100 Albums

21. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
3. You Shook Me
4. Dazed and Confused
5. Your Time is Gonna Come
6. Black Mountain Side
7. Communication Breakdown
8. I Can’t Quit You Baby
9. How Many More Time

The self-titled debut album by Led Zeppelin was released January 12, 1969. Led Zeppelin are known as one of the most influential rock bands in music history. They are the fourth best selling band in US history. The reason for their broad appeal, was their genre-bending music. While the band denies that they played hard rock or metal, they are known as the seed of those genres. They have also influenced modern alternative and progressive rock, among others. The debut album Led Zeppelin was ranked the 29th greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

After listening, I can tell that they really do transcend a single genre, and I can hear exactly how they influenced various genres that came after them. It was overall, very guitar-driven. There weren’t any songs that I’d ever heard before, and none that really stood out. It’s definitely album-oriented. Some of the songs would blend together, and as a complete product it works really well together. That’s another part of Led Zeppelin’s legacy: album-oriented rock. And that is something I absolutely appreciate.

20. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River

1. Green River
2. Commotion
3. Tombstone Shadow
4. Wrote a Song for Everyone
5. Bad Moon Rising
6. Lodi
7. Cross-Tie Walker
8. Sinister Purpose
9. The Night Time is the Right Time

Green River is the third album by Creedence Clearwater Revival and was released in August of 1969. Though from the San Francisco area, CCR are notable for their southern/roots rock style.The band was active for only five years but produced seven studio albums, including two that reached #1 on the charts, and five #2 singles. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Green River as the 95th greatest album of all time.

This was the kind of music I was most looking forward to during this: that folk/rock with a little bit of country type. Before this, if someon asked my favorite older bands, I would usually say Springsteen, Tom Petty, and CCR - though it wasn’t really a completely informed list to be honest. Listening to Green River confirmed it though. I knew Bad Moon Rising already and maybe Green River, but I really loved all the songs on the album. I love muddy-sounding guitars and echoey vocals, and that’s exactly what this record is. Lodi is a really great song. This is the kind of music that makes me happy that I underwent this challenge.

While I was listening to Lodi, I heard a line that I knew from somewhere else and had to look it up to remember where: “Things got bad and things got worse.” Of course, it was used by The Gaslight Anthem in their song Red at Night. Gaslight are kings of referencing good old music in their songs so this didn’t surprise me at all!

19. Otis Redding - The Dock of the Bay

1. (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay
2. I Love You More Than Words Can Say
3. Let Me Come on Home
4. Open the Door
5. Don’t Mess With Cupid
6. The Glory of Love
7. I’m Coming Home to See About You
8. Tramp
9. The Hucklebuck
10. Nobody Knows You (When You’re Down and Out)
11. Ole Man Trouble

The Dock of the Bay was the first posthumous album by Otis Redding, released January 8, 1968 - just a month after his death. The song (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay was recorded only three days before his death in a plane crash. The song went on to become the first posthumous number-one single in U.S. chart history. The song also won two grammy awards. Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Dock of the Bay as the 161st greatest album of all time.

I really really enjoyed listening to this album. It was really easy to listen to. Pretty simple backing music - a little R&B, rock, and jazz. But his vocals are 100% soul. I absolutely love the title track. His whistling near the end was actually a placeholder for another verse he was working on, but I think it’s so perfect. I really wish he could have lived to see all of the success that the song, and others brought him!

What Otis Redding most reminded me of was John Mayer. I’m a huge fan of his, and I can definitely see that Redding is an influence. All I could think of during Redding’s I Love You More Than Words Can Say was of John’s song All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye when he sings “I love you more than songs can say.”

18. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland

1. …And the Gods Made Love
2. Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
3. Crosstown Traffic
4. Voodoo Chile
5. Little Miss Strange
6. Long Hot Summer Night
7. Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)
8. Gypsy Eyes
9. Burning of the Midnight Lamp
10. Rainy Day, Dream Away
11. 1983…(A Merman I should Turn to Be)
12. Moon, Turn the Tides… Gently Gently Away
13. Still Raining, Still Dreaming
14. House Burning Down
15. All Along the Watchtower
16. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Electric Ladyland is the third and final album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was released October 25, 1968. The 75 minute tracklist includes two songs longer than 13 minutes (Voodoo Chile & 1983). Hendrix also covered Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower. Dylan has stated that he was overwhelmed by Hendrix’s version and that when he plays it live, he often plays off of his version instead: “Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.” Rolling Stone magazine ranked Electric Ladyland as the 54th greatest album of all time.

This album, to me, was basically similar to the Are You Experienced. Maybe even more guitar in this one. I think the main difference was guitar effects. There was alot of experimental-ish sounds on both the vocals and guitar, which was cool. I couldn’t really concentrate too much on the lyrics, but I enjoyed it.

By the way, he is the second artist that I’ve reviewed who is part of the infamous “27 Club” of rock stars who died at 27. Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain are the most notable.

17. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

1. Foxy Lady
2. Manic Depression
3. Red House
4. Can You See Me
5. Love or Confusion
6. I Don’t Live Today
7. May This Be Love
8. Fire
9. Third Stone From the Sun
10. Remember
11. Are You Experienced?

Are You Experienced is the debut album of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. It was released in the UK on May 12, 1967. It was released a few months later in the US with a modified track listing that included the addition of some of his most famous songs. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as the 15th greatest album of all time. Mojo magazine ranked it as the greatest guitar album of all time.

This was a fun record, different from everything I’ve listened to so far. It’s rock obviously, but there’s a big blues influence in there as well. I listened to the UK version, so there was no Purple Haze or The Wind Cries Mary, but I liked it anyway. I loved his banter in the middle of songs. He would laugh or talk between verses. He’s a good singer, but an amazing guitar player.

I’m going to a concert tonight. I don’t think it will be quite as rock and roll as Are You Experienced, but some good indie rock anyway. I’m sure the bands are influenced by Hendrix, if not directly.