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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00INDIVIDUAL 