In the ‘60s and ‘70s music was alive. There were no playlists and no algorithms telling you what to listen to. You just had to go out and find things that you liked. During this incredible 20 year span music changed by leaps and bounds, stretching the possibilities of what an artist could do and how they could do it. Bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones quite literally became different bands over the course of the ‘60s, using new technology to shape their respective sounds, while Queen and Pink Floyd explored what it meant to “rock.” If you missed out on this era of awesome tunes from the biggest bands to ever do it, we’ve got you covered.
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles is a groundbreaking concept album that revolutionized rock music. During the recording of the album, the band made extensive use of reduction mixing, where you use each track of a four track recorded, dump those recordings onto a master four track machine and then go back and record more layers – essentially an early version of the multitrack studios that we have today. The album defined the psychedelic era and influenced countless artists while setting new standards for album production.
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Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street
Exile on Main St. by the Rolling Stones is one of the scuzziest, blues-rock albums ever and we are here for it. Recorded in a French villa with no set schedule, the Stones were able to crank out tunes like “Tumbling Dice” and “Shine a Light,” which became instant classics. More than a drugged out rock record, Exile showcases the Stones’ ability to fuse different genres into a cohesive masterpiece.
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Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
Did you think you were going to read about the greatest classic rock albums of the ‘60s and ‘70s and not hear about Led Zeppelin IV? Buoyed by iconic tracks like “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” and “Stairway to Heaven,” this album cemented Zep’s status as rock gods. With a mixture of hard rock, blues, and celtic influences, Led Zeppelin IV is pure Id and we’re here for it.
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Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
From their inception Pink Floyd has always been experimental, but with The Dark Side of the Moon they were able to mix their more heady musical ideas with a pop sensibility. The album explores themes of mental illness, greed, and the human experience on tracks like “The Great Gig in the Sky,” “Time,” and “Money.” The album kicked Pink Floyd into all-timer status, and the album stuck around on the Billboard charts for more than 14 weeks.
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The Who – Who’s Next
Originally conceived as a rock opera, “Who’s Next” by The Who stands out as one of the most inventive classic rock albums of the era. Featuring fist powerful pumping anthems like “Baba O’Reilly” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” this album proves that The Who were tapped into the zeitgeist in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s in ways that most bands weren’t. By embracing synthesizers The Who were able to push the boundaries of rock music by blending operatic structure with raw power.
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Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experience
Quick question: Are You Experienced? We’re still trying to wrap our heads around the debut album by Jimi Hendrix. Featuring tracks like “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” and “Foxy Lady,” Hendrix redefined what someone could do with a guitar not just in rock music but in life. He turned his six-string into something more than an instrument, he made it pure being and the album made him a legend overnight.
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Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
The world wouldn’t be the same without “Rumours,” the 1977 album by Fleetwood Mac that was written and recorded while everyone in the band was sleeping with one another in a drugged out haze. Every song on this album is perfect, with tracks like “You Make Loving Fun,” “Dreams,” and “The Chain” still rocking stadiums today. This is one of the best-selling albums of all time, so if you haven’t heard what are you waiting for?
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The Doors – The Doors
With their debut album, The Doors introduced the world to Jim Morrison’s dark lyrics and the band’s jazzy fusion of rock, blues, and psychedelia. Songs like “Light My Fire” and “Break On Through” cast a gloom over the otherwise sunny SoCal rock scene of the day. It’s impossible to imagine bands like The Stooges or the New York Dolls without The Doors.
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Queen – A Night at the Opera
On “A Night at the Opera” Queen put their foot on the gas and embraced the spectacle. The band was able to make an intricate pop album without going too prog or too light on the rock. By mixing their operatic urges with pop sensibilities songs like “You’re My Best Friend” and “I’m In Love With My Car” are both emotionally resonant and fun to put on in the morning. But the album’s centerpiece, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a straight up masterwork composed by four musical geniuses at the top of their game. Queen continued rocking faces until singer Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991, but “A Night At The Opera” will always be their masterpiece.
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