271. Lynyrd Skynyrd | (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. I Ain't the One
2. Tuesday's Gone
3. Gimme Three Steps
4. Simple Man
5. Things Goin' On
6. Mississippi Kid
7. Poison Whiskey
8. Free Bird

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(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) is a sincere album. The music is Southern rock; although, I'm not sure what that means. British bands have been defining blues-inspired rock since the late 1960s and that's what everyone who played blues rock tried to emulate. Then in the early 1970s American bands defined their own brand of blues-inspired rock. A defining difference is American blues rock incorporates elements of country music, including lyrical references. I think that's what makes Lynryd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers different from, say, Led Zeppelin or The Rolling Stones.

There's a real down-to-earth feeling I get with this album. The lyrics and song themes seem more personal, immediate and relevant. The music also seem straightforward and uncluttered or unburdened.  I think, most importantly, the music just sounds fresh and the lyrics unpretentious.

This album is pretty darn good. Although, there are quite a few long songs, the album moves quite briskly. The album never becomes tedious. Certainly, it's worth listening to and I would recommend it to anyone looking to build a serious album collection, but I don't think it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list. It isn't stylistically different from what the Allman Brothers have been doing.

All the songs are excellent. The stand-outs are: I Ain't the One, Tuesday's Gone, Gimme Three Steps, Simple Man, Things Goin' On, Mississippi Kid, Poison Whiskey and Free Bird. Yep, once again, that's all of them!

★★★★★★★★★★

242. Deep Purple | Machine Head (1972)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Highway Star
2. Maybe I'm a Leo
3. Pictures of Home
4. Never Before
5. Smoke on the Water
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'

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Machine Head is a toothless album. The music is hard rock. Each song is filled with guitar solos, riffs, grooves and hooks.

While there may not be much bite to this album, that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable or interesting. However, where Black Sabbath is dark and brooding and Led Zeppelin is aggressive and bombastic, Deep Purple is fun and easygoing. It's kind and gentle heavy metal.

The album is good, but it needs to rock harder and faster to make it all convincing. It's worth listening to because it's clearly an influential album for future hard rock and heavy metal bands. However, I don't think it needs to be on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs on this album are quite good. The stand outs are Highway Star, Never Before, Smoke on the Water, Lazy, and Space Truckin'.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

232. Janis Joplin and the Full Tilt Boogie Band | Pearl (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Move Over
2. Cry Baby
3. A Woman Left Lonely
4. Half Moon
5. Buried Alive in the Blues
6. My Baby
7. Me and Bobby McGee
8. Mercedes Benz
9. Trust Me
10. Get It While You Can

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Pearl is an overproduced album or at least it seems that way. The music is blues rock. There's no doubt that Janis Joplin is one of the greatest blues singers. She demonstrates that clearly on this album. The Full Tilt Boogie Band sounds like a group of competent players.

But this album sounds too clinical and dispassionate. Everyone is playing and singing what they are supposed to sing and no one dares go off script. Blues rock is spontaneous and filled with emotion because that is what the blues is about. 

I like this album. I can't dislike Janis Joplin and I think this album is worth listening to. Despite its problems, there is hardly any alternative and it really is a good album. I don't really think it belongs on the 1001 Albums list. There are enough blues rock albums. The only good reason would be because there are hardly any great female blues rock singers and Janis was a peer among men.

All the songs are good. I think Move Over, Cry Baby, Half Moon, My Baby, Me and Bobby McGee and Mercedes Benz are the stand outs.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

219. The Doors | L.A. Woman

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. The Changeling
2. Love Her Madly
3. Been Down So Long
4. Cars Hiss by My Window
5. L.A. Woman
6. L'America
7. Hyacinth House
8. Crawling King Snake
9. The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)
10. Riders on the Storm

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L.A. Woman is a confident album. The music is blues rock. The band gets a bass player and decides to get serious with the blues. The album is more grounded. It's not overwhelmed by Ray Manzarek's organ playing or by Jim Morrison's self-absorbed bombast.

This is a great album. The bass guitar is a welcome addition. The Doors interpret the blues well. Of course, pure blues rock has been done to death and is on the wane. So, while this album is worth listening to, it doesn't need to be on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs are good. The stand outs are: Love Her Madly, Been Down So Long, L.A. Woman, L'America, Hyacinth House, Crawling King Snake and Riders on the Storm.

★★★★★★★★★☆

214. The Allman Brothers Band | At Fillmore East (1971)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Statesboro Blues
2. Done Somebody Wrong
3. Stormy Monday
4. You Don't Love Me
5. Hot 'Lanta
6. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
7. Whipping Post

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At Fillmore East is a fine album, mostly. The music is blues rock. This live album features the Allman Brothers doing what they do best—jamming. For most of the songs, the rhythm section lays down a groove for guitarists, Duane Allman and Dickey Betts, to solo over. Greg Allman on organ gets to solo now and then, too. 

This album is really, really good. Long jams are a lot of fun to listen to if they are done right, that is they aren't repetitive and dull. This album is worth listening to and deserves a spot in any serious collection. It should be on the 1001 Albums list.

All the songs on this album are excellent. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Whipping Post are remarkable jams.

★★★★★★★★★☆

204. Syd Barrett | The Madcap Laughs (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Terrapin
2. No Good Trying
3. Love You
4. No Man's Land
5. Dark Globe
6. Here I Go
7. Octopus
8. Golden Hair
9. Long Gone
10. She Took a Long Cold Look
11. Feel
12. If It's In You
13. Late Night

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The Madcap Laughs is a claustrophobic album. The music is psychedelic folk. While the music is psychedelic, it's very stark and low-key compared to the psychedelic rock of 1967 and 1968.

There's an underlying tension on this album, especially on the second half. It's as if something is going to snap and all hell is going to break loose. When Syd Barrett speaks between takes on a song or two at the end, he sounds stressed.

This album is an acquired taste. There was a feeling that something was not quite right. The first time listening, the first couple songs were quite jarring and discomforting. After listening several times, I am used to it, but it's still unsettling.

I find this album intriguing. It's not the kind of album that will or should end up in regular rotation. Instead, it's an album to listen to when you're not feeling quite right. I think it's worth listening to, but not quite sure it should be on the 1001 Albums list. It's psychedelic music. In that sense, there's not much new to this album.

I also suspect there's always been a buzz about Syd Barrett because of his breakdown because of the popularity of Pink Floyd, and their references to him, after his departure. That is, if Pink Floyd had never amounted to anything, this album would be forgotten. And that is probably why we still talk about Syd Barrett.

The songs are good. I'm not sure if there are many stand outs since they all sound remarkably similar. But here are some notable ones: Terrapin, No Good Trying, Octopus, Golden Hair, Long Gone and If It's In You.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

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.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

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.

★★★★★★★★★☆

157. Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin II (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Whole Lotta Love
2. What Is and What Should Never Be
3. The Lemon Song
4. Thank You
5. Heartbreaker
6. Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)
7. Ramble On
8. Moby Dick
9. Bring It On Home

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Led Zeppelin II is a thundering album—even the quiet songs are loud. From this album onward, rock and roll gets louder and heavier. John Bonham hits the drums not as if he's trying to play them, but as if he's trying to destroy them. Jimmy Page has also decided to turn his guitar up to eleven and Robert Plant is finding his wail.

Don't be deceived, though. This isn't a noisy album. John Paul Jones lays down the most lyrical bass lines so far and Jimmy Page has decided to play more riffs on one album than found in total on all the albums on the list so far.

Another really nice thing about this album is the variety of songs. Although they are blues-based, they all sound quite different from each other, yet complement each other quite well.

This album is essential for any serious collector. There's no need to list the stand out songs since they are all extraordinarily great. Most bands would be hard pressed to come up with just one of these, never mind nine of them.

★★★★★★★★★★

155. Led Zeppelin | Led Zeppelin (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
3. You Shook Me
4. Dazed and Confused
5. Your Time Is Gonna Come
6. Black Mountain Side
7. Communication Breakdown
8. I Can't Quit You Baby
9. How Many More Times

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Led Zeppelin is a timeless album. This songs are heavy blues-based rock and roll. It's some of the most loudest and heaviest sounding music up to this point of the 1001 Albums list.

There's an intangible quality about both Led Zeppelin, the album, and Led Zeppelin, the band. Like, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin seems to transcend their contemporaries. However, where the Beatles were mostly way ahead of their time, Led Zeppelin was not;  they transcend by creating a mood, an atmosphere, an attitude, an aura that makes the music timeless and mysterious.

How does this transcendence emerge?

John Bonham and John Paul Jones are another reason. No one hits the drums harder than John Bonham does or hits as many drums at once. Well, Keith Moon might, but Keith Moon is a wasteful and erratic drummer. John Bonham was very conservative and utilized fills smartly. John Paul Jones is also someone who played his instrument smartly and conservatively. Together, they form a rhythm section like no other.

Robert Plant sings classic blues lines which themselves are eternal and he sings lyrics that are abstract enough and non-contemporary that they can transcend. It would have been curious if Rod Stewart had been the singer rather than Robert Plant. Rod Stewart is just as good, if not better, and has a similar style.

Jimmy Page isn't the most technical, talented or graceful guitarist, but he played what was necessary and nothing more. Jimmy Page was a smart producer. The album is serious and gets to the point immediately. It also stays focused and doesn't stray from it's purpose: which is heavy blues rock. There's nothing extraneous on the album. There's no idle banter, no pointless introductions, and no songs that were half-baked.

Also, the music sounds very compact almost to the point of being claustrophobic. Jimmy knew how to record the instruments. John Bonham is a great drummer, but the drums are recorded just the right way to enhance their power. The music doesn't sound like it was even recorded in a studio. Rather, it emerged from the infinite deep of space.

I don't know if that's how or whether it's all just a bullshit explanation. But, I've thought about it for a long time and that's all I have.

Needless to say, I love this album. I think it's an essential album in any serious album collection. There's not a bad song. It's hard to list any stand outs. I don't believe any stand out more than any other, but certainly Good Times, Bad Times, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, You Shook Me, Dazed and Confused, Communication Breakdown and How Many More Times are the most likely candidates.

★★★★★★★★★★

149. The Rolling Stones | Let It Bleed (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Gimme Shelter
2. Love in Vain
3. Country Honk
4. Live with Me
5. Let It Bleed
6. Midnight Rambler
7. You Got the Silver
8. Monkey Man
9. You Can't Always Get What You Want

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Let It Bleed is an insensitive album. Or is it a dehumanizing album? No matter, the themes aren't at all positive. Sexual relationships are impersonal, demeaning and violent—Country Honk, Live With Me and Gimme Shelter. Non-sexual relationships are the same—You Can't Always Get What You Want, Monkey Man and Midnight Rambler. Aside from that, the music is quite good. It's the best Rolling Stones album so far.

The only problem I had with it, is that I don't get that album feeling when I listen to this album. It seems like a collection of songs. That's the way all Rolling Stones albums have felt. It just seems they go in to the studio, write a bunch of songs, and put them on the album without care to how they are ordered or how they relate to each other. Despite indicating there are themes on this album, I don't think that was intentional at all. This isn't a big problem, but I think their albums could have been better if they were more focused.

This is a nice collection of great songs, but not a great album, so I don't see why it's on the 1001 Albums list. The stand out songs are Gimme Shelter, Love in Vain, Country Honk (I like this version of Honky Tonk Women better), Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler and You Can't Always Get What You Want.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

137. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | Trout Mask Replica (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. Frownland
2. The Dust Blows Forward 'n the Dust Blows Back
3. Dachau Blues
4. Ella Guru
5. Hair Pie: Bake 1
6. Moonlight on Vermont
7. Pachuco Cadaver
8. Bills Corpse
9. Sweet Sweet Bulbs
10. Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish
11. China Pig
12. My Human Gets Me Blues
13. Dali's Car
14. Hair Pie: Bake 2
15. Pena
16. Well
17. When Big Joan Sets Up
18. Fallin' Ditch
19. Sugar 'n Spikes
20. Ant Man Bee
21. Orange Claw Hammer
22. Wild Life
23. She's Too Much for My Mirror
24. Hobo Chang Ba
25. The Blimp (mousetrapreplica)
26. Steal Softly thru Snow
27. Old Fart at Play
28. Veteran's Day Poppy

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Trout Mask Replica is an incomprehensible album. It's the insane man's "White Album". Most of the songs are based on the blues—a crazed mutation of the blues. The lyrics are impenetrable, perhaps incomprehensible, but at least they are grammatical.

Listen to this album once and it's a noisy mess. However, after some finite number of listenings, the melody and rhythm will reveal themselves and it will suddenly become a masterpiece. I had to listen to it five times for it to happen to me.

I highly recommend this album. This album is essential to own for any music collection to be taken seriously. Every song is worth listening to, but the truly exceptional songs are: Frownland, Dachau Blues, Ella Guru, Moonlight on Vermont, Pachuco Cadaver, Sweet Sweet Bulbs, Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish, China Pig, My Human Gets Me Blues, Well, Sugar 'n Spikes, Ant Man Bee, Orange Claw Hammer, Wild Life, Hobo Chang Ba, Old Fart at Play, Veteran's Day Poppy.

★★★★★★★★★★

128. Jeff Beck | Truth (1968)

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Wikipedia Entry

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1. Shapes of Things
2. Let Me Love You
3. Morning Dew
4. You Shook Me
5. Ol' Man River
6. Greensleeves
7. Rock My Plimsoul
8. Beck's Bolero
9. Blues Deluxe
10. I Ain't Superstitious

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Truth is an intense album. The rhythm section lays down a loud and deep groove. On top of that is Rod Stewart's powerful and raspy vocals and Jeff Beck's guitar-playing which is a mix of soloing and fuzz. Up to this point, Jeff Beck is the only one who even comes close to doing what Hendrix can do.


This album re-invents blues rock to be louder, deeper-sounding and more aggressive. This lyrics generously borrow from the blues. There are longer breaks for guitar soloing. This might be what Jimi Hendrix would sound like minus the psychedelic stuff.


This is an outstanding album. It's definitely worth listening to and it's a must for anyone who like 70s hard rock. It's apparent that this band was a direct influence on Led Zeppelin and that Jeff Beck was an influence on Jimmy Page. The songs are all worth listening to, but the stand outs are Shapes of Things, Morning Dew, You Shook Me, 'Ol Man River, Beck's Bolero and Blues Deluxe.


★★★★★★★★★☆

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.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

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.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

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).

★★★★★★★★★★

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.

★★★★★★★★★★

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.

★★★★★★★★★★

100. The Jimi Hendrix Experience | Are You Experienced (1967)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

UK release

1. Foxy Lady
2. Manic Depression
3. Red House
4. Can You See Me
5. Love or Confusion
6. I Don't Live Today
7. May This Be Love
8. Fire
9. 3rd Stone from the Sun
10. Remember
11. Are You Experienced

US release

1. Purple Haze
2. Manic Depression
3. Hey Joe
4. Love or Confusion
5. May This Be Love
6. I Don't Live Today
7. The Wind Cries Mary
8. Fire
9. Third Stone from the Sun
10. Foxey Lady
11. Are You Experienced?

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Note: There are two versions of this album. The Wikipedia entry for this album discusses the differences between the two and the reason for the different versions. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die discusses the UK version.

Are You Experienced is a monstrous album. The songs are loud and heavy.

With this album, Jimi Hendrix has changed the way the guitar is played on rock and roll albums. This isn't an unexpected development. Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck and Keith Richards all had hinted at a more prominent lead guitar role, but it's primacy had remained elusive. Then, Jimi Hendrix simply cut to the chase and gave the lead guitar primacy. There hardly seems any point during a song where Jimi isn't doing something significant and jaw-dropping with the guitar.

This is a must-have album. It's a must to have both the US and UK versions. Every time I listen to it, I'm amazed by how great the songs are and how great a guitarist Jimi Hendrix is. 

Every song is outstanding, so there's no point in having a stand-outs list.

★★★★★★★★★★