801-801 Live (1976)

801 was a project formed by Phil Manzanera as a supergroup parallel to his main band Roxy Music, with whom he released two albums in the mid-seventies. “801 Live” was the first, and as its title indicates, it is a live recording made during a mini-tour in the UK during August and September of 1976. In addition to the guitarist, the band consisted of Brian Eno (keyboards, guitar, and vocals), Francis Monkman of Curved Air (keyboards), Simon Phillips (drums), Bill MacCornick (bass and vocals), and Lloyd Watson (slide guitar). With an eclectic style ranging from catchy, melodic tunes to raw, pure rock tracks, while still incorporating the progressive sounds and avant-garde elements that are always present in any work involving Brian Eno, the album unfolds energetically, brimming with complex compositions. Highlights include Monkman's Fender Rhodes keyboards, bassist MacCornick's driving rhythm, Eno's ambient atmosphere, Phillips' solid percussion, and the brilliant guitar work of Phil Manzanera. The repertoire is divided between covers of songs by The Beatles (T.N.K. - Tomorrow Never Knows), The Kinks (You Really Got Me), and other compositions by Brian Eno, Manzanera himself, and the Eno/Manzanera band Quiet Sun.

Colosseum II-Strange New Flesh (1976)

Colosseum was one of the first progressive rock bands to emerge in the late 1960s. After releasing four magnificent progressive jazz albums (“Those Who About to Die Salute You,” “Valentyne Suite,” “The Grass Is Greener,” and “Daughter of Time”), they disbanded near the end of 1971. Several years later, one of its founders, drummer Jon Hiseman, revived the band, recruiting vocalist Mike Starr, guitarist Gary Moore, keyboardist Don Airey, and bassist John Mole, thus forming Colosseum II. In 1976, they debuted with “Strange New Flesh,” which, unlike the progressive Colosseum of earlier years, leaned towards a vigorous jazz-rock sound very much in line with what other contemporary bands of the genre were doing at the time (Return to Forever), fusing it with an energetic rock style reminiscent of the Jeff Beck Group or the James Gang. An album that opens with the dazzling and exhilarating "Dark Side of the Moog," an ironic title that bears no resemblance to the work of the bands led by Roger Waters and David Gilmour. This is followed by the melodic and atmospheric "Down to You," featuring excellent vocals from Starr and Airey's keyboard work. The funky jazz tracks "Gemini and Leo" and "Secret Places" add a touch of lightheartedness to this debut album. The album closes with the melodic "On Second Thoughts" and the tour de force "Winds," where all the musicians deliver dazzling instrumental performances in a powerful piece of progressive jazz that serves as the perfect conclusion to a masterpiece of 1970s jazz-rock.

The 13th Floor Elevators-The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators (1966)

We are dealing with a band and an album that are fundamental to understanding the evolution of psychedelic music and garage rock in the 1960s. The 13th Floor Elevators were the first to create a style that would soon be called psychedelic pop/rock, based primarily on the roar of acid guitar riffs and reverberation at high volume, recording and performing live under the influence of LSD, resulting in highly distorted sounds. This band, originally from Austin, Texas, consisted of Roky Erickson, guitarist, singer, and frontman; Stacy Sutherland on lead guitar; drummer John Ike Walton; instrumentalist Tommy Hall; and bassist Ronnie Leatherman. In 1966, thanks to several impactful singles, the group embarked on a successful tour of the American West Coast, which led to a contract with International Artists, with whom they released their first full-length album at the end of 1966. Sarcastic songs like "You're Gonna Miss Me," powerful garage rock tracks such as "Reverberation (Doubt)" and "Tried to Hide," and the decadent "Roller Coaster" and "Fire Engine" served as the perfect introduction to the national scene for The 13th Floor Elevators. However, after several more releases, "Easter Everywhere" (1967) and "Bull of the Woods" (1969), the group was consumed by its own fame. The continued use of hard drugs and the resulting legal troubles led to numerous mental health problems for all its members. Finally, in 1969, Roky Erickson was prosecuted for marijuana possession, an event that marked the end of the band's career. 

The Animals-The Animals (1964)

The Animals are one of the key bands of the British Invasion, and in their early years, they were fierce competitors to the likes of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. This band, initially known as The Alan Price Combo, consisted of keyboardist Alan Price, singer Eric Burdon, guitarist Hilton Valentine, bassist Chas Chandler, and drummer John Steel. Their first record deal was with MGM, with whom they released their self-titled debut album, "The Animals," in 1964. The standout track on this first album is the legendary "House of the Rising Sun," a traditional song reimagined with new arrangements, featuring captivating guitar lines and a distinctive organ sound that propelled it to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, making it one of the most enduring songs of the twentieth century. In addition to this song, other brilliant versions appear here under the hypnotic rhythms of Rhythm and Blues such as "Around And Around" by Chuck Berry, "I've Been Around" by Fats Domino, "I'm Mad Again" by John Lee Hooker or "Talkin' Bout You" by Ray Charles.

Various Artists-41 Original Hits From The Soundtrack Of American Graffiti (1973)

In 1973, the renowned director George Lucas, famous for films like "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," wrote and directed "American Graffiti," a film set in the early 1960s in which he attempted to faithfully recreate the American youth culture of that era and the impact of rock and roll on that generation. The film became one of the most lucrative in cinematic history, grossing over $200 million from box office receipts, record sales, and VHS video sales and rentals. Beyond the film itself, the most striking aspect of this cinematic masterpiece is its impressive soundtrack. Lucas meticulously selected 41 songs that are fundamental to the origins of rock and roll. All of them achieved massive success on the charts, not only in the United States, but many also worldwide. From Chuck Berry's rock and roll to Booker T. Jones' soul jazz, passing through pioneers of the genre such as Bill Haley and The Comets, Fats Domino, Del Shannon or Buddy Holly, the doo wop of The Platters or the surf of The Beach Boys.