Roy Clark: "The Everlovin' Soul of Roy Clark"

Released in 1969,

this is Roy Clark's tenth (10th) album.

Contains covers of a surprising range of songs,

from pop to country to gospel,

including a beautiful rendition of:

UNCHAINED MELODY

Read more about Roy Clark HERE.

Art Direction: Christopher Whorf and Paula Bard

Photography: Bernard Nagler and Don Peterson

Liner Notes: Charlie Williams

Jethro Tull: "Stand Up"

Released in 1969,

this was Jethro Tull's second (2nd) album.

This is a terrific album musically. 

Among the excellent blues-rock tracks

wrapped in Ian Anderson's lead vocals and flute playing,

it also includes the classically recognizable track "Bouree."

Click below to listen to the entire album (highly recommended!):

Stand Up

The fantastic album cover art is the work of James Grashow.

Note pictures of the pop-up gatefold below.

Read more about Jethro Tull HERE.

Design: Terry Ellis and John Williams

Woodcuts: Jimmy Grashow

Led Zeppelin: "Led Zeppelin" (debut)

Released in early 1969,

this LP was destined, seriously,

to ROCK 

rock music.

Personally, after 45 years,

this album remains on my Top Ten Albums List.

Every track is a gem,

from their stupendous originals

such as "Good Times, Bad Times,"

"Communications Breakdown,"

"How Many More Times,"

and the iconic

"Dazed and Confused,"

to their stunning interpretations

of Willie Dixon blues classics

"You Shook Me"

and

"I Can't Quit You, Baby."

Then and now = Fantastic!

Back Liner Photo: Chris Dreja

Cover Design: George Hardie

Elvis Presley: "Flaming Star"

Released for wide distribution in early 1969,

this LP is a companion piece for an

NBC-TV holiday special that aired on

3 December 1968.

This was something like Elvis' thirty-second (32nd) LP.

Read more about Elvis Presley HERE.

Soundtrack: "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"

Released in 1969,

here is the musical environment

for George Lazenby's only outing as James Bond.

John Barry and Hal David collaborated,

and Louis Armstrong recorded the 'title' song,

"We Have All The Time In The World."

Barbra Streisand: "What About Today?"

Released in 1969, this was Ms. Streisand's eleventh (11th) studio LP.

This was not one of her more popular recordings.

Read more about it HERE.

Photography: Richard Avedon

The Byrds: "Ballad of Easy Rider"

Released in 1969,

the was The Byrds' eighth (8th) LP.

The story of the song and the movie

are classic American tales

especially typifying the way it was

in the late 1960s

in the good ol' U.S.A.

Read more about it HERE.

Inner Sleeve

A mini-gallery of a tiny slice of the late '60s music scene.

Tony Mottola: "The Tony Touch"

Released in 1969,

this is one of more than sixty recordings featuring Tony Mottola's

inimitable guitar stylings.

Read more about Tony Mottola HERE.

Enoch Light and The Brass Menagerie (eponymous)

Released in 1969,

this is one of many LPs

recorded by Enoch Light.

He recorded with several different "bands."

His arrangements tended toward

modern (1960s) jazz.

Read more about Enoch Light HERE.

Andy Williams: "Happy Heart"

Released in 1969,

this was Andy Williams' twenty-third (23rd) studio LP.

Read more about Andy Williams HERE.

Front cover photo: Barry Feinstein

Back cover photo: Frank Bez

The Beatles: "Abbey Road"

Released in 1969,

this was The Beatles' eleventh (11th) studio LP.

Technically, it is their last studio LP

because although "Let It Be" was released several months later

in 1970

that LP was a compilation of previously recorded material.

Read more about the "Abbey Road" LP HERE.

Cover Concept: Paul McCartney

Photography: Iain McMillan

Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Bayou Country"

Released in 1969,

this was Creedence Clearwater Revival's second (2nd) studio LP.

Read more about Creedence Clearwater Revival HERE.

[borrowed this pic from Wikipedia cuz I couldn't find the pic I took of my own LP!]

The Jeff Beck Group: "Beck-Ola"

Released in 1969,

this is the second (2nd) LP

by The Jeff Beck Group.

It is also the last LP recorded by this group of artists.

Some outstanding blues-rock in this recording,

including amazing interpretations of "Jailhouse Rock" and "All Shook Up,"

both huge hits for the one and only Elvis Presley.

Read more about this LP HERE.

Various Artists: "Music Box"

Released in 1969,

this compilation LP

contains tracks from several of the earliest

A&M artists:

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

Jimmie Rodgers

Claudine Longet

Julius Wechter & the Baja Marimba Band

The Sandpipers

and

Wes Montgomery

Art Direction: Tom Wilkes

Front Cover Illustration: Dave Williamson

Front Cover Photography: Jim McCrary

Back Cover Photography: Jim McCrary, Barry Feinstein, Guy Webster

Beach Boys: "Beach Boys '69"

This is a Live in London LP

released in North America in 1976.

It was previously released in the UK

as "Live in London."

Read more about the Beach Boys HERE.

Artwork by Jim Evans.

Tenth Anniversary Albums: Warner Brothers - Seven Arts

Released in 1969,

this compilation LP offers up a

pretty amazing range of artists!

Take a look:

From Petula Clark to Fats Domino,

Sammy Davis, Jr. and Trini Lopez

to The Fugs and The Grateful Dead,

Kensington Market to Harper's Bizarre.

Cool.

Vince Guaraldi: "The Eclectic"

"Isn't he that 'Peanuts' guy?"

Vince Guaraldi came to be closely associated with the 'Peanuts' television specials.

Nevertheless, he had already established himself as a distinguished jazz musician prior to being commissioned for the 'Peanuts' franchise.

This album was released in 1969, several years after he had begun his 'Peanuts' journey.

For more of Vince Guaraldi's story, go HERE.

This album went to a collector in California.

Eric Clapton: "At His Best"

This double LP got a lot of love and attention.

Not quite sure what to say.

I mean, it's Eric Clapton, for goodness' sakes.

This LP was released in late 1969.

This album went to a fan in Oklahoma.

Led Zeppelin: "Led Zeppelin II"

Another LP that was a seminal influence on the development of my music appreciation.

Another band for whom I never stopped being a fan.

This album and its immediate predecessor remain my two favorite Led Zeppelin LPs.

I honestly cannot imagine anyone ever listening to this music being able to shrug and walk away. 

It is just that extraordinary.

No apologies for my unabashed adoration.

Album Design: David Juniper

This LP found its way to a collector in Minnesota.

Chicago: "Chicago Transit Authority" (First LP)

There is no way to express how influential this album was on the music appreciation developing in my young ears, head, and heart.  I cherish the amazing energy, sonic clarity, and musical brilliance of this LP to this day.  I could listen to it - all of both of its disks - repeatedly.

I am still an avid Chicago fan.

One of my copies of this LP went to a fan in New York.