1001 Album Club

Merle Haggard’s “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive” brought Haggard country stardom immediately and when it was released it became his first number one country hit. Although we don’t dispute Haggard’s legacy and important, some of us just aren’t feeling this album.

Sunshine Superman is the third album from British singer-songwriter Donovan that took him from folk troubadour to pop sensation. The difference between the poetic somber folk songs and catchy pop can be jarring not to mention it angers Rob.

The Kinks are back and we can’t get enough of their very British satire that blends great song writing with catchy pop melodies. This is the start of something great.

The second album by Jefferson Airplane, Surrealistic Pillow was a groundbreaking piece of folk-rock-based psychedelia, that inspired a myriad of other acts. After drowning in West coast psychedelic acts we get to one of the originators.

Groovin’, the Young Rascals’ third album, raised their profile even higher with their melodic songcraft, crisp arrangements and positive vibes. It’s a feel good time for the group but we are divided on if it’s a “good album”.

Younger Than Yesterday was somewhat overlooked at the time of its release during an intensely competitive era that found the Byrds on a commercial downslide. This is the moment we start questioning why this book has so many Byrds albums. Why book why?

The Doors were unique, controversial and one of the most influential rock acts of the 1960s their debut self-titled album is impressive. Despite the negative preconceptions from the group about The Doors (or rather Jim Morrison), having the historical context seems to have changed some minds about the group.

By 1967, bossa nova had become quite popular within jazz and traditional pop audiences, yet Frank Sinatra hadn’t attempted any Brazil-influenced material. Guess what happens next…

Perhaps the album with the single biggest gap between initial commercial success and ultimate historical relevance, The Velvet Underground & Nico has become a legendary fountainhead of influence and inspiration.

The Who Sell Out is a concept album of sorts that would simultaneously mock and pay tribute to pirate radio stations, complete with fake jingles and commercials linking the tracks. And The Who keep getting better with every album.

Pink Floyd begins their rise as the legendary psychedelic band and Syd Barret begins a downward spiral into a drug induced nightmare. Some of us like it and some of think that it’s unnecessary listening for the band.

Cream laid the foundation of the late 60’s fuzzed blues based rock along side Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple. They popularized the use of the wah-wah pedal and produced a heavy yet technical style that would be carried on by many British bands.

Although it was a flop upon its initial release Love’s Forever changes has since become a classic of of the west coast psychedelic scene and has forever changed many of the groups appreciation of the the genre.

Tim’s wonderful voice seems to carry this album that the group has mixed reactions to.

The first Monkees album with substantial songwriting and instrumental performances by members of the group itself, rather than by session musicians and professional songwriters. After a struggle for creative autonomy with their record label, the group had been allowed to record by themselves and to their credit we all find it enjoyable.

The Beau Brummels’s album Triangle is a leap forward into a more creative side of the band. It incorporates fantasy elements and surreal characters into an album full of lyrical imagery, complex arrangements and beautiful melodies. All this from a teen idol band that appeared on American Bandstand and the Flintstones.

One of the best West Coast folk-rock/psychedelic bands, Love may have also been the first widely acclaimed cult/underground group. During it’s brief period with the initial line up Love released three albums in three years. The second side only contains one long jam session song. Does it ruin the album? Lets discuss.

Armed with three virtuoso guitarists and five members who could all sing and write, Moby Grape had the greatest commercial potential of any San Francisco band in 1967. They quickly blew it all thanks to internal tensions, the acid-intensified psychological collapse of guitarist Skip Spence and Columbia’s hysterical hype, which included releasing five simultaneous singles…

Safe as Milk is the debut album by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, released in 1967. A heavily blues-influenced work, the album featured a 20-year-old Ry Cooder, who played guitar and wrote some of the arrangements.

The band that included Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Richie Furay gives us an interesting array of songs, but it feels more like a songwriting collective.

Electric Music for the Mind and Body expand upon the band’s “new psychedelic medium”, embracing all facets of the members’ influences and melding them into various forms and we meld our opinion into a unifying rejection of this album.

Some would call it the crowning achievement of the Beatles works and their entire career and some would call it the first misstep into a the silly and misguided side of the Beatles.

Nico’s Chelsea Girl is a delicate atmosphere and emotionally stirring album. Full of great players and classic songs. Haunting…

Again we have another Samba / Bossa Nova Gilberto Album? Some of us find the 60’s pop great and some of us wish the Gilberto’s would just go away.