| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Genesis | The Serpent | From Genesis to Revelation | 1969 | At least 20 different labels |
| Genesis' first album has a sound completely different from any that were made after. On the surface the music sounds firmly in a 60's pop/psychedelic mold. But, in the lyrics and vocal style you can hear the dark, forboding outlook of Peter Gabriel that would become more evident in later Genesis recordings. What I like so much about this album, is the stripped down nature of the instrumentation which focuses heavily on Peter's self-harmonized vocals. The songs are all very well written and effective. | |||||
| 2 | Jack Bruce | Theme for an Imaginary Western | Songs for a Tailor | 1969 | Polydor/Polygram |
| After Cream disbanded, Jack recorded this, his first solo album. Members of the group Colosseum participate, as well as George Harrison and Chris Spedding. Jack is a great song writer (he wrote almost all of Cream's music) and one of rock music's best and most influential bass players. I had the great fortune of seeing Jack Bruce live in concert in 1989. He played almost every single song from this album. It is one of my all-time favorite concerts. His voice sounded just as great that night as he did in the 60's and 70's. | |||||
| 3 | Roy Harper | Sgt. Sunshine | Folkjokeopus | 1969 | Science Friction |
| I am not sure, but, this appears to be Roy's 3rd album. The album is primarly acoustic guitar strumming folk music with impassioned vocals. I am reminded mostly of Al Stewart, who also released a couple of albums in the 1960's. Roy Harper had a huge influence on both Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Later Harper albums had such guest musicians as Jimmy Page, Bill Bruford, Keith Emerson, and the entire line-up of Pink Floyd. Along time ago, I was listening to Pink Floyd's _Wish You Were Here_ album, and was floored by the incredible vocals on "Have a Cigar". I went to look at the record to see if it was Roger Waters or David Gilmour, only to find out that it was Roy Harper! So began my exploration of Roy's music. Roy plays a mean acoustic guitar, sometimes reaching the intensity and ferocity of Richie Havens. | |||||
| 4 | Rare Bird | God of War | Rare Bird | 1969 | Red Fox Records (boot?) |
| Rare Bird's first album is very keyboard heavy with no guitar. One of the keyboardist, David Kaffinetti later appeared in the movie "This is Spinal Tap" as Vic. The song "Beautiful Scarlett" was reworked slightly and also appears on their next album _As Your Mind Flies By_. The song "Melanie" sounds very much like "The Nice", even the vocals. Most of the vocals are deep and menacing ala Arthur Brown. The music could also be compared somewhat to early Deep Purple. | |||||
| 5 | Giles, Giles & Fripp | Erudite Eyes | The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles and Fripp | 1968 | Deram |
| This album is certainly more of a novelty album than something you would sit down and listen to in seriousness. The music is a mix of psychedelia, pop and jazz. The jazz elements mostly come from Fripp's very clean guitar sound whipping though arpeggios and scales. That aspect of the album is very good, but, unfortunately the album goofiness wins out. The entire album has a theme and narration of stories called "The Saga of Rodney Toady" and "Just George". This song is a bit out of the ordinary for the album, though, with some Pink Floyd-ish psychedelia that also hints a little bit of Moonchild. | |||||
| 6 | Fairport Convention | Fotheringay | What We Did On Our Holidays | 1968 | Hannibal Records |
| Fairport Convention is one of the most well-known and influential bands in the folk-rock genre. Lead vocalist Sandy Denny had a short stint with The Strawbs before joining FC. From what I have heard so far, I cannot say that their music does much for me, although they are highly respected by many progressive music fans. _Liege And Lief_ seems to be considered their best, but, I have yet to hear that one. The album is mostly originals but also covers songs by Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. | |||||
| 7 | Arzachel | Garden of Earthly Delights & Metempsychosis (excerpt) | Arzachel | 1969 | Drop Out Records |
| This recording is of a group that was once called 'Uriel', which consisted of Dave Stewart, Steve Hillage, Mont Campbell, and Clive Brooks. At the time of this recording, they had already changed their name to 'Egg', had a recording contract with Deram and Steve Hillage was no longer in the band. But, Egg was offered the opportunity to record a psychedelic album with another label, and decided to record it under pseudonyms and invite Steve Hillage. The result is an absolutely brilliant psychedelic Canterbury album. Dave Stewart and Steve Hillage re-unite in a couple of years as Khan to record another of my favorite Canterbury album's _Space Shanty_. | |||||