Psychedelic Sight invites readers to nominate recordings for its lists of best psychedelic albums and psychedelic songs. Below are some of their picks. Also, view readers’ picks for best songs.
> Nominate your favorite psychedelic albums (or songs).
> Listen to this page’s music on Spotify.
‘Todd’
Todd Rundgren | 1974 — “Loved it since first listen,” says reader Richard. “More accessible than ‘A Wizard, a True Star,’ still very trippy!” Rundgren’s fifth album included such mind-blowers as “In and Out the Chakras We Go” and “I Think You Know.”
> Listen (“Chakras” song)
More accessible than ‘Wizard’ but still very trippy.
‘The Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders’
The Holy Modal Rounders | 1968 — “At the crux of twisted folk music and drug-induced psychedelia,” says reader J Kevin Anderson. “Not many have heard it, except for ‘Bird Song’ from the movie ‘Easy Rider.'” The twisted New York folk group’s fourth LP.
> Listen (“Bird Song”)
At the crux of twisted folk music and psychedelia.
‘Sunshine Superman’
Donovan | 1966 — “A magnificent blend of folk, pop and rock all done in a psychedelic style,” says reader Rob Henry. “One of the first psychedelic records (and) a huge influence on the Beatles.” The Irish singer-songwriter’s most successful album.
> Listen (song “Season of the Witch”)
A huge influence on the Beatles.
‘Emerges’
Stone Harbour | 1974 — Reader Walt Cuje unearths this “deep, layered” work from Ohio duo Ric Ballas (guitar, keyboards) and Dave McCarty (vocals, drums). “A legendary private-pressing album.” Low-fi effort was highly collectable. Reissued a half dozen times in the new century.
> Listen (full album)
A legendary private-pressing album.
‘God Bless Tiny Tim’
Tiny Tim | 1968 — “It’s far beyond comparisons,” says reader Gundhi Peshit. “Like spending a whole day on acid. With no return.” The debut album included “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” an unlikely hit for the hirsute falsetto master. A seriously weird and sincere album.
> Listen (full album)
Like spending a whole day on acid.
‘666’
Aphrodite’s Child | 1972 — “The tambourine people dance on an evil sound, the Four Horsemen rush through your mind, the beast has awakened.” Reader Uwe Stark sings the praises of this trippy retelling of Revelation. Vangelis was the ringleader of the Greek group.
> Listen (“The Four Horsemen” song)
The beast has awakened.
‘Touch’N Go With the Critters’
The Critters | 1968 — “They so capture the light-hearted upbeat pop psych music of the late 1960’s,” says reader Richard Lercari. The New Jersey-based band was led by Don Ciccone, who later joined the Four Seasons. Notes of “Pet Sounds” and the Association. Nice.
> Listen (“Cool Sunday” song)
Light-hearted upbeat pop psych music.
‘The Beat of the Earth’
The Beat of the Earth | 1967 — “One of the earliest experimental LPs I know,” says reader John. The only album by the Orange County, Calif., outfit headed by Phil Pearlman. “Do not buy this record unless you are looking for psychedelic music,” the cover warns.
> Listen (full album)
One of the earliest experimental LPs I know.
‘The Sufis’
The Sufis | 2012 — “Who says it has to be 50 years old to be any good?” asks reader Mike Weiner. “These kids make gentle, playful, emotionally supportive psychedelic music complete with worthwhile messaging.” A Brooklyn-based act by way of Nashville.
> Listen (“Where Did She Go?” song)
Gentle, playful, emotionally supportive psychedelic music.
‘In Search of the Lost Chord’
The Moody Blues | 1968 — “The best way to travel is to listen to this album,” says reader María Alejandra H. “It takes me back in time.” Reader William A. Roesler calls the Moodies’ third album one “that cannot be broken up into individual songs.”
> Listen (“The Best Way to Travel” song)
It takes me back in time.
‘Our Bluesbag’
The Blues Right Off | 1970 — “A fully psychedelic album by an Italian band from Venice,” says reader Yuri Inno. “In those years in Italy, blues, rock and therefore psychedelia were considered pure blasphemy.” Fronted by the Danish singer-guitarist Claes Cornelius.
> Listen (“Black Angel” song)
A fully psychedelic album by an Italian band.
‘If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You’
Caravan | 1970 — “The archetype of the Canterbury Sound.” says reader Jim A Thomas. “Powered by David Sinclair’s distinctly groovy Hammond organ, and Pye Hasting’s biting guitar.” Toss in some “gnomic lyrics” and the album “demands to be played as a whole.”
> Listen (title song)
The archetype of the Canterbury Sound.
‘If I Could Only Remember My Name’
David Crosby | 1971 — “A virtual who’s who of the San Francisco Scene” guests on Crosby’s first solo LP, says reader Dallas D. “It’s a heartfelt and passionate farewell to that groovy scene. … One of very few LPs that can drug you without the use of chemicals or herbs.”
> Listen (song “Traction in the Rain”)
Can drug you without the use of chemicals or herbs.
‘Surrealistic Pillow’
Jefferson Airplane | 1967 — “The voice of the acid queen Grace Slick is perfect — from ‘She Has Funny Cars’ to ‘White Rabbit,'” says reader Grace. “The lyrics are so groovy.” Slick made her Airplane debut on this, the band’s second album. A breakout counterculture hit.
> Listen (“Funny Cars” song)
The voice of the acid queen is perfect.
‘You Won’t Remember Dying’
Bulbous Creation | 1970 — “A rustic psycho sound from the (late) ’60s,” says reader corn bell. “Tenebrous themes and good heavy rhythm.” Band hailed from Prairie Village, Kansas, led by singer-guitarist Paul Parkinson. Album wasn’t released until 1994.
> Listen (full album)
Tenebrous themes and good heavy rhythm.
‘Hairway to Steven’
Butthole Surfers | 1988 — “The craziest LSD-drenched sounds in all of Texas!” proclaims reader Psychedelic Komandante. In keeping with the weird, there were no song titles — they ended up being fan-sourced. Teresa Nervosa’s final stand as the group’s drummer.
> Listen (full album)
Craziest LSD-drenched sounds in all of Texas!
‘Solid Air’
John Martyn | 1973 — “With no pharmacological help this audiophile-level LP will float you away,” says reader DL Manning. “With it ‘May You’ always return.” Co-produced by John Wood, the album is a famed light-night chill, an excursion into edgy Brit folk.
> Listen (song “Solid Air”)
This audiophile-level LP will float you away.
‘Hawkwind’
Hawkwind | 1970 — “Very innovative in its use of spacey, ethereal electronic effects,” says reader Ed Beard. “Song titles are a reference to the drug experience.” The (debuting) band explained: “We started out trying to freak people (trippers), now we are trying to levitate their minds.”
> Listen (full album)
Innovative use of spacey, ethereal electronic effects.
‘Rotary Connection’
Rotary Connection | 1967 — “Has psychedelic covers of: ‘Soul Man’, ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and ‘Didn’t Want to Have to Do It,’ ” points out reader Chip Persson. “Plus Minnie Riperton.” The band was put together by producer Marshall Chess; Riperton was the label’s receptionist.
> Listen (song “Ruby Tuesday”)
Psychedelic covers and a young Minnie Riperton.
‘The Way (First Book Of Experiences)’
Bobby Callender | 1971 — “Like ‘Hair’ for the less-cliched hippie,” says reader Dominic Lewington. “Tells the story of Rasha and Dhara and their quest to find nirvana. Both ethereal and enchanting, the album is a ceremony of song, soothing and clear of pretentious ambitions.”
Listen (“Drone”/”Going Back” songs)
Like ‘Hair’ for the less-cliched hippie.
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> MORE PSYCHEDELIC ALBUMS: View the readers’ list on page 2.