Here are my next eight albums, for the top 20 of 1965.
The Next 8 Albums, for My Top 20 Albums of 1965
Note: Some of this commentary is adapted from that in No Hype No Trends Music’s 200 Best Albums of the 1960s.
As always, you can jump to the playlist at the bottom of each post to listen while you read.
Within each tier (Top 6, Next 6, Next 8, etc.), all albums are listed roughly chronologically (all release dates from Wikipedia, unless otherwise noted).
Davy Graham
Folk, Blues & Beyond…
Davy GrahamReleased 1965/01
I suppose Davy Graham would classified mostly as a folk guitarist (he sings, too, but his voice, while competent, has little in terms of charisma). But his interests reach far beyond folk standards—into jazz guitar, Middle-Eastern drones and flourishes, and more. He has several albums worth exploring, including this one, probably his best (followed closely by his duet with singer Shirley Collins).
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
The Zombies
Begin Here
Released 1965/03 (UK)
Another terrific early British invasion album, Begin Here can hold its own amongst contemporary releases by Them, the Troggs, and other similar bands form the era. You can already hear the beginnings of psychedelia in some of the guitar licks and organ flourishes here. Excellent stuff.
It’s too bad the practice of the time was to fill these albums with covers—fully half the songs here. I love their versions of “Summertime” and “Sticks and Stones,” but couldn’t they have plugged in some of their great singles and b-sides of the same time-period instead of a few of the others? C’mon, boys! Keep all the originals, but make some room for “You Make Me Feel Good,” “Leave Me Be,” “Tell Her No,” and “I Must Move,” and all of a sudden you’ve got one of the classic albums of the era.
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Released 1965/04/16
One of the leading figures in the ‘60s British folk revival, Jansch has plenty of excellent stuff out there, as a solo artist and as a member of the band Pentangle. This, his debut, is one of his best.
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
Notable Critical Mentions:
- Acclaimed Music top albums of the ’60s, No. 332
- 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die (2005)
The Yardbirds
For Your Love [US]
Released 1965/06/13 (US)
Another great British Invasion album. This one, their US debut, collects various non-album UK singles and other US-only tracks, and was not released in the UK. (In fact, the Yardbirds didn’t have any proper studio album releases in the UK at all, other than their classic Roger the Engineer.)
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
Notable Critical Mentions:
- Acclaimed Music, bubbling under the top 3000 albums of all time
Albert Collins
The Cool Sound of Albert Collins
Albert CollinsReleased 1965
Great instrumental blues here, highlighted by Collins’ crisp guitar work and backed by a churning, propulsive rhythm section. This album was re-released in 1969 as Truckin’ with Albert Collins.
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
Notable Critical Mentions:
- Acclaimed Music, bubbling under the top 3000 albums of all time
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Released 1965/10
Excellent early blues rock. This is their classic, and best, album, and is essential listening in the development of blues rock. Later, on 1966’s East-West, they would begin exploring Eastern modalities, making them a pioneer in psychedelia, too. Pretty good track record, for a band no one pays much attention to nowadays.
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
Notable Critical Mentions:
- Acclaimed Music top albums of the ’60s, No. 189
- Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2003), No. 476
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
Going to a Go-Go
Released 1965/11/01
Great classic R&B crooning from Smokey and his band. The arrangements are lively, and the lyrics show wit and charm. It seems when I hear love songs on pop radio nowadays, they are so straightforwardly direct and earnest, with little depth; it’s refreshing to hear Robinson’s approach to the subject; every song offers a clever little twist on the standard love song theme. Good stuff.
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
Notable Critical Mentions:
- Acclaimed Music top albums of the ’60s, No. 156
- Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2003), No. 271
The Who
The Who Sings My Generation [US]
Released 1965/12/03 (UK release date)
An excellent debut from the Who. Like many British Invasion early releases, it’s the sound of a band trying to find its way, and doesn’t show their vision fully formed. But its high points make it an absolutely essential listen.
Read more in my top 200 of the decade.
Notable Critical Mentions:
- Acclaimed Music top albums of the ’60s, No. 049
- 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die (2005)
- Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2003), No. 236
- NME Writers All-Time 100 (1974), No. 022
- NME Greatest Albums of the ’60s (1993), No. 033
Here’s the complete 1965: The Year in Review playlist for you—three tracks per album. Enjoy!
More 1965, The Year in Review
More Years in Review of the 1960s…
Cover Art Citations:
- Folk, Blues & Beyond…: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24572334
- Begin Here: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22990109
- Bert Jansch: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20380423
- For Your Love [US]: Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1213867
- The Cool Sound of Albert Collins (Truckin’ with Albert Collins): Source: Discogs.com
- The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28739571
- Going to a Go-Go: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4622237
- The Who Sings My Generation [US]: By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24134221
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