Grateful Dead - Aoxomoxoa (1969)

Aoxomoxoa is the Third Album by the American Psychedelic-Rock Band Grateful Dead.
The Dead were already on Studio when a Major Breakthrough in Recording Material took place. The First Multitrack Recording Machine appeared, and as the explorers of the world of Sounds, they automatically set to explore the new capacities of such a Major difference in the recording world. Thus they spent about 8 months in the Studio, both recording and trying out the new effects they could perform with the new toys, which in turn ended resulting in a massive bill of over 180,000 dollars for them to pay. Aoxomoxoa also marks the changing point in Dead's Music. Acoustic-based Music, that they would later expand and turn into kind of a signature Sound. It was Phil Lesh's First time playing the Acoustic Bass, even furthering the experimental attitude towards the Recording of the Album, Lesh found it difficult to keep up the pace, as he had never played a fretless Bass before, which goes to show how far they were betting. Lesh and Jerry Garcia returned to the Album in 1971 to remove the excessive use of Tracks, which was destroying the Melody and creating a concrete wall of Sound, instead of the intending Musical Harmony.
Best Tracks - "St. Stephen", "Dupree's Diamond Blues", "Rosemary", "Doin' That Rag", "Mountains Of The Moon" and "Cosmic Charlie". The Cover is generally considered to be one of the Best in Rock's History, The Grateful Dead letters were designed to allow a more subtle reading to be made, We Ate The Acid, it isn't hard to understand why they put it there, 5 years had not gone by between this Album and the Acid Tests with the Merry Pranksters. Courtney Love, wife of Nirvana's frontman Kurt Cobain, made her first appearance on the Back-Cover of this LP, only 5 years old. This is the 1971 Version.

Grateful Dead:

- Phil Lesh - Bass, Vocals.

- Bob Weir - Guitar, Vocals.

- Jerry Garcia - Guitar, Vocals.

- Mickey Hart - Drums, Percussion.

- Bill Kreutzmann - Drums, Percussion.

- Tom Constanten - Keyboards.

- Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - Keyboards, Percussion.

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Zeca Afonso - Cantigas Do Maio (1971)

Cantigas Do Maio is the Fifth Album by the Portuguese Protest Singer Zeca Afonso.
Zeca Afonso continued to Teach History in Schools while having his Musical career on the side. His connections to the Communist Party and to an Leftist Guerilla called LUAR (they mostly robbed banks to fund Revolutionary Actions), ended up getting him fired and banned from the Education System (many students still recall him telling them that they were going to learn the History of the People, and not of the Rulers). Soon after, Zeca is arrested by the Police, and after some months in Prison, is Exiled to Paris, where many other Portuguese Artists and Revolutionaries had stationed, waiting for the best moment to return to Portugal. It is there, in 1971 that together with José Mário Branco and many other Musicians he recorded what was to be considered his Best Album, with some of his most famous Songs, some of them becoming Revolutionary Anthems ("Grândola Vila Morena", was the code used by the Armed Forces Movement to start what would become the Carnation Revolution, and it is to this day one of the most famous Songs in Portugal, where almost everyone knows how to sing along to it). Zeca would return to Portugal and dedicate himself to Music, spending his time moving from town to town singing the Revolution.
Best Tracks - "Senhor Arcanjo", "Cantigas Do Maio", "Milho Verde", "Cantar Alentejano", "Grândola Vila Morena", "Maio Maduro Maio", "Mulher Da Erva", "Ronda Das Mafarricas" and "Coro Da Primavera" (All the Songs on the Album, they are all especial and beautiful, both Musically and Lyrically). The uniqueness of Zeca's Voice really brings it all together. The beauty of this Songs, a combinations of the Traditional Portuguese Sounds and Fado, and the desire for liberation, of a man whose biggest desire was to be free, and was denied such a pleasure make the perfect combination for a  seminal Record.

Zeca Afonso (Cantigas Do Maio Personnel):
- Christian Padovani - Bass.
- Jacques Granier - Flute.
- Carlos Correia - Guitar, Vocals.
- Michel Delaporte - Percussion, Bongos, Congas, Tambora.

- Tony Branis - Trumpet.
- José Mário Branco - Vocals, Accordion, Organ, Piano.
- Francisco Fanhais - Vocals, Bagpipes, Jew's Harp.

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David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name (1971)

If I Could Only Remember My Name is the Debut Solo Album by the American Psychedelic-Folk Singer/Guitarist David Crosby.

The highest ranking Solo Album by David Crosby, the follow-ups would be very badly charted or not even charted at all. This one however managed to get to number 12 and achieve Gold status. As Stephen Stills Debut, Crosby brought an array of different Musicians to help him, apart from Neil Young and Graham Nash, he included Joni Mitchell and many of the members of the Bands Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick, Jerry Garcia, Jack Casady and Paul Kantner to name a few). Crosby's brother Ethan Crosby made his first and only appearance on this Album. After many years playing the Guitar in Jazz Bands and living as a loner on the mountains, he agreed to help his brother out. Soon after he moved to Big Sur (which Jack Kerouac had previously visited and written a book about, also called Big Sur) and lived there for the remainder of his life, eventually committing Suicide and surrendering his body to Nature. Most of the Personnel also was working in Kantner's Album Blows Against The Empire.
Best Tracks - "Music Is Love", "Cowboy Movie", "Tamalpais High (At About 3)", "Laughing", "What Are Their Names", "Traction In The Rain", "Songs With No Words (Trees With No Leaves)" and "Orleans". An hell of an Album. Vocals Harmonies and fantastic Instrumental work, which was what was to be expected when the Musicians chosen are of this quality.

David Crosby (If I Could Only Remember My Name Personnel):
To check the List of Personnel check here. The list is far too big to be posted.

Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills (1970)

Stephen Stills is the Debut Solo Album by the American Folk-Rock Singer/Guitarist Stephen Stills.
All 4 Members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released one Solo Album during the period between 1970/71, Stephen Stills being the most successful at it, reaching number 3 on the Charts (the others still had their Albums in high-ranking Slots, between 15 and 8). They participated in eachother Albums, as well as featuring many big names of the Era, in this case, people like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Ringo Starr. Jimi had previously invited Stills to join him in his new Band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, however the recipient of that invite, Stills Manager, thought he would fare better if he continued working with Buffalo Springfield, and did not even mention the invitation to him. Noel Redding was then chosen to fill the empty Bass position. Many of the songs were from the period before the formation of CSN, about his Love Problems. Despite the success of the Album, the reviews were not effusive, while all agreed the Album was good, many did not see the genius they were expecting. Stills would quickly record a Follow-up and release it the next year, also reaching the Top-10 with it.
Best Tracks - "Love the One You're With", "Church (Part Of Someone)", "Old Times Good Times", "Go Back Home", "Sit Yourself Down", "Black Queen" and "We Are Not Helpless". The Album was dedicated to Hendrix who died before the Album was released and was a close friend to Stills, Jamming with him numerous times. The Music follows much in the same style of CSN, so it is always extremely enjoyable to listen it.

Stephen Stills (Stephen Stills Personnel):
As the Personnel List is extremely big, Click here to see it.

Anne Briggs - Anne Briggs (1971)

Anne Briggs is the Debut Album by the English Folk Singer Anne Briggs.
Anne Briggs started her career almost 10 years before the release of her First LP (she released an EP during the 60's). She had met Bert Jansch and other soon-to-be famous Scottish Folk Musicians in Edinburgh in 1959 and they made a big impression on her, inspiring her to start her career, which combined with her work for Centre 42, gave her enough contacts to successfully enter the Folk Circuits both in and out of London. Briggs was at this time living with Jansch and John Renbourn, associating herself even further with the Scottish Folk Movement. This relationship between them was vital for both of them, as Jansch used many of Briggs tunes, like "Blackwaterside" and "The Snow It Melts The Soonest", which he then arranged more to his style (they both feature in this Album). She was quite Wild at the time, failing to appear in many of her bookings, supposedly only performing 5 times in a period of 2 years and drinking into unconsciousness (Richard Thompson was with her only twice, and both times she was passed out). Briggs released two Albums in 1971. The Debut was mainly a-cappela songs, with little accompaniment while the Second had a lot more Instrumental work.

Best Tracks - "Blackwater Side", "The Snow It Melts The Soonest", "Willie O'Winsbury", "Go Your Way", "The Cuckoo", "Reynardine", "Young Tambling" and "Living By The Water". Her desire to not become Famous brought an early ending to her career, shortly after 1971, Briggs disappeared from the Music scene and has only sporadicly appear. She is a genuine Folk Singer, with a very down-to-earth Voice and beautiful songs. An emblematic landmark in Folk Music.

Anne Briggs (Anne Briggs Personnel):

- Anne Briggs - Guitar, Vocals, Bouzouki.

- Johnny Moynihan - Bouzouki.

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Sérgio Godinho - À Queima Roupa (1974)

À Queima Roupa is the Third Album by the Portuguese Protest/Traditional Portuguese Musician Sérgio Godinho.
For a young 18 year old Artist, Fascist Portugal was far from providing the necessary conditions for one to express himself. Sérgio Godinho left the country and hopped, from one place to another, studying Psychology in Switzerland, Acting in France (and participating in May, 68's Students Revolt) and living in an Hippie Commune in Canada, until a sudden happening made him return, quickly to his country. The Carnation Revolution brought Hope to all the exiled (or self-exiled) Portuguese Artists, anguishing for Freedom of Expression and the Utopian belief that it was finally time for the working-class to take what's theirs, as Tracy Chapman said. José Mário Branco was amongst those who he had met in Paris and returned in 74', Godinho worked actively on his Debut Album. The first two Albums he had released were both banned in Portugal, while receiving numerous prizes (including Album of the year) and he had become by now a very well-known Portuguese Musician, despite censorship. À Queima Roupa was built out of the most profound Hope in a new Society, with Peace, Bread, Housing ,Health and Education for all, as the first song professes, even though in just a year, this Ideal would be destroyed and substituted by a fragile and degrading Capitalist Society.
Best Tracks - "Liberdade", "Cão Raivoso", "A Minha Cachopa", "Assim Como Um Postal Para O Canadá", "O Meu Compadre", "Os Pontos Nos Is", "Etelvina" and "O Grande Capital". I was raised listening to the likes of Sérgio Godinho and José Mário Branco, (and a decent dose of their Brazilian contemporaries) to the point where, upon entering Primary School and being faced with the inevitable question of what was my Football team, i responded confidently, Sérgio Godinho. I did not fare well with those colleagues of mine. Sérgio is still to me one of the finest Song-writers, with a capacity for words that is matched only by Literature Giants. Yes, maybe even better than Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.


Sérgio Godinho (À Queima Roupa Personnel):
- Sérgio Godinho - Lead-Vocals, Acoustic Guitar.
- Dick Payne - Electric-Guitar.
- Ron Zinco - Drums.
- Bill Lockie - Bass.
- Daniel Louis - Percussion.
- Sheila Charlesworth - Back-Vocals, Dulcimer.

- Paulo Godinho - Back-Vocals, Bass, Dulcimer.

- Pedro Osório - Back-Vocals, Piano.

- José Machado - Violin.

- Jorge Constante Pereira - Flute.

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The Seeds - Future (1967)

Future is the Third Album by the American Psychedelic/Garage-Rock Band The Seeds.
The Seeds were Lead by Singer Sky Saxon, which through all the various incarnations of the Band was the only recurring Musician, who was there from the inception to their final breath (which coincides with Saxon's Death in 2009). Saxon was a professional Musician in Los Angeles since the early, early 60's, and joined The Seeds in 1965, after answering an advertisement. The Seeds were not formed until 3 other Musicians were integrated thus forming the first Seeds incarnation. They innovated since the beginning (they are considered to be one of the main influences for the Punk Movement) using a Bass Keyboards (The Doors' Ray Manzarek used one too). Since their formation they had been blessed with a steady group of followers on the West-Coast, where they were based and released a string of Singles that were pretty successful. Their Style would vary immensely with every new release, their first two efforts were patently Garage while Future is full-blown Psychedelia, with Fuzzy-Guitars and Raga influences. The next year the Line-Up disintegrated giving place to a new band with a new name and an almost new formation if it wasn't for Saxon. The name would eventually go back to The Seeds.
Best Tracks - "Introduction", "March Of The Flower Children", "Travel With Your Mind", "Flower Lady & Her Assistant", "A Thousand Shadows", "Six Dreams" and "Fallin'". It was thought for a long time that Saxon was the one responsible for the Bass, this however is not correct, the Bass was played by a Session Musician, usually Harvey Sharpe, and would be replaced on stage by the Bass Keyboards being played by Daryl Hooper. Saxon's Vocals are not even that interesting, neither exceptional or even sufficient.


The Seeds:
- Sky Saxon - Lead-Vocals.
- Daryl Hooper - Piano, Organ, Sitar, Vocals.
- Jan Savage - Guitar, Gong, Vocals.
- Rick Andridge - Drums.
- Harvey Sharpe - Bass.
- Tjay Cantrelli - Woodwinds.
- Catharine Gotthoffer - Harp.

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Carlos Paredes - Guitarra Portuguesa (1967)

Guitarra Portuguesa is the Debut Album by the Portuguese Fado Guitarist Carlos Paredes.

Carlos Paredes started playing the Portuguese Guitar when he was only 4 years old and he continued to dedicate most of his time to learning to play such a complex instrument through his youth. Leaving high-school before graduation he started to work as an administrative in an Hospital, something that he did until his retirement. But in the Late 50's the Political Police (PIDE) arrests him, and as Paredes was a dedicated Member of the Communist Party (the most active resistance through the Fascist Period) he spends a couple years in Prison, and upon his return he is fired from his work, making him move to playing solely Music for a period of time, which turned out to be still quite big, as he had to wait until the Carnation Revolution in 1974 to be reintegrated. Never considering himself a Professional Musician "I Love Music to much to ever consider making money out of it", his work however shows him as one of the most versatile Guitarists to have ever lived. Almost 10 years after his imprisonment he finally records his Debut Album, after spending much of his time backing other Musicians. Hailed as an Hero after the Revolution he refused to accept such a status, and remained most of his time a Secretive Person, performing with numerous Musicians through the country.

Best Tracks - "Variaçães Em Ré Maior", "Porto Santo", "Fantasia", "Canção Verdes Anos", "Divertimento", "Romance No. 1", "Romance No. 2" and "Melodia No. 1". Many stories are told about Paredes, who passed away not 10 years from now. His Guitar was once lost at an airport and he told a friend later on that he considered to kill himself for the next couple days. While he was arrested he went about his room playing an invisible Guitar making his Comrades think that he had gone insane, even though he was only composing Music in his head. The final story does not contain Paredes. Jimmy Page was in Lisbon and heard a Portuguese Guitar being played, thinking that he could easily play it he went to a Private maker and bought one, according to the story he wasn't even able to figure out how to tune it and ended up destroying it in a fit of rage. This man is a Master, the emotions are almost unbearable, one of the most beautiful things i have ever heard.

Carlos Paredes (Guitarra Portuguesa):

- Carlos Paredes - Portuguese Guitar.

- Fernando Alvim - Acoustic Guitar.

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13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere (1967)

Easter Everywhere is the Second Album by the American Psychedelic/Garage-Rock Band 13th Floor Elevators.
Even though it was the only Album by 13th Floor Elevators to have entered the Billboard Charts (on Number 122, which is not that great either) it became the Band's most difficult Album to find, getting the status of a Collector's Item. It was finally re-issued in 1993, thus ending the Obscurity that surrounded it. Before the Recording of Easter Everywhere, Ronnie Leatherman and John Ike Walton left the Band (they played in two tracks), tired of Tommy Hall's almost religious view of LSD and that everyone should take it to enable the entrance in a Higher subconscious state of mind. Hall had already filled the Sleeve Notes of their Debut with Acid Propaganda, which was extremely important for the Band's success as they became quite famous for their approach to Psychedelics, and the part of the Band which was not very much into it, eventually got tired. The Debut sold 40,000 copies and the follow-up, which both the Band and the Label were hoping to surpass by several thousands, sold some disappointing 10,000 Records, marking the beginning of the downfall of their Fame.

Best Tracks - "Slip Inside This House", "Slide Machine", "She Lives (In A Time Of Her Own)", "Baby Blue", "Dust" and "Levitation". They have became one of the most influential Psychedelic Bands of their period, even if outside of Texas they might have been overlooked during their Era. I believe their Debut had stronger songs, although this one is fairly more melodic than its preceder. The Cover is just awful, so try not to judge its interior on it.

13th Floor Elevators:

- Roky Erickson – Vocals, Rhythm-Guitar, Harmonica.

- Tommy Hall – Electric Jug.

- Stacy Sutherland – Lead-Guitar.

- Dan Galindo – Bass.

- Danny Thomas – Drums.

- John Ike Walton – Drums.

- Ronnie Leatherman - Bass.

- Clementine Hall - Back-Vocals.

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Leonard Cohen - Songs Of Love And Hate (1971)

Songs Of Love And Hate is the Third Album by the Canadian Folk Singer Leonard Cohen.
Leonard Cohen had had bad experiences with his first Producer, who insisted on adding a huge quantity of Arrangements much against Cohen's wish to make it as simple as possible. Bob Johnston also worked with him in his previous Album (Johnston was a famous Nashville Producer who worked with Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel) and even went on to play the Organ on two separate Cohen Tours. He was one of the Musicians who played the enormous Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970, along with Joni Mitchell and Shawn Phillips, other prominent Solo Singer/Songwriters, one of the Songs he performed features on Songs Of Love And Hate ("Sing Another Song, Boys"), which was released less than a year after the concert, March 1971. Cohen is as much a Writer as a Musician (he started as a writer), and one of the main focus of his Music are the lyrics, in this case, personal songs about Love and Hate, as can easily be perceive by the title of the Album. American Audiences ignored the Album, leaving it on a miserable number 145, while on the UK and Australia it reached number 4 and 8 respectively.
Best Tracks - "Avalanche", "Last Year's Man", "Dress Rehearsal Rag", "Love Calls You By Your Name", "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "Joan Of Arc". I always enjoyed his style, a mix between singing and reciting, a dragged deep voice, and some very beautiful poetry inspired by the likes of Henry Milled and Garcia Lorca. The Music also helps to create a very personal and intimate relation with Cohen, for which he must be praised. In summary, Cohen is a classic, and still performs to this day (was lucky enough to see a 2 and a half hours concert by him two years ago).


Leonard Cohen (Songs Of Love And Hate Personnel):
- Leonard Cohen - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals.
- Ron Cornelius - Acoustic and Electric Guitar.
- Charlie Daniels - Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Fiddle.
- Elkin "Bubba" Fowler - Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Bass.
- Bob Johnston - Piano.
- Corlynn Hanney - Vocals.
- Susan Mussmano - Vocals.

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Gentle Giant - Free Hand (1975)

Free Hand is the Seventh Album by the British Progressive-Rock Band Gentle Giant.
With the departure of Phil Shulman, who played a lot of instruments, from Woodwinds to Piano, the 5 remaining Members had to take it upon themselves the task of continuing the Band. The Quintet took a Moog Synthesizer and started recording a number of different Albums, some Conceptual, others closer to the Hard-Rock Sound much in vogue during the Early 70's. Free Hand was distinct, not only from their other Albums of this Line-Up but from their whole Discography, with a less intricate Sound, using less instruments a simpler Compositions, turning it into the Band's greatest success, getting to the Top-50 Slot in the American Charts (they had already had some of their Albums on the Charts). Another change is the thematic of the Lyrics, diverting from the more political oriented attacks on Consumerism and Corruption and focusing on stories of Love and Break-ups. Free Hand is often referred to as the easiest and best Album to get into Gentle Giant of them all, and features some of their best-known Songs. Their Next Albums would move in a complete different direction, towards Pop Music.
Best Tracks - "Just The Same", "Free Hand", "His Last Voyage", "Talybont" and "Mobile". It took me a year to get into Gentle Giant, not including earlier attempts, after hearing about them in an Ian Anderson Interview. They sort of remind me of Genesis, even though I know some of you will find this Album completely different from what they do. Kind of weird for me to enjoy such an Album with obvious and continuous use of Synthesizers, but oh well, the Album is amazing with some very rare exceptions.


Gentle Giant:

- Gary Green – Guitar, Lead-Vocals.

- Kerry Minnear – Keyboards, Synthesizer, Lead-Vocals.

- Derek Shulman – Lead-Vocals.

- Ray Shulman – Bass, Lead-Vocals.

- John Weathers – Drums.

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Pink Floyd - A Saucerful Of Secrets (1968)

A Saucerful Of Secrets is the Second Album by the English Psychedelic-Rock Band Pink Floyd.
By the time A Saucerful Of Secrets was released the Band (which now included David Gilmour, originally intended to replace Syd Barrett on his Musical functions and leave him as a Songwriter) had already parted ways with Barrett. The relations had really soured in the months prior to his exit, accordingly due to an excessive use of LSD, that ended up messing with his Musical capacities, and in a couple cases the Band just went on to play in concerts without him, using Gilmour as a replacement. It ended up being the only Album where all the 5 Members played in, even though Barrett appears in only three of them and Gilmour on five and also where Richard Wright sang more Lead-Vocals that any other Band Member for the first and last time. On the 6th of April, 1968, it was finally made official that they were now playing without their Founder Syd Barrett and that the new quartet would finish the Album by themselves. It is often regarded as a transition Album, between their Psychedelic Period to their best know Progressive Era.
Best Tracks - "Let There Be More Light", "Remember A Day", "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" and "Jugband Blues". You can start hearing the first examples of what was to come in "A Saucerful Of Secrets", long Instrumental Spacy Tracks in detriment of The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, with short Psychedelic Tunes. It is neither this nor that and it has become a sort of downgraded Album, never being mentioned sometimes. Hipgnosis were responsible for the fantastic Cover, the first made by them for Pink Floyd (they went on to make numerous others).


Pink Floyd:

- Roger Waters - Bass, Percussion, Vocals.

- Richard Wright - Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Vibraphone, Vocals.

- David Gilmour - Guitar, Vocals, Kazoo.

- Nick Mason - Drums, Percussion, Vocals.

- Syd Barrett - Acoustic and Slide Guitar, Lead-Vocals.

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Country Joe & The Fish - I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die (1967)

I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die is the Second Album by the American Psychedelic/Blues-Rock Band Country Joe & The Fish.

The more politicized side of the Psychedelic Revolution. Country Joe (A name used to refer to Stalin in the USA in the 40's) & The Fish (A reference to a phrase by Chairman Mao, where he states that Revolutionaries should flow through the people like Fish in the water) started in 1965 when they started performing in Anti-Vietnam Rallies and Teach-In's. They soon became one of the hottest acts to play in the San Francisco Area, with well charted Albums, playing Gigs in both Fillmore's, Monterey Pop 67' and Woodstock 69'. Their Second Album showed them in a more Soft side, quite different from their Debut who was straightforward Psychedelic Jams which now turned into more Political oriented Sounds. The Title Track has become the most famous Anti-War Protest Sons of its generation and also on the whole last Century. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die did not achieve as much success as it's preceder and follow-up, but it is as good as they come.

Best Tracks - "The Fish Cheer & I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag", "Who Am I", "Pat's Song", "Rock Coast Blues", "Magoo", "Janis", "Thought Dream" and "Easter Jam". Maybe not as enjoyable as their previous effort, driven by Heavy Organ and Guitar playing, I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die is a more laid-back attitude, allowing us to see another side to the Band. It is a fantastic Album nonetheless, one that may require some more listen than the usual to really get into.

Country Joe & The Fish:

- Country Joe McDonald - Vocals, Guitar, Bells, Tambourine.

- Barry "The Fish" Melton - Vocals, Guitar.

- David Cohen - Guitar, Organ.

- Bruce Barthol - Bass, Harmonica.

- Gary "Chicken" Hirsh - Drums.

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