meaningful, Johnny Gustafson’s soulful Blues vocals match the mood of every lyric and emotion and his bass-lines are some of the strongest memorable riffs in Rock, Mick Underwood’s drums are perfect and seamlessly connect each transition, and Pete Robinson’s Hammond organ use as a lead guitar and the ability to achieve that effect is beyond belief and near magical.  The engineering and string arrangements (Paul Buckmaster) are gorgeous and deftly, yet dramatically woven into the songs, and the songs – all of them – are the kind that you can listen to over and over again and still get the pleasure and chills that come with those rare moments when a band of musicians come together for a Perfect Storm of Rock.  And in this case leave this one indelible, historic, classic, iconic album that will forever stand as one of the Pinnacles of Rock.

Legend has it that Deep Purple’s break-up and Ritchie Blackmore’s departure is due to his insistence and Deep Purple’s resistance to record: QUATERMASS – ENTROPY / BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY  – eventually he did with his band, Blackmore’s Rainbow.

SANTANA
ABRAXAS – September 1970

This was one of the first albums that 00individual remembers being aware of some major sophistication in the whole sound and presentation; it was a defining moment of excellence that set the bar for all album releases that followed.

From the opening of “Singing Winds, Crying Beasts” Santana had tapped into a higher realm, and then by conjuring up an iconic version of Peter Green’s “Black Magic Woman” / Gabor Szabo’s “Gypsy Queen”.  With this track,  Santana created possibly the #1 guitar build and break in all of Rock History honored as such with Holy silence by true Rockers everywhere beginning at 3:18 and really, on out to the end.  Santana created a Rock Monument of the Highest Level of Musical Achievement with an album that indelibly repped the ’70s era.

PERFORMANCE
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
September 19, 1970

Listening to this album – really listening, from beginning to end may give those who’ve never experienced psychedelics a peek at what all the fun is about – this album is a mind-bending acid trip!

This isn’t easy access Incense and Peppermints Acid, this psychedelic music is sophisticated and closer to the real feelings and sounds one may encounter.  There have been very few albums and movies that truly reflect aspects of a psychedelic trip; Terry Gilliam, Johnny Depp and Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is one of the all-around best movies – as Performance is for albums.  And just like with LSD; this album lets you experience different levels of reality that can take you to different places (visionary, hallucinogenic) but are part of the whole trip.  And the album’s blend of styles and overall excellent quality of the music only heightens the visceral and highly appropriate drug-induced surreality of the whole film’s trip.

Most of the music was written by Jack Nitzsche, a visionary in Rock History from waaaay back with his cool, cool hit “The Lonely Surfer”, plus Randy Newman, Mick Jagger, Merry Clayton, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bernard Krause, Ry Cooder, Lowell George, and many other adepts in their field.

To feel honesty in music is rarer than one would think, the like minds within Performance succeeded, as did Elton John and Bernie Taupin . . .

ELTON JOHN
TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION – October 30, 1970

Like Dylan’s “John Wesley Harding” in ’67 and the Band’s “Music from Big Pink” in ’68, Elton took an Old West / Civil War Roots Rock concept and developed one of the most interesting and amazing albums of his career.

How Elton and his Brit lyricist counter-part Bernie Taupin could tap into and evoke the authentic feelings about and from those early American times through infectious rockin’ tunes is truly amazing – AND there’s not a weak track on the album.
Within all of the acclaim and awards for his albums and music; for 00individual and Hippies of the early ’70s it’s all about this little album that proved Elton’s real genius.

RUMPLESTILTSKIN
RUMPLESTILTSKIN – 1970

Rumplestiltskin is the classic example of a band that very few even knew existed.  Another band whose record company’s handling of them was apparently tragic.

Shel Talmy, the producer of The Who and The Kinks (during their early successful years) whose heavy influence with The Who created a historic recording, “My Generation,” has this to say: “I produced a band called “Rumpelstiltskin”, which was a put-together band of very good session guys, and we almost made it with that one.  We had a whole concept.  We were going to do a comic strip and all kinds of stuff.  It was really a fun thing. And good songs, great music, ’cause these guys really could play. That went on Bell Records, [who] just totally screwed the whole thing up.  It was really unfortunate.

Remember that Led Zeppelin were quality session players that made it big – Rumplestiltskin were on the right path with the wrong record company.

Every cut is really, really great – big chunks of guitar with monster hooks, bass-lines that shake the ground and slabs of hot, hot Hammond organ with a commanding soulful voice soaring through it all unscathed.  Really solid unique heavy meaty tracks!  This album is seriously great and showed the potential of the new decade.

Take the first track; “Make Me Make You” – classic hooks, transitions and totally hip and cool passages – at a little past six minutes it sounds as though Keith Emerson dropped-in for a bit.  This track alone demands repeat listenings – plus – this is the “Gateway Drug” song for the rest of the album, if you like it you’ll love the rest.

Due to a rise in current interest there are a few vinyl albums available through online auctions and even a limited run CD on the Repertoire label.

DAVID CROSBY
IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME
February 22, 1971

David Crosby, a true Rock ‘n’ Roll  icon, created one of the most beautiful, richly rewarding and infectious Rock albums of all time with his first solo effort.
“Crosby, Stills and Nash” debut album and “Deja Vu” are both great historic albums, no argument, but this album is a clear example of the dominate influence Crosby had with CSN (& Y’s) “sound”; as well as with the seminal psychedelic folk-rock group The Byrds.

This is truly an album that never got the appreciation it should have and like Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks” it has its own distinct and unique “feel” to it that begs repeated listenings.  A superior recording that continually sounds appropriate anytime, and like Dave Mason’s “Alone Together” album, it epitomizes the height of the Hippie-era.

One last thought; the totally cool and hip track; “Cowboy Movie” should have been made into a cowboy movie – and still should, with David Crosby composing the soundtrack and appearing in a cameo.  And like a Tarantino film; bring back all the classic “western-type” iconic dudes like Peckinpah did with the classic, “Pat Garret and Billy the Kid”, mixed in with some cool young dudes of today – then plumb the depths of the story – it would be an absolute trip!
00individual offers his services to adapt and write a killer screenplay!
Hey, don’t look at him like that, he’s written a WGA registered screenplay – he’s serious!
No, really!  Gotta talk “Cowboy Movie” – Head to Head.
00individual@gmail.com

The ROLLING STONES
STICKY FINGERS – April 23, 1971

Here’s the album that ignited the first half of the decade that would forever stand as the Pinnacle of Rock ‘n’ Roll.  These tracks were were as gritty, pure, beautiful and rousingly refreshing as the era in which they impacted!

The Stones were one-fourth of the top groups whose historic album releases just got better and better; this applies to The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd.

To end the ’60’s decade with the masterful “Let It Bleed” was a blessed gift with perfect timing to celebrate the decade.  To open the decade with “Sticky Fingers” was all of the certified proof needed that the ’70s were gonna Rock Hard!  Leave it to the World’s Greatest Rock ”n’ Roll Band: The Rolling Stones to lead the way!

PINK FLOYD
MEDDLE  – October 30, 1971

It was the night before Hallowe’en, over four decades ago that an inter-dimensional cross-rip of truly transcendent Rock was released to the world – Pink Floyd’s “Meddle”.
If ever there was a record that had the power to transcend space and time, it was this album.  Meddle was the doorway to other dimensions and “ECHOES” was the key.
The beauty of this album is its balance – “Echoes” takes you on a wondrous trip that seems to start up again once the record is flipped-over with “One of These Days” which really extends and Rocks the “Echoes” ride with space age sophistication in a compact sonic package laced with a hyper-nitroglycerin bolero that after a righteously well-placed God-like vocal finally shoots its load and soars out into the vastness of space – then builds the bolero up again, soaring and swooping to eventually and literally end in a “Pillow of Winds” , a spacey slide guitar lullaby.  “Fearless” expands on the “Obscured By Clouds”-era Floyd with typical Floydian insight and then listeners get to take a very refreshing walk on the beach at “San Tropez” – what a classy, spacey,  ’40’s upbeat piece!  Even 00individual’s dogs, Bosco, Beau and Shyloe, would join in on “Seamus” (dogs dig the Blues!) and then after all has calmed down, flip Meddle over and start the whole Pleasurable, Cerebral, Space Rockin’ Ride all over again, and again, and again.

DAVID BOWIE
The RISE and FALL of ZIGGY STARDUST
and the SPIDERS FROM MARS – June 6, 1972

Back in 1972 a “Starman” from Mars made himself known to a generation of Rockers yearning for a new sound who were on the verge of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide“.
His message of “Soul Love” was an inspiration and though “It Ain’t Easy” to do in this “Suffragette City” he told us to “Hang Onto Yourself” for just “Five Years” and we too would be a “Star“.  His name was “Ziggy Stardust” and along with “Lady Stardust” he led us into a “Moonage Daydream“of Rock ‘n’ Roll bliss!

Strangely enough, the above “story” is fairly true.  The thrilling climax of the British Invasion bands, the Psychedelic S.F./L.A. bands and the “Supergroups” had run their course and by 1972 Rockers were getting a little edgy, jonesin’ for the next “big thing”.

And then it happened; an androgynous alien arrived on the scene, a powerful Rock ‘n’ Roll mutant with his band, the Spiders from Mars!  That’s right, the Spiders from Mars! How cool was that?  And to top it off his name was Ziggy Stardust!

And the best part, the absolute best part was that Ziggy and his band were just the dynamic explosion of Rock ‘n’ Roll that was desperately needed.  Just like the superhero in any great comic book or movie, Ziggy arrived just in time to save the day!

PINK FLOYD
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON – March 1, 1973

There were a few bands who could claim the ’70s as theirs with consistent historic album releases, but with Pink Floyd it encompasses the entire Historic and Classic Rock Era.

Pink Floyd are on this Top 13 three times; but as hard as 00individual tried, it was next to impossible to not include them as their individual impact and importance in Rock History was undeniable.  In a seriously cut-throat mood “Meddle” and “Wish You Were Here” could be dropped as even though their individual impact on so many levels are important, the phenomena of Dark Side Of The Moon surpasses any Rock album.

This album remained on the Billboard charts for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988 – that’s fifteen years with over fifty million copies sold.  Beyond rankings and sales is the talent and creativity of Waters, Gimour, Wright, and Mason with Alan Parsons engineering, that took a decade’s worth of prolific musical experimentation and dedication to produce a truly spellbinding Rock album that topped every genre in one album.

Dark Side of the Moon was the Peak of the Pinnacle of Rock.

PINK FLOYD
WISH YOU WERE HERE – September 12, 1975

And if the Dark Side of the Moon was the Peak of the Pinnacle of Rock, then Wish You Were Here was the transcendent end result of the the entire Classic Rock Culture History.

With the release of WYWH that was it; Rock had peaked at its highest point. The sonic tidal wave of the late ’50’s and entire ’60s decade that kept surging forward into the ’70s to seemingly never break, finally crested with WYWH and when that Floyd Tsunami broke it washed away the landscape of any rivals for decades to come.  Rock will never get past this level of accumulated perfection – Pink Floyd never got past this level either.  For with this album there was a shared feeling that joined the four band members from when there were five.  Egos aside, with the soul goal of a quasi tribute to Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd founder and the band’s inspiration, and swipes at the music industry, they succeeded in every respect – but in doing so reached a level of rarefied air that also served as the beginning of the end for the Waters, Gilmour, Wright, Mason band.  Things would never be the same.

The somber tone of their “Animals” album was expressed in the lyrics, ‘. . .  dragged down by the stone.”; “The Wall” was a ponderous Waters-dominated magnum opus, and even “The Division Bell” had a dark death knell feel about it.  This is an honest mini-critique by a solid Floyd fan.  If you know Pink Floyd, then you know what 00individual is saying – after WYWH the historic music continued, but the spirit had dwindled and The Wall separated the band.

However, WYWH became Rock Music’s “The Wild Bunch”, the last of the best in a land whose landscape had changed and had exhausted its Classic Rock domination.  After ’75 an incredible era lost i’s magickal power and begrudgingly came to an end, and a new era began – the ’80s, the last fun decade.

The PRETENDERS
December 27, 1979

But wait, there’s a brilliant light of Rock ‘n’ Roll hope at the end of the ’70s decade tunnel.
Coming in just under the wire and ending the decade with a dynamic hard-rockin’ soulful and totally classic debut album release; The Pretenders redeemed a decade that had nearly lost its Rock ‘n’ Roll Spirit.
Ranked respectfully high on all pertinent “Best of Rock ” lists; this album is jam-packed with classic gems that are both infectious and righteous – this due to Chrissie Hynde’s classic voice and writing talent.  It’s the fun of the British Invasion and the hard-edged precision of serious Rock.  The Pretenders were the essence of things to come as the leaders of New Wave, Punk, and ’80’s Rock.

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While this Top 13 is influenced by 00individual’s personal experience, it also represents the Legion of Individuals who passed through the decade-long Halls of the ‘70s during their youth, teens, and early-to-mid to late twenties.  With these albums as their soundtrack, they emerged empowered and ready to say goodbye to the Classic Days of Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll for an unknown, yet potentially exciting sonic future of infinite possibilities.

Guess it’s true; all good things must come to an end.

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1960′s Historic & Classic Rock Albums . . . . . . . . . . TOP 13 ALBUMS of the 1960 DECADE

EXPERIENCE ROCK HISTORY!

The 1960 Decade contained the core of the historic Pop Culture explosion that spread to all corners of society.  Within that core was the music; a direct-connect to the expression of what it was like to live during that time.  When each of these 13 albums were released the sonic waves that they created throughout the year, throughout the decade, throughout history, was inescapable – a cosmic Rock Renaissance was evolving and 00individual was smack in the middle of it and can testify to the thrill.

These albums are not based on best sellers, chart ratings, or desert island choices, these are based on the prevailing Vibe and are specific representations of massive explosions of innovative excellence in creativity and relevance in Music and Rock History.  Every album is an important and influential time-stamp of a once-in-a-lifetime experience when music was downright intoxicating.

Please bear with the omissions of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s, The Beach Boys, and Dylan albums; their justified accolades and places in Rock History are extremely well-known and documented elsewhere, and are considerately sacrificed to allow other albums their due

The highly prolific nature of bands’ album releases back then was amazing and a Top 500 would be a much more satisfying post – however, 00individual does offer a mutually-satisfying
Top 69 Historic & Classic 1960s Rock Albums for your pleasure, or for an extended quickie try the Top 23 Historic & Classic 1960’s Rock Albums.  If it’s a “Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma’am” you’re lookin’ for, you’re in luck, 00individual is all about the excruciating SadoMasochistic madness of reducing subjects to their Top 13 essence.  Here ’tis:

TOP 13 ALBUMS of the 1970 DECADE

DICK DALE and his DEL-TONES – SURFERS’ CHOICE – 1962 

Here is the earliest entry of the Top 13 Albums of the 1960 Decade from way back in 1962 when 00individual was 11 years old; from the Man, The King of the Surf Guitar, Dick Dale!
Before Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, Page and all of the rest, Dick Dale was the innovative leader of electric guitar and speaker exploration.

By now everyone is familiar with Pulp Fiction’s initial blast of Miserlou in 1994 – but imagine hearing that for the first time three decades earlier in 1962!  That is why every serious Rock guitarist emulated him back then, and why every guitarist since aspires for DD’s level of style, creativeness, virtuosity and enthusiasm.
DD wanted his guitar to sound like the ocean, and while doing so, he created a genre; Surf Rock.

The BEATLES – MEET THE BEATLES – 1964
   

Posing as musicians and singers, these four Liverpudlian scientists developed an aural formula that struck a Pavlovian reaction of irresistible pleasure that linked with all sentient DNA.  Plants, animals, even insects react positively to The Beatles’ music and songs as the Fab Four’s formula surpassed every attempt before and influenced everything after.  Mad Scientists, indeed!

See: 30 Seconds that transformed a generation – The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand.

(The) VENTURES IN SPACE – 1964

The origin of Space Rock!  The Ventures highly-successful career of instrumental albums featuring covers of top hits were world-wide top sellers.   Fortunately, they were all so inspired by the current interest in space exploration, science fiction, and the supernatural, that they chose to make an entire album about those themes.  Arguably one of the very first “concept albums”, it was as important to Space Rock as The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s was to Psychedelic Pop Rock.  They not only started a genre but excelled in its presentation – these tracks were spellbinding – and they rocked!  And even more impressive, The Ventures album cover states that “. . . all the unique, unworldly sounds featured in the album’s tracks were made with musical instruments, rather than with electronic devices.”  Their talents and prescient understanding of what was musically possible created a historic album and a gift to all Space Rock Fiends – – – and surely inspired Pink Floyd.

THEM – (Here Comes the Night) – July 1965

This is one of the most bad-ass albums ever!
It is a major groove throughout and every cut is hip, strong, otherworldly, soulful, melancholy, mystical, empowering, and rocks harder and deeper than anyone at the time or in many cases, since.  With Van Morrison’s unique killer voice up front, there’s a definite mystical earthy quality that the band exudes that is the absolute definition of cool.
Here Comes The Night  2:45, Mystic Eyes 2:41, Don’t Look Back 3:23, Little Girl 2:21, One Two Brown Eyes 2:39, Gloria 2:38, One More Time 2:47, If You And I Could Be As Two 2:35, I Like It Like That 3:35, I’m Gonna Dress In Black 3:34, Route 66 2:22, Go On Home Baby 2:39.
This is perfection; the most honest, down and dirty Blues Rock that is almost primal in its delivery, but can rend the heart at any moment; that is THEM.

The YARDBIRDS – HAVING A RAVE UP – Nov. ‘65

Although many of the groups were covering Blues classics, The Yardbirds were interpreting the Blues not just as cover versions – but as new forms of Rock ‘n’ Roll; the first evidence of Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, and the bright embryonic flash of Heavy Metal.

While The Yardbirds had two of the best Blues Rock guitarists with Jeff Beck on lead guitar on side one of this album and Eric Clapton on lead guitar on side two – it was the perfect combination of the rest of the band, the heart of The Yardbirds; Chris Dreja – rhythm and bass, Jim McCarty – drums , Paul Samwell-Smith – bass, and Keith Relf’s unique vocals, that allowed for three (Jimmy Page joined when Clapton left) of the greatest guitarists the Rock World has known to elevate The Yardbirds far and above the rest.

DONOVAN –SUNSHINE SUPERMAN – Sept. 1966

Early on as a British folksinger Donovan began his distinct sound, and like Dylan (whom he was initially compared to) went electric and transformed the Folk singer into a Rocker.  The Sunshine Superman single is recognized as one of the earliest examples, if not the first, of Psychedelic Pop Rock.  “Season of the Witch” and “The Trip”  are obvious standout classic tracks, but it is the mystical entrancement of the whole album that provides a true alternate consciousness trip to the ethereal side of Rock.

The DOORS – The DOORS – January 4, 1967

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 in 1967 was a life-changing experience.

The Doors’ cerebral music triggered awareness, and for those who pushed limits every day and embraced the mysterious psychedelic unknown The Doors were welcomed as a Rock band from that realm.  Their inimitable quality set them apart from every other band and established not only a high-water mark, but an exalted place in Rock History.  This was some amazing music in 1967.
And then there is . . .

The JIMI HENDRIX EXPEREINCE – ARE YOU EXPERIENCED – May 12, 1967

Here is the first album that truly humbles 00individual to review or even speak of.
Up until 1966 Rock ‘n’ Roll even in its most outlandish state had unspoken parameters.  With this 1967 album there were none  – Hendrix created an art form.  He was a force of nature, a master guitarist, a Voodoo Child, a Rock God, who inspired, amazed, deeply affected, and immeasurably impressed generations of music lovers, guitarists and Rockers world-wide and continues to do so.  One listen to this album and even today 50 years later it is as explosive and meaningful as the shock-wave it created back in ’67.

LOVE – FOREVER CHANGES – November 1967

Coming off of the Summer of Love 1967, with Sgt. Pepper’s dominating the atmosphere, a little band in L.A. touched a far deeper and meaningful psychedelic groove.  The true essence of 1967 wasn’t about carnival characters, it was about the Hippies, the Counter-Culture, and Individuals – this album spoke to them, not at them.  Filled with emotionally-moving imagery and introspective thoughts and ideas, Arthur Lee and Love rocked an extremely creative blend of genres and compositions perfectly.  Forever Changes; a true Classic Rock Masterpiece of Excellence.

JEFF BECK – TRUTH – August 1968

TRUTH – Best Psych Hard Rock Blues Album, Ever.

Jeff Beck, straight from another Top 13 band, The Yardbirds, stepped-up and electrified-in-stone his hierarchy in Rock with the album, “Truth”; with a Rock ‘n’ Roll Rebel-Rouser (I Ain’t Superstitious) with ethereal guitar (Greensleeves) and righteous soul (Ol’ Man River) – all done with a flashy Rock panache that was the embodiment of the youthful attitude of immortality and emblematic of a period that seemed suspended in time.

Jeff Beck has had a highly successful life-long career as a True Guitar God and a proven innovator and genre-fusing solo artist.  With Rod Stewart, who gets to showcase his vocals extraordinaire, Ron Wood on bass (who would later again join up with Rod on his solo ventures and with the Faces before becoming a Stone) and Micky Waller on drums (who performed and recorded with all the heavies) and with guest drummers Keith Moon and Aynsley Dunbar and accented with Nicky Hopkins tickling the ivories and John Paul Jones on Hammond organ – and Jimmy Page’s signature touch here and there made for a historic band.  Major influential Heavy Metal, Hard Rock Blues album!

The JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE – ELECTRIC LADYLAND – October 25, 1968

In late ’68 Rockers were chosen to connect to a higher level of Psychedelic Sounds.  Shit got primal with deep emotion as Hendrix carved arcane history with his supernatural axe.  Rockers were awestruck as they witnessed the sound sensation and manifestation of Electric Ladyland.

Not-so-strangely, Electric Ladyland served as an actual place, a safe harbor, a place where Rockers, Hippies, and the Counter-Culture could call home.  The sounds struck spiritually-soothing chords within; 00individual was experiencing the first true excursions into Psychedelic Soul.

00individual has to testify that being 17 in ’68 was a very weird and wonderful time in history in a very strange atmosphere where MLK, Jr. and RFK were assassinated, the Vietnam War raged, and Hendrix released his double album of sonic empowerment with transcendent tracks that possessed the ability to achieve higher mental states – Burning of the Midnight Lamp, in particular, does that for 00individual.

FLEETWOOD MAC – THEN PLAY ON – September 9, 1969

The original all-male Mac!  Peter Green’s genius with guitar and compositions, and the other-worldly-class talent in Fleetwood Mac; John McVie, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan and Mick Fleetwood, were all supernatural.  This is the blues album that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Fates brought “The Mac” together for.  Drop the needle anywhere on any track on this album and you will experience a super-reality of the Blues, of Rock, of Music.  This album is truly a gem; the pure essence of the best British Blues of the ’60s and an opiate for the ears, mind and soul.

The ROLLING STONES – LET IT BLEED – December 5, 1969

Allright.  Allright.  Allright.
Let’s give it up for the World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band, The Rolling Stones!

Let It Bleed, the Stones transitional masterpiece album between Beggar’s Banquet and Sticky Fingers appropriately ends the decade with a glimpse of the excellence of Rock to come.

Counter-Culture Rockers were captivated with The Rolling Stones’ Let It Bleed album; the Stones met the Rock Evolution challenge with a relevant, high-powered onslaught of Rock perfection.  Gimme Shelter, Live With Me, Midnight Rambler, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and Monkey Man!;  these tracks were bold and clearly defined an era, an era that was reaching its zenith, but had yet to see its full glory.

Let It Bleed is an epic historic time-stamp of music, history, zeitgeist, and exploration, and the Best Rock Ever!
In 1969, this was Mighty Powerful Shit – still is.

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While this Top 13 is influenced by 00individual’s personal experience, it also represents the Legion of Individuals who passed through the decade-long Halls of the ‘60s during their youth, teens, and early twenties.  With these albums as their soundtrack, they emerged empowered and ready for the ultimate Sex, Drugs and Pinnacle of Rock ‘n’ Roll of the early-to-mid ‘70s.   Groovy!

Memory/Vibe triggered: 00individual just had a sensory recollection of the excitement and anticipation of the unknown ’70s in 1969 – it was much like the excitement and anticipation of the unknown ’00s in 1999 – only the ’70s delivered – more than could have been imagined.

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1960’s and 1970’s Culture Archives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PSYCHEDELIC DEEP DREAM GENERATOR

“Strange Days Indeed” copyright 2016 00individual  TLL

CHEAP THRILLS!   GOTCH’YER CHEAP THRILLS RIGHT HERE!   STEP RIGHT UP!
Experience Counter-Culture Psychedelic Visuals Via The DEEP DREAM GENERATOR!

With sincere dedication, 00individual attempts to provide peeks into the Psychedelic Realm through alternate ways.  For a past example see: Experience Psychedelic Fun!  And now here’s another:

The Deep Dream Generator is a computer vision program created by Google that debuted in June 2015.  It enhances patterns in images via algorithmic pareidolia (the imagined perception of a pattern or meaning where it does not actually exist), thus creating a dreamlike hallucinogenic appearance in the deliberately over-processed images.  A form of pareidolia results by which psychedelic and surreal images are generated algorithmicly and create the resemblance of the imagery to LSD and psilocybin-induced hallucinations.

Grab a tab of acid, er, a, decent monitor/screen to create and view your own personal Psychedelic Hallucinations!!

Access the Deep Dream Generator, open a free account, upload an image, and choose one of two options to generate an image; Deep Style are sophisticated art filters, and Deep Dream is Artificial Intelligence and will trip out on its own.

Each Level has at least 5 iterations, adding another one or two to each Level; Level 1 has 5, Level 2 has 7 and so on.  The Deeper, the weirder, as each iteration incurs further delineation and interpretation.  Sometimes only one or two iterations are needed for something truly psychedelic.

All of the following examples (including the header image) were un-retouched images created by the Deep Dream Generator.

Trippy Tip: The “Default” seems to see birds, small furry animals, and snakes everywhere; so mixing the “Go Deeper” choices can temper that influence.
Also the “Use Your Own” influence is a great alternative to the Neural, Spirit, Default, and Valerian choices.

Deep Dream Level 0
Taking an already psychedelic image of TYA’s Ssssh album cover added a strange jumping-off point that actually went from trippy to creepy

Deep Dream Level 4
The Deep Dream Generator goes up to Level 6 – with Let It Bleed 00individual stopped at 4 as it was starting to blow his mind.

Deep Dream Level 0
Ah, yes, the pareidolia wonders of clouds in the sky and Cannabis smoke in the air.  Play that celestial LP while on LSD and mellowing on a pipe-load of weed.

Deep Dream Level 1
Viewing oneself in a mirror while high on psychedelics can be harrowing, enlightening, or funny experience.
Dig the exasperated look on the light purple reptile monkey frog at the center.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Deep Style – Fairyland – Level 2
Here’s 00individual’s Psychedelic Shack done in the Deep Style filter “Fairyland”.

Deep Dream Level 0
Here’s an image that should be a common sight for Psychonauts, not the skull per se, but the iridescent quality of color where there usually is none.
While in the throes of psychedelics such as LSD, Mescaline, and Psilocybin, this image’s insane details and patterns are spot-on reproductions that upon casual or concentrated viewing would be seen among trails of movement and the edges of the universe of average everyday items.
Trippy fun!

Deep Dream Level 1
What was behind the Tommy web pattern?  Just studio scaffolding?  What a disappointment – unless it is a  . . .

Deep Dream Level 1
After smoking a combo of psychedelic red and green bongwater-filtered nectar, Ginger goes full bird, while Jack goes Rorschach, and Eric hugs a dog.

Deep Dream Level 0
Ginger, Jack, and Eric go all rainbow-head while their psychedelic circular musical instruments are ready to jam.  Check the dog bear peeking at you behind the instrument on Eric’s lap.
This image was Generated with a lower resolution, which gave a different “inception” image, then raised, otherwise the interpretation would have been the same as the first one.

Deep Dream Level 4
00individual experimented and used his own influence with the “Go Deeper” then “Use Your Own” influence – repeated use of the Mickey Mouse Club logo gave Hendrix Mouse ears!

Deep Style – Indian House – Level 2
Brain Salad Surgery album cover gets an abstract graffiti bombed paint job giving it the feeling of a distopian building facade in a future city.

Deep Dream Level 0
Facilitating the “Use Your Own” influence The Doors pass through the Doors of Perception into inception.  Incredibly, it seems that Morrison just can’t resist flashing his privates no matter what Level he’s on!

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Experiment with the Deep Dream Generator like 00individual experimented with psychedelics –
to explore the unknown!

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1960s Culture Archives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mercury in Retrograde: Hippie Nonsense or Reality? Next cycle: August 30, 2016 – September 22, 2016 “A Word To The Wise” PSA by 00individual

MERCURY IN RETROGRADE
A Public Service Announcement.

The 1960s “New Age” Astrology
The 1960s were an extremely enlightening time that presented many different new ideas and concepts and re-discovered arcane views on an unlimited amount of subjects for deeper understanding of life through personal beliefs.

One of the main attractions of the ’60s was the diversity of thought and action and the freedom to express them with virtually no condemnation from Counter-Culture peers.  Individuals lived the way they wanted to with the freedom to be whoever they wanted to be and to get involved in anything they liked.  “Do your thing” was an honored right – and to insure that right, if needed, there was always the polite mental or verbal follow-up, “Just don’t do it on me”.  This evolved attitude presented itself in a vibe that, without malice, could short-circuit any Jesus Freak, Hari Krishna, Pan-handler or Straight from approach.

With his ever-expanding interest in the Occult, anything “Astro”, be it Astrology, Astronomy, or even The Jetsons family dog – 00individual was into.

A viable and thriving Counter-Culture sub-culture of Bohemian Intelligentsia that bordered on the fringe were into the whole “New Age” movement which focused on the Zodiac; the Astrological birth signs of the year.  Those true believers and professionals unfortunately started the whole “What’s your sign”, a serious meaningful inquiry that turned into a superficial pick-up line that became a joke.

People’s opinions haven’t changed that much since the ’60s regarding Horoscopes (forecasts of a person’s future, typically including a delineation of character and circumstances, based on the relative positions of the stars and planets at the time of that person’s birth) as the upscale version of the Fortune Cookie, and merely entertainment at best.  However, this arcane science is based on real things that exist, like the Sun, and the Moon.The Moon
00individual speaks Tribal Truth: regardless of your beliefs or feelings about Astrology and its influence on humans and the world in general, the truth in fact is that the Earth’s oceanic tides are directly influenced by the Moon.  Since Earth is 71% water with a population of humans that are each approximately 60% water (and stardust) common-sense dictates that human reactions and actions can very easily be attributed to the phases of the Moon.  Throughout history it has been documented that the Lunar cycle has had a very strange effect on humans, especially during the days before, on and after a full Moon. The term “Lunatic” is literal verification of this true cause and effect.The Planet Mercury
Mercury which goes retrograde (not actually physically, more of an interplanetary illusion) several times a year for several weeks is said to negatively effect technical, mechanical, communication, travel, and similar non-animated entities like contracts and agreements. These engagements seem to unravel to varying degrees when initiated within the Mercury In Retrograde period.

On the positive side this can present a period of opportunity to review, re-design, and re-think decisions in preparation to pull the trigger once outside the M.I.R. influence.

If the Moon can have definite influence on the inhabitants of planet Earth, then the alignment of the planets to allow Mercury to “pinball” its influential effects several times a year does not seem difficult to comprehend at all.

00individual has had his share of Astrological and Horoscopic experiences in his life to verify these concepts as valid – not through self-fulfilling prophecy – but as a keen observer of not only aspects within his own life, but with others’ as well.Mercury In Retrograde’s Assault
While creating visual website-candy, branding, and conceptual designs for an online start-up several years back, 00individual was two days into M.I.R. when a co-worker and he both had car issues.  Several days later attempts to set up simple existing computer installations within the workplace caused nothing but problems, and in one case one programmer noted that an error came up which he had never seen before.

When the computers finally worked properly, Mercury’s Retrograde influence would sneak in at night to sabotage the previous days efforts, . . . seriously.

Prior to all of this, the art department’s color printer performed reliably smooth – but just days into M.I.R. the printer took on obstinate human characteristics of defiance with an outright deliberate evil sense of schadenfreude – 00individual felt as though he was being punked.

To go on would be like reading a grocery list of M.I.R. shenanigans: sure a female writer was electrocuted but lived to tell the tale, and another was door-jammed locked in her office for 4 hours and out of desperation held a “call 911” sign to her window, and sure, otherwise everyday male “Jekyll’s” frustrations triggered their “Hyde” side, but in the end, determination, awareness and enlightenment was shown as the benefit for surviving yet another Mercury In Retrograde Assault.

At least these M.I.R.s are preparation for when Skynet and/or the Zombie Plague arrive – when reliance will be on ingenuity and mental fortitude, not technology and indifference – unless this is all one big Matrix-like joke humorously cooked-up by the Cosmic Jokers.Showtime
The next Mercury Retrograde cycle begins August 30, 2016 (6:04a PT/9:04a ET) and if reviews are good; will run through September 21 at 10:31p for the West Coast and on September 22 at 1:31a for the East Coast.

Break a leg!

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1960’s and 1970’s Culture Archives . . . . . . . . . . . . . Counter-Culture Interior Design

00individual is stoked to present the interior designs of Gene O’Brien for all of you Rockers and Hippie Psychonaut Counter-Culturists to enjoy.  There’s a universe of culture and history on display as well as the cool vibe that vicariously oozes from the photos.  Sit back, groove, and soak up the psychedelic goodness as Gene tells it like it is, once was, and for him, still is:

The passage of time, the influences of conservative society and alas, the frailty of remembrance, all conspire to arrest the value of our memories.  For those of us who lived through and embraced the 1960’s counterculture, memories are most of what we have left.  Sometimes the smallest thing, a color, a scent, the sound of laughter, can spark a connection to what once was a magical time. This is true of any past experience but the 60’s were so unique that some things can never be repeated.  Music will never be the same, art, fashion, the creative spirit, even personalities, were born of a collective consciousness that was unique.  We have to intentionally find ways to tag our memories and document our experiences or they will be stripped of their authenticity if our history falls into the hands of revisionist dilettantes.

Over the years I strived to create a place that not only tributes the music, art and lifestyle of the counterculture, but is genuine.  I wanted to create a place that was more than nostalgic, a room that provides an experience which will transmogrify in a definite and tangible way.  It’s taken me more than 20 years to collect, arrange and mount the ephemera, relics, and art that can be found in my garage.  Each piece serves as a fragment of time which celebrates the counterculture, triggers flashbacks, and collectively, has an effect that only a time machine could surpass.

Walk through the room and hours can be lost in the cascade of memories that each piece of art, photo, and album cover restarts.  As the memories return a feeling of joy wells up and for the time spent there the room becomes a place where youth is rejuvenated.  Memories of getting stoned and looking at the inside cover of a favorite album while listening to the record play?  No part of the album’s artwork was left unviewed and the experience could be repeated with the next album. Multiply that experience by a thousand and you’ll have some idea what it’s like to spend time in this room.
Most pieces were selected because they could be found in nearly every place where freaks would congregate.  Every album on my wall could be found among the albums collected by people who lived through the music.  Posters hang on the walls from the Fillmore concert halls which were created by artists who had the unique ability to translate the psychedelic experience and share it in glorious color.  Photos can be viewed of people who had personalities that were so unique to the time period, they could not exist during any other era.  Even the blue color of the door was selected because it is reminiscent of the back and stage doors in Greenwich Village coffee houses.
 

BOOKS:
Let It Bleed – Russell, Stone Alone – Wyman, Old Gods Almost Dead – Davis, Exile On
Main Street – Greenfield, You Can’t Always Get What You Want – Cutler, Wild Tales – Nash, Crosby, Stills & Nash – Diltz, Long Time Gone – Crosby, 4 Way Street – Zimmer, Hendrix – McDermott/Kramer, Roomful of Mirrors – Cross, Jimi Hendrix – Black, Riders On The Storm – Densmore, No One Here Gets Out alive – Hopkins/Sugerman, Donovan – Leitch, They Can’t Hide Us Anymore – Havens, Chronicles 1 – Dylan, Hotel California – Hoskins (not a book about the Eagles), Eight Miles High – Unterberger, The Haight Asbury: A History – Perry, Interviews With Icons – Law, Psychedelic Trips for The Mind – Krassner, Rock Encyclopedia – Roxon, With The Beatles – Lapham, Revolution: The Making Of The Beatles White Album – Quantick, The Lost Interviews – Giuliano, Magical Mystery Tour – Bramwell, 1959 The Year Everything Changed – Kaplan, 1968 The Year That Rocked The World – Kurlansky, 1968 In America – Kaiser, 1968 A Student Generation In Revolt – Brasser, The Movement And The Sixties – Anderson, The Sixties: Years Of Hope/Days Of Rage – Gitlin, the Sixties Papers – Albert, Tripping – Hayes, The Psychedelic Reader – Metzner/Weil, Flashbacks – Leary, Timothy Leary: A biography – Greenfield, The Harvard Psychedelic Club – Latin, Acid Dreams – Lee/Shalin, The Varieties Of Psychadelic Experiences – Houston, Summer Of Love – Selvin, Laurel Canyon – Walker, Guitar Army – Sinclair,  Fire And Rain – Browne

RECORDS:
All Things Must Pass, Here We Go Again – Country Joe & The Fish, Between The Buttons, Magical Mystery Tour, Blows Against The Empire, Axis Bold As Love, Layla & Other Love Songs, Stand Up – Jethro Tull, Revolver, Super Session – Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills, Happy Trails – Quicksilver, It’s a Beautiful Day, The Great American Eagle Tragedy – Earth Opera, Time Has Come Today – The Chambers Bros, Blind Faith, Sunshine Superman – Donovan, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper, Their Satanic Majesties…, Disraeli Gears, Traffic 2, Days Of Future Past, Electric Ladyland, Working Man’s Dead, CSN&Y Deja vu, Abraxas, Wheels Of Fire, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Mr. Fantasy – Traffic, What About Me – Quicksilver, Alone Together – Dave Mason, Led Zeppelin III, John Barleycorn, In The Court Of The Crimson King, In Search Of The Lost Chord, Are You Experienced, Beggars Banquet, The Doors, Retrospective – Buffalo Springfield, Turning Point – John Mayall, Moby Grape ‘69, Cheap Thrills – Big Brother & The Holding Company, Santana, The Twain Shall Meet – Eric Burdon & The Animals, Yellow Submarine, Abby Road, Parsley, Sage Rosemary & Thyme, If I Could Only Remember My Name – David Crosby, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, On The Threshold Of A Dream, Mixed Bag – Richie Havens, Led Zep 1

I stayed away from tacky, modern day collectibles and adhered to a vow that everything in the room be as genuine as reasonably possible.  One modern convenience can be found in the room – there are over 3,000 songs on my iPod, almost all of them from the 1960’s.  The convenience was too great to ignore, but at least the iPod is played through a tube amp!

For me, this room is food for my soul.  It’s more than a garage filled with evocative memorabilia – nostalgia would be like a flashback – this room offers a full blown acid trip!

FAR OUT!

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1960’s and 1970’s Culture Archives . . . . . . . . . . . . . 00INDIVIDUAL’S PSYCHEDELIC TOY CHEST featuring BLIPPY, the Psychedelic Alien Flower Child!

“00individual’s Psychedelic Toy Chest” copyright 2016  TLL

EXPERIENCE PSYCHEDELIC TOYS!

The fun, colorful, inventive and creative influence of Psychedelia during the ’60s and the ’70s spread throughout many aspects of society.  It’s designs and decorative use could be seen in nearly everything: art, music, clothing, jewelry, home decor, architecture, advertisements, fashion, furniture, and TOYS!

00individual’s Psychedelic Toy Chest is full of authentic goodies from the ’60s and ’70s – and the more Psychedelic the better.  Once in a while 00individual will dig deep and pull out a special item or items to feature, and here’s a perfect example from 1968; “Blippy in the music box”!

The Mattel Toy Company, home of Barbie – and just a town away from 00individual’s hometown – jumped on board the Psychedelic Train and turned their previously-released “Casper the Friendly Ghost” Jack in the Box, into the spacey purple Psychedelic Alien Flower Child, Blippy!

Blippy’s psychedelic eyes mimicked the pattern of orange and fuchsia of his clothes and he resided in his very own Pop Art decorated box.  The scenes on the sides of the box show him gathering flowers with his girlfriend, playing ball with friends while levitating, riding his pet Alien Dragon, and flying around in his Space Scooter – things all good Counter-Culture Psychonauts did on a regular basis.

With the knowledge of a ten year career in the ’90s and early ’00s as an action figure and toy designer, 00individual has to professionally hand it to the inventive product designers at Mattel – they were trippin’.
They created a viable and timely product with the re-use of already-to-go molds for Casper (in the music box) that with only new artwork for the box panels, purple ABS and PVC plastic, new face paint options, and a couple antennae they had a trippy cost-effective product with Blippy.
With no TV tie-in or commercial appeal; that was the only way that this cute, yet extremely psychedelic drug-induced product got the go-ahead to become a reality; for surely without Casper there would be no Blippy!

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1960’s Historic & Classic Rock Albums . . . . . . . . . . PAUL REVERE & the RAIDERS Greatest Hits

EXPERIENCE ROCK HISTORY!

PAUL REVERE & the RAIDERS – Greatest Hits – Columbia KCS 9462 – May 1967

1965 and 1966 – back when music was fun.  Sigh.

Here’s a band that were destined to represent the best of PopRock when innocence was ripening. Paul Revere and the Raiders were a highly entertaining energetic and solid rockin’ band with members Paul Revere (real name) – keyboards, Mark Lindsey – vocals, Phil “Fang” Volk – bass, Mike “Smitty” Smith – drums, Drake “Kid” Levin – guitar, and Jim “Harpo” Valley – guitar (replacing Levin while in the Nat’l. Guard); that delivered a steady punch of U.S./Brit Pop Punk Rock.

Like their time-stamp ’66 hit Kicks that warned of drug abuse, the following year 1967 would begin an exciting but sobering clarity of childhood’s end, not just for 00individual but for society, and eventually civilization.  With the 1968 assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Francis Kennedy, everyone grew up to face the realizations around them – it was LSD for the masses.

But for a very special time, from ’62 and ’63 with the Surf ‘n’ Car Culture; ’64, ’65 and ’66 with the British Invasion; then up through the beginnings of Psychedelic Rock in ’67 music was FUN, that’s right, with a capital F-U-N!

Columbia Record’s producer Terry Melcher, the son of iconic singer/actress Doris Day (Que Sera, Sera), produced many top bands like The Byrds and The Mamas and the Papas with highly successful results, especially with The Raiders during their peak.

Stream of Consciousness Trip #1:  Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys, a friend of Melcher, met and was impressed with Charles Manson’s music through two female Manson Family members he picked up hitch-hiking.  Wilson introduced Manson to Melcher, and The Beach Boys recorded a couple Manson songs produced by Melcher.  On the verge of signing Manson and filming a documentary about the Family, both Wilson and Melcher came to their senses after witnessing an intense encounter Manson had with another on the Ranch.  Melcher and Wilson immediately distanced themselves from Manson.  Melcher declined to sign him – Manson got angry.

Melcher and his girlfriend, the epitome of the hot ’60s/’70’s girl-next-door actress Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown), and Raider vocalist Mark Lindsey had just moved out of the 10050 Cielo Drive Beverly Hills house that they shared and where all of the Raiders would often gather to discuss new songs with Melcher.  Roman Polanski moved in, and some surmised that Manson did not know this and that Sharon Tate and the rest were murdered for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This theory has later been disputed, but not disproved – as anyone who has even casually investigated this case will know that there were machinations going on far beyond what the media even knew, let alone the public.  In any case, it’s safe to say that Melcher, Bergen, Lindsey, as well as possibly the other members of the band lived to tell the tale by a karmic throw of the dice.

Stream of Consciousness Trip #2:  While co-managing the DisConnection (Grammy and Granny’s) Record Store in Westwood Village in the mid ’70s, and after negotiating a box of trade-in LPs, 00individual pulled out the ultimate vinyl bootleg entitled “LIE” (spoof cover of LIFE magazine) – it was an album of songs by Charles Manson – a couple thousand were pressed and distributed on the West Coast by Trademark of Quality.  He listened to it once, wasn’t impressed by the Folksy blandness, and put it on display in the collectors rack behind the counter – and sold it almost immediately for $50.00!  That was an outrageous price for any album back then and was priced as more of a novelty never thinking anyone would actually buy it!

Steppin’ Out was 00individual’s first introduction to Paul Revere and the Raiders – he really liked that song and it stuck with him throughout his life as an iconic cocky rocker with Lindsey’s snarling laughs and a proto-punk attitude – and with a Hell of a lot of Fun – these guys were great!
Check the Steppin’ Out video for rockin’ infectious innocent ’66 fun.

Paul Revere and the Raiders Rock History Landmarks:
The Raiders’ first major national hit, “Just Like Me” was one of the first rock records to feature a distinctive, double-tracked guitar solo, performed by guitarist Drake Levin.
They were reported to be the first major band in history to tour with all members amplified, including sidemen.
They appeared regularly in the U.S. on national television on Dick Clark’s Where the Action Is; a trippy after-school show filmed live and usually on location in various Southern California locations with major groups performing/lip-syncing their hits.
Revere and Lindsay co-hosted later incarnations of Action with Happening ’68, and It’s Happening.
In mid-1967, with three gold albums to their credit, the Raiders were Columbia’s top-selling rock group; their Greatest Hits was one of two releases selected by President of Columbia Records Clive Davis to test a higher list price for albums expected to be particularly popular (along with Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits).

And while the Raiders are seen lip-syncing many of their live performances, it was the preferred “standard operating procedure” for filming convenience of bands and singers for TV shows.  In reality the Raiders were one of the hardest-working bands of talented musicians that rocked live with the best!  See them perform live over a decade later:
Paul Revere and the Raiders – Dick Clark Reunion 1979 – Medley of Hits!

00individual really dug PR and the Raiders – the songs in bold were 45 RPM singles he purchased separately before the release of their greatest hits album.

PAUL REVERE & the RAIDERS Greatest Hits
1. Louie, Louie – Richard Berry – 2:47
2. Louie, Go Home – 3:00 Mark Lindsay / Paul Revere & the Raiders – 2:39
3. Steppin’ Out – Mark Lindsay / Paul Revere & the Raiders – 2:12 Jan. 3, 1966
4. Just Like Me – Rick Dey / Roger Hart – 2:23 Jan.3, 1966 (Billboard Pop Chart No. 11, 1965)
5 . Melody for an Unknown Girl – Mark Lindsay / Paul Revere & the Raiders – 2:04
6. Kicks – Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil – 2:26 May 6, 1966 (Billboard Pop Chart No. 4)
7. Hungry – Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil – 2:57 November 28, 1966 (Billboard Pop Chart No. 6)
8. Great Airplane Strike – Mark Lindsay / Terry Melcher / Paul Revere & the Raiders – 2:53
9. Good Thing – Mark Lindsay / Terry Melcher Paul Revere & the Raiders 3:01 November 28, 1966 (Billboard Pop Chart No. 4)
10. Ups and Downs – Mark Lindsay / Terry Melcher Paul Revere & the Raiders 2:51 (Fun video from the Smothers Brothers Show)
11. Legend of Paul Revere – Mark Lindsay / Terry Melcher Paul Revere & the Raiders 3:06

While the American Revolutionary uniform theme, name and costumes worked very well for them, serious socially-conscious rock bands were replacing the fun gimmick bands like Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in turbans; Gary Puckett and the Union Gap in Union Army uniforms of the American Civil War, and even The Association pulled off a coup with a name that played on the synonymous term for Organized Crime, Mafioso, and other ‘Businessmen” by just wearing suits, which in the Counter-Culture’s eye was a uniform.

Valley, Volk, and Smith left the band at the height of the Raiders’ popularity and formed what they considered a more relevant rock band, Brotherhood.

Paul Revere and the Raiders accumulated 24 hit singles,
and over 750 television performances within the decade of the 1960’s.

Unlike the forced clowning around of The Monkees and The Beatles, The Raiders were clever improvisers inspired by their own sense of humor – and it was contagious  – and it connected with the fans.
Example: Core Raider Phil “Fang” Volk had a quirky concept of flashing the back of his his trademark electric-tape(d) “FANG” bass guitar while performing live.  He had so much fun doing it that it became a “looked-forward-to” moment by fans as a nonsensical exhibition of free speech and self-promotion – that worked.

GROOVY!

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00individual does not endorse nor receive any payment of any kind from any advertiser(s).