Greyhounds "I (Who Have Nothing)" (1969) (single)

I (Who Have Nothing), 7'' single

release date: 1969

format: vinyl (SC 1106)

[single rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,60]

producer: ?

label: Scan-Disc - nationality: Sweden

Tracklist: A) "I (Who Have Nothing)" - - B) "Theme From the Wild Angels"

Single release from Swedish rock band Greyhounds. The A-side is credited 'Mogul - Donida - Leiber - Stoller'. Now, I know who Leiber & Stoller are. Mogul was a moniker for Italian songwriter Giulio Rapetti and Carlo Donida was an Italian composer and together they made the song "Uno dei tanti" ['One of the Many' / 'One Among Many'], which was transposed to English with new lyrics by songwriter-duo Jerome Leiber & Mike Stoller. The Italian song was originally performed by Joe Sentieri in 1961, and the translated version was initially performed by Ben E. King in 1963 [see more info on other versions here]. The B-side is credited Mike Curb, who made music to Roger Corman's 1966 film "The Wild Angels". There's not much other info on the vinyl labels or on the cover, which has identical sides, but the band appears to consisting of lead vocalist Bo Hellström, guitarist Roger Blomdahl, bassist Rolf Ahlin, keyboardist and vocalist Willy Björkman, and drummer Hasse Andersson.

This single probably comes from my older brother's record collection. I think, the cover somehow signals more than their music - and they could have only just watched Dennis Hopper's "Easy Rider", which premiered Jul. 1969, but most certainly knew of Corman's "The Wild Angels", in which the B-side original is found - and they try really hard to pose as a Swedish Steppenwolf copy.

I recall putting the single on the turntable as a kid and being disappointed about not really finding any enjoyment in it. Now, some five decades later, I still don't find much pleasure from it.

~ ~ ~

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.

Nick Drake "Five Leaves Left" (1969)

Five Leaves Left [debut]
release date: Sep. 1, 1969
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Joe Boyd
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Studio debut album by Nick Drake. On the album, Drake is accompanied by guitarist Richard Thompson (of Fairport Convention) and Danny Thompson (of Pentangle) and fine string arrangements arranged by Richard Hewson but aside from that it's just Drake's melancholic voice and acoustic guitar that are at the center of all compositions. The album is featured on a long list of renowned "all-time best albums" including Rolling Stone Magazine's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" and "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". Alas, Drake didn't experience much success in his lifetime but has become world famous long after his premature death from an overdose in 1974. Stylistically, the album is close to Leonard Cohen's debut album Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) more than any other folk album of the time. This is so great that one only wonders how the release could pass so unnoticed. The title of the album apparently is a "reference to the old Rizla cigarette papers packet – which used to contain a printed note near the end saying "Only five leaves left" (from wikipedia).
[ allmusic.com, SputnikMusic 5 / 5 stars ]

Tyrannosaurus Rex "Unicorn" (1969)

Unicorn
release date: May 16, 1969
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Ton Visconti
label: Regal Zonophone Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Chariots of Silk" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "The Seal of Seasons" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Cat Black (The Wizard's Hat)" - 7. "She Was Born to Be My Unicorn" - 11. "The Sea Beasts" - 12. "Iscariot"

3rd studio album release by Tyrannosaurus Rex. This is Bolan's final album with Steve Peregrine Took. The style is still influenced by baroque folk and the output is still mostly psychedelic folk, alhtough, Bolan has taken up a few electric experimentations and shorter compositions.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Frank Zappa / The Mothers of Invention "Mothermania - The Best of The Mothers" (1969)

Mothermania - The Best of The Mothers (compilation)
release date: Mar. 24, 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5]

A rather funny album compiled by Zappa. The majority of the tracks may be found on first three albums by Mothers of Invention, however, the tracks on the compilation are alternate tracks with different lyrics and / or playing time.

BEST OF 1969:Neil Young & Crazy Horse "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (1969)

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
release date: May 14, 1969
format: cd (2009 hdcd remaster)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,28]
producer: Neil Young, David Briggs
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada

Tracklist: 1. "Cinnamon Girl" (5 / 5) - 2. "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Round And Round (It Won't Be Long)" (4 / 5) - 4. "Down by the River" (4 / 5) - 5. "The Losing End (When You're On)" - 6. "Running Dry (Requiem for the Rockets)" - 7. "Cowgirl in the Sand" (4,5 / 5)

2nd studio album by Neil Young released as Neil Young & Crazy Horse. This is the first real collaboration work with Crazy Horse consisting of Danny Whitten on guitar and harmony vocals (co-lead on "Cinnamon Girl"), Billy Talbot on bass and with Ralph Molina on drums and harmony vocals. Neil wrote all lyrics and music, which is why the album figures as a mere solo album. This is his first major / essential album, and it brought him to the super league of folk rock - it's the first time he really shines through. The style is more electrified blues rock as all his later albums made with Crazy Horse.
The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

My older brother had the original vinyl lp, and it's the first entire album that I heard with Neil Young. I liked it then - I was only 12-14yo, but later I understood how good it really is, and that's like really great. I think it's one of his top 3 best albums and as such: a must have.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone Music Guide 5 / 5 stars ]

1969 Favourite releases: 1. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - 2. The Band The Band - 3. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poorboys

~ ~ ~

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.

Deep Purple "Deep Purple" (1969)

Deep Purple
release date: Jun. 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Derek Lawrence
label: Harvest Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Chasing Shadows" - 5. "Why Didn't Rosemary?"

3rd studio album by Deep Purple is also known as 'Deep Purple III', and its the last album to feature the original line-up of the band. Stylistically, the band experiments even more on this one, or at least so it seems. Arguments during studio recordings on what direction to choose finally led to a change of band members after the release. The band had faced huge success playing both psychedelic rock inspired by Jimi Hendrix but also for contributing with an experimental progressive rock attitude, which is strongest on this album. Basically, the band had been on a search for their trademark over the first three albums, exploring a vast variety of styles and genres without really making it any clearer. The original line-up would later become known as the 'Mark I' constitution of the band, but already one month after the album release, both vocalist Rod Evans and bassist Nick Simper would be replaced to turn the band in the direction of hard rock.
I don't fancy this album nor their take on what one may see as a classical music fusion approach. Numerous of artist did that at the time. Also, another great British act, Pink Floyd started out playing highly experimental rock progressive rock and psychedelic rock before finding their own unique sound.
I find this to be somewhat dull, uninspiring experiments, and perhaps more accurately something that sounds more like mere studio improvisations. One of the most fascinating things about the album is its front cover showing a detail of the right panel of the triptych 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' painted in the late 15th century by Dutch master Hieronymus Bosch.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, PopMatters 3/ 5 stars ]

David Bowie "David Bowie [Space Oddity]" (1969)

David Bowie [Space Oddity]
release date: Nov. 4, 1969
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,96]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: EMI Japan - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Space Oddity" (5 / 5) - 2. "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed" - 4. "Letter to Hermione" - 7. "An Occasional Dream" - 10. "Memory of a Free Festival"

2nd studio album by David Bowie and the first to be produced by Tony Visconti. The album was originally released on Philips Records as David Bowie. In 1972, after Bowie had signed with RCA Records, RCA reissued the album as Space Oddity (leaving out track #3, "Don't Sit Down").
Now with Visconti as producer the sound appears tighter, more energetic, and Bowie has moved away from the Britishness of baroque pop, which was quite typical for the period, and instead he has fused the album with blues rock elements and more straight-forward compositions founded on more traditional rock & roll instrumentation - perhaps influenced by a more American traditional style, also delivered by The Rolling Stones. Fleetwood Mac and The Who. The obvious hit on the album is "Space Oddity", which was Bowie's first hit song making it to number #5 on the national singles chart list, however, the remaining songs are somewhat distanced from that single, and the album comes out as a bit unfocused without a clear style or direction. Some tracks are pure blues rock compositions with what appears as a distinct The Doors inspiration, whereas other tracks are more subdued psychedelic pop songs completely without the rock tension.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Pink Floyd "Ummagumma" (1969) (live)

Ummagumma (live)
release date: Oct. 25, 1969
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 2 / 5]
producer: Pink Floyd, Norman Smith
label: Harvest Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: "Grantchester Meadows" - "The Narrow Way (Part 1)"

4th studio album by Pink Floyd released four months after the band's soundtrack album More to a movie by Barbet Schroeder (dealing with youth and heroin addiction). The album was released as a double lp (sold at the price of one normal album) with disc 1 as the recording of four live tracks, and with disc 2 featuring five new studio recordings. I recall this album from my brother's lp collection and an album he played frequently in the 1970s. The studio cd contains tracks composed exclusively by all four band members starting off with "Sysyphus (Part 1-4)" by Richard Wright - four pieces of highly experimental instrumental music (touching on modern classical), followed by two tracks by Roger Waters, "Grantchester Meadows", the finest track on the album in a blend of folk pop and psychedelic baroque pop, and the track "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict", which again is a highly experimental track of sounds and noises. followed by "The Narrow Way (Part 1-3)" (of different styles of instrumental and mostly harmonic music) written by David Gilmour, and ending with three experimental pieces "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party (Part 1-3)" by Nick Mason.

Well, my guess is that the album's popularity at the time of release had to do with the band's mix of highly experimental rock combined with chunks of more ordinary music, putting the band at the edge of creativity as avant-garde of pop / rock and as European counterparts to Frank Zappa. Today, I only find it somewhat amusing but generally of little musical interest.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, The Daily Telegraph 3 / 5 stars ]

Johnny Cash & June Carter "If I Were a Carpenter" (1969) (single)

If I Were a Carpenter, 7'' single

release date: Dec. 1969

format: vinyl (1970 reissue)

[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]

producer: Bob Johnston

label: CBS - nationality: USA

Tracklis: A) "If I Were a Carpenter" (4 / 5) (live) - - B) " 'Cause I Love You"

Single by Johnny Cash & June Carter taken from the album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash (Dec. 1969).

The single was part of my parents' record collection, and I got this with a bunch of other singles and lps at some point in the mid to late 1970s.

~ ~ ~

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.

Joni Mitchell "Clouds" (1969)

Clouds
release date: May 1, 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,07]
producer: Joni Mitchell, Paul A. Rothchild
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 3. "I Don't Know Where I Stand" - 4. "That Song About the Midway" - 8. "Songs to Aging Children Come" (3,5 / 5) - 10. "Both Sides, Now"

2nd studio album by Joni Mitchell is a fine acoustic folk and singer / songwriter album. The arrangements to Joni's singing voice are with little or no other additional instrumentation but her acoustic guitar like was the case on her debut album. I find this a more introvert and gloomier album than her acclaimed debut. This seems like the weaker difficult follow-up to a strong first album. However, the album was well-received, reaching number #22 in Canada and number #31 in the US and Mitchell was awarded a Grammy for Best Folk Performance in 1969.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Leonard Cohen "Songs From a Room" (1969)

Songs From a Room
release date: Apr. 7, 1969
format: cd (1998 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,34]
producer: Bob Johnston
label: Columbia Records - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 1. "Bird on the Wire" (4 / 5) - 4. "The Partisan" - 5. "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy" - 6. "The Old Revolution" - 7. "The Butcher" - 9. "Lady Midnight"

2nd studio album by Leonard Cohen is an even more minimalist release, which mostly just focuses on Cohen's voice supported by his own classical guitar strumming and barely noticeable banjo, bass and violin. Apparently, Cohen felt his debut album had been recorded with too many instruments and wanted a more spartan sound.
The album is another fine collection of strong compositions, though it does feel somewhat anonymous - perhaps because some songs lack strong individual traits that distinguish them from other songs on the album. The album is his least deserved to be included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, Uncut 3 / 5 stars ]

The Band "The Band" (1969)

The Band
release date: Sep. 22, 1969
format: cd (2000 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,18]
producer: John Simon
label: Capitol Records - nationality: Canada

Tracklist: 1. "Across the Great Divide" - 2. "Rag Mama Rag" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" (5 / 5) - 4. "When You Awake" - 5. "Up on Cripple Creek" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "Whispering Pines" - 7. "Jemima Surrender" (4 / 5 ) - 8. "Rockin' Chair" (4 / 5) - 9. "Look Out Cleveland" - 10. "Jawbone" (5 / 5) - 11. "The Unfaithful Servant" - 12. "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)"

2nd studio album by The Band recorded at a rented house in Hollywood belonging to Sammy Davis Jr. The 2000 remaster contain 7 bonus tracks primarily consisting of alternate takes. The album simply continue the style that was established with Music From Big Pink, but in a tighter and more homogeneous sounding shape, which binds all compositions together with well-defined borders. They build on the roots of rock & roll tying it all together in a unique blend, and they continue to demonstrate their musical skills as singers, instrumentalists and arrangers.
After the succes of their debut album they took part of the famous Woodstock festival of '68, although, they declined to take part in the film that was made documenting many other great artists of the time, and later they also played at the first Isle of Wight Festival.
The album was met by positive reviews by the press and it sold better than the debut, however, it has only gained critical and artistic acclaim since its release and has come to be cherished as milestone of rock and folk rock history.
As was the case with the songwriting credits on Music From Big Pink, the majority of these songs are credited Robbie Robertson, and that became an ever-growing point to conflict. In Levon Helm's autobiography "This Wheel's on Fire: Levon Helm and the Story of The Band" (1993), Helm points to his and the other band members' dissatisfaction about composer rights, as nearly all their own songs, according to Helm, in most cases were the results of mutual work. He accuses Robertson of having claimed credit to songs that would not have seen the light of day without more substantial input from either Manuel, Danko, Hudson or himself, who weren't even mentioned as co-writers on compositions when the albums were released.
The album is simply wonderful and one of the finest accomplishments of the 1960s. Just listen to "Whispering Pines" or "Jawbone" and tell me, which singer of the era that would equal Manuel... or listen to Helm's perfect southern hoarseness on "The Night They Drove..." and "...Cripple Creek". It's so great to hear this group play folk rock, country, rhythm & blues and americana when everyone else were playing psychedelic rock , garage rock, baroque pop or jazz pop. They played with such finesse and with the greatest respect to the origins of popular music, and I also end up feeling lighter and in a better mood after putting this one on.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine, MusicHound it 5 / 5 stars ]

1969 Favourite releases: 1. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - 2. The Band The Band - 3. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poorboys

Jethro Tull "Stand Up" (1969)

Stand Up
release date: Aug. 1, 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Ian Anderson, Terry Ellis
label: Island Records / Chrysalis (reissue) - nationality: England

Track highlights: 1. "A New Day Yesterday" - 3. "Bourée" (4 / 5) (live) - 6. "Nothing Is Easy" (3 / 5) - 9. "Reasons for Waiting" (3 / 5) - 10. "For a Thousand Mothers" (3 / 5)

2nd studio album by Jethro Tull originally released on Island Records, and reissued on Chrysalis in '73. Before this album founding guitarist and songwriter Mick Abrahams left the band due to conflicting ideas about musical direction with Ian Anderson. Abrahams was then replaced by one of the best known members, Martin Barre on guitar and flute, who is the only other member beside Anderson to be in the band from the early 1970s and throughout to modern times. The debut album This Was (1968) is blues rock and r&b-inspired, whereas this has a more progressive rock-styled blues and folk rock, which is more like the band's later albums' although, this is still much more blues rock based than any of their later albums. I have only come to know of this album within the last 10-15 years and didn't know that the album actually went as high as to number #1 on the UK albums chart list. One of the band's most famous instrumental arrangements, "Bourée" (by J.S. Bach) is found on an album that points in (too) many directions. The album starts out with "A New Day Yesterday", which clearly is inspired by blues rock by Jimi Hendrix, and continues in folk rock and psychedelic rock compositions blended with classical, celtic folk, and elements of progressive rock. All tracks are credited Ian Anderson.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Toots & The Maytals "Sweet and Dandy" (1969)

Sweet and Dandy
release date: 1969
format: digital (1998 reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Leslie Kong
label: Jet Set Records - nationality: Jamaica

Tracklist: 1. "Monkey Man" (5 / 5) - 2. "Pressure Drop" (5 / 5) - 3. "I Shall Be Free" - 4. "Bla Bla Bla" (4 / 5) - 5. "Just Tell Me" - 6. "We Shall Overcome" - 7. "Sweet & Dandy" - 8. "Scare Him" - 9. "Alidina" (4 / 5) - 10. "I Need Your Love" - 11. "54-46 That's My Number" (4 / 5) - 12. "Oh Yeah"

3rd studio album by The Maytals - the first as Toots & The Maytals, and the first to feature material almost entirely written by vocalist Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert. The album was originally released on Beverley's Records founded and owned by [legendary] Chinese Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, and in 1998 reissued on cd by Jet Set Records.
This album is one of the absolute best ever studio releases of rocksteady and Jamaican ska. "Monkey Man" was a favourite cover song by The Specials and later Amy Winehouse, "Pressure Drop" has been covered by many including Robert Palmer and my personal favourite: The punk reggae version by The Clash. That song is together with the title track "Sweet & Dandy" and "I Need Your Love" music that forecast the genre of reggae.