Album Chart of 1969

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67 tracks, runtime 5h 32m. The playlist features the highest-rated track from each album (subject to what's available on YouTube) in chart order, with a minimum individual track-rating of 6.5 required for inclusion. To view the full tracklist, access shuffle-play or avoid in-play interruption due to territorially blocked videos, it might be best playing directly via YouTube

REJOICE – WE’RE ON THE MOON!

Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, The Velvet Underground and The Stooges might have nudged ahead of them in my album chart of this year, but Silver Apples have the greatest Rock n Roll story to tell in 1969.

“Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

Just minutes before Neil Armstrong uttered those immortal words at 8:18pm UCT on 20 July 1969, almost a quarter of a million miles away, Silver Apples were whipping up a musical celebration in Central Park, just gone 3:00pm local time. Speaking to Terrascope magazine in 1996, group leader Simeon Coxe recalled an exceptional moment in history:

“I think it was early Spring in 1969 when New York's Mayor John Lindsay declared a free day in the park for all New Yorkers to watch the Apollo 11 astronauts land on the moon. He arranged for huge television screens to be mounted in Central Park so everyone could watch the moon landing and a bandstand to be constructed so there could be music leading up to the historic event. He declared Silver Apples to be "the New York sound" and commissioned us to write a piece for the event and perform it plus all of our other songs just before touchdown on the moon. We decided that it was an important enough event that we would stick our heads out of our hiding place to do it. I wrote a piece called 'Mune Toon' and Danny and I rehearsed it for days. The rocket launch went off without a hitch but as the spaceship began its approach to the surface of the moon, it began to rain cats and dogs in New York City. I had distinct memories of the shocking experience at the Café Wha? [during a performance there a couple of years earlier, a high voltage surge went through him via a microphone and he dislocated his shoulder] which Danny witnessed, but we felt this was a significant enough event that we had to go through with it. We were at least under the cover of a band shell, more than I can say for the thousands of people under parkas or umbrellas or newspapers all around the park, but there was a noticeable amount of water trickling onto the stage floor and under my bass switches. We decided to forego the build-up portion of our concert - explaining it to the crowd, who applauded our concern for our safety - but when Neil Armstrong began his descent to the moon's surface Danny and I struck up the band, caught up in the emotion of it all, and performed 'Mune Toon'. I was receiving electrical shocks every time I touched the instrument but there was nothing that seemed like it was life-threatening so we kept going. I knew that to touch the microphone was zap city, that was my mistake at the Café Wha?, but there was definitely a connection being made between the bass platform and the top oscillators. I just kept my hands on the oscillators because I found that when I let go and then tried to re-touch them, that was when I got zapped. So all during 'Mune Toon' there was this tingling, sexy, frightening, scary thing coursing through my body and I was singing my heart out and Armstrong was stepping onto the moon and human beings were entering a new era and thousands of people were crying with happiness and soaking wet and singing and hugging each other. Well, just when he thought the most political-mileage-moment was upon him Mayor Lindsay grabbed the microphone to say something profound and I swear I saw his ears light up. He was baptized into the world of electronic music. His hair looked like the bride of Frankenstein. Rolling Stone magazine did a piece on the event and called me the "¼ leading exponent of hippy technology." I have always liked that, but have never figured out how to use it at parties.”

It's a wonderful tale, completely under the radar. How typical of Silver Apples. For one glorious day, the world could forget about its troubles and rejoice - singing and dancing in the rain!

The Jukebox Rebel
07-Feb-2016

SONGS FROM A ROOM
Leonard Cohen
Columbia CS-9767

“A masterpiece” Folk; Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “Bird On The Wire” (10) • “Tonight Will Be Fine” (10) • “Lady Midnight” (9.8)
Following on from his classic debut album of 1967, Leonard exceeded expectations with his second set – from start to fin...more →

FIVE LEAVES LEFT
Nick Drake
Island Records ILPS-9105

“A classic” Songwriter; Folk

Jukebox picks: “Cello Song” (10) • “River Man” (10) • “Saturday Sun” (9.5)
For the few who cottoned on in 1969, Nick Drake, as experienced on “Five Leaves Left”, must have left an indelible mark ...more →

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
The Velvet Underground
MGM Records SE-4617

“A classic” Moodcore

Jukebox picks: “Pale Blue Eyes” (10) • “What Goes On” (9.9) • “Some Kinda Love” (9.8)
The debut had been an elite-masterpiece, the follow-up a classic. John Cale’s role was absolutely central to both of tho...more →

THE STOOGES
The Stooges
Elektra EKS-74051

“A classic” Proto-Punk

Jukebox picks: “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (10) • “Little Doll” (9.8) • “1969” (9.5)
On their debut offering in August ’69 these Michigan proto-punkers were described as: Iggy Stooge (22, vocals); Dave Ale...more →

MONSTER MOVIE
The Can
Music Factory SRS-001

“A classic” Trance Rock

Jukebox picks: “Father Cannot Yell” (9.7) • “Yoo Doo Right” (9.6) • “Outside My Door” (8.0)
After a false-start with an album rejected by various record companies, this Köln-based quintet wasted no time in gettin...more →

CONTACT
Silver Apples
Kapp Records KS-3584

“A classic” Trance Rock

Jukebox picks: “Fantasies” (9.8) • “I Have Known Love” (9.4) • “You And I” (8.8)
Never since Köln’s Monks in ’66 has an album sounded so wonderfully wrong. Chiming with the aforementioned “Black Monk...more →

THE SOFT PARADE
The Doors
Elektra EKS-75005

“Excellent” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Cerebral Pop

Jukebox picks: “Touch Me” (10) • “Tell All The People” (9.4) • “Runnin’ Blue” (9.3)
Leading lights of the late 60s counter-culture movement, The Doors could do no wrong in my eyes. Album after album was c...more →

SWEET AND DANDY
Toots and The Maytals
Beverley's Records LP-005

“Excellent” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Monkey Man” (10) • “Sweet And Dandy” (9.9) • “Pressure Drop” (9.8)
The 5-year-old Maytals vocal trio were on top of their game in 1966 when “Bam Bam” was the inaugural winner of the Popul...more →

IT’S SO HARD TO TELL WHO’S GOING TO LOVE YOU THE BEST
Karen Dalton
Capitol Records ST-271

“Brilliant” Blues / Rhythm n Blues

Jukebox picks: “In The Evening (It’s So Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You The Best)” (9.4) • “It Hurts Me Too” (9.2) • “Little Bit Of Rain” (8.9)
World weary and filled with the blues, this debut set was a real experience for the privileged few who were hip to its’ ...more →

ASK ME NO QUESTIONS
Bridget St. John
Dandelion Records S-63750

“Brilliant” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Ask Me No Questions” (9.6) • “To B Without A Hitch” (9.5) • “Barefeet And Hot Pavements” (9.3)
The fanciful notion of running a record label, free from the constraints of the “straights”, had been burning with John ...more →

SCANDAL IN A BRIXTON MARKET
Girlie and Laurel Aitken
Pama Records ECO-8

“Brilliant” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Stupid Married Man” (8.5) • “Mr. Soul” (8.5) • “Night Cricket” (8.3)
Released on London’s Pama Records, “Scandal In A Brixton Market” was the first truly brilliant Laurel Aitken album. The ...more →

ARTHUR (OR THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)
The Kinks
Pye Records NPL-18317

“Brilliant” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Cerebral Pop

Jukebox picks: “Young And Innocent Days” (9.2) • “Victoria” (9.0) • “Shangri-La” (8.5)
Best of British what, what? An undoubted high point in the Kinks story – yet, as with many episodes, the back-ground eve...more →

THE GILDED PALACE OF SIN
The Flying Burrito Brothers
A&M Records SP-4175

“Really good” Country

Jukebox picks: “Sin City” (10) • “Do You Know How It Feels” (9.3) • “Hot Burrito #1” (8.9)
Formed by Byrds dropouts Chris Hillman (24, electric and acoustic guitar, harmony, lead and backing vocals, mandolin) an...more →

AT HOME WITH THE DUBLINERS
The Dubliners
Tribune ‎TRLP-1010

“Really good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “The Molly Maguires” (8.4) • “The Saxon Shilling” (8.3) • “God Save Ireland” (8.0)
With the contract at Major Minor expired, Tommy Scott introduced his Dubliners boys to his pal Bill Martin, who, togethe...more →

CHANGING HORSES
The Incredible String Band
Elektra EKS-74057

“Really good” Alternative Folk

Jukebox picks: “Creation” (9.8) • “Dust Be Diamonds” (8.1) • “Mr. And Mrs.” (6.7)
By the time of their fifth album, the Increbible String Band were living communally at a farmhouse near Newport, in Pemb...more →

TO LOVE SOMEBODY
Nina Simone
RCA Victor LSP-4152

“Really good” Cerebral Pop; Songwriter; Soul

Jukebox picks: “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” (9.0) • “Suzanne” (8.3) • “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (8.0)
Nina finished the 60s with her greatest LP yet. Ironically for such an accomplished songwriter, it was predominantly an ...more →

EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Reprise Records RS-6349

“Really good” Folk Rock / Americana; Rock

Jukebox picks: “Round & Round (It Won’t Be Long)” (8.6) • “Cinnamon Girl” (8.2) • “Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)” (7.8)
Very much like Led Zepp in this era, Neil Young was completely palatable to non-Rockheads like me. He veers from the wis...more →

THE CROFTERS
The Crofters
Beltona MBE-103

“Really good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Killie Crankie” (8.7) • “Drunken Sailor” (7.9) • “I Never Will Marry” (7.7)
It would’ve been a great night out going to sing-a-long with The Crofters; they’re really strong players. “Killie Cran...more →

LIEGE AND LIEF
Fairport Convention
Island Records ILPS-9115

“Good” Folk Rock / Americana; Folk

Jukebox picks: “The Deserter” (8.7) • “Tam Lin” (8.0) • “Reynardine” (7.5)
Arriving in December, “Liege and Lief” was the third of three albums from Fairport Convention in 1969. Following on from...more →

IN A SILENT WAY
Miles Davis
Columbia CS-9875

“Good” Jazz

Jukebox picks: “In A Silent Way / It’s About That Time / In A Silent Way” (7.7) • “Shhh / Peaceful” (6.2)
Miles goes electric! It’s a Jazz World stooshie to rival Dylan. From time to time these mega-talented giants of Jazz com...more →

I’M A LOSER
Doris Duke
Canyon Records LP-7704

“Good” Soul; Soul Ballad

Jukebox picks: “Feet Start Walking” (9.0) • “Your Best Friend” (8.3) • “I Can’t Do Without You” (8.0)
After several years as a session singer with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Jackie Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sa...more →

LET IT BLEED
The Rolling Stones
Decca SKL-5025

“Good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (8.8) • “Country Honk” (8.2) • “Midnight Rambler” (7.5)
Brian Jones was 5 months dead by the time “Let It Bleed” was released in Dec ’69. He takes his final bow on side 2 by pl...more →

BASKET OF LIGHT
The Pentangle
Transatlantic Records TRA-205

“Good” Folk; Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “Hunting Song” (9.0) • “House Carpenter” (7.7) • “The Cuckoo” (7.2)
Here, the five points of The Pentagle are: Bert Jansch (25, lead and backing vocals, guitar, banjo); Jacqui McShee (25, ...more →

THE BARLEY CORN
The Johnstons
Transatlantic Records TRA-185

“Good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Ye Jacobites By Name” (8.5) • “The Flower Of Northumberland” (8.3) • “Fuigfidh Mise ’n’ Baile Seo” (7.8)
Recorded at Sound Technique Studios, London in 1968, and engineered by John Wood and Ron Fender. Notably, their 3rd and ...more →

UNHALFBRICKING
Fairport Convention
Island Records ILPS-9102

“Good” Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “A Sailor’s Life” (8.7) • “Si Tu Dois Partir” (8.4) • “Genesis Hall” (7.0)
Arriving in July, “Unhalfbricking”, so named on account of one of Sandy Denny's contributions to an inexplicable on-the-...more →

COLD BLOOD
Cold Blood
San Francisco Records SD-200

“Good” Soul

Jukebox picks: “I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)” (7.5) • “Let Me Down Easy” (7.0) • “If You Will” (6.9)
A highly stylish debut album from the soulful Californian rockers, fronted by Lydia Pense whose impassioned vocal style ...more →

NUCLEUS OF SOUL
O.V. Wright
Back Beat BLP-67

“Good” Soul Ballad

Jukebox picks: “I’ll Take Care Of You” (8.6) • “Why Not Give Me A Chance” (7.7) • “Pledging My Love” (7.4)
Famed producer Willie Mitchell was at the helm for Overton Vertis’s second new music album on Backbeat. As O.V. put it: ...more →

LED ZEPPELIN
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic 588171

“Good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Rock

Jukebox picks: “Dazed And Confused” (8.7) • “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” (7.7) • “How Many More Times” (7.6)
Following the virtual dissolution of The Yardbirds in August ‘68, guitarist Jimmy Page wasted no time in re-recruiting. ...more →

AT HOME
Shocking Blue
Pink Elephant ‎888.001

“Good” Psychedelia; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “California Here I Come” (8.6) • “Love Buzz” (8.5) • “Long And Lonesome Road” (7.7)
Nederbeat from the Hague seems to translate as a meaty brand of pop rock – if Shocking Blue’s “At Home” is anything to g...more →

LOVE MAN
Otis Redding
ATCO Records SD 33-289

“Good” Soul

Jukebox picks: “Look At That Girl” (7.9) • “Love Man” (7.8) • “I’ll Let Nothing Separate Us” (7.2)
It must have been a beautiful thing for Otis Redding fans in the years which followed his tragic plane crash death in De...more →

YELLOW SUBMARINE
The Beatles
Apple Records PCS-7070

“Good” Film Score / Incidental; Psychedelia

Jukebox picks: “It’s All Too Much” (9.2) • “All You Need Is Love” (8.0) • “Yellow Submarine In Pepperland” (7.7)
I dig this madness, occasionally genius, sometimes wacky, but rarely dull. I’m a Pepperland resident myself. I’ll give t...more →

UNICORN
Tyrannosaurus Rex
Regal Zonophone SLRZ-1007

“Good” Alternative Folk; Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “The Seal Of Seasons” (8.8) • “Chariots Of Silk” (7.6) • “She Was Born To Be My Unicorn” (7.5)
The third LP from the idiosyncratic duo arrived in May ’69. Performing duties on this one were assigned to: Marc Bolan (...more →

20 / 20
The Beach Boys
Capitol Records SKAO-133

“Good” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Do It Again” (10) • “I Can Hear Music” (9.2) • “Cabinessence” (9.0)
Starts magnificently with “Do It Again”, goes on to feature 2 splendid covers of The Ronettes “I Can Hear Music”...more →

FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor LPM-4155

“Decent enough” Soul

Jukebox picks: “In The Ghetto” (10) • “I’m Movin’ On” (8.3) • “Power Of My Love” (6.9)
Some wonderfully soulful performances here, including the masterful “In The Ghetto”....more →

STAND!
Sly and The Family Stone
Epic BN-26456

“Decent enough” Disco / Funk; Soul

Jukebox picks: “Everyday People” (8.0) • “Sex Machine” (7.1) • “I Want To Take You Higher” (6.8)
Raising the bar again from last year's “Dance To The Music” with only the sickly pop-funk-rock chops of “Somebody’s Wa...more →

TROUT MASK REPLICA
Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
Straight STS-1053

“Decent enough” Avant-Garde; Alternative Rock; Prog

Jukebox picks: “The Blimp (Mousetrapreplica)” (10) • “Steal Softly Thru Snow” (8.9) • “Bills Corpse” (8.8)
The line up at the time of release in June, 1968 was Don van Vliet (28, vocals, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, bass...more →

ILLUMINATIONS
Buffy Saint-Marie
Vanguard VSD-79300

“Decent enough” Psychedelia; Folk

Jukebox picks: “God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot” (7.9) • “Mary” (7.6) • “Better To Find Out Yourself” (7.0)
A strong bounce-back from last years rather awkward “I’m Gonna Be A Country Girl Again”, which sees Buffy completely rei...more →

HALLELUJAH
Canned Heat
Liberty LST-7618

“Decent enough” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Do Not Enter” (8.3) • “Big Fat (The Fat Man)” (7.6) • “Change My Ways” (6.9)
Another solid set from the boogie bluesmen with Al Wilson’s “Do Not Enter” and “Change My Ways” standing out - a...more →

LAUREL AITKEN SAYS FIRE
Laurel Aitken
Doctor Bird DLM-5012

“Decent enough” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Fire (In Your Wire)” (8.4) • “Worried Over Me” (7.1) • “Quando Quando Quando” (6.9)
“Laurel Aitken Says Fire” embraces the new reggae style. Of the 8 originals “Fire (In Your Wire)” is a real keeper. ...more →

CONTINUED
Tony Joe White
Monument SLP-18133

“Decent enough” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Soul Ballad

Jukebox picks: “Elements And Things” (8.2) • “I Want You” (8.0) • “I Thought I Knew You Well” (7.0)
The second long-player from the 26-year-old blues-rocker outta Louisiana was tellingly recorded in both Nashville and Me...more →

BALLAD OF EASY RIDER
The Byrds
Columbia CS-9942

“Decent enough” Country; Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” (8.9) • “Fido” (8.1) • “Ballad Of Easy Rider” (7.7)
Roger McGuinn had been commisioned to write the theme to the high profile 1969 film “Easy Rider” and it’s this track whi...more →

SPICE OF LIFE
Marlena Shaw
Cadet Records LPS-833

“Decent enough” Soul

Jukebox picks: “Woman Of The Ghetto” (9.5) • “Liberation Conversation” (8.0) • “I’m Satisfied” (7.8)
The second album from the 27-year-old New Yorker was, for my tastes, a class apart from her jazzy debut set from 2 years...more →

LED ZEPPELIN II
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic 588198

“Decent enough” Rock; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Whole Lotta Love” (9.0) • “Ramble On” (6.8) • “Bring It On Home” (6.5)
It's just over a year since The Yardbirds were dissolved and already this is the second long player from the newly emerg...more →

ABBEY ROAD
The Beatles
Apple Records PCS-7088

“Decent enough” Pop; Songwriter; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Come Together” (8.3) • “Mean Mr. Mustard” (7.4) • “Here Comes The Sun” (7.2)
The last Beatles album to be recorded, and regarded by many as one of the all-time greats. Notable for McCartney “doing ...more →

TRIP THRU’ HELL
C.A. Quintet
Candy Floss CF-7764S

“Decent enough” Psychedelia

Jukebox picks: “Underground Music” (6.8) • “Smooth As Silk” (6.6) • “Trip Thru Hell, Pt. 1” (6.5)
Neat mini-album of psychedelic psyche with added quirk via trumpet from the band’s leader and main songwrier, Ken Erwin....more →

DAVID BOWIE [1969]
David Bowie
Philips SBL-7912

“Average” Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “Space Oddity” (8.4) • “Memory Of A Free Festival” (7.1) • “Unwashed And Somewhat Slightly Dazed” (6.8)
A marked improvement on his strange-variety debut of two years previously, although he might have come up with an actual...more →

DUSTY IN MEMPHIS
Dusty Springfield
Philips SBL-7889

“Average” Pop Ballad; Soul

Jukebox picks: “Son Of A Preacher Man” (9.5) • “Breakfast In Bed” (7.4) • “No Easy Way Down” (6.6)
It's not easy for a pop girl to hold my affections, but Dusty seems to hold up rather well. “Dusty In Memphis” was her f...more →

LIQUIDATOR
Harry J All Stars
Trojan Records TBL-104

“Average” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Liquidator” (10) • “The Dog” (7.9) • “Spyrone” (7.3)
The 24-year-old producer Harry Johnson was riding the wave of success at home and abroad by the tail end of the 60s, the...more →

NINA SIMONE AND PIANO
Nina Simone
RCA Victor LSP-4102

“Average” Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today [1969 album version]” (7.2) • “Everyone’s Gone To The Moon” (7.0) • “Who Am I?” (6.5)
Simply Nina Simone and her piano all the way, with all material being new to her album discography. Highly regarded by f...more →

SCOTT 4
Scott Engel
Philips SBL-7913

“Average” Cerebral Pop; Crooner / Cabaret; Pop Ballad; Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “The Seventh Seal” (8.6) • “Duchess” (6.8) • “Hero Of The War” (6.3)
His 5th LP “Scott 4” (Philips SBL-7913) was released in November, 1969. The quote “a man’s work is nothing but this sl...more →

RICHARD P HAVENS, 1983
Richie Havens
Verve Forecast FTS-3047-2

“Average” Songwriter; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “I Pity The Poor Immigrant” (7.5) • “Putting Out The Vibration And Hoping It Comes Home” (7.5) • “She’s Leaving Home” (7.0)
With half an eye on Orwell's “1984”, Richie Havens third LP for Verve wasn't easily digested artistically or physically,...more →

HOT BUTTERED SOUL
Isaac Hayes
Enterprise ENS-1001

“Below average” Soul Ballad

Jukebox picks: “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic” (7.2) • “Walk On By” (6.9) • “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” (4.4)
Created as a fundraiser for the beleaguered Stax label, “Hot Buttered Soul” boasted a tight production across the 4 exte...more →

CLOUD NINE
The Temptations
Gordy GS-939

“Below average” Soul

Jukebox picks: “Run Away Child, Running Wild” (7.9) • “Cloud Nine” (6.4) • “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (6.2)
Anything Sly and the Family Stone can do, we can do better say The Temptations, as they delve headlong into the all-new ...more →

HAPPY SAD
Tim Buckley
Elektra EKS-74045

“Below average” Moodcore

Jukebox picks: “Buzzin’ Fly” (7.9) • “Sing A Song For You” (5.5) • “Love From Room 109 At The Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway)” (5.3)
The album is a moody, proggy, jazzy affair and doesn’t do much for me – with the exception of “Buzzin’ Fly”, which i...more →

TOMMY
The Who
Track Record 613 013/4

“Below average” Cerebral Pop; Rock; Pop; Prog

Jukebox picks: “Pinball Wizard” (7.1) • “Overture” (6.9) • “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (6.9)
A rock opera you say? Groan. Thankfully, there were no shrill pantomime dames to deal with, so I console myself with the...more →

BLACK AND WHITE
Tony Joe White
Monument SLP-18114

“Below average” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Don’t Steal My Love” (8.5) • “Polk Salad Annie” (6.3) • “Willie And Laura Mae Jones” (6.2)
Debut album from the 25-year-old “Swamp Fox” recorded with Muscle Shoals/Nashville musicians David Briggs, Norbert Putna...more →

BULL OF THE WOODS
13th Floor Elevators
International Artists IA-LP-9

“Below average” Psychedelia

Jukebox picks: “Dear Dr. Doom” (6.7) • “Til Then” (5.8) • “Street Song” (5.4)
The 13th Floor Elevators were very much on the slide when this one arrived in March, 1969. Lead singer and songwriter Ro...more →

HOT RATS
Frank Zappa
Bizarre Records RS-6356

“Below average” Prog; Rock

Jukebox picks: “Willie The Pimp” (6.5) • “Peaches En Regalia” (5.8) • “It Must Be A Camel” (5.5)
“A movie for your ears” says Frank in his liner notes. Turns out it's mostly a silent movie, with 5 of the 6 being i...more →

DR. BYRDS AND MR. HYDE
The Byrds
Columbia CS-9755

“Below average” Country; Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Child Of The Universe” (6.0) • “Nashville West” (5.8) • “This Wheel’s On Fire” (5.6)
With Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman having left to form Flying Burrito Brothers, it’s an all new Byrds line-up for this ...more →

GENESIS
Wendy and Bonnie
Skye Records SK-1006D

“Below average” Cerebral Pop; Psychedelia

Jukebox picks: “Five O’Clock In The Morning” (6.8) • “By The Sea” (6.4) • “I Realized You” (5.4)
The sole album from the San-Fran-based harmonizing teenage siblings. The liner notes gave some background:...more →

NASHVILLE SKYLINE
Bob Dylan
Columbia KCS-9825

“Below average” Country

Jukebox picks: “Lay Lady Lay” (6.5) • “I Threw It All Away” (5.4) • “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” (5.4)
If “John Wesley Harding” was a backwards step then “Nashville Skyline” saw Bob in uncontrollable freefall. Ouch! What a ...more →

SHADY GROVE
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Capitol Records SKAO-391

“Poor” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Prog

Jukebox picks: “Flute Song” (6.3) • “Too Far” (5.5) • “Shady Grove” (5.4)
Guitarist Gary Duncan had taken a leave of absence from the group, whilst Nicky 'session man' Hopkins was drafted in, gi...more →

BAYOU COUNTRY
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fantasy 8387

“Poor” Blues Rock / Soul Rock

Jukebox picks: “Graveyard Train” (5.8) • “Keep On Chooglin’” (5.5) • “Born On The Bayou” (5.4)
Second album from the Californian quartet, played in the popular Southern Rock style. They lined up: John Fogerty (lead ...more →

HARRY
Nilsson
RCA Victor LSP-4197

“Poor” Jazz; Songwriter; Crooner / Cabaret

Jukebox picks: “I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City” (7.0) • “Mournin’ Glory Story” (6.7) • “Fairfax Rag” (5.5)
Fifth album from the 28-year-old craftsman, devoid of thrills until you flip over for the the orchestral pop spleandour ...more →

HOLLIES SING DYLAN
The Hollies
Parlophone PMC-7078

“Poor” Folk Rock / Americana; Country

Jukebox picks: “Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)” (6.2) • “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (5.5) • “My Back Pages” (5.5)
Citing artistic differences, Graham Nash departed the Hollies in December, 1968, to join into a partnership with David C...more →

ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN
The Youngbloods
RCA Victor LSP-4150

“Poor” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Trillium” (6.8) • “Ride The Wind” (6.6) • “Quicksand” (6.2)
With the departure of co-founder Jerry Corbitt, the core three were now: Jesse Colin Young (bass, lead vocals), Lowell L...more →

THE HAPPY SIDE OF WANDA
Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-238

“Poor” Country

Jukebox picks: “Less Of Me” (5.6) • “This Land Is Your Land” (5.5) • “You’ll Always Have My Love” (5.1)
Released in July 1969. 1 track repeats from the back-catalogue - “You'll Always Have My Love” (You'll Always Have My...more →

OAR
Alexander Spence
Columbia CS-9831

“Poor” Alternative Country; Alternative Folk

Jukebox picks: “Weighted Down (The Prison Song)” (8.2) • “Lawrence Of Euphoria” (6.7) • “Books Of Moses” (5.8)
The wiki tells us: Alexander Lee “Skip” Spence (April 18, 1946 – April 16, 1999) was a Canadian-born American musicia...more →

ODESSA
Bee Gees
Polydor 583049/050

“Lame” Pop; Pop Ballad; Film Score / Incidental

Jukebox picks: “Whisper Whisper” (6.5) • “Edison” (6.3) • “Marley Purt Drive” (6.0)
As Wikipedia tells, this was an ambitious project, originally intended as a concept album on the loss of a fictional shi...more →

HAPPY TRAILS
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Capitol Records ST-120

“Lame” Rock

Jukebox picks: “Calvary [live ’68]” (6.3) • “Who Do You Love, Pt. 1 [live ’68]” (5.0) • “Mona [live ’68]” (5.0)
Second album from the much-loved acid-rockers, all recorded live at Fillmore East (New York) and Fillmore West (San Fran...more →

BACHARACH BAROQUE
18th Century Corporation
United Artists Records UAS-6697

“Lame” Cerebral Pop

Jukebox picks: “Promises, Promises” (5.7) • “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?” (5.3) • “I Say A Little Prayer” (5.2)
Maverick project, made in Germany. Bohemian target audience or just budget easy listening? Well, a bit of both probably....more →

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY
Chicago Transit Authority
Columbia GP-8

“Lame” Cerebral Pop

Jukebox picks: “I’m A Man” (6.5) • “Free Form Guitar” (6.3) • “Listen” (5.2)
Debut album from the Chicagoan septet, released in April, 1969. They lined up: Terry Kath (guitar, backing and lead voca...more →

HOLLIES SING HOLLIES
The Hollies
Parlophone PCS-7092

“Lame” Cerebral Pop; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Soldiers Dilemma” (6.0) • “Goodbye Tomorrow” (5.1) • “A) Marigold, B) Gloria Swansong” (4.9)
Arriving in November was the second LP of the year from the latest Hollies 5-piece. By way of complete contrast to their...more →

KICK OUT THE JAMS
MC5
Elektra EKS-74042

“Lame” Proto-Punk; Rock

Jukebox picks: “Come Together [live '69]” (4.9) • “Kick Out The Jams [live '69]” (4.8) • “Ramblin’ Rose [live '69]” (4.7)
For their debut LP the Michigan 5-piece (MC5, see?) opted to document a live session recorded in their home state at the...more →

LAST EXIT
Traffic
Island Records ILPS-9097

“Lame” Prog

Jukebox picks: “Just For You” (7.2) • “Something's Got A Hold Of My Toe” (5.1) • “Shanghai Noodle Factory” (4.1)
With Stevie Winwood having left for Blind Faith in early '69, Traffic were thought to be over and Island Records cobbled...more →

THE BAND
The Band
Capitol Records STAO-132

“Lame” Folk Rock / Americana; Country

Jukebox picks: “Up On Cripple Creek” (5.8) • “Rockin’ Chair” (5.4) • “Rag Mama Rag” (5.2)
Second album from the Canadians, even more boring than the first. Known, unironically, as “The Brown Album”....more →

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
Burt Bacharach
A&M Records SP-4227

“Lame” Orchestra Dance

Jukebox picks: “Not Goin’ Home Anymore” (5.0) • “South American Getaway” (4.9) • “The Sundance Kid” (4.8)
Includes 3 versions of “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and a whole lot of M.O.R. dance orchestra filler. Not muc...more →

TONE FLOAT
Organisation
RCA Victor SF-8111

“Lame” Avant-Garde; Prog

Jukebox picks: “Tone Float” (5.7) • “Milk Rock” (5.1) • “Noitasinagro” (3.8)
Florian Schneider-Esleben and Ralf Hütter were both 22-years-old when they released their first LP into the world in the...more →

HARD ’N’ HEAVY (WITH MARSHMALLOW)
Paul Revere and The Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay
Columbia CS-9753

“Lame” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Without You” (5.5) • “Ride On My Shoulder” (5.2) • “Where You Goin’ Girl” (4.7)
There was a new band line-up for their first release of 1969, with only Paul Revere and Mark Lindsay surviving as founde...more →

THERE’S GONNA BE A SHOWDOWN
Archie Bell and The Drells
Atlantic SD-8226

“Lame” Soul

Jukebox picks: “Here I Go Again” (5.2) • “Go For What You Know” (5.0) • “Mama Don’t Teach Me That Way” (4.7)
According to the front cover image, Archie has 3 Drells to complete his vocal harmony group for this one. Their brand of...more →

ICE ON ICE
Jerry Butler
Mercury SR-61234

“Lame” Soul; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Got To See If I Can’t Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)” (5.7) • “I Forgot To Remember” (5.1) • “Close To You Love” (4.8)
Another set of elegant soul-pop fayre from the same “Butler-Gamble-Huff” dream team as per “The Ice Man Cometh”. Elvis h...more →

DEEP WATER
Grapefruit
RCA Victor LSP-4215

“Lame” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Rock

Jukebox picks: “Come Down To The Station” (5.5) • “Deep Water” (5.3) • “Blues In Your Head” (4.6)
A whole 2 point fall-back from their debut; they seem to have went for a more Americanised sound this time around, mixin...more →

CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Atlantic SD-8229

“Lame” Folk; Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “Guinnevere” (5.6) • “You Don’t Have To Cry” (5.0) • “Marrakesh Express” (4.9)
David Crosby had departed the Byrds in 1967, Stephen Stills' Buffalo Springfield had split in 1968 and Graham Nash had l...more →

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING
King Crimson
Island Records ILPS-9111

“Lame” Prog

Jukebox picks: “21st Century Schizoid Man” (6.2) • “The Court Of The Crimson King” (4.7) • “Epitaph” (3.4)
Revered debut album from the Prog-Rock quintet from London who lined up: Robert Fripp (electric and acoustic guitars), M...more →

RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD
Arlo Guthrie
Reprise Records RS-6346

“Lame” Country

Jukebox picks: “Coming Into Los Angeles” (5.6) • “My Front Pages” (5.5) • “Running Down The Road” (4.9)
I hate to be harsh on the likeable Arlo, but this is nowhere near as enjoyable as his debut from a couple of years back,...more →

EDWARDS HAND
Edwards Hand
GRT GRT-10005

“Terrible” Cerebral Pop

Jukebox picks: “Orange Peel” (4.7) • “Episodes, Being The First Part” (4.6) • “Characters Number One” (4.6)
After one album as Picadilly Line, Rod Edwards (keyboards and vocals) and Roger Hand (acoustic guitar and vocals) imagin...more →

MY CHERIE AMOUR
Stevie Wonder
Tamla TS-296

“Terrible” Pop; Soul; Pop Ballad

Jukebox picks: “Somebody Knows, Somebody Cares” (6.2) • “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday” (5.6) • “Light My Fire” (4.5)
I just can't take to Stevie Wonder the album artist, but he has his odd moments. Kudos for having the taste to have a go...more →

GREEN RIVER
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fantasy 8393

“Terrible” Folk Rock / Americana

Jukebox picks: “The Night Time Is The Right Time” (5.1) • “Lodi” (4.6) • “Bad Moon Rising” (4.3)
The second of three albums in '69 for the hard-working, big-selling quartet, a decidedly jaunty rock affair leaning a li...more →

ALIAS PINK PUZZ
Paul Revere and The Raiders featuring Mark Lindsay
Columbia CS-9905

“Terrible” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Down In Amsterdam” (6.0) • “The Original Handy Man” (4.8) • “Let Me!” (4.4)
The second LP of 1969 from the new Paul Revere and The Raiders line-up. The title says a lot about the band's position a...more →

LIVE / DEAD
Grateful Dead
Warner Bros. Records WS-1830

“Terrible” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Prog

Jukebox picks: “Feedback [live '69]” (4.7) • “And We Bid You Goodnight [live '69]” (4.5) • “Death Don’t Have No Mercy [live '69]” (4.1)
A much celebrated double album from “the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world”, compiled from 3 concerts in t...more →

NEON PHILHARMONIC
The Neon Philharmonic
Warner Bros. Records WS-1804

“Terrible” Crooner / Cabaret; Pop; Pop Ballad

Jukebox picks: “The Mordor National Anthem” (4.8) • “F. Scott Fitzgerald And William Shakespeare” (4.0) • “Are You Old Enough To Remember Dresden?” (3.8)
The second and final album of sunshine pop with classical overtones from the group led by songwriter/conductor Tupper Sa...more →

RAINBOW RIDE
Andy Kim
Steed Records ‎ST-37002

“Terrible” Pop; Rock

Jukebox picks: “I Want You” (4.6) • “Nobody’s Ever Going Anywhere” (4.3) • “Baby While You’re Young” (4.3)
Nothing doing on the second long-player from the Neil-Diamond-esque 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Montreal. Too swe...more →

DIZZY
Tommy Roe
ABC Records ABCS-683

“Terrible” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Dizzy” (6.6) • “A Dollar’s Worth Of Pennies” (4.0) • “Look Out Girl” (3.8)
The sixth album from the 27-year-old pop-rocker from Atlanta, basking in the glory of his transatlantic chart-topper, “...more →

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE
Al Kooper
Columbia CS-9855

“Terrible” Cerebral Pop; Soul Ballad

Jukebox picks: “Mourning Glory Story” (4.7) • “Blues, Part IV” (4.2) • “Magic In My Socks” (3.9)
Doesn't impact on me as much as “I Stand Alone” did. There's no doubting his talents as songwriter and multi-instrumenta...more →

DARLING, YOU KNOW I WOULDN’T LIE
Conway Twitty
Decca DL-75105

“Dire” Country

Jukebox picks: “Bad Man” (3.8) • “Table In The Corner” (3.4) • “Kawliga” (3.2)
Conway tries his hand at quite a few tough cowboy numbers, but he'd be more at home holding a seven iron than a colt 45 ...more →

FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION
Genesis
Decca SKL-4990

“Dire” Cerebral Pop; Prog

Jukebox picks: “In The Wilderness” (4.2) • “In The Beginning” (3.2) • “The Serpent” (3.0)
Debut album from Johnathan King's teenage posh-boy-band who lined up: Peter Gabriel (19, lead vocals, flute), Tony Banks...more →

TODAY
Bobby Goldsboro
United Artists Records UAS-6704

“An embarrassment” Pop Ballad; Songwriter; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Hoboes And Kings” (4.6) • “Ain’t That Livin’” (3.1) • “I’m A Drifter” (2.7)
Horribly gentile stuff from the 28-year-old purveyor of adult-orientated-pop-schmaltz....more →

THE SASH MY FATHER WORE
Willie Baxter and his Orange Friends
Fontana SFL-13100

“An embarrassment” Folk

Jukebox picks: “The Orange And The Green” (4.5) • “The Lily O” (1.8) • “Here! Here! The Blues Are Here” (1.2)
Dated via educated guess with the catalogue number compared to other Fontana releases....more →

see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1969

Album Charts by year

“A-list”

1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

“B-list”

1943 1945 1946 1950 1951 1952 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Album Charts by decade

“A-list”

1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

“B-list”

1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s