Music news for January 1968
Johnny Cash records live at Folsom State Prison in California. Jimi Hendrix got in a drunken fight with Noel Redding and was jailed by Stockholm police. The Beatles’ “Hello, Goodbye” and Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fool were number one hits.
Top 500 Albums of All-Time for January 1968
“The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat” https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/2a5vbe7uTRGAshFI80sfAl?utm_source=generator
“Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul” https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/7lEOKZaOpqP70UYqdLPejG?utm_source=generator
Album Rewind Picks of the Month for January 1968
“Taj Mahal – Taj Mahal” https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/0kEaFupzvrGdcczROS519i?utm_source=generator
“Steppenwolf – Steppenwolf” https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/64q58AfjSrrX9Egp7Zryw8?utm_source=generator
Tier ranking of my top 5 albums of January 1968
S Tier: Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul (soul)
A Tier: Taj Mahal – Taj Mahal (blues)
B Tier: Steppenwolf – Steppenwolf (psychedelic rock, blues rock) ///// Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat ///// Miles Davis – Nefertiti (jazz)
C Tier: None
Notable albums that didn’t make my top 5: Dr. John – Gris Gris /// The Byrds – The Notorious Byrd Brothers /// Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum
Two albums for pick of the month: The debut albums from both Steppenwolf and Taj Mahal. Up to this point I’ve only had one album for pick of the month and sometimes it’s difficult to find one. I enjoyed both of these albums so much that I couldn’t pick just one. Some great psychedelic/blues rock from Steppenwolf and some great electric blues from Taj Mahal.
A bit overrated: The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat. I like hard rock, punk and heavy metal, but I just can’t get into “noise rock” and that’s what this album is. This is one of those albums that I can understand why it’s considered a top album of all-time and groundbreaking for it’s time, but it’s just not my thing.
My favorite songs from January 1968:
- Taj Mahal – Leaving Trunk
- Taj Mahal – Checkin’ Up On My Baby
- Steppenwolf – Sookie, Sookie
- Steppenwolf – Born to be Wild
- Steppenwolf – The Pusher
- Aretha Franklin – Chain of Fools
- Aretha Franklin – (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone
- The Velvet Underground – Here She Comes Now
- Miles Davis – Nefertiti
- Miles Davis – Fall