For anyone out there that has debated what is the top music of the decade, this blog series was created for you. I am going to take a look at each decade from the 60s to the 00s, and pick out the top one (or three) rock albums from each year of that decade. This is obviously only my opinion, and holds no weight in an argument, but I am posting it just the same. All of these albums are 5 star albums that significantly impacted music history in small ways (Sum 41) and massive ways (The Beatles). Feel free to comment, and remind me of someone I left out, or recommend a comment addition and I will do my best to edit the post. Now sit back and enjoy the best albums of the decade, and make sure to click on any album to hear a sample (except the Beatles as they do not allow that...doh):
1963
Bob Dylan: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Wow, how do you put an artist above the Beatles? Well typically you do not, and for most rest of the decade, that will be rare, but here is probably necessary. The Beatles would have a huge impact in another year with their invastion of America, but this album is probably the best, by someone almost equal the Beatles in influence on future music. Even the Beatles would alter their music after hearing Dylan, so at the top of our list he remains. Dylan produced much more good music in years to come, but never topped this, his debut)
(click album to listen to clip)The Beatles: Please Please Me (The album that launched a legend. This album was essentially put together in a single day after one of their singles lept up the charts. It was done so quickly that the last song, Twist and Shout, was recorded on only one take, explaining why Lennon sounds so hoarse and out of breath on it. One of the best songs ever that took under 3 minutes to produce)
The Beatles: With the Beatles (This album shows the complexity of the Beetles for the first time: here you will find rocking songs, soft ballads, twist songs, and slower melodic hits. Excellent album that bettered the first one in every way except that it surprised no one, as the Beetles were on the map)
1964
The Beatles: Hard Day's Night (The album that truly introduced the dynamic duo of Lennon and McCartney, as it is the first one with 100% originals they had written, as well as being the first where you begin to see their differences in writing and singing. Both have equal time on vocals, and both perform magically)
The Beatles: The Beatles for Sale (Maybe it was the short 5 months between this albums release and Hard Days Night, but this is the first time you hear the group sound not just tired, but a bit more dark and morose. While you will still find some happy tunes, but there are a share of dark ones as well such as I'm a Loser, No Reply, and Babys in Black. But this album also marks the first time you here folk type music mixed in, of a Bob Dylan variety. It also contains arguably their worst song of all time, Mr Moonlight. But overall, an important part of their catalogue)
1965
The Beatles: Help (This albums marks, not only more exploration into Bob Dylan type music with songs like Hide Your Love Away, but also more composition such as including string quartets into their songs. This composition would be elaborated on in albums to come, but with songs like Yesterday, it is easy to see that the Beatles had already perfected it)
The Beatles: Rubber Soul (This album marks the onset of maturity in the Beatles history. Their songs are just simply much more thoughtful on this album, something you would continue to see develop over the next half decade. This album could also be called the Beatles Grow Up)
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited (Bob Dylan was as much a product of his time as any other artist, and here you see that, with the music having much more rock n' roll than simply folk. You also begin to see the subject change to more 60s type themes such as drug use, though it never takes away from the beauty of this album. He was ever so much as talented a song writer and composer as his British counterpart the Beatles)
(click album to hear clip)The Who: The Who sings My Generation (You mean someone else was recording music in the mid 60s? Yes there is a ton of influential music coming out at that time, it was just that the Beatles seemed to overshadow most. The Who, however, made a name for themselves that year, not by copying the Beatles style, but alterating the rock that was being played. This album is the foundation of harder rock that would come into its own in the 70s and to a greater extent in the 80s. While we don't often put The Who and bands like ACDC and Sabbath in the same breath, those rockers of the 70s had more in common with the Who than with their british beatle brothers. Few songs have ever rocked like My Generation)
(click album to listen to clip)1966
The Beatles: Revolver (This album marks the Beatles descent into the era that was the Psychadelic late 60s, as the bands get much more trippy on this album. Sometimes it was magical, such as with Yellow Submarine, and sometimes it didn't, such as when Lennon chants the book of the dead in Tomorrow Never Knows. Also included were huge hits such as Eleanor Rigby and Good Day Sunshine. Probably their most adventurous album to date)
The Rolling Stones: Aftermath (The first time the Stones released an album of 100% original material was on this album, which was also the time they were labeled as the bad boys of rock. Songs such as Stupid Girl, Doncha bother me, and Paint it Black, only increased that status, as well as their fanbase)
(click album to listen to clip)
1967
The Doors: The Doors (One of the most controversial bands of all time also produced the single best debut rock album to date. This exceptionally complete album stands so high around the competition that for a moment they eclipsed even the Beatles in their status. This quick rise to fame would be damaged by Jim Morrison's flair for the unacceptable, though in a way that is exactly what made the Doors so memorable. Whether it was the shows cancelled for Jim's verbal abuse of cops, or his exposing his privates on stage in Miami, their legend is as much from these antics as it is their music. But it is still undeniable that the Doors produced legendary music, none of which was to the level seen on this debut album)
(click album to listen to clip)
Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced? (The summer of Love introduced us to some of the most legendary musicians of all time, and Jimi Hendrix was among the best to debut that summer. His incredible guitar playing talents were immediately plain to see with his initial album, one of the most stunning debut albums of all time. He introduced a style that was not only rooted in traditional music, but showed glimpses of what the future of all Rock would look like)
(click album to listen to clip)The Beatles: Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (This album continues the psychadelic trip exploration that started on Revolver, only here they really never miss. All time favorites like Lucy in the sky with Diamonds, A Little Help from my Friends, and A Day in the Life, highlight this phenomenal album. One of their absolute bests, only missing the album of the year, by the emergence of another legend that same year with Jim Morrison at the helm)
The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (Things were just clicking this year for the Beatles, as they created enough songs that they simply had to release another album. This one, containing familiar songs like Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, and All You Need is Love, is another solid rock in their impressive growing catalogue)
The Who: The Who Sell Out (While retaining the hard guitar that brought them to fame, the Who were not immune to the psychadelic adventures of the time, and this is them at their trippiest. With songs like I can see for Miles, Relax, and I can't reach You, one can only imagine the trip the group was on while writing and recording this album. Still one of, if not their most monumental album)
(click album to listen to clip)1968
The Beatles: White Album (Their longest album, the review of which depends upon who you speak to. Some think it an extended mess with no rhyme or reason, while some think it is musical genius expressing their complexity. Whatever the conclusion, there can be no doubting that it contains some must hear songs, such as Ob-La-Di, Dear Prudence, and Mr Mansons inspiration Helter Skelter. Of interest with this last song, is when it was supposedly the inspiration for the Manson family slaughter, all that was said was that the crazy man took the song wrong. A generation later when an ACDC release called Night Stalker was said to be the inspiration for serial killer Ramirez' spree in LA, bans on the group were called by opponents. Ah the innocence of the 60s, when all the critics were too stoned to criticize)
The Band: Music from the Big Pink (Though much less well known, there were moments when The Band was as popular as any group out at the time, and their influence can be seen for generations to come. They were the first to incorporate country influences into rock, which still can be heard from bands today. The one song that could be accredited with starting that movement would have to be The Weight, which also launched them into the mainstream and legendary status)
(click album to listen to clip)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: Creedence Clearwater Revival (Their debut album, and home to one of their most recognizable classics, Suzie Q. This album catapulted them to fame, and yet was just a small glimpse of the talent they really possessed. The stunning songs they would be known for were hinted at on this debut, though few of the hits on this album would eventually measure up. Still, a necessary album for your collection, as it sounds the most like the 60s of any record they produced)
(click album to listen to clip)Big Brother & the Holding Company: Cheap Thrills (WHO? This band was one of the top of the era and I have never heard of them? Well when you realize this is the band that had Janis Joplin as its lead singer for before she went solo, you may understand their ranking. This album still ranks as one of the most important to the Summer of Love era, especially that surrounding San Francisco in the late 60s. Legendary album containing some of the most legendary hits of those psychedelic times)
(click album to listen to clip)1969
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin (With their stunning debut album, not only was a legend born, but the entire genre of metal was born as well. Blending influences such as Jimmy Hendrix and Cream, Zeppelin started the heavy riff laden songs that have been a staple of hard rock and metal ever since. This album is absolutely one of the most important in music history, containing such classics as Dazed and Confused, Communication Breakdown, and Babe I'm Gonna Leave You)
(click album to listen to clip)Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II (Yet Zeppelin was not finished with the 60s yet. They were feeling the writing bug, and quickly produced another stunning album that continued their growth with such songs as Ramble On, The Lemon Song, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love, etc. In fact I could just name the entire album, as this one plays like a greatest hits album with absolutely no weaknesses)
(click album to listen to clip)Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River (While Zeppelin was busy creating the metal genre, CCR was doing their best to create the model for southern rock for the next generation. This, there third album, is where CCR truly perfected their sound. But just don't try to get all their lyrics by listening, as they have a crazy way of saying things that are hard to understand even with the writtin lyrics in front of you...I give you exhibit number 1, Green River. Great song, no idea what he is saying)
(click album to listen to clip)Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willie and the Poor Boys (Possibly not only their best, but definitely their funnest album, only ranking behind because it was not quite as new with the release of Green River months before. Still with monster hits like Fortunate Son, Down on the Corner, and Midnight Special, there is no doubt that this album rocks)
(click album to listen to clip)The Beatles: Abbey Road (The Last Beatles album to be recorded, fittingly containing the song Come Together, was a strong swan song for the group before the members decided they would be better off on their own. Still the group left while on top, permanently setting in stone their status as THE band that started it all. Never has, and never again will there be a band like the Beatles)
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