Psychedelic Classic Rock from the 60s and 70s
Psychedelic Classic Rock from the 60s and 70s is a blog dedicated to, you guessed it, psychedelic classic rock from the 60s and 70s!
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr led the band to be regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history.
The Beatles’ influence on psychedelic music
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With a line-up comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band of the 20th century. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’s music grew in sophistication following their initial success, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s sociocultural revolutions.
As pioneers of the album format, The Beatles helped to define the Grammys for many years. They have received seven Grammy Awards; six for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group – including three consecutive wins between 1965 and 1967 – plus one Lifetime Achievement Award. They were inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (in 1988) and the UK Music Hall of Fame (in 2004). In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked The Beatles at No. 1 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. In 2012, Billboard ranked them the greatest artist ever.
Between 1962 and 1970 The Beatles released thirteen albums (including EPs), thirteen singles (not counting reissues), two live albums – one double album – three compilations, thirty-seven tracks on four U.S.-released compilation albums (issued by Capitol Records), seventeen tracks issued on two UK-only compilations (one single-album compilation issued by Parlophone/EMI Records; one double-album compilation featuring non-album tracks mixed with German language versions of album tracks released by Odeon/EMI), twenty track experiments on Anthology albums 1–3 plus live recordings; numerous demos; home recordings; outtakes; rehearsals; jams; film scores; BBC Radio performances not originally released by them; concert recordings not officially released until decades later including Get Back/Let It Be sessions…the list goes on!
Due to their unprecedented geopolitical importance during much of this time period – especially during The Cold War – many young people around globe were exposed to Western popular culture through their music…and The Beatles’ influence on psychedelic music was profound!
The Beatles’ psychedelic songs
Psychedelic music is a style of music that is inspired, or influenced by, psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It often uses new recording techniques and effects and draws on non-Western sources such as the raga drone of Indian classical music.
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 ofpsychedelic drugs. It often uses new recording techniques and effects and draws on non-Western sources such as the raga drone of Indian classical music. Psychedelic artists attempted to tap into modalities used in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism to attain mystical states through logic-defying musicianship driven by extended instrumentation, drug use, mysticism, the quest for personal/spiritual transcendence, or political/social commentary.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones’ influence on psychedelic music
The Rolling Stones were one of the most influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s, helping to shape the sound and style of psychedelic music. The band’s unique blend of blues, rock, and R&B influenced countless other artists, and their own psychedelic masterpiece, “Exile on Main Street,” is widely considered one of the greatest albums of all time. The Rolling Stones’ impact on psychedelic music is still felt today, as their sound continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
The Rolling Stones’ psychedelic songs
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after recording finished for their debut album, Aftermath (1966).
The Rolling Stones released their first psychedelic song, “Paint It, Black”, on Aftermath. The following year they released two more songs with psychedelic elements, “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?” and “Let’s Spend the Night Together”, both of which were included on Between the Buttons (1967). Their 1968 album Beggars Banquet featured “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Street Fighting Man”, which incorporated experimental sound production techniques such as feedback, tape loops and early drum machines. The Rolling Stones’ next two albums, Let It Bleed (1969) and Sticky Fingers (1971), are generally considered to be their best work from this period. Let It Bleed featured “Gimme Shelter” and “Midnight Rambler”, while Sticky Fingers included “Brown Sugar” and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?”. Their 1971 album Exile on Main St., recorded during their exile from Britain while avoiding taxes, is also considered one of their strongest releases from this period.
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 and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound, rooted in blues and psychedelia on their early albums, has earned them recognition as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, though their unique style drew from a wide variety of influences, including folk, Indian music, and rhythm and blues.
Led Zeppelin’s influence on psychedelic music
Led Zeppelin was one of the most influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s. They popularized a new style of rock music that blended elements of blues, folk, and country with a heavy dose of psychedelia. This new sound was perfect for the counterculture movement of the time and helped to shape the direction of popular music for years to come.
Led Zeppelin’s impact on psychedelic music is evident in their use of extended jam sessions, feedback-drenched guitar sounds, and ethereal vocals. Their songs often incorporated themes from mythology and literature, which added to their mystical appeal. Led Zeppelin’s groundbreaking album, “Physical Graffiti,” is considered by many to be one of the greatest works in all of rock music. It is a perfect example of the band’s mastery of the psychedelic genre.
If you’re a fan of psychedelic music, then you owe a debt of gratitude to Led Zeppelin. They were true innovators who helped to define an entire musical era.
Led Zeppelin’s psychedelic songs
Zeppelin’s third album, Led Zeppelin III, contained elements of psychedelia, but they began to move away from it on their fourth album, which contained the song “Stairway to Heaven”, one of the most popular songs in classic rock radio. Influenced by Eastern music and aspects of Indian culture, both John Bonham and John Paul Jones used sitars on certain tracks such as “Your Time is Gonna Come” and “Black Mountain Side”. The Hindustani music scale can also be heard on “Friends”.
Pink Floyd
One of the most iconic and influential bands of all time, Pink Floyd is known for their concept albums and progressive, psychedelic rock music. Formed in London in 1965, the band originally consisted of Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright. Barrett’s mental health deteriorated rapidly, and he was replaced by David Gilmour in 1968. The band went on to release some of the most iconic and best-selling albums of all time, including The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall.
Pink Floyd’s influence on psychedelic music
Psychedelic music is often associated with trippy visuals and Mind-altering drug experiences, but the genre has its roots in classic rock. One of the most influential bands in the genre is Pink Floyd, whose groundbreaking albums The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Dark Side of the Moon are considered stone-cold classics.
Pink Floyd’s unique brand of psychedelic music was heavily influenced by the mind-expanding drugs they took while performing. The band’s use of sound effects and extended jams helped to create an immersive experience that was designed to take listeners on a journey.
While Pink Floyd’s influence on psychedelic music is undeniable, the band was not alone in pushing the boundaries of rock ‘n’ roll. Other groups like The Doors, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Jefferson Airplane were also making waves with their innovative music.
Pink Floyd’s psychedelic songs
Some of the best-known psychedelic songs were recorded by Pink Floyd. These include “Interstellar Overdrive”, “See Emily Play”, “The Pystol” and “Careful with that Axe, Eugene”. The band’s 1967 album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, is considered one of the most important psychedelia records ever made.
