The 10 Essential Psychedelic Rock Albums

Discover the 10 essential psychedelic rock albums that every fan must have in their collection. From The Beatles to Pink Floyd, these are the albums that defined the genre.

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Not only is it the album that cemented The Beatles’ status as psychedelic pioneers, but it’s also widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. Although it wasn’t the first album to experiment with psychedelic sounds – that distinction goes to The Beach Boys’ Smile, which was shelved and not released until 2011 – it was the first to do so with such confidence and success.

Featuring classics like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “With a Little Help from My Friends,” and “A Day in the Life,” Sgt. Pepper’s is an album that seamlessly blends together pop hooks, avant-garde sound collages, and studio wizardry. It’s an album that changed the course of popular music, and its influence can still be felt today.

The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966)

Arguably the greatest album of the 20th century, ‘Pet Sounds’ is a relentlessly inventive and emotionally powerful tour de force. The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson takes on the Wrecking Crew – with a little help from his friends – to create an achingly beautiful, studio-bound masterpiece that would influence everyone from Paul McCartney to The Flaming Lips.

The Doors – The Doors (1967)

The debut album from The Doors, this is the record that announced to the world that “the sixties are over,” as Jim Morrison memorably sings on the opening track. It’s a fitting sentiment for an album that is simultaneously an homage to and a departure from the psychedelic pop sound of the mid-60s. The Doors are indebted to the past, but they’re also ready to move on and create something new.

Full of dark bluesy riffs, haunted melodies, and Morrison’s proto-punk poetry, The Doors is a unique and timeless record that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of 1967. From the anthemic “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” to the eerie balladry of “The End,” this is a record that showcases The Doors at their very best.

Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced (1967)

Widely considered one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix’s debut album with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced, is a must for any fan of psychedelic rock. The album features some of Hendrix’s most iconic tracks, including “Purple Haze”, “Fire”, and “The Wind Cries Mary”, and is a perfect example of his innovative style and technique that would later garner him critical acclaim and influence an entire generation of guitarists.

Love – Forever Changes (1967)

Love’s Forever Changes is one of the most beautifully sad albums ever made. Featuring Arthur Lee’s gorgeous baritone, the record is a perfect encapsulation of the pain and longing of lost love. From the ode to Lee’s heroin addiction “She Comes in Colors” to the reflective “Alone Again Or”, Forever Changes is an unforgettable album that deserves its place in the pantheon of great psychedelic rock records.

The Mothers of Invention – Freak Out! (1966)

The debut album from The Mothers of Invention was a shocking assault on the senses, both musically and lyrically. It was also the first truly great psychedelic rock album, offering mind-bending sonic experiments and social commentary that were years ahead of their time. The influence of Freak Out! can be heard in everything from the work of Frank Zappa to contemporary psychedelic bands like Tame Impala.

Pink Floyd – The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)

It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of Pink Floyd’s 1967 debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Not only is it one of the most essential psychedelic rock albums, it’s also one of the most essential rock albums period. The Floyd were always a unique and innovative band, but on this album they were truly in a class by themselves, creating a sound and style that was completely their own.

From the ethereal beauty of “See Emily Play” to the dark psychedelic trip of “Interstellar Overdrive,” The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is an album that never fails to mesmerize and amaze. If you’re looking for a starting point into the world of psychedelic rock, there is no better place to start than here.

The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)

The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)

The Stones’ ambitious and psychedelic Their Satanic Majesties Request is a bit of an anomaly in their catalog. Nevertheless, it’s an essential listen for any fan of classic rock, and features some of the band’s most experimental work. From the transporting opener “Sing This All Together (See What Happens)” to the dreamy “She’s a Rainbow” to the trippy closer “2000 Light Years from Home,” The Stones explore different sonic territory on Their Satanic Majesties Request, growing as a band in the process.

The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

There’s no band that embodies the dark side of psychedelia better than the Velvet Underground. Their 1967 debut album – featuring the inimitable Nico on lead vocals – is a masterpiece of avant-garde sound, blending elements of pop, rock, and art into a totally unique whole. From the menacing drone of “Venus in Furs” to the pop perfection of “All Tomorrow’s Parties”, this is an essential album for any fan of psychedelic rock.

The Zombies – Odyssey and Oracle (1968)

The Zombies’ Odyssey and Oracle is the calculates result of art school friends who spent years refining their pop craft in obscurity, finally hitting upon a winning formula with a sound that’d define them for the ages. It’s psychedelic in the most classical sense of the word, with an underpinning of Mellotron-drenched baroque pop reminiscent of the Moody Blues – “Care of Cell 44,” in particular, could have easily fit on Days of Future Passed – while Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent bring a human warmth to their delivery that keeps it from becoming overly cerebral. The real star, though, is arranger/producer Paul Atkinson, whose innovative string and horn charts help turn already excellent songs like “Brief Candles” and “Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914)” into near-perfect miniature symphonies.