The Psychedelic Rock of the Late 1960s

The Psychedelic Rock of the Late 1960s was a unique and influential musical movement that left a lasting impression on popular culture. If you’re a fan of this genre, then check out this blog for the latest news and information on your favorite bands and artists.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several musical styles, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways.

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Beatles, released on 26 May 1967 on Parlophone in the United Kingdom and 2 June 1967 on Capitol Records in the United States. It was an immediate commercial and critical success, spending 27 weeks at the top of album charts in Britain and 15 weeks at number one in the United States.

The album was conceived as a return to the group’s earlier, less complicated approach to music. This approach had previously yielded their much-loved hits “Yesterday”, “Help!”, and “Eleanor Rigby”. The album’s title referred to Sgt. Pepper as a fictional character—a military bandleader who appears on stage to announce each track. To further distance themselves from their past, band members sporadically adopted alter egos that they assumed during performances—most famously, Bass guitarist/singer Paul McCartney became “Sergeant Pepper”, Lead guitarist George Harrison became “Billy Shears”, and Ringo Starr appeared as his own fictional drummer counterpart: “Ringo Larrigan”.

Although eighteen months passed between the start of recording and its eventual release in June 1967, Sgt. Pepper is widely regarded as one of the most innovative albums of all time for its broader engagement with popular culture, exploration of drug-related themes,acious”

The White Album

The Beatles’ ninth studio album, commonly known as “The White Album,” was released on November 22, 1968. The double album was a departure from the band’s previous work, with a more experimental and eclectic sound that incorporated aspects of psychedelic rock, country, and avant-garde music. It was initially met with mixed reviews from critics, but has since been hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time. The album features some of the band’s most popular songs, including “Revolution 9,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Birthday.”

The Rolling Stones

Formed in London in 1962, The Rolling Stones became the premier purveyors of rock and roll in the world. The band’s image was cemented with their iconic tongue and lips logo, and their famous album covers. The Rolling Stones were known for their wild live shows, and their hedonistic lifestyle. The Rolling Stones were one of the most influential bands of the 1960s and their music still resonates today.

Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet is considered by many fans and music critics alike to be one of the band’s best albums, and is often cited as a high point in their long-standing career. Featuring a mix of psychedelic rock, country, blues, and R&B, the album is a product of its time and place, providing a snapshot of the late 1960s counterculture. The album’s artwork is also iconic, depicting a toilet with the words “Beggars Banquet” scrawled on the wall.

Jimi Hendrix

Psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s. Musicians attempted to sonically represent the inner experience of psychoactive drugs. Common features of the genre include extended improvisation, experimental sound textures, and unusual changes in time signatures and tonality. Psychedelic rock often uses fairly complex chord progressions, compared to earlier rock music.

Electric Ladyland

Released in 1968, Electric Ladyland was Jimi Hendrix’s third and final studio album. Featuring a mix of live and studio recordings, the double album was Hendrix’s most experimental work to date, with a heavier focus on psychedelic rock.

While the album was not an immediate commercial success, it has since been hailed as one of the greatest rock albums of all time, and is considered Hendrix’s magnum opus. Tracks like “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” and “All Along the Watchtower” have become classics of the genre, and continue to be popular to this day.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band who were together from 1968 to 1980. The group was formed by guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant, who were later joined by John Paul Jones on bass and keyboards, and John Bonham on drums. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound has led them to be cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal.

Led Zeppelin IV

Released in late 1971, Led Zeppelin IV was a commercial and critical success. It featured the band’s most popular song, “Stairway to Heaven,” which was voted number three in 2000 by VH1 on its list of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time. It is Led Zeppelin’s best-selling album, with sales of more than 37 million copies worldwide.

The Who

The Who were an English rock band formed in 1964. They became known for their energetic live performances and hits such as “My Generation”, “Pinball Wizard”, and “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. The Who’s classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

Tommy

Tommy is The Who’s fourth studio album, released in May of 1969. The album is a rock opera that tells the story of a “deaf, dumb, and blind” boy, who becomes a pinball champion and prophet. Tommy was The Who’s most commercially and critically successful album to date. It peaked at #4 on the US Billboard 200 chart and #2 on the UK Albums Chart. In 1998, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.