Revolver / Sgt Pepper /
The White Album
In England at least, Revolver marks the beginning of the psychedelic era. It's white and clean but the first acid shivers are clearly there.
One year later and psychedelia is in full flow. Sgt Pepper has made pop music respectable and the streets are filled with aspiring flower children, strange young men in pseudo-military uniforms, and office workers with floral neckties. Much time is spent boring each other senseless about hidden meanings and spiritual allusions. And a splendid time is guaranteed for all.
And then the comedown, the loss of innocence, and The White Album.
Ogdens Nut Gone Flake
Anyone remotely interested in British psychedelia should check out this minor classic. Named after a popular brand of tobacco - yes, in those days you could smoke without shame - it features their best loved song 'Lazy Sunday' and the inane ramblings of Stanley Unwin. Deep joy.
We're Only in It for the Money
Musically, there are better Zappa records, but none that capture so perfectly the period in which they were made. Frank and the boys sing about flower children, their parents, catching the crabs and all things hippy-dippy. An album about things that appear not to matter anymore - but probably do. What's the ugliest part of your body?
Anthem of the Sun / Aoxomoxoa
Aoxomoxoa was the launching point for many a lysergic adventure with 'What's Become of the Baby' being the high or low point depending on your state of mind and the availability of fresh orange juice. Some say you need to be 'on the bus' to enjoy this but many who fell off the bus years ago still give it an occasional listen.
Anthem of the Sun, although something of a mish-mash and musically less accomplished, is now my preferred choice of early Dead psychedelic meanderings.
Trout Mask Replica
Baffling and beautiful and about as far from pop music as is possible to get. There is strange magic here but it may take considerable time and effort before you discover it. Not for the faint-hearted.
White Light White Heat
The antithesis of hippiedom, this was the music of speedfreaks in basement flats. Joyously primitive, Lou Reed and chums make as much noise with as few notes as possible. It was cool then and it's cool now.
/ Music 1970 to 1979