Probably my favorite year for Jazz. An incredible depth of releases in that genre. Also when the Stones hit, the Beatles started putting out their own music, etc. Great transition year and look forward to getting some more from it.

A little bit of filler (personally I prefer the original over their version of "Hushabye"), but there's 5 or 6 sure-fire hits here and overall a great surf pop sound - often imitated, never duplicated.

Yeah, I don't know much music from 1964. Most of what I do know is jazz. Nothing at all obscure or unusual.

I guess my favorite album from this year is one of the two Dylan albums, but I'm not really sure which one.

This is my most recent 1964 acquisition:


Archie Shepp - Four for Trane

This is comprised of four Coltrane covers (three from Giant Steps, one from Coltrane Plays the Blues) and one Shepp original. It's one of Shepp's tamer recordings and doesn't have much of his personality stamped on it, but it's still a really good record all around. Of course it helps that the source material is so great, and if anything, it's a testament to just how strong these compositions are. It really increases my appreciation for Giant Steps as much as anything.

In 1964, it appears that a lot of artists that I love released albums with which I am not totally familiar.
Kinks - s/t
Beach Boys (see above)
Simon & Garfunkel - Weds. Morning, 3 a.m.
The Impressions - Keep on Pushin'

Looking forward to hearing thoughts on these.

But then, there is this stone-cold classic:

Not much to say about it, except that it has to be heard. It is one of my favorite jazz albums. It is a difficult listen, at first, but if you devote some time to it and really listen, it will take you somewhere else. A fucking beautiful record that deserves its legendary status. (And Elvin Jones completely blows me away.)

The Kinks /st is pretty good, but naturally not as good as any of the albums that followed immediately after it. I wouldn't even make the case for it being underrated or anything, but I would for Kinda Kinks.

Stupid RYM has A Love Supreme listed '65, but there are are least two Coltrane albums I like more than that.

And I think Crescent gets kinda overlooked because ALS came out not long after and overshadowed it:

A great record as well.

And mcap, I love Mingusx5, and sometimes I think it might be my favorite record of his. I've also been meaning to check out some of Hubbard's stuff, but haven't heard any of his albums as leader.

As much as I dig Love Supreme (which, btw is 1965), I, too, can name a few I prefer over it.

Freddie Hubbard, has always been a bit of an enigma to me. On record, live, and all the potential the press heaped upon him as a young man. Too much pressure me thinks. If I had to pick another solo record it would be his Impulse debut, "The Artistry of" which is quite good.

To the uninitiated, all one would need to hear is his work with Oliver Nelson on 'Blues and The Abstract Truth'. Smokin'

Sorry.
AMG listed it as '64 (Dec. 9, 1964).

Oddly enough, I didn't think this album was difficult to get into. It took me somewhere else immediately and I fell in love with it instantly.

Maybe it was just because I was a neophyte jazz listener when I first heard it 20 years ago or so. Sometimes I forget who I'm talking to over here!

Other than the obvious Dylan and Coltrane that have been mentioned, most of my favorite music from this time is from artists where I'm really only familiar with the singles, basically Motown stuff.

I guess Getz/Gilberto was 1964.

Notes
Recorded March 18 & 19, 1963 in New York City.
Originally released on LP (Verve, V6-8545, 1963).
= which matches my LP. I can't say enough good things about this record.

Stating the obvious that The Beatles have yet to be mentioned.

Serge Gainsbourg - Gainsbourg Percussions

An early Gainsbourg album featuring him back by heavy afro-carribbean percussion and a female choir. One of my favorite Gainsbourg albums.



Johnny Hartman - I Just Dropped By to Say Hello

Johnny Hartman is probably my favorite jazz vocalist and this is one of his best albums. It is his second album on Impulse following up on his collaboration with John Coltrane. Here's he's backed by Elvin Jones, Hank Jones and Kenny Burrell among others.



Mary Lou Williams - Black Christ of the Andies

Complex and brooding jazz suites combining piano jazz with spirituals. It's ahead of its time and she's great.



Jorge Ben - Ben e Samba Bom

Early Jorge Ben when he was a pretty much straight samba, pop singer/player. Very catchy and enjoyable nonetheless.



Jackie McLean - Action

Great "New Thing" Session mixing hard bop with free jazz playing. McLean is backed by Bobby Hutcherson, Charles Tolliver, Cecil McBee and Billy Higgins. This isn't his best album but he's amazing. Probably a top five jazz artist for me.

Nice call on the Johnny Hartman.

But yeah, pretty much everything I've got from this time period is either singles or jazz albums.

i inherited from my stepmom last year what appeared to be an original pressing of otis redding's first lp pain in my heart, but i just looked it up and own the re-issue. still, the record's in fantastic shape and i've played it only once or twice - it's much easier to enjoy the crisper digital version on my computer. it contains 'these arms of mine' & 'i need your lovin' alongisde a number of covers. not nearly my favorite otis but i'm proud to have this in my collection.

Muddy Waters: Folk Singer

You want some stripped to the bone rootsy blues, here ya go. A fantastic, sparse acoustic blues set by one of the masters. It doesn't hurt that the recording is absolutely stunning on this one. Also features Willie Dixon on bass and Buddy Guy on guitar.

Neither of these are close to the peak of these artists.

Having said that, the Kinks album first displayed Dave Davies' fine guitar work and the distorted sound he used on early Kinks songs. It contains "You Really Got Me" and "Stop Your Sobbing," and is an okay album, but even for their early era, it's not their best.

Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. was also a debut and hinted at greater things to come. It is basically a stripped down affair, with a number of covers, but does include a few good originals.

I think we should include this gem:

If RYM is to be believed on release dates, the only 1964 rock albums I own are the two Dylan albums, Rolling Stones - 12X5, that Simon & Garfunkel album (if you can even call that rock) and JLL Live at Hamburg (which I assume Kingfish will come and post about).

The early 60's were mostly a big void in rock history. In a short period of time, Ol Chuck Berry found himself in jail. Buddy Holly had died. Elvis was in the army. Johnny Cash went Country. Little Richard found religion and JLL married his cousin. The Mitch Millers of the world tried to fill the air waves with teen idols and nothing lasting outside of jazz and soul filled the void until the Beatles and Dylan started to hit their strides which they were only just beginning to do.

I almost came in here and posted the same thing billy. I feel like the Jerry Lee album has been posted about a ton here so I didn't post it either.

But I agree that there just wasn't much going on in rock. Beatlemania blew up in '64 and changed everything but it seems those after shocks don't show their effects for a couple more years.

I feel like most of the overlooked gems would come from country, world, soul, or jazz.

I would love to hear about overlooked country albums. It's pretty ridiculous how few pre-1970 country studio albums are in print. Nashville seems to be very far behind the Rock, Jazz, Soul and World Music labels in reissue campaigns.

Given that and the lessened ability to find and hear those albums, obner's lower interest in world music, and the fact that soul was still a singles genre, Jazz will probably rule this thread.

Yeah, the JLL is one of my favorites but I've posted enough about it.

Here are two rock (sort of) entries:

Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams


Nashville Teens - Tobacco Road


I think the Nashville Teens are very much underappreciated. They never formed a British take on American rock'n'roll like their British Invasion contemporaries. Instead, they sound like Americans. But they're good at it and there is a lot of energy on this record.

And 64' is ground zero for the British Invasion. The Animals, Pacemakers, Beatles, Dave Clark 5, Stones, Hollies, Kinks and Yardbirds all released albums. But I think it's fair to say that the "album format" is still in its infancy and it's mostly a singles time period for rock.

Something new I've just heard for the first time from 1964 (I'm 60 years old): this song called "As Long As I Have You" by Garnett Mimms. Led Zeppelin did a cover, but to me it was unrecognizable. According to "The Rough Guide To Led
Zeppelin" book, this was one of the songs that Page and Plant bonded over as a common influence / favorite. Great old sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc2y9X08tN8

If you like Motown and girl groups:


First album two have 3 billboard #1 singles. One of the peak Motown/girl-group albums.