Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks 1964-1971

The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks 1964-1971. London Records, 1971 (1986 reissue).

Simply put, the Rolling Stones are probably the greatest rock band ever. They're not my favorite, and maybe not the "best," whatever that may mean, but in terms of longevity and influence and what they have accomplished, I think they are near if not at the top of the list. This is easily one of the best greatest hits albums ever produced, a two LP set where every song is a classic. It includes my two favorite Stones songs, "Gimme Shelter" and "Paint It, Black." I spin this one regularly because it's just so good.

Other notable albums from 1971:
Alice Cooper - Love it to Death
Roberta Flack - Quiet Fire

Aretha Franklin - This Girl's In Love With You

Aretha Franklin - This Girl's In Love With You. Atlantic Records, 1970.

Aretha. The Queen of Soul. An artist that only needs to be called by her first name or her nickname and everyone knows who you're talking about. One of the greatest voices in music history, and an absolute legend. Sadly the Queen left this world in August of last year but her legacy lives on. This album was a thrift store pickup, and as you can see, the sleeve has seen better days. The vinyl is just fine, though. There are some great songs on here that showcase her range - the classic "Son of a Preacher Man," two Beatles covers of "Let it Be" and "Eleanor Rigby," and a cover of the Band's classic "The Weight" highlight the album. Her backing band on this album is the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, immortalized by Lynyrd Skynyrd as "The Swampers." Duane Allman also plays guitar on several tracks. I love this album, and certainly need more Aretha in my collection.

Other notable albums from 1970:
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
James Gang - James Gang Rides Again

David Bowie - Space Oddity

David Bowie - Space Oddity. Parlophone Records, 2015 Reissue (originally released on Philips in 1969)

Sadly this is the only Bowie record in my collection (well, I suppose that's not entirely true, I do have the soundtrack to Labyrinth); original pressings are hard to find and expensive, and newer reissues aren't cheap either. This is his second album and where I felt was a good place to start in beginning a Bowie collection. Originally released in the UK as a self-titled album, it was later released in the US the same year as Man of Words/Man of Music, and in 1972 was reissued with the title Space Oddity.

The title track is one of the most well-known songs in rock history, with those famous first words, "Ground control to Major Tom..." The rest of the album is vintage Bowie - he never got too entrenched in one style of music or one style of clothing for too long. He constantly reinvented himself over the course of his career and left too soon in 2016 after a battle with liver cancer that he never made public. His death came as a shock as most of the world did not know he was sick. He truly is a rock icon and legend.

Other notable albums from 1969:
Santana - Santana
Johnny Winter - Johnny Winter
Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River

Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. Columbia Records, 1968.

This was Johnny Cash's first live album from inside the walls of a prison, and one of the best live albums of all time. This is Cash at his best. He initially became interested in Folsom State Prison (California) after watching a film about the prison while serving in the Air Force. He then wrote the song "Folsom Prison Blues," which became one of his first hits. Cash had played in prisons prior to Folsom, but had never recorded the shows. After Folsom, he also recorded shows at San Quentin (also in California), a prison in Sweden, and the Tennessee State Prison.

This album came from my parents' collection and is widely considered one of the most important albums of all time. If you've never listened to Johnny Cash, there isn't a better place to start than right here.

Other notable albums from 1968:
Simon and Garfunkel - The Graduate Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Steppenwolf - The Second
Aretha Franklin - Aretha in Paris

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. Columbia Records, 1967.

It took me awhile to appreciate Bob Dylan. I've always understood his significance and his genius as a songwriter, but for whatever reason I didn't really listen to his music. It may have been his voice, or that his music was too slow and folky (there was a time in my life where I only wanted to listen to music that was heavy and fast). As time has gone by I have learned to love his music - perhaps the greatest of the American songwriters. This compilation album has some of his biggest songs: "Blowin' In the Wind," "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "Like a Rolling Stone," and more. He was the voice of a changing generation, and I can only imagine the feelings a teenager experienced listening to "The Times They Are A-Changin'." For that matter, I can only imagine the feelings a parent experienced listening to that song. It so perfectly sums up the distance between generations during the turbulence of the 1960s. His incredible songs have been covered by countless artists, none better in my opinion than Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower."

This album was purchased at Charley's 33s & CDs in Albuquerque, a fun little record store a few miles from the UNM campus. They didn't have the greatest selection of records, but I've been able to pick up a few good ones the few times I've been there.

This copy even came with the original poster:

Other notable albums from 1967:
Glen Campbell - By The Time I Get to Phoenix
Carryin' on with Johnny Cash & June Carter (includes a cover of Dylan's "It Ain't Me, Babe")
Johnny Cash - Greatest Hits Volume 1

Muddy Waters - The Real Folk Blues

Muddy Waters - The Real Folk Blues. Chess Records, 1966.

The Blues. A uniquely American sound, born in the postbellum South through African-American musicians. The Blues. The music that gave birth to rock and roll. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, and countless others took their cues from the blues. My first introduction to blues music came from B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield, known as the "Father of Modern Chicago Blues," is one of the giants of the genre. This is a fantastic compilation of some of his best songs.

I purchased this album at All That Music & Video in El Paso, Texas when we lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico. All That is one of my favorite record stores; they always had good stuff at reasonable prices. I especially appreciated the good hard rock and heavy metal albums they always seemed to have on hand. All That is located in central El Paso, which made it about a 2 hour drive from Las Cruces, through terrible El Paso traffic. I only made the occasional trip down there, which is probably a good thing for the bank account.

If you haven't listened to much blues music and are interested, Muddy Waters wouldn't be a bad place to start.

Other notable albums from 1966:
Louis Armstrong - Louis
The Righteous Brothers - Soul and Inspiration
Nat King Cole - Unforgettable

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights. A&M Records, 1965.

This one's all about the cover. This is one of the most famous and iconic album covers in music history. Collectors all over the world want this record in their collection simply for the cover. I've never quite been able to figure out why... 😊 Fortunately for anyone who wants one they're pretty much a dime a dozen. Walk into any thrift store and the odds are you may come across a copy. This one came out of my parents' collection. As for the music itself, it's certainly not something I'd listen to much, and that's probably the way it is with most people. Like I said, it's all about the cover.

Other notable records from 1965:
Roger Miller - Golden Hits
Pete Seeger - Sings Little Boxes and Other Broadsides