60s-70s artists - recommendations (1 Viewer)

[Sathyan]

I've finally gotten myself a turntable which means I can begin collecting vinyl LPs (thousands available locally for $0.25 each). With classical I pretty much know what to look for but in other categories I'm not recognizing names. Below I will list some artists that I like, please suggest some similar "oldies" artists.

Firstly, some oldies I know I like:

Jazz:
Louis Armstrong
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Jean-Luc Ponty
also the "Jazz Fusion" category (of which I'd include J-L P), any suggestions?


Rock/Pop:
Elvis
The Beatles
Santana
The Moody Blues
Simon & Garfunkel
Queen
The Who
Bob Dylan
Much of the "Woodstock" album
Allman Brothers/Derek & the Dominoes



Current artists I listen to a lot:

Jazz/Blues:
Diana Krall
Jacintha
Ana Caram
Norah Jones
Susan Tedeschi

Pop/Rock:
Sarah McLachlan
The Corrs
Dave Matthews
MC Solaar
Lara Fabian
Natasha St-Pier
Nightwish
Lamya
Dido
Emma Shapplin
The Cardigans
Natalie Merchant
Joan Osborne

Country:
Mindy McCready
Shelby Lynne
Leann Rimes

thanks,
Sathyan

NP Ana Caram - Blue Bossa (SACD)

 

[Angelo.M]

I don't even know where to begin in answering your question, so I'll limit myself to 2 artist which, given your taste, I think you'll love on vinyl:

Joni Mitchell
The Band

Start w/ Joni's "Blue" and the Band's self-titled second album. I can't imagine that you won't fall in love with both of these selections.

 

[Brian Burgoyne]

You should probably get some Jefferson Airplane, Greatful Dead, Byrds, Animals, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Paul Revere and the Raiders (OH JUST KIDDING )

If you want to side track a bit from the hippie history, you could check out Motown....

I was there in the 60's and it was fun...I wonder if I was 16 now would I have as much fun? Oh no...I guess I would be in the alternative school:b

 

[DanaA]

I really like the two suggestions by Angelo, both sublimely great albums.

I also like your consideration of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Allman Brothers/Derek and the Dominoes. My starter suggestions in this regard would be Abby Road, the Double White Album, Revolver, Blond on Blond, Highway 61 Revisited, Bringing It All Back Home, Live at the Fillmore East, and Layla.

Brian also has some great suggestions. Electric Ladyland, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Volunteers, and numerous albums by the other mentioned groups are all GREAT. My favorite Pink Floyd album is Wish You Were Here, but there would be a lot of different choices here by others...all a matter of personal preference.

Other groups I would check out include Van Morrison/Them, The Kinks, early Rod Stewart (including Truth, a Jeff Beck album), Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, The Velvet Underground, and Neil Young, but there are really hundreds of great artists from that period.

I'd really expand the jazz to include the 50's. My favorite Jazz albums, again from memory, from the 50's and 60's would include:
The Modern Jazz Quartet - European Concert
Quintet Jazz at Massey Hall (with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie)
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Duke Ellington - At Newport
Charles Mingus - Ah Um
Dave Brubeck - Time Out
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme and Ascention (this is more adventurous)
Charles Lloyd - Forest Flower and Love In
Thelonious Monk - Brillian Corners
Wes Montogomery - Incredible Jazz Guitar

 

[Rich Malloy]

Sathyan, considering the artists you already like, I think Angelo's given you some prime suggestions.

I'd also recommend starting off with Joni Mitchell's "BLUE", and get the DCC gold disc mastered by Steve Hoffman if you can find it (eBay may be the only way, but I bought one from Tower online about 3 mos. ago). I understand the new HDCD remasters of Joni's work are supposed to be real good, and there's even a DVD-A announced for the future... but I still sorta doubt either will top Hoffman's work.

"Music from Big Pink" would be a nice place to start with The Band, but if you wanna get to the real insider stuff (and don't mind some sonic deficiencies) seek out The Complete Basement Tapes, "home recordings" of Dylan and the Band recreating the underground American songbook (this is more Dylan than the Band, but it couldn't exist without both of them). Avoid the "official" Columbia release like the plague it is, and look for the latest "bootleg" remaster "A Tree With Roots". A tad difficult to penetrate at first, and filled with stops, starts, lurches, and glitches, but one of the deepest collections of music I've ever heard.

For rock-and-roll, be sure to catch the Grateful Dead. For studio stuff, check out the rootsy, decidedly non-psychedelic "American Beauty" and "Workingman's Dead", available on excellent remastered HDCDs and also in surround on DVD-A. For live GD stuff, start off with "Dick's Picks Vol. 8" aka 5/2/70 Harpur College. The electric set is mono (the only mono live Dead I've heard), but is easily one of a handful of the finest performances they've ever mustered, and sure to set your toes tapping and then completely blow your mind. The acoustic set is stereo and positively gorgeous, drawing mostly from both "Beauty" and "Workingman's", plus a coupla tunes from the great American songbook.

For Motown/R&B, my favorites are Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" (excellent "Deluxe" edition available) and Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life".

 

[Angelo.M]

I understand the new HDCD remasters of Joni's work are supposed to be real good...

They are. I haven't had the luck to hear the DCC gold disc, but the HDCD version of "Blue" is outstanding.

I love your suggestions of "Big Pink," "A Tree With Roots" (which I've heard, but need to get my own copy of) and the Dead stuff. Sounds like I need to pick up "DP Vol. 8" if nothing else but for that acoustic set. Wow, sounds great!

 

[Jeremiah]

I would highly recomend getting Layla by Derek and the Domino's, that is a great, great album.

Disreali(sp?) Gears - Cream
Electric Ladyland - Jimi Hendrix
Morrison Hotel - The Doors

These are some great albums.

 

[Marty M]

Anything by the Beatles, but I would recommend you start with Rubber Soul, my personal favorite.

 

[Sathyan]

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

I went to the store yesterday and came away with all I could carry (having found more than that; records are heavy). I bought a whole bunch of classical, three Jean-Luc Ponty* (one of which I had on CD; the LP has a good deal more depth), Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (the album cover has a zipper on it), some Simon & Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin (with RESPECT), Gloria Estefan, Billy Joel (52nd street). I'm going back ASAP but to prevent this from being library-building rather than musical enjoyment, I've resolved not to buy more recordings until I listen to the ones I've purchased.


The years spanned 1953 to 1989. I noticed older records were heavier, is that typical?


DanaA:

You mentioned Allman Brothers "Live at the Filmore East". I see that its available on DTS CD. Have you heard that release? Is it any good?


* I really like his music. Sort of a electronic jazz fusion thing. Can you suggest similar artists?

 

[DanaA]

No, I've never heard that particular Fillmore CD. I do have the album on vinyl and CD though. It's a great recording, with fine moments of improvisation. Unlike certain other bands, which seemed to improvise without direction or to show off their musicianship, the Allman Brothers seem to do it as an emotional exploration, not that their musicianship isn't exemplary.

As to what you bought, I probably have most of it, both on CD and vinyl, well except Gloria Estefan and Billy Joel. Hope you enjoy sticky fingers, although Let It Bleed is my personal favorite. As far as Simon and Garfunkle, I've never heard the CD of their work that can hold a candle to the warmth/depth of their vinyl recordings, so good choice. Which recording did you get?

And, yes, certain vinyl is heavier. Not sure why or if there are any benefits, but I always liked them more. They're sturdier and seemed to be more resistent to scratching, but that could be, "just my imagination."

 

[John Wes]

Some less well known 60's 70's artists...

In the rock catagory..

Ten Years After

Savoy Brown

Fridgid Pink

 

[JordanS]

Definitely Pink Floyd

 

[Derek Duncan]

Genesis, all the way, the greatest.

Derek

 

[ChuckDeLa]

Sigh. It makes me feel old to listen to stories of people "discovering" vinyl.

 

[Mike Broadman]

Definitely way too many to list, so I'll take Angelo M's idea of sticking to two.

This is a great opportunity for you to explore the unique and beautiful musical worlds of Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus.

NP: Kate Bush, The Kick Inside

 

[Rich Malloy]

As far as Simon and Garfunkle, I've never heard the CD of their work that can hold a candle to the warmth/depth of their vinyl recordings, so good choice.

Me neither... with one exception!

Mobile Fidelity's amazing gold disc of "BOOKENDS". Astonishingly good, and easily one of the best discs they ever released.

 

[Jeremiah]

Maybe get Dire Straits Brothers In Arms album. My local radio station plays complete albums on Sundays and that was one of them, only heard about 4 songs but they were pretty darn good. It might be my next buy.

 

[Rich Malloy]

"Brothers in Arms" is a nice album, but Sathyan's looking for stuff released in the 60s/70s!

 

[Marvin]

I'll make my usual recommendation of Procol Harum.

Primarily their first 4 albums (their self-titled first album, which was subsequently re-released as "A Whiter Shade of Pale", "Shine on Brightly", "A Salty Dog" and "Home") though many people prefer their "Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra" LP (from which the single "Conquistador" was released) and both "Grand Hotel" and "Exotic Birds and Fruit" are also excellent.

 

[Jeremiah]

Brothers in Arms" is a nice album, but Sathyan's looking for stuff released in the 60s/70s!

Oops, that's right.

OK, get Strange Days by The Doors, it's a great album.