The Moody Blues:

In Search of the Lost Chord:(1968)

Got to say, I love the album artwork of the psychedelic era. Also, it's worth restating that no one did psychedelia quite like the British with their ancient music leaning. Hey, I've got a harpsichord and a flute! The concept album loomed heavy, but the Moody Blues were strong enough to carry a concept. In the case of this, their third album, it was supposed to be about exploration on various planes. Timothy Leary, doo doo da doo.... Ride My See Saw is my favorite track on the album. 

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.  

Steve Miller:

Sailor:(1968)

Number 5:(1970)

Fly Like An Eagle:(1976)

Book of Dreams:(1977)

Yes, yes, we all know the hits this man has had. But, the first Steve Miller album I had, and was familiar with was Sailor. A Glyn Johns produced bit of psychedelia that is dream like, and subtle. Clearly it was created in a time before the band hit on their chart topping formula that would land them as a permanent fixture on radio for decades to come. However, by the mid-seventies the band had tidied themselves up to give us Take The Money and Run, and Jungle Love. I wouldn't say I'm a huge Steve Miller fan, but you put on a record of his, and I'm probably going to sing along, or at least think, 'damn, I dig this tune.' 

Paul Kantner (Jefferson Starship)

Blows Against The Empire:(1970)

OK, so it would seem that this album is out of alphabetical order, but I have my reasons. You see, I would forget I had this album if I didn't keep it next to Jefferson Airplane. For years I kept this album simply for the album art, very psychedelic era. But, as I listen to it now, there's some trippy stuff to recommend it, mostly on side two. Check out Hijack and Have You Seen The Stars Tonite (featuring Crosby and Nash). Now, this isn't the lineup that would ultimately be Jefferson Starship, but it is the first time the name was used. I was also interested to learn that this was the first album to win a Hugo Award.

Jefferson Airplane:

The Worst of:(1970)

Outside of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane probably conjures up the most vivid images of dirty hippie kids on Haight Ashbury. White Rabbit has such an irresistible bass line that it is the reason I keep this album around. Sure Somebody To Love, and Volunteers are killer sixties anthems, but for the most part Jefferson Airplane has always seemed like a bit of a relic that couldn't quite make the jump out of 1969. I had the chance to hang with Jorma Kaukonen, who's guitar playing I really like, and Jack Cassidy at a Hot Tuna show in Fort Collins, CO when I was helping out a buddy's band that was opening for them. They were both super nice, but pretty burned out. Jorma talked a lot about his ranch, and guns. Jack Cassidy asked me for a smoke. When I said, I don't smoke, he responded, "well, you sound like you do."  

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.  

Jimi Hendrix:

Are You Experienced:(1967)

Band of Gypsys:(1970)

Jimi Hendrix Vol 2:(1976)

The Essential:(1978)

Extremely few people have expanded the boundaries of music in the way Jimi Hendrix accomplished. Fewer still have been able to maintain fame after such a tragically short career. For all those reasons and more it's important to keep a few Hendrix albums around at all times. That said, if I was picking favorite Hendrix songs, I tend to gravitate toward the more melodic less bombastic guitar driven stuff, i.e. May This Be Love, Have You Ever Been (to Electric Ladyland), and The Wind Cries Mary. But the tune of his that gets stuck in my head most is Gypsy Eyes.  OK, enough naming songs...time to go listen to some Jimi Hendrix!

Flaming Lips:

Oh My Gawd!!!...:(1987)

Telepathic Surgery:(1989)

In A Priest Driven Ambulance:(1990)

The Terror:(2013)

You have to appreciate a band that can keep evolving like the Lips, or at least I do. That said, maybe, just maybe, my favorite period of theirs is the early one with their second, third, and fourth albums above. I dig the punky edge. But then, I also really like the Terror with it's Eno-esque atmospherics. Above and beyond all else, I just dig the on going DIY esthetic that Flaming Lips have always championed. It's a bonus that the music has been so good for so long.

Donovan:

Mellow Yellow:(1967)

A Gift From A Flower To A Garden:(1967)

In Concert:(1968)

The Hurdy Gurdy Man:(1968)

Barabajagal:(1969)

Greatest Hits:(1969)

Open Road:(1970)

Cosmic Wheels:(1973)

Slow Down World:(1976)

Donovan:(1977)

There are certain pockets of my collection that I particularly enjoy, and the Donovan section is one such pocket. Of course as a kid I heard the hits, Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman, Wear Your Love Like Heaven etc... but it wasn't until I started picking up records that I discovered the real depth, and magic of Donovan Leitch. Like most of the great musical artists, each Donovan album is different, and each is its own self contained world. Recently I was playing A Gift From A Flower To A Garden for a friend who had never listened to a Donovan album before, he said he'd always thought of Donovan as psychedelic hanger-on to the Beatles proverbial coattails, and as such had dismissed him along with so many Sixties acts that jumped on the bandwagon accompanied by low production values. After side one my friend tells me his mind is changed, and that he now sees that Donovan was an interesting vital creative force unto himself with productions to rival other top artists of his time. Well...I'm paraphrasing there, but trust me, that was the gist of it. Do I have a favorite out of these albums? No, not really. I can be in the mood for any one of them at any time. 

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 Chambers Brothers:

New Generation:(1971)

Greatest Hits:(1971)

Though mostly known for their hit Time Has Come Today, the Chambers Brothers were a heavy Psychedelic Soul Rock Band that seemed to exist somewhere between Santana, War, The Four Tops, and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. All though not nearly as talked about as those bands, but they should be. The musicianship is excellent. Go check out Funky, Are You Ready, or Time Has Come Today. These tracks rock in a serious 60's haze of peace, love and fuzz. 

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.