Can you recommend a good 60s compilation?

[danqi]

Lately I seem to be attracted to a lot of music from the late sixties, especially the slightly obscure and eerie stuff. I'd like to further explore that era. Could any of you recommend a good compilation that consists of a more educated selection of songs than "all the #1 hits", etc.?

[sensible68]

Sounds like you're after the Nuggets series!

click click

some good stuff there

[EddieN]

I'll back up the first reply. The first two Nuggets boxes are an absolute no-brainer for this sort of music. The first is all American bands & the second is the rest of the world (but mostly UK bands). It's kind of a coin toss as to which one to get first, both are great. Excellent liner note booklets in each.

[hired hand]

Not obscure by any means, but if you are not familiar with Crown of Creation by The Jefferson Airplane you are in for an amazing bass journey. I guarantee that you will listen to it over and over again.
Good Luck

[danqi]

Originally Posted by sensible68

Sounds like you're after the Nuggets series!

click click

some good stuff there

Thanks. That seems to be a very reputable compilation. Unfortunately, it also seems to center around garage rock, which isn't really my thing.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by danqi

Thanks. That seems to be a very reputable compilation. Unfortunately, it also seems to center around garage rock, which isn't really my thing.

how about listing some specific songs of the "Lately I seem to be attracted to a lot of music from the late sixties" type stuff you are looking for?

[ForestThump]

I have to +1 on James' reply.
You have to give us more to go on than late 60's eerie.
There was a lot going on at that time.

[danqi]

Fair enough. I like songs like "Here´s To You" by Joan Baez, "From The Underworld" by the Herd, or even "In The Year" by Zager & Evans, because of their somewhat unconventional structure and distinctive weird 60s vibe. But these are well-known pop songs. I am just assuming that there has to be much more exiting stuff out there that I don't know about.

The problem is that I really don't know how to describe what I mean by "weird 60s vibe". It has something to do with an ominous atmosphere that I feel some songs of that era share. But maybe this is just my twisted perception. (Note: I am not on drugs)

Thanks for trying to understand!

[K2000]

The Nuggets compilation is still a good suggestion. You'll probably like some of it, because it covers a variety of styles.

Do you like the Zombies? I've heard that their box set is fantastic. Another group that springs to mind is the (pre-disco) Bee Gees.

[steamthief]

Originally Posted by K2000

The Nuggets compilation is still a good suggestion. You'll probably like some of it, because it covers a variety of styles.

Well put! I find Volume 2, with artists from outside the USA, to be more varied in style and production.

That being said, both sets are five-star in my book. I've probably listened to these discs more than any others over the last five years.

[RedSubway]

Peel Slowly And See is an excellent compilation of The Velvet Underground, a lot of that stuff was from the late sixties, and definitely not mainstream.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by danqi

The problem is that I really don't know how to describe what I mean by "weird 60s vibe". It has something to do with an ominous atmosphere that I feel some songs of that era share.

I assume you're talking about 'psychedelia'?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_music

Even the most Popular bands (Beatles, Stones, Doors, Temptations, Motown, etc) of that day released stuff on this 'fringe'-


The '60s were also a time of experimentation & cross pollination-
Sly & The Family Stone fused R&B/Soul/Rock.
Santana fused Blues/Afro-Cuban/Rock/Funk.
CSN, Buffalo Springfield, etc fused Folk/Rock.
Also of note: Eastern/Indian music...sitar-based things began showing up. Electric sitars were even being produced for Rockers to play.

[JimK]

I just did a little digging-
The 13th Floor Elevators? Honestly, I have never heard of them.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m?...tors&x=15&y=18

Anybody?

[sensible68]

Understand what you mean by 'fairly obscure' now

btw The Elevators are classified as a garage (stroke psychadelic) band. Others - The Red Crayola, The Chocolate Watchband, ? & the Mysterians, Syd Barrett, The Electric Prunes, The Incredible String Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Tomorrow, Nirvana (the original one!)... there are loads....

Try going onto http://www.last.fm, click on listen, and put one in as an example.

There's also http://www.beyondthebeatgeneration.com/ and I'm sure many others.

good luck!

[JimK]

How about a 13th Floor Elevators' suggestion? I sampled some stuff...they're cool.
Usually, I opt for the debut album. Recommendations?

[danqi]

Originally Posted by K2000

The Nuggets compilation is still a good suggestion. You'll probably like some of it, because it covers a variety of styles.

Do you like the Zombies? I've heard that their box set is fantastic. Another group that springs to mind is the (pre-disco) Bee Gees.

I'll check it out.

[danqi]

Originally Posted by sensible68

Understand what you mean by 'fairly obscure' now

btw The Elevators are classified as a garage (stroke psychadelic) band. Others - The Red Crayola, The Chocolate Watchband, ? & the Mysterians, Syd Barrett, The Electric Prunes, The Incredible String Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Tomorrow, Nirvana (the original one!)... there are loads....

Try going onto http://www.last.fm, click on listen, and put one in as an example.

There's also http://www.beyondthebeatgeneration.com/ and I'm sure many others.

good luck!

Great tips, thanks! I've never really listened to internet radio (always considered quality too bad), but now it seems like a great way to start exploring.