Loved your '69 picks! I have just started my own page , Through the Haze, and will be discussing my best of the 60's and was delighted to read your very diverse selections for that year which were spot on in all cases. I'm on board and looking forward to your contributions. I am also a huge Hiatt fan and look forward to finding your book online sometime later today. One of my early college journalism columns was on a Hiatt/Kottke show at Bellingham's Western Wash. Univ. in which Hiatt, the opening act, back in 77/78 literally stole the show. Take care. M. D. Nav
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy the book. I write about that era you're talking about. I didn't get to talk to Kottke (he doesn't do many interviews, if any), but I did speak extensively to his manager/producer at the time.
Hiatt has always presented an incredibly warm stage presence which melts even the most fickle fans hearts. I still have a deep love of both the Bring the Family and Slow Turning work with the Goners.
You mentioned that in 1969, rock FM was just around the corner.
In 1966, Murray the K ( my absolute favorite disc jockey) “debuted on FM radio in 1966 when he became the program director and drive time disc jockey on WOR-FM, 98.7, one of the first FM rock stations.”
His album-sides-only show totally blew my mind, as I followed him from AM 1010 WINS to FM. There was nothing else like it.
A more politically active radio station in the 60’s was WBAI, a non-commercial station that also played full albums but also featured discussions, political content, The Firesign Theater, and massive other craziness. It was a great time for radio!
An excellent selection. If you really want your mind boggled, look at the list of albums released in 1974 - the year Homer Simpson said rock reached its peak. Off the top of my head:
1974 was a high-water mark for rock. A few gems:
Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark. A flawless album from start to finish.
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic. The weirdness starts to show through along with superior musicianship.
Tom Waits - The Heart of Saturday Night. This cassette stayed in my car's player for that entire summer.
Linda Ronstadt - Heart Like a Wheel - Finally with a producer who knew how to showcase her voice.
Randy Newman - Good Old Boys - Newman confounds the critics with his observations of rural whites.
Eagles - On The Border - We all know what happens next
Jackson Browne - Late for the Sky - Which makes an appearance in "Taxi Driver."
Todd Rundgren - Todd - He really was a wizard, a true star
Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs - If you didn't get high while listening to this in your off-campus apartment, consider your life wasted.
Little Feat - Feats Don't Fail Me Now. Steaming funk with wonderfully odd album covers by Neon Park.
Van Morrison - Too Late to Stop Now - One of the greatest live albums ever, and sadly forgotten.
Weather Report - Mysterious Traveller - Brought them into the public eye, for which we are thankful
Santana - Borboletta - After some time spent with John McLaughlin, Carlos shows off his jazz-rock licks.
Wasn't it just wonderful? So grateful I got to live through both the 60's and 70's as a true audiophile kinda guy. Someday that period will be recognized as a true renaissance in its unparallel diversity and prolific output. So glad to take it all in!
Yes to all the above and many others. I've been adding these pieces throughout the year, and I've got a couple more cooking to run before the end of the year, but your list is inarguable, that's for sure. So many of these - hell, all of them - are part of my musical development throughout my life. Agree on all counts! (Too Late to Stop Now will never be forgotten at my house!)
I'm quite happy to have found your 'Stack and look forward to comparing lists. Back before Reddit became a toxic swamp, I did such lists for various years and types of music (country, R&B, etc). I will see if I can find them so we can compare notes. As for Too Late to Stop Now, have you noticed that it NEVER appears on any "Best of" lists? A crying shame.
So many great records on here. Hot Buttered Soul, Abbey Road and Kozmic Blues are definitely among my favourite albums of all time. Isaac's work, especially on that record, is a religious experience. Oh Darling and Kozmic Blues gave me the first itch to sing the blues as a kid. Thanks for a great post!
I was only 6 in 1969 and I was aware of some of the popular music at the time. When I put together my list of Top Ten songs of '69 in retrospect artists like Stevie Wonder, The Fifth Dimension, and The Rolling Stones seem to have come out ahead. I also really liked Sly & the Family Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime," Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Marakesh Express" and Jackie DeShannon's "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." It would be interesting for me go back and listen to complete albums from that year!
Great list, can't disagree with any of your picks and like you say, SO tough to choose just 15. I think the only other year with quite as stunning a release list (in classic rock, anyway) would be 1971.
Excellent assessment of Zep II, and very interesting that you call out "Kozmic Blues" as Janis' best LP - I think you're in the minority on that but I completely concur - I love that record and it's the one I still go to when I feel like hearing Janis. Not sure why it was maligned at the time - "Pearl" had the hits but "Kozmic Blues" had the soul, as far as I'm concerned.
I admit that I did include the caveat "released during her all-too-short life" which would exclude 'Pearl' in this case. However, yes - I'd definitely place Kozmic above Pearl for its sweat and energy alone.
Yea I just had to look that up :) I always associate it with Woodstock because it was recorded right as Woodstock was wrapping up but it didnt get released until 70.
Fantastic piece on a fantastic year for music. Almost laughable scrolling through this thinking "well that's surely the best release in the year" and then next up is From Elvis in Memphis or Abbey Road. What an embarrassment of riches of talent in that Dusty segment, and it's great to see the underappreciated Tony Joe White represented!
An insane amount of music that is still quoted, sampled, argued over, and obsessed about to this day - all compressed into one year! Yes, amen re: Tony Joe! Thanks for reading!
Loved your '69 picks! I have just started my own page , Through the Haze, and will be discussing my best of the 60's and was delighted to read your very diverse selections for that year which were spot on in all cases. I'm on board and looking forward to your contributions. I am also a huge Hiatt fan and look forward to finding your book online sometime later today. One of my early college journalism columns was on a Hiatt/Kottke show at Bellingham's Western Wash. Univ. in which Hiatt, the opening act, back in 77/78 literally stole the show. Take care. M. D. Nav
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy the book. I write about that era you're talking about. I didn't get to talk to Kottke (he doesn't do many interviews, if any), but I did speak extensively to his manager/producer at the time.
Hiatt has always presented an incredibly warm stage presence which melts even the most fickle fans hearts. I still have a deep love of both the Bring the Family and Slow Turning work with the Goners.
Wow! You got a wide spectrum there. Making me revisit things.
I’m doing a play based on the 70s and it starts in 69. It was a wild time. No wonder why the music came out so sporadically and Rich. Thanks.
Thanks, I was not familiar with Tony Joe White and I think he’s great!
Always happy to help folks discover Tony Joe!
You mentioned that in 1969, rock FM was just around the corner.
In 1966, Murray the K ( my absolute favorite disc jockey) “debuted on FM radio in 1966 when he became the program director and drive time disc jockey on WOR-FM, 98.7, one of the first FM rock stations.”
His album-sides-only show totally blew my mind, as I followed him from AM 1010 WINS to FM. There was nothing else like it.
A more politically active radio station in the 60’s was WBAI, a non-commercial station that also played full albums but also featured discussions, political content, The Firesign Theater, and massive other craziness. It was a great time for radio!
Indeed! Murray the K was an absolute legend. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out my ode to rock radio (although more of the AOR ‘70s kind) here: https://www.michael-elliott.com/p/we-quit-doing-rock-wqdr-and-the-death
That link is gold: the decline and fall of great radio, encapsulated.
Your essays bring a lot of emotion my way, remembering the excellent radio formats and the genius segues those brilliant DJs created…
Needless to say I haven’t seriously listened to radio since the late 70s. It’s too painful to sit through.
Love your work. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
An excellent selection. If you really want your mind boggled, look at the list of albums released in 1974 - the year Homer Simpson said rock reached its peak. Off the top of my head:
1974 was a high-water mark for rock. A few gems:
Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark. A flawless album from start to finish.
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic. The weirdness starts to show through along with superior musicianship.
Tom Waits - The Heart of Saturday Night. This cassette stayed in my car's player for that entire summer.
Linda Ronstadt - Heart Like a Wheel - Finally with a producer who knew how to showcase her voice.
Randy Newman - Good Old Boys - Newman confounds the critics with his observations of rural whites.
Eagles - On The Border - We all know what happens next
Jackson Browne - Late for the Sky - Which makes an appearance in "Taxi Driver."
Todd Rundgren - Todd - He really was a wizard, a true star
Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs - If you didn't get high while listening to this in your off-campus apartment, consider your life wasted.
Little Feat - Feats Don't Fail Me Now. Steaming funk with wonderfully odd album covers by Neon Park.
Van Morrison - Too Late to Stop Now - One of the greatest live albums ever, and sadly forgotten.
Weather Report - Mysterious Traveller - Brought them into the public eye, for which we are thankful
Santana - Borboletta - After some time spent with John McLaughlin, Carlos shows off his jazz-rock licks.
Wasn't it just wonderful? So grateful I got to live through both the 60's and 70's as a true audiophile kinda guy. Someday that period will be recognized as a true renaissance in its unparallel diversity and prolific output. So glad to take it all in!
Looks like you did the work for me!
Yes to all the above and many others. I've been adding these pieces throughout the year, and I've got a couple more cooking to run before the end of the year, but your list is inarguable, that's for sure. So many of these - hell, all of them - are part of my musical development throughout my life. Agree on all counts! (Too Late to Stop Now will never be forgotten at my house!)
I'm quite happy to have found your 'Stack and look forward to comparing lists. Back before Reddit became a toxic swamp, I did such lists for various years and types of music (country, R&B, etc). I will see if I can find them so we can compare notes. As for Too Late to Stop Now, have you noticed that it NEVER appears on any "Best of" lists? A crying shame.
Sounds great, and thanks for reading. I agree, it does seem to get overlooked these days. A shame indeed!
Any time I see a list of the best of 1969, I check to see if Elvis is in there. Thanks for remembering.
I used to think the answer was 1971 but looking at this list (and the excellent article) I’m almost convinced otherwise 😀
Many thanks Michael!
So many great records on here. Hot Buttered Soul, Abbey Road and Kozmic Blues are definitely among my favourite albums of all time. Isaac's work, especially on that record, is a religious experience. Oh Darling and Kozmic Blues gave me the first itch to sing the blues as a kid. Thanks for a great post!
Awesome list. I still can remember buying Willie & the Poorboys with my paper route money.
I was only 6 in 1969 and I was aware of some of the popular music at the time. When I put together my list of Top Ten songs of '69 in retrospect artists like Stevie Wonder, The Fifth Dimension, and The Rolling Stones seem to have come out ahead. I also really liked Sly & the Family Stone's "Hot Fun in the Summertime," Crosby, Stills & Nash's "Marakesh Express" and Jackie DeShannon's "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." It would be interesting for me go back and listen to complete albums from that year!
Great list, can't disagree with any of your picks and like you say, SO tough to choose just 15. I think the only other year with quite as stunning a release list (in classic rock, anyway) would be 1971.
Excellent assessment of Zep II, and very interesting that you call out "Kozmic Blues" as Janis' best LP - I think you're in the minority on that but I completely concur - I love that record and it's the one I still go to when I feel like hearing Janis. Not sure why it was maligned at the time - "Pearl" had the hits but "Kozmic Blues" had the soul, as far as I'm concerned.
Happy Woodstock weekend!
I admit that I did include the caveat "released during her all-too-short life" which would exclude 'Pearl' in this case. However, yes - I'd definitely place Kozmic above Pearl for its sweat and energy alone.
In A Silent Way over Bitches Brew ? Interesting choice
IASW definitely led to the exploration of Bitches Brew, but BB was 1970.
Yea I just had to look that up :) I always associate it with Woodstock because it was recorded right as Woodstock was wrapping up but it didnt get released until 70.
Fantastic piece on a fantastic year for music. Almost laughable scrolling through this thinking "well that's surely the best release in the year" and then next up is From Elvis in Memphis or Abbey Road. What an embarrassment of riches of talent in that Dusty segment, and it's great to see the underappreciated Tony Joe White represented!
An insane amount of music that is still quoted, sampled, argued over, and obsessed about to this day - all compressed into one year! Yes, amen re: Tony Joe! Thanks for reading!