1967 was a very special year in music history, as shown by this astonishing list of influential recordings. The social and political changes in the Western world at the time had an immediate impact on culture and artistic expression, leading to the famous “Summer of Love”. It was a period of extensive innovation and heightened levels of collective creativity, encouraged by the emergence of new musical styles and genres, such as psychedelia and early progressive rock.
Bands that released their debut albums 50 years ago include the Doors, Pink Floyd, Big Brother & the Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin), Procol Harum, the Velvet Underground, Country Joe and the Fish, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mothers of Invention (led by Frank Zappa) and Traffic. David Bowie also issued his notoriously unsuccessful self-titled first record in 1967. Other highlights are ‘Surrealistic Pillow’ by Jefferson Airplane, ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ by the Beatles, ‘Disraeli Gears’ by Cream and ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’ by the Rolling Stones.
Several groups even produced more than one critically acclaimed LP over the course of a single year. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Doors and the Jimi Hendrix Experience each have two entries on this list of great records that have been enjoyed by multiple generations and will be heard by many more. The albums are listed in the order of their release.
The Doors - ‘The Doors’
The Rolling Stones - ‘Between the Buttons’
Miles Davis - ‘Miles Smiles’
Jefferson Airplane - ‘Surrealistic Pillow’
The Byrds - ‘Younger than Yesterday’
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers - ‘A Hard Road’
Aretha Franklin - ‘I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You’
Velvet Underground and Nico - ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’
Otis Redding and Carla Thomas - ‘King & Queen’
Grateful Dead - ‘The Grateful Dead’
Electric Prunes - ‘Electric Prunes’
Country Joe and the Fish - ‘Electric Music for the Mind and Body’
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - ‘Are You Experienced?’
Mothers of Invention - ‘Absolutely Free’
The Beatles - ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’
David Bowie - ‘David Bowie’
The Hollies - ‘Evolution’
The Yardbirds - ‘Little Games’
Canned Heat - ‘Canned Heat’
Pink Floyd - ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’
Frank Zappa - ‘Lumpy Gravy’
Big Brother and the Holding Company - ‘Big Brother & the Holding Company’
Albert King - ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’
The Kinks - ‘Something Else by the Kinks’
The Beach Boys - ‘Smiley Smile’
The Doors - ‘Strange Days’
Van Morrison - ‘Blowin’ Your Mind!’
Procol Harum - ‘Procol Harum’
Eric Burdon & the Animals - ‘Winds of Change’
Buffalo Springfield - ‘Buffalo Springfield Again’
Nico - ‘Chelsea Girl’
The Moody Blues - ‘Days of Future Passed’
Cream - ‘Disraeli Gears’
The Beatles - ‘Magical Mystery Tour’
13th Floor Elevators - ‘Easter Everywhere’
Love - ‘Forever Changes’
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - ‘Axis: Bold as Love’
The Rolling Sones - ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’
The Who - ‘The Who Sell Out’
Bob Dylan - ‘John Wesley Harding’
Traffic - ‘Mr. Fantasy’
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