197. Simon and Garfunkel | Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Bridge Over Troubled Water
2. El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
3. Cecilia
4. Keep the Customer Satisfied
5. So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright
6. The Boxer
7. Baby Driver
8. The Only Living Boy in New York
9. Why Don't You Write Me
10. Bye Bye Love
11. Song for the Asking

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Bridge Over Troubled Water is a melodic album. The music is folk rock. This music is inoffensive, but that's nothing to be proud of.

This album is an improvement over their previous two albums. The music is more diverse and interesting. The lyrics are less condescending and pontificating, but still lightweight, frivolous and shallow. I can't believe Bob Dylan did a cover of The Boxer. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

I'm more critical of the lyrics on Simon and Garfunkel albums because their lyrics are the main attraction. People listen to Jimi Hendrix because of his guitar playing and they listen to Simon and Garfunkel for the clever lyrics.

I do think this album is worth listening to, though. For two reasons, it's one of many entryways to the adult oriented style of rock that has plagued popular music ever since: the music is innocuous and the lyrics are vapid. I don't think it belongs on the 1001 Albums list because it's more like a loose collection of songs rather than an album.

The standout songs are: Bridge Over Troubled Water, El Condor Pasa (If I Could), Cecilia, The Boxer and Bye Bye Love.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

196. George Harrison | All Things Must Pass (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. I'd Have You Anytime
2. My Sweet Lord
3. Wah-Wah
4. Isn't It a Pity (Version One)
5. What Is Life
6. If Not for You
7. Behind That Locked Door
8. Let It Down
9. Run of the Mill
10. Beware of Darkness
11. Apple Scruffs
12. Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
13. Awaiting on You All
14. All Things Must Pass
15. I Dig Love
16. Art of Dying
17. Isn't It a Pity (Version Two)
18. Hear Me Lord
19. Out of the Blue
20. It's Johnny's Birthday
21. Plug Me In
22. I Remember Jeep
23. Thanks for the Pepperoni

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All Things Must Pass is a big album. The music is rock and folk rock. This album is a collection of songs that George Harrison had been amassing during his time with the Beatles. This debut album is more like a greatest hits album since the songs have been gathering since the mid-sixties and since they are (most likely) the crème de la crème of song ideas he had.

George Harrison was supported by Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon who would go on and form Derek and the Dominos as a result of playing together on this album. There were also a boatload of other famous and soon-to-be famous musicians who played on this album. So, George had all the necessary talent to make a great album. And he did make a very good album.

I think the first two albums of this triple album are immediately likable, but at the same time it's overwhelming since there are a lot of songs and each of them is deadly serious. Then, there's the third album, Apple Jam, which was apparently included to help justify the high price of the album. While I don't mind listening to musicians jam, I think the third album was an unnecessary and tedious addition.

I think this is a great album despite the third album. Though, I do wonder why George decided to release so much material at once. Regardless, it's certainly an album worth listening to and I think it's an essential album for serious music collectors. However, I'm not convinced that it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list.

There are so many outstanding songs on this album, that I'm not going to list them. I'll just say I liked every song on the first two album immensely.

★★★★★★★★★☆

195. Rod Stewart | Gasoline Alley (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Gasoline Alley
2. It's All Over Now
3. Only a Hobo
4. My Way of Giving
5. Country Comfort
6. Cut Across Shorty
7. Lady Day
8. Jo's Lament
9. You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It)

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Gasoline Alley is a smart album. The music is rock and roll, but it's not a retrospective. This is a contemporary incarnation of rock and roll. Other rock bands since the early Beatles' albums have been heavily influenced by the blues. While this album is informed by the blues, it doesn't draw too directly from the source, unlike the blues rock and psychedelic rock bands.

This album is really strong throughout. The first two songs are really catchy and energetic. Only a Hobo is a great cover of a Dylan song and it slows the pace right down for the next two songs which are slow but really great songs. Country Comfort is one of my favorite songs. It really gets going when Ronnie Lane joins Rod Stewart on vocals. From Cut Across Shorty to the end, the album begins to rock harder and harder which is a perfect way to end an album.

I think this is one of the best albums I've ever heard. I like how it strips away all the ostentation of the past decade to return to a clean rock and roll sound. This is certainly an album worth listening to frequently. It's certainly an album that any seriously collector should have. I do believe it should be on the 1001 Albums list. It may not be the album responsible for the backlash toward psychedelic rock and prog rock, but it's certainly demonstrative of a desire to make things simpler.

There's not a bad song on this album. My favorites are: Gasoline Alley, Only a Hobo, Country Comfort, Cut Across Shorty and You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It).

★★★★★★★★★★

194. Soft Machine | Third (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Facelift
2. Slightly All the Time
3. Moon in June
4. Out-Bloody-Rageous

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Third is a schizophrenic album. The music is combination of jazz fusion and progressive rock. It's a double album with each track spanning one side of an LP. The first two songs sound a lot like In the Court of the Crimson King, Bitches' Brew and A Love Supreme. I would almost say they are rock's answer to Miles Davis' Bitches' Brew. The last two tracks are pure and unique progressive rock songs.

This album is a real challenge to get through. With each song just under twenty minutes long, it's a test of endurance to stay focused for the entirety of each one, let alone for the whole album. Also, each song has many parts. Some parts are more structured than others. Some parts are more melodic, others are more dissonant.

I think, after having listened to this album five times, I find it interesting. But is it necessary to be patient and wait for something to become interesting? I think so, but I suspect there are a lot more people who would disagree.

I do think this album is worth listening to and I think it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list. It demonstrates clearly a shift in rock music. Psychedelic rock is on the way out and progressive rock is on its way in. This album is not the first harbinger of that, but the last two songs are really fine example of what prog rock will become.

I think all four songs are good and I don't think any of the four songs stand out from the other three. They are all unique in their own way.

★★★★★★★★★☆

193. The Who | Live at Leeds (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Young Man Blues
2. Substitute
3. Summertime Blues
4. Shakin' All Over
5. My Generation
6. Magic Bus

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Note: there have been several different releases of this album. The most notable are the ones released in 2001 and 2010. The 2001 release includes the complete concert at the University of Leeds which include a complete performance of Tommy. The 2010 release includes the material on the 2001 release and the concert performed in Hull which also includes a complete performance of Tommy. As for this review, I listened to the originally-released version.

When listening to the albums on the 1001 Albums list, I always try to listen to the album as it was released originally, at least as far as the original track listings are concerned. Does that make the review more authentic? I doubt it. For a vast majority of albums, there is just too much knowledge about an album and it's impact or lack of to be authentic. I aim to approach these albums from the original point of view, but I don't claim objectivity at all.

Live at Leeds is an energetic album. The music is rock. The Who play three originals and three covers.

The first four songs are short and to the point which makes them more like studio songs rather than live songs. The Who decide to extend themselves on the last two songs. My Generation becomes a medley of other famous Who songs. Magic Bus is a jam.

The Who sound really good live. I wonder why some bands sound better live than on an album. Too many takes? Poor production? Overproduction? The venue has good acoustics?

I don't think there's anything special about this live album. Sure they do some good covers, but they are done in the "Who" style, so they don't make this album essential to listen to.

Moreover, there have already been several live albums on the 1001 Albums. Those albums sound good, but none of them had been a live rock album. If that's the reason, I'm not buying it.

Is it worth listening to? I think so, but it shouldn't be on the list.

All of the songs are excellent. The stand outs are: Summertime Blues, My Generation and Magic Bus.

★★★★★★★★★☆

192. Ananda Shankar | Ananda Shankar (1970)

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Tracks

1. Jumpin' Jack Flash
2. Snow Flower
3. Light My Fire
4. Mamata (Affection)
5. Metamorphosis
6. Sagar (The Ocean)
7. Dance Indra
8. Raghupati

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Ananda Shankar is a progressive album. The music is Indian classical music heavily influenced by Western music. In fact, Anandar Shankar covers the Rolling Stones' Jumpin' Jack Flash and the Doors' Light My Fire. They have a psychedelic quality to them. The remainder of the songs are his own works. Everything except for Sagar has a more Western 4/4 rhythm (at least to my untrained ears) and very little droning. Sagar is the only piece that doesn't seem to have any essential Western qualities, although the eerie keyboards in the background might be less Indian and more Western.

I prefer the Ananda's original material over the covers. The covers are well done, but they seem like out-of-place novelties on an otherwise serious album.

I enjoyed listening to this album and I think anyone who does listen to it will enjoy it, too. However, this album has no place on the 1001 Albums list for the simple fact that less than 1% of the albums on the list are either non-Western or can't trace their roots back to rock and roll. I can't say whether it's essential to listen to or not since I have very little experience with Indian music. 

All of the songs are excellent. The two that really impressed me were Sagar and Raghupati.

★★★★★★★★★☆

191. Nick Drake | Bryter Layter (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Introduction
2. Hazey Jane II
3. At the Chime of a City Clock
4. One of These Things First
5. Hazey Jane I
6. Bryter Layter
7. Fly
8. Poor Boy
9. Northern Sky
10. Sunday

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Bryter Layter is a lugubrious album. The music is folk, although the presence of piano and saxophone belie the simplicity of that observation. Nick Drake gets some assistance from some of the members of Fairport Convention, John Cale and two members of the Beach Boys.

The songs all sound really beautiful. Although, there is a foreboding quality to the beautiful melodies, as if to suggest that while everything seems well on the surface, just a glance below reveals a different truth. I think the lyrics suggest the same.

Each instrument is very quiet and restrained. There isn't much interplay between them, but they work together well. This is one album where it's very important to pay careful attention to the music.

This is an outstanding album. It's certainly worth listening to. I'm not too sure about whether it should be on the 1001 Albums list. It's not as if there hasn't been enough folk albums. However, this is a different kind of folk album. It certainly shows a folk style that is more introspective than political and worldly. I guess I'd lean in favor of it being on the list.

All of the songs are excellent. The stand outs are: At the Chime of a City Clock, One of These Things First, Hazey Jane I, Fly, Poor Boy and Sunday.

★★★★★★★★★★

190. Grateful Dead | American Beauty (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Box of Rain
2. Friend of the Devil
3. Sugar Magnolia
4. Operator
5. Candyman
6. Ripple
7. Brokedown Palace
8. Till the Morning Comes
9. Attics of My Life
10. Truckin'

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American Beauty is a mellow album. The music is folk rock and country rock. It's mainly an acoustic album, but there is a clear presence of electric guitars.

This album got better the more I listened to it. Although Box of Rain sounded better each time, I don't think it or Friend of the Devil should kick off the album. There are stronger songs to start with.

I think it's worth listening to, but I'm not sure why it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list. Gram Parsons was doing this kind of stuff with the Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers a few years back. So, it's a good album, but nothing that hasn't been heard before.

All of the songs are quite good. The stand outs are: Box of Rain, Sugar Magnolia, Ripple, Brokedown Palace, Till the Morning Comes and Truckin'.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

189. Van Morrison | Moondance (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. And It Stoned Me
2. Moondance
3. Crazy Love
4. Caravan
5. Into the Mystic
6. Come Running
7. These Dreams of You
8. Brand New Day
9. Everyone
10. Glad Tidings

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Moondance is a gentle album. The music varies from R&B to jazz to country to folk. And it works! Van Morrison makes it work. His voice is plastic and fits any style naturally. His backing musicians make it work too. The rhythm section is fluid and lively. The saxes and flute do a good job in support.

I really liked this album. Van Morrison makes interesting music and he tells stories in his lyrics that are enjoyable and sensible—a rare treat. I do think this album is worth listening to, but I don't think it necessarily belongs on the 1001 Albums list. Van Morrison's range is impressive, but there's nothing new on this album, either.

All of the songs are quite good. The stand outs are: And It Stoned Me, Moondance, Caravan, Into the Mystic, These Dreams of You and Glad Tidings.

★★★★★★★★★☆

188. Deep Purple | Deep Purple In Rock (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Speed King
2. Bloodsucker
3. Child in Time
4. Flight of the Rat
5. Into the Fire
6. Living Wreck
7. Hard Lovin' Man

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Deep Purple In Rock is a hyperactive album. The music is heavy metal. Deep Purple's brand of heavy demonstrates a third kind of heavy metal emerging in the late Sixties and early Seventies. Black Sabbath has their own distinct brand which is slow, brooding and works off a groove. Led Zeppelin's brand is riff-based and thunderous. Deep Purple is also loud but, what makes them distinct is the extremely fast guitar playing and their music flirts with prog rock; in some ways, it's just hard rock on speed.

I do think Deep Purple's heavy metal is the least interesting of the three. They do rock and the speed is blazing, but it seems very detached and clinical. It could be the singer. Ozzy and Robert Plant are charismatic, but Ian Gillan doesn't come off being as charismatic. If it's not that then it could either be the lyrics or the production.

I do think this album is worth listening to and it certainly does deserve being on the 1001 Albums list. And while it might be an album to rock out to now and then, Sabbath and Zeppelin seem more desirable.

Most of the songs are quite good. The stand outs are: Speed King, Child in Time, Into the Fire and Hard Lovin' Man.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

187. Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin III (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Immigrant Song
2. Friends
3. Celebration Day
4. Since I've Been Loving You
5. Out on the Tiles
6. Gallows Pole
7. Tangerine
8. That's the Way
9. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
10. Hats Off to (Roy) Harper

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Led Zeppelin III is an exquisite album. The music is hard rock with many songs having an folkie (English folk) thread running through them. There are two straight up blues rock songs, an indication of their own song writing maturity.

This album works well on two levels. First, every song is dynamic. Each instrument is busy doing something at all times on each song. While it can sound complex, it's disciplined and not overwhelming. Second, the production quality is outstanding. It's not like there haven't been other talented and capable producers and audio engineers, but for Jimmy Page, the production is like another instrument. He really treats it as an art. (There's no doubt it's a big reason why Led Zeppelin sounds fresh decades later.)

This is a phenomenal and underrated album. It doesn't seem to rock as hard as Led Zeppelin II, but it does; it just has fewer riffs. This album is definitely worth listening to and owning. It certainly belongs on the 1001 Albums list.

Every song on this album is outstanding. Every single one is exciting and entertaining. My favorites are Immigrant Song, Since I've Been Loving You, Out on the Tiles and Gallows Pole. The one song that I've come to be more fond of recently is Hats Off to (Roy) Harper. It's a really strong adaptation of a blues song into rock song, without it becoming a blues rock song.

★★★★★★★★★★

186. Neil Young | After the Gold Rush (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Tell Me Why
2. After the Gold Rush
3. Only Love Can Break Your Heart
4. Southern Man
5. Till the Morning Comes
6. Oh Lonesome Me
7. Don't Let It Bring You Down
8. Birds
9. When You Dance I Can Really Love
10. I Believe in You
11. Cripple Creek Ferry

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After the Gold Rush is a pleasing album. The music is folkie rock with a twist of country. It's an easy album to listen to. Neil Young makes well-crafted music. There are some relaxed ballads with beautiful melodies and there are some acoustic rockers.

Many of the songs deal with love and, sometimes, loss. After the Gold Rush makes reference to the environment being damaged to the point that humans may have to seek a new home elsewhere. Southern Man is the only difficult piece—it's his in-your-face reminder of the continuing racism in the American South. I'm not exactly sure what Don't Let It Bring You Down and Cripple Creek Ferry are about, though.

This is an excellent album. It's definitely worth listening to. It's easy to listen to this album over and over without getting sick of it. I'm unsure whether it's a must-have album. It has yet to leave a lasting impression on me after it's over, but while listening to it, it's like listening to one of the best albums ever. Of course, it should be on the 1001 Albums list for that reason and because these songs are well-crafted.

Every song on this album is outstanding. The stand out songs for me are Tell Me Why, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Southern Man, Oh, Lonesome Me, Don't Let It Bring You Down, When You Dance I Can Really Love and Cripple Creek Ferry.

★★★★★★★★★★

185. Black Sabbath | Paranoid (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. War Pigs
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
5. Electric Funeral
6. Hand of Doom
7. Rat Salad
8. Fairies Wear Boots

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Paranoid is a fierce album. The music is heavy metal. The album comes right on the heels of their debut. It's just as heavy as that one, but this album is more refined, better focused during the long soloing/jamming sections, and it introduces a bunch of serious riffs.

There is also quite a bit of political commentary in the lyrics. While it's not as subtle as, say, Dylan, it's more sincere than anything since Dylan's early works.

This album is excellent. It's worth listening to and this is essential for anyone who takes music collecting seriously.

Every song on this album is outstanding. Rat Salad is probably the weakest, but it's only two-and-a-half minutes long. The stand out songs for me are War Pigs, Planet Caravan, Electric Funeral and Fairies Wear Boots.

★★★★★★★★★★

184. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young | Déjà Vu (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Carry On
2. Teach Your Children
3. Almost Cut My Hair
4. Helpless
5. Woodstock
6. Déjà Vu
7. Our House
8. 4 + 20
9. Country Girl: Whiskey Boot Hill/Down, Down, Down/Country Girl (I Think You're Pretty)
10. Everybody I Love You

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Déjà Vu is a pretty album. The music is folkie rock. Crosby, Stills and Nash have added Neil Young for this, their second album. Neil Young provides a heavier, grittier guitar sound to the music. Despite the "grittiness" Young adds, this album is a more polished version of their debut album.

This songs on this album sound great. There are lots of good melodies, good bass lines and guitar playing. What's strange about this album is that CSN&Y really aren't a band. Eight of the songs are written solely by one member, i.e. each band member contributed two songs. Woodstock is a Joni Mitchell contribution. The last song is credited to Stills and Young.

Furthermore, only Woodstock was performed with the whole band in the studio at the same time. The rest of the songs were built piecemeal. Even if these facts aren't factored in, this album certainly doesn't have much unity.

Teach Your Children and Our House suggest an end to the hippie era, the latter more so than the former, whereas Woodstock and Almost Cut My Hair seem to affirm the hippie ethos, this time the former more so than the latter. Then, Young's songs have nothing to do with either.

So, there's no doubt that this is a great album that's worth listening to, but unfortunately the songs don't cohere into an "album". That means I don't think it really belongs on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs are good, but the stand outs are: Carry On, Teach Your Children, Almost Cut My Hair, Helpless, Woodstock, 4 + 20 and Country Girl.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

183. John Lennon | John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Mother
2. Hold On
3. I Found Out
4. Working Class Hero
5. Isolation
6. Remember
7. Love
8. Well Well Well
9. Look at Me
10. God
11. My Mummy's Dead

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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is a personal album. It is all about John Lennon. On the first half of the album he expresses his feelings. He is angry at his parents. He is disillusioned with the Beatles. He feels alone and betrayed. The second half of the album he gives up his past. Finally, he affirms his love for Yoko Ono and declares that the only faith he has is in himself and in Yoko.

This is a deeply sad album. It would appear otherwise since it seems to end on a hopeful note, but it really doesn't. At the end, there is only John and Yoko, alone, and he has abandoned or repudiated his past. Hopeful or not, it's an emotionally taxing album to listen to.

Of course, this album is certainly worth listening to. I also think it deserves to be on the 1001 Albums list. There have always been artists who pour their heart and soul into their music, but no one in rock has done it so honestly and personally as John Lennon has on this album.

All the songs are good, but the stand outs are: Mother, I Found Out, Working Class Hero, Isolation, Love and God.

★★★★★★★★★★

182. Stephen Stills | Stephen Stills (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Love the One You're With
2. Do for the Others
3. Church (Part of Someone)
4. Old Times Good Times
5. Go Back Home
6. Sit Yourself Down
7. To a Flame
8. Black Queen
9. Cherokee
10. We Are Not Helpless

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Stephen Stills is an unpretentious album. The music is a mix of rock and folk with some gospel thrown in. Stephen Stills does most of the guitar work on this album, but he gets help from Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton on two songs. 

This is an album that really takes some time to enjoy. Love the One You're With is a misleading opening song; it charts a course that the second song, Do for the Others, immediately abandons. Then the remainder of songs follow Do for Others.

I'm not sure this is an album that needs to be on the 1001 Albums list. It's an improved-upon folk rock album, but nothing more. However, this is an outstanding album. So, I do think it's worth listening to and for those who like folk rock, this is a keeper.

Every song on this album is great, although I wasn't as impressed with To a Flame. The stand outs are Love the One You're With, Do for the Others, Church (Part of Someone), Black Queen, Cherokee and We Are Not Helpless.

★★★★★★★★★☆

181. The Carpenters | Close to You (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. We've Only Just Begun
2. Love Is Surrender
3. Maybe It's You
4. Reason to Believe
5. Help!
6. (They Long to Be) Close to You
7. Baby It's You
8. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
9. Crescent Noon
10. Mr. Guder
11. I Kept On Loving You
12. Another Song

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Close to You is a vacuous album. The music is pop. This is a very different pop music from the pop of the early- to mid-sixties. The pop of the sixties was about love and crap like that, but it was more innocent and playful and most likely directed toward teenagers or very young adults. This pop is supposedly more mature seemingly directed toward college-age adults or older.

There are some nice melodies, but the music is really soft. The lyrical content is so god awful. It's light and fluffy, saccharine, puppy-love love songs. After having listened to the album, I almost feel as if I've become dumber. That's not to say lyrical content of other artists or albums were deep philosophical musings. Perhaps other lyrics don't take themselves seriously. These lyrics on this album do. Also, perhaps, I sense an intelligence behind most lyrics. There are exceptions, of course. Paul Simon comes to mind, as well as the Everly Brothers.

I don't think this album is essential to listen to. I suppose it might make sense to be on the 1001 Albums list, if this album is charting a new pop music course. Finally, Karen Carpenter has a nice voice. She should have used it to sing more interesting songs.

In spite of the lyrics, there are some decent songs. We've Only Just Begun, (They Long to Be) Close to You, I'll Never Fall in Love Again, Crescent Noon and Mr. Guder.

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

180. The Doors | Morrison Hotel (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Roadhouse Blues
2. Waiting for the Sun
3. You Make Me Real
4. Peace Frog
5. Blue Sunday
6. Ship of Fools
7. Land Ho!
8. The Spy
9. Queen of the Highway
10. Indian Summer
11. Maggie M'Gill

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Morrison Hotel is a melodramatic album. Jim Morrison is the lyrical master of absolutes and superlatives. The music is straightforward blues rock; however, Ray Manzarek's keyboards are playful and enable Morrison's fatalistic theatrics.

This album is really catchy and, despite himself and his lyrics, Jim Morrison is charismatic on each song. However, with the exception of Peace Frog, this album is rather tame and uninspiring.

This album is good, but it isn't groundbreaking, and so it doesn't belong on the 1001 Albums list.

The stand out songs are Roadhouse Blues, Waiting for the Sun, Peace Frog, Ship of Fools and Indian Summer.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

179. Black Sabbath | Black Sabbath (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Black Sabbath
2. The Wizard
3. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
4. N.I.B.
5. Evil Woman
6. Sleeping Village
7. Warning

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Black Sabbath is a dark and sinister album. But, boy, does it sound great. The music is grounded in the blues and relies heavily on the groove. The lyrics deal with the occult, ideas from H. P. Lovecraft and anti-Christian themes.

The album starts off really strongly. The first four songs are like nothing that has come before (at least on the 1001 Albums list). Black Sabbath sets the dark tone and the following three songs delve deeper and deeper into darkness. The last three songs are good but aren't as strong.

There's no doubt that this album is worth listening to and it certainly belongs on the 1001 Albums list. I'm ambivalent about it being necessary to own. This is the first genuine heavy metal album and band, and the first four songs are arguably the progenitors of all heavy metal. However, Black Sabbath stumbles with the last three songs. Those songs are merely hard rock and belong on a different album.

Black Sabbath, The Wizard, Behind The Wall Of Sleep, and N.I.B.  are the stand out songs.

★★★★★★★★★☆

178. Spirit | Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Prelude – Nothin' to Hide
2. Nature's Way
3. Animal Zoo
4. Love Has Found a Way
5. Why Can't I Be Free?
6. Mr. Skin
7. Space Child
8. When I Touch You
9. Street Worm
10. Life Has Just Begun
11. Morning Will Come
12. Soldier

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Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus is an amebic album. Maybe it's an exaggeration, but it really seems like each song has its own distinct rock style. What's really impressive is that, despite all the variety, the album has the feel and flow of a concept album; the title sort of suggests a concept album, but it could also be alluding to twelve distinct ideas.

I didn't have high hopes for this album after listening to the first two songs. They sounded good, but they didn't impress. However, the album just gets better and better as it progresses. The songs become more intense and catchier. Now that I've heard it the first two songs have even grown on me.

This album is a real hidden gem. For how damn good it is, I'm surprised I had never heard of the album or had heard any of the songs on it. It just blows my mind that something this good could go under my radar for so long. I ain't that naïve.

Needless to say, this is an album worth listening to. I'd also say it's an album worth owning. I do think it belongs on the 1001 Albums list. The band has done a good job of incorporating a lot of different styles on one album. I think they also are straddle the two growing styles of music: funk and prog rock.

All the songs are really great–not a throwaway song among the bunch. The songs I was really impressed with were: Prelude–Nothin' to Hide, Nature's Way, Animal Zoo, Love Has Found a Way, Mr. Skin, When I Touch You, Street Worm, Morning Will Come.

★★★★★★★★★★

177. Miles Davis | Bitches Brew (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Pharaoh's Dance
2. Bitches Brew
3. Spanish Key
4. John McLaughlin
5. Miles Runs the Voodoo Down
6. Sanctuary

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Bitches Brew is a complex album. The music is mix of jazz and rock. At least that's what I'm told. I know that part of the fusion was adding electric instruments to the performance. However, I really can't pick out any particular kind of rock music in any of the pieces. It's entirely possible that there are rock features in the music and that I'm just not knowledgable enough to pick them out.

It's things like that which make this album complex. There are other things which are harder to figure out than trying to locate the rock influences in the music. At first, it seems the songs lack any real structure and that there is an absence of melody.

I've listened to this album many times and I have only just begun to discover the structure of these pieces. Melody is sparse, but it's there from time to time. The more musically inclined will have this all figured out in no time, but for more casual listeners, it will take patience.

That it takes many repeated listens for the causal listener to penetrate this album is large problem. Most people are not going to invest the time to do and so they won't even be able to appreciate this album for what it is. But is that the listeners fault? Should popular music be more accessible to listeners? Should Bitches Brew be considered popular music in the sense that it really is being marketed to the public-at-large?

I have spent the time to better appreciate this album and I do enjoy it very much. I actually bought this album because I was looking for music that had a rock and roll sound, but jammed the way jazz musicians jam rather than how rock musicians jam. I don't think that's the album that I bought and I was completely overwhelmed by this album when I first started listening to it. I always enjoyed it, but I never felt like I knew what i was listening to; I always felt at the mercy of the music. That's not the case anymore; however, that doesn't mean I understand in a detailed, sophisticated way what this album is about. Perhaps, I don't understand it all, but rather, I've become accustomed to it. That's completely possible.

Nevertheless, I think this album is worth listening to; owning it is another matter, entirely. This album does require effort and patience to be appreciated, though. I do think this album belongs on the 1001 Albums list. I don't think there's been an album or a musician more daring than Bitches Brew or Miles Davis.

Well, casual listeners will either love or hate this album in its entirety. I can't imagine a casual listener being specific at all. For me, every piece is amazing now that I have a better understanding.

★★★★★★★★★★

176. Derek and the Dominos | Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep on Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyday
7. Key to the Highway
8. Tell the Truth
9. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved a Woman
11. Little Wing
12. It's Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree in the Garden

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Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is a phenomenal album. The music is straight up blues rock. Eric Clapton teamed up with the Delaney and Bonnie rhythm section (Jim Gordon on drums and Carl Radle on bass) plus Duane Allman to make this album.

Eric Clapton is on fire on every single song. His work with John Mayall and Cream is impressive because he's such a great guitarist. And he's great on this album too, but what was lacking previously is present on this album: emotion. He puts so much feeling into these songs.

Fortunately, Clapton has Gordon and Radle to back him up. Perhaps, with any competent drummer and bass guitarist the same great album would have been made. But nevertheless, they provide a great framework for Clapton. The addition of Duane Allman on slide guitar is just icing on the cake. Unfortunately, it was just one album and it's a downright shame that Duane Allman would die the following year.

This album is essential listening. Moreover, it's essential in any serious collector's collection. It's the strongest blues rock album up to this point on the 1001 Albums list. It's also a different interpretation of the blues than what English blues rock bands were doing in the mid- to late-sixties; it has a country music influence that isn't heard from English blues rock musicians.

Every song is excellent on this album. Bell Bottom Blues and Layla are the songs I knew before hearing the album and are outstanding, of course. Keep on Growing, Anyday, Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?, Little Wing and It's Too Late are my favorites. No one can outdo Hendrix doing Hendrix, but Clapton does justice to Little Wing. And It's Too Late just sounds so good, it makes you want to go listen to the Crickets.

★★★★★★★★★★

175. Creedence Clearwater Revival | Cosmo's Factory (1970)

Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Ramble Tamble
2. Before You Accuse Me
3. Travelin' Band
4. Ooby Dooby
5. Lookin' Out My Back Door
6. Run Through the Jungle
7. Up Around the Bend
8. My Baby Left Me
9. Who'll Stop the Rain
10. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
11. Long as I Can See the Light

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Cosmo's Factory is a solid album. Creedence Clearwater Revival have moved away from their swamp rock to blues/country rock. 

The songs are all outstanding. There are four cover songs and seven originals. Despite the covers being great songs in their own right, the originals are what make this album shine. John Fogerty is a great songwriter. The only problem is that the songs don't congeal into a thematic whole like CCR's previous two albums (on this list) have. 

This album is definitely worth listening to, but I don't think it should be on the 1001 Albums list. This album is neither innovative nor groundbreaking.

The stand out songs are: Ramble Tamble, Travelin' Band, Lookin' Out My Back Door, Run Through the Jungle, Up Around the Bend, Who'll Stop the Rain, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Long as I Can See the Light.

★★★★★★★★★☆

174. Frank Zappa | Hot Rats (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Peaches en Regalia
2. Willie the Pimp
3. Son of Mr. Green Genes
4. Little Umbrellas
5. The Gumbo Variations
6. It Must Be a Camel

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Hot Rats is an entertaining album. It's jazz and rock fused together.  It's mainly an instrumental album, but Captain Beefheart does provide do some singing on Willie the Pimp. Other than that short side trek, this album jams from beginning to end.

I won't even pretend to critique the music or even describe it. However, I liked his style of jazz and I thought it went really well to his kind of rock and roll. Anyway, it sounds good and there's some good melodies.

This is an outstanding album. Frank Zappa's music is often to far out for people to get into, but this is a real accessible album. It's definitely a must to listen to and it's certainly would make a good addition to any serious album collection.

Although there are clear boundaries between songs, it's hard to notice once you've listened to it a few times. So really all the songs are stand outs. However, for me, Willie the Pimp and The Gumbo Variations were simply awesome.

★★★★★★★★★★

173. Skip Spence | Oar (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Little Hands
2. Cripple Creek
3. Diana
4. Margaret/Tiger Rug
5. Weighted Down (The Prison Song)
6. War in Peace
7. Broken Heart
8. All Come to Meet Her
9. Books of Moses
10. Dixie Peach Promenade (Yin for Yang)
11. Lawrence of Euphoria
12. Grey/Afro

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Oar is a wacky album. The music is a mix of folk and rock. Skip Spence wrote all of the music and lyrics, played all of the instruments, sang all of the songs and produced the album. That's quite an achievement for someone who had just gotten out of a mental hospital after being admitted there for chopping down a hotel room door with an axe in a drug fueled frenzy while attempting to attack two of his Moby Grape bandmates.

The music varies between nice melodic songs and dark, brooding ones. The lyrics are somewhere between cryptic and meaningless.

This is an excellent album. This album could be one big demonstration of insanity or it could be a wacky parody of itself. But it's neither. Despite the wackiness, it's a serious demonstration of the talents of a disturbed mind. It may not need to be on the 1001 Albums list, but it's definitely worth listening to.

Little Hands is the best song on the album and one of the most uplifting songs I've ever heard. Other stand outs are: Cripple Creek, Weighted Down (The Prison Song), War in Peace, Book of Moses, Dixie Peach Promenade (Yin for Yang), Lawrence of Euphoria and Grey/Afro.

★★★★★★★★★☆

172. The Stooges | The Stooges (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. 1969
2. I Wanna Be Your Dog
3. We Will Fall
4. No Fun
5. Real Cool Time
6. Ann
7. Not Right
8. Little Doll

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The Stooges is a raw album. The music is rock, but it's stripped down and simpler. The production is quite straightforward; put four musicians in a studio, record them playing and then cut an album. There are heavy, rocking songs, but there are a couple that are slow and droning. There's some good guitar fuzz on Little Doll. 

This album is certainly more reminiscent of the Sonics or the Monks, than, say, Led Zeppelin or the Beatles, both musically and lyrically. Musically, the album has its moments, but the songs are uneven. We Will Fall is the main problem. It's nothing like the other songs, it's smack dab in the middle of the album and it's uninteresting. The lyrics are just downright awful.

Despite We Will Fall, this album is interesting an shows that the Stooges have potential and that rock is also moving in another direction—a direction much different than the direction prog rock is going. Of course, appreciation for this kind of music will have to wait another few years.

This album might be worth listening to, but it's certainly not essential. There's a lot to like about this album. There's some interesting things going on musically, but it doesn't excite me.

I Wanna Be Your Dog is the best song on the album. Other stand outs are: 1969, No Fun, Real Cool Time and Little Doll.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

171. Scott Walker | Scott 4 (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. The Seventh Seal
2. On Your Own Again
3. The World's Strongest Man
4. Angels of Ashes
5. Boy Child
6. Hero of the War
7. The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime)
8. Duchess
9. Get Behind Me
10. Rhymes of Goodbye

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Scott 4 is an elegant and stately album. It's a mix of rock and pop. Some might say it's akin to lounge music and Scott Walker a lounge lizard, but they would be wrong. Scott Walker is no mere singer; he's a chanteur à la Jacques Brel. 

Indeed, Scott Walker sings with a dignified air. The music is restrained and complements his singing. The bass, which Scott Walker plays, features prominently in many of the songs.

I like this album. It's not as exciting as his previous album on the 1001 Albums list, but it's unique in the context of the list. It's reminiscent of the pop standards singers of the 1950s and earlier, except with a Continental feel. It's worth listening to. 

The stand out songs are The Seventh Seal, On Your Own Again, Angels of Ashes, Boy Child, Hero of the War, The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime), Duchess and Get Behind Me.

★★★★★★★★★★