10 '60s Albums Every Rock Fan Should Own
1. The White Album - The Beatles
The Beatles have become so omnipresent in pop culture that almost any one of their albums could be heralded as a classic.
Whenever talking about the work of the Fab Four, almost nothing is off the table when it comes to excellent music, from the psychedelic freakouts on Revolver to the pure craftsmanship of Abbey Road. However, if you want a taste of everything this band can do, the White Album really has you covered.
After partaking in transcendental meditation in India, the band returned to Abbey Road studios with amazing material, but were at each others’ throats on a personal level. Instead of operating as a full band, this album brings each songwriter to the forefront, which acts as the album’s greatest strength.
With no real veil, these songs give the listener a glimpse into what makes each member tick musically, with the grand epicness of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” being put side by side with the quietness of John Lennon’s “Julia” or the raucousness of Paul McCartney’s “Birthday.”
Even the more outlandish experiments on tracks like “Helter Skelter” helped invent hard rock and metal as we know it with its chainsaw guitars and manic drum performance.
This album might only have a plain white canvas for a cover, but the amount of color in these songs is more than many bands have in their entire discography.