1968’s Best Black Psychedelic Rock Bands
Contents
Looking for the best black psychedelic rock bands of 1968? Here’s a list of the top groups from that groundbreaking year in music.
Introduction
In 1968, a new type of rock music began to emerge from the underground clubs and basements of America. This music was characterized by its heavy use of distorted guitars, extended soloing, and experimental instrumentation. It would come to be known as psychedelic rock, and it would revolutionize the sound of popular music.
Psychedelic rock was not created in a vacuum; it was heavily influenced by the work of black musicians who had been experimenting with similar sounds for years. Funk, soul, and R&B were all major sources of inspiration for psychedelic rock bands. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and other British Invasion groups were also influenced by black music, and they in turn helped to popularize black musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
In 1968, there was a veritable explosion of black psychedelic rock bands. Some, like Sly & the Family Stone and Parliament-Funkadelic, would go on to become legends. Others, like Iron Butterfly and the Chambers Brothers, would enjoy only a few years of success before fading into obscurity. But all of these bands shared a vision that would change the course of popular music forever.
The Best Black Psychedelic Rock Bands of 1968
Psychedelic rock music was at its peak in 1968, with many bands experimenting with new sounds and styles. This was also the year that many black psychedelic rock bands emerged, bringing a new perspective to the genre. Here are some of the best black psychedelic rock bands of 1968.
The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs are an English rock band founded in 1977. The founding members were Richard Butler (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Butler (bass guitar), Duncan Kilburn (saxophone), and Paul Wilson (drums). By 1979, they had added John Ashton (guitar) and Vince Ely (drums) to the lineup. The band’s name comes from a definition in Nik Cohn’s 1972 book Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom: “Psychedelic: relating to or denoting drugs such as LSD and mescaline that produce hallucinations and apparent expansion of consciousness.”
The Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes were an American garage rock band, formed in California in 1965. Originally a surf and hot rod-influenced garage rock band, they released their debut album in early 1967 to little fanfare. However, their second album, released later that year, was a different story altogether. The album, entitled “I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)”, featured the title track – a reworking of a song originally written by Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz – which became a massive hit, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album itself was also a hit, reaching #11 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The band’s follow-up album, “Release of an Oath”, was not as successful as its predecessor, but still managed to reach #39 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band’s final album, 1968’s “JustGoodbye”, failed to make any impact on the charts and the group disbanded shortly thereafter.
Despite their short time together and lack of commercial success beyond their two biggest hits, The Electric Prunes are often cited as one of the best black psychedelic rock bands of 1968.
The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers are an American soul band, best known for their 11-minute 1968 hit “Time Has Come Today”. The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock influences. Originally from Mississippi, the Chambers Brothers moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, where they became part of the city’s vibrant music scene.
The Chambers Brothers were one of the first black psychedelic rock bands, and their unique sound helped to pioneer the genre. The group’s music is characterized by its blend of spiritual themes with psychedelic grooves, and their live shows were known for their intense improvisational jams. The band released a series of successful albums in the late 1960s and early 1970s, before disbanding in 1974.
Despite their relatively short career, the Chambers Brothers were a hugely influential band, and their music has continued to resonate with listeners over the decades. If you’re looking for some mind-expanding black psychedelic rock from 1968, look no further than the Chambers Brothers!
Conclusion
In conclusion, there were many great black psychedelic rock bands in 1968. Each band brought their own unique style and sound to the genre, and helped to shape the sound of psychedelic rock for years to come.
