OccultHawk

Yeah Shape belongs at the top. Damn fine list though.

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rubber soul

1960







Event of the year: Francis Gary Powers lands a plane in Red Square and stops the nuclear arms race.
Fad: Busting deejays in Payola Scandal
Babe of the Year: Lucy Van Pelt
Scandal of the Year: A woman arrested for wearing an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
Movie or TV show to barf to: Lawrence Welk
What we could have done without: Dick Clark playing a kiss up in Payola scandal
Pet of the year: Norman Bates

Other Tidbits: Nixon grows a beard and gets trounced in the debates, The CIA tries to set Castro’s beard on fire, France gets the bomb and invades Britain, Woolworth stages a sit-in for more pecan pie, the crime rate triples in Mayberry, North Carolina, Frank Nitti kidnaps Elliot Ness, Chubby Checker invents hip casts, John Kennedy wins West Virginia primary by convincing voters he’s Jewish, Woman killed in a shower for embezzlement, John Wayne single handedly fights off 5000 Mexicans at the Alamo, Elvis Presley makes a comeback and becomes Frank Sinatra.

And here we go with more jazz plus a little bit of folk and rock n roll…







1) Charles Mingus- Blues and Roots
2) Miles Davis- Sketches of Spain
3) John Lee Hooker- Travelin’
4) Eric Dolphy- Out There
5) John Coltrane- Giant Steps
6) Johnny Cash- Ride This Train
7) Joan Baez- Joan Baez
8) Charles Mingus- Mingus Dynasty
9) The Everly Brothers- A Date With the Everly Brothers
10) Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers- The Big Beat
11) Muddy Waters- At Newport 1960
12) Thelonious Monk- Thelonious Alone in San Francisco
13) James Brown- Think
14) The Everly Brothers- It’s Everly Time
15) Link Wray- Link Wray and His Wraymen
16) Tina Brooks- True Blue
17) Bo Diddley- Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger
18) Ornette Coleman- Change of the Century
19) Bill Evans Trio- Portrait In Jazz
20) Hank Mobley- Soul Station
21) Sonny Clark Trio- Sonny Clark Trio
22) Wanda Jackson- Rockin’ With Wanda
23) The Ventures- Walk, Don’t Run
24) Curtis Fuller Quintet- Blues-Ette
25) The Kingston Trio- String Along




Another year of great surprises. I’ll cover the number two album in the Biggest Surprise. It still gets edged out by what is the first of truly great albums by Charles Mingus. It’s one of those albums where you just relax and let the music flow. His Mingus Dynasty (at number eight) is no slouch either. John Lee Hooker comes in at number three (Did I say last year’s album was his best? Scratch that). It’s a piece of the electric blues you would expect from the legend.

Coltrane’s Giant Steps signals his return to the top twenty-five and he’ll be coming back with a vengeance. The other big surprise for me was Johnny Cash’s Ride This Train. This may be the first real concept album in the rock n roll sense as he narrates into each song as if he’s reviewing his life. It’s a piece of brilliance and is now one of my favorite Cash albums. The Everly Brothers also impress me this year. A Date With the Every Brothers was an album my Mom had when I was a kid. I liked it then and I like it now. Thelonious Monk scores with his first album I actually like. In fact really most of the albums are solid except for maybe the bottom five. Needless to say, this is my favorite chart yet.


Biggest Surprise- Miles Davis- Sketches of Spain.

Until Kind of Blue, I wasn’t really that keen on Miles and even that album didn’t really live up to expectations for me. Sketches of Spain was very original as Davis uses flamenco music to his advantage. It’s my favorite Miles to date.

Biggest Disappointment- The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery.

I didn’t find anything incredible about it at all. It doesn’t even make Honorable Mention. Maybe when I want to hear jazz, I’d rather hear horns and sax and even piano. Guitar is for rock n roll, man.


Honorable Mention

Donald Byrd- Byrd in Hand, Jimmy Reed- Found Love

Stinker of the Year- Annette (Disney’s Darling before those Beach Party pictures)- Hawaiianette

Annette sings songs of Hawaii, excited yet? It takes five seconds of the title track to want to make you stick dynamite in your ears. Other great gems to poke your eyes out to include Hukilai, Blue Muu Muu, and Lua Cha Cha Cha. If I hear them chant Lua Cha Cha Cha one more time…

Okay, I’m going to end this so I can get away from Annette. God help us when she does those Beach Party movies. Meanwhile make sure you catch my top 25 for 1961 next week. Until then, aloha.

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OccultHawk

Again it’s a good list.

However, leaving off We Insist! Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite is criminal.

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Frownland

Yes to both. I would've added Russell Sextet at the Five Spot as well, but leaving him off only begins to be a criminal act in 1961.

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Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.

rubber soul

1961





Event of the year: Pigs invade Cuba and are repulsed by Castro forces and sharks
Fad: Getting lost in space
Babe of the Year: Holly Golightly
Scandal of the Year: Some little kid in Ohio is wishing people into the cornfield.
Movie or TV show to barf to: Sing Along With Mitch
What we could have done without: Colored Only water fountains
Pet of the year: Laika the Russian space dog

Other Tidbits: East Germany builds the Great Wall of China, Kennedy promises to put LBJ on the Moon by 1970, Natalie Wood declares she’s so pretty, Kennedy forms the Peace Corps and supports war in Vietnam, Pampers invented for incontinent adults, people ride to the south for free, Roger Maris cleared of steroid accusations, Khrushchev joins the circus. The Sharks beat the Jets in the first Super Bowl, Mothra destroys Tokyo and turns into a giant caterpillar, Fred Flintstone becomes sheriff of Mayberry, Mr. Wilson arrested for spanking Dennis the Menace.

So this is the year folk becomes a major factor in my charts. Are we ready? Tough, I’m doing it anyway…








1) John Coltrane- Olé Coltrane
2) Robert Johnson- King of the Delta Blues Singers
3) Joan Baez- Joan Baez 2
4) John Coltrane- My Favorite Things
5) Blind Gary Davis- Harlem Street Singer
6) The Miracles- Hi, We’re The Miracles
7) James Brown- The Amazing James Brown
8) Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland- Two Steps From the Blues
9) The Journeymen- The Journeymen
10) Roy Orbison- Roy Orbison at the Rock House
11) Dave Van Ronk- Dave Van Ronk Sings
12) Hank Mobley- Roll Call
13) Mal Waldron- The Quest
14) Dave Brubeck- Time Further Out
15) The Shadows- The Shadows
16) Oliver Nelson- The Blues and the Abstract Truth
17) Ornette Coleman- Free Jazz
18) Ray Charles and Milt Jackson- Soul Meeting
19) Cecil Taylor- The World of Cecil Taylor
20) Charles Mingus- Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus
21) Judy Collins- A Maid of Constant Sorrow
22) Kenny Drew- Undercurrent
23) Ike and Tina Turner- The Soul of Ike and Tina Turner
24) Max Roach- Percussion Bitter Sweet
25) Bo Diddley- Bo Diddley is a Lover


John Coltrane owns this year. My Favorite Things is probably one of his most acclaimed albums and it is quite good, but for me, Olé Coltrane blows that one out of the water. It’s his best since Blue Train. I put Robert Johnson at number two even though he technically recorded his songs in 1936-37, but they released his collection this year. So I cheated a little so I could include him somewhere in my project, plus he was pretty damned good. I really start to become a fan of Joan Baez this year. She had such an angelic voice in the early sixties in particular. Blind Gary Davis was my other surprise. It’s basically a blues gospel album and quite soulful in its own way. It’s certainly has to be one of the most underrated blues albums out there.

James Brown comes up with one of his energetic pieces with his usual mix of hits and tunes to get jumpy with. I cheated a little with Roy Orbison too. He’s actually one of the greatest singles artists ever but his sixties albums are generally mediocre as a rule. Rock House is a collection of songs from his Sun days. It’s about as good as anything Elvis or Cash did to be honest. Other entries to note include Dave Van Ronk (again), Dave Brubeck, and Judy Collins, who won’t remind anyone of Joan Baez, but isn’t half bad in the early sixties folk scene.

This is the first year where I start to include honorable mentions. Eventually, they will essentially be my 26th to 30th albums in no particular order, but for now, they’re just the albums I thought deserved some mention.

Biggest Surprise- The Miracles- Hi We’re the Miracles.

I wasn’t expecting to like Motown albums in general, but some of the early Motown albums really rock it. This one by the Miracles may be the best of the bunch before What’s Going On though I guess time will tell.

Biggest Disappointment- Elvis Presley- Something For Everybody.

I know, I shouldn’t expect much out of Elvis’ albums in general but 1961 was a banner year for him with hits like Little Sister and (Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame. Unfortunately, neither song is on the album.



Honorable Mention- The Ventures- Another Smash, Elvis Presley- Something For Everybody

Stinker of the Year- Ronald Reagan- Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine.

This, from a man who once co-starred with a monkey. He later would famously slap Angie Dickinson silly and win the Governorship of California. Anyhow he felt the right for doctors to move to Antarctica was more important that somebody’s trivial heart operation. If you think he’s in a lather here, imagine his horror when Medicare became the law of the land.

Well, that does it for 1961. Stay tuned for later in the week as we get into 1962.

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rubber soul

1962






Event of the year: Cuba goes day-glo.
Fad: Hiding in bomb shelters
Babe of the Year: Betty Rubble
Scandal of the Year: Marilyn Manson sings to JFK
Movie or TV show to barf to: The Beverly Hillbillies
What we could have done without: Middle aged people doing the Twist
Pet of the year: Dino (no, not Dean Martin)

Other Tidbits: US and Soviets on brink of war over Cuba, Khrushchev gets something in his eye, Glenn orbits the Earth and gets dizzy, Beatles signed by VeeJay records, Decca signs Mitch Miller, Andy Warhol paints a can of soup, Humbert Humbert exposed as a pervert, Frank Sinatra fails to prevent the Assassination of Senator James Gregory, Elvis Presley wins his fifth Academy Award, To Serve Man is exposed as a cookbook, A moose is eaten when he pulls a rabid squirrel out of his hat (again?).

Jazz is hanging in for another year as folk and rock becomes more influential. Let’s say we give the top Twenty-Five a spin…






1) Joan Baez- Joan Baez in Concert
2) Peter Paul and Mary- Peter Paul and Mary
3) John Coltrane- Coltrane
4) Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan
5) Sun Ra- The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra
6) John Coltrane- John Coltrane Plays the Blues
7) John Lee Hooker- Burnin’
8) Charles Mingus- Oh Yeah!
9) Herbie Hancock- Takin Off
10) Howlin Wolf- Howlin Wolf
11) Marvin Gaye- That Stubborn Kind of Fellow
12) Ravi Shankar- Improvisations
13) Ian and Sylvia- Ian and Sylvia
14) Carolyn Hester- Carolyn Hester
15) Booker T and the Mgs- Green Onions
16) Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers- Moasic
17) Sam Cooke- Twistin the Night Away
18) The Supremes- Meet the Supremes
19) Gene Pitney- The Many Sides of Gene Pitney
20) The Marvelettes- Playboy
21) Ray Charles- Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
22) James Brown- Good Good Twistin
23) Charles Mingus- Tijuana Moods
24) The Miracles- I’ll Try Something New
25) The Shadows- Out of the Shadows


This is the year of folk to be sure. I’m generally not big on live albums but there are exceptions. Joan Baez in concert is one of them. If you think I’m off my rocker, listen to her rendition of What Have They Done To the Rain and then tell me I’m nuts. Then again, knowing some of you guys )…

Peter Paul and Mary comes in at number two. I guess for most people a little bit of them can go a long way, but their first three albums and especially their debut very much impresses me. Again, listen to 500 Miles and… Coltrane comes up with another gem and Bob Dylan makes his solid debut. Number Five is my big surprise while other solid entries include Herbie Hancock, Marvin Gaye’s debut, Booker T’s Green Onions and my other big surprise, Meet the Supremes- go figure. The Beach Boys also recorded their first album this year, but they have to settle for honorable mention. I like the Beach Boys, but their debut really isn’t all that good.



Biggest Surprise- Sun Ra- The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra

The king of experimental jazz is no better than on this gem. I didn’t know what to expect having only really heard Rocket Number Nine, but, yeah, wow. Love this album.

Biggest Disappointment- Ray Charles- Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.


No, I didn’t really expect it to be among my absolute favorite albums, but when you consider this is considered to be the best album of 1962 by many critics, this doesn’t even come close for me. I guess I’m a bigger fan of his Atlantic output when it comes right down to it. Here, he’s trying to be Frank Sinatra or whoever.



Honorable Mention- The Beach Boys- Surfin Surfari, Bo Diddley- Bo Diddley, Ornette Coleman Quartet- Ornette, The Shirelles- Baby It’s You, Lightnin Hopkins- Lightnin Strikes


Stinker of the Year- Ann Corio and Sonny Lester- How To Strip For Your Husband

This was the year of David Rose and the Stripper. It was also the time when women were nervous that their husbands wouldn’t like their coffee. So, naturally this album was meant for a helpful guideline for women to , um, serve their husbands. Look for classics like Seduction of the Virgin Princess and Lonely Little G-String.

Well, we’ve survived the Cubans and the Twist. Stay tuned for next week as we cover 1963.

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Akai

lol

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''To be honest, in my opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view,
but also by looking into this matter from a different perspective and by considering each and every one's valid opinion,
I do believe that I forgot what I was going to say.''


S p o t i f y

rubber soul

1963





Event of the year: JFK gets attacked by the Birds
Fad: The game ‘Who Shot John Kennedy?’
Babe of the Year: Rocky the Flying Squirrel
Scandal of the Year: Ed Sullivan walks out on Bob Dylan over his really big shoes
Movie or TV show to barf to: Cleopatra
What we could have done without: George Wallace and Bull Connor
Pet of the year: Christine Keeler


Other Tidbits: JFK speaks German in Berlin and inadvertently tells the audience to f*** themselves, he later accepts a teaching post in Australia during a trip to Dallas, Martin Luther King has a nightmare, At John Lennon’s request, the Queen rattles her jewelry, people are eaten by man eating flowers called triffids, Russia and US establish the Cone of Silence, Wilbur Post sent to mental institution for talking to a horse.

Okay a note here. UK and US releases were a bit different from each other as the US liked to stretch albums out over time. Therefore, two Beatle albums in the UK would become seven in the US. I tried to use the UK releases as much as possible but if a couple slip through the cracks, blame Kapp records or something.

Okay here we go…






1) The Beatles- With the Beatles
2) Bob Dylan- The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
3) The Beatles- Please Please Me
4) Charles Mingus- The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady
5) James Brown- Live At the Apollo
6) Dave Van Ronk- Folksinger
7) Johnny Cash- Blood Sweat and Tears
8) The Beach Boys- Surfer Girl
9) Peter Paul and Mary- In the Wind
10) Prince Buster- I Feel the Spirit
11) The Impressions- The Impressions
12) Sam Cooke- Night Beat
13) Kenny Burrell- Midnight Blue
14) Various Artists- A Christmas Gift To You From Phil Spector
15) Thelonious Monk- Monk’s Dream
16) The Beach Boys- Surfin USA
17) The Searchers- Meet the Searchers
18) The Atlantics- Bombora
19) The Kingsmen- In Person
20) Peter Paul and Mary- Moving
21) Eric Dolphy- Conversations
22) The Miracles- The Fabulous Miracles
23) The Searchers- Sugar and Spice
24) The Marvelettes- The Marvelous Marvelettes
25) Lesley Gore- Sings of Mixed Up Hearts


This is the beginning of what I like to call the Beatle era. It’s also a good gage on how the quality of albums seem to improve, probably peaking around 1967-1968. As it is 1963 is the best year to date as the Beatles take number one for the first of six consecutive years as well as the number three spot. In between, we have probably Bob Dylan’s best folk album. He’s full blown political now as he guides us through Masters of War and A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall. Mingus comes up with another jazz classic and then there is James Browns’ classic Live at the Apollo. Dave Van Ronk releases his best effort this year and the Beach Boys come up with their first classic album in my book. They also score with Surfin’ USA. Other interesting albums include the Searchers’ two UK entries and the Atlantics. In the Honorable Mentions I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the Kingston Trio’s #16. While I couldn’t put it in my top twenty-five. I was surprised that they could still keep playing some decent stuff as late as 1963, especially since by now folk had gone all political.

Biggest Surprise- Prince Buster- I Feel the Spirit.

I almost went with Dave Van Ronk’s Folksinger but I expect good folk music. I didn’t know what to expect from a ska album. I absolutely love this album. And Madness did get their name from his signature song.

Biggest Disappointment- Dick Dale and His Deltones- King of the Surf Guitar.

I love your instrumentals but do me a favor, Dick, don’t sing- you suck!


Honorable Mention- Dionne Warwick- Presenting Dionne Warwick, The Kingston Trio- #16, Ike and Tina Turner- It’s Gonna Work Out Fine, James Brown- Prisoner of Love, Miles Davis- Seven Steps To Heaven




Stinker of the Year- Danke Schoen- Wayne Newton.

Before he became a smarmy entertainer in Vegas, Wayne Newton was a child star of twenty-one who in those days sounded like he had just been fired from the Chipmunks. If you saw Ferris Bueller Takes Off, you likely heard Danke Schoen. You may not have heard the Beatles Twist and Shout though because you probably were fighting to get out of the theatre. Yes, Virginia, this album truly sucks chipmunk balls.

Well now we’re in the Beatle era and it only gets better from here. See you later this week with 1964.

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rubber soul

This was supposed to be the day I unveiled 1964, but as the great philosopher, Confucius, once said, s*** happens.

Because of some real life issues I am going to have to take a hiatus for a while. Maybe it will only be for a day or two or it could be considerably longer. At this stage, I honestly don't know what's going to happen.

So, in the meantime, I'm going to thank everyone for reading this thread and for making mb a fun place for me the last few months. Maybe when I come back, Pet Sounds will be able to kick off our joint project on the Beatles and I'll continue this journal.


But for now, I'll leave you with my favorite exit song...

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rubber soul

Okay, I guess I better explain. My Mom was rushed to the hospital yesterday and her condition turned grave last night. Unfortunately, I pretty much saw the play by play and it's pretty not really good. Now it's likely she's not going to make it according to what I'm hearing.

But I am still here, even if sporadically, and will try to post 1964 tomorrow so be ready for anything.

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