The Best Albums of 1968
By 1968 the style largely disappeared from the national charts and at the local level as amateur musicians faced college, work, or the draft. New styles had evolved to replace garage rock (including blues-rock, progressive rock, and country rock). In 1968, Gram Parsons recorded Safe at Home with the International Submarine Band, arguably the first true country-rock album. Later that year he joined the Byrds for Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968), generally considered one of the most influential recordings in the genre. Here are all of the 1968 albums ranked.
Relive the most nostalgic songs of the year 1968. Click below and enjoy the songs!
10. Bookends (Simon & Garfunkel)
“What a powerful and unforgettable way to begin an album. The moods of BOOKENDS reflect so well the troubled times of the late ’60s, with its anti-war sentiments (Punky’s Dilemma), and its tales of love and love lost (America, Overs). The original first side of the record ends with the sad longing and fears of Old Friends, who sit on a park bench and reminisce together. But this bittersweet song has a deeper message. These old men were survivors– if they were supposed to be elderly in 1968, then they made it through the Depression, and two world wars, and if they were the youth of 1968 projected into the future, well they too made it through trials by fire.”
9. At Folsom Prison (Johnny Cash)
“This is the one album everyone should own and not just because of the great music. This is the embodiment of what Johnny Cash was, a great musician, singer and performer. He does what he does best, takes country music and delivers it with passion and authenticity. Looking past the location and the music, which is now a staple of country, we get to hear a man do what he loves best.”
8. Music From Big Pink (The Band)
“The music is great in general. What’s really great about this though is the fact that these two records are 45’s. Being new to playing records, I didn’t know that 45’s sound WAY better than 33’s. I was blown away by how good these 2 records sound. If you like very high quality recordings, then you should consider getting this set.”
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7. The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (The Kinks)
“The remixes of various other albums’ songs as well as non-album singles were a great addition. This is a two-disc set, either disc of which is wonderful to just play through from beginning to end. An unusual treat is Wicked Annabella, where Ray Davies plays lead and rhythm so his brother Dave Davies (usually the lead) can play a second bass guitar along with Pete Quaife.”
6. Beggars Banquet (The Rolling Stones)
“This is an album that established the Rolling Stones as a great album group, not just producers of an extraordinary long chain of brilliant singles. At a time when the Beatles were creating consistent albums, the Stones began here to do the same but focusing more on the grit and shadows of the times. And the results are compelling and still get on your feet and move kind of listening. This album is the non-flower-power portrait of its time and it’s still valid today.”
5. White Light/White Heat (The Velvet Underground)
“This is without a doubt the most insane album ever released by a major label, and I mean that in a good way! Lou Reed’s finest hour. John Cale brings an avant garde sensibility to this album that was missing from the subsequent VU releases, although those had their merits and are indispensable too. But there’s just something so great about hearing Sister Ray and The Gift in mono.”
4. Odessey And Oracle (The Zombies)
““Odessey and Oracle” is now widely considered one of the greatest albums of the sixties and the rock era, but it took a long and winding path to finally get that acknowledgement. Recorded in 1967, released in 1968 and finally making the charts in 1969, it might have been totally forgotten had Al Kooper not pressured Columbia into releasing it just as they were about to pass on it.”
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3. Electric Ladyland (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
“This album is Jimi Hendrix’s self-proclaimed Masterpiece! He claimed that every note on this record was completely intentional, every sound and effect was carefully crafted and created for the fulfillment of the work. This album is everything that Jimi was hoping to achieve. Even with the limitations of the recording processes of the time this record is as fresh and vital today as the day it was recorded.”
2. Astral Weeks (Van Morrison)
“This is a great experimental album. It has a mature feel that feels unfiltered. There are love songs on here but it feels as if there is no restriction in relation to the pop format so as to drum up a more emotional thing,hence the longer rambling song style.”
1. The Beatles (The White Album) (The Beatles)
“This is my favorite album. I think it’s at least the second-best Beatles album if not the best. It gets flack for all the songs people think shouldn’t be there. But I dare any other group to be this boldly stream-of-consciousness while also letting all their tension boil over. It’s no doubt that this was the beginning of the end for them because they couldn’t have ever topped it. It’s as far out as they could ever go.”
