121. The United States of America | The United States of America (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. The American Metaphysical Circus
2. Hard Coming Love
3. Cloud Song
4. The Garden of Earthly Delights
5. I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar
6. Where Is Yesterday
7. Coming Down
8. Love Song for the Dead Ché
9. Stranded in Time
10. The American Way of Love
• Part I - Metaphor for an Older Man
• Part II - California Good-time Music
• Part III - Love Is All

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Wikipedia suggests there were two covers for this album. However, I think the cover on the left is a paper outer wrapper that the album was contained in and the cover on the right is the actual album cover.

The United States of America is a colorful album. The songs are rock and roll. This music is experimental and heavy like the music of the Mothers of Invention and the Velvet Underground and has a similarly mischievous like the Mothers of Invention. However, their music does push the boundaries like the music of the other two. It's certainly more listener-friendly.

I liked this album—I really liked Dorothy Moskovitz's singing—and I think it's worth listening to, but I'm not yet convinced this album should be on the list. The album is certainly a more refined type of psychedelic music and seems to be suggesting a new direction for that style. It's certainly a lot more interesting than a lot of the rock and roll from 1967 and 1968 that has been on the list, but I'm not sure it's noticeably different either.

The stand out songs are The American Metaphysical Circus, Hard Coming Love, Cloud Song, The Garden of Earthly Delights, Where Is Yesterday, Coming Down, Love Song for the Dead Ché and The American Way of Love.

★★★★★★★★★☆

120. Big Brother and the Holding Company | Cheap Thrills (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Combination of the Two
2. I Need a Man to Love
3. Summertime
4. Piece of My Heart
5. Turtle Blues
6. Oh, Sweet Mary
7. Ball and Chain

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Cheap Thrills is an exceptionally unexceptional album. The songs are blues rock. The music is good, but it's nothing new, but other bands play blues rock much better. What makes this album great is Janis Joplin. This album reminds me of Jerry Lee Lewis's Live at the Star Club, Hamburg. On that album, the band is trying to keep up with Jerry's piano playing. On this album, the band is trying to keep with Janis's singing.

Janis Joplin has a damn great voice. I'd have to go back to the 1950s vocal jazz singers to find someone comparable. What differentiates her from other female singers is that she can and does sing with the same force and power as a guy. With this album, Janis has opened up a lot of opportunities for future female singers. Janis is the reason this album is on the 1001 Albums list.

My parents had this album and I never listened to it. My mother even talked about how much she liked Janis whenever Piece of My Heart or Me and Bobby McGee was playing on the radio. How I regret not listening to this album now! This album is definitely worth listening to. All the songs are good, but Combination of the Two, I Need a Man to Love, Piece of My Heart and Oh, Sweet Mary are the stand outs.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

119. The Byrds | The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Artificial Energy
2. Goin' Back
3. Natural Harmony
4. Draft Morning
5. Wasn't Born to Follow
6. Get to You
7. Change Is Now
8. Old John Robertson
9. Tribal Gathering
10. Dolphin's Smile
11. Space Odyssey

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The Notorious Byrd Brothers is an understated album. The songs are a combination of rock and roll, country and folk. They are short, but well developed and efficient.

I'm by no means a fan of the Byrds. Their music tends to annoy me more than it entertains me, but this album is really good. Maybe because the songs are short they don't have enough time to get under my skin. I really like how the songs flow from one to another. Conceptually, they are all different, but they all seem like extensions of each other.

My only guess why this album deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list is that it mixes folk, country and rock and roll in such a way that all three remain distinct styles. In that sense it's really interesting to see how much separation there is between country and rock and roll.

This album is the best so far by the Byrds and it's certainly worth listening to. Of course, Roger McGuinn still writes songs about outer space which always seemed out of place, but this time he's done much better making it work with the rest of the album. Another annoyance that is not so prevalent on this album are the snotty, smarmy vocals. Thank goodness for that.

There's not much variance in the quality of the songs, so despite the contradiction, they are all stand outs.

★★★★★★★★★★

118. Blue Cheer | Vincebus Eruptum (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Summertime Blues
2. Rock Me Baby
3. Doctor Please
4. Out of Focus
5. Parchment Farm
6. Second Time Around

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Vincebus Eruptum is a loud album. The songs are rock and roll, but they are louder and noisier.

There is something new going on her, but it's not what it may seem initially. Certainly, there have been bands that have been loud and noisy—the Monks, the Sonics, the Velvet Underground and the Jimi Hendrix Experience come to mind. It would seem that for those bands, loudness and noisiness were not ends in themselves. With Blue Cheer however, their sole purpose is to be loud and noisy.

Dickie Peterson, the bassist and lead singer of Blue Cheer, is quoted in 1001 Albums as saying rock and roll is 10 percent technique and 90 percent attitude. With this album, Blue Cheer has put that observation into practice and it's that observation which makes this album innovative.

I really enjoyed this album. However, the songs did sound a little too similar. Fortunately, the album isn't very long. The stand out songs are Summertime Blues, Rock Me Baby and Parchment Farm.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

117. Aretha Franklin | Aretha: Lady Soul (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Chain Of Fools
2. Money Won't Change You
3. People Get Ready
4. Niki Hoeky
5. (You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman
6. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
7. Good to Me As I Am to You
8. Come Back Baby
9. Groovin'
10. Ain't No Way

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Aretha: Lady Soul is an energetic album. The songs are soul, naturally. Aretha Franklin sounds great. The music is great, too. The bass creates nice grooves and is really dynamic at the same time.

For some reason though, great music and great singing don't combine to make a great album. One reason is that most of the songs are too short. Another reason is that the songs, while great individually, don't connect together very well.

I wish I could like this album more, but it just doesn't keep me interested all the way through. The first half of the album is certainly better than the second half. So, I recommend listening to the first half. But, since it's short enough, you might as well listen to the second half as well. The stand out songs are: Chain of Fools, Money Won't Change You, People Get Ready, Niki Hoeky and (You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

116. Laura Nyro | Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Luckie
2. Lu
3. Sweet Blindness
4. Poverty Train
5. Lonely Women
6. Eli's Comin'
7. Timer
8. Stoned Soul Picnic
9. Emmie
10. Woman's Blues
11. Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe)
12. December's Boudoir
13. The Confession

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Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is an uplifting album. The songs are pop. Laura Nyro has a high-pitched, yet powerful voice. The songs are deceptively catchy.

The lyrics border on being vacuous. The music is competent, but it borders on being generic. Any pop album with saxophone and other horns in it is a good indicator that it's not very good.

I'd like to characterize this album as insipid because it really is. (This album really reminds me of all the bad 1970s pop music that I've heard over the years.) However, Laura Nyro's vocals are really good and oblige me to think better of this album. And I did think highly of this album the first time I heard it.

Despite my distaste for the lyrics and music, I do think this album deservers to be on the 1001 Albums list if the list is a list of albums that charted new territory in pop and rock and roll music. This album is certainly something new, although not for the better.

So, for those who like music without any depth or substance, I heartily recommend it. Otherwise, stay clear of it. The stand out songs on this album are: Luckie, Lu, Eli's Comin', Stoned Soul Picnic and Once It Was Alright Now (Farmer Joe).

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

115. Johnny Cash | At Folsom Prison (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

Original release

1. Folsom Prison Blues
2. Dark as a Dungeon
3. I Still Miss Someone
4. Cocaine Blues
5. 25 Minutes to Go
6. Orange Blossom Special
7. The Long Black Veil
8. Send a Picture of Mother
9. The Wall
10. Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog
11. Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart
12. Jackson
13. Give My Love to Rose
14. I Got Stripes
15. Green, Green Grass of Home
16. Greystone Chapel

Re-release

1. Folsom Prison Blues
2. Busted
3. Dark as a Dungeon
4. I Still Miss Someone
5. Cocaine Blues
6. 25 Minutes to Go
7. Orange Blossom Special
8. The Long Black Veil
9. Send a Picture of Mother
10. The Wall
11. Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog
12. Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart
13. Joe Bean
14. Jackson
15. Give My Love to Rose
16. I Got Stripes
17. The Legend of John Henry's Hammer
18. Green, Green Grass of Home
19. Greystone Chapel

Legacy Edition

First Show

1. Opening announcements from Hugh Cherry
2. Blue Suede Shoes
(performed by Carl Perkins)
3. This Ole House
(performed by The Statler Brothers)
4. Announcements and Johnny Cash intro from Hugh Cherry
5. Folsom Prison Blues
6. Busted
7. Dark as a Dungeon
8. I Still Miss Someone
9. Cocaine Blues
10. 25 Minutes to Go
11. I'm Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail
12. Orange Blossom Special
13. The Long Black Veil
14. Send a Picture of Mother
15. The Wall
16. Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog
17. Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart
18. Joe Bean
19. Jackson
20. I Got a Woman
21. The Legend of John Henry's Hammer
22. June's Poem
23. Green, Green Grass of Home
24. Greystone Chapel
25. Closing announcements
26. The Old Spinning Wheel

Second Show

1. Opening announcements from Hugh Cherry
2. Matchbox
(performed by Carl Perkins)
3. Blue Suede Shoes
(performed by Carl Perkins)
4. You Can't Have Your Kate and Edith, Too
(performed by The Statler Brothers)
5. Flowers on the Wall
(performed by The Statler Brothers)
6. How Great Thou Art
(performed by The Statler Brothers)
7. Announcements and Johnny Cash intro from Hugh Cherry
8. Folsom Prison Blues
9. Busted
10. Dark as a Dungeon
11. Cocaine Blues
12. 25 Minutes To Go
13. Orange Blossom Special
14. The Legend of John Henry's Hammer
15. Give My Love to Rose
16. Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog
17. Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart
18. Joe Bean
19. Jackson
20. Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man
21. I Got Stripes
22. Green, Green Grass Of Home
23. Greystone Chapel
24. Greystone Chapel
25. Hugh Cherry Introduces Johnny's father, Ray Cash, Associate Warden Walter E. Craven and Floyd Gressett, and closing announcements

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Note: As the track listing indicates, there are three different versions of At Folsom Prison: the original release, an extended release and a so-called legacy version. The extended release adds three songs not included on the original release. The legacy version a complete uncut recording of the two shows Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison for the recording. The legacy version includes several songs not found on the original release, as well as opening songs performed by Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers. It also includes a poem recited by June Carter.
The legacy version is important as a historical record and perfect for die-hard fans, but the original or extended releases are sufficient enough. I think the extended release is the best because of its inclusion of The Legend of John Henry's Hammer.

At Folsom Prison is an entertaining album. Most songs are country. Many of the songs deal with prison life or criminal acts. The songs are full of black humor. I suppose the choice of songs are apt for Johnny's reputation and because they are performing at a prison, but perhaps the prisoners might have liked something more upbeat.

No matter, the prisoners seemed to enjoy the performance and Johnny Cash is a great showman who easily connects with his audience. I think it's great that he performed for prisoners. I wonder how many entertainers perform for prisoners these days.

This is certainly an album worth owning. Johnny Cash and his supporting musicians—June Carter, The Tennessee Three, The Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins—sound excellent live. The songs are great. Johnny Cash's strength and appeal lie in his lyrics and his voice; he sure knows how to convincingly tell a compelling story. The stand out songs are Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Orange Blossom Special, The Wall, Jackson, Green, Green Grass of Home and Greystone Chapel.

★★★★★★★★★★

114. Leonard Cohen | Songs of Leonard Cohen (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Suzanne
2. Master Song
3. Winter Lady
4. The Stranger Song
5. Sisters of Mercy
6. So Long, Marianne
7. Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye
8. Stories of the Street
9. Teachers
10. One of Us Cannot Be Wrong

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Songs of Leonard Cohen is a calm album. The songs are folk. The songs center on Leonard Cohen's guitar-playing and singing. There are exceptions, of course. Perhaps, because of a lack of a rhythm section, many of the songs lack energy and seem sad. Even the ones with some bass accompaniment aren't terribly uplifting, either. The lyrics, which are well-written and interesting, and Cohen's voice, which is not very strong, might contribute to the sense of sadness, too.

I really liked this album. I'm not very good at interpreting lyrics, but I enjoy painting a mental image from them. Leonard Cohen writes lyrics and creates a mood where the mental images are clear.

Yet, I'm not exactly clear why this album is on the 1001 Albums list. I'm guessing that it's because he is at the forefront of a group of folk singers who perform their own songs and write lyrics which are more introspective than political or universal.

I think this album is certainly worth listening to, but for those who aren't keen on folk, it's not going to win them over. It's a well-balanced album song-wise, so it's hard to pick out any stand outs, but if I were pressed to choose them, I would say Suzanne, Master Song, So Long, Marianne, Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye and One of Us Cannot Be Wrong are the ones I'd choose.

★★★★★★★★★☆

113. The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Electric Ladyland (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. ...And the Gods Made Love
2. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
3. Crosstown Traffic
4. Voodoo Chile
5. Little Miss Strange
6. Long Hot Summer Night
7. Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)
8. Gypsy Eyes
9. Burning of the Midnight Lamp
10. Rainy Day, Dream Away
11. 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)
12. Moon, Turn the Tides...Gently Gently Away
13. Still Raining, Still Dreaming
14. House Burning Down
15. All Along the Watchtower
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

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Note: the US release used the cover at the top left; the UK release used the cover at the top right. Jimi Hendrix didn't approve of either. See the Wikipedia entry for Electric Ladyland for more information.


Electric Ladyland is a mighty album. From the groove-heavy rhythm section to the near-vocal lead guitar, from the double album length to the more-than-ten minute length of several tracks, from the Olympian allusions in the lyrics to the godlike guitar solos, this album exudes power and masculinity. This is the natural consequence of electrifying the blues. This is the pinnacle of hard rock.
Jimi Hendrix pushes the boundary of the role of the guitar in rock and roll. He clearly demonstrates that the guitar can be an alternative to a singer, yet retaining a vocal similarity. Not only does Jimi do that, but he also charts the future course of hard rock. Since he's so far ahead of his time, it's hard to tell if anyone can even try to match his skill. So he may have pushed the boundary, but the trail, if any, that he left might be to obscure to follow.

Listening to this album all the way through is a real workout. It's one outstanding song after another. There's no question about this album being a "must" to listen to. It's an album for the ages. There's not a bad track on the album, although ...And the Gods Made Love isn't necessary. The real stand outs are Crosstown Traffic, Voodoo Chile, Gypsy Eyes, Burning of the Midnight Lamp, 1983...(A Merman I Should Turn to Be), House Burning Down, All Along the Watchtower and Voodoo Child (Slight Return).

★★★★★★★★★★

112. Os Mutantes | Os Mutantes (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Panis et circenses
2. A minha menina
3. O relógio
4. Adeus, Maria Fulô
5. Baby
6. Senhor F
7. Bat macumba
8. Le premier bonheur du jour
9. Trem fantasma
10. Tempo no tempo (Once was a time I thought)
11. Ave, Gengis Khan

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Os Mutantes is a fun album. The lyrics are in Portuguese so it's not clear what's going on, but I've read elsewhere that the lyrics are pretty nonsensical anyway. The songs are tropicália with a slight nod toward psychedelic rock. Actually, there seem to be a lot of different styles represented which I'm mostly unfamiliar with.

When I first listened to this album, it seemed amateurish and gimmicky. However, the most recent listening has convinced me that it's quite good. The music is catchy, creative and never taken seriously.

I think this album is definitely worth listening to. Give it a chance and you'll be grateful you did. It would certainly be a curious addition to any collection. All the songs are very good, but the stand outs are: Panis et circenses, A minha menina, Adeus, Maria Fulô, Bat macumba, Le premier bonheur du jour and Ave, Gengis Khan.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

111. Ravi Shankar | The Sounds of India (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. An Introduction to Indian Music
2. Dádrá
3. Máru-Bihág
4. Bhimpalási
5. Sindhi-Bhairavi

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The Sounds of India is a hypnotic album. The pieces are classical Hindustani music. On the first track, Ravi Shankar describes what Indian music is and makes it clear that it doesn't follow the conventions of Western music. He also explains what the three instruments featured on the album are and what they do. Then, before each piece, he explains a little about its structure like scale and beats. I understood some of what he talks about, but his explanations are meant for smart people and musicians.

Of course, I'm not sure why this is on the 1001 Albums list. This album certainly has significance in the late 1960s for Western musicians and Western music listeners. This album would best be considered for a list that isn't devoted primarily to Western popular music.

I liked the album a lot. The music has a distinct boundaries, but within those boundaries, there's a lot of opportunity for variation. It's good music to put on and relax to. Despite not thinking it should be on the 1001 Albums list, I do think it's worth listening to. All four pieces are excellent and intricate. And if you do pay attention to Ravi Shankar's introductions, they really are informative despite their brevity.

★★★★★★★★★★

110. The Kinks | The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. The Village Green Preservation Society
2. Do You Remember Walter?
3. Picture Book
4. Johnny Thunder
5. Last of the Steam-powered Trains
6. Big Sky
7. Sitting by the Riverside
8. Animal Farm
9. Village Green
10. Starstruck
11. Phenomenal Cat
12. All of My Friends Were There
13. Wicked Annabella
14. Monica
15. People Take Pictures of Each Other

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The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society is a nostalgic album.  The songs are a mix of heavy rock and roll and pop. The music is conservative, never dull and does what it is meant to do: support the lyrics. The lyrics generally reflect on a past that does not manifest itself in the present, except either in mental or physical memories (photographs): the village green, steam trains, relationships and experiences.

This is one of the finest albums I've ever heard. Ray Davies has a comforting voice. The music and lyrics are catchy, clever and fun. However, some of the lyrics and music prevent this album from transcending the 1960s. That doesn't mean it's not worth listening to or owning, though.

There isn't a weak song on the album, but the stand outs are: The Village Green Preservation Society, Do You Remember Walter?, Picture Book, Last of the Steam-powered Trains, Big Sky, Animal Farm, Village Green, Starstruck, Phenomenal Cat, Wicked Annabella, People Take Pictures of Each Other.

★★★★★★★★★★

109. The Incredible String Band | The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Koeeoaddi There
2. The Minotaur's Song
3. Witches Hat
4. A Very Cellular Song
5. Mercy I Cry City
6. Waltz of the New Moon
7. The Water Song
8. Three Is a Green Crown
9. Swift as the Wind
10. Nightfall

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Note: The album cover shown in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is not the original album cover. The one above on the right is the original album cover according to Discogs and Wikipedia. It seems the album cover was changed to the one above on the left at some point. The Wikipedia entry makes mention of it, but it's not very clear and the Discogs entry for the album just has LP images.

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter is a medieval album. That is to say, the songs remind me of the minstrel music one might hear at popular medieval fairs. Perhaps, they also remind me of English children's nursery rhymes that I learned as a child. While those might be impressions one also might get when listening to this album, to say this sounds like medieval music, children's nursery rhymes or psychedelic folk music is overly simplistic. This album is a mix of traditional folk songs from around the world and that becomes clearer the more one listens to it. Apparently, the bards, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, can play any instrument put in front of them.

Most of the songs have different parts to them, so the music critic who wrote the entry for this album in the 1001 Albums book notes that these songs might be better called suites. I would agree with that, but I will call them pieces. No matter, I think it's an important distinction, especially with A Very Cellular Song. Expecting each piece to be like normal a song will lead to frustration. Understanding that there are different movements in each piece will make it less confusing. However, the lyrics of these pieces can still be impenetrable.

I love the music, though. The variety of instruments keeps the music fresh and despite the different styles and musical instruments, there isn't a piece out of place. I do think this is an album worth listening to, but it won't be everyone's cup of tea.

The pieces are all worth listening to. A Very Cellular Song is the epic piece, but Koeeoaddi There, The Minotaur's Song, Witches Hat and Three Is a Green Crown are stand outs, too.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

108. Traffic | Traffic (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. You Can All Join In
2. Pearly Queen
3. Don't Be Sad
4. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
5. Feelin' Alright
6. Vagabond Virgin
7. (Roamin' Thru the Gloamin' with) 40,000 Headmen
8. Cryin' to Be Heard
9. No Time to Live
10. Means to an End

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Traffic is a mature album. It's also dynamic and smart. The songs are rock and roll, but there's a more subtle and intricate structure to them. Traffic isn't the first rock and roll band to come up with this type of album. Certainly, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Pet Sounds come to mind, but I don't they achieved what this album has.

I believe this album signals a new and positive development in rock and roll. Channeling pure rock and roll energy is great, but controlling it and giving it more structure is about time. ('Structure' may not even be the right term. The right word might be 'polish'. It certainly isn't 'restraint'.) Of course, knowing the course of rock and roll, it's clear this direction rock and roll took led down some undesirable paths, too.

I've heard this album once or twice before and I thought it was good. Certainly, You Can All Join In and Pearly Queen are instantly likable. But the rest of the album took me by surprise this time. I do think the songs works well together musically, but I'm not sure about the lyrics. They seem to be all over the map. (Roamin' Thru the Gloamin' with) 40,000 Headmen is a good example. No matter, this album is definitely worth a listen and might even be worth owning.

All the songs are enjoyable, but the real stand outs are You Can All Join In, Pearly Queen, Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring, Vagabond Virgin, (Roamin' Thru the Gloamin' with) 40,000 Headmen and Cryin' to Be Heard.

★★★★★★★★★☆

107. The Rolling Stones | Beggars Banquet (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Sympathy for the Devil
2. No Expectations
3. Dear Doctor
4. Parachute Woman
5. Jig-Saw Puzzle
6. Street Fighting Man
7. Prodigal Son
8. Stray Cat Blues
9. Factory Girl
10. Salt of the Earth

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Note: The album was originally meant to be released with the left album cover, but it was released with the right cover instead. See the Wikipedia entry for the details why the bottom cover was used.

Beggars Banquet is an edgy album. The songs are a mix of hard edged and quiet acoustic rock and roll. The mix of songs surprisingly works well together. The Rolling Stones certainly draw more directly from the blues than more of the recent rock and roll albums.

The album has a transcendent quality to it, something akin to what the Beatles accomplished from Revolver on. After listening to the album one time, there's no question about how great it is. I've yet to figure out for myself why there are albums like this. Is it just a convergence of production quality, mature song writing and mature playing? Maybe there's no way to define it; instead, you just feel it in your bones.

I've never been a big fan of the Rolling Stones, but the 1001 Albums list is making me one. Naturally, it follows from the observation above that this is not only an album that must be listened to, but it's an album that should be part of any serious music listener's collection. 

There isn't a bad track on this album, but the real stand outs are Sympathy for the Devil, Jig-Saw Man, Street Fighting Man, Prodigal Son, Stray Cat Blues and Salt of the Earth.

★★★★★★★★★★

106. Aretha Franklin | I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Respect
2. Drown in My Own Tears
3. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
4. Soul Serenade
5. Don't Let Me Lose This Dream
6. Baby, Baby, Baby
7. Dr. Feelgood (Love Is a Serious Business)
8. Good Times
9. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
10. Save Me
11. A Change Is Gonna Come

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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You is a passionate album. The songs are soul. It's been a while since there's been a singer who invests so much emotion in the songs—and boy are these refreshing. 

Usually vocalists are accompanied by a competent band that lets them shine. Aretha has an outstanding band with a great rhythm section—see if you can keep from tapping your feet—and she's got some wonderful backup singers. But that's not what makes her great; she'd be great even without a band. 

This is a great album. It is consistent all the way through, yet there's a lot of variety. Without a doubt, this album is worth owning. It doesn't distract if you want to have it as background music, and≠ it's compelling enough to listen carefully to.

There's not a bad song on this album and typically I'd list them all, but the real stand outs are Respect, I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, Save Me and A Change Is Gonna Come.

★★★★★★★★★★

105. The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Axis: Bold as Love (1967)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. EXP
2. Up from the Skies
3. Spanish Castle Magic
4. Wait Until Tomorrow
5. Ain't No Telling
6. Little Wing
7. If 6 Was 9
8. You Got Me Floatin'
9. Castles Made of Sand
10. She's So Fine
11. One Rainy Wish
12. Little Miss Lover
13. Bold as Love

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Axis: Bold as Love is a tight album. The songs are straight up rock and roll. The album has a really rich and clear sound which really emphasizes each of the main three instruments: guitar, bass and drums.

Jimi Hendrix is an amazing guitar player. He makes it sound so natural. He doesn't so much play the guitar as he wills it to make sound. Does anyone even come close to playing as naturally as Jimi could?


Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell are completely overshadowed and underrated. Mitch Mitchell is an aggressive and assertive drummer and Noel Redding's bass playing is solid, sounds great and really complements Jimi's guitar playing.

Aside from Spanish Castle Magic, the album doesn't really get going until a few songs in. But from Little Wing to Bold as Love, it's nearly flawless. This album is definitely worth listening to, but I'm ambivalent about whether it's worth owning. Are You Experienced certainly overshadows this album which its heavy riffs. This album is more subtle and the guitar is more lyrical.

Every song is worth listening to. EXP is a distraction. The stand out songs are Spanish Castle Magic, Little Wing, If 6 Was 9, You Got Me Floatin', Castles Made of Sand, She's So Fine, One Rainy Wish and Bold as Love.

★★★★★★★★★★