[sp4cetiger]

More updates to 1966 and 1967 lists (yeah, I've been lazy about it). In addition, I decided to add

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The Smile Sessions by The Beach Boys

A few parts of this were recorded later, but it was mostly a product of 1966 and 1967. It is an approximation of what a Beach Boys response to Sgt. Pepper would have sounded like. It's also on the Rolling Stone top 500 albums.

[meccalecca]

[Norman Bates]

Sound advice (bad wordplay, I'll try and improve) for 67:

Folk:
Tim Hardin, Tim Hardin 2 (landmark of intimate folk songwriting, one of the most covered folk artists : "If I Were A Carpenter", "Black Sheep Boy", "Lady Came from Baltimore" are on this for instance)
The Incredible String Band, The 5000 Spirits, or the Layers of the Onion (one of the first folk records with influences from all over the world, some argue they invented "world music")

Proto-punk:
Godz, Godz 2 Definite influence on how later proto-punk (Stooges) was to be received, read Lester Bangs for further praise.
The Deviants, Ptoof!
The Electric Prunes, s/t (a.k.a. I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night), post-garage freaks

Jazz:
Sun Ra, Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy: His best record IMO.

Pop:
The Left Banke, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina: landmark and pinnacle of so-called "baroque pop".

[sp4cetiger]

I'm nearing the end of 1966. Of all the albums I've heard, the one that probably benefited the most from context was Pet Sounds. It really doesn't sound like any rock album that came before it. The Beach Boys' preceding work, Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" albums, and Rubber Soul all provide a meaningful backdrop, but it is a massive step forward for the album as an art form.

I can also see why the Beatles' Revolver, now commonly regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, was not as celebrated in its time (at least compared to Sgt. Pepper). Despite the impressive quality of the songs, it lacks an obvious narrative and would have been difficult to classify next to the major musical movements of the day. It never lacked for exposure, of course, but I think it makes more sense in a modern context, where the indie community celebrates experimentation for its own sake.

By contrast, Brian Wilson was creating a very personal statement... perhaps even a cry for help. This feels very much like a coming-of-age album that makes all of their previous work seem silly in comparison. When I hear it, I hear a man who was forced to grow up too soon, and as a result never really did. When he pines for lost love, it is with the mind of an adult, but the innocence of a child. I feel like I can also understand why it was too much for him. So sad.

[sp4cetiger]

Post-Pepper craziness, 1968:

Rock
-----
The White Album (The Beatles) - noted statement of racial identity
Electric Ladyland (Jimi Hendrix) - last before death
Beggars Banquet (Rolling Stones) - acclaimed Stones, Rolling Stone top 500 albums , Grammy Hall of Fame
Odyssey and Oracle (Zombies) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , influential psychedelia, cult hit
Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , concept album lamenting the passing of old-English traditions
White Light/White Heat (Velvet Underground) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums, second album (last with John Cale)
Blood, Sweat, & Tears - Grammy album of the year 1970
Music from Big Pink (The Band) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , debut
We're Only In It for the Money (Mothers of Invention) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , parody of hippie scene
Saucerful of Secrets (Pink Floyd) - transitional between Barrett/Waters
Notorious Byrd Brothers - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , psychedelic
Cheap Thrills (Big Brother and the Holding Company) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , last w/Joplin, Grammy Hall of Fame
The United States of America - p4k-acclaimed experimental rock
Wheels of Fire (Cream) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , first platinum double album
S.F. Sorrow (Pretty Things) - early concept album
Truth (Jeff Beck) - predecessor to heavy metal, debut of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist
Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake (Small Faces) - early concept album
Credence Clearwater Revival - debut of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Iron Butterfly) - Among 40 best-selling albums worldwide
Anthem of the Sun (Grateful Dead) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , second album
Shine On Brightly (Procol Harum) - early prog rock
Child Is Father to the Man (Blood, Sweat, & Tears) - Grammy Hall of Fame , debut
Elvis TV Special - late-period acclaimed album
Hurdy Gurdy Man (Donovan) - the troubadour goes psych-rock
Soft Machine - proto-prog, debut.
Initials BB (Serge Gainsbourg) - Rolling Stone 14th greatest French rock album

Blues/Blues Rock
-------------------
Fleetwood Mac - debut of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist
Super Session (Bloomfield/Kooper/Stills) - acclaimed blues session

Folk/Folk Rock
-----------------
Astral Weeks (Van Morrisson) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , many others
Bookends (Simon and Garfunkel) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , partial concept album
Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (Incredible String Band) - quintissential example of hippie culture
Song to a Seagull (Joni Mitchell) - debut of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist
Neil Young - debut of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist
The Marble Index (Nico) - one step deeper than Chelsea Girl. The mother of goth-rock? Certainly an influence on postpunk.
My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair But Now They're Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows (T. Rex) - debut, early freak folker
Fairport Convention - debut from acclaimed British folk band.
Devil Got My Woman (Skip James) - landmark recording by highly influential folk/blues singer


Country/Country Rock
-------------------------
At Folsom Prison (Johnny Cash) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , live country
Sweetheart of the Rodeo (Byrds) - first country rock album
Mama Tried (Merle Haggard) - acclaimed country classic

R&B/Soul
-----------
Lady Soul (Aretha Franklin) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums
Gris-Gris (Dr John) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , new orleans r&b
The Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding) - Rolling Stone top 500 albums , first after death
Dance to the Music (Sly and the Family Stone) - popularized psychedelic soul, precursor to funk
Eli and the 13th confession (Laura Nyro) - most famous work
Live at the Apollo, Vol. 2 (James Brown) - representative recordings, acclaimed live album

Jazz
-----
Machine Gun (Peter Brotzmann) - acclaimed free jazz
Sonny's Dream (Sonny Criss) - Penguin core collection , nonet+alto sax
Time for Tyner (McCoy Tyner) - Penguin core collection , jazz piano+3, modal
Nefertiti (Miles Davis) - acclaimed second quintet
Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (Chick Corea) - influential jazz piano trio
The Inflated Tear (Roland Kirk) - representative recordings, tenor sax, noted showman

Other
------
Song Cycle (Van Dyke Parks) - acclaimed Americana
Begin (The Millenium) - classic of sunshine pop
Os Mutantes - debut of Brazilian tropicalia artist
The Transformed Man (William Shatner) - comedy classic or worst album ever?
Silver Apples - electronic album, one of the first of its kind if you leave behind the electroacoustic works that dd not work within the codes of popular music. Pioneering in every way.
Aerial Ballet (Harry Nilsson) - Lennon's binging buddy at his best.

[Norman Bates]

[meccalecca]

another overwhelming year. All of Norman's recs are excellent. Silver Apples and Os Mutantes are particularly important.

A few more

Scott Walker - Scott 2 (personal favorite Walker record)
Serge Gainsbourg - Initials BB (one of my favorite Gainsbourg recordings)
T(yranosaurus) Rex - My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair But Now They're Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows (T.Rex's debut as early freak folker. really fun album)
BeeGees - Horizontal + Idea (my favorites of their early psych pop albums)
The Doors - Waiting For The Sun (I this is as good as anything other than their debut)
Skip James - Devil Got My Woman (landmark recording by highly influential folk/blues singer)
William Shatner - The Transformed Man (need I say more)

[sp4cetiger]

[sp4cetiger]

Thanks for the recs for 1968, will update the lists soon. Some thoughts on 1966 and 1967 so far:

Rock
-----
- For me, the artist that benefited the most from context was definitely Jimi Hendrix. In a time before heavy metal and punk, his throbbing sound was a real shot in the arm. Both of his albums from 1967 are in my top 5 for the year.
- For pure album-oriented psychedelia, nothing beat Piper at the Gates of Dawn, though many of the individual songs left a bit to be desired. I also really enjoyed the 13th Floor Elevators and Parable of Arable Land.
- I didn't have high expectations for The Doors, since I've never much liked their individual songs, but their debut was still a real disappointment for me. Their follow-up, Strange Days, was more intricate and less offensive, but I still struggled with Jim Morrison's lyrics.

Soul
-----
- It took me a while to really understand why Otis Redding was so acclaimed, but I feel like I finally had a breakthrough with Live in Europe. His intensity was incredible. I don't know how he kept that up for an entire performance -- I could hear him gasping for breath between songs.
- Most of the other soul albums I heard sounded like compilations, unfortunately, especially the stuff from the Supremes and James Brown. I prefer the early recordings from both artists.

Folk and Country
-------------------
- I enjoyed a lot of the country I heard. Merle Haggard's I'm a Lonesome Fugitive is in my top 10 for 1967 and Dolly Parton's debut was fun.
- I was pleasantly surprised by Goodbye and Hello, since I really didn't like Buckley's debut. It sounded like he made a giant leap forward in both songwriting and arrangement.
- Donovan's Sunshine Superman was one of my favorites from 1966. I wasn't as big on A Gift From A Flower To A Garden, but it's one of many that I hope to go back to at some point.

[samjackson]

you guys need to stop listening to the radio, it is bad for the earth