The Music Explosion:

Little Bit O'Soul:(1967)

Best known for their number two hit, Little Bit O'Soul, this is the debut (and only) album by Ohio band, The Music Explosion. Since I was little, I have loved the song Little Bit O'Soul. I found this album in a fifty cent bin at a thrift store, and was floored to finally have a copy. If you're going to be a one hit wonder, well, this is a pretty rockin' hit to be remembered by. 

The Monkees:

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD:(1967)

In recent years many have started to take a more favorable view of the "Pre-Fab Four", and I am here today to throw my hat into that ring, and defend the Monkees. Sure, I enjoyed reruns of their TV show. To be honest, I grew up believing that what they depicted, and The Beatles, was just the way bands were supposed to live. Reality has sadly robbed me of this illusion. 

Now, today, I want to talk about this album, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD. It's the band's fourth album, and one where they were trying to wield more control, playing their own instruments, and writing their own songs. The final product is a top notch roly-poly sixties adventure made with a fine Pop sensibility. It also includes a wonderful cover of Nilsson's Cuddly Toy. But, what drew me to the album most, was that it contains the first commercial recording usage of the Moog synthesizer. Which appears first on side A toward the end on the song Love Is Only Sleeping, and again toward the end of side B on the song Daily Nightly. The latter is a particular favorite, exemplifying the best of the Pop psychedelia swirling around in 1967.  

Moby Grape:

Moby Grape:(1967)

 WOW:(1968)

My folks had both of these albums in their collection, although, I don't recall them listening to them much when I was a kid. But, they must have at some point, because they're a little trashed. The album covers always intrigued me. Particularly the WOW cover. When I started listening to these records in my teens, I pointed out to my parents that Don Stevenson was flipping off the camera on the cover of the first album, they were both shocked that they had never noticed. 

This is some crazy 1960s Rock'n'Roll. If I was picking a favorite track, I'm going with Murder In My Heart For The Judge.  

Janis Joplin:

Big Brother and The Holding Company: Cheap Thrills: (1968)

Pearl:(1971)

These two albums represent the beginning and the end of Janis Joplin. Now, before I get into this, let me state, I find Janis voice to be grating after an extended listening period. However, I find her story compelling in the same way I find Elvis' latter day tragedy of life compelling. I've always been drawn to those sorts of characters. Anyway... Cheap Thrills is an album I dig the hell out of... Big Brother were a killer band. They were equally the best band to challenge and raise Janis up, and her biggest opponent for star of the stage. No doubt this is what led to their split. Pearl on the other hand has Janis placed squarely in the center of the stage. This album is a postcard from an artist that was snuffed out too soon. 

A side story: I grew up in the woods of Mississippi. During hunting season when gun shots seemed too close to the house, my mother would set the stereo speakers, big 1970's ones, out on the back porch, and blast Pearl at full volume. I'm sure hunting was not good on those days.  

Iron Butterfly:

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida:(1968)

Ball:(1969)

Sometimes I wonder why I keep these records. If it weren't for the psychedelic classic In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, I wouldn't own them in the first place. In fact, everything else on In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida that isn't In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida isn't that good. And Ball, well... It's not that Iron Butterfly were terrible, it's just that, in the grand scheme of psychedelic records, there's better stuff out there, in my opinion. I guess these albums are just relics.  

Richie Havens:

Mixed Bag: (1967)

Richie Havens debut album is a show stopper filled with his propulsive rhythm playing and powerful voice. I mean seriously, the commanding power contained in his vocal chords is staggering. It had not diminished one iota when I saw him perform in the early part of the twenty first century. After the show, I met him offstage. The generosity, grace and humanity that he transmitted through a tender handshake was ground shaking, and a memory I will always treasure. My mother was at the show with me, and she ran into him right before he took the stage. She mentioned to him that she had not seen him perform since the late 60's in Jackson, MS, to which he responded with a warm hug, and the words, "Aren't we glad we made it through those times." Years later his voice would bring tears and comfort at my brother's funeral. 

        Some artists evolve over time, and some arrive fully formed. Richie Havens is one of the latter, and it's all here in this first album, the generosity, the humanity, the deep rich soul of a compassionate passionate man.

Gerry and The Pacemakers:

The Best of:(1979)

Anybody need a piece of 1960's British bubblegum? Well here it is. But see, here's the thing... 60's British bubblegum was pretty tasty, even in saccharine dork forms like Gerry and The Pacemakers.  

The Doors:

The Doors:(1967)

This is one of the best debuts in Rock'n'Roll history. For me it doesn't get more wicked and mysterious than the fully formed band you hear on this LP. 

Strange Days:(1967)

The rate at which the Doors evolved is fairly staggering. The proverbial candle was blazing at both ends in the most intense way possible.

Waiting For The Sun:(1968)

I love this album, it's not my favorite Doors album, but it's close. My Wild Love is in my Doors Top Ten list. There's a reason I have two copies of this one.

The Soft Parade:(1969)

I know a lot of people dismiss this album, but I really dig it. Beyond, Touch Me, which I dig, this album gets weird in a great 1969 kind of way, and you really start hearing the band fragment.

Morrison Hotel:(1970)

Much in the way the Beatles attempted Let It Be to try and regain focus, the Doors go after Morrison Hotel. But it seems by this time the entire band was immersed and under the influence of Jim Morrison's persona and drunken psyche.

  

L.A. Woman:(1971)

"Hey, Gang, let's give it one more go!" This seems to be the mantra that sparked L.A. Woman, and it worked. This album is killer.  

I love the Doors. They were, and continue to be a fascinating band of land sailing pirates. For a time I even had the post Jim Morrison album, Other Voices. But, The Doors without Jim is not the Doors, and I sold it. My favorite Doors album is American Prayer. You know, the one where the surviving members created sound collages to work with a bunch of poetry Jim Recorded before he died. That's my favorite. No need to list the songs, you know them. 

Crow:

Crow Music:(1969)

I always wanted this album to be better than it is... Seems like they were going for a Steppenwolf/Black Sabbath/Zeppelin thing. It has moments of being cool, but then some of the production choices border on, if not crossing fully over to Spinal Tap cheeseville. Really, it just feels like they were trying too hard. However, I dig the album artwork. And with my affinity for crows, I love the name.

Cream:

Disraeli Gears:(1967)

Wheels On Fire:(1968)

I can't imagine a record collection without these two classics. In fact, I have two copies of Wheels On Fire. Up front I'll say, I like Clapton best when he's pushed, and surely Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker could do that. Dayglo and flare, Disraeli Gears picks up with all the psychedelia where Fresh Cream left off, but by Wheels On Fire, all things are striped down to drive and thrust. Side note, Wheels was the first double album to go platinum. I'm sure you know these albums, or can at least name the hit songs off them. I'll just listen and enjoy.

Country Joe and The Fish:

Electric Music For The Mind And Body: (1967)

Considered to be one of the first psychedelic albums to come out of the San Francisco area, this Country Joe album is totally a product of that time, and I mean that in the best possible way. I'm actually surprised Country Joe & The Fish haven't made a resurgence in the way the 13th floor elevators have. Maybe they have, and I'm just out of those circles. Anyway, this is a killer 60's album.  

The Dave Clark Five:

Glad All Over:(1964)

Good clean Rock'n'Roll fun, that's what you get here. Hell, seconds into the song Glad All Over I'm smiling at the two drum hits that take us into the chorus. Couple that with Bits and Pieces, and you've got the makings of a rock classic. Of course, I have to mention the guitar lick on All of The Time, so clean, and swimmy, and awesome. Go ahead, pull up Glad All Over right now, and I bet you're smiling by the end.

Sonny Bono:

Inner Views:(1967)

The talented half of Sonny & Cher, and the one with the higher voice, Sonny Bono. This was his first solo album, and is very much a product of 1967, in the best possible way. It features Sonny's ornately decorated pop tunes with tunes like, I Would Marry You Today. A style he was brilliant at. But, you can't really talk about this album with out diving into the opening track, which takes up almost the entire first side at 12minutes 15 seconds. Yes, even Sonny was hopping on the psychedelic bandwagon. When I listen to this album I envision a mythic swinging 60's psychedelic party with bright colors, and lots of booze and drugs, and through the smoke someone says, "Hey Sonny, we need you to cut a record in the next room." And he did! At least that's my take.  

The Association:

Insight Out: (1967)

Greatest Hits: (1968)

Ornate 60's pop records are always interesting. That said, I don't hear too many mentioning the Association these days, and they were good purveyors of said ornate pop. Sure, some of it is a little heavy handed and pompous, but it's of its time. I feel the same way, forgive me, about Beach Boys stuff. But then there are tunes like Never My Love, and Along Come Mary which are just classic radio-ripped-ready-rollickers. Bones Howe, who's name I first learned through early Tom Waits records, produced Insight Out, which is a plus. The guy produced clean records. Members of the Association worked as session players around L.A., and some even played with Zappa before the Mothers were formed. As an extreme side note, I recall a story my high school band director told about taking his then girlfriend/now wife on a date to an Association concert, and when the people in front of them sparked a joint his date said, "That smells like the cigarettes my grandmother  used to smoke." Anyway, these are 60's relics that deserve a listen from time to time.

Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass:

Whipped Cream & Other Delights: (1965)

Going Places: (1965)

Sounds Like...: (1967)

Yes, I own, and enjoy these records. A friends of mine was recently disparaging bargain bin records that you can find by the truck load in any second hand store or trash pile, and mentioned Herb Alpert. But, for there to have been so many all over the place, somebody had to have been buying them. And they were. The "A" in A&M Records stood for Alpert. Not to mention, the work of the famed Wrecking Crew is all over these records, so the playing is superb. Whipped Cream & Other Delights has a cover that people still reference. But why do I like 'em? They make me smile. They seem so unpretentious and fun. Come on...play one...and I dare you not to smile. Come on, grab a drink, and play one, and try not to enjoy it...even if it's just a little.