Category Archives: Uncategorized

     By the late 1960s, most of the rock and roll stars of the 1950s had either passed away or faded into a relatively obscure background.  Even the biggest star of them all, Elvis Presley, struggled to find his place after nearly a decade of mediocre movies and mostly mediocre music that strayed further andContinue reading “Elvis Presley “From Elvis in Memphis” (1969)”

     Today we jump back into the world of funk and soul, with master soul vocalist Isaac Hayes, with his classic album, “Hot Buttered Soul”.  This album is the 5th rated soul album of all time, as rated by digitaldreamdoor.com, and has one of the more iconic album covers of the late 1960s, featuring HayesContinue reading “Isaac Hayes “Hot Buttered Soul” (1969)”

     If you have read my blog for most of its run, by now, you know I have an affinity for tight harmony vocals, and in the world of rock and roll music, there are few more distinctive harmony vocals than the trio of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash, particularly the high harmonyContinue reading “Crosby, Stills & Nash “Crosby, Stills & Nash” (1969)”

     As much I love the Who, I have found their albums to date a bit inconsistent, to say the least.  That ends here, with Pete Townshend’s rock opera, “Tommy”.  Ultimately converted into a full-length feature film and a highly successful Broadway musical, “Tommy” is the 190th rated album on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 GreatestContinue reading “The Who “Tommy” (1969)”

     A double-dose of funk, we move today from the land of jambalaya to the political hotbed of the Bay Area for our first encounter with Sly and the Family Stone.  Today’s album, “Stand!”, is a politically charged and powerful collection of hit singles and experimental tracks, and is rated as the 6th greatest funkContinue reading “Sly and the Family Stone “Stand!” (1969)”

     One of the greatest gifts I have been given in my musical life was the fact that my parents moved to New Orleans in 1986.  Through a random sequence of friends and events, I found myself one night at Tipitina’s music club in uptown New Orleans, and my musical fascination has never been theContinue reading “The Meters “The Meters” (1969)”

     Going from an album I have listened to hundreds of times to an album I had never previously heard, today I listened to “Dusty in Memphis”, by British pop and soul singer Dusty Springfield.  Days like this make this entire process so fulfilling, hearing a new sound that I had somehow previously overlooked.  ThisContinue reading “Dusty Springfield “Dusty in Memphis” (1968)”

     I have been tracking this day for a long time in this countdown.  As we enter 1969, we reach the debut album of Led Zeppelin.  As you will quickly learn from my extensive thoughts, Led Zeppelin sits at the very top of my list of all-time favorite artists.  That doesn’t mean I think theyContinue reading “Led Zeppelin “Led Zeppelin” (1969)”

     Time for another compilation album, this time from Motown legends the Temptations.  A five man act that has experienced a decent amount of turnover over the years, their prime run of hits came in the mid to late 1960s, although they continue to release and perform even to this day.  The album that wasContinue reading “The Temptations “Anthology” (1968)”

     As we get closer to turning the page to 1969, another historic year for music in America and around the world, I find myself again surprised to learn what was the #1 selling album for 1969.  While we have moved past (for now) film or musical soundtracks, I was still expecting this might beContinue reading “Iron Butterfly “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (1968)”