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Efter at popmusikken havde fået et nyt livgivende pust med den britiske invasion, begyndte tingene at accellerere, og fra omkring midten af 60´erne fulgte der en række forandringer utrolig hurtigt efter hinanden.

Invasionslyden fra 63-64 var umiddelbar og letfattelig. Nu begyndte musikken imidlertid at blive mere kompliceret og stille nye forståelseskrav til publikum.

Mine betragtninger om dette

Om de store år i midt-60´erne er der skrevet adskillige fremragende bøger. Så hvis det bare havde handlet om at nævne de vigtigste navne og pladeudgivelser, ville jeg ikke have noget at bidrage med. 

Som altid var mit ærinde et andet.

Frem for bare at fastslå, at forandringerne i denne periode fulgte hurtigere på hinanden end før og siden, forsøgte jeg at forstå en smule af denne utrolige kreativitet, og hvad der lå bag. 

Metodisk tilgang

For at kunne betragte forandring fra det ene til det andet på en systematisk måde valgte jeg at undersøge en række af periodens vigtigste plader i strengt kronologisk rækkefølge. 

Denne metode er ikke altid og nødvendigvis helt sikker og korrekt. For hvor længe havde en idé været i omløb, før den blev indspillet på plade? Hvad skete der ved diverse koncerter?

Men det er altsammen ting, man må have været der for at kunne forholde sig til. Når man idag vil følge forandringerne skridt for skridt, må man bruge pladerne, og her må det gælde, at jo mere nøjagtig en kronologi, man er i stand til at få dem anbragt i, desto bedre kan man følge bevægelsen.

Videre gælder så, at jo bedre man kan følge bevægelsen, desto mere greb kan man også få om dens art og beskaffenhed, og dermed også det bedst mulige udgangspunkt for en mere dybdegående analyse.

Inddeling

Jeg inddelte Progressionen i 14 under-perioder. Disse var imidlertid ret vilkårlige. Hver periode svarede ganske enkelt til den mængde musik, der kunne være på otte kassettebånd. 

Det var således tilfældighedernes spil, der fik lov at råde.

Ikke desto mindre har de 14 perioder hver sit tydelige grundpræg, der klart understreger præget af hastige forandringer. 

Den store progression

Fire forrygende år

De fire år, der dækker perioden 1965-68, er formodentlig den periode i hele pladeindustriens historie overhovedet, hvor udvikligen var mest markant. Hverken før eller siden er så mange og så store forandringer fulgt så hurtigt efter hinanden. Man kan naturligvis have forskellige meninger om den udvikling, som fandt sted. Men at der skete forpustende meget i et forrygende tempo, må siges at være et faktum. Hvor man på de fleste andre tidspunkter kan følge med ved at se fra år til år, eller i det mindste fra halvår til halvår, må man over for perioden 65-68 følge udviklingen måned for måned, hvis man skal have fat i bevægelsen. I lange perioder syntes nærmest hver ny pladeudgivelse, at markere et nyt skridt i udviklingen.

The Beatles og Bob Dylan, der frem for nogen var de to kraftcentre, som havde sat bevægelsen i gang et par år tidligere, var stadig blandt folkene i fronten. Men tiden var så fuld af nyskabelse og alting gik så hurtigt i denne periode, at det stort set er umuligt at endeligt fastslå hvem, der var først ude med hvad. Pladernes udgivelsestidspunkt er en usikker målestok. I mange tilfælde spillede grupperne nemlig deres indspilninger for hinanden inden de blev udgivet, ligesom de gik til hinandens koncerter. Visse forfattere fylder hele bøger med forsøg på at afklare hvem, der havde luret hvad af fra hverm, og skyndte sig at få det først ud. Men i sidste ende er det umuligt at klarlægge nøjagtigt. Det er heller ikke det vigtige og afgørende. Hvad der har langt større betydning er den inspiration og idé-rigdom, der lå i tiden som sådan. Den må betragtes som en kollektiv faktor, hvor alle mere eller mindre skylder hinanden noget. Derfor kan man lige så godt vælge at holde sig til udgivelsestidspunkterne. Dette var jo dog i det mindste tidspunktet for, hvornår almindelige pladekøbere tidligst kunne stifte bekendtskab med en nyskabelse. Det er derfor dette, der er lagt til grund for det efterfølgende.

Plade industriens højdepunkt

Årene 65-68 udgør pladeindustriens højdepunkt. Kreativiteten og opfindsomheden blomstrede så stort set alle periodens produkter var båret af en særlig friskhed og innovativ skaberkraft. I alle andre perioder - før såvel som siden - har mesterværket været det særlige, den store undtagelse. Men i denne periode var mesterværket reglen. Musikken har altid været den fineste og mest nøjagtige måleenhed for tiden, men i denne periode er musikken tidsåndens talerør i en pointeret grad. Den ikke bare afspejler og kommenterer tiden - den synes i nogen grad at skabe tiden. Endvidere betyder de gennemgribende radikaliseringer og mangfoldige fornyelser af musikken i denne periode, at den har været en vigtig inspirationskilde for stort set alt, der er sket siden, ja - for så vidt udgør det egentlige grundlag. Set fra den modsatte side udgør perioden en kulmination af det, der var gået forud. I pladeindustriens historie er det helt indiskutabelt under den store progression, at solen står på sin middagshøjde.

Uanset hvad der rent smagsmæssigt måtte være ens yndlingsperiode, kommer man ganske enkelt ikke uden om årene 65-68. Det handler nemlig slet ikke om smag og hvad, man kan lide. Netop ikke. Der er utvivlsomt masser af mennesker, der har en anden yndlingsperiode, ville udpege fire år, der befandt sig enten tidligere eller senere i pladeindustriens historie, som den periode, der taler mest direkte til dem. Men det særlige ved pladerne fra årene 65-68 er deres vægt og gyldighed. Selvom man ikke bryder sig om et givent produkt, er man alligevel ikke i tvivl om dets værdi og berettigelse. Selvom man evt. direkte hader visse udgivelser fra disse år, så aftvinger de alligevel respekt. På en eller anden måde kan man altid være tryg ved periodens plader. Man kan stort set købe en plade fra disse år i blinde, uden at ane hvad det er for noget. For det er en uhyre sjælden undtagelse, at en udgivelse ikke besidder vægt og gyldighed. Selvom man får fat på en, man ikke kan lide, er man alligevel ikke blevet snydt. For tværs gennem ubehaget fornemmer man, at det er et kvalitetsprodukt, der har en berettigelse og noget at byde på. Kortest sagt: det handler ikke om smag, det handler om vægt.

Navne, der repræsenterer det bedste i en tid, hvor flertallet af plader er uinteressante, viser blot en evne til at hæve sig over et rærligt gennemsnit. Men de førende navne i en stærk periode må i en helt anden grad regnes for særlige formater. Inden for den store progression gælder det navne som f.eks. The Who, The Kinks, The Yardbirds og The Byrds. Men über alles troner The Beatles som de bedste af de bedste.

At Beatles' musik har kunne ramme så bredt, er der mange årsager til. Alene værkets enorme alsidighed betyder, at der er lidt for enhver smag. Men samtidig er der også en integritet, noget typisk Beatles-agtigt. Under dette må medregnes en evne til at skrive sange, som er melodisk helstøbte og umiddelbart fængende, samtidig med at besidde en indlysende originalitet, der løfter dem op over det banale.

Men hvordan Beatles midt under pladeindustriens højdepunkt kunne være bedre end de bedste, er et helt andet spørgsmål. En væsentlig del af svaret er givetvis, at John Lennon og Paul McCartney begge havde formatet til at have hver sit rigtig gode band, men var i samme band, hvor de gennem venskabelig konkurence fik det bedste frem i hinanden. Tænk f.eks. på Kinks og Who. Hvad ville der være sket, hvis Ray Davies og Pete Townshend havde været i det samme band? The Kwhoinks med sangskriverparret Davies/Townshend er naturligvis ren fantasi. Endvidere vil mange sikkert straks hævde, at de to havde alt for store egoer til, at et samarbejde ville have været muligt. Hvad, der ville være sket? - De ville have slået hinanden ihjel! Men beskedenhed og samarbejdsevne er heller ikke de dyder, hverken Lennon eller McCartney er mest kendte for. Så lad os prøve at lege med tanken. Havde Townshend og Davies mødt hinanden som halvstore drenge, blevet venner og lavet band sammen, fundet frem til arbejdsmetoder hvor de skruede lidt ned for deres respektive selvoptagenhed for at opnå det bedst mulige musikalske resultat, så ville The Kwhoinks formodentlig have været en langt alvorligere konkurent til The Beatles, end Rolling Stones nogenside blev. Men The Kwhoinks har aldrig eksisteret. Beatles var en realitet, og her var Lennon og McCartney samlet i ét band!

Oversigt

1965:

Store hits og skelsættende milepæle i årets løb:

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders: "Game Of Love", The McCoys: "Hang On Sloopy", Tom Jones: "It's Not Unusual", The Shangri-la's: "Leader Of The Pack", Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames: "Yeah Yeah", Billy Fury: "In Thoughts Of You", The Fortunes: "You've Got Your Troubles", Brian Poole And The Tremeloes: "I Want Candy", Roy Head: "Treat Her Right", Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs: "Wooly Bully".

Første kvartal:

Singler:

Manfred Mann: "Come Tomorrow" (a-side) (8. Januar )

The Rolling Stones: "What A Shame" b/w "Heart of Stone" (januar)

The Kinks: "Tired Of Waiting For You" (a-side) (15. januar)

The Who: "I Can't Explain" b/w "Bald Headed Woman" (15. januar)

The Supremes: "Stop In The Name Of Love" (a-side) (8. februar)

The Beach Boys: "Help Me Ronda" (a-side) (24. februar)

The Rolling Stones: "The Last Time" b/w "Play With Fire" (26. februar)

Donovan: "Catch The Wind" (a-side) (12. marts)

The Kinks: "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy" (a-side) (19. marts)

Peter & Gordon: "True Love Ways" (a-side) (23. Marts)

Albums:

Rolling Stones: "No. 2" (15. Januar)

The Kinks: "Kinda Kinks" (5. Marts)

The Beach Boys: "Today!" (8. Marts)

Buck Owens: "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" (10. Marts)

Bob Dylan: "Bringing It All Back Home" (22. Marts)

B. B. King: "Live At The Regal" (??)

Duke Ellington: "Ellington '65" (??)

Miles Davis: "E.S.P." (indspillet i januar - udgivet ??)

Andet kvartal:

Singler:

The Beatles: "Ticket To Ride" b/w "Yes It Is" (9. April)

The Seekers: "A World Of Our Own" b/w "Sinner Man" (April)

The Byrds: "Tambourine Man" b/w "I Knew I Want To" (12. April)

Bob Dylan: "Subterranean Homesick Blues" b/w "She Belongs To Me" (April)

Them: "Here Comes The Night" (a-side) (3. Maj)

The Hollies: "I'm Alive"" (a-side) (Maj)

The Kinks: "Set Me Free" (a-side) (21. Maj)

The Who: "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" b/w "Daddy Rolling Stone" (21. Maj)

Donovan: "Colours" b/w "Josie" (28.Maj)

The Byrds: "All I Really Wanna Do" b/w "I Feel A Whole Lot Better" (14. Juni)

The Yardbirds: "Heart Full Of Soul" b/w "Steeled Blues" (Juni)

James Brown: "Pappa's Got A Brand New Back" (a-side) (Juni)

Albums:

Herp Albert: "Whipped Cream & Other Delights" (April)

Chet Atkins: "More Of That Guitar Country" (??)

Bert Jansch: "Bert Jansch" (16. April)

Paul Revere & the Raiders: "Here They Come" (??)

Donovan: "What's Bin Did And What's Bin Hid" (14. Maj)

Chris Barber: "Folk In Barber Style" (??)

Herbie Hancock: "Maiden Voyage" (17. Maj)

Animals: "Animal Track" (Maj)

The Byrds: "Tambourine Man" (21. Juni)

The Sonics: "Here Are The Sonics" (??)

The Beach Boys: "Summer Days & Summer Nights!!" (28. Juni)

The Fugs: "The Village Fugs" (??)

Tredie kvartal:

Singler:

The Beach Boys: "California Girls" (a-side) (12. Juli)

The Animals: "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" (a-side) (Juli)

The Righthouse Brothers: "Unchained Melody" (b-side) (17. Juli)

Wilson Pickett: "In The Midnight Hour" (a-side) (??)

The Beatles: "Help" b/w "I'm Down" (23. Juli)

The Hollies: "Look Through Any Window" (a-side) (1. August)

The Small Faces: "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" (a-side) (6. August)

Rolling Stones: "Satisfaction" b/w "The Spider And The Fly" (20. August)

Barry McGuire: "Eve Of Destruction" (a-side) (??)

Manfred Mann: "If You Gotta Go, Go Now" (a-side) (10 September)

Simon & Garfunkel: "The Sounds Of Silence" (a-side) (September)

Albums:

Roy Orbison: "There Is Only One" (1. juli)

Moody Blues: "The Magnificent Moodies" (22. juli)

The Beatles: "Help" (6. August)

The Yardbirds: "For Your Love" (August)

Bob Dylan: "Highway 61 Revisited" (30. august)

The Hollies: "Hollies" (1. Spetember)

Otis Redding: "Otis Blue" (15. September)

Rolling Stones: "Out Of Our Heads" (24. September)

Paul Butterfield: "The Butterfield Blues Band" (??)

Nina Simone: "I Put A Spell On You" (??)

Fjerde kvartal:

Singler:

Jimmy McGriff: "Discotheque USA" (a-side) (??)

The Byrds: "Turn! Turn! Turn!" b/w "She Don't Care About Time" (1. oktober)

The Seekers: "The Carnival Is Over" b/w "We Shall Not Be Moved" (oktober)

The Yardbirds: "Evil Hearted You" b/w "Still I'm Sad" (oktober)

The Toys: "A Lovers Concerto" (a-side) (Oktober)

James Brown: "I Feel Good" (a-side) (oktober)

The Rolling Stones: "Get Of My Cloud" b/w "The Singer Not The Song" (22. oktober)

Donovan: "Turquise" b/w "Hey Gip" (30. oktober)

The Who: "My Generation" b/w "Shout And Shimmy" (5. november)

Them: "Mystic Eyes" b/w "If You And I Could Be As One" (12. november)

Spencer Davis Group: "Keep On Runing" (a-side) (november)

Mamas And Papas: "California Dreamin'" (november)

The Beatles: "We Can Work It Out"b/w "Day Tripper" (3. december)

Bobby Fuller Four: "I Fought The Law" (a-side) (december)

The Beach Boys: "Babara Ann" (a-side) (december)

Rolling Stones: "As Tears Go By" b/w "Gotta Get Away" (18. December)

Albums:

The Turtles: "It Ain't Me Babe" (Oktober)

Donovan: "Fairytale" (22. Oktober)

The Yardbirds: "Having A Rave Up" (Part 1)* (20. November)

The Kinks: "The Kink Kontroversy" (26. November)

The Who: "My Generation" (3. December)

The Beatles: "Rubber Soul" (3. December)

'The Byrds: "Turn! Turn! Turn!" (6. December)

Bert Jansch: "It Don't Bother Me" (December)

Wes Montgomery & Wynton Kelly: "Smokin' At The Halfnote" (??)

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*Anden del af "Having A Rave Up" var genbrug af en række optagelser fra '64, tidligere udsendt som "Five Live Yardbrds".

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1966:

Store hits og skelsættende milepæle i årets løb:

Bob Lind: "Mr. Zero", Johnny Rivers: "Secret Agent Man", Chrispian St. Peters: "You Were On my Mind"/"The Pied Piper", The Who: "Anytime You Want Me"/"Leaving Here", The Trogs: "Wild Thing", The Small Faces: "All Or Nothing", The Byrds: "8 Miles High", The Lovin' Spoonfull: "Summer In The City", Tommy James And The Shondels: "Hanky Panky", Roy Orbison: "Lana", The Mamas And Papas: "Monday, Monday", Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood: "Summer Wine", The Supremes: "You Can't Hurry Love", The Chiffons: "Sweet Talking Guy", Bobby Hebb: "Sunny", Cilla Black: "Alfie", Sgt. Barry Sadler: "Ballad Of The Green Berets", Johnny Kidd & The Pirates: "The Fool", Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: "I'm Ready For Love", Percy Sledge: "When A Man Loves A Woman", The Seekers: "Georgia Girl".

Første kvartal:

Singler:

Evie Sands: "I Can't Let Go" (a-side) (Januar)

The Swinging Blue Jeans: "Don't Make Me Over" (a-side) (Januar)

Small Faces: "Sha-la-la-la-lee" (a-side) (28. Januar)

Rolling Stones: "19th Nervous Breakdown" b/w "As Tears Go By" (4. Februar)

Them: "Call My Name" b/w "Bring 'em All In" (??)

The Yardbirds: "Shapes Of Things" b/w "Mr. You're A better Man Than I" (Februar)

The Beatles: "Nowhere Man" b/w "What Goes On" (15. Februar)

Nancy Sinatra: "These Boots Are made For Walking" (a-side) (Februar)

Sgt. Barry Sadler: "The Ballad Of The Green Berets" (a-side) (Februar)

Bobby Fuller Four: "Love's Made A Fool Of You" (a-side) (??)

The Hollies: "I Can't Let Go" (a-side) (Februar)

The Kinks: "Dedicated Follower of Fashion" (a-side) (25. Februar)

Pretty Things: "Come See Me" (a-side) (??)

The Who: "Substitute" (a-side) (4. Marts)

The Byrds: "Eight Miles High" (a-side) (14. Marts)

The Seekers: "Walk With Me" b/w "We're Moving On" (18. Marts)

The Kinks: "A Well Respected Man" (a-side) (Marts)

The Beach Boys: "Sloop John B." (a-side) (21. Marts)

Sonny & Cher: "Little Man" (a-side) (??)

Albums:

Simon & Garfunkel: "Sounds Of Silence" (17. Januar)

Them: "Them Again" (21. Januar)

John Coltrane: "Ascension" (Februar)

Duke Ellington: "Ellington '66" (??)

Jose Feliciano: "A Back Full Of Soul" (??)

The Elgins: "Darling Baby" (??)

The Mamas and Papas: "If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears" (Marts)

The Pick-Ups: "Beat For Dancing" (??)

Bob Lind: "Don't Be Concerned" (??)

Chet Atkins: "Picks On The Beatles" (Marts)

Freddie Hubbard: "Blue Spirits" (??)

Andet Kvartal:

Singler:

Stevie Wonder: "Uptight (Everything Is Alright)" (a-side) (??)

James Brown: "It's A Man's Man's Man's Man's World" (a-side) (April)

Manfred Mann: "Pretty Flamingo" (a-side) (15. April)

Them: "Richard Cory" (a-side) (??)

The Artwoods: "I Take What I Want" b/w "I'm Looking For A Saxophonist" (April)

Freddie & The Dreamers: "Playboy" b/w "Someday" (??)

Rolling Stones: "Paint It, Black" b/w "Stupid Girl" (13. Maj)

The Yardbirds: "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" b/w "Jeff's Boogie" (Maj)

The Monks: "Complication" b/w "Oh How To Do Now" (Maj)

The Animals: "Don't Bring Me Down" (a-side) (21. Maj)

Twice As Much: "Sitting On A Fence" (a-side) (Maj)

The Loving Spoonful: "Daydream" (a-side) (??)

The Kinks: "Sunny Afternoon" b/w "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" (3. Juni)

The Beatles: "Paperback Writer" b/w "Rain" (10. Juni)

The Creation: "Making Time" b/w "Try And Stop Me" (Juni)

The Zombies: "How We Were Before" (b-side) (Juni)

The Hollies: "Bus Stop" (a-side) (Juni)

Georgie Fame: "Get Away" (a-side) (Juni)

The Chiffons: "Sweet Talkin' Guy" (a-side) (Juni)

Crispian St. Peters: "Pied Piper" (a-side) (??)

Rolling Stones: "Mother's Little Helper" b/w "Lady Jane" (20. Juni)

Albums:

The Seeds: "The Seeds" (April)

Rolling Stones: "Aftermath" (15. April)

Paul Revere & the Raiders: "Midnight Ride" (6. Maj)

Beach Boys: "Pet Sounds" (16. Maj)

Bob Dylan: "Blonde On Blonde" (16. Maj)

The Monks: "Black Monk Time" (Maj)

Count Basie: "Beatle Book"(Indspillet i maj - udgivet ??)

Judy Collins: "In My Life" (Juni)

The Hollies: "Would You Believe" (Juni)

The Mothers Of Invention: "Freak Out" (27. Juni)

The Sonics: "Boom" (??)

Tredie Kvartal:

Singler:

The Trogs: "Wild Thing" (a-side) (??)

Lee Dorsey: "Working In A Coalmine" (a-side) (??)

The loving Spoonful: "Did You Ever Had To Make Up Your Mind" (a-side) (??)

The Beach Boys: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" b/w "God Only Knows" (11. Juli)

The Velvet Underground And Nico: "All Tomorrows Parties" b/w "I'll Be Your Mirror" (Juli)

The Supremes: "You Can't Hurry Love" (a-side) (25. Juli)

Manfred Mann: "Just Like a Woman" (a-side) (29. Juli)

The Beatles: "Yellow Submarine" b/w "Eleanor Rigby" (5. August)

Small Faces: "All Or Nothing" (a-side) (5. August)

The Trogs: "With A Girl Like You" (a-side) (??)

The Artwoods: "I Feel Good" b/w "Molly Andersons Cookery Book" (August)

The Who: "I'm A Boy" b/w "In The City" (26. August)

The Loving Spoonful: "Summer In The City" (a-side) (??)

The Monks: "I Can't Get Over You" b/w "Cuckoo" (??)

Ike & Tina Turner: "River Deep, Mountain High" (a-side) (September)

Georgie Fame: "Sunny" (a-side) (September)

The Loving Spoonful: "Rain On The Roof" (a-side) (??) Bee Gees: "Spicks And Specks" (a-side) (September)

Rolling Stones: "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby?" b/w "Who's Driving Your Plane?" (24. September)

The Spiders (a.k.a Alice Cooper): "Don't Blow Your Mind" (a-side) (September)

Albums:

The Yardbirds: "Roger The Engineer" (15. Juli)

Robert Parker: "Barefootin" (??)

Roy Orbison: "The Classic" (Juli)

Red Squares: "Red Squares" (??)

The Donkeys: "Serenader" (??)

Sir Henry: "A Portrait" (??)

Matadorerne: "The Way We Do It" (??)

The Byrds: "5th. Dimension" (18. Juli)

John Mayal: "Bluesbreackers w/ Eric Clapton" (22. Juli)

The Trogs: "From Nowhere" (25. Juli)

The Beatles: "Revolver" (5. August)

James Brown: "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (August)

The Butterfield Blues Band: "East West" (August)

Donovan: "Sunshine Superman" (September)

The Mamas & The Papas: "The Mamas & The Papas" (September)

The Immigrants: "We're On Our Way" (??)

The Fugs: "Second Album" (??)

Fjerde Kvartal:

Singler:

The Beach Boys: "Good Vibrations" (a-side) (10. Oktober)

Herman's Hermits: "No Milk Today" (a-side) (Oktober)

The Donkeys: "En tusindfryd i min Hånd" (a-side) (??)

Matadorerne: "Så'n var det ikke i Halvfemserne" b/w "Outrage" (??)

Cream: "Wrapping Paper" (a-side) (Oktober)

The Hollies: "Stop Stop Stop!" (a-side) (Oktober)

The Loving Spoonful: "Nashville Cats" (a-side) (??)

The Easybeats: "Sorry" (a-side) (13. Oktober)

The Artwoods: "Jazz In Jeans" (E.P.) (??)

The Yardbirds: "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" b/w "Psycho Daisies" (Oktober)

The Creation: "Painter Man" b/w "Biff Bang Pow" (Oktober)

The Kinks: "Dandy" b/w "Party Line" (Oktober)

Manfred Mann: "Semi-Detached Suburban Mr James" (a-side) (21. Oktober)

Donovan: "Mellow Yellow" (a-side) (24. Oktober)

The Who: "Ready Steady Who" (E.P.) (11. November)

Small Faces: "My Mind's Eye" (a-side) (11. November)

The Zombies: "Going Out Of My Head" (a-side) (November)

The Easy Beats: "Friday On My Mind" (a-side) (17. November)

The Kinks: "Dead End Street" b/w "Big Black Smoke" (18. November)

The New Vaudeville Band: "Winchester Cathedral" (a-side) (??)

The Who: "Happy Jack" b/w "I've Been Away" (3. December)

Jimi Hendrix: "Hey Joe" b/w "Stone Free"(16. December)

Cream: "I Feel Free" (a-side) (December)

Georgie Fame: "Sitting In The Park" (a-side) (December)

Cher: "Sunny" (a-side) (??)

Sandy Posey: "Single Girl" (a-side) (??)

Velvet Underground & Nico: "Femme Fatale" b/w "Sunday Morning" (December)

Albums:

Simon and Garfunkel: "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" (10. Oktober)

The Hollies: "For Certain Because" (Oktober)

The Kinks: "Face To Face" (28. Oktober)

Wes Montgomery: "California Dreaming" (??)

Cecil Taylor: "Conquistador" (Indspillet 6. oktober - udgivet ??)

13th. Floor Elevators: "Psychedelic Sounds" (November)

The Loving Spoonful: "Hums" (November)

Cream: "Fresh Cream" (9. December)

The Who: "A Quick One" (9. December)

Tim Buckley: "Tim Buckley" (December) The Seekers: "Come The Day" (??)

Ramsey Lewis: "Going South" (Indspillet i december '66 - formodentlig (?) udgivet i begyndelsen af '67)

1967:

Store hits og skelsættende milepæle i årets løb:

Astrud Gilberto: "Goodbye Sadness"/"Call Me"/"Here's That Rainy Day"/"Tu Meu Delirio"/"It's Lovely Day Today", Donovan: "Mellow Yellow", The Flowerpot Men: "Let's Go To San Francisco", Traffic: "Hole In My Shoe", The Maxwells: "What Did She Do"/"Flower Powder", The Peanut Butter Conspiracy: "Why Did I Get So High?", Simon Dupree And The Big Sound: "Kites", Herman's Hermits: "There's A Kind Of Hush", The Smoke: "My Friend Jack Eats Sugarlumps", Lulu: "The Boat That I Row", The Turtles: "Happy Together", Bobbie Gentry: "Ode To Billie Joe", Box Tops: "The Letter", Joe Tex: "Skinny Legs And All", Cannonball Adderley: "One For Newk"/"Yvette"/"Mercy! Mercy! Mercy", Chris Farlove: "Handbags And Gladrags", David McWilliams: "Days Of Pearly Spencer", Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich: "Zabadak", Sandy Shaw: "Puppet On A String", Paul Jones: "I've Been A Bad Bad Boy", Jeff Beck: "Love Is Blue", Procol Harum: "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", The Herd: "From The Underworld", Whistling Jack Smith: "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman", The Dubliners: "Seven Drunken Nights", The Scaffold: "Thank U Very Much", Engelbert Humperdinck: "Release Me", Nancy & Frank Sinatra: "Something Stupid", Shirley Bassey: "Big Spender", Smokey Robinson And The Miracles: "I Second That Emotion", Stevie Wonder: "I Was Made To Love Her".

Første kvartal:

Singler:

Rolling Stones: "Ruby Tuesday" b/w "Let's Spend the Night Together" (13. Januar)

The Move: "The Night Of Fear" (a-side) (Januar)

Martha And The Vandellas: "Jimmy Mack" (a-side) (3. Februar)

The Seekers: "Georgy Girl" b/w "The Last Thing On My Mind" (11. Februar)

The Beatles: "Penny Lane" b/w "Strawberry Fields Forever" (13. Februar)

The Turtles: "Happy Together" (a-side) (14. Februar)

Small Faces: "I Can't Make It" (a-side) (3. Marts)

Pink Floyd: "Arnold Lane" b/w "Candy And A Curent Bun" (11. Marts)

Jeff Beck: "Hi Ho Silver Lining" b/w "Beck's Bolero" (17. Marts)

Big Brother & Holding Company: "Coo Coo" b/w "The Last Time" (??)

The Electric Prunes: "Are You Loving Me More" b/w "Get Me To The World On Time" (Marts)

The Yardbirds: "Little Games" b/w "Puzzles" (Marts)

Manfred Mann: "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown" (a-side) (23. Marts)

Albums:

The Doors: "Doors" (4. januar)

The Monkees: "More Of The Monkees" (9. Januar)

Rolling Stones: "Between The Buttons" (20. januar)

Love: "Da Capo" (Januar)

Little Richard: "The Explosive" (Januar)

Loretta Lynn: "Don't Come Home A Drinkin'" (??)

The Byrds: "Younger Than Yesterday" (6. Februar)

John Mayal's Bluesbreakers: "A Hard Road" (17. Februar)

Jefferson Airplane: "Surrealistic Pillow"" (Februar)

Merle Haggard: "I'm A Lonesome Fugitive" (4. Marts)

Astrud Gilberto: "Beach Samba" (??)

Aretha Franklin: "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" (10. Marts)

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy: "Conspiracy Is Spreading" (??)

The Velvet Underground: "V U & Nico" (12. Marts)

Duke Ellington: "The Far East Suite" (??)

The Grateful Dead: "Grateful Dead" (17. Marts)

Van Morrison: "Blowing Your Mind" (29. Marts)

Andet kvartal:

Singler:

Jefferson Airplane: "Somebody To Love" (a-side) (1. April)

Eric Burden & The Animals: "When I Was Young" (a-side) (8. april)

The Nazz (= The Spiders, Alice Cooper): "Lay Down And Die, Goodbye" (b-side) (??)

The Easy Beats: "Who'll Be The One" b/w "Do You Have A Soul" (13. April)

David Bowie: "The Laughing Gnome" b/w "The Gospel According To Tony Day" (14. April)

The Trogs: "Love Is All Around" (a-side) (15. April)

The Move: "I Can Hear The Grass Grow" (a-side) (April)

Jimi Hendrix: "The Wind Cries Mary" b/w "Highway Chile" (5. Maj)

The Kinks: "Waterloo Sunset" (a-side) (5. Maj)

Manfred Mann: "Sweet Pea" (a-side) (5. Maj)

Procol Harum: "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" b/w "Lime Street Blues" (12. Maj)

The Electric Prunes: "Dr. Do-Good" b/w Hideaway (Maj)

Scott McKenzie: "San Francisco" (a-side) (13. Maj)

Beach Boys: "Then I Kissed Her" (a-side) (Maj)

P. P. Arnold: "First Cut Is The Deepest" (a-side) (Maj)

Cream: "Strange Brew" b/w "Tales Of Brave Ulysses" (Juni)

Van Morrison: "Brown Eyed Girl" (a-side) (1. Juni)

Pink Floyd: "See Emily Play" b/w "The Scarecrow" (16. juni)

The Easy Beats: "Heaven And Hell" b/w "Pretty Girl" (22. Juni)

Jefferson Airplane: "White Rabbit" (a-side) (24. Juni)

Albums:

The Electric Prunes: "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" (April)

Country Joe and the Fish: "Electric Music For The Mind And Body" (April)

John Coltrane: "Interstellar Space" (??)

Jackie McLean: "New And Old Gospel" (??)

McCoy Tyner: "The Real McCoy" (??)

Jimi Hendrix: "Are You Experienced" (12 maj)

The Monkees: "Head Quarters" (22. Maj)

The Mothers Of Invention: "Absolutely Free" (26. maj)

The Red Krayola: "The Parable Of Arable Land" (?)

Miles Davis: "Sorceror" (indspillet 16.-24. maj - udgivet?)

Steppeulvene: "Hip" (1. Juni)

The Beatles: "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1. Juni)

David Bowie: "David Bowie" (1. Juni)

The Hollies: "Evolution" (Juni)

Moby Grape: "Moby Grape (Juni)

Pearls Before Swine: "One Nation Underground" (??)

The Immigrants: "Love Me Now" (??)

Pearls Before Swine: "One Nation Underground" (??)

Tredie kvartal:

Singler:

The Kinks: "Death Of A Clown" (a-side) (7. juli)

The Beatles: "All You Need Is Love" b/w "Baby You're A Rich Man" (7. juli)

David Bowie: "Love You Till Tuesday"b/w "Did You Ever have A Dream" (14. Juli)

The Yardbirds: "Ha Ha Said The Clown" b/w "Tinker Tailor" (Juli)

James Brown: "Cold Sweat" (a-side) (Juli)

Diana Ross And The Supremes: "Reflections" (a-side) (24. Juli)

Beach Boys: "Heroes and Villains" (a-side) (24. juli)

The Electric Prunes: "Wind Up Toys" (b-side) (Juli)

Keith West: "Excerpt From A Teenage Opera" (a-side) (28. Juli)

Small Faces: "Itchycoo Park" (a-side) (4. august)

Pink Floyd: "Flaming" b/w "The Gnome" (5. august)

The Herd: "From The Underworld" (a-side) (August)

Donovan: "There Is A Mountain" (a-side) (August)

Rolling Stones: "We Love You" b/w "Dandelon" (18. august)

The Move: "Flowers In The Rain" (a-side) (September)

The Bee Gees: "Massachusetts" (a-side) (September)

Nancy & Frank Sinatra: "Something Stupid" (??)

The Seekers: "When Will The Good Apples Fall" (a-side) (16. September)

Albums:

The Seekers: "Seen In Green" (??)

Merle Haggard: "Branded Man" (??)

The Incredible String band: "The 5000 Spirits Of Layers" (Juli)

Arlo Guthrie: "Alice's Restaurent" (??)

The Beau Brummels: "Triangle" (Juli)

Canned Heat: "Canned Heat" (Juli)

The Yardbirds: "Little Games" (24. juli)

The Young Rascals: "Groovin'" (31. juli)

Gary Burton: "Lofty Fake Anagram" (??)

Vanilla Fudge: "Vanilla Fudge" (??)

Pink Floyd: "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" (5. august)

Them Belfast Gypsies: "Them Belfast Gypsies" (August)

The Electric Prunes: "Underground" (August)

Big Brother And The Holding Company: "B. B. A. T. H. C." (12. August)

Glen Campbel: "Gentle On My Mind" (August)

Cy, Maia & Robert: "Out Of Our Time" (August)

Tim Buckley: "Goodbye And Hello" (August)

Cliff Richard: "Don't Stop Me Now" (??)

John Mayal: "Crusade" (1. September)

Beefeaters: "Beefeaters" (4. September)

Matadorerne: "Mark Two" (??)

The Kinks: "Something Else" (15. September)

The Beach Boys: "Smiley Smile" (18. September)

Procol Harum: "Procol Harum" (September)

Eric Burdon And The Animals: "Winds Of Change" (September)

13th. Floor Elevators: "Easter Everywhere" (September)

Captain Beefheart: "Safe As Milk" (September)

The American Breed: "American Breed" (??)

The Doors: "Strange Days" (25. September)

Fjerde kvartal:

Singler:

Procol Harum: "Humburg" b/w "Good Captain Clack" (Oktober)

The Yardbirds: "Ten Little Indians" b/w "Drinkin' Muddy Water" (Oktober)

The Kinks: "Autumn Almanac" (a-side) (13. Oktober)

The Who: "I Can See For Miles" b/w "Someones A Coming" (14. oktober)

Classics IV: "Spooky" (a-side) (Oktober)

The Electric Prunes: "Everybody Knows" b/w "You Never Had It better" (November)

Pink Floyd: "Apples And Oranges" b/w "Paintbox" (18. november)

The Beatles: "Hello Goodbye" b/w "I Am The Walrus" (24. november)

Rolling Stones: "In Another Land" b/w "The Lantern" (2. december)

Beach Boys: "Darlin'" (a-side) (11. december)

The Easy Beats: "The Music Goes Round My Head" b/w "Come In You'll Get Pneumonia" (14. December)

The Electric Prunes: "Long Days Flight" (a-side) (December)

The Herd: "Paradise Lost" (a-side) (December)

Donovan: "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" (a-side) (December)

The 1910 Fruitgum Company: "Simon Says" (a-side) (??)

Georgie Fame: "The Ballad Of Bonnie And Clyde" (a-side) (??)

Albums:

Bonzo Dog Band: "Gorilla" (Oktober)

Nico: "Chelsea Girl" (Oktober)

Buffalo Springfield: "Again" (30. oktober)

Hank Mobley: "Hi Voltage" (Indspillet 8. oktober - udgivet ??)

Cream: "Disraeli Gears" (2. november)

The Monkees: "Pisces, Aquarius Capricorn And Jones" (6. November)

Moody Blues: "Days Of Future Passed" (10. november)

Love: "Forever Changes" (November)

Country Joe And The Fish: "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die" (November)

The Zodiac: "Cosmic Sounds" (November)

The Hollies: "Butterfly" (November)

The Beatles: "Magical Mystery Tour" (27. November)

Jefferson Airplane: "After Bathing At Baxters" (30. November)

Golden Dawn: "Power Plant" (??)

Strawberry Alarm Clock: "Incense And Peppermints" (??)

Jimi Hendrix: "Axis Bold As Love" (1. december)

Rolling Stones: "Their Satanic Majesties Request" (8. December)

The Who: "Sell Out" (15. december)

The Beach Boys: "Wild Honey" (18. december)

Traffic: "Mr. Fantasy" (December)

Bob Dylan: "John Westley Harding" (27. december)

Leonard Cohen: "Songs Of L. C." (27. December)

1968

Store hits og skelsættende milepæle i årets løb:

Dusty Springfield: "Son Of A Preacher Man", Cilla Black: "Step Inside Love", The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown: "Fire", Sly & The Family Stone: "Dance To The Music", Classics IV: "Spooky", The Nazz (a.k.a Alice Cooper): "Nobody Likes Me"/"Levity Ball", Canned Heat: "On The Road Again", Fleetwood Mac: "Albatross", Donovan: "Hurdy Gurdy Man", Dave, Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich: "The Legend Of Xanadu", The Scaffold: "Lily The Pink", The Kinks: "Village Green".

Første kvartal:

Singler:

Otis Redding: "The Dock Of The Bay" (a-side) (8. januar)

Manfred Mann: "Mighty Quinn" (a-side) (12. januar)

Status Quo: "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" (a-side) (januar)

Velvet Underground: "White Light/White Heat" b/w "Here She Comes Now" (30. januar)

The Move: "Fire Brigade" (a-side) (Februar)

Donovan: "Jennifer Jupiter" (a-side) (Februar)

Tom Jones: "Delilah" (a-side) (Februar)

Esther & Abi Ofarim: "Cinderella Rockefella" b/w "Lonesome Road" (28. Februar)

Sam & Dave: "Hold On, I'm Coming" (a-side) (Marts)

The Beatles: "Lady Madonna" b/w "The Inner Light" (15. Marts)

The Easy Beats: "Hello How Are You" b/w "Falling Off The Edge Of The World" (21. Marts)

The Yardbirds: "Goodnight Sweet Josephine" b/w "Think About It" (Marts)

Albums:

Ultimate Spinach: "Ultimate Spinach" (??)

The Electric Prunes: "Mass In F Minor" (Januar)

The Byrds: "Notorious Byrd Brothers" (15. Januar)

Mothers Of Invention: "We're Only In It For The Money" (Januar)

Canned Heat: "Boogie With The C.H." (januar)

Steppenwolf: "Steppenwolf" (Januar)

Blue Cher: "Vincebus Eruptus" (Januar)

Jackie McLean: "New And Old Gospel" (??)

Aretha Franklin: "Lady Soul" (22. Januar)

Dr. John: "Gris Gris" (22. Januar)

Spirit: "Spirit" (22. Januar)

Velvet Underground: "White Light/White Heat" (30. januar)

Kaleidoscope: "A Beacon From Mars" (??)

Blood, Sweat And Tears: "Child Is The Father To The Man" (21. Februar)

B. B. King: "Lucille" (??)

Fleetwood Mac: "Fleetwood Mac" (24. februar)

Laura Nyro: "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession" (3. marts)

The Electric Flag: "A Long Time Coming" (Marts)

George Benson: "Summertime" (??)

Miles Davis: "Nefertiti" (Marts)

Gary Burton: "A Genuine Tong Funeral" (??)

The Incredible String Band: "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" (Marts)

United States Of America: "The U. S. of A." (6. marts)

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy: "The Great Conspiracy" (??)

International Submarine Band: "Safe At Home" (Marts)

The Seekers: "Live At The Talk Of The Town" (??)

Andet kvartal:

Singler:

Engelbert Humperdinck: "A Man Without Love" (a-side) (??)

Small Faces: "Lazy Sunday" (a-side) (5. april)

James Brown: "I Got The Feeling" (a-side) (April)

Aretha Franklin: "Think" (a-side) (2. Maj)

Rolling Stones: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" b/w "Child Of The Moon" (24. maj)

Donovan: "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (a-side) (Maj)

Manfred Mann: "My Name Is Jack" (a-side) (7. juni)

The Who: "Dogs" b/w "Call Me Lightning" (Juni)

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich: "Last Night In Soho" (a-side) (Juni)

The Nice: "America" (a-side) (21. Juni)

Judy Collins: "Both Sides Now" (a-side) (??)

Albums:

Simon & Garfunkel: "Bookends" (3. april)

Eric Burdon And The Animals: "The Twain Shall Meet" (April)

The Zombies: "Odessey & The Oracle" (19. april)

Beacon Street Union: "The Eyes" (??)

The Monkees: "The Birds, The Bees And The Monkees" (22. April)

Sly And The Family Stone: "Dance To The Music" (27. April)

Johnny Cash: "At Folsom Prison" (Maj)

Thelonious Monk: "Underground" (??)

Frank Zappa: "Lumpy Gravy" (13. Maj)

The Mamas & Papas: "The Papas And Mamas" (Maj)

Small Faces: "Ogdens Nut Gone Flake" (24. Maj)

Quicksilver Messenger Service: "Quicksilver messenger Service" (??)

Young Flowers: "Blomsterpistolen" (??)

The Red Krayola: "God Bless" (??)

The Silver Apples: "Silver Apples" (Juni)

Os Mutanes: "Os Mutanes" (Juni)

Spooky Tooth: "It's All About" (Juni)

Pink Floyd: "A Saucer Full Of Secrets" (29. juni)

Caetano Veloso: "Caetano Veloso" (??)

Sergio Mendes: "Fool On The Hill" (??)

Wendy Carlos: "Switched On Bach" (??)

Tredie kvartal:

Singler:

Aphrodite's Child: "Rain And Tears" (a-side) (??)

The Easy Beats: "Good Times" b/w "Land Of Make Believe" (18. Juli)

Herman Hermits: "Sunshine Girl" (a-side) (Juli)

The Who: "Magic Bus" b/w "Dr. Jakel And Mr. Hyde" (27. juli)

Dusty Springfield: "I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten" (a-side) (August)

Ohio Express: "Down At Lulu's" (a-side) (August)

The Beatles: "Hey Jude" b/w "Revolution" (26. august)

Mary Hopkin: "Those Were The Days" (a-side) (30. August)

Rolling Stones: "Street Fighting Man" b/w "No Expectations" (31. august)

Steppenwolf: "Magic Carpet Ride" (a-side) (September)

The Hollies: "Listen To Me" (a-side) (27. September)

Albums:

The Immigrants: "Girl Like Mine" (??)

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood: "Nancy & Lee" (??)

Miles Davis: "Miles In The Sky" (??)

The Band: "Music From The Big Pink" (1. juli)

Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Creedence Clearwater Revival" (5. juli)

The Doors: "Waiting For The Sun" (11. juli)

Deep Purple: "Shades" (Juli)

Family: "Music In A Doll's House" (Juli)

The Savage Rose: "Savage Rose" (juli)

Grateful Dead: "Anthem Of The Sun" (18. Juli)

Bloomfield/Kooper/Stills: "Super Session" (22. juli)

Iron Butterfly: "In-A- Gadda-Da-Vida" (25. Juli)

Moody Blues: "In Search Of The Lost Chord" (26. juli)

Big Brother Holding Company: "Cheap Thrills" (12. August)

James Brown: "Live At The Apollo, Volume 2" (August)

Jeff Beck: "Truth" (August)

Cream: "Wheels Of Fire" (August)

Fleetwood Mac: "Mr. Wonderful" (23. August)

The Beacon Street Union: "The Clown Died In Marvin Gardens (August)

Marvin Gaye: "I Heard It Through The Grapewine" (26. August)

The Byrds: "Sweethearts Of The Rodeo" (30. August)

The Equals: "Baby, Come Back" (??)

Jefferson Airplane: "Crown Of The Creation" (September)

The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown: "The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown" (September)

Steve Miller Band: "Children Of The Future" (September)

Booker T. And The MG's': "Soul Limbo" (September)

Jimmy McGriff: "The Worm" (??)

Herbie Hancock: 

Fjerde kvartal:

Singler:

The Bonzo Dog Band: "I'm The Urban Spaceman" b/w "In The Canyons Of Your Mind" (11. oktober)

Moody Blues: "Ride My See-Saw" (a-side) (12. oktober)

Donovan: "Lalena" (a-side) (Oktober)                                                                                                 "Atlantis" (a-side) (November)

Manfred Mann: "Fox On The Run" (a-side) (29. november)

Deep Purple: "Kentucky Woman" b/w "Wring That Neck" (december)

Albums:

Jimi Hendrix: "Electric Ladyland" (16. Oktober)

Traffic: "Traffic" (Oktober)

Steve Miller Band: "Sailor" (Oktober)

Steppenwolf: "The Second" (Oktober)

Deep Purple: "The Book Of Taliesyn" (Oktober)

Jethro Tull: "This Was" (25. Oktober)

George Harrison: "Wonderwal Music" (1. November)

The Nice: "Ars Longa Brevis" (November)

Bonzo Dog Band: "The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse" (November)

The Incredible String Band: "Wee Tam And The Big Huge" (November)

Van Morrison: "Astral Weeks" (November)

The Mothers Of Invention: "Cruising With Ruben And The Jets" (November)

The Kinks: "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society" (22.November)

The Beatles: "White Album" (22. November")

John Lennon & Yoko Ono: "Unfinished Music 1 - Two Virgins" (29.November)

The Rolling Stones: "Beggars Banquet" (6. December)

The Pretty Things: "S. F. Sorrow" (December)

The Savage Rose: "In The Plain" (December)

Blood, Sweat And Tears: "Blood, Sweat And tears" (11. December)

The Soft Machine: "The Soft Machine (Volume One)" (December)

Spirit: "The Family That Plays Together" (December)

Miles Davis: "Filles De Kilimanjaro" (indspillet juni-september '68, udgivet januar '69)

Nogle bemærkninger:

De tidlige 60'ere var præget af friske, glade sange. Omkring midten af 60'erne begyndte musikken derimod at blive langt mere eksperimenterende. Det var uundgåeligt, at dette i nogen grad skete på bekostning af mere umiddelbart iørefaldende egenskaber. Imidlertid holdt der på intet tidspunkt op med at komme sange, der simpelthen var fængende og havde et omkvæd man kunne nynne med på. Derimod kom der en mængde ting, der var noget udover dette, viste helt nye veje og forandrede musikken i fuldstændig gennemgribende grad. Der står en række milepæle fra denne tid, som ganske enkelt ikke er til at bortforklare betydningen af, uanset hvor man så rent smagsmæssigt måtte befinde sig. Akkurat som det faktum at Napoleon er en central skikkelse i verdenshistorien, ikke er noget, der står og falder med, om man kan lide Napoleon eller ej.

Det er værd at mærke sig, hvor tæt strømmen af helt centrale udgivelser er i slutningen af '65 og begyndelsen af '66. I denne periode syntes mesterværket at være mere reglen end undtagelsen.