What classifies as the best of Rock and Pops last 45 years? On this page I hope to answer that question, at least as I see it. Originally not in order of fantasticness, but in the order they came to me, it has ended up a forever fluctuating ranking list.
The Beatles “Beatles 65” - You can keep your “Beatles For Sale” and the dry mixes of “I Feel Fine” and “She’s A Woman”! Gimme those Dexterized, reproccessed, 30 minute bursts of Beatles! In all seriousness, this LP is, by far, the strongest of the Capitolized Beatles LPs, and I think it (because it has the two single tracks) holds up better than BFS. Only on CD on bootlegs, but worth hunting down on vinyl, especially if you (like me) are a “Post Records Beatle Fan”. If you’ve never heard these things (especially this one), it is a crucial part of your education on all things Beatle. An education which, I can tell you from experience, is ongoing (and ongoing, and ongoing, and ongoing...)
The Byrds “Notorious Byrd Brothers” - You might be thinking,“what planet does this guy come from?”, but trust me. I bought this one just to have all of the Byrds records several years ago, and I was blown away. This one gets more play than virtually every CD I’ve got. Every listening to this pysch masterpiece is revealing.
The Velvet Underground “The Velvet Underground and Nico” - Recommended to me by a friend that had stumbled upon the greatness of Lou Reed, I agreed to give this one a go a few years ago. It, like “The Notorious Byrd Brothers” above, paints the 1960s in a totally different light than the Turtles would have you believe. Tales of drug addiction, sado-masochism, paranoia and other very twisted subject matter is handled in a mature and poetic way. Unfortunately, the hippie flower culture was just another form of elitist self-centredness, and as such the Velvets were a pariah in their time. Thankfully, now, we have come to see their genious. And, with no offense intended to Lou Reed, we can clearly see that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Elvis Presley “Memories: The 1968 Comeback Special” - If you’re a 1980s child, like me, and you think Elvis is a footnote to the Beatles (unlike me), you’ll have no trouble being amazed to find that Elvis was still capable of being relevant, and, well... showstopping in this two disc set (released in late 1998) of performances for the “NBC TV Special”. There is another disc of a different ‘sit-down show’, called “Tiger Man”, but I recommend this one, as it includes all of the production numbers. The “Road Medley” is a wild, almost Elvis psych trip, and sounds much better as a piece if you have seen the TV show it was done for.
The Zombies “Zombie Heaven” - I hear you all saying, “you’re telling me that a four cd box on a three hit British group is the fifth best album of all time? You’re nuts!”. But, if you want to hear the most consistent group (aside from the Beatles) of the British Invasion, in a meticulously researched and evolutionary way, then this box is for you. More demos, rare mixes, and beeb tracks than you can shake a stick at, even if you’re Theodore Roosevelt!
The Beach Boys “The Pet Sounds Sessions” - In my tireless effort to bankrupt you all, I place this four CD box at number six. The documentation is amazing, and the instrumental tracks and stereo disc are quite revelatory. The Beach Boys were not just a surf group, and this box proves it!
David Bowie “Heroes” - This LP is another that totally takes you by surprise. Half of it is excellent Bowie tracks, produced by Eno, and the rest is Bowie and Eno experimenting in the studio and creating foreboding and thought provoking instrumentals. Particularly good when placed in its geographical context; this LP was recorded in West Berlin at the tail end of the seventies, and one can hear the influences of living in the city that was the center (and certainly the symbol) of Cold War tension.
The Rolling Stones “Now” - Before the Stones were “the greatest rock and roll band in the world”, they were a kickin’ hard edged rhythm and blues band. This LP shows it best. I could listen to “Little Red Rooster” for hours (and do). I know you were expecting “Let It Bleed” or “Beggar’s Banquet”, but, well, get over it!
Chad and Jeremy “The Ark” - I know that you guys have no earthly idea who they were, so let me tell you. They started off as a folkish pop duo, but went super-psychedelic with their last two LPs, this is the second of their psych LPs, and is only on CD in Japan. They were masters of irony and structure on their last two LPs, and all of you intellectual 1960s fans will surely love that, as it is a fresh approach for 1960s music, which is rarely both intellecual and not condescending. This album is possibly the most overlooked LP of 1968.
Sheryl Crow “The Globe Sessions” - Speaking of finely crafted, this LP, (released thirty years after the previous one on our list) is by far the best of 1998. Sheryl completes her coming of age, which began on her eponymous followup to “Tuesday Night Music Club”. Not one to listen to just after a break up, unless you want to get sucidal, or, alternatively, bitter and angry. Very powerful from start to finish.
Michael Nesmith and The First National Band “Complete” - The CD reissue of all three of Nez’ first solo LPs, excluding the link track “First National Rag” from “Magnetic South”. Forget the Byrds as originators of ‘country-rock”, it’s all here. These LPs were released between 1970 and 1972, and are THE best examples of what sophisticated Tex-Mex cowboys can do with the right tracks and backing band.
Paul McCartney “Ram” - I wasn’t around in the early 1970s, when this one was being universally panned by critics, so I came into it with an open mind and only loose knowledge of “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”. This LP, and it’s Wings followup “Wild Life” are probably the most underappreciated Beatles solo LPs ever. Best to get them on UK CDs, with the most bonus tracks.
The Rolling Stones “Exile On Main Street” - My sanity is returning, according to most rock reviewers, as here’s an LP that gets on most of their top ten of all time lists. This really is the LP that ends the 1960s. Just as “Meet The Beatles” (or, for you UKers, “Please Please Me”) began it with a crash and a boom, so it ends, but this time, rather than youthful optimism being the driving force, cyniscism and hopelessness run rampant, and it is the best badly recorded LP of all time!
The Kinks “Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire” - This concept album kicks the clock of the Who’s “Tommy”, mainly because it makes sense! Again,the bitterness and dissillusionment is apparent, but rather than being about the 1960s, it is about the UKs declining world political and economic status in the decades since the end of the Victorian era (roughly, the story of the 20th Century). Tragic and uplifting at the same time is this story told of “Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire”. This one is particularly gripping and heart breaking if you (like me) are a student of history, and it is amazing how well Ray Davies is able to communicate the attitudes of people in times that he was not alive to experience, but that those of us in that field know existed.
Peter And Gordon “Hot Cold And Custard" - This last LP by this British Invasion duo was a departure from their reliable, excellently crafted pleasant pop, and an entry into more sophisticated and thought provoking stuff. “You’ve Had Better Times” ranks as the best false started track of all time.
The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” - Unfortunately this LP has taken some knocks in the last fifteen years. One key probelm is that the stereo mix (the only one commercially available since 1968) doesn’t hold a candle to the mono mix. Also, most boots with the mono mix sound like dog turds smell. Look for the (extremely expensive) Japanese “Another Phase” 14 CD box (yes, you read that right) with all the early stereos and late monos. There you will hear Sgt. Pepper...” in a way that will make you see how good it is. Even revisionist Beatle people like to tell you that “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” is nowhere near as good as “Revolver”. I disagree. ‘Nuff said.
The Who “The Who Sell Out” - It seems that no one remembers how good of a band the Who was long before “Tommy”. This LP, unlike “Tommy”, has a cogent point that is followed through on, namely commercialism, and how thoroughly silly it can be. This is particularly true on the expanded reissue, which has much more commercials, songs, et cetera. The essence of mod cockiness and attitude, and the Who’s best, and all too often ignored.
The Beach Boys “Smile” - Brian Wilson’s unfinished masterpiece. I know that, after being considered possibly the greatest music ever made, it’s reputation has slumped somewhat. True, “George Fell Onto His French Horn” is not funny, and “Wind Chimes” is just an average LSD haze song. However, listen to the backings, and every bit of “Heroes And Villians” and “Do You Like Worms” to hear how Brian can play with themes to amazing effect. Also, this was the LP that was to feature fifteen minutes of “Good Vibrations” and that makes it alright by me! To hear parts of “Smile”, you’ll have to shell out some bucks, either for one of many (varying quality) bootlegs, or for the “Good Vibrations” box set, and the “Smiley Smile” LP, which is what became of the original “Smile” LP in 1967.
Bob Dylan “Highway 61 Revisited” - This was the second to last LP Dylan made before “the crash”. While the 2 LP “Blonde On Blonde” is frequently lauded as the best ever Dylan LP, this one holds together a lot better, and does not revert to silliness. “Desolation Row” is the perfect end to a Dylan record, and since, it’s the end of this one, he could be singing “Happy Birthday” for thirty minutes before that song, and I would still call it the best.
Donovan "Open Road" - This LP is technically by a group called Open Road, but it's Donovan's 1970 LP. It's also a solid piece of rock music. Most of the tracks, notably "Clara Claravoyant" and "Riki Tiki Tavi", use silliness to make insightful points. This is jaunty Donovan at his best, and shows that, even as sales were slipping, the skill was still there (and, in fact, there was more skill than ever before!).
The Rolling Stones “Some Girls” - Regardless of certain difficulties involving political correctness, this LP is fantastic. The Stones, in 1978, proved that they were still on the top, after a series of not so amazing LPs.
Badfinger “Straight Up” - This is and always will be THE Badfinger LP. Sadly, they never lived up to their potential as a group except this one time (not to say that the other LPs are not strong). If you’re a Beatles fan, and you always wanted to hear one more perfect record, just the way the fabs woulda done it, then this one is for you.
Chad & Jeremy “Of Cabbages And Kings” - The second side of this 1967 LP is mostly a collage piece, while the a side is made up of vocal songs. On side one, you will hear the story of a couple (“Rest In Peace” is the prologue) meeting, falling in love, and having a child (in “The Family Way”). The second side is the story of the raising of that child, until, well, listen and find out. Not preachy or silly, but good.
Donovan “Barabajagal” - For those of you who are laughing in the aisles, perhaps you would like to know that Donovan really was talented, and he really was important, and if you don’t buy this one you’ll never know if I was telling the truth. This is a delightful LP, with Mary Hopkin (see below), Jeff Beck, Mike McGear (Macca’s little brother) helping out. The only unfortunate aspect of this LP is that the take of “Superlungs, My Supergirl” on this LP is not as good as the earlier (slightly more risque) take now on Troubador, Dono's 2CD retrospective.
Mike Nesmith “The Prison” - This time, Papa Nez delivers with an amazing pre New Age book and record. A profound work, about the struggle to overcome our own internal “prisons”, this one came out to univeral apathy in 1974. A little more than 20 years later, its sequel, “The Garden”, was nominated for New Age LP of the year. In all honesty, Nez should be given a lifetime achievement award in New Age on the strength of “The Prison” alone.
Bob Dylan “The Basement Tapes” - So you thought I said I didn’t like silly Dylan? I do like this silly Dylan stuff, in fact, I think it was the best work he has done since 1965. Look for the bootleg CDs with much more material than the 1976 Columbia 2 LP set. Possibly the best funny Dylan of all time is on the Basement tapes bootlegs, including "See You Later, Allen Ginsberg," and the infamous (well, at least around my house) "feed the cats" version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere".All of the material was recorded in 1967, before Dylan had fully recovered from “the crash”.
The Kinks “Something Else” - The Kinks first LP that was specifically designed as an LP is a fantastic contrast to the other works of 1967. As the Beatles, and even the Rolling Stones (remember “We Love You”) fell into the trap of the so-called ‘summer of love’, the Kinks were making real statements about jealousy, poverty, and even loyalty and love.
Harry Nilsson “Nilsson Sings Newman” - The best of both worlds, and remarkable. Nilsson and Newman arranged this LP, released in 1970, of all Newman compositions. A huge risk, (pairing a relatively unkown singer with a still unknown writer) it paid off in a way unimaginable until you hear it a few times. This one is so mellow that it may take a couple of close listenings to pick up all of the nuances and subtlety of the lyrics and music, but well worth the effort
The Small Faces “Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake” - This record is just as strange as its title, and that’s what makes it so good. This was the Small Faces second LP for Immediate, after years of success as a hard edged mod band. This LP is, in parts, psychedelic, in parts hard and rocking, and in parts silly (in a good way!). If all you’ve ever heard is “Itchycoo Park” or “All Or Nothing”, you desperately need to hear this LP.
The Rutles “The Rutles” - The greatest horrible album of all time. More serious Beatle fans will likely be offended by my placing of this above 12 of their UK LPs, but you can cope. I assure you that I consider all thirteen (AND the EPs and singles) to be crucial in the development of popular music, but the Rutles are simply too good to be ignored.
The Beatles “Get Back” - So what if John Lennon called it “the shitiest shit of all time”, and it still has not been deemed suitable for a commercial release, this un Spectorized version of “Let It Be” kicks the rear of most albums. Hearing this LP will conclusively show you that the so called ‘talent slump of winter 1968-1969’ is a total fallacy. The Beatles could outdo anyone, even when they weren’t speaking to each other, and this record proves it.
Harry Nilsson “Harry” - Not your average rock album, but that’s becuase it’s not really a rock album. Harry shows off his amazing arranging, singing, and writing ability on this, his third LP. “Rain Maker”, “I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City” and “Nobody Cares About The Railroads Anymore” are every bit as good as any hit he would later have, and the LP holds together better than any other (except, of course, "Nilsson Sings Newman”).
Mary Hopkin “Earth Song, Ocean Song” - Venturing even further from charted territory, I must tell you that this is one of the great lost gems of the 1970s. This LP (her second, and, sadly, last for Apple) marks the beginning of the development of women as artists, but is infinitely better than any of that ‘singer-songwriter’ junk that came in the middle of the decade. Whether or not they know it, or whether or not they can hear why, almost every modern female artist (NOT vocalist, as there is a big difference) owes a lot to the wonderful Ms. Hopkin (later Mrs. Tony Visconti, the famed Bowie producer). All that, and an Apple artist. Amazing.
The Rolling Stones “Let It Bleed” - This LP is included as a part of the authors effort to not be shot by an angry ‘mainstream’ rock and roll fan. It is very good, and includes several fantastic songs. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts on this LP, though it is in no way a concept album.
Van Dyke Parks “Song Cycle” - So, you’ve heard he’s the guy that kept “Smile” from being finished? Well, he’s not. Van Dyke Parks, a brilliant lyricist, reached his creative peak on material he wrote for other people in the mid 1960s. This LP was his first, and after you get used to the bizzare vocal effects, you can really appreciate this very poetic and obscure journey through the South.
The Beatles “Please Please Me” - This is the LP that revived the corpse of rock and roll, and made music exciting again. Unfortunately, Americans would not be able to experience the revitalization of popular music through the same lens, as this LP bombed initially (as “Introducing The Beatles”) and did not become a hit until early 1964, when it played second fiddle to the extremely well promoted “Meet The Beatles (which was really a chopped up version of “With The Beatles”). Perceptions of the Beatles, and particularly their artistic development, would have been a lot different for Americans (as if the average 14 year old girl cared about such things) had they been able to digest this one over the summer of ‘63, as the British did. (And, no, don’t tell me that the Beatles made it because of the death of John Kennedy, because if you say that, you’re not understanding just how good the music was, and the fact that the JFK assasination, while tragic, was not the most important event of the 20th Century).
Randy Newman "Randy Newman" - This LP, produced by Van Dyke Parks, shows that Randy Newman was brilliant a long time before anyone (other than Nilsson and Parks) figured it out. This LP came out in 1968, and promptly bombed. Several of these songs were later recorded by Nilsson on the "Nilsson Sings Newman" LP. No one but Randy Newman can so effortlessly evoke such real feelings and emotional responses from listeners in such a casual way. The back cover says "Randy Newman creates something new under the sun", and they're not kidding.
The Monkees "Head" - This is a psychedelic masterpiece. Between the seven songs art collage pieces taken from the cult classic film which the LP is the soundtrack to. If only this record had topped the charts in 1968, who knows what would have become of our favorite television group.
The Kinks “The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society” - This LP, the disc in between “Something Else” and “Arthur...” is a great collection of songs, but doesn’t hold up as a concept like “Arthur...” or have diverse themes that somehow fit just right (like “Something Else”). Thus, though strong, it is the Kinks third best LP. The mono 15 track version is much better than the stereo 12 tracker, though you can judge for yourself on Castles 1998 reissue, which features both (as well as the mono mix of the fantastic single “Days”).
The Beatles “The Beatles” - The Beatles 1968 magnum opus is so strong (contrary to what contemporary critics said) because of its length and diversity. Any doubts as to whether the Beatles could truly do it all are dispelled with one listen. As for length, and criticisms that it could have been a really good one LP, instead of a good two LP, may I paraphrase McCartney in saying; “its the bloody Beatles White Album,” like it or turn it off (though I guarantee you won’t).
Vanilla Fudge “Vanilla Fudge” - This LP perfectly illustrates how marvelous it can be to totally screw up arrangements of big hits. Their lack of originality in song selection is more than made up for on this LP. Unfortunately, such quality did not carry over to Vanilla Fudge’s later work, which, in its desperate attempt to be far out and trendy, falls flat.
The Who “Who’s Next” - The leftovers of the “Lifehouse Project” actually hold up fantastically on their own. This is the essence of what the ‘oo’ were about, excellent, engaging writing with slamming delivery. Much better than the “legendary” “Tommy” LP, which goes nowhere. This is the LP to start with for the Who if you were born (like me) in the post power chord era.
Tom Petty “Damn The Torpedoes” - The 1970s served two purposes, to remind everyone just how good the music of the 1960s was, and to launch Tom Petty (okay, so that’s a pretty simplistic view of the decade of disco, but I couldn’t care one jot...). This was Petty’s best LP, released in 1979. Here we see just how good Petty was in channeling the spirits of all of the Byrds and modernizing their sound. Also, he’s from the city I’m writing you from, so that makes him kick even more!
Bob Dylan “Blood On The Tracks” - NOT the one you can buy in a regular record store! Dylans original acetate for the album was amazing, much better than the commercial LP. It is widely bootlegged, most notably on the recent “Blood On The Tapes” CD. Has to be heard to be believed. “Idiot Wind” and “Tangled Up In Blue” have so much tangible hurt in these takes that they will break your heart.
Wings “Wildlife” - Before you lynch me, listen to the thing, particularly the UK “McCartney Collection” reissue. This is an LP that goes absolutely nowhere, makes no points, and has no real standout moments. And that’s what makes it so good! It is a fun little pseudo jam with Macca and company. Infinitely enjoyable, and “Wildlife” and “Bip Bop” will become more and more endearing with each listen. “Dear Friend”, a song specifically directed to John, is worth the price of admission all by itself.
George Harrison “Living In The Material World” - The title track and “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) are amazing, and the rest of the LP is extremely strong and hold together well (regardless of the overtly religious tone, which usually grates on me).
Jimi Hendrix “Are You Experienced” - In my estimation, Hendrix is way overrated. Like Morrison, his death spurred on a legend that outweighs his recorded legacy. If all of his albums were anywhere near as good as his first one, he would be the greatest artist of all time. “Hey Joe”, “Are You Experienced” and, of course “Purple Haze” are pretty standard in the musical education of any rock fan. This LP should be as well, but Hendrix never lived up to the potential he displayed here.
The Byrds “Fifth Dimension” - Like “Notorious...” this LP is innovative and brilliant. What keeps it away from the higher reaches of this list, then? It is nowhere near as sweeping or absorbing as “Notorious”, and some tracks weigh it down (“I Come And Stand At Every Door”, “Captain Soul” and “Lear Jet Song” being the three prime offenders). Still, here you see the beginning of the Byrds experimental spirit, which will lead to “Notorious...” and others before the group became a run of the mill redneck country group.
Donovan "Mellow Yellow" - Don's second 'groovy' LP (as opposed to his folk LPs) was the strongest of his early works. This disc features several very well written and well thought out tracks, but is slightly hampered by the inclusion if the title track (believe it or not). Unlike much of Donovan's work, this is one that, other than the hit, can be taken seriously from start to finish. Too bad there wasn't one more track with the kind of real quality that "Writer In The Sun" had, instead of the (quite enjoyable, yet) lightweight "Museum" and "Mellow Yellow". Only this and "Open Road" truly hold up today as Donovan's attempts at making solid serious pop/rock music.
More are coming, so stay tuned!!!