10 Essential Albums From The ’60s That We All Had In Our Collections!

5.The Doors, The Doors

Who knows what magic The Doors could have produced if not for the untimely death of their brilliant frontman Jim Morrison in 1971. If 1967’s self-titled debut album was any indication, perhaps they’d be the greatest band of all time. Speculation aside, The Doors was an album that not only spurred the progression of psychedelic rock, but is one of the most influential albums to this day. Three of the band’s most notable hits appear on the track list, including “Light My Fire,” and “The End,” (although my personal favorite is “Break On Through,”).

4. Dusty in Memphis, Dusty Springfield

In an attempt to revitalize her career, Dusty Springfield returned to her roots. She signed with Atlantic Records, a prominent soul music record label, and released an entirely-soul album, the first of her career, in 1969. The result was a stunning collection of songs that became her greatest work. Nothing will ever match the smoothness of Dusty in Memphis’ hit single, “Son of a Preacher Man.”

3. Are You Experienced, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Another talent taken from us far too soon, Jimi Hendrix dazzled with his debut studio album. The Jimi Hendrix Experience would only go on to release two more albums, but many of their most notable songs appear on Are You Experienced. Four songs from the album were included on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time List: “Purple Haze” (17), “Foxy Lady” (153), “Hey Joe” (201), and “The Wind Cries Mary” (379). Now that’s an album everyone should own.

2. Where Did Our Love Go, The Supremes

The Supremes released their second studio album in 1964, Where Did Our Love Go, and achieved something no other group had before; they became the first act in Billboard magazine history to have three number-one hits from the same album. Those hits were “Where Did Our Love Go”, “Baby Love”, and “Come See About Me.” This album is widely considered the first to introduce Motown to the masses, and was the highest ranking album by an all female group at the time.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=izzKUoxL11E

1. Led Zeppelin I, Led Zeppelin

Of course, no music list would be complete without an appearance by Led Zeppelin. If you thought picking a favorite Beatles album was tough, try doing it with Led Zeppelin. While we think their untitled fourth studio album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV, is their best, it wasn’t released until 1971. However their debut album, which came out in January of 1969, was just as good. The self-titled album was ranked at #29 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, and for good reason. Several of the band’s most notable songs are featured on this album, including “Good Times Bad Times”, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”, and “Dazed and Confused.” Led Zeppelin would go on to release many more noteworthy albums, but this was the one that got them started; and for that, it deserves a spot in any collection.

We hope you enjoyed our list of the ten most essential ’60s albums! How many of these did you own? Did your favorite not make the list? let us know in the comments below… we love hearing from you!