Greatest year for rock and roll. 1969?

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by loose cannon

All the songs on that chart are great. What a great time to be of age!

One thing about the late 60's that jumps out here are the volume of record companies and their labels. Over the last couple decades the big dogs are still WEA (Warner Elektra Atlantic), Columbia, RCA, Capitol, Reprise, and a couple others.

The list of record labels from the late 60's are endless: MGM, International Artists, Mainstream, Mala, Bell, ESP, Jamie, Cotillion, Buddah, Deram, Kapp, Epic, Dunhill, Tower, Roulette, Mercury, Chess, Checker, nasco, Argo, Teardrop, Dot, Abnak, Deram, London, Revue, Dolton, Ace, Big Tree, Bluesway, Cameo, Parkway, Vee Jay, Philly Groove, Phila of Soul, Parrot, Verve, Probe, Vanguard, Jewel, Arhoolie, Fontana, Uni, Hip, Sun, ECM, Sire, Philips, World Pacific, Dooto, Straight, Liberty, TRX, Romar, Amazon, Clarion, Colgems, End, Duke, Gordy, Fantasy, Harvest, Imperial, Minit, Modern, Smash, Sue, Tempo, Tampa, Laurie, Coral, Brunswick, Savoy, King, Impulse, Aladdin, and most likely dozens more. And included of course are the aforementioned bigger labels.

Folk, bluegrass, EZ listening, country, soul, and other genres would be represented in the top 40 regional charts. And those charts would change from week to week. If you named a label the genre of music would connect; Motown (soul)-International Artists (Texas psychedelic groups aplenty) 45's at that time were 59 cents plus tax, if you waited a year you could purchase a ten pack of 45's at your discount store (Woolco or Woolworths), clothing store (Penney's), or your standard department store (Montgomery Wards and Sears.) for 99 cents. Albums at that time were $3.99 for new releases. Albums that were sent back to the distributors were repackaged and sent back to discount houses and sold for 99 cents, then 49 cents. And then there were the standard variety mom and pop store where in most cases you could listen to the record before you bought it (seriously!)

A great time to be of age? With me it was!

[LRUA]

Originally Posted by Charles

I was just thinking of this this morning. I was thinking how good the music was in the early 70s (71-74) and why. It was a couple years after music ventured out of set parameters, it became more unconventional (less dance music, less pop) and more experimental, less romantic themes. A lot of bands produced their best work Zep, Floyd and progressive rock bands (Genesis, Yes, ELP, Tull, etc) were at their peaks. It seems around 1975 music became more "commercial".

Of course, this could be my perception. I was born in 1961 so naturally, the early 70s is when I was transitioning to teen years and becoming more interested in the outside culture and music of the times.

Early 70s were great, something happened around mid 70s music quality declined.

1971 could be the peak, if I had to pick only one year it would be 1971

Just checking my albums, I came up with a list of just some 1971 tunes some of you might remember,

Won't Get Fooled Again -The Who
Behind Blue Eyes - The Who
Bargain - The Who
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul McCartney
Another Day - Paul McCartney
Tell Mama - Savoy Brown
American Pie - Don McLean
Vincent - Don McLean
LA Woman - The Doors
Riders on the Storm - The Doors
Imagine - John Lennon
Jealous Guy - John Lennon
Changes - David Bowie
Life on Mars? - David Bowie
One of these Days - Pink Floyd
Echoes - Pink Floyd
Maggie May - Rod Stewart
Coz I Love You - Slade
Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Going To California - Led Zeppelin
Stone Cold Fever - Humble Pie
I Don't Need No Doctor - Humble Pie
Aqualung - Jethro Tull
Wond'ring Aloud - Jethro Tull
Starship Trooper - Yes
I've Seen All Good People - Yes
Roundabout - Yes
Heart of the Sunrise - Yes
Under My Wheels - Alice Cooper
Ballad of Dwight Frye - Alice Cooper
Strange Kind of Woman - Deep Purple
It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones
Stay With Me - The Faces
Be My Friend - Free
Country Roads - John Denver
Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver
Sweet Hitch Hiker - CCR
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Bee Gees
She's a Lady - Tom Jones
Theme From Shaft - Isaac Hayes
Do I Love You - Paul Anka
Surf's Up - The Beach Boys
Bang A Gong (Get It On) - T.Rex
Without You - Nilsson
Carey - Joni Mitchell
California - Joni Mitchell
My Size - John Entwistle
Into the Void - Black Sabbath
Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath
Fast Train - April Wine
I'd Love to Change the World - Ten Years After
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Levon - Elton John
The Story In Your Eyes - The Moody Blues
Witch Queen of New Orleans - Redbone
Day After Day - Badfinger
Playing In the Band - Grateful Dead
Life Is a Carnival - The Band
Rainy days and Mondays - The Carpenters
Superstar - The Carpenters
Baby I'm a Want You - Bread
If - Bread
20th Century Man - The Kinks
Oklahoma USA - The Kinks
Angel - Jimi Hendrix
Me and Bobby Mcgee - Janis Joplin
Indian Reservation - The Raiders
Evil Grows - Poppy Family
Albert Flasher - The Guess Who
Raindance - The Guess Who
Carry Me - The Stampeders
Sweet City Woman - The Stampeders
Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
Never Been to Spain - Three Dog Night
IF you Really Love Me - Stevie Wonder
Peace Train - Cat Stevens
Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens
It's Too Late - Carole King
Potter - Supertramp
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
You Can Close Your Eyes - James Taylor
Anticipation - Carly Simon
That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - Carly Simon
Silverspoon - Kantner/Slick
Walk Away - The James Gang
Sunshine - Jonathan Edwards
Signs - Five Man Electrical Band
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
If Not For You - Olivia Newton-John
When You're Hot, You're Hot - Jerry Reed
What's Goin' On - Marvin Gaye
Mercy Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye
Do You Know What I Mean - Lee Michaels
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Draggin' the Line - Tommy James

[MaryD7times77]

I was only 9 years old in 1969 but i could feel the music vibe new and exploding on the scene. Like the dawning of the age of aquarius or something.I could feel the change in the atmosphere. The excitment of new music and the hippie generation.a whole new genre of expression and the young talented rockers who were expressing it.Not our parents music.I remember someone had scrawled 1969 in huge numbers on our driveway in chalk and i knew it was a wonderous gateway year into rock. I just knew.And it was so exciting And i was only 9.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by biggunsmallbrains

Beatles - Abbey Road
Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed
Beach Boys - 20/20
Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline
Cream - Goodbye
Greatful Dead - Live/Dead
King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimsom King - debut
Allman Bros. - debut
Crosby, Stills & Nash - debut
Led Zeppelin - debut
Black Sabbath - debut
Yes - debut
The Stooges - debut
Frank Zappa - Uncle Meat, & Hot Rats
Johnny Winter - debut, Second Winter, & Progressive Blues Experiment
Santana - debut
The Who - Tommy
Deep Purple - Deep Purple
Led Zeppelin II

This is just some of the great rock music that came out that year. Not to mention Hendrix was still performing and recording even if he didn't drop an album that year...remember Woodstock? Probably not if you were there.

Yes all excellent.......but how about

TEN YEARS AFTER - Ssssh (June 1969) -- Extremely awesome!!!!!! (I just got the record the other day)

[chadgates]

Originally Posted by Dude111

Yes all excellent.......but how about

TEN YEARS AFTER - Ssssh (June 1969) -- Extremely awesome!!!!!! (I just got the record the other day)

Very good and under appreciated album! (and band for that matter).

[rdanielsjr10]

I would lean towards 1994 being the best.

Tori Amos, "Under the Pink"
Smashing Pumpkins, 'Pisces Iscariot'
Stone Temple Pilots, 'Purple'
Oasis, 'Definitely Maybe'
R.E.M., 'Monster'
Alice in Chains, 'Jar of Flies EP'
Pearl Jam, 'Vitalogy'
Soundgarden, 'Superunknown'
Nirvana, 'MTV Unplugged in New York'
Jeff Buckley, 'Grace'
Nine Inch Nails, 'The Downward Spiral'
Portishead, 'Dummy"
Dave Matthews Band, Under the Table and Dreaming
Green Day, Dookie
Beastie Boys, Ill Communication
Beck, Mellow Gold
Hole, Live Through This
Live, Throwing Copper
Bad Religion, Stranger Than Fiction
Black Crowes, Amorica
Bush, Sixteen Stone
Dream Theater, Awake
Marilyn Manson, Portrait Of An American Family
Pantera, Far Beyond Driven
Pink Floyd, The Division Bell
Rolling Stones, Voodoo Lounge
Sonic Youth, Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star
Tom Petty, Wildflowers
Weezer, Weezer (Blue Album)
Black Sabbath, Cross Purposes
Eric Clapton, From the Cradle

[Dude111]

YUK.... Probably all digital!!