What other good were released at the same time as Jimi’s success ?
The albums listed here are generally considered to be the best by the various artists,
others are simply historically relevant or just some of my favourites.
Old timers will find all this damn obvious, youngsters might find it useful.
My recommendations are in bold
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Two great guitarists (Duane Allman and Dicky Betts), two drummers plus Greg Allman’s great vocals
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (1969)
IDLEWIND SOUTH (1970)
Also recommended:
LIVE AT THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL POP FESTIVAL (1970) – released 2003
AT THE FILLMORE EAST (1971)
EAT A PEACH (1972)
BROTHERS AND SISTERS (1973)
THE ANIMALS
ANIMALISM (1966)
The album in the shops when Chas met Jimi.
THE BAND
Bob Dylan’s band do their own thing, with impressive results:
MUSIC FROM BIG PINK (1968)
THE BAND (1969)
SYD BARRETT
After abandoning his Pink Floyd, Syd showed that he still had it in him:
THE MADCAP LAUGHS (1970)
THE BEATLES
REVOLVER (1966)
SGT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND (1967)
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (1967)
THE BEATLES – “white album” (1968)
ABBEY ROAD (1969)
LET IT BE (1970)
PAST MASTERS VOLUME TWO (1965 – 1969) – for essential non-album singles and B sides
All their output is obviously recommended but especially 1965-67 for me.
“The Beatles” (“White Album”) betrayed their loss of direction and their last two
confirmed it (with some wonderful moments along the way).
The greatest of all.
JEFF BECK GROUP
TRUTH (1968)
BECK-OLA (1969)
Two great blues-rock workouts with Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, before Led Zeppelin stole the show.
All Jeff’s albums have stunning moments. I like his mid-seventies jazzy instrumental albums
with George Martin producing: “BLOW BY BLOW” and “WIRED”
and his Gene Vincent’s Blue Caps tribute album “CRAZY LEGS” (don’t overlook Vincent’s superb first two albums though !)
CHUCK BERRY
CHUCK BERRY IN MEMPHIS (1967)
Chuck continued putting out good albums in the late sixties.
His fantastic 50s/early 60s output is a must of course.
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY
Janis Joplin’s first successful band. A bit naff but one or two great moments:
CHEAP THRILLS (1968)
BLIND FAITH
A patchy album from this short-lived group who were one of the first “supergroups”:
Eric Clapton, Stevie Winwood, Ginger Baker and Rick Grech.
BLIND FAITH (1969)
BLOOMFIELD/KOOPER/STILLS
SUPER SESSION (1968)
Some interesting moments here with Mike Bloomfields superb guitar.
They do a version of Howard Tate’s “Stop” which Band Of Gysys would later adopt
BLUES PROJECT
PROJECTIONS (1966)
Al Kooper’s mid sixties band before he formed Blood Sweat And Tears.
The legendary Kooper befriended Jimi in 1966 in New York
and later was invited to play on Electric Ladyland.
DAVID BOWIE
DAVID BOWIE (Deram 1967)
DAVID BOWIE (Mercury 1969) – now called “Space Oddity”
The quirky pop of that first one sounds like a mixture of Anthony Newley (a respected variety artist) and early Pink Floyd or Traffic.
On the second album he began to assert his own style. Simply all of his amazing seventies work is recommended.
NOTE: In 1974 he put out a tribute to his favourite sixties bands as “Pin Ups”
JAMES BROWN
James Brown put out about 25 albums while Jimi was a star !
Pictured is the compilation 1964-1969
FOUNDATIONS OF FUNK
Especially recommended:
IN THE JUNGLE GROOVE
THE BYRDS
The greatest period from their impressive discography:
FIFTH DIMENSION (1966)
YOUNGER THAN YESTERDAY (1967)
NOTORIOUS BYRD BROTHERS (1968)
CACTUS
CACTUS
Not a landmark album but I include it as their guitarist Jim McCarty (previously of Buddy Miles Express)
appeared on the Hendrix jam album Hear My Music (and “Nine To The Universe before that)
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART
SAFE AS MILK (1967) – with Ry Cooder
TROUTMASK REPLICA (1969) – whacky and legendary !
LICK MY DECALS OFF BABY (1970)
Especially recommended:
SPOTLIGHT KID (1971), CLEAR SPOT (1972),
DOC AT THE RADIO STATION (1980) – more accessible than the 69/70 material
RAY CHARLES
Ray was churning out albums in the late 60s.
ERIC CLAPTON
After the Yardbirds, John Mayall, Cream and Blind Faith, Eric collaborated with
Leon Russel and Delaney Bramlett (of Delaney & Bonnie) to produce his first solo album.
ERIC CLAPTON (1970)
Recommended Clapton:
Derek & The Dominoes – LAYLA (1970) – see below
RAINBOW CONCERT (1973)
461 OCEAN BOULEVARD (1974)
UNPLUGGED (1992)
FROM THE CRADLE (1994)
CROSBY STILLS & NASH
CROSBY STILLS & NASH (1969)
One of the first “supergroups” with David Crosby (ex-Byrds), Stephen Stills (ex-Buffalo Springfield) and Graham Nash (ex-Hollies).
CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG
DEJA VU (1970)
Neil Young (also ex-Buffalo Springfield) joins the band.
JOE COCKER
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (1969)
His friends: Jimmy Page, Stevie Winwood …
JOHN COLTRANE
EXPRESSION (1967)
KULU SE MAMA (1968)
OM (1968)
Jimi’s soaring and fluid improvisation is often compared to Coltrane’s playing.
Recommended: GIANT STEPS, COLTRANE, TRANSITION, SUN SHIP, A LOVE SUPREME …
CREAM
The rhythm section of The Graham Bond Oganisation meets Eric Clapton:
FRESH CREAM (1966)
DISREALI GEARS (1967)
WHEELS OF FIRE (1968)
GOODBYE (1969)
THE VERY BEST OF (gives the best overall impression – albums were inconsistent)
+ BBC SESSIONS – My favourite
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL
Songs, vocals and lead guitar by John Fogerty on a brace of fantastic albums:
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (1968)
BAYOU COUNTRY (1969)
GREEN RIVER (1969)
WILLY AND THE POOR BOYS (1970)
COSMOS FACTORY BAYOU COUNTRY (197O)
MILES DAVIS
Is that jazz ? Is that rock ? Miles goes electric.
MILES IN THE SKY (1968)
FILLES DE KILIMANJARO 51968°
IN A SILENT WAY (1969)
BITCH’S BREW (1970)
Also recommended: pretty well everything before this “jazz-rock” period, then:
JACK JOHNSON (1971), ON THE CORNER (1972)
+ WE WANT MILES (1981) – with the great Mike Stern on guitar
THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
Boy wonder Stevie Winwood’s first appearance.
Any good “BEST OF” for the essential singles.
DEEP PURPLE
SHADES OF DEEP PULE (1968)
BOOK OF OF TALYSEN (1968)
DEEP PUPLE (1969)
DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK (1970)
Also considered their best:
MACHINE HEAD (1972), MADE IN JAPAN (1972)
DEREK AND THE DOMINOES
LAYLA & OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS (1970)
After Blind Faith, Eric Clapton teamed up with the Delaney & Bonnie’s backing band,
Duane Allman joined them, resulting in classic “Layla” album.
This was released shortly after Jimi’s death and it includes their version of “Little Wing”.
NOTE – The boxed remaster contains an interesting CD of instrumental jams !
Also:
LIVE AT THE FILLMORE (1994)
Recorded in October 1970 and this collection contains the tracks from the 1973 release “In Concert” and the “Crossroads” box set.
DILLARD & CLARK
THE FANTASTIC EXPEDITION OF DILLARD & CLARK (1968)
When Gene Clark split from The Byrds, he teamed up with Doug Dillard
to deliver this excellent country/folk/rock album.
THE DOORS
Just get everything (except “Other Voices” – without Morrison)
DR JOHN
GRIS GRIS (1968)
BABYLON (1969)
BOB DYLAN
All his sixties output is obviously so important. My particular favourites:
BOB DYLAN (1962)
FREEWHEELIN (1963)
NASHVILLE SKYLINE (1969)
Also recommended: “Desire”, “Blood On The tracks”, “Infidels”, “Oh Mercy”.
JOHN FAHEY
DAYS HAVE GONE BY (1967)
DEATH CHANTS, BREAKDOWNS AND MILITARY WALTZES (1967)
THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE (1968)
THE YELLOW PRINCESS (1968)
Don’t overlook this Hendrix of the acoustic guitar.
Just a few here from his prolific output.
(Peter Green’s) FLEETWOOD MAC
Before they became a cute FM soft-rock outfit, The Mac were a superb blues-rock combo lead by
the brilliant guitarist, singer and songwriter Peter Green.
FLEETWOOD MAC (1968) – dustbin cover
THEN PLAY ON (1969)
Also:
THE ORIGINAL FLEETWOOD MAC (recorded in 1967)
SHRINE ’69
BOSTON BLUES (Live in 1970)
GREATEST HITS (the British version with “Green Manalishi”, “Oh Well” and “Man Of The World” etc. is the best)
+ Peter Green’s THE END OF THE GAME (1970)
ARETHA FRANKLIN
Any good compilation of her incredible late sixties and early seventies work.
If not collect all her sixties albums (her fantastic Atlantic albums 1967-1970 are shown).
FREE
with the late and great Paul Kossoff on guitar.
The excellent singer Paul Rodgers went on to form the very successful Bad Company.
TONS OF SOBS (1968)
FREE (1968)
FIRE AND WATER (1970)
FREE LIVE (1971) – recorded 1970
FUNKADELIC
FUNKADELIC (1969)
FREE YOUR MIND (AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW) (1970)
George Clinton’s great early work, heavily influenced by Hendrix (Eddie Hazel’s guitar), James Brown and Sly Stone.
All their (and Parliament) 70s work is great.
MARVIN GAYE
THE MOODS OF MARVIN GAYE (1966)
IN THE GROOVE (U.K. – I HEARD I THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE) (1968)
M.P.G. (1969)
THAT’S THE WAY LOVE IS (1970)
All his 60s/70s work is terrific.
Also recommended:
WHAT’S GOIN ON (1971)
LET’S GET IT ON (1973)
I WANT YOU (1976)
HERE MY DEAR (1978)
IN OUR LIFETIME (1981)
GRATEFUL DEAD
Psychedelic, folk, bluegrass, country or blues – with style, plus Jerry Garcia’s wonderful guitar.
THE GRATEFUL DEAD (1967)
LIVE DEAD (1970) – If only for “Dark Star”
WORKING MAN’S DEAD (1970)
Also recommended:
AMERICAN BEAUTY (1970) GRATEFUL DEAD (Live 1971), EUROPE 72 (Live 1972)
PETER GREEN
THE END OF THE GAME (1970)
Recorded while Jimi was on his last U.S. tour (but released at the end of the year),
this brilliant guitar exploration album was recorded by Peter just after he left Fleetwood Mac.
Lot’s of beautiful and blistering guitar from Greeny, which are almost like meditations.
Jimi would’ve been very much at home jamming on this one.
GROUNDHOGS
Not a major group, but I liked them a lot in the early 70s. Tony McPhee !
SCRATCHING THE SURFACE (1968)
BLUES OBITUARY (1969)
THANK CRIST FOR THE BOMB (1970)
Recommended:
SPLIT (1971)
GUN
GUN (1968)
This album featured the group’s international hit Race With The Devil
which Jimi liked so much that he incorporated the lead riff into Midnight Lightning.
JOHN HAMMOND (Jnr)
MIRRORS (1967)
I CAN TELL (1967)
Hammond was making blues albums since the early sixties.
He teamed up briefly with the unknown Jimi in mid 1966, helping him get noticed.
Jimi was a big fan of his 1965 album So Many Roads (with Robbie Robertson on guitar).
HANSSON AND KARLSSON
MONUMENT (1967)
This album featured “Tax Free” which Jimi covered with The Experience.
ALEX HARVEY
ROMAN WALL BLUES (1968)
After his early 60s Soul Band, the late great Alex Harvey put this together and later enjoyed much success as The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Recommended:
FRAMED (1972)
NEXT (1973)
LIVE (1975)
JOHN LEE HOOKER
LIVE AT THE CAFÉ A GO GO (1967)
Just one shown here from his essential discography.
HOT TUNA
HOT TUNA (1970)
Jorma Kaukonen (guitar) and Jack Casady (bass) took a break from Jefferson AIrplane
to make a series of terrific acoustic then electric albums.
JETHRO TULL
Immensely successful in the seventies with their clever blend of folk rock, their earlier albums were closer to the blues:
THIS WAS (1968)
STAND UP (1969)
Also recommended:
AQUALUNG (1971)
I GOT DEM OL’ KOZMIC BLUES AGAIN MAMA (1969)
PEARL (1971)
Janis breaks away from Big Brother to do her own thing.
Some great moments here. “Pearl” was released posthumously.
ALBERT KING
BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN (1967)
Many other of his albums are worth checking out
B.B. KING
BLUES IS KING (1967)
COMPLETELY WELL (1969)
Also recommended:
LIVE AT THE REGAL (1965)
amongst his many great albums
FREDDIE KING
FREDDIE KING IS A BLUES MASTER (1969)
MY FEELING FOR THE BLUES (1970)
Also recommended:
BURGLAR (1974)
perhaps my favourite blues album of all time.
THE KINKS
Ray Davis is God.
FACE T FACE (1966)
SOMETHING ELSE FROM THE KINKS (1967)
THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY (1968)
ARTHUR OR THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (1969)
plus any thorough BEST OF (there are dozens around – for the early killer singles)
KING CRIMSON
IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING (1969)
I’m no a prog fan but King Crimson did feature the impressive guitarist Robert Fripp who knocked me out with his work with Bowie and Eno in the seventies.
LED ZEPPELIN
After Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Jeff Beck Group and Fleetwood Mac, what else was there to add?
Led bloody Zeppelin, that’s what !
LED ZEPPELIN (1969)
LED ZEPPELIN II (1969)
Also recommended:
all the rest (only In Through The Outdoor and parts of Coda might disappoint).
LOVE
FOREVER CHANGES (1967)
Arthur Lee was an old friend of Jimi’s. This album is considered a classic.
HARVEY MANDEL
CRISTO REDENTO (1968)
An incredible guitar instrumental album for its time! Easily the best guitar album of the year with Electric Ladyland.
CURTIS MAYFIELD
CURTIS (1970)
Especially recommended:
ROOTS (1971)
CURTIS LIVE (1971),
SUPERFLY (1972)
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE AMERICA TODAY (1975)
JOHN MAYALL
A HARD ROAD – with Peter Green (1966)
BLUES FROM LAUREL CANYON – with Mick Taylor (1969)
Also recommended:
BLUES BREAKERS – with Eric Clapton (1965)
MC5
KICK OUT THE JAMS (1969)
Also recommended :
HIGH TIME (1971)
JOHN McLAUGHLIN
EXTRAPOLATION (1969)
DEVOTION (1970)
BUDDY MILES
EXPRESSWAY TO YOUR SKULL (1968)
ELECTRIC CHURCH (1969)
THEM CHANGES (1970)
WE GOTTA LIVE TOGETHER (1970)
The albums Miles made after he left The Electric Flag. Jimi wrote the sleeve notes for the first one and produced some of the second.
The other two came out the same year as “Band Of Gypsys”.
These are not necessarily recommended albums, but of obvious historical relevance to this site.
THE MONKEES
The fabricated 60’s boys band with whom The Experience briefly toured in 1967.
The Monkees were hilarious on their own TV series and their repertoire featured songs written by the likes of Carol King and Gerry Goffin,
Neil Sedaka, Harry Neilsson and Niel Diamond. They also went on to write and perform their own material.
VAN MORRISON
ASTRAL WEEKS (1968)
MOONDANCE (1970)
aAstral Weeks was a stunning album and, like “Electric Ladyland”, so sophisticated for it’s time. Moondance was the classy follow-up.
Also recommended:
a good compilation of his work with Them (“Gloria”, “Here Comes The Night”, …)
PINK FLOYD
PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN (1967) – with the great Syd Barrett
A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS (1968) – has one track with Syd
SOUNDTRACK FROM THE FILM “MORE” (1969)
UMMAGUMMA (1969) – Live and studio
Also recommended :
MEDDLE (1971)
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON (1973)
WISH YOU WERE HERE (1976)
ELVIS PRESLEY
FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS (1969)
A little kitsch but his real comeback as a recording artist after the awful Hollywood years.
Also recommended :
THE SUN SESSIONS (1955/56), ELVIS PRESLEY (1956),
ELVIS (1956), ELVIS’ GOLDEN RECORDS (1958),
TIGER MAN (1968) – released in the 90s, it’s the intimate “unplugged” jam from the ’68 TV comeback special
QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE
HAPPY TRAILS (1969)
With the great John Cippolina on guitar.
OTIS REDDING
OTIS BLUE (1966)
THE DOCK OF THE BAY (1968)
What his gruff voice lacked in range he made up with tons of emotion
SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES
Grab any thorough compilation of their incredible sixties work.
The amazing Smokey also wrote and produced many Temptations hits.
THE ROLLING STONES
AFERMATH (1966)
BETWEEN THE BUTTONS (1967)
THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST (1967)
BEGGARS BANQUET (1968)
LET IT BLEED (1969)
GET YOUR YA YAS OUT (1969) – their best live album
Also recommended:
All their 60s albums in fact, especially the earliest.
THROUGH THE PAST DARKLY (for the essential non-album singles “Jumpin Jack Flash” and “Honky Tonk Women”)
STICKY FINGERS (1970),
EXILE ON MAIN STREET (1972)
BLACK AND BLUE (1976),
SOME GIRLS (1978),
TATTOO YOU (1981)
STRIPPED (1995)
SANTANA
MCMLVII – The 1968 Pacific Recording Studio tapes where Carlos goes wild – available under many titles
SANTANA – (1969)
ABRAXAS – (1970 – released 5 days after Jimi’s death)
Also recommended :
LIVE AT THE FILLMORE 1968 (1997)
SANTANA III – (1971)
CARAVANSERAI (1972)
LOTUS (1974)
NINA SIMONE
WILD IS THE WIND (1966)
SILK & SOUL (1967)
NUFF SAID (1968)
Just a few shown here from her wonderful discography.
FRANK SINATRA
FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA & ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIN (1967)
Just one shown from this very active period.
Recommended:
all his work in the fifties on Capitol Records.
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
A WHOLE NEW THING (1967)
DANCE TO THE MUSIC (1968)
LIFE (1968)
STAND! (1969)
Recommended: THE BEST OF SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE
THE SMALL FACES
SMALL FACES (1966) – Their debut on Decca.
SMALL FACES (1967) – the first Immediate album – their best
OGDENS NUT GONE FLAKE (1968) – despite some annoying narration.
Also:
THE DECCA ANTHOLOGY – Essential early recordings here up to 1967
SOFT MACHINE
THE SOFT MACHINE (1969)
VOLUME TWO (1969)
THIRD (1970)
SPIRIT
SPIRIT (1968)
THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER (1968)
CLEAR (1969)
THE TWELVE DREAMS OF DR SARDONICUS (1970)
One of the best American bands of the sixties, each of these albums by the original
group is superb and the last one there is one of the greatest rock albums of all time.
Also recommended: SPIRIT OF ’76 (1975)
and Randy California’s KAPT COPTER & THE FABULOUS TWIRLY BIRDS (1972)
(Noel Redding participates on that album under the pseudonyme of Clit McTorius !)
ROD STEWART
After The Jeff Beck Group, Rod made some great rock albums during his stint with The Faces:
AN OLD RAINCOAT WON’T EVER LET YOU DOWN (1969)
GASOLINE ALLEY (1970)
Also recommended:
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY (1971),
NEVER A DULL MOMENT (1972)
GOOD BOYS, WHEN THEY’RE ASLEEP – Compilation of his work with The Faces
STEPHEN STILLS
STEPHEN STILLS (1970)
Especially recommended:
MANASSAS (1972)
THE STOOGES
THE STOOGES (1969)
FUN HOUSE (1970)
Also recommended:
RAW POWER (73) (Iggy’s ’97 Mix on vinyl )
KILL CITY (78) – with ex-Stooge James Williamson,
plus Iggy’s own albums:
THE IDIOT and LUST FOR LIFE – with Bowie in 1977,
NEW VALUES (79) – my favourite – with Williamson again,
SOLDIER (1980) – with Glen Matlock (Pistols) and Ivan Kraal (Patti Smith)
ZOMBIE BIRDHOUSE (1982) – with Chris Stein and Clem Burke (Blondie)
INSTINCT (1988) – with Steve Jones (Pistols)
LIVE AT THE CHANNEL, BOSTON (Also released as King Biscuit Flower Hour “(88) with an impressive Andy McCoy (Hanoi Rocks)
BRICK BY BRICK (1990) and AMERICAN CAESAR (1993) have their moments.
POST POP DEPRESSION (2016)
THE SUPREMES
Any good compilation (featuring “Love Child”, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” … ).
TASTE
TASTE (1969)
ON THE BOARDS (1970)
Again, not a major act, but I was a big Rory Gallagher fan.
Also recommened by Rory solo:
DEUCE (1971)
LIVE IN EUROPE (1972)
THE TEMPTATIONS
CLOUD 9 (1969)
PUZZLE PEOPLE (1969)
PSYCHEDELIC SHACK (1970)
Recommended:
Any definitive 2CD collection/best of and the compilation:
PSYCHEDELIC SOUL
TEN YEARS AFTER
TEN YEARS AFTER (1967)
UNDEAD (live 1968)
STONEDHENGE (1969)
SSSSH (1969)
CRICKLEWOOD GREEN (1969)
Also:
A SPACE IN TIME (1971)
TRAFFIC
MR FANTASY (1967)
TRAFFIC (1968)
LAST EXIT (1969)
JOHN BARLEYCORN MUST DIE (1970)
After The Spencer Davies Group, Stevie Winwood’s legendary band with Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason and Chris Wood.
Jimi loved Traffic and invited Winwood and Wood to play on “Electric Ladyland” and on what became “Cry Of Love”.
Mason and Wood jammed with the Experience at the second 1969 Albert Hall concert and Jimi covered “Dear Mr. Fantasy” at least twice in concert.It was even said that at one point, Jimi wanted Winwood to join the Experience !
THE TROGGS
FROM NOWHERE (1966)
This one had their hit “Wild Thing”.
THE WAILERS
SOUL REBELS (1970)
Here comes the mighty Bob Marley. Produced by the great Lee Perry
Also recommended:
CATCH A FIRE (1973)
BURNIN (1973)
plus, as Bob Marley And The Wailers (without Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer*) :
NATTY DREAD (1974)
LIVE (Lyceum -1975)
RASTAMAN VIBRATIONS (1976) – my favourite
EXODUS (1977)
*His ROCK AND GROOVE” album is great
JUNIOR WALKER & THE ALLSTARS
A good “BEST OF” to discover this great and often overlooked Motown band
MUDDY WATERS
BRASS AND BLUES (1967)
FATHERS AND SONS (1969)
LIVE IN PARIS (1970)
These are considered his best late sixties albums. Not up to his classic 1940’s/50s work of course
Also :
HARD AGAIN (1977) – with Johnny Winter
THE WHO
A QUICK ONE (1966)
THE WHO SELL OUT (1967)
TOMMY (1968)
LIVE AT LEEDS (1970)*
Also recommended:
MY GENERATION (1965),
WHO’S NEXT (1971)
THE VERY BEST OF (again, for essential non-album singles),
ODDS & SODS (non album tracks),
* The original with just a few tracks was far more impressive than the expanded CD of today !
JOHNNY WINTER
My favourite white bluesman. A great singer, full of humour, and what a guitarist.
JOHNNY WINTER (1969)
SECOND WINTER (1970)
Also recommended: JOHNNY WINTER AND LIVE (1971) – with Rick Derringer.
His nineties albums “LET ME IN” and “HEY WHERE’S YOUR BROTHER” are superb.
STEVIE WONDER
UPTIGHT (1966)
DOWN TO EARTH (1966)
I WAS MADE TO LOVE HER (1967)
FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE (1968)
MY CHERIE AMOUR (1969)
SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED (1970)
His 70s albums are terrific too, especially:
INNERVISIONS (1973)
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE (1976)
NEIL YOUNG
EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE (1969)
AFTER THE GOLDRUSH (1970 – released the day after Jimi died)
Also recommended:
just everything except some of his eighties output perhaps.
Such a great singer-songwriter and an amazing acoustic and electric guitarist with a unique style.
Check out Allmusic for a guide to his best work.
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND AND NICO (1967)
WHITE LIGHT WHITE HEAT (1967)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND (1969)
LOADED (1970)
Also:
VU (1967-1969)
ANOTHER VIEW (1968-1969)
Plus Lou Reed’s amazing solo work. Too many great albums to list here so check out the guide at Allmusic
THE YARDBIRDS
Get any good “BEST OF” covering all periods with Clapton, Beck or Page.
and LIVE YARDBIRDS featuring Jimmy Page
recorded 1968 Anderson Theater
ZZ TOP
1ST ALBUM (1970)
Jimi was very impressed by Billy Gibbons who had even supported The Experience in 1968, as part of The Moving Sidewalks.
All their 70s albums are recommended plus Eliminator, Antenna and La Futura.
FRANK ZAPPA
Of his early work I prefer these less zany albums:
HOT RATS (1970)
BURNT WEENIE SANDWICH (197O)
Also recommended:
CHUNGA’S REVENGE (1970), WAKA JAWAKA (1972), THE GRAND WAZOO (1972), OVERNIGHT SENSATION (1973),
APOSTROPHE (1974), ONE SIZE FITS ALL (1975)
Guitar freaks should also check out all his incredible instrumental albums:
SHUT UP AND PLAY YOUR GUITAR, GUITAR and TRANCE-FUSION
THE ZOMBIES
Almost forgot to include this band which featured Rod Argent and the incredible voice of Colin Blunstone.
This is considered a classic.
ODYSSEY AND ORACLE (1968)
Recommended by Colin Blunstone:
ONE YEAR (1971)
ENNISMORE (1972)
_________________________________________
For different opinions, further information and ideas check out these great sites:
Wilson & Alroys Record Reviews
Lest we forget, here is a list of other artists who were active in the same epoch (or who appeared in 1970):
THE AMBOY DUKES (with Ted Nugent)
AMON DUUL
ARGENT
ATOMIC ROOSTER
BRIAN AUGER
KEVIN AYERS (ex Soft Machine)
BADFINGER
BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST
JOAN BAEZ
THE BEACH BOYS
BLODWYN PIG
BLUE CHEER
BONZO DOG (DOO DAH) BAND
BREAD
BRINZLEY SWARTZ
ARTHUR BROWN
TIM BUCKLEY
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
PAUL BUTERFIELD BLUES BAND
CAN
CANNED HEAT
CARAVAN
CARPENTERS
CHICAGO (TRANSIT AUTHORITY)
CHICHEN SHACK
CLIMAX BLUES BAND
LEANARD COHEN
COLOSSEUM
JUDY COLLINS
ALICE COOPER
CURVED AIR
DELANEY AND BONNIE
NIEL DIAMOND
DONOVAN
EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND
ELECTRIC FLAG
EGG
EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER
THE FACES
FAIRPORT CONVENTION
FAMILY
FANNY
CHRIS FARLOWE
FIFTH DIMENSION
FLAMIN’ GROOVIES
FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS
GENESIS
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
ARLO GUTHRIE
TIM HARDIN
ROY HARPER
RICHIE HAVENS
HAWKWIND
THE HOLLIES
HUMBLE PIE
JANIS IAN
IF
THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND
ITS A BEAUTIFUL DAY
JAMES GANG
BERT JANSCH
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
ELTON JOHN
CAROL KING
AL KOOPER
GORDON LIGHTFOOT
LOVE SCULPTURE
TAJ MAHAL
LOVIN SPOONFUL
MAMAS AND THE PAPAS
MAN
MANFRED MANN
JOHN MARTYN
RALPH McTELL
MEDICINE HEAD
MELANIE
STEVE MILLER BAND
JONI MITCHELL
MOBY GRAPE
THE MONKEES
THE MOODY BLUES
MOTT THE HOOPLE
MOUNTAIN
THE MOVE
RANDY NEWMAN
NICE
NICO
HARRY NILSSON
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND
LAURA NYRO
PHIL OCHS
TOM PAXTON
PENTANGLE
POCO
BILLY PRESTON
PRETTY THINGS
PROCUL HAREM
THE RASCALS
RENAISSANCE
RHINOCEROS
TERRY RILEY
LINDA RONSTADT
TIM ROSE
TOD RUNDGREN
LEON RUSSELL
SAVOY BROWN
JOHN SEBASTIEN
SHA NA NA
SIMON & GARFUNKEL
SLADE
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE
SONNY AND CHER
SPOOKY TOOTH
THE STAPLE SINGERS
STATUS QUO
STEPPENWOLF
STEELEYE SPAN
CAT STEVENS
AL STEWART
STONE THE CROWS
SUPERTRAMP
SCREAMING LORD SUCH
THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
TANGERINE DREAM
JAMES TAYLOR
THREE DOG NIGHT
THE TURTLES
TYRANNOSAURUS REX (T REX)
UNITES STATES OF AMERICA
URIAH HEEP
VAN DER GRAFF GENERATOR
VANILLA FUDGE
WAR
WEATHER REPORT
TONY JOE WHITE
PAUL WILLIAMS
EDGAR WINTER
WISHBONE ASH
YES
THE YOUNGBLOODS