#5 The Beach Boys-Pet Sounds (Capitol USA 1966)

What can you really say about Pet Sounds that hasn't been already said? In a nutshell it's probably the greatest pop album ever recorded (but it actually took many years for music fans to awaken to that assertion.) I was born in early 1961 and I remember hearing the Beach Boys music from the time I learned how to walk. My mother played their boss All Summer Long LP nearly every night at dinner. Everybody in my neighborhood played Beach Boys' records and in fact one of the first records I ever bought was the group's single Do It Again in the summer of 1968. 

But to be quite honest, when all the heavy music of the late 60's began to appear (Cream, Hendrix, Big Brother etc.) the music of the Beach Boys began to seem a little old hat to me. Although I always liked them I never really realized how great they were until I was in my early early 20's. I first purchased Pet Sounds in the summer of 1981 at Capital Record Shop in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a Japanese import copy and I think I paid $25 for it (a lot back then!) 

When I finally got around to playing it I had no idea of what a profound listening experience it would be. Of course, I was already familiar with some of the tracks such as Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B, God Only Knows and Caroline No. But hearing those songs among killer album tracks like Here Today, That's Not Me and I Know There's An Answer made it seem like I was hearing them for the first time. There was also the two devastating instrumentals Pet Sounds and Let's Go Away For Awhile. 

One of the truly remarkable things about Pet Sounds is that it doesn't sound even the slightest bit dated. It sounds like it could have been recorded at any time in the last 45 years (you certainly can't say that about Sgt. Pepper.) However, one of the odd things about the record is the underlying feeling of loss and melancholy.) It sort of predates the feeling of despair at the core of fellow Los Angeles group Love's 1967 masterpiece Forever Changes. Listening to Pet Sounds reminds me of the first time I took acid. While I was going up on the drug I was truly flying, but the next day I felt kinda down and disconnected. Pet Sounds closing number Caroline No leaves me with the same feeling, it's quite disturbing but compelling at the same time. 

Pet Sounds was one of the Beach Boys least successful records of their golden era but is now rightly regarded as one of the greatest (if not the greatest) records ever made. 

David Furgess

August 1, 2013

#4 Doll By Doll-Gypsy Blood (Automatic Records UK 1979)

Doll By Doll were an exceptional London based group that existed on the fringes of the UK punk/new wave scene of the late 70's. The group was fronted by singer Jackie Leven (who passed away last year.) Leven possessed a truly incredible voice and he was an equally gifted songwriter. Doll By Doll were big news in the UK press in 1979 thanks to their riveting live performances and their promising debut mini LP Remember. The group issued their first full album Gypsy Blood in late 1979 and it was a drop dead classic. Gypsy Blood was a dark and moody collection of songs that showcased Leven's peerless voice and his songs of death and despair. The high points were many and included Highland Rain, Endgame, Hell Games, Binary Friction and Human Face. Reference points include Scott Walker, Tim Buckley, Peter Hammill and John Cale. Sadly, Gypsy Blood was not a success at the record shops and was never given a USA release. This certainly contributed to Leven's eventual addiction to heroin. Luckily Leven cleaned up and carried on with a low key solo career in recent years. Gypsy Blood remains Leven's true masterpiece. You need to hear it!

David Furgess

July 30, 2013

#3 Soft Machine-Third (CBS UK 1970)

Released in 1970 "Third" was a landmark record in the UK progressive rock scene. On "Third" the group made a record that was a bold fusion of avant-garde jazz and psychedelic rock. The album was a two record set that featured one extended piece on each side. But when played on CD the album sounds like one extended piece. It's a mesmerizing record that draws the listener in and takes them on a journey to parts unknown. "Third" is an album that just gets better with every listen and surely must rank among the greatest British records of the late 60's and early 70's.

#2 The Pretty Things-S.F. Sorrow (Columbia UK 1968)

S.F. Sorrow was the fourth studio album in the UK and their first album for the UK Columbia label. The record saw the Pretty Things expand of their two non-album 1967 singles Defecting Grey and Talking About The Good Times. S.F. Sorrow has been described as the first ever true rock concept album (which is of course debatable.) What is not debatable is the album was absolutely stunning and is now justly regarded as one of the finest British rock albums ever made. Key tracks include S.F. Sorrow Is Born, Death, Baron Saturday, Balloon Burning, I See You, Trust, and the lethal Old Man Going (but in truth there is not a weak track on the whole album.) Though as good as the record was it failed to chart. It has been cited as a key influence on The Who's 1969 pop opera Tommy (though in recent years Who songwriter Pete Townshend denies this assertion, however listeners are urged to compare the opening chords of Old Man Going with The Who's Pinball Wizard.) The Pretty Things would strike gold again in 1970 with the album Parachute. UK singer Arthur Brown once said "The Pretty Things invented everything, and got credit for nothing." I agree with that 100%.

David Furgess

July 28, 2013

#1 Love-Forever Changes (Elektra 1967)

Forever Changes was Los Angeles group Love's third studio album. It's an eerie soft-psych gem that points to the collapse of the 60's counterculture while it was still in full bloom. I first heard this album around 1979 and it has never been far from my record player. When push comes to shove it is my all time favorite LP. 

David Furgess

July 27, 2013