Interlude#2 - 1966 Albums That Failed To Make The List

Besides the albums that we have looked at since my starting date of 16 May 1966, there were other very fine records released and you may be wondering why I have not included those in my selections.

For example, in August 1966, Jefferson Airplane released their debut album 'Jefferson Airplane Takes Off'. I have no doubts that Jefferson Airplane were an influential band and in the period we shall be examining, made some recordings that helped to shape the sounds of the remainder of the 1960s and beyond. However, in my opinion, their first effort did not.

'Jefferson Airplane Takes Off' features the developing songwriting partnership of Marty Balin and Paul Kantner and the line-up at that time included guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, drummer Skip Spence bassist Jack Casady and singer Signe Toly Anderson in addition to Kantner and Balin but the music was to all intents and purposes, folk-rock in much the same sort of genre as The Byrds and a host of other bands at that time. Jefferson Airplane would not really 'take off' until October 1966 when Anderson quit the band to be replaced by Grace Slick from neighbouring San Francisco band The Great Society. With two of their songs, 'White Rabbit' and 'Somebody To Love', she helped to take Jefferson Airplane into a totally different direction. But more of that in due course.

One could also make a very sound argument that the third album by The Byrds, 'Fifth Dimension', released in July 1966, was as influential as some of the albums I have included in my list. Certainly 'Eight Miles High' was a leap forward into the realms of raga and psychedelic rock. I would be unable to refute such claims. However, the album for me represents a band that were in transition after the departure of their main songwriter, Gene Clark. Consequently this album is a little inconsistent though by this time they have stopped relying on Bob Dylan songs to flesh out their albums.

Other really good albums that were released in this period were 'Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme' by Simon and Garfunkel, 'Fresh Cream'  by Cream, 'Jack Orion' by Bert Jansch and the eponymous  debut albums from Tim Buckley and Buffalo Springfield. All were very good albums indeed, but not in my opinion, influential enough to make my list. No doubt, some will feature with subsequent releases as we move into 1967 and beyond.