The Top Psychedelic Rock Albums of the 60s

The 1960s was a decade of change, and that definitely applied to the music scene. Psychedelic rock began to emerge and grow in popularity. If you’re a fan of this genre, check out our list of the top psychedelic rock albums of the 60s!

The Beatles – 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 EMI’s Parlophone label and produced by George Martin. It won four Grammy Awards in 1968, including Album of the Year, the first rock album to receive this honour.

The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds

Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on May 16, 1966. It initially received a lukewarm critical reception and sluggish sales, although its reputation has since grown in stature to the point where it is now widely considered to be one of the most influential recordings in pop music history.

In 2003, it was ranked number two in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and was included in Robert Dimery’s 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 1998, selected tracks from Pet Sounds were re-recorded by an assemblage of contemporary musicians for an album entitled The Pet Sounds Sessions.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced

Are You Experienced is the debut studio album by American rock band the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Released in May 1967, it was the first LP for Track Records and was a commercial and critical success. The album features Hendrix’s explosive guitar work and composition, as well as the distinctive backing of bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, which would remain intact until Redding’s firing in mid-1969.

The Doors – The Doors

The Doors’ debut album is one of the most important and influential debuts in rock history. When it was released in 1967, it sounded like nothing that had come before it, and it quickly became a favorite of music critics, who praised its focus on songwriting and atmosphere over traditional rock & roll structures. The album features some of the band’s best-known songs, including “Light My Fire,” “Break On Through (To the Other Side),” and “The End.”

Pink Floyd – The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Released in 1967, Pink Floyd’s debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was a psychedelic tour de force. Combining Syd Barrett’s highly original songwriting with the band’s innovative sound, the album is a true classic of the genre. From the trippy opener “Astronomy Domine” to the beautiful closer “See Emily Play”, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is an essential part of any psychedelic collection.

The Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet (1968)

This is one of the Rolling Stones’ best albums and definitely their most psychedelic. It was released in December 1968, just a few months after the band’s last album, ‘Between the Buttons.’ The album artwork was designed by model Jean Shrimpton and photographer Michael Cooper. It was banned in several countries because of its suggestive imagery.

The album contains some of the Stones’ most popular songs, including ‘Sympathy for the Devil,’ ‘Street Fighting Man,’ and ‘Stray Cat Blues.’ It is considered to be one of the most influential rock albums of all time.

The Who – Tommy

Tommy is the fourth studio album by the English rock band The Who, released by Track and Decca Records in May 1969. The album was a commercial and critical success. It topped various international charts, including the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart, and was certified Gold or Platinum in several countries. Tommy was acclaimed upon its release by critics as The Who’s “breakthrough” and ” masterpiece”.[4][5] Nevertheless, some reviewers were not entirely won over; Mitch Myers of Rolling Stone wrote that Tommy was “a great pinball machine of an album”, but “[n]evertheless … I suspect that when the game is over, Tommy will be forgotten as quickly as it is learned.”[6]

The album helped to make rock music more commercially acceptable and visible in mainstream culture.[7][8] It is widely cited as an influential record on pop music and culture;[9][10][11] one critic wrote that it “captured the zeitgeist of its era – late-’60s youth coming to grips with loss, both personal and perceptual”.[12]

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin

Formed in 1968, Led Zeppelin consisted of English rock band members Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plant (vocals), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboard) and John Bonham (drums). The group’s self-titled debut album was recorded in October 1968 and released the following year.

The album features a mix of original material and covers, including songs by blues artists such as Willie Dixon, Spencer Davis Group and Bert Jansch. Led Zeppelin’s bluesy sound, combined with Page’s innovative guitar work, made for aunique take on the genre. The album was a commercial success, reaching number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and number six on the US Billboard 200. Led Zeppelin would go on to release seven more studio albums, all of which topped the charts in both the UK and US.

King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King

-In the Court of the Crimson King is the debut album from the British rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 on Island Records in England and Atlantic Records in America. The album is considered a classic of the progressive rock genre.
-The album was recorded at Wessex Sound Studios in Islington, London, between July and August 1969, and was produced by Peter Sinfield and engineering by Robin Thompson. It was the only album by the group to feature founding member Ian McDonald before his subsequent Departure
-The lyrics to “21st Century Schizoid Man” and “I Talk to the Wind” were written by Sinfield, while all other tracks were credited to Robert Fripp. The sleeve art was designed by Greg Lake’s then-girlfriend Siouxsie Sioux amidst political turmoil in Czechoslovakia that would culminate in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia (specifically the Prague Spring).

Yes – The Yes Album

The Yes Album is the third studio album by the English rock band Yes, released on 19 February 1971 by Atlantic Records. The album was a commercial and critical success, peaking at No. 4 in the UK and No. 40 in the US. It was the first Yes album to feature guitarist Steve Howe, who replaced Peter Banks in 1970, as well as the last to feature founding keyboardist Tony Kaye before his departure in 1971. The album’s artwork was designed by Roger Dean, who would become closely associated with the group. Upon its release, The Yes Album received positive reviews from music critics and is today considered one of the band’s best albums. In a contemporary review for Melody Maker, Tony Stewart praised singer Jon Anderson for his “superb vocal work” and described bassist Chris Squire and drummer Bill Bruford as a “fluid and forceful” rhythm section. He credited Howe’s guitar playing as “startlingly innovative”, while also noting that Rick Wakeman’s keyboard work was integral to much of the album’s success.