| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Pink Floyd | Sysyphus - Parts 1, 2, and 3 | Ummagumma | 1969 | EMI |
| Say "Ummagumma" twenty times fast. Pink Floyd fourth album is a double album with one live and one studio disc. The studio album has some of their most experimental recorded work. Much of it is dark and sinister with layers of mellotrons. The song here reminds me of the Morte Macabre album. The live disc has 4 extended versions of classic psychedelic space rock songs from their first 2 albums. | |||||
| 2 | Family | Observations From A Hill | Family Entertainment | 1969 | See For Miles |
| Family's 2nd album is slightly stripped down compared to their first album, as far as studio overdubs, strings, and the like. I often go back and forth on which album I like better. Several songs on this album are long time favorites, especially the one on today's show. Although the lead vocals on this song are by Ric Grech, Roger Chapman's powerful voice ties the song together on the chorus. If you want to check out Family, this album or their first are the ones to start with. | |||||
| 3 | Cream | Toad (excerpt) | Wheels of Fire | 1968 | Polydor/Polygram |
| Cream third release is a double album with one studio disc and a live album. The studio album has many classics like "White Room" and "Politician". The live album showcases the bands live improvisational abilities which are nothing less than stellar. Jack Bruce's muscular bass laying down some heavy riffs with the fluidity of a jazzy walking bass line and Eric Clapton soaring off into guitar oblivion with possibly his most adventurous playing of his career. This album is an absolute must. The clip hear is the intro to a Ginger Baker drum solo (which goes on way too long IMO) and demonstrates how well these guys played together live. | |||||
| 4 | Fleetwood Mac | Underway & Oh Well (excerpt) | Then Play On | 1969 | Reprise |
| I am not exactly sure which album this is in their history - 3rd? 4th? It is a remarkably diverse album whose differing styles all work together with a consistent undercurrent. There is some loner blues type songs. On "Underway" the second half of "Oh Well", the music has a moody and mystical feel. Much of the second side is hard blues that sounds like Rory Gallagher in every way. A very good album that gives no clue to their future sound. | |||||
| 5 | Pussy | All of My Life | Pussy | 1969 | Background |
| An interesting psych/beat album. Fuzz guitar, typical 60's harmonized vocals, some electronic twiddlings, and lots of organ. It sounds pretty dated and not particularly adventurous. The music on this album would work well as a soundtrack for an Austin Powers movie. I like it, but, it's not essential, IMO. | |||||
| 6 | Blodwyn Pig | Leave It With Me | Ahead Rings Out | 1969 | Beat Goes On |
| This is the group that guitarist Mick Abrahams formed after leaving Jethro Tull after their first album. It's mostly a jazzed up blues rock often sounding like early Colosseum. There is also some of the Jethro Tull sound. The vocal style even seems to be in imitation of Ian Anderson on several songs. The album is augmented with saxophone giving it a sort of boogie woogie sound. It's good for this style, but, it does not really do much for me. | |||||
| 7 | The Nice | Rondo (69) | The Nice | 1969 | Immediate |
| The Nice's third album. An interesting thing to note is that "The Nice" is the name that the Small Faces were going to be using, but, the people in charge at the Immediate label decided to give that name to Emerson's new band. The Small Faces had already written a song, which appeared on their first album, called "Here Comes the Nice". Anywho - this album shows Emerson borrowing lots of classical and 20th century art music and rockifying it. The music foreshadows ELP somewhat, but, nowhere near as sophisticated or polished. | |||||