Psychedelic Sight asks readers to nominate recordings for its lists of best psychedelic songs and psychedelic albums. Below are some of their picks. Also, view readers’ picks for best albums.
> Nominate your psychedelic songs (or albums).
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‘Not to Touch the Earth’
The Doors | 1968 — Reader Grace loves the “good and trippy” introduction to this track from “Waiting for the Sun.” And the “brilliant” lyrics from Jim Morrison. One of the band’s last psychedelic tracks and a remnant of “Celebration of the Lizard.”
> Listen
Good and trippy, with brilliant lyrics.
‘Hope’
Klaatu | 1977 — “Well-done visual music,” says reader Roy. “Just watch it lol” (inside joke). Lovely title song from the Canadian group’s second album, complete with cool coda. Try not to think of the Beatles. Album was a rock opera about space travelers.
> Listen
Well-done visual music. Just watch it.
‘Shapes of Things’
The Yardbirds | 1966 — “Quite possibly the first psychedelic song — and one of the best,” says reader Mark Swaney. Groundbreaking feedback from Jeff Beck. The combo of raga rock and eco-messaging gave the Yardbirds a hit on both sides of the pond.
> Listen
Quite possibly the first psychedelic song.
‘Seventy Five’
Touch | 1968 — “Extended space trippy, taking many angles,” raves reader Joe Schaller. “Soaring vocals with studio effects.” A “stunningly overlooked” work from the late 1960s. Short-lived band centered around young Don Gallucci of the Kingsmen.
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Extended space trippy, taking many angles.
‘Peace of Mind’
Blue Cheer | 1969 — “New! Improved!” screamed the title of the “louder than god” group’s third album. Maybe. But this 7-minute groove from new guitarist Randy Holden delivers on “melody, lyrics and general vibe,” says reader J. Fred Muggs.
> Listen
The chimp says dig the melody, lyrics and general vibe.
‘If You Feel’
Jefferson Airplane | 1968 — The side 2 opener of “Crown of Creation” “captures the spirit of the late ’60s with a message of following your passion and not restricting your thinking or behavior,” says reader Phil Gore. Marty Balin co-wrote and sang the jangly ode to freedom.
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Captures the spirit of the late 1960s.
‘Magic Potion’
The Open Mind | 1969 — Mind-expanding single from a London-based outfit. The rocker “goes right to the core of the freakout scene and psychedelic garage rock,” says reader Jeff. “Trippy lyrics and fuzz guitar riffs from a twisted version of Wonderland.”
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Goes right to the core of the freakout scene.
‘Don’t You Know?’
Black Market Karma | 2013 — “Sounds best while you’re tripping,” says reader Mike Weiner. “Pure western raga for deep diving while riding the wild horse of a melted mind.” From the British psychedelic revivalists’ fourth album, “Semper Fi.”
> Listen
Ride the wild horse of a melted mind.
‘Hot Smoke & Sasafrass’
Bubble Puppy | 1969 — Inspired by Aldous Huxley and “The Beverly Hillbillies,” the Texas band broke into the Top 20 with this driving single. Reader Marshall Jackson cites the “heavy rock with psychedelic lyrics.” The quartet featured a then-novel dual-guitar attack.
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Inspired by Aldous Huxley and ‘The Beverly Hillbillies.’
‘Underture’
The Who | 1969 — “This song is about Tommy’s acid trip,” says reader Mark Swaney. “Sounds like my acid trips of the past!” Rock opera composer Pete Townshend built the lengthy instrumental around some of the ideas from “Rael” on “The Who Sell Out.”
> Listen
Sounds like my acid trips of the past!
‘Dark Star’
The Grateful Dead | 1969 — “One off the greatest group improvs of all time in any genre,” reader Adrian Litvinoff says of the “Live/Dead” version. “Amazing unity of group mind among the players. Lyrically dark, mysterious and apocalyptic. Describes disintegration and chaos.”
> Listen
One of the greatest group improvs of all time.
‘The Beauty of Time Is That It’s Snowing’
The Steve Miller Band | 1968 — Reader Paul Tescher wants you to know “It’s Snowing.” From Miller’s debut album, recorded in swinging London. Five minutes of electronic weirdness, with a dash of “psychedelic B.B.” blues. Strange and ultimately celestial.
> Listen
Electronic weirdness with a dash of B.B. blues.
‘Snapdragon’
Kaleidoscope (UK) | 1969 — This one “has the power to translate one to the center of the psychedelic movement,” says reader Salvador Tamarit. “The band has other great songs but this one best reflects the spirit of those years.” Later became the prog outfit Fairfield Parlour.
> Listen
Journey to the center of the psychedelic movement.
‘Smoking the Day Away’
May Blitz | 1970 — “Killer guitar!” screams reader Dan Kind. “Cream meets Black Sabbath. One of many memorable songs on this excellent album from the early ’70s.” Eight hard & heavy minutes from a Canadian-British power trio fronted by James Black.
> Listen
Killer guitar! Cream meets Black Sabbath.
‘We Love You Lil’
Eric Burdon and the Animals | 1968 — Reader Jon Turner notes it’s “the old ‘Lili Marlene’ song (from WWII) being overtaken by shimmering guitar chords before a blistering psychedelic solo. From “The Twain Shall Meet” album, a favorite of Jimi Hendrix.
> Listen
Shimmering guitar chords before a blistering psychedelic solo.
‘Roller Coaster’
The 13th Floor Elevators | 1966 — “The original psychedelic band. With the freaky sound of the electric jug!” writes reader Psychedelic Komandante. Second track on the debut album, “The Psychedelic Sounds,” written by Roky Erickson and Tommy Hall.
> Listen
The freaky sound of the electric jug!
‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Sam Gopal | 1969 — “A real driving pace, complemented by lots of fuzz guitars,” says reader Jeff Baker. “The lyrics can take you down a bit of a rabbit hole.” Short and snappy, from a U.K. outfit headed by the drummer of the same name.
> Listen
The lyrics can take you down a bit of rabbit hole.
‘Look at Me I’m You’
Blossom Toes | 1967 — Reader Nippur de Lagash says this gem “has more than enough merits to be among the top 100 psychedelic songs.” The lead-off track from the debut album, hailed as “a classic example of British psychedelia.” Produced by Giorgio Gomelsky.
> Listen
Should be among the top 100 psychedelic songs.
‘Help, I’m a Rock’
The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band | 1967 — “Pushes the envelope of psychedelic,” says reader Ginger Townsend Vobejda. “Someone is singing about a bad acid trip … or maybe just a vivid acid trip.” Probably the first cover of a Frank Zappa tune.
> Listen
Someone is singing about a bad acid trip.
‘Feelings’
The Grass Roots | 1968 — “Goes back to the hitmakers’ garage band days (as the 13th Floor),” says reader Shannon. “Fuzz effects. Spacey feel. Vibes.” Title track of the group’s third album, designed to hip up the brand. Doris Day and P.F. Sloan were big fans.
> Listen
Fuzz effects. Spacey feel. Vibes.
‘Mother Sky’
Can | 1970 — “Hypnotic and mind expanding at the same time,” reader Christopher Ruth says. Twelve minutes of driving strange from the German art rockers. From the soundtrack of the British-German movie “Deep End” with Jane Asher.
> Listen
Hypnotic and mind expanding at the same time.
‘Baby’s on Fire’
Brian Eno | 1973 — “Pioneering use of primitive electronics,” reader Richard Bone says. “A dash of early Frippertronics and lyrical images I still can’t unravel.” From Eno’s debut album. Most of the track devoted to a blistering solo by King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.
> Listen
A dash of early Frippertronics.
> MORE PSYCHEDELIC SONGS: view the readers’ list on PAGE 2.
- Nominate psychedelic albums (or songs).
- View readers’ top albums.