The American Breed "Bend Me, Shape Me" (1967) (single)

Bend Me, Shape Me, 7'' single

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (KSS 6)

[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]

producer: Bill Traut

label: Stateside - nationality: USA

Track highlights: A) "Bend Me, Shape Me" (4 / 5) (other mix) - - B) "Mindrocker"

Single by The American Breed taken from the forthcoming second album Bend Me, Shape Me (Feb. '68). Also the B-side appears on the same album. The title song may have been an international hit thanks to this version but originally, it's a song by the American songwriter duo Scott English and Larry Weiss. About one year earlier, the song was first released by another American band: The Outsiders, and their version of the song is found on the band's third album In (released Feb. '67 but recorded in '66). In between these two, another band made the first cover of the song and that was the all-girl group The Models with their only (single) release in 1966 [The Models' version] (released prior to The Outsiders' album but recorded after). It's peculiar listenening to these highly different three versions of the same song and still being all released within a year's time. In retrospect, I think the version by The Models appears as the most daring with its acid, psychedelic, and Phil Spector-like production. In that regard, The Outsiders' version is more stripped down and a more straight song but that's also the one with the purest rock appeal held in a typical garage rock style. And then The American Breed came along and made it an international hit song with a much bolder mainstream appeal. Listening to the two earlier versions, it does appear that The American Breed take up some of the arrangements from both earlier recordings albeit it's nevertheless the most polished version of these three recordings. The song has later been covered by various other acts but over the years, it's The American Breed, who has gone down in music history with the most wide-spread rendition of this fine song.

This very single, was one of my favourites from when I was 10-14 years old. I guess, my brother must have purchased it at some early point before he threw himself over British psychedelic rock of the 70s.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Sten & Stanley "Får jag följa dig en bit på vägen" (1967) (single)

Får jag följa dig en bit på vägen, 7'' single

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (F77005)

[single rate: 2 / 5] [2,12]

producer: ?

label: Decca - nationality: Sweden

Tracklist: A) "Får jag följa dig en bit på vägen" - - B) "Kapten Kidd"

Single release by Swedish schlager and 'dansband' Sten & Stanley named after two of the founding members Sten Nilsson and Stanley Gransström. The two songs stem from two albums, the title song is taken from Röd var din mund, and the B-side is found on Sten & Stanley's australiska sångbok, both released in 1967.

This single was part of my parents' record collection, and it's a single I knew of at age 6-10 but never really enjoyed - probably because it's styled as schlager music.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Keld & The Donkeys "Det er så skønt" (1967)

Det er så skønt, 7'' single

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (X 9005)

[single rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,44]

producer: ?

label: HMV / EMI - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Det er så skønt" - - B) "Hvorfor er alt nu forbi"

Single release by Keld & The Donkeys. The A-side is credited 'Ubert-Prod - Keld Heick' and it's a cover of a song by Ubert-Prod (alias for Swedish songwriter Ebbe Nilsson), and the song was originally released as a single by Swedish schlager / pop-group Sten & Stanley as Det är så skönt in 1966 - Sten & Stanley was a quintet consisting of the three brothers Nilsson: Sten, Ebbe, and Per together with Stanley Granström and Bo Carlén.

This single was part of my parents' record collection, and it's a single I knew of at age 6-10 but never really enjoyed - probably because it's styled as schlager music.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Sir Henry and His Butlers "Camp" / "Pretty Style" (single)

Camp / Pretty Style

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (DD 799)

[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]

producer: ?

label: Columbia - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Camp" - - B) "Pretty Style"

Single release by Danish beat quintet Sir Henry and His Butlers. At this point the band line-up counts Ole 'Sir Henry' Bredahl, Tommy Seebach Mortensen on vocals and organ, Peer Frost on lead guitar, Arne Schrøder on rhythm guitar, Jens Bøgvad on drums.

The single was issued all over europe, and the instrumental A-side "Camp" became one of the band's strongest hits, which also caught international attention, and in retrospect, also "Pretty Style" has met acclaim as an early example of a psychedelic rock style. This single was part of my parents' record collection, and it's a single I knew of at age 6-10. Back in the day, I liked this better than their '66 single, although, it never was a favourite, For this both songs are original compositions with the A-side written by 'O. Henry' (meaning Ole Bredahl) and the B-side is credited 'O. Henry & T. Mortensen - J. Bøgvad' - meaning Ole Bredahl & Tommy Seebach Mortensen (the two main songwriters) and drummer Jens Bøgvad.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

The Flower Pot Men "Let's Go to San Francisco" (1967) (single)

Let's Go to San Francisco, 7'' single

release date: Aug. 4, 1967

format: vinyl (DM 142)

[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]

producer: John Carter & Ken Lewis

label: Deram - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Let's Go to San Francisco" (part 1) - - B) "Let's Go to San Francisco" (part 2) (parts 1 & 2)

Single release by British pop-project band The Flower Pot Men founded by the two songwriters John Carter (aka John Nicholas Shakespeare) and Ken Lewis (aka Kenneth James Hawker), who experienced some success providing pop songs for other artists in the late 1960s under the name of Carter & Lewis. The project-band was founded by the two songwriters to perform their songs, which was heavily inspired by the sound of The Beach Boys, and Let's Go to san Fransisco was one of their biggest hits.

This particular Danish print of the single was part of my parents' record collection.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

John Fred and His Playboys "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" (1967) (single)

Judy in Disguise (With Glasses), 7'' single

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (C 282)

[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,45]

producer: John Fred, Andrew Bernard

label: California - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" - - B) "When the Lights Go Out"

Single release by John Fred and His Playboys, a Louisiana, US 'bubble-gum' band with John Fred Gourrier as founder. Later in '67 they changed name to John Fred & His Playboy Band. The title song here is by Fred and band mate Andrew Bernard, and it's made as a parody on The Beatles' "Judy in the Sky With Diamonds". The single was an international hit and actually topped the single "Hello, Goodbye" by The Beatles on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles list where it topped the charts in early '68. The title song also remains the band's only hit.

The single was part of my parents' record collection and a record I used to enjoy back as a 6-11 year old. Initially, I just found the song really good, and along the way, I also found the front cover... quite fascinating.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Bjørn Tidmand "Hold dig på måtten, Jensen" (1967) (single)

Hold dig på måtten, Jensen, 7'' single

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (DK 1649)

[single rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,45]

producer: ?

label: Odeon - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Hold dig på måtten, Jensen" - - B) "Giv mig din hånd"

Single release by early Danish pop vocalist Bjørn Tidmand who had only just had a singles hit with "Nu ta'r jeg til Dublin". This one, a cover of the Swedish song "Håll dej till höger, Svensson" performed by The Telstars and written by Peter Himmelstrand and with new Danish lyrics by Peter Mynte became another hit by Tidmand. Somewhat odd, the original was an information song to the Swedish population about the new traffic rule of conduct when transferring from left-handed trafic to right-handed, whereas the Danish version is a song directed to Jensen about staying true to his beloved and the warning of not fooling around...

This single was part of my parents' record collection, it's a song I remember from my childhood as a song I enjoyed at age 6-9. I did like Bjørn Tidmand as a pre-teen, at a time when the music of my parents still had the strongest impact on my liking.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Bjørn Tidmand "Nu ta'r jeg til Dublin" (1967) (single)

Nu ta'r jeg til Dublin, 7'' single

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (DK 1646)

[single rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,28]

producer: ?

label: Odeon - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Nu ta'r jeg til Dublin" - - B) "Goodnight My Love"

Single release by early Danish pop vocalist Bjørn Tidmand who made a national breakthrough at age 23 when he participated at the national Eurovision contest with the song "Amiga Mia", which came second and around the same time he released the national hit song "Brænd mine breve" - a cover of "Pick Up the Pieces" by Larry Finnegan (aka John Finneran). "Nu ta'r jeg til Dublin" is an Irish traditional - the original is titled "Off to Dublin in the Green" (here with The Dubliners) - with Danish lyrics by Thøger Olesen and Tidmand's version topped the Danish singles chart in '67.

This single was part of my parents' record collection, it's a song I remember from my childhood as a song I enjoyed at age 6-9. I did like Bjørn Tidmand as a pre-teen, at a time when the music of my parents still had the strongest impact on my liking.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

"The Best of Country and West" (1967)

The Best of Country and West, compilation

release date: 1967

format: vinyl

[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

producer: ?

label: RCA Victor - nationality: Germany

Compilation album of classic country songs in a German pressing. The album comes with various different covers, and it was originally released in Germany only. Later it has been issued for the Dutch, the Italian, Swiss, and Norwegian markets.

This particular issue was part of my parents' record collection, and I recall playing this at age 6-10 years old on a portable turntable. At an early age, it was actually one of my favourite albums. It's not that country music as such was something my parents listened much to - perhaps I really enjoyed this because I also happened to really like watching western movies. I still recall a few of my then favourite tracks: #A1. Charley Pride "Detroit City", #A3. Hank Snow "The Golden Rocket", #A6. George Hamilton IV "Steel Rail Blues", #A7. Skeeter Davis "The End of the World", #B2. Norma Jean "You're Driving Me Out of My Mind", and #B4. Floyd Cramer "Hey Good Lookin' ".

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Clif Richard "The Day I Met Marie" (1967) (single)

The Day I Met Marie, 7'' single

release date: Aug. 1967

format: vinyl (DB 8245)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [2,82]

producer: Norrie Paramor

label: Columbia - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "The Day I Met Marie" - - B) "Our Story Book"

Single hit song by Cliff Richard. The A-side track is credited Hank Marvin of The Shadows, and the B-side is a song by Joan Kingsbury and Lor Crane.

This issue comes from my parents' record collection, and I recall playing this at age 6-10 years old, although this was never one of my preferred singles. The single comes with many different front covers. This particular issue is a Danish print.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Nina Simone "Nina Simone Sings the Blues" (1967)

Nina Simone Sings the Blues

release date: 1967

format: cd (2011 reissue) / vinyl (2013 reissue) (MOVLP878)

[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,32]

producer: Danny Davis

label: RCA Victor / Music On Vinyl - nationality: USA

Studio album by Nina Simone following High Priestess of Soul (1967) is her first release with RCA Victor in long series of acclaimed albums with that label, who understood better to showcase her multifacetted talents more directly than the management at Coolpix Records and Phillips had succeded in.

The album is both a return to the musical sources to her acclaimed debut and also a turn to a more personal expression, where she gives new stylistic twists to familiar vocal jazz staples with soul, with folk, and of course with a strong element of blues. On top of that, the album also showcases Simone as composer of five original compositions.

Nina Simone Sings the Blues is a natural part of the Holy Grail of jazz alogside a handful of her albums.

Highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, All About Jazz 4 / 5 stars ]

Astrud Gilberto "Beach Samba" (1967)

Beach Samba
release date: 1967
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Tracklist: 1. "Stay" (4 / 5) - 2. "Misty Roses" - 3. "The Face I Love" - 4. "A Banda (Parade)" - 5. "Oba, oba" - 6. "Canoeiro" - 7. "I Had the Craziest Dream" - 8. "Bossa na praia (Beach Samba)" - 9. "My Foolish Heart" - 10. "Dia das Rosas (I Think of You)" - 11. "You Didn't Have Be So Nice" - 12. "Não bate o coroção"

5th studio album by Astrud Gilberto is a more of a pop and standards-styled album. This is better than her first attempt with the standards, her second album, The Shadow of Your Smile (1965). Primarily, she succeeds better because on this album the pop songs are more easy listening tracks that do not demand a voluminous voice like her best albums with bossa nova vocal jazz. An enhanced re-issue was released in 1993 with 17 tracks. The album is included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Big Brother & The Holding Company "Big Brother & The Holding Company" (1967)

1968 + cd cover
Columbia Records

Big Brother & The Holding Company [debut]
release date: Aug. 1967
format: cd (reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5]
producer: Bob Schad
label: Columbia Records - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) 1. "Bye, Bye Baby" - 2. "Easy Rider" - 3. "Intruder" (3 / 5) - 4. "Light Is Faster Than Sound" 3 / 5) (tv performance) - 5. "Call On Me" (3 / 5) - *6. "Coo Coo" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Women Is Losers" - 2. "Blindman" - 3. "Down On Me" (3 / 5) (tv performance) - 4. "Caterpillar" (3 / 5) - 5. "All Is Loneliness" - *6. "The Last Time"
*Bonus tracks on 1968 reissue

Studio debut album released by Big Brother & The Holding Company originally released on Mainstream Records. The band formed in 1965 on initiative of Peter Albin (bass guitar) and Sam Andrew (guitar, vocals), and initially worked as a trio after including James Gurley on guitar and vocals. After the inclusion of drummer David Getz the quartet then needed a stronger vocal and Janis Joplin was the last to join in the early summer of 1966. The album is quite typical as an early blues rock and psychedelic rock album, and some argue that it lacks really great tracks or extraordinary performances.
Perhaps Joplin is still new to rock and her voice may lack a bit of the strength you'll find on the successor and on her masterpiece Pearl (1971). The album, however, still contains fine traces of greatness, and I find that the band appears as a tight unit of American electric blues rock with a strong original vocal. The real "weakness" of the album is the poor production sound and a lack of stylistic direction. Some tracks seem inspired by British beat, whereas others are pure (original) experimental psychedelic rock compositions, but as a whole the album comes out as somewhat unfocused. The best tracks, A6 and B6, both originally released only as singles, but these were included on the '68 reissue and are both outtakes from the original recording sessions - on newer cd issues they may be enlisted after the original tracklist as tracks #11 and #12.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

org. cover
Mainstream Records

Jimi Hendrix "Axis: Bold as Love" (1967)

Axis: Bold as Love
release date: Dec. 1, 1967
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Track highlights: 3. "Spanish Castle Magic" - 4. "Wait Until Tomorrow" - 6. "Little Wing" - 7. "If 6 Was 9" - 9. "Castles Made of Sand" - 11. "One Rainy Wish" - 13. "Bold as Love"

2nd studio album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience released only six month following the debut. Except for song all tracks were composed by Jimi Hendrix, and apparently released prematurely to satisfy his contractual obligations. The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

Frank Zappa / The Mothers of Invention "Absolutely Free" (1967)

Absolutely Free
release date: May 26, 1967
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Plastic People" - 5. "Call Any Vegetable" - 7. "Soft-Sell Conclusion" - 10. "America Drinks" - 14. "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" (live in Copenhagen) - 15. "America Drinks & Goes Home"
[ full album ]

2nd Mothers of Invention album and very much in line with the previous album, although the music here is more in the jazz-rock genre instead of musique concrete. Best track is "Brown Shoes Don't Make It".

David Bowie "David Bowie" (1967)

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David Bowie [debut]
release date: Jun. 1, 1967
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,38]
producer: Mike Vernon
label: Deram Records - nationality: England, UK

Studio debut album by David Bowie [aka David Robert Jones, Jan. 8, 1947 - Jan. 10, 2016, Brixton, Greater London]. Stylistically, this is far from what Bowie was later associated with - this is baroque pop and much closer to the music of artists like The Kinks, Tommy Steele, and (apparently) Anthony Newley. It also resembles the style of a later '67 debut album by Scott Walker - music inspired primarily by British acts with certain amounts of The Beatles with an addition of a certain psychedelic pop element without being too extravagant nor innovative. This was not music that tried to seek out new musical territories or recreate pop music itself. The album didn't stir up things and basically was a rather unnoticed release in the UK, and it's quite difficult to link this with his later works. The album really only is interesting for historical reasons and as fan material. Otherwise, the album is not recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 2,5 / 5, Blender 1 / 5 stars ]

Van Morrison "Blowin' Your Mind!" (1967)

Blowin' Your Mind!
release date: Sep. 1967
format: cd (1998 remaster)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Bert Berns
label: Epic / Legacy - nationality: Northern Ireland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Brown Eyed Girl" (5 / 5) (live) - 4. "Spanish Rose" - 7. "Who Drove the Red Sports Car?" - 8. "Midnight Special"

Studio album debut by Van Morrison [aka George Ivan Morrison] originally released on Bang Records (co-founded by producer Bert Berns). While still a part of Them, he was too much wanted as a solo singer - and at live concerts - and the band was often referred to as 'Them and Van Morrison' a name they never officially accepted but that was how the public and the press saw... Them. The success of the band led Morrison to initiate a solo career, which apparently, had him sign a contract with Bert Berns label Bang Records without giving it much attention.

Blowin' Your Mind! is not an album in the hands of Morrison himself, as Berns compiled the recordings and had the album released without Morrison's knowledge, which seems plausible looking at the song titles, the album cover, and also his second album release Astral Weeks on which Morrison had more control and what also reveals his true potential.
Anyway, the album is "filed" as his debut, and it does contain a few memorable tracks including his own classic "Brown Eyed Girl", but the sound and style of the album is very much bound to his successes with Them proving Berns directional wish to continue in the pop soul and uptempo sound that seemed the obvious choice but basically wasn't what Morrison himself wanted at the time.
Nevertheless, the album is there - it isn't a great release but it can't disguise the fact that Morrison has a remarkable talent and a strong singing voice.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Melody Mixers "I Napoli" (1967) (single)

I Napoli, 7'' single

release date: 1967

format: vinyl (XM 62075)

[single rate: 2 / 5] [2,24]

producer: ?

label: Polydor - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "I Napoli" - - B) "La bostella"

Single release by Danish pop and schlager quartet Melody Mixers consisting of band leader and guitarist Jørgen Artby together with a changing line-up counting names such as Mogens Billing, Kell Billing, Annie Lykke, Leif Petersen, and Ullrik Lie Arlieth. The quartet was founded in Copenhagen in 1955 and existed with changing line-ups until 1970 and especially saw a change of female lead vocalists. On this, Annie Lykke is new vocalist in replacement of Kate Sand, in '69 they were expanded to a quintet with Alice Anders on vocals, and for a time they played as a sextet with the addition of Annelise Brixager, also as vocalist, before dissolving in 1970.

The A-side track is a cover by Carlo Donida and with Danish lyrics by Peter Mynte, and the B-side is a cover by Perez Pilar with Danish lyrics by Peter Spar.

The single was part of my parents record collection, and it's an item that I never found entertaining, although, it's part of my first music memories that wasn't purely children's songs.

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

BEST OF 1967:The Velvet Underground and Nico "The Velvet Underground & Nico" (1967)

The Velvet Underground & Nico [debut]
release date: Mar. 12, 1967
format: vinyl (reissue) / cd (2012, 45th Anniversary Edition)
[album rate: 5 / 5] [4,88]
producer: Andy Warhol
label: Polydor Records - nationality: USA

Tracklist: A) 1. "Sunday Morning" - 2. "I'm Waiting for the Man" - 3. "Femme Fatale" (5 / 5) - 4. "Venus in Furs" (5 / 5) - 5. "Run Run Run" - 6. "All Tomorrow's Parties" (5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Heroin" - 2. "There She Goes Again" (5 / 5) - 3. "I'll Be Your Mirror" - 4. "The Black Angel's Death Song" - 5. "European Son"
[ full album ]

Studio album debut by The Velvet Underground originally released on Verve Records and, according to the album credits, produced by Andy Warhol, which does sound unlikely as Warhol didn't have any recording experiences - however, he did pay for the studio sessions. Allegedly, his producing method was to direct the band that they should go ahead and do whatever they felt like. Actual technical producer is most likely Tom Wilson. The Velvet Underground is in its classic line-up with Lou Reed on lead vocals & lead guitar, John Cale on electric viola, piano & bass guitar, Sterling Morrison on guitar, bass guitar & backing vocals, and with Maureen Tucker on drums & percussion. Nico was never part of the band but she often participated when playing live, and she is here credited as lead vocalist on tracks #3, #6 and #9 and doing backing vocals on track #1. And although, Warhol may have suggested to include Nico in the band - as he liked the idea of having a woman in front of this masculine project, but both Cale and Reed was against his idea, and then again Warhol's untrained musical background didn't help him to pursuade Reed nor Cale. Instead, Nico participates as featuring solo artist, and she already released her solo album debut Chelsea Girl in October that same year. Lou Reed is songwriter and composer of all songs - only tracks #A1 and #B4 are co-written with Cale and #B5 is credited the whole band.
The album is one of the most iconic and legendary albums in rock history. Although, the initial reception wasn't just positive, its status has put it among the utmost influential albums ever released. The cover has its own story, and the tracks, dealing with all kinds of touchy subjects, have their particular background stories. Soundwise and in terms of style, this was something out of the blue highly original, and then they didn't exactly do much good for a potential career by choosing to sing about drugs and sex. But the band stood on its own values and most certainly didn't give a hoot about anyone's opinion. Nowadays, it's dificult to point to an album of greater influence than this one.
I don't remember exactly the first time, I listened to this album but in the late 1970s my older brother introduced it to me, and I do remember that I liked it from the first minut on, and I have loved it ever since. Every now and then, I put it on, and I'm always amazed of how fine and fresh it still sounds production-wise, as well as the immediate and direct appeal every single track conveys.
Naturally, this is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
This very album is a strong contender to the best and the most important rock-album ever released.
Highly recommended.

1967 Favourite releases: 1. The Velvet Underground and Nico The Velvet Underground & Nico - 2. Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced? - 3. The Doors The Doors

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~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.

Jimi Hendrix "Are You Experienced?" (1967)

Are You Experienced? [debut]
release date: May 12, 1967
format: cd (reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Track highlights: A) 1. "Foxy Lady" (5 / 5) - 2. "Manic Depression" - 3. "Red House" (4 / 5) - 4. "Can You See Me" - 5. "Love or Confusion" - 6. "I Don't Live Today" (4,5 / 5) (live) - - B) 1. "May This Be Love" - 2. "Fire" (5 / 5) - 3. "Third Stone From the Sun" - 4. "Remember" - 5. "Are You Experienced?"

Studio debut album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience originally released on Track Records (distributed by Polydor). Both style and sound of the album was something totally new as it was released. Hendrix shows his r&b-based source transformed into electrified psychedelic blues rock or acid rock. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Small Faces, Buffalo Springfield, Frank Zappa, Cream, and many others had experimented with dubbing and started to bring in psychedelic elements to their sound but the Hendrix' feedback distortion was something new, and the tracks are refreshingly new. The album is naturally enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
I don't think I listened to the album in its entirety until the early 80s, but I had listened to several of the songs from the album, e.g. "Foxy Lady", "Manic Depression", "I Don't Live Today", and "Fire" back in the 70s, and I knew from early on that it was something extremely powerful.

1967 Favourite releases: 1. The Velvet Underground and Nico The Velvet Underground & Nico - 2. Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced? - 3. The Doors The Doors

~ ~ ~

This post is part of MyMusicJourney, which enlists key releases that have shaped my musical taste when growing up and until age 14. Most of these releases come from my parents' and / or my older brother's collection.