160 Mind Expanding Psychedelic Albums Pt1 by Junomoogmello 
This psychedelic chart may surprise some people. It is in two parts, mainly because of the size of it. The first part generally tends to include music from the sixties, the second part includes some more 'up to date' psychedelic offerings. Firstly, I have only included albums which I own on vinyl, part of this decision is that the amazing cover art on many of the albums forms a significant part of the overall experience for me. There is nothing like the tactility of vinyl and truth is, the sound can't be matched! Secondly, it includes some albums by bands which definitely do deliver that 'psychedelic sound', however the albums may not have intentionally been intended to fit within that mould or to hit that market. I include Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, Yes, David Bowie, Tangerine Dream and the Velvet Underground in this group. Thirdly, there are some compilations included and I think this is ok. A good example being Pink Floyd Relics, where some of their finest psychedelic era tracks can only be found on this album, an album which has never really got the credit it is due. It was not a deliberate decision to mostly include albums which were issued during the Summer of Love or within a few years either side of 1967, it just happens that my favourite psychedelic albums are from this period. Without doubt, many of the bands rose from the Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood and San Francisco Bay region. The UK also played its part with many bands delivering albums which clearly sat within the psychedelic mould. The Beatles, The Moody Blues and The Kinks all delivered a number of albums which sit well within the psychedelic boundary, some may argue they are closer to pop and in the case of The Moody Blues, closer to Prog. So when I refer to the 'psychedelic mould', what exactly is it and where are the boundaries? I can't answer that question without reference to the readily available mind expanding drugs available during the birth of Psychedelia. The psychedelics without doubt influenced the creativity and music scene during the mid to late sixties. It wasn't until October 68 that LSD became an illegal drug in the USA. Sadly, a large number of amazing musicians in the sixties and early seventies lost their lives to harder drugs, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Tim Buckley, to name but a few. Many may argue that Syd Barrett died the day he laid down his guitar for the last time...The psychedelic sound was built around diverse rhythms constructed with loose hi-hat and tight snare and bass drum patterns, often coloured with tambourine, congas, bongos. Kettle drums could be used to add effect and drama. Lead guitar was overdriven creating that typical fuzz guitar sound, Hendrix was a master, in fact Tangerine Dream's debut was a nod to Hendrix. Many bands opted to introduce eastern instruments like the Sitar and Tabla, the Beatles were early pioneers, introducing Sitar on a number of tracks. Textures created on organ, most notably Farfisa and Hammond were often provided by bands to add to the psychedelic sound. Pink Floyd and the Grateful Dead used the Organ to great effect on many tracks. Very early sound sampling found its way onto numerous albums, this may have been achieved by reversing or slowing down tapes (Beatles, Sgt Pepper and Revolver) and if bands could afford it, adding early Mellotron textures which the Moody Blues pioneered. Vocals were put through basic effects processors to add mystique and volume! Other conventional instruments like flute, oboe, French Horn, harpsichord, harmonium, piano and wind chimes all found their way onto a number of psychedelic tracks. Some more unusual instruments like the Vox Continental keyboard and Theremin were used by a few bands, the Doors most famously used the Vox on all their albums, it carved out that very typical Doors sound. Iron Butterfly, The Beatles and The Animals also used the Vox on many tracks. The Beach Boys used the Theremin which provided a very unique sound at the time. Many bands included early basic electric piano, sometimes just to provide unusual effects, not necessarily to bash out a tune. In summary, Psychedelic music is quite rich and diverse offering the listener an escape from reality into another realm, without the use of mind altering drugs. It includes jazz, garage, pop and rock genres and in the case of Blue Cheer (named after a variety of LSD), early metal. I hope this chart may help introduce fellow music lovers to some classic Psychedelic albums which they may not have listened to before. Enjoy the trip!
- Chart updated: 03/19/2024 19:45
- (Created: 01/15/2024 06:54).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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This excellent album seems to slip under the radar in most psychedelic charts and in most literature on the subject of psychedelia. With nods to Nirvana (UK), Donovan, Kaleidoscope (UK) and psychedelic era Hollies, this album is very underrated. Also known as the Rogers Hand Band, the only other album I have seen those two names on is Gordon Giltrap’s ‘Fear of the Dark’. (A superb album in its own right but not a psychedelic album). Got to say, Dylan’s ‘Visions of Johanna’ is better than the original l! The cover art of ‘The Huge World of Emily Small’ couldn’t be more psychedelic, an overall excellent and underrated psychedelic album.
[First added to this chart: 01/30/2024]
1
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I often forget how good this album is. I absolutely detest the cartoon cover artwork but what lies within is a stunning psychedelic album. Janis Joplin reminds me of a female version of Robert Plant in his heyday. The guitar work on this album is very comparable with Jefferson Airplane but the vocals are much more raw. No keyboards or bizarre effects, just straight up rock and roll psychedelic style.
[First added to this chart: 02/10/2024]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,429
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Superb album from the off. One of a few albums where the drum solo doesn’t overstate its welcome.
[First added to this chart: 01/26/2024]
Year of Release:
1968
Appears in:
Rank Score:
909
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This often overlooked gem was the debut album from a North London band inspired by Love and The Byrds. The album comprises a mix of excellent covers and their own work. Fairport Convention weren’t interested in drugs but they were heavily influenced by the West Coast sound. ‘Sun Shade’ and ‘Decameron’ are particular highlights, the latter concerning heroin addiction. By the summer of 67 they were playing West Ends clubs such as Happening 44, The Electric Garden and The Speakeasy. Jimi Hendrix was impressed with Thompson’s fluent style and jammed with the band on a couple of occasions. Judy Dyble was recruited for joint vocals on the debut, her style suiting the psychedelic sound. However, after this album, the band dropped her, recruiting Sandy Denny and taking a more folk inspired direction.
[First added to this chart: 02/04/2024]
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Excellent psychedelic album, I particularly like the instrumentation. The vocal style may not be to everyone’s taste but I like it. An album which basks in the more whimsical psychedelic pool. ‘Magic Hollow' is a personal favourite. The blue vinyl of the 50th Anniversary edition compliments the psychedelic sleeve design.
[First added to this chart: 01/21/2024]
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So pleased to have procured a red vinyl addition, newly re-mastered. The original album from this Minneapolis quintet is incredibly rare, only a few hundred copies were cut and now exchange hands for several thousand dollars apiece. The sleeve cover art certainly helps paint the picture even if the music doesn’t. Not as hellish as you might expect but an intriguing listen. The music moves from soothing and beautiful to disturbing and disconcerting in a trice. The heavily reverbed drum solo on the second track goes on a bit too long but it does change the dynamic after the soothing introduction. The trumpet lead flourishes add an interesting edge, particularly on the first track on side 2.
[First added to this chart: 01/21/2024]
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The Scot Richard Case shortened their name to SRC in late 66. In late 60’’s Detroit SRC were a revered outfit, noted for their immense bank of equipment. The album hosts a superb fairytale book like sleeve design. Within, highlight include ‘Black Sheep’, a classic of downbeat psychedelia and the very upbeat ‘Daystar’ with its raving fuzz guitar and driving Keith Moon influenced drum style. The ominous ‘Onesimpletask’ builds on a doom laden riff even Black Sabbath would die for! The track paving the way for some searing lead guitar work. The piercing distorted sustain-heavy guitar was a trademark of the bands distinct sound. In 2001, lead guitarist Gary Quackenbush confirmed the copious amounts of good LSD were a major influence on their playing style, how they wrote and how everything was put together.
[First added to this chart: 02/03/2024]
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Formed in 1966 by Jefferson Airplane’s drummer who wanted to return to guitar. This band was actually a three piece guitar line up with two rhythm guitarists and a lead guitarist. All members of the band contributed vocals creating quite a wall of sound. Although they created several albums, this is considered their strongest. According to Peter Lewis (vocals and rhythm guitar), ‘the album was cut when everything seemed perfect. San Fransisco was like heaven, everyone was stoned, happy and free, everyone loved and lived for music’.
[First added to this chart: 02/10/2024]
Year of Release:
1967
Appears in:
Rank Score:
926
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Housed within quite a disturbing sleeve, taken from Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Delights, this is quite a sublime almost haunting album. Bob Dylan was a strong influence on the band and parts of this album would sit comfortably on Blonde on Blonde. Their bass player was a multi instrumentalist who could play anything from English Horn to Celeste along with a number of instruments from different parts of the world, which were readily available at Impact Sound Studios in New York. This was the bands debut album and for an underground label, it sold impressively. They recorded one more album prior to lead singer, Tom Rapp embarking on a solo career, keeping the band name, eventually changing direction and becoming a civil rights attorney in Philadelphia.
[First added to this chart: 02/04/2024]
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The Electric Flag lasted less than a year but with this album they captured several aspects of a ‘trip’. Before the band went into the studio to record this, they didn’t even have a name. The band name actually came later, when they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival, which launched the ‘Summer of Love’. There are upbeat Chicago Blues influenced tracks, jazz workouts and sound canvases created using an early Moog Synthesiser and heavily processed guitar. Much of the music was improvised and recorded over a ten day period. Track names like ‘Synesthesia’ certainly let the listener know what to expect. A very eclectic and interesting album which is pretty much instrumental.
[First added to this chart: 02/04/2024]
Total albums: 100. Page 4 of 10
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160 Mind Expanding Psychedelic Albums Pt1 composition
| Decade | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 1930s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1940s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1950s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1960s | 90 | 90% | |
| 1970s | 9 | 9% | |
| 1980s | 0 | 0% | |
| 1990s | 1 | 1% | |
| 2000s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2010s | 0 | 0% | |
| 2020s | 0 | 0% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Jefferson Airplane | 4 | 4% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| The Byrds | 3 | 3% | |
| The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 3 | 3% | |
| The Doors | 3 | 3% | |
| Spirit | 3 | 3% | |
| The Kinks | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
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