Shocking Blue "Send Me a Postcard" (1968) (single)

l-r.: Cor van der Beek, Mariska Veres
Klaasje van der Wal, Robbie van Leeuwen

Send Me a Postcard, 7'' single

release date: Dec. 14, 1968

format: vinyl (IMA 1002) (1970 issue)

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

producer: Shocking Blue

label: I. M. A. Records - nationality: The Netherlands

Tracklist: A) "Send Me a Postcard" (4,5 / 5) - - B) "Harley Davidson"

Single release by Dutch rock band Shocking Blue originally released on Pink Elephant in '68 and released for the Scandinavian market with this issue in 1970. The single appears to be the band's only third single and it's one of three consecutive non-album single releases following the band's album debut Shocking Blue (Nov. 1967). The band was formed in '67 and went through changing line-ups with a different output starting with music influenced by The Beatles and a folk pop style as expressed by American quartet Brothers Four, but from '68 when Mariska Veres became the band's lead vocalist after founding member Fred de Wilde left, the band changed style to a bolder psychedelic rock founded in American West Coast blues rock. For this single, the band consists of new member vocalist Marika Veres, and the three founding members: lead guitarist and main songwriter Robbie van Leeuwen, bassist Klaasje van der Wal, and drummer Cor (Cornelis) van der Beek. Both tracks are credited van Leeuwen, and the single became an international hit, which was perceived as a fine attempt with a mix of styles exemplified by Jefferson Airplane and The Doors.

The band continued up until 1974 when songwriter and composer van Leeuwen left to concentrate on his newly formed band Galaxy-Lin, and Shocking Blue then released its final album Good Times (1974) after which Mariska Veres left to pursue a solo career and the band split. Shocking Blue reformed in 1980 in their classic line-up and stayed together until '97 when van Leeuwen now left for good, and from hereon and up until 2006 the band was continued around Veres and new lead guitarist André van Geldorp with a changing line-up. The band was put to an abrupt end Dec. 2006 as Mariska Veres died from newly detected cancer.

Shocking Blue was much more than just a few single hits, and among them definitely Send Me a Postcard - they showed an alternative to American and British psychedelic rock, which isn't just covers and copy, and together with Danish band Savage Rose, they stand as a strong European contribution to the vast pool of rock and to the formation and the development of psychedelic rock of the 1970s.

This Swedish issue of the single, released three months after the band's third album Scorpio's Dance (Sep. 1970), was part of my older brother's record collection, and it's a single I vividly recall from age 10-14 years of age - and at that time, it was one of my absolute favourite rock 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.

l-r.: Robbie, Cornelis, Mariska, Klaasje

Etta James "Tell Mama" (1968)

Tell Mama
release date: Aug. 21, 1968
format: digital (2001 reissue) / vinyl (2014 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Rick Hall
label: MCA / Bear Family - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "Tell Mama" - 2. "I'd Rather Go Blind" (4 / 5) - 3. "Watch Dog" - 4. "The Love of My Man" (4 / 5) - 5. "I'm Gonna Take What He's Got" - 6. "The Same Rope" - 7. "Security" (4 / 5) - 8. "Steal Away" - 9. "My Mother In-Law" - 10. "Don't Lose Your Good Thing" - 11. "It Hurts Me So Much" - 12. "Just a Little Bit"

8th studio album by Etta James originally released on Cadet Records and produced by Rick Hall. This is a wonderful soul and r&b album by one of vocal jazz great voices. All tracks are credited various composers, which was a typical procedure of the 1950s and 60s, but Etta's gift is to understand and make them all her own. A must-have for lovers of soul. The extended 2001 MCA cd reissue with the added subtitle "The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions" comes with an additional 10 bonus tracks. The 2014 vinyl issue is a replica of the original album and with the same original 12 tracks.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

2014 vinyl reissue

Nina Simone " 'Nuff Said!" (1968)

'Nuff Said! (live)

release date: Oct. 1968

format: cd (2011 RM) / vinyl (2015 reissue) (MOVLP1028)

[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,38]

producer: Joe René

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

Live album by Nina Simone succeding the album Silk & Soul (Oct. 1967) is a eleven-track album with 8 tracks being recorded live at Westbury Music Fair, Long Island, New York on Apr. 7, 1968. Three songs (tracks #1, #8, and #11) are studio recordings from May '68. The song "Why?" is with strong memory of and a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., who passed away three days prior to the concert - it's a song written on the day of the recording by jazz bassist Gene Taylor (aka Calvin Eugene Taylor) and Simone handles this with supreme quality.

'Nuff Said! is Nina Simone in an exquisite performance, and the 2015 vinyl reissue by Music On Vinyl is a great pressing.

Highly recommended.

Big Brother & The Holding Company "Cheap Thrills" (1968)

Cheap Thrills

release date: Aug. 12, 1968
format: cd (1999 remaster) / vinyl (2012 remaster) (gatefold)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: John Simon
label: Columbia / Music On Vinyl - nationality: USA

Key track: 4. "Piece of My Heart" (5 / 5)

2nd studio album by Big Brother & The Holding Company follows one year after the self-titled debut (Aug. 1967), and this is a different breed and what appears as a live album. In reality, it's instead the band's second studio release. Cheap Thrills is the band's most famous release and its last featuring Janis Joplin. The band members credited here are vocalist Janis Joplin, bassist & guitarist Peter Albin, bassist, guitarist & vocalist Sam Andrew, bassist & guitarist James Gurley, and pianist and drummer David Getz. Additionally, producer John Simon is also credited on piano. Compared to the uneven debut, which unfortunately wasn't given the time nor the effort the material asked for, Cheap Thrills is considerably better arranged and produced.
The album has gained iconic status primarily for the band's and in particular Joplin's performance, and it's part of numerous best-of-lists, including Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone Top 100 Albums of the Last 20 Years, and "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
Note: The cover art by 'Underground' cartoonist Robert Crumb is just as legendary as the musical content. The front cover here is a copy of the 2012 remaster, which replicates the original US cover.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5 stars ]

Tyrannosaurus Rex "Prophets, Seers & Sages..." (1968)

Prophets, Seers & Sages - The Angels of the Ages & Futuristic Dragon
release date: Oct. 14, 1968
format: cd
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,24]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Regal / EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Deboraarobed" - 3. "Wind Quartets"
[ full album ]

2nd studio album by Tyrannosaurus Rex is a studio album released only 3 months after the duo's debut album. The music is not all that different from its predecessor, and is mostly psychedelic folk.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Tyrannosaurus Rex "My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair..." (1968)

My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows [debut]
release date: Jul. 5, 1968
format: 2 cd (2015 remaster - Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,32]
producer: Tony Visconti
Label: A&M Records / Universal - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Hot Rod Mama" - 2. "Scenesof" - 3. "Child Star" - 4. "Strange Orchestras" - 5. "Chateau In Virginia Waters" - 6. "Dwarfish Trumpet Blues" - 7. "Mustang Ford" - 8. "Afghan Woman" - 9. "Knight" - 10. "Graceful Fat Sheba" - 11."Weilder of Words (Robard de Font Le Roy)" - 12. "Frowning Atahuallpa (My Inca Love)"

Studio album debut by Tyrannosaurus Rex originally released on Regal Zonophone. The 2 cd Deluxe Edition contains extensive material. Tracks #1-1 to #1-12 are identical to the original mono album LRZ 1003, released Jul. 5, 1968 on Regal Zonophone. Tracks #1-13 to #1-18 are recorded live for the John Peel BBC Radio Show "Top Gear", Picadilly Studio1, London, Oct. 12, 1967, and tracks #1-19 to #1-24 are recorded live for Top Gear, Mar. 11, 1968.
All tracks are composed by Marc Bolan, who is credited on guitar & vocals, and he is accompanied by Steve Peregrine Toke, credited on percussion, bongos, Chinese gong, pixiephone and vocals.
The style may be quite unique but it only really shows Bolan's inspiration in celtic folk, bluegrass, and psychedelic folk. There's not much rock in any of these tracks and it basically works as a musical testimony of his early stages in music before making his journey from psychedelic folk to glam rock.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

The Zombies "Odessey and Oracle" (1968)

Odessey and Oracle
release date: Apr. 19, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Best tracks: 1. "Care of Cell 44" - 12. "Time of the Season"

3rd studio album by British band The Zombies. This is a highly praised and classic pop album. I don't really understand the hype and the tremendous appraisal it received. I put it on, listen to it, and try to understand as to why, but it only eludes me. I don't get it, and I find it boring and senselessly dull. All I can think of, is that it seems like a pop-version of some of the harder music at the time, maybe, a softer pop-version of The Doors or Jefferson Airplane - a link between the British pop-invasion of The Kinks and The Who, and the aforementioned American bands together with harmonies by The Beach Boys. I just don't like that clone. The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

Frank Zappa "Lumpy Gravy" (1968)

Lumpy Gravy
release date: May 13, 1968
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Tracklist: A) 1. "Lumpy Gravy I" - - B) 1. "Lumpy Gravy II"

A two-track solo release by Frank Zappa recorded Feb. 1967 (his first solo work after producing Absolutely Free). The album was originally released on Capitol Records as an 8-track album. A lawsuit followed as Zappa had a signed contract with Verve Records (owned by MGM), although, the contract didn't say anything about Zappa conducting others, as he claimed with this album. The music is almost entirely a modern classical experiment of musique concrete inspired by the works of John Cage. This is the altered Verve Records version released as two tracks (virtually one long track) only divided by an A and B-side. Zappa has re-edited this version again later on, which has been released in 1984 on Zappa's own label, Barking Pumpkin.

Neil Young "Neil Young" (1968)

Neil Young [debut]
release date: Nov. 12, 1968
format: cd (1987 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Neil Young, David Briggs; Jack Nitzsche; Ry Cooder
label: Reprise Records / Warner - nationality: Canada

Tracklist: 1. "The Emperor of Wyoming" - 2. "The Loner" - 3. "If I Could Have Her Tonight" - 4. "I've Been Waiting for You" - 5. "The Old Laughing Lady" - 6. "String Quartet From Whiskey Boot Hill" - 7. "Here We Are in the Years" - 8 "What Did You Do to My Life" - 9 "I've Loved Her So Long" - 10 "The Last Trip to Tulsa"

Solo studio album debut by Neil Young after the split with Buffalo Springfield. It seems like a tentative yet unfinished or somehow unfocused collection of songs. Maybe it really shows how he struggled in freeing himself from just writing songs for a band of very different musicians. It features some strong folk rock and singer / songwriter tracks but it also lacks consistency of quality in the songwriting. Some songs are sheer country songs, and several songs sound like suited more [leftovers?] for Buffalo Springfield.

[ If any... Neil Young is god ]

"Walt Disney's Junglebogen" (1968)

Walt Disney's Junglebogen

release date: 1968

format: vinyl (KELP 116)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]

producer: ?

label: His Master's Voice / Disneyland - nationality: Denmark

The Danish release of Disney's "The Jungle Book" (1967) with the voices from the Danish version of Disney's adaptation of Kipling's classic. The Danish voices have been selected among familiar names from the stages, from variety shows, and from music, which include Sejr Volmer-Sørensen as narrator, Preben Uglebjerg, Ove Sprogøe, Carl Ottosen, Freddy Albeck, Ole Monty, Ulrik Neumann, Kirsten Rolffes, Svend Asmussen, Ulla 'Sniff' Neumann, and Joachim Clausen in the role of Mowgli.

This copy was part of my parents' record collection, which they had purchased for me and my older brother after watching the Danish version, which premiered Dec. 1968. I actually reacall watching the film at the cinema. Probably not until a later stage as I would have been 3 when it first came out. I recall listening to the album at 6-10 years of age.

~ ~ ~

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.

Frank Zappa / The Mothers of Invention "We're Only in It for the Money" (1968)

We're Only in It for the Money
release date: Mar. 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Are You Hung Up?" - 2. "Who Needs the Peace Corps?" - 3. "Concentration Moon" - 9. "Absolutely Free" - 10. "Flower Punk" - 12. "Nasal Rententive Calliope Music" - 19. "The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny"

The Mothers of Invention release. Back to musique concrete, or almost industrial, despite the style wasn't called that, and you can also tell from where Pink Floyd got their inspiration. This is hilarious and intelligent music, and also known as a satire on The Beatles and their Sgt. Pepper... album (just watch the German cover here). "Eh, are you hung-up?... Strung-up!... Outta sight, yeah!". Preceding The Orb and their "Fluffy Little Clouds", you know.
The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

German cover
with reference
to The Beatles

Deep Purple "The Book of Taliesyn" (1968)

The Book of Taliesyn
release date: Dec. 1968
format: cd (2011 remaster)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,96]
producer: Derek Lawrence
label: Victor Entertainment, Japan - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Listen, Learn, Read On" - 2. "Hard Road (Wring That Neck)" - 7. "River Deep, Mountain High"

2nd studio album by Deep Purple originally released by Tetragrammaton in Dec. '68 actually had its first release in the US - as was the case for the debut album - and it wasn't released in the UK until another six months later, in Jun. 1969 on Harvest Records. Although, rather close to the release of the debut, the style is already quite different on this as there has been left more room for progressive rock experimental rock and psychedelic rock on this.
The first two tracks are closely related to "Hush" on the predecessor but the overall sensation is a more original band with ideas beyond just covering the time-typical Hendrix universe. In the aftermath, the most appraised track on the album is undoubtedly the Ike and Tina Turner (with Phil Spector) cover "River Deep, Mountain High", which here in the original version is a completely other track with a running time of more than 10 minutes and showcasing the band's taste for experimental and progressive rock.
With the album, Deep Purple proves to be a band in strong progress. They're not just pale imitators of Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane but they also stumble along that treacherous no rules- experimental road where you easily find yourselves in a dead end street. There's still room for parts that sound like founded on the blues rock style of Hendrix and then there are also compositions that point more to (Frank Zappa and) The Mothers of Invention and Pink Floyd (track #5, "Shield" and track #6 "Anthem"). Furthermore, there are even bits that sound like inspired by The Walker Brothers, The Beatles and Neil Diamond, which all together makes it a (more than) difficult mish-mash of styles and genres like a documentation of sorts stating that this band can do everything anyone else can, but the end-result is not really suited for the album format.
It's definitely not all bad, I just never found the long progressive and experimental styles the most interesting parts of late 60s and early 1970s rock to be that exiting.
Definitely worth cheking out but mostly as a mere curiosity.

Deep Purple "Shades of Deep Purple" (1968)

Shades of Deep Purple [debut]
release date: Jul. 1968
format: cd (2011 remaster)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Derek Lawrence
label: Victor Entertainment, Japan - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "And the Address" - 2. "Hush" (5 / 5) - 8. "Hey Joe" (4 / 5)

Studio debut album by Deep Purple released on Tetragrammaton Records in the US released Sep. 1968 on Parlophone Records in the UK. The band consists of Rod Evans on lead vocals, Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Jon Lord on organ, and backing vocals, Nick Simper on bass and backing vocals, and with Ian Paice on drums.
The track "Hey Joe" is an early 1960s song written by Billy Roberts, which already had been covered by several artists. Jimi Hendrix probably made the best known version, which appears on his debut album from 1966, and that's the version that Deep Purple basically covers in their own version. The music on this is somewhat unique. The style is psychedelic rock and hard rock, and the inspiration is clearly Jimi Hendrix. Having said that, the band succeeds in altering that American blues rock based sound into a more hard rock universe with both room for Hammond organ and electric guitars. Another inspiration source is most likely Jefferson Airplane. Some praise the album as a huge source of inspiration but it really is a big pot of styles put together. The stand-out track here is "Hush", and also that is a cover written by Joe South for Billy Joe Royal, although, you should add that Deep Purple's version is a heavily altered version [here's the original]. The first two tracks and the last one are all strongly influenced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, whereas track #3 "One More Rainy Day" mostly just sounds like Neil Diamond, Scott Walker, and The Kinks with its bold baroque pop style; track #4 "Prelude: Happiness" is an experimental progressive rock fusion track; track #5 "Mandrake Root" starts out as The Doors blues rock but ends more as experimental psychedelic piece, and track #6 "Help!" is a Lennon / McCartney cover that only adds a bit of psychedelia to the the classic song; track #7 "Love Help Me" is more of The Who meets The Kinks meets Rolling Stones, thus making the album a bit of a melting pot of styles and influences.
I don't find the whole album that original, although, it has its moments, and especially with the highlighted tracks.

Best of 1968:Van Morrison "Astral Weeks" (1968)

Astral Weeks
release date: Nov. 1968
format: cd (1987 reissue)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,54]
producer: Lewis Merenstein
label: Warner Bros. - nationality: Northern Ireland, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Astral Weeks" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Beside You" - 3. "Sweet Thing" (5 / 5) (live) - 4. "Cyprus Avenue" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "The Way Young Lovers Do" - 6. "Madame George" (5 / 5) - 7. "Ballerina" - 8. "Slim Slow Slider"

2nd studio album by Van Morrison originally released by Warner Bros. Morrison's contractual obligations with Bang Records was a heavy thorn to get rid off and it had prevented him from performing and releasing his own material for some time [about his dispute with Bang], but eventually he made a more conscious signing with Warner Bros., which basically led him release the songs he wanted to. And what a change in style and sound compared to his work with Them and compared to his debut album released one year earlier.
The first reviews weren't all that positive, but that all changed during the 1970s, and the album is commonly regarded as a milestone of the late 1960s with its original blend of styles, and it has been mentioned by many stars of modern music - if not the very best of all, a highly influential album.
Naturally, the album is included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
The album is definitely in my top albums list of the year - for several years I had it fourth... then third, but frankly, today I have no doubts in putting this album at the very top and by that surpassing Hendrix' fourth album Electric Ladyland, The Beatles' White Album and the great debut by The Band - all great albums of 1968. For many years it was just outside my personal top 3 favourite albums by Morrison - surpassed by Moondance and Hymns to the Silence, but it may just be his best. In my opinion, it's an album that only grows with the knowledge of its very existence and essence. Then it may just grow with knowledge.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, The Independent 5 / 5 stars ]

1968 Favourite releases: 1. Van Morrison Astral Weeks - 2. Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland - 3. The Beatles The Beatles [The White Album]

Jimi Hendrix Experience "Electric Ladyland" (1968)

Electric Ladyland
release date: Oct. 16, 1968
format: vinyl 2 lp (1988 reissue?)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,38]
producer: Jimi Hendrix, Chas Chandler
label: Polydor Records - nationality: USA

3rd and final studio album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience originally released by Reprise (US) and Track (UK). The album is naturally included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

1968 Favourite releases: 1. Van Morrison Astral Weeks - 2. Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland - 3. The Beatles The Beatles [The White Album]

The Band "Music From Big Pink" (1968)

Music From Big Pink [debut]
release date: Jul. 1, 1968
format: cd (2004 SHM issue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]
producer: John Simon
label: Capitol Records - nationality: Canada

Tracklist: 1. "Tears of Rage" (4 / 5) - 2. "To Kingdom Come" - 3. "In a Station" - 4. "Caledonia Mission" - 5. "The Weight" (4 / 5) - 6. "We Can Talk" (4 / 5) - 7. "Long Black Veil" - 8. "Chest Fever" (4 / 5) - 9. "Lonesome Suzie" (4 / 5) - 10. "This Wheel's on Fire" - 11. "I Shall Be Relased"

Studio album debut by Canadian quintet The Band consisting of Richard Manuel on lead vocals, piano, (Hammond) organ, (Jamie) Robbie Robertson on electric and acoustic guitars and vocals, Rick Danko on bass, lead vocals and violin, Garth Hudson on (Lowrey) organ, soprano and tenor saxophone, clavinet and piano and with Levon Helm on drums and lead vocals. Four Canadians and one American (Helm of Arkansas, US).
Already here they simply showcase their musicianship - how well they knew all of their many instruments. And on top of that it's so impressive to listen to their vocals. The Band didn't have one particular lead singer as both Levon, Rick and Manuel could fill this part, although, the latter is the only one who could sing almost any kind of song with his broad register and is the only singer of the band who could equal the best vocalist of the 1960s.
The story of The Band's earliest incarnation playing as Levon and The Hawks (sometimes just The Hawks), consisting of Helm, Danko and Robertson from Ronnie and The Hawkins - who goes even longer back - is also the story of how American/Canadian rock and roll turned into r&b, folk rock and roots rock in the early 1960s. When Bob Dylan went electric ("betraying" the folk world), his backing band was almost identical to what became The Band. Helm reveals in his autobiography "Wheels of Fire" how they composed these songs, convinced they were to be released under the name of The Crackers, but a management decision changed all that to what they were referred to: "The Band" - the (infamous) backing band of Dylan.
Stylistically, it's really hard to narrow down 'cause these guys play on so many musical traditions, which will have enlist most of modern contemporary genres and styles. The outcome has become known as rhythm and blues, roots rock and folk rock with elements of country and soul.
I didn't come across this album until after listening to, or rather: watching the famous live "documentary" film "The Last Waltz" from 1976 by Martin Scorsese. I knew nothing of The Band, but knew a great deal of the performers on that occasion, and I simply adored that film from the first moment on.
I think, my first impression of Music From Big Pink was a bit bland. I never was a big fan of r&b, country or folk, but I kinda appreciated it for what it was: a bunch of skilled musicians playing... American music. Of course, I came to redefine my initial verdict. Each time I went back and listened to the music, I became increasingly soaked into its... soul, I guess. Today, I find it a gem of the days. It's not psychedelic nor blues rock like many of those days' representatives, but The Band goes its own way and builds on the music of great masters. It may contain great singles hits but the album itself is simply nothing but adorable and without fillers. A year later they would even go on and better this on their follow-up.
The album is rightfully enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and it has been lauded as one of the most influential albums of modern popular music by contemporary and present magazines and artists around the world.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone, MusicHound Rock 5 / 5 stars ]

Pink Floyd "A Saucerful of Secrets" (1968)

A Saucerful of Secrets
release date: Jun. 29, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Norman Smith
label: EMI Columbia - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Let There Be More Light" - 2. "Remember a Day"

2nd studio album by Pink Floyd is almost as iconic as the debut. It's the last studio album to feature founding member Syd Barrett who took part in the initial composing and recordings but was replaced by new member David Gilmour as Barrett's behaviour became too troublesome for the band. Apparently, he was severely afflicted by heavy LSD use (reportedly as the only member of the band), and he purposely untuned his guitar while playing, or he would refuse to play at all. Waters, Wright, and Gilmour rewrote most tracks for the album, and only one composition, track #7 "Juggband Blues" is by Barrett. The album is highly experimental, which peaks on the almost 12 minutes long title track. Like its predecessor, the album withstands mostly as a musical document.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone Music Guide, The Daily Telegraph 3 / 5 stars ]

Joni Mitchell "Song to a Seagull" (1968)

Song to a Seagull [debut]
release date: Mar. 1968
format: digital / vinyl (2023 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]
producer: David Crosby
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 1. "I Had a King" - 3. "Night in the City" - 5. "Nathan La Franeer" - 6. "Sisotowbell Lane" - 10. "Cactus Tree" (live)

Studio album debut by Canadian folk and singer / songwriter Joni Mitchell [aka Roberta Joan Anderson]. The original vinyl album's A-side is labelled "I Came to the City" (tracks 1-5), and the B-side: "Out of the City and Down to the Seaside" (tracks #6-10). Mitchell wrote all songs herself, and she is only accompanied by few others on just a couple of tracks.
Apparently, the album was released somewhat unnoticed despite the fact that Mitchell was already a familiar name for having written songs for other artist including Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, and Tom Rush, and the album just made it to the US Billboard 200 peaking at number #189.
I do find it more than ordinarily interesting, it may be slightly narrow in its sound, production, reflecting scarse arrangements, but it's definitely a fine album.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Jethro Tull "This Was" (1968)

This Was [debut]
release date: Oct. 25, 1968
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Terry Ellis, Jethro Tull
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "My Sunday Feeling" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "Beggars' Farm" - 9. "A Song for Jeffrey"

Studio album debut by the English quartet Jethro Tull. In retrospect, the band is almost synonymous with Ian Anderson but on this the band was not entirely in the hands of Anderson, as there was no clear leadership yet. The two songwriters of the band were guitarist and vocalist Mick Abrahams and Ian Anderson on flute, piano and vocals. The latter is credited on seven of the album's original 10 compositions, and Abrahams on four. Aside from these two the band consists of Glenn Cornick on bass, and with Clive Bunker on drums. The style is clearly blues rock founded but with influences from jazz, r&b, and folk, which makes it somewhat lacking a direction. Some compositions has a bold Hendrix-inspired blues rock and psychedelic rock style, whereas others are a mix of influences, even with Bob Dylan, The Band, and / or Buffalo Springfield folk styled music, which makes it difficult to consume as one whole album. The jazz element doesn't really help much, and it's rather peculiar as how a track like "Serenade to a Cuckoo", a jazz standard has found it's way to the album.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]