Nuggets: Psychedelic Rock from the 60s and 70s
Contents
Nuggets is a compilation album of psychedelic rock songs from the 1960s and 1970s. It was first released as a double LP in 1972 by Elektra Records.
Psychedelic Rock Basics
Psychedelic rock, also called acid rock or simply psychedelic rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The genre is often associated with the use of psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, and is characterized by distorted guitars, trippy lyrics, and mind-bending sound effects.
Defining Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic rock began in the mid-1960s with British and American bands experimenting with different sounds, techniques, and effects.
The psychedelic experience is often associated with the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin mushrooms. Psychedelic rock music often contains elements of these experiences, including distorted guitars, extended instrumentals, and unconventional vocalizations. The genre emerged in the 1960s amid the social upheaval of the counterculture movement and quickly spread to other parts of the world.
Psychedelic rock generally eschews traditional song structures and conventional lyrical themes in favor of extended improvisation and sound experimentation. The genre is often synonymous with acid rock, which refers to a specific subgenre that emphasizes prolonged guitar solos and heaviness. Psychedelic rock has also been closely linked with progressive rock, since both genres share a similar focus on experimentation and innovation.
The Birth of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It originated in the United States and Britain, and quickly spread to other parts of the world. The term “psychedelic” (derived from the Greek word for “mind-revealing”) refers to the experience of seeing “beyond ordinary reality” through the use of drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline. Psychedelic rock attempts to replicate this experience through the use of distorted guitars, extended solos, feedback, and other effects.
The first psychedelic rock band was The Byrds, who released their debut album Mr. Tambourine Man in 1965. The Beatles’ album Revolver (1966) also contains elements of psychedelic rock, as do many of their subsequent albums. Other influential bands from this era include The Beach Boys, The Doors, Pink Floyd, and The Grateful Dead. Psychedelic rock reached its peak in popularity between 1967 and 1969, during what is known as the “Summer of Love”. By the early 1970s, however, the genre had begun to decline in popularity; many bands abandoned psychedelia in favor of more stripped-down styles such as punk rock and hard rock.Psychedelic rock remains an influential force in popular music; it has been cited as an influence by artists such as David Bowie, Radiohead, and Tame Impala.
Psychedelic Rock in the 60s
Psychedelic rock, also referred to as “psychedelia”, is a style of rock music characterized by distorted guitars, trippy lyrics, and mind-bending sound effects. The genre became popular in the late 1960s, and reached its peak in the mid-1970s. Psychedelic rock bands often used drug-induced states to enhance their music’s hallucinatory or mind-expanding effect.
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, is widely regarded as the most influential band of all time. They were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways; the band later explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionised many aspects of the music industry and were often publicised as embodiments of the ideals shared by the youth of the 1960s.
The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960, with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bass player. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers, including Pete Best, before asking Starr to join them in 1962. Manager Brian Epstein moulded them into a professional act earlier than their contemporaries. By early 1964 Beatlemania had swept across Britain; their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show February 9 was seen by 73 million viewers in North America—a record audience for an American television programme. From 1965 onwards the Beatles produced what many critics consider some of their finest material, including Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966) and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967); psychedelic experiments such as “Tomorrow Never Knows” from Revolver influenced many subsequent rock musicians both directly or indirectly. After Epstein’s death in August 1967 they released Magical Mystery Tour (1967), containing songs written primarily by Lennon but credited to “The Beatles”; sales were disappointing compared with earlier releases despite positive reviews from critics including Andrew O’Hagan writing for Rolling Stone: “the album is kaleidoscopic … blissfully vulnerable.” In 1968 they founded Apple Corps Ltd., a multimedia company that continues to control their commercial catalogue worldwide except for North America where Capitol Records owns most titles originally released on Apple Recordings from1968 onwards under licence from EMI; EMI also issues CDs on behalf of Capitol worldwide except for Japan where Toshiba-EMI owns Capitol catalogue assets first released on Apple Recordings 1968–73 under licence from EMI since 2006 after acquiring Toshiba’s entire back catalogue excluding key pre-1968 assets currently controlled by Universal Music GroupEVI under licence from Calderstone Productions Limited which was then acquired by Universal Music Publishing Group 2015 succeeding Sony Music Publishing who had Musdlibrary Services LLC administered key pre-1968 assets currently owned outright by Universal following Sony’s 2012 acquisition of most EMI publishing assets..
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones were one of the most prominent and influential bands of the psychedelic rock era. They were known for their dark, bluesy sound and their bad-boy image. The Stones experimented with drugs and incorporated psychedelic elements into their music, giving them a unique edge that sets them apart from other bands of the time. The Rolling Stones are considered to be one of the most important bands of the 20th century, and their impact on popular culture is still felt today.
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in popular music history.
The band initially consisted of students Roger Waters, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. Syd Barrett joined the band as their lead guitarist after respective auditions taking place in late August and early September, 1965. Barrett’s increasingly erratic behaviour eventually led to his departure from the band in April 1968. He was briefly replaced by guitarist David Gilmour, who became Pink Floyd’s fifth member in December 1967.
The band’s final lineup change occurred just weeks before their first album was released with the replacement of keyboardist Wright bysession musician Jon Carin due to creative differences. Carin remained a full-time member of the band until 1988, but spent large periods of time touring with Roger Waters’ solo projects and other artists such as Bryan Ferry, Seasick Steve and The Who. Various bassists including Guy Pratt, Durga McBroom, Gary Wallis and Scott Page filled in for Wright during live performances from 1987 onwards; he officially rejoined Pink Floyd on a permanent basis at their Live 8 reunion performance on 2 July 2005.
Pink Floyd are known for their philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative cover art, and elaborate live shows. One of rock music’s most critically acclaimed and commercially successful acts, they have sold over 250 million albums worldwide—including 75 million units sold in the United States—and have earned thirteen Grammy Awards from their thirty-eight nominations. By 2013 they had racked up fourteen number-one albums in the UK charts (second only to The Beatles). Rolling Stone named them number 51 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
Psychedelic Rock in the 70s
The 1970s was a decade of great change andPsychedelic Rock music was a huge part of that. Bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Grateful Dead defined an entire generation with their unique sounds. Psychedelic Rock music was a way for people to escape the reality of the world and explore their own minds.
David Bowie
One of the most influential artists of his time, David Bowie’s work in the early 1970s broke ground in both the music and fashion industries. His androgynous stage persona, Ziggy Stardust, helped to solidify his place as a glam rock icon. But it was his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars that really brought him to the attention of the mainstream public. With its mix of hard rock, pop, and blues, the album appealed to a wide range of listeners and catapulted Bowie to stardom.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are regularly cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music.
The band’s heavy sound has been seen as influential on the development of genres such as metal and stoner rock. Their songs incorporated elements of folk music, as well as blues riffs and African rhythms. Their debut album, Led Zeppelin (1969), drew from a wide range of influences, including blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, as well as world music styles such as Celtic and Indian music.
The band’s second album, Led Zeppelin II (1969), featured a heavier sound that was grounded in the blues but also showed influence from other genres, including world music and rhythm and blues. The third album, Led Zeppelin III (1970), featured a more acoustic sound that incorporated elements of folk music. The fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV (1971), was a major commercial success that featured the band’s most popular song, “Stairway to Heaven”. The fifth album, Houses of the Holy (1973), featured a more experimental sound that drew from funk and reggae. Physical Graffiti (1975), their sixth album, was a double album that incorporated elements of hard rock, folk rock, and blaxploitation.
The seventh album, Presence (1976), had a more stripped-down sound that relied heavily on Page’s guitar work. The eighth album In Through the Out Door (1979) featured a more synthesizer-based sound.
Queen
Formed in London in 1970, Queen was one of the most popular and influential rock bands of the 1970s. The band members were Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals).
Queen’s style was a fusion of hard rock, glam rock and progressive rock. They wrote many of their own hits, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You” and “Another One Bites the Dust.” The band’s live performances were legendary, and they are still considered one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
The Legacy of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is characterized by distorted guitars, extended improvisation, and unusual sound effects. Psychedelic rock reached its peak popularity in the late 1960s, but the genre was later brought to a close by the commercialization of the hippie counterculture and the beginning of the 1970s. Despite its brief history, psychedelic rock has left a lasting legacy on subsequent generations of rock musicians.
The Influence of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, sometimes called garage rock, is a style of rock music that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style is characterized by distorted guitars, psychedelic lyrics, and trippy sound effects. Psychedelic rock was influenced by the psychedelic culture of the time, which included the use of mind-altering drugs such as LSD.
Psychedelic rock bands used unusual sounds and Visual effects to create an atmosphere of spontaneity and creativity. The most famous psychedelic band was probably The Beatles, who experimented with the genre on their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Other well-known psychedelic bands include The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and The Grateful Dead.
The legacy of psychedelic rock can be seen in many subsequent genres of music, including punk rock, New Wave, and electronica. Psychedelic rock also had a significant impact on fashion and lifestyle, helping to popularize tie-dye shirts, bell-bottomed jeans, and other countercultural clothing.
The Enduring popularity of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, sometimes called simply psychedelia, is a style of rock music that arose in the mid-1960s and reached the height of its popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The hallmark of psychedelic rock is a deliberate attempt to push the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in popular music at the time, by incorporating elements that were considered to be avant-garde, or even shocking.
Psychedelic Rock was one of the most influential genres of music to emerge from the 60s and 70s. Its influence can still be felt today in many popular genres, such as Alternative Rock, Folk Rock, and even Hip Hop. Psychedelic Rock was also a major force in the creation of Prog Rock and Art Rock.
The enduring popularity of Psychedelic Rock can be attributed to its ability to constantly evolve and change with each new generation of musicians. Psychedelic Rock has always been about pushing boundaries and taking risks, which has made it an incredibly exciting and vibrant genre of music.
