THE TOP 13 ROCK ALBUMS OF THE 1960s

#1 The Beatles - The White Album (1968)

My favorite album of all time. I love the whole damn thing even it's weak spots (like "Dont Pass Me By.") In a way it's the fact that it's not so "perfect" like Sgt. Pepper & Abbey Road that pushes it ahead for me. Or maybe it's just the variety. And the songs. The songs are incredible. "Dear Prudence," "Happiness is a Warm Gun," "Blackbird," "Helter Skelter," "Cry Baby Cry," & "Revolution #9" are among the songs that really stand out for me at the moment.

#2 The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper (1967)

I'm definitely not in the "Sgt. Pepper is overrated" camp. I do think it's one of the greatest albums of all time and I do think it still stands up and sounds fresh today (a lot of people say it's "dated" but I don't hear it like that.)

As I like to say, any album that ends with "A Day in the Life" cannot possibly be overrated. But it's not just that song of course, I really think the entire album is brilliant. It's the songs like "Fixing a Hole" & "Getting Better" I most enjoy when I listen to it these days.

#3 The Beatles - Revolver (1966)

OK, it's clear that I'm a Beatles fanatic. I know I should be more objective and put a Bob Dylan album here (and yes, they are coming, I love Dylan) but if I'm being honest then for me The Beatles greatest albums are by definition also the greatest rock albums of the 1960s overall. This is just an absolutely brilliant album. It's amazing that it's only 35 minutes long yet there are more styles of music included in it than most bands play in their entire careers and it's all done magnificently.

#4 The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

Sorry Bob, you'll have to wait one more spot. I'm a Pet Sounds fanatic too. Don't get me wrong, I like some of The Beach Boys other work (and I think if Smile had been released as originally intended it'd be on this list too) but Pet Sounds really is heads and shoulders above any of their other '60s albums. It's just that brilliant.

#5 Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (1966)

Three in a row for 1966, eh? Blonde on Blonde is my favorite Dylan album but I have a very hard time explaining why. I guess I'm a sucker for double albums, although it's pretty short for a double album, isn't it? 71 minutes. In the 1990s most albums were about that length. Remember that? Back when everyone was trying to fill the CD up. I think most of those albums are almost impossible to get through now. With most double albums I actually listen to them one at a time (and not straight through.)

#6 The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)

Had to get back to The Beatles, right? Abbey Road was the final album The Beatles recorded and that is a pretty incredible thing to think about. How many bands go out at that level? I really think that's part of what keeps The Beatles legend so alive. As a band they "died" young, right in their prime. We didn't have to watch them get old as a band. Sure the individual members did some embarrassing stuff but they were FORMER Beatles, not Beatles themselves. So you may be asking, what about the music? Yes, it's brilliant. Both the great songs like "Come Together," "Something," and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" along with the brilliant side two suite.

#7 Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland

#8 Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II

#9 The Rolling Stones - Beggars Banquet

#10 The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico

#11 Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited

#12 The Doors - The Doors

#13 The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour

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