Category Archives: Uncategorized

     Music serves as such a timestamp of history.  No decade reflects this quite as impactfully as the 1960s.  In 1965, LBJ was reinaugurated while the country was tearing further apart following the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the ever-expanding Vietnam War.  In June of 1965, the Byrds released their initial album, led offContinue reading “The Byrds “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965)”

     Folk music is as much of a mystery to me as jazz music, which is exactly whey I’m so glad I have included it in this process.  Today’s album is “Bert Jansch”, by Scottish folk singer Bert Jansch, and even though it is the #1 album on nme.com’s Top 10 Folk Albums of allContinue reading “Bert Jansch “Bert Jansch” (1965)”

     As you may recall, we first explored live music on albums a few days ago with the iconic James Brown album, “Live At The Apollo”.  I think I have found the perfect companion album for that selection, and I think I may even like this one even more, which is saying something.  “Live AtContinue reading “B.B. King “Live At The Regal” (1965)”

     How many Beach Boys albums do you think there are where the two most well-known songs are led by Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine?  On that fact alone, this release from March of 1965 breaks some new ground.  This album is the 466th rated album of all-time on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest AlbumsContinue reading “The Beach Boys “Today!” (1965)”

     Last Friday afternoon, as I came in from the afternoon sun following a grueling round of golf in Florida, I gathered around the pool area with my companions for a cool drink and a late lunch.  There were probably 25-30 people gathered in the mix of sun and shadows, enjoying a perfect late winterContinue reading “Horace Silver Quintet “Song For My Father” (1965)”

     The first album released in 1965 is the jazz classic “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane.  This is a four-part jazz explosion, rated as the 66th best album of all time on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.      This album felt like a blend of jazz, progressive rock and jamContinue reading “John Coltrane “A Love Supreme” (1965″

     Looking into 1965, the volume of influential and impactful music continues to explode.  We will average more than an album a month across many genres.  Even with that, the #1 selling album in 1965?  The soundtrack to the Walt Disney film Mary Poppins, released late in 1964, starring Julie Andrews in another perfect andContinue reading “Original Motion Picture Soundtrack “Mary Poppins” (1964)”

     Like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones also released their next album at the end of 1964.  “12 X 5”, which is representative of 12 songs from 5 musicians, is a very listenable collection of blues and early rock and roll covers, with three original songs from Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.      To me,Continue reading “The Rolling Stones “12 X 5” (1964)”

     1964 concludes with the December release, “Beatles for Sale”, the next step forward for the Fab Four.  I consider this the Beatles somewhat caught between their past and their future.  You can hear progressive signs of evolution blended in with easy-to-like cover versions of 1950s classics.      As with “A Hard Day’s Night”, JohnContinue reading “The Beatles “Beatles for Sale””

     One of the enduring trends of pop music throughout the years is the “girl group”.  One of the most successful versions of this format is the Fabulous Ronettes, led vocally by Ronnie Spector and produced by her infamous husband, Phil Spector.  Their troubled and abusive relationship was hidden behind the scenes as they putContinue reading “The Ronettes “Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes” (1964)”