Search for the phrase “psychedelic” within the dictionary, and one of many first definitions might be “mind-expanding.” That’s what all the finest psychedelic albums have in frequent. Most had been made in the course of the golden period of 1966-1968, however fairly just a few got here alongside later. Some had been made within the psych epicenters of San Francisco and Los Angeles, others are from as far afield as Brazil, Texas, and the UK. Some had been clearly acid-inspired, however at the least one was made by an artist (Prince) who by no means indulged in hallucinogenics. Some match the traditional mannequin of psychedelic music, the style; whereas others are simply spiritually associated to the scene. All of them are, nevertheless, assured to take your head to locations it by no means went earlier than.
When you’re studying, take heed to our Psychedelic Songs playlist right here.
30: Cream: Disraeli Gears (1967)
Cream had been solely partly a psychedelic band. Even once they took acid, they had been extra about taking part in the blues and improvising. However just a few of their songs stand as psych landmarks, and two of them (“Strange Brew” and “Tales of Brave Ulysses”) opened both sides of the unique vinyl urgent of Disraeli Gears. And let’s not overlook that iconic album cowl.
Should hear: Unusual Brew
29: Nirvana: The Story Of Simon Simopath (1967)
Musically, the English duo Nirvana couldn’t be any totally different from the Seattle band of the identical identify. Indebted a bit to each Donovan and The Unimaginable String Band, this idea album is steeped in nursery-rhyme gentleness and flower-power whimsy. But the central idea, a few misfit who finds new life after a keep in a psychological establishment, was one thing Nirvana’s grunge namesakes might need appreciated.
Should hear: Wings Of Love
28: The Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)
The triumph of The Rolling Stones’ one psych album, Their Satanic Majesties Request ,was that they might embrace the whole lot – Indian music, Pink Floyd tape weirdness, orchestrated freakouts – and nonetheless sound identical to the Stones. Name it a interval piece, however the single “She’s A Rainbow” continues to be of their setlists right now.
Should hear: 2000 Gentle Years From House
27: Tame Impala: Lonerism (2012)
Tame Impala mastermind Kevin Parker is without doubt one of the fashionable artists doing probably the most with trippy 60s influences, and his solo recordings reveal the multicolour world inside his head. On the sophomore Tame Impala album, Lonerism, he performs round with classic sounds, from analogue synths to fuzz guitars and DIY drumkits, which he’d later fuse with parts of trip-hop.
Should hear: Music To Stroll House By
26: Aphrodite’s Youngster: 666 (1972)
Genesis famously did an “Apocalypse In 9/8,” however on this double-album, Aphrodite’s Youngster unleashed one in each time signature there was. Bridging late psych and early prog, 666 successfully approximates what you’d expertise in case you had been studying The E-book Of Revelation when the acid kicked in. The truth that Aphrodite’s singer, Demis Roussos, went on to be an easy-listening star, whereas keyboardist Vangelis helped invent New Age, is psychedelic in itself.
Should hear: The 4 Horsemen
25: Donovan: Sunshine Superman (1966)
Donovan will get dismissed in some quarters (not least from Bob Dylan in Dont Look Again) as a light-weight, however, hey – it’s not his fault that he had fun within the 60s and got here out unscathed. There are some really heavyweight songs in his most psychedelic-leaning album, Sunshine Superman, together with the indelible single and self-explanatory “The Trip.” Different cuts embrace the San Francisco ode “Fat Angel” (which salutes Jefferson Airplane, who later lined it) and the oft-covered “Season Of The Witch,” which predicts the time when hippies would begin attempting to make it wealthy.
Should hear: The Journey
24: Blues Magoos: Psychedelic Lollipop (1966)
Blues Magoos’ 1966 debut album earns immortality for its second single alone: “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet,” one of many period’s most uplifting songs. Additionally right here is the definitive freaked-out model of the oft-covered “Tobacco Road” and the acid-inspired “Love Seems Doomed.” And let’s not overlook they had been simply youngsters once they recorded among the finest psychedelic albums of the mid-60s; singer Peppy Theilhelm was simply 16.
Should hear: We Ain’t Acquired Nothin’ But
23: The Temptations: Cloud 9 (1969)
Cloud 9 was the album that modified the equation for Motown, as The Temptations had been joined by new singer Dennis Edwards and the visionary writer-producer Norman Whitfield. About half the album continues to be in conventional Tempts model, however the way forward for psychedelic soul arrives through the topical title monitor – with its indelible Dennis Coffey wah-wah intro – and particularly “Runaway Child, Running Wild,” a spooky manufacturing epic that grew to become successful in its edited kind.
Should hear: Runaway Youngster, Working Wild
22: The Dream Syndicate: The Universe Inside (2020)
It warms our coronary heart that we will embrace a 2020 launch on this record of one of the best psychedelic albums. The Dream Syndicate got here to mild as members of LA’s legendary, psych-inspired Paisley Underground within the 80s, and Steve Wynn went on to be a singer-songwriter of appreciable observe, however the third launch to come back out of their latter-day reunion is one thing else solely. With 5 songs overlaying a double-album, they depart standard track buildings behind and uncover the mind-expanding potentialities of texture and groove, proving you possibly can nonetheless discover new territory to discover.
Should hear: The Regulator
21: Caravan: In The Land Of Gray And Pink (1971)
There’s a skinny line between psych rock and prog, and on In The Land Of Gray And Pink, Caravan simply labored each side. There’s one thing fantastically English in regards to the whimsical hippie humour within the title monitor and “Golf Girl,” which turns the illicit substance into tea. The album’s second half is a flawless suite that features some straight forward jazz, a heavy riff or two, and a beautiful pastoral melody towards the tip.
Should hear: In The Land Of Gray And Pink
20: Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)
The wonderful thing about this album is that it’s fairly actually bubblegum pop on acid. Take away the quarter-hour of trippy jamming and the title monitor is a giddy love track that Ohio Categorical may have recorded. However, in fact, a 15-minute jam is basically the attraction of any nice psychedelic album. Even the opposite aspect of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is as catchy as it’s trippy, and it left us with an awesome little bit of 60s knowledge: “Flowers and beads are one thing/But having a girl, that’s something!”
Should hear: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
19: The Fairly Issues: SF Sorrow / Small Faces: Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake (each 1968)
These two albums must go collectively as they each got here out in 1968, had been each among the many first idea albums, and had been each recorded by UK bands who had been doing straight R&B only a few months earlier. They signify emotional opposites, too: The Fairly Issues’ album tells the mournful however hauntingly melodic story of a person and his properly of loneliness. Characteristically, Small Faces had no time for tears: Their psych epic is a jolly rave-up, with a side-long fairy story, a music-hall blast of a single (“Lazy Sunday”) and even a little bit of proto-metal, within the form of “Afterglow.”
Should hear: Lazy Sunday
18: Todd Rundgren: A Wizard, A True Star (1973)
Some of the audacious and finest psychedelic albums ever made, A Wizard, A True Star got here out simply when Todd Rundgren had developed a repute as a pop songsmith, and the world anticipated extra of the identical. He delivered this Technicolor thoughts journey as a substitute. It’s in all probability the explanation he by no means grew to become a mainstream famous person, but additionally the explanation why, 45 years later, quite a lot of us are nonetheless following him.
Should hear: Worldwide Really feel
17: The Moody Blues: In Search Of The Misplaced Chord (1968)
Every of the Moodies’ traditional seven albums was a unified assertion, and every one was totally different, however In Search Of The Misplaced Chord was probably the most psychedelic. In a set of finely crafted songs that begins with an invite to “Ride My See-Saw,” the Moodies’ seek for the essence of life took them down three doable paths: acid, meditation and romantic love. Later of their profession, they’d just about decide on possibility three.
Should hear: Legend Of A Thoughts
16: The Dukes Of Stratosphear: 25 O’Clock (1985)
XTC’s in-disguise album is a superb little bit of musical pranksterism – if you already know your 60s psych, it’s wall-to-wall in-jokes. However their Dukes Of Stratosphear alter-ego can also be a loving and correct homage to one of the best psychedelic albums, and each track right here is terrific in its personal proper. From the Floydian title monitor to the Moodies-inspired “Your Gold Dress,” the psych affect would carry over to XTC’s subsequent correct album, Skylarking.
Should hear: Your Gold Gown
15: Hüsker Dü: Zen Arcade (1984)
Psychedelia was considered one of many types embraced by the 80s rock underground, and Zen Arcade’s affect was big. There’s nonetheless loads of Hüsker Dü’s hardcore rage right here, however the group additionally make use of tape loops, reoccurring track fragments and an epic closing jam to evoke the kaleidoscopic experiences of a younger man’s first 12 months away from residence.
Should hear: One thing I Realized At present
14: Dr John: Gris-Gris (1968)
On this traditional debut album, Dr John realised that the non secular imagery of psychedelia and New Orleans’ voodoo weren’t far aside. Working with the cream of Crescent Metropolis session males, he got here up with a spooky and funky sound in contrast to any heard earlier than, and created a memorable character to go together with it. If “I Walk On Gilded Splinters” isn’t psych, we don’t know what’s. Enjoyable truth: your complete album was financed by cash that Dr John and his arranger had made on Sonny & Cher classes.
Should hear: I Stroll On Gilded Splinters
13: Prince and The Revolution: Round The World In A Day (1985)
Round The World In A Day was the Purple Rain follow-up that no one noticed coming, Prince extensively expanded each his musical template and his consciousness – with assist from Wendy and Lisa, who apparently gave him his first Beatles document. “Raspberry Beret” launched a brand new era to 60s psychedelia, however the album wasn’t all sunshine and flowers. “Condition Of The Heart” might be Prince’s loveliest ballad, whereas “Temptation” serves up a tense encounter with God.
Should hear: Paisley Park
12: The Zombies: Odessey & Oracle (1968)
You realize an album is timeless when it takes a half-century to be correctly appreciated. The Zombies had been, nevertheless, proper into the spirit of the instances in 1968, evolving from their R&B origins and writing some of the enduring peace-and-love anthems, Odyssey & Oracle’s solely hit, “Time Of The Season.” However it took a long time for most individuals to listen to the remainder of the album and realise how fantastically ingenious all of it was. It’s no secret that The Zombies had been squeaky-clean in comparison with most 60s bands, however this album was visionary as they arrive.
Should hear: Time Of The Season
11: Nation Joe And The Fish: Electrical Music For The Thoughts And Physique (1967)
An early 1967 launch, Nation Joe And The Fish’s debut album opened up every kind of potentialities: heady jams, poetic ballads, free-form ragas and even a style of political satire. As a result of Joe McDonald was a songwriter first, the entire album is wrapped in a tuneful package deal. The closing “Grace” is a romantic epic in honour of Grace Slick (Janis Joplin would get comparable remedy on the follow-up album).
Should hear: Flying Excessive
10: The Monkees: Head (1968)
If you happen to don’t assume The Monkees (or Carole King) had been psychedelic, you haven’t heard “Porpoise Song’, a swirling and hypnotic track from their soundtrack album Head. It proved too much for their pre-teen fans and was the first Monkees single to flop. Elsewhere on the record, Mike Nesmith gets into the groove with “Circle Sky,” whereas Peter Tork contributes a fuzztone rocker about reincarnation; it’s all held along with surreal spoken soundbites. If you happen to assume the album is on the market, wait until you see the film.
Should hear: Porpoise Tune
9: The thirteenth Flooring Elevators: The Psychedelic Sounds Of The thirteenth Flooring Elevators (1966)
Within the context of frontman Roky Erickson’s profession, this ranks as a comparatively straightahead rock’n’roll album: the opening “You’re Gonna Miss Me” is nothing lower than a punk landmark, electrical jug and all. In some methods, nevertheless, that is the good psychedelic album The Rolling Stones ought to have made. The Elevators deal in uncooked blues-rock songs with heady imagery and, as all the time, the otherworldly howl of Erickson’s voice.
Should hear: You’re Gonna Miss Me
8: The Doorways: The Doorways (1967)
Throughout the first week of 1967, when this album was launched, the way forward for rock might be something, together with a jazz-identified band with a Dionysian Beat poet upfront. The Doorways’ self-titled debut is a remarkably numerous, with covers of songs by each Willie Dixon and Bertolt Brecht. The primary aspect closes with the sexual launch of “Light My Fire” whereas the second ends with the Apocalypse on “The Finish’. Making it among the finest psychedelic albums of all time, nevertheless, is that each observe is about transcendence.
Should hear: The Finish
7: Jefferson Airplane: After Bathing At Baxter’s (1967)
Some assume that Surrealistic Pillow, written earlier than the Summer time of Love, is probably the most psychedelic album in Jefferson Airplane’s catalogue, however we are likely to assume it’s this one. As Paul Kantner later defined, “bathing at Baxter’s” was band-slang for dropping acid, and this affect is clearer than on Jefferson Airplane’s extra song-oriented later albums. Grace Slick writes a pair of free-associative cabaret songs; Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady take ten minutes to map out Scorching Tuna’s territory for the following 50 years; and Kantner’s “The Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil” is without doubt one of the most joyful acid songs ever written.
Should hear: The Ballad of You And Me And Pooneil
6: Grateful Useless: Aoxomoxoa (1969)
Anthem of the Solar is usually held up as amongst their best work, however Aoxomoxoa was as psychedelic because the Useless ever obtained on considered one of their studio albums. The eight-minute “What’s Become of The Baby’ was effectively their “Revolution 9,” however observe how the phasing on Jerry Garcia’s voice provides “China Cat Sunflower” a way of thriller that the various dwell variations lack. In the meantime, there are the final hints of the Useless’s early garage-rock tendencies (“Doin’ That Rag’) and, on “St Stephen,” their future in Americana.
Should hear: What’s Change into Of The Child
5: Gal Costa: Gal (1969)
The Brazilian Tropicália motion was as a lot about psychedelia because it was a political assertion: it was radical music made towards an oppressive authorities. It was additionally thrilling in purely musical phrases, producing landmark work by Tom Zé, Os Mutantes and Caetano Veloso. However this 1969 album by Gal Costa was probably the most radical and exquisite of all of them. Already recognized for her unimaginable vocals, Costa collaborates right here with a sublimely freaky studio band. What they do with Veloso’s “Cinema Olympia” – initially a pleasant little track about films – is really mindblowing.
Should hear: Cinema Olympia
4: The Jimi Hendrix Expertise: Electrical Ladyland (1968)
Jimi Hendrix was psychedelic by his very existence, and the expansive double-album Electrical Ladyland introduced you additional inside his head (and nearer to different elements of his anatomy) than every other document. (Though Axis: Daring as Love comest mightly shut.) The blues are epic, the rockers livid and the aspect journeys (like most of Aspect Three on the unique vinyl) result in uncharted territory. On “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” he demonstrates that the imagery of blues lyrics was all the time psychedelic to start with.
Should hear: Voodoo Youngster (Slight Return)
3: Spirit: Twelve Goals Of Dr Sardonicus (1970)
Launched in November 1970, this was the unique psychedelic period’s closing masterpiece. Lyrically, Twelve Goals Of Dr Sardonicus wraps up the whole lot that period was attempting to say. Songs like “Nature’s Way” and “Nothing To Hide” thumb their noses on the straight world; “Love Has Found A Way” and “Life Has Just Begun” illustrate how a lot is feasible in case your thoughts is prepared for it. Musically, it’s endlessly ingenious, bringing the band’s jazz, pop and heavy rock factions onto the identical astral aircraft. And although it crystallises a second in time, it doesn’t sound in the slightest degree dated.
Should hear: Life Has Simply Begun
2: The Beatles: Magical Thriller Tour (1967)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Membership Band might have modified music, but when there was one second that psychedelicised the world, it was the discharge of “Strawberry Fields Forever” (backed with “Penny Lane”) as a single in February 1967. Fairly merely, the AM airwaves had by no means thrown out something like that earlier than. They had been already classics by the point the Magical Thriller Tour album got here out round Christmas (within the US; the songs, minus the period’s single sides, had been launched as a double-EP set within the UK), however the likes of “I Am the Walrus” and “Fool On The Hill” confirmed The Beatles nonetheless had extra adventures in retailer.
Should hear: Strawberry Fields Eternally
1: Love: Eternally Adjustments (1967)
This traditional album from actually stands aside from one of the best psychedelic albums. There aren’t any studio results, no freeform jams, and hardly even any electrical guitars. The psychedelic affect got here solely from the thoughts of Arthur Lee, whose lyrics had been all the time otherworldly and by no means totally doable to pin down, and whose melodies had been fully unforgettable. “You Set The Scene” nonetheless ranks as considered one of rock’s nice existential statements.
Should hear: You Set The Scene
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