Psychedelic Rock and Reggae – The Perfect Soundtrack for Your Summer
Psychedelic rock and reggae are the perfect genres to soundtrack your summer. Here are some of our favorite tracks to help you get started.
Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also called psychedelia, is a diverse style of rock music characterized by distorted guitars, lyrics about mind-altering experiences and drug use, sitars, and other Indian instrumentation. The genre emerged during the mid-1960s with British and American bands experimenting with psychedelic drugs.
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, are regarded as the most influential band of all time. With a sound rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the group later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. Their clothes, styles, and hairstyles also set trends worldwide.
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s, mostly because of Morrison’s lyrics and wild personality, and the group was widely regarded as an important part of the counterculture of the time.
Although they released just six studio albums during their five-year career, The Doors had a significant impact on popular music. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1967 and shot to No. 2 on the Billboard charts; it included the breakout singles “Light My Fire” and “Break On Through (To the Other Side)”. The follow-up, 1967’s Strange Days, also reached the Top 10 and yielded the hit singles “People Are Strange” and “Love Me Two Times”. 1968’s Waiting for the Sun peaked at No. 3 on the charts and produced their only No. 1 hit, “Hello, I Love You”.
Jimi Hendrix
Few artists are as closely associated with the psychedelic sound and lifestyle as Jimi Hendrix. The pioneering electric guitarist used feedback, distortion, wah-wah, and other effects to create some of the most iconic sounds in rock history. His musicianship was so far ahead of its time that it’s still influencing guitarists today. If you want to get a taste of what psychedelic rock is all about, start with Jimi Hendrix.
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term reggae is derived from the word rege-rege, which is a Rastafarian term for “the king’s music”. Reggae is characterized by a slow, relaxed tempo, and a heavy bass sound. The lyrics are often about love, social issues, and politics.
Bob Marley
Bob Marley is without a doubt the most famous reggae artist of all time. His music is infused with social and political commentary, and his laid-back sound is perfect for summertime listening.Marley’s biggest hits include “No Woman, No Cry,” “One Love,” and “Could You Be Loved.” But really, any of his songs will make you feel the good vibes.
The Wailers
The Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band created by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. The band started out as a ska group in 1963 and soon began to play reggae music. The Wailers became one of the most successful reggae bands of all time, selling over 250 million records worldwide.
The Wailers were one of the most popular reggae bands in the world and were known for their distinctive sound. The Wailers’ unique blend of reggae, ska and rocksteady set them apart from other reggae bands of the time.
The Wailers’ debut album, Catch a Fire, was released in 1973 and is considered to be one of the greatest reggae albums of all time. The album was produced by Chris Blackwell and featured some of the Wailers’ most famous songs, including “Stir It Up” and “Get Up, Stand Up”.
The Wailers continued to have success with their next two albums, Burnin’ (1973) and Natty Dread (1974). These albums featured more political lyrics than Catch a Fire and cemented the Wailers as one of the most important reggae bands of all time.
Ziggy Marley
Ziggy Marley is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician, and producer who was born on October 17, 1968, in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica. The son of Bob Marley and Rita Anderson, Ziggy was raised in the Christian faith and attended school at Miami’s PACE Academy. As a teenager, he played drums in his father’s band, The Wailers. Ziggy’s solo career began in 1979 with the release of his debut album, “Bob Marley & The Wailers Live!”. His self-titled sophomore album followed in 1985 and included the hit single “Children Playing in the Streets”. Ziggy has gone on to release 13 solo albums, including 4 Grammy-winning albums. He is also a member of the supergroup Mighty Diamonds.
