Fifty-plus years is a long time. Many of you haven’t been alive that long. Here are a few record albums that I discovered back in the 1960s or early 1970s that I’ve played maybe hundreds of times and have them close by my stereo.
Music aligns like steps in our lives. It helps us during critical times, bookmarks events and occasions, and even points the way to understanding things beyond our boundaries and reaches of our experiences.
Here are five or more that feel like longtime friends.
Donovan, Donovan’s Greatest Hits (1969)
Donovan made the leap from folkie to pop artist in the 1960s, grabbing onto the psychedelic moment to tap into late 60’s higher consciousness seeking. His songs could be sweet or trippy, and his lyrics very Dylanesque. He wrote some very straightforward acoustic songs and alternated those with lavish productions, enlisting burgeoning stars like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and John Paul Jones to work on his sessions. Donovan was a perfect voice of the 1960’s.
Favorite songs: “Wear Your Love Like Heaven”, Jennifer Juniper”, “Lalana”
Side One
“Epistle to Dippy” – 3:08
“Sunshine Superman” (long version) – 4:32
“There Is a Mountain” – 2:33
“Jennifer Juniper” – 2:40
“Wear Your Love Like Heaven” – 2:23
“Season of the Witch” – 4:54
Side Two
“Mellow Yellow” – 3:37
“Colours” (1968 version) – 4:10
“Hurdy Gurdy Man” – 3:15
“Catch the Wind” (1968 version) – 5:01
“Laléna” – 2:54
Paul McCartney, McCartney (1970)
Much has been written about this homemade bit of McCartney pop that confounded both fans and critics when it was released. It’s always been delightful, unpretentious and charming. Bigger and grander is not always better. From start to finish, this earnest and endearing set of confessionals and slices of his past life stroke an intimacy with songwriting from the heart. A favorite track: “Junk”, “Man We Was Lonely”
Side one
“The Lovely Linda” – 0:43
“That Would Be Something” – 2:38
“Valentine Day” – 1:39
“Every Night” – 2:31
“Hot as Sun/Glasses” – 2:07
“Junk” – 1:54
“Man We Was Lonely” – 2:56
Side two
“Oo You” – 2:48
“Momma Miss America” – 4:04
“Teddy Boy” – 2:22
“Singalong Junk” – 2:34
“Maybe I’m Amazed” – 3:53
“Kreen-Akrore” – 4:15
Simon & Garfunkel, Bookends (1968)
A short album, clicking in at just under 30 minutes, but Simon & Garfunkel always packed a ton into a three minute song. These songs sound so deceptively simple, that’s because they instantly find a home in your head; upon deeper reflection you get the poetic tomes of the lyrics. The arrangements were not usually complex, Simon played guitar and a few talented session players helped to fill out the arrangements. Some dismiss this album as a couple of hits and filler, but it’s a smart, hip and swingin’ album.
Favorite song: “Bookends Theme”, “At the Zoo”, “Hazy Shade of Winter”
Side one
“Bookends Theme” March 8, 1968 0:32
“Save the Life of My Child” December 14, 1967 2:49
“America” February 1, 1968 3:35
“Overs” October 16, 1967 2:14
“Voices of Old People” February 6, 1968 2:07
“Old Friends” March 8, 1968 2:36
“Bookends Theme” March 8, 1968 1:16
Side two
“Fakin’ It” June 1967 3:17
“Punky’s Dilemma” October 5, 1967 2:12
“Mrs. Robinson” (from the motion picture The Graduate) February 2, 1968 4:02
“A Hazy Shade of Winter” September 7, 1966 2:17
“At the Zoo” January 8, 1967 2:23
The Beatles, The White Album (1968)
The White Album needs no introduction. It wasn’t until 1971 or 1972 until I became familiar with this album. The wealth of material was incredible, diverse song styles, simple and complex arrangements were side by side. While there are a few weaker moments, every song is important to the overall story of this album and The Beatles’ experience. I played this album all the way through and then started over again. The writing in these songs stirred my own creativity and desire to look past the fence line.
Favorite song: “Martha My Dear”, “I Will” “Back in the USSR”
Side one
“Back in the U.S.S.R.” McCartney 2:43
“Dear Prudence” Lennon 3:56
“Glass Onion” Lennon 2:18
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” McCartney 3:08
“Wild Honey Pie” McCartney 0:52
“The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” Lennon with Yoko Ono 3:14
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (George Harrison) Harrison 4:45
“Happiness Is a Warm Gun” Lennon 2:47
Side two
“Martha My Dear” McCartney 2:28
“I’m So Tired” Lennon 2:03
“Blackbird” McCartney 2:18
“Piggies” (Harrison) Harrison 2:04
“Rocky Raccoon” McCartney 3:33
“Don’t Pass Me By” (Richard Starkey) Starr 3:51
“Why Don’t We Do It in the Road?” McCartney 1:41
“I Will” McCartney 1:46
“Julia” Lennon 2:57
Side three
“Birthday” McCartney with Lennon 2:42
“Yer Blues” Lennon 4:01
“Mother Nature’s Son” McCartney 2:48
“Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey” Lennon 2:24
“Sexy Sadie” Lennon 3:15
“Helter Skelter” McCartney 4:30
“Long, Long, Long” (Harrison) Harrison 3:08
Side four
“Revolution 1″ Lennon 4:15
“Honey Pie” McCartney 2:41
“Savoy Truffle” (Harrison) Harrison 2:54
“Cry Baby Cry” Lennon with McCartney 3:02
“Revolution 9″ Speaking from Lennon, Harrison, Ono and George Martin 8:22
“Good Night” Starr 3:14
The Rolling Stones, Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (1969)
These songs from the second half of the 1960s closed out the first version of the Stones. The album also gathered several stand-alone singles on an LP. What a range of styles, but the cream of the 1960s. The Stones were the bad boys and there was something daring in their lyrics and vibe. These songs were summertime radio favorites, and still have that magic.
Favorite song: “Paint it Back”, “Mother’s Little Helper”, “Ruby Tuesday”
Side one
“Paint It Black” – 3:20 (from Aftermath)
“Ruby Tuesday” – 3:12 (from Between the Buttons)
“She’s a Rainbow” – 4:35 (from Their Satanic Majesties Request)
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” – 3:40 (from London single 908)
“Mother’s Little Helper” – 2:40 (from Flowers)
“Let’s Spend the Night Together” – 3:29 (from Between the Buttons)
Side two
“Honky Tonk Women” – 3:03 (from London single 910)
“Dandelion” – 3:56 (from London single 905)
“2000 Light Years from Home” – 4:45 (from Their Satanic Majesties Request)
“Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?” – 2:33 (from Flowers)
“Street Fighting Man” – 3:10 (from Beggars Banquet)
Honorable mention:
America, America (1972)
Jethro Tull, Benefit (1971)
Carole King, Tapestry (1970)
The Monkees, More of the Monkees (1967)
James Gang, James Gang Rides Again (1970)
Ticket 2 Ride 
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