Best Psychedelic Albums: 30 Mind-Expanding Records
The best psychedelic albums, both sonically and spiritually, are guaranteed to take your head to places it never went before.
Look up the word “psychedelic” in the dictionary, and one of the first definitions will be “mind-expanding.” That’s what all of the best psychedelic albums have in common. Most were made during the golden era of 1966-1968, but quite a few came along later. Some were made in the psych epicenters of San Francisco and Los Angeles, others are from as far afield as Brazil, Texas, and the UK. Some were clearly acid-inspired, but at least one was made by an artist (Prince) who never indulged in hallucinogenics. Some fit the classic model of psychedelic music, the genre; while others are just spiritually related to the scene. All of them are, however, guaranteed to take your head to places it never went before.
While you’re reading, listen to our Psychedelic Songs playlist here.
30: Cream: Disraeli Gears (1967)
Cream were only partly a psychedelic band. Even when they took acid, they were more about playing the blues and improvising. But a few of their songs stand as psych landmarks, and two of them (“Strange Brew” and “Tales of Brave Ulysses”) opened each side of the original vinyl pressing of Disraeli Gears. And let’s not forget that iconic album cover.
Must hear: Strange Brew
29: Nirvana: The Story Of Simon Simopath (1967)
Musically, the English duo Nirvana couldn’t be any different from the Seattle band of the same name. Indebted a bit to both Donovan and The Incredible String Band, this concept album is steeped in nursery-rhyme gentleness and flower-power whimsy. Yet the central concept, about a misfit who finds new life after a stay in a mental institution, was something Nirvana’s grunge namesakes might have appreciated.
Must hear: Wings Of Love
28: The Rolling Stones: Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)
The triumph of The Rolling Stones’ one psych album, Their Satanic Majesties Request ,was that they could embrace everything – Indian music, Pink Floyd tape weirdness, orchestrated freakouts – and still sound just like the Stones. Call it a period piece, but the single “She’s A Rainbow” is still in their setlists today.
Must hear: 2000 Light Years From Home
27: Tame Impala: Lonerism (2012)
Tame Impala mastermind Kevin Parker is one of the modern artists doing the most with trippy 60s influences, and his solo recordings reveal the multicolour world inside his head. On the sophomore Tame Impala album, Lonerism, he plays around with vintage sounds, from analogue synths to fuzz guitars and DIY drumkits, which he’d later fuse with elements of trip-hop.
Must hear: Music To Walk Home By
26: Aphrodite’s Child: 666 (1972)
Genesis famously did an “Apocalypse In 9/8,” but on this double-album, Aphrodite’s Child unleashed one in every time signature there was. Bridging late psych and early prog, 666 effectively approximates what you’d experience if you were reading The Book Of Revelation when the acid kicked in. The fact that Aphrodite’s singer, Demis Roussos, went on to be an easy-listening star, while keyboardist Vangelis helped invent New Age, is psychedelic in itself.
Must hear: The Four Horsemen
25: Donovan: Sunshine Superman (1966)
Donovan gets dismissed in some quarters (not least from Bob Dylan in Dont Look Back) as a lightweight, but, hey – it’s not his fault that he had a good time in the 60s and came out unscathed. There are some truly heavyweight songs in his most psychedelic-leaning album, Sunshine Superman, including the indelible single and self-explanatory “The Trip.” Other cuts include the San Francisco ode “Fat Angel” (which salutes Jefferson Airplane, who later covered it) and the oft-covered “Season Of The Witch,” which predicts the time when hippies would start trying to make it rich.
Must hear: The Trip
24: Blues Magoos: Psychedelic Lollipop (1966)
Blues Magoos’ 1966 debut album earns immortality for its second single alone: “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet,” one of the era’s most uplifting songs. Also here is the definitive freaked-out version of the oft-covered “Tobacco Road” and the acid-inspired “Love Seems Doomed.” And let’s not forget they were just kids when they recorded one of the best psychedelic albums of the mid-60s; singer Peppy Theilhelm was just 16.
Must hear: We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet
![[We Ain't Got] Nothin' Yet](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fg2XtCF6F4e0%2F0.jpg)
23: The Temptations: Cloud Nine (1969)
Cloud Nine was the album that changed the equation for Motown, as The Temptations were joined by new singer Dennis Edwards and the visionary writer-producer Norman Whitfield. About half the album is still in traditional Tempts style, but the future of psychedelic soul arrives via the topical title track – with its indelible Dennis Coffey wah-wah intro – and especially “Runaway Child, Running Wild,” a spooky production epic that became a hit in its edited form.
Must hear: Runaway Child, Running Wild
22: The Dream Syndicate: The Universe Inside (2020)
It warms our heart that we can include a 2020 release on this list of the best psychedelic albums. The Dream Syndicate came to light as members of LA’s legendary, psych-inspired Paisley Underground in the 80s, and Steve Wynn went on to be a singer-songwriter of considerable note, but the third release to come out of their latter-day reunion is something else entirely. With five songs covering a double-album, they leave conventional song structures behind and discover the mind-expanding possibilities of texture and groove, proving you can still find new territory to explore.
Must hear: The Regulator
21: Caravan: In The Land Of Grey And Pink (1971)
There’s a thin line between psych rock and prog, and on In The Land Of Grey And Pink, Caravan easily worked both sides. There’s something beautifully English about the whimsical hippie humour in the title track and “Golf Girl,” which turns the illicit substance into tea. The album’s second half is a flawless suite that includes some straight ahead jazz, a heavy riff or two, and a gorgeous pastoral melody toward the end.
Must hear: In The Land Of Grey And Pink
20: Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)
The great thing about this album is that it’s quite literally bubblegum pop on acid. Take away the 15 minutes of trippy jamming and the title track is a giddy love song that Ohio Express could have recorded. But, of course, a 15-minute jam is largely the appeal of any great psychedelic album. Even the other side of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is as catchy as it is trippy, and it left us with a great bit of 60s wisdom: “Flowers and beads are one thing/But having a girl, that’s something!”
Must hear: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
19: The Pretty Things: SF Sorrow / Small Faces: Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake (both 1968)
These two albums have to go together as they both came out in 1968, were both among the first concept albums, and were both recorded by UK bands who were doing straight R&B just a few months earlier. They represent emotional opposites, too: The Pretty Things’ album tells the mournful but hauntingly melodic story of a man and his well of loneliness. Characteristically, Small Faces had no time for tears: Their psych epic is a jolly rave-up, with a side-long fairy tale, a music-hall blast of a single (“Lazy Sunday”) and even a bit of proto-metal, in the shape of “Afterglow.”
Must hear: Lazy Sunday
18: Todd Rundgren: A Wizard, A True Star (1973)
One of the most audacious and best psychedelic albums ever made, A Wizard, A True Star came out just when Todd Rundgren had developed a reputation as a pop songsmith, and the world expected more of the same. He delivered this Technicolor mind trip instead. It’s probably the reason he never became a mainstream superstar, but also the reason why, 45 years later, a lot of us are still following him.
Must hear: International Feel
17: The Moody Blues: In Search Of The Lost Chord (1968)
Each of the Moodies’ classic seven albums was a unified statement, and each one was different, but In Search Of The Lost Chord was the most psychedelic. In a set of finely crafted songs that begins with an invitation to “Ride My See-Saw,” the Moodies’ search for the essence of life took them down three possible paths: acid, meditation and romantic love. Later in their career, they’d pretty much settle on option three.
Must hear: Legend Of A Mind
16: The Dukes Of Stratosphear: 25 O’Clock (1985)
XTC’s in-disguise album is a great bit of musical pranksterism – if you know your 60s psych, it’s wall-to-wall in-jokes. But their Dukes Of Stratosphear alter-ego is also a loving and accurate homage to the best psychedelic albums, and every song here is terrific in its own right. From the Floydian title track to the Moodies-inspired “Your Gold Dress,” the psych influence would carry over to XTC’s next proper album, Skylarking.
Must hear: Your Gold Dress
15: Hüsker Dü: Zen Arcade (1984)
Psychedelia was one of many styles embraced by the 80s rock underground, and Zen Arcade’s influence was huge. There’s still plenty of Hüsker Dü’s hardcore rage here, but the group also employ tape loops, reoccurring song fragments and an epic closing jam to evoke the kaleidoscopic experiences of a young man’s first year away from home.
Must hear: Something I Learned Today
14: Dr John: Gris-Gris (1968)
On this classic debut album, Dr John realised that the spiritual imagery of psychedelia and New Orleans’ voodoo weren’t far apart. Working with the cream of Crescent City session men, he came up with a spooky and funky sound unlike any heard before, and created a memorable character to go with it. If “I Walk On Gilded Splinters” isn’t psych, we don’t know what is. Fun fact: the entire album was financed by money that Dr John and his arranger had made on Sonny & Cher sessions.
Must hear: I Walk On Gilded Splinters
13: Prince and The Revolution: Around The World In A Day (1985)
Around The World In A Day was the Purple Rain follow-up that nobody saw coming, Prince widely expanded both his musical template and his consciousness – with help from Wendy and Lisa, who apparently gave him his first Beatles record. “Raspberry Beret” introduced a new generation to 60s psychedelia, but the album wasn’t all sunshine and flowers. “Condition Of The Heart” could be Prince’s loveliest ballad, while “Temptation” serves up a tense encounter with God.
Must hear: Paisley Park
12: The Zombies: Odessey & Oracle (1968)
You know an album is timeless when it takes a half-century to be properly appreciated. The Zombies were, however, right into the spirit of the times in 1968, evolving from their R&B origins and writing one of the most enduring peace-and-love anthems, Odyssey & Oracle’s only hit, “Time Of The Season.” But it took decades for most people to hear the rest of the album and realise how beautifully inventive it all was. It’s no secret that The Zombies were squeaky-clean compared to most 60s bands, but this album was visionary as they come.
Must hear: Time Of The Season
11: Country Joe And The Fish: Electric Music For The Mind And Body (1967)
An early 1967 release, Country Joe And The Fish’s debut album opened up all kinds of possibilities: heady jams, poetic ballads, free-form ragas and even a taste of political satire. Because Joe McDonald was a songwriter first, the whole album is wrapped in a tuneful package. The closing “Grace” is a romantic epic in honour of Grace Slick (Janis Joplin would get similar treatment on the follow-up album).
Must hear: Flying High
10: The Monkees: Head (1968)
If you don’t think The Monkees (or Carole King) were psychedelic, you haven’t heard “Porpoise Song’, a swirling and hypnotic track from their soundtrack album Head. It proved too much for their pre-teen fans and was the first Monkees single to flop. Elsewhere on the record, Mike Nesmith gets into the groove with “Circle Sky,” while Peter Tork contributes a fuzztone rocker about reincarnation; it’s all held together with surreal spoken soundbites. If you think the album is out there, wait till you see the movie.
Must hear: Porpoise Song
9: The 13th Floor Elevators: The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators (1966)
In the context of frontman Roky Erickson’s career, this ranks as a relatively straightahead rock’n’roll album: the opening “You’re Gonna Miss Me” is nothing less than a punk landmark, electric jug and all. In some ways, however, this is the great psychedelic album The Rolling Stones should have made. The Elevators deal in raw blues-rock songs with heady imagery and, as always, the otherworldly howl of Erickson’s voice.
Must hear: You’re Gonna Miss Me
8: The Doors: The Doors (1967)
During the first week of 1967, when this album was released, the future of rock could be anything, including a jazz-identified band with a Dionysian Beat poet upfront. The Doors’ self-titled debut is a remarkably diverse, with covers of songs by both Willie Dixon and Bertolt Brecht. The first side closes with the sexual release of “Light My Fire” while the second ends with the Apocalypse on “The End’. Making it one of the best psychedelic albums of all time, however, is that every note is about transcendence.
Must hear: The End
7: Jefferson Airplane: After Bathing At Baxter’s (1967)
Some think that Surrealistic Pillow, written before the Summer of Love, is the most psychedelic album in Jefferson Airplane’s catalogue, but we tend to think it’s this one. As Paul Kantner later explained, “bathing at Baxter’s” was band-slang for dropping acid, and this influence is clearer than on Jefferson Airplane’s more song-oriented later albums. Grace Slick writes a pair of free-associative cabaret songs; Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady take ten minutes to map out Hot Tuna’s territory for the next 50 years; and Kantner’s “The Ballad Of You And Me And Pooneil” is one of the most joyful acid songs ever written.
Must hear: The Ballad of You And Me And Pooneil
6: Grateful Dead: Aoxomoxoa (1969)
Anthem of the Sun is often held up as among their finest work, but Aoxomoxoa was as psychedelic as the Dead ever got on one of their studio albums. The eight-minute “What’s Become of The Baby’ was effectively their “Revolution 9,” but note how the phasing on Jerry Garcia’s voice gives “China Cat Sunflower” a sense of mystery that the many live versions lack. Meanwhile, there are the last hints of the Dead’s early garage-rock tendencies (“Doin’ That Rag’) and, on “St Stephen,” their future in Americana.
Must hear: What’s Become Of The Baby
5: Gal Costa: Gal (1969)
The Brazilian Tropicália movement was as much about psychedelia as it was a political statement: it was radical music made against an oppressive government. It was also thrilling in purely musical terms, producing landmark work by Tom Zé, Os Mutantes and Caetano Veloso. But this 1969 album by Gal Costa was the most radical and beautiful of them all. Already known for her incredible vocals, Costa collaborates here with a sublimely freaky studio band. What they do with Veloso’s “Cinema Olympia” – originally a nice little song about movies – is truly mindblowing.
Must hear: Cinema Olympia
4: The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland (1968)
Jimi Hendrix was psychedelic by his very existence, and the expansive double-album Electric Ladyland brought you further inside his head (and closer to other parts of his anatomy) than any other record. (Although Axis: Bold as Love comest mightly close.) The blues are epic, the rockers furious and the side trips (like most of Side Three on the original vinyl) lead to uncharted territory. On “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” he demonstrates that the imagery of blues lyrics was always psychedelic to begin with.
Must hear: Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
3: Spirit: Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus (1970)
Released in November 1970, this was the original psychedelic era’s final masterpiece. Lyrically, Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus wraps up everything that era was trying to say. Songs like “Nature’s Way” and “Nothing To Hide” thumb their noses at the straight world; “Love Has Found A Way” and “Life Has Just Begun” illustrate how much is possible if your mind is ready for it. Musically, it’s endlessly inventive, bringing the band’s jazz, pop and heavy rock factions onto the same astral plane. And though it crystallises a moment in time, it doesn’t sound the least bit dated.
Must hear: Life Has Just Begun
2: The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band may have changed music, but if there was one moment that psychedelicised the world, it was the release of “Strawberry Fields Forever” (backed with “Penny Lane”) as a single in February 1967. Quite simply, the AM airwaves had never thrown out anything like that before. They were already classics by the time the Magical Mystery Tour album came out around Christmas (in the US; the songs, minus the era’s single sides, were released as a double-EP set in the UK), but the likes of “I Am the Walrus” and “Fool On The Hill” showed The Beatles still had more adventures in store.
Must hear: Strawberry Fields Forever
1: Love: Forever Changes (1967)
This classic album from really stands apart from the best psychedelic albums. There are no studio effects, no freeform jams, and hardly even any electric guitars. The psychedelic influence came entirely from the mind of Arthur Lee, whose lyrics were always otherworldly and never fully possible to pin down, and whose melodies were completely unforgettable. “You Set The Scene” still ranks as one of rock’s great existential statements.
Must hear: You Set The Scene
Think we’ve missed one of your favorite psychedelic albums? Let us know in the comments section below. Looking for more? Discover the origins of psychedelic rock.
Steve Brassington
July 30, 2016 at 10:03 am
You should add Caravan’s album “In the Land of The Grey and Pink”. Classic UK psychedelic prog Rock
Cheers
Steve Brasso
uDiscover
July 30, 2016 at 10:19 am
Steve, very nearly made our list…a classic indeed
Gary
December 28, 2016 at 4:23 am
Frigid Pink
Mike Murray
December 30, 2018 at 5:09 pm
Olias of Sunhillow, Jon Anderson. Properly psychedelic, not just the artwork.
Bob Parsons
January 13, 2020 at 10:33 pm
Heronimus Fin – Bloodguilt…psych heaven
Dan
April 25, 2020 at 4:40 pm
Without Quicksilver Happy Trails this list is not complete boot the monkees or tame impala or 4 or 5 but to not have Happy Trails proves you never listened to it
Geoff Horsefield
March 24, 2021 at 11:36 pm
Heronimus Fin are definitely carrying the modern Psych torch, but Id go for their 2nd album Riding the Great Fantastic with tracks like Purple Pictures, Steelball Wind, Alice in Sunderland etc as the definitive psych album
Tom
April 15, 2020 at 8:37 pm
No pink floyd or Jefferson airplane
Mike Barnard
July 30, 2016 at 4:28 pm
Caravan definitely and what about Frank Zappa? Freak Out!!!
Mark Crane
July 31, 2016 at 6:54 pm
Many good choices however, call me crazy, but I think that many of these albums, while absolutely great, are on your list simply because of the cover art and not the style of the music.
st mark craneuart
August 16, 2016 at 9:32 pm
spot on mark crane.
Jim Bear
September 17, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Perfect comment Mr Crane…Revolver was as far from a Psychedelic album. The cover looked cool and that was about all. Lucy in the Sky might fit in for the Beatles in that category. I am 60 and grew up with this music…hell CCR did more psychedelic music then a lot of bands here. Jefferson Airplane was spot on…one of the best . Country Joe and the Fish…Zappa. I wish they would have put up 100 and let us vote.
donal sheehy
September 24, 2016 at 6:36 pm
Revolver had Tomorrow Never Knows as a definite and a few other Lennon tracks in the ball park……..Plus the cover :O)
Bear Nichols
November 7, 2016 at 2:00 am
Perfect answer,,,I too am 60…Let us pick out the top 100 hits…no mention of canned Heat,,CCR or Lou reed…some were great picks but Revolver,,,,number one…never dropped clearlight thats for damn sure…
i
Tman
February 5, 2020 at 3:35 pm
Have you even heard Tomorrow Never Knows, Doctor Robert, Im Only Sleeping, and YELLOW SUBMARINE. Yer a lot older and smarter than me, but how can you say Revolver ins’t Psych, man. I also understand you commented this way long ago so maybe you changed your mind. The reason its one of the greatest Psych albums is because of how it was so revolutionary integrated into mainstream music. It might not be screaming guitars fuzz candy, but it’s till one of the greatest psych albums no question. I love you.
Randy
September 17, 2017 at 10:28 pm
Mark, Definitely. Disraeli Gears is definitely not “psychedelic” music.
Bob K.
February 6, 2019 at 5:45 pm
What kind of music was Disraeli Gears them?
LArrY
April 2, 2020 at 12:04 am
Average bands average albums. Dig deeper for better psych.
johnnyD
January 1, 2021 at 5:00 pm
no kidding….Dragonfly, Kak, Josefus, Ultimate Spinach, Goldenrod, Darius, Heavy Balloon, etc….
michael troiano
December 6, 2016 at 2:25 am
I agree Freakout rules!
Dan
April 25, 2020 at 4:39 pm
Without Quicksilver Happy Trails this list is not complete boot the monkees or tame impala or 4 or 5 but to not have Happy Trails proves you never listened to it
Eugene Wellborn
May 29, 2020 at 2:43 pm
Absolutely one of the best live albums of that era! You can actually hear the audience having its collective minds blown.
Tony Koorlander
August 1, 2016 at 8:05 am
Totally agree with Land of Grey and Pink…but the Ultimate one has to be the Radiophonic Workshp crews ‘freelancer’ cult album ‘White Noise Electric Storm’featuring Brian Hodgson and Delia Derbyshire. A totally unique and incredibly deep psychedelic offering from the masters of the era.
Richard Hugh Peyton
November 15, 2016 at 11:24 pm
Hello from Scotland, Tony.
re White Noise – An Electric Storm.
I wholeheartedly agree, Tony. A one-off masterpiece.
In the ’80s I lent my vinyl copy to a friend and didn’t get it back. Had to wait until Feb. ’04 to spot a lone cd copy in a music shop in Edinburgh.
ZAPPnU...
September 5, 2016 at 4:39 am
Phantom’s Devine Comedy Pt 2
Gix
October 9, 2016 at 12:08 am
Pet Sound
Sgt Peppers
Ten years after
Frank
October 6, 2017 at 4:35 pm
I agree w Ten Years After – Cricklewood Green
Rob Coenen
October 9, 2016 at 5:43 pm
Agreed and Zero she flies from Al Stewart
Andrew
October 11, 2016 at 3:29 am
Where would “Snakefinger-Greener Postures” fall in? or “The United States of America-The American Metaphysical Circus”? or “King Crimson-The Deception of the Thrush &or The Court of the Crimson King”? and yea “Caravan”?
Or maybe the list just needs to be bigger? haha
Jimmy
October 9, 2017 at 12:30 am
+1 The United States of America!
Stuart
October 14, 2019 at 2:28 am
Snakefinger, Residents and just about anything from Ralph Records.
Capt Beefheart, Blue cheer, Bo Hansson, colosseum,
wesley s
February 14, 2020 at 5:09 am
i would say snakey’s ‘manual of errors’ might even top ‘g postures’, but all P Lithman and ‘Duck Stab’ by the residents qualify! (in my Humble 0pinion..)
Fausto Willer
November 4, 2016 at 4:12 pm
I got this amazing album!
Frank Kenneth Engelhardt
November 16, 2016 at 12:48 am
Absolutely, awesome album.
Another would be Ultimate Spinach by Ultimate Spinach.
Rob
January 5, 2017 at 3:29 am
Ultimate spinach next to Piper is in my opinion the best psych LP ever.
Stuart
October 14, 2019 at 2:30 am
Ultimate Spinach are a must. Classic.
Unclericky
February 18, 2018 at 6:16 pm
I got ultimate spinach also. We must be stone freaks. The album is only tolerable if one takes to much plotter.
mike
October 6, 2017 at 2:13 pm
the yardbirds, shapes of things to come
mike
October 6, 2017 at 2:13 pm
the yardbirds, shapes of things to come
Eric
October 8, 2017 at 5:13 pm
good to see that there are so many comments on Caravan Great band that had a good run. Many more could be added. Zappa? not the music but with the art on albums he could have a few on here.
Avi Moore
September 6, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Close To The Edge – Yes
George Fazakas
October 31, 2018 at 2:21 pm
Also add ART Supernatural Fairytales, brilliant ISLP 967 Island Records . 666 by Aphrodite’s Child is not Psychedelic at all but Prog and was released in 1972? Why I know this is because I have all 3 of their albums.
Shiloh Noone
December 28, 2018 at 12:09 pm
That is Canterbury Prog man not psyche
Khomdrom
December 29, 2018 at 8:53 am
Something tells me this is a promo.
John McVey
June 4, 2019 at 9:05 am
Grey & Pink helped me out of a couple of bad trips
Gerry Henson
November 9, 2019 at 3:35 pm
Pink Floyd – Ummugumma, Atom Heart Mother or Relics
Stephen Stark
April 21, 2020 at 7:28 am
Where is Traffic Mr fantasy
David Watts
July 30, 2016 at 10:34 am
How about Hawkwind?
uDiscover
July 30, 2016 at 11:53 am
Close, but didn’t quite make the cut, David
Mark Pikus
July 30, 2016 at 6:13 pm
I did not see BUBBLE PUPPY , the most Psychedelic band
of the era !
Lori
July 31, 2016 at 1:19 am
I agree! The Godfather’s of Psychedelic Rock is missing! Long live Bubble Puppy! And they’re playing around Texas these days….Better than ever!
tom
November 1, 2016 at 10:07 pm
yes lori, that texas rock sound was very good
Gary
August 6, 2017 at 8:24 am
I just saw Bubble Puppy Last Friday night !!
roger
February 18, 2018 at 8:53 pm
anything by 13th Floor Elevators
Tim
November 2, 2016 at 4:01 pm
I don’t know about the Beatles being number 1, but the ret were spot on!!!
Stephen Badowski
November 4, 2016 at 3:19 pm
No zappa we’re only in it for the money…freak out..absolutely free..? beach boys pet sounds..??
Terry Platt
March 1, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Pet Sounds – psychedelic?? Hardly, except for the track Here Today. Surf’s Up was an album far more deserving of being called psychedelic.
And surely an honourable mention for The Small Faces ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake’ for side 2 alone, with the completely barking narration by Stanley Unwin, between the very trippy music.
Mark T. White
July 31, 2016 at 9:49 pm
Warrior on the Edge of Time in particular!
chuck
August 1, 2016 at 2:47 am
totally agree on that
Rod Chant
November 15, 2016 at 5:01 pm
Both Hawkwind’s “Warrior on the Edge of Time” and “Hall of the Mountain Grill”.
Terry Platt
March 1, 2020 at 1:31 pm
But well above both of them has to be the first eponymous album, the cover art completely matching the music within.
Gerry Berry
February 24, 2020 at 8:14 am
“Trout Mask Replica”?? Are you guys having a laugh? “TMR” is a lot of things, but “psychedelic” ain’t one of them! And where are “West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band”? One of THE most psychedelic US bands of the 60’s!
Mic
April 26, 2020 at 3:19 pm
Strawberry Alarm Clock – Incense and Peppermints, song “the world’s on fire”
Jean Johnson
August 2, 2016 at 9:56 pm
Hey! Nobody remembers or ever even heard of Hawkwind. I was beginning to think i had dreamed that.
tom koffer
August 2, 2016 at 11:44 pm
I remember Hawkwind, saw them around ’74, the sax player had an alien/lizard head mask on, tho I was on acid so that may or may not of happened.
tom koffer
August 3, 2016 at 2:27 am
in St. Louis, Mo around 73 74, any one else see this concert
Brian Skinner
November 1, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Hey Mark you are in luck, Nik Turner the sax player is still touring and putting out new material and has a hot band with two gals who play moog and violin.
On tour NOW in USA.
BOBORINI BOBBIDOLL
August 4, 2016 at 7:57 pm
BOBARINO…….HAWKWIND……COOL! I have at least 3 cd’s of HAWKWIND
IN SEARCH OF SPACE, MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE AND a double cd called YEAR 2000 CODENAME HAWKWIND VOL ONE.
LIKE THEIR MUSIC MUCHLY! YOU CAN FIND THEIR MUSIC AT EBAY HALF . COM……
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Hawkwinds 1971 self titled album is one of the best ever
Marcus Askew
March 5, 2018 at 3:43 pm
I have their self-titled album, and it was originally released on Liberty Records 1970
Jon Vought
October 6, 2017 at 8:11 pm
I sure remember Hawkwind. Hall of the Mountain Grill was an important part of the soundtrack to my own personal psychedelic phase.
Adork
August 3, 2016 at 10:23 am
I agree, Hawkwind should defiantly be on this list……Space Ritual!
Denny
August 5, 2016 at 3:06 am
.The Litter should be mentioned for their cover of ‘I’m a Man’. It goes into orbit in under three minutes.
griff
August 17, 2016 at 5:34 pm
‘Live…Space Ritual’ greatest live psychedelic space rock of all time…
Mike
August 17, 2016 at 10:22 pm
Excellent!
Brian Skinner
November 1, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Almost 50 years and still releasing new material.
Hawkwind is the greatest band in the psychedelic space.
Generous Aardvark
June 23, 2020 at 2:48 am
pink fairies may differ.
And Traffic lsohhboys.
Mark T. White
November 4, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Damn right David! Hell, you can trip on ‘Warrior on the Edge of Time’ without any drugs.
Roberto Schunemann
July 30, 2016 at 10:41 am
Check a Brazilian band called Os Mutantes. Their first four albums could have made this list.
uDiscover
July 30, 2016 at 11:51 am
Roberto, we’re on it
Vicente
July 31, 2016 at 3:01 am
Mutantes porra!!
Richard kozlowski
July 30, 2016 at 11:29 am
What about Arzachal? Court of crimson king king crimson Or happy trail by QMS?
If we staying in 60s then surely white album surpasses revolver ditto sgt peppers? And what about the great magic band strictly personal? Idle race birthday party? Soon many
uDiscover
July 30, 2016 at 11:52 am
Interesting Richard, but we’d say ItCotCK is Prog rather than Psychedelic
John of VA
July 30, 2016 at 11:58 am
The Electric Flag soundtrack from The Trip, The Strawberry Alarm Clock, Amon Duul, Fever Tree, and Silver Apples.
María
August 1, 2016 at 7:45 am
Strawberry Alarm Clock! Definitely!
pn00m
July 30, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Everything is fine, but where’s The Seeds? :0
Xavier
July 30, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Not sure if it falls in the psychedelic genre but ‘Maggot Brain’ by Funkadelic should have been here.
Ian
July 31, 2016 at 10:00 am
Just about any Parliament/Funkadelic qualifies, Maggot Brain especially. I once heard George Clinton say that his mission in life was to prove black people could do acid too.
mike
October 6, 2017 at 2:01 pm
totaly agree
Stuart
October 14, 2019 at 2:35 am
Classic forgotten psy funk album Chains and Black Exhaust.
Iron knowledge sound on Showstopper is as dirty a piece of psy funk you will ever hear.
JOHN CLARK
July 30, 2016 at 12:43 pm
The most underrated but definitive psychedelic music work, in my opinion, are Arthur Brown’s triumvirate Kingdom Come albums. Just to pick one: Journey.
Jay
August 3, 2016 at 6:04 am
YES! Journey is fantastic!
Tim Smith
August 16, 2016 at 10:25 pm
Lucky enough to hang out with Arthur and the band at the time. Really genuine and nice people. Love those albums.
Jazzfool
July 30, 2016 at 12:49 pm
‘Future Games’ by Spirit and ‘A Wizard A True Star’ by Todd Rundgren are both glaring omissions.
graham godfrey
November 6, 2016 at 5:53 pm
some of his work has been redone at Daryl’s house
Dewi
July 30, 2016 at 12:54 pm
The Bevis Frond deserves at least an honourable mention.
Ric
August 1, 2016 at 6:19 am
Yes – I was going to mention The Bevis Frond. Triptych, New River Head or Son of Walter in particular.
Jim Purdy
November 23, 2016 at 12:36 am
Bevis one of the greatest unsung bands of all I have all 22 cds
TheKunig
July 30, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Its not a complete list without – Hapshash and the Coloured Coat
Pat McGroin
July 30, 2016 at 7:10 pm
Dittos! Haphash and the Colored Coat are more psychedelic (by my definition anyway) than half of these artists! I also think “Wheels of Fire” is more so that Disreali Gears! And where is The Incredible String Band? Don’t tell me they’ve been disqualified “because they’re folk”?
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Music Acrobat As Regards The Air.Brilliant.
Firannion
October 9, 2017 at 2:52 am
Absolutely ISB should be on here, especially the early albums like Wee Tam & the Big Huge, Changing Horses and The 10,000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion (the latter of which has the trippiest album cover EVER).
Raksim
July 30, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Have you ever heard of an album called
The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds?
A concept album released by Electra in 1967. Definitely psychedelic.
john aitken
July 31, 2016 at 12:10 am
I still have this album best listened to with subdued lighting and a generous glass of single malt whisky
Tiago
November 1, 2016 at 2:03 pm
What About Pet Sounds??
john aitken
July 31, 2016 at 12:10 am
I still have this album best listened to with subdued lighting and a generous glass of single malt whisky
Tuan
July 30, 2016 at 1:16 pm
What about Animal Collective? They have albums that more popular, more critically acclaimed and most importantly more psychedelic then lots of the albums on this list. They might not be psychedelic rock, but they’re certainly very trippy.
Ed Encelewski
July 30, 2016 at 1:18 pm
“Think Pink” by Twink would be my choice.
Matthew
July 30, 2016 at 1:24 pm
The Hollies Butterfly, Lyndsey Buckingham Go Insane
Gage
July 30, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Not one of the Gong trilogy albums?
Max
November 4, 2016 at 7:14 am
I was just thinking that Gong and probably Steve Hillage should be on that list. Also Faust.
Jan Otto Eriksen
June 27, 2020 at 8:16 pm
Gong? Yes! Isle of everywhere from the You LP. And a lotvfrom Angels egg.
Geoffrey Hutson
July 30, 2016 at 1:32 pm
I would put After Bathing At Baxters by the Jefferson Airplane along with Surrealistic Pillow..Even more so!
Darrell Parks
August 2, 2016 at 9:23 pm
Nailed it!
Ken Jenkins
October 10, 2016 at 4:39 am
Yes, After Bathing at Baxter’s is pure acid, Paul Kantner even said so!
Mike
July 30, 2016 at 1:35 pm
A Canadian band called Nucleus, their only album self titled 1969 check it out, these guys were excellent! Members went on to form another classic Canadian Band called Foot in cold water…it’s on spotify
Brewmanus
July 30, 2016 at 1:40 pm
Ozric Tentacles, Gong, Hawkwind, & the Cure.
JulianC
July 30, 2016 at 1:43 pm
The Nice – “The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack” up there with “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” as classic UK Psychedelia
Dylan Morgan
July 30, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Without doubt….a psyche/prog classic.
andrew bogue
July 30, 2016 at 1:44 pm
chips from the chocolate fireball – dukes of stratosphere
Danny Madison
July 30, 2016 at 2:00 pm
You left off my Top 2: Spirit “The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” and Caravan “If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You”!
M
October 8, 2016 at 6:53 pm
This!
Robin Crutchfield
July 30, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Hard to believe that Big Brother’s “Cheap THrills” didn’t make the list. Or, The Moody Blues ‘In Search Of The Lost Chord” or Fleetwood Mac’s “Then Play On”, or The Incredible String Band’s “The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter” or Donovan’s “Gift From A Flower To A Garden”.
Per Arne Askelien
July 31, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Agree
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 12:50 pm
Have to agree Robin ’cause I got all these albums
Gary
November 5, 2016 at 4:16 pm
By all means, the Moody Blues need to be on the list. Pick among their many LP’s -what
a ride!
Brian
August 12, 2020 at 9:25 pm
To Our Children’s Children’s Children. Music as vehicle. “I never thought I get to do the thing that all those other sounds do…and they do” is the key to that album. A pure masterpiece where the purpose of psychedelic music is displayed by the vehicle itself as much as where it takes you: a sound machine to help one understand our relation to sound…and light. Traveling through sound via a vehicle of sound…but only if one can lift their vibratory level to the point where one becomes more energy than matter. (BTW, I was born in 1965, and discovered this album and what it can deliver in the late 80s.)
Claus Nannestad
July 30, 2016 at 2:09 pm
You’ve – deliberately? – omitted albums from the English group called Moody Blues…
Mark Crane
July 31, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Couldn’t agree more about the Moody Blues. Also, it looks like a lot of the albums, while great, were included more for the cover art than the style of music.
Kim Dione
August 2, 2016 at 8:16 pm
Agree whole heartedly regarding the Moody Blues. Always the first albums of choice to listen to while doing acid. Also, Spirit should be included…an excellent band so often overlooked.
dc
July 30, 2016 at 2:10 pm
The Airplane’s After Bathing at Baxter’s more psychedelic than Pillow, as is the Doors’ Strange Days compared to their debut…No doubt novice interns put this list togethre from Google searches…
George
July 30, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Spirit – Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus belongs ahead of most of these. Spirit is often over looked for some reason.
Bob
October 8, 2016 at 11:52 pm
Agree with you George. One of my favorite albums of all time
Jeff Netman
July 30, 2016 at 2:42 pm
Grateful Dead: Aoxomoxoa and Live Dead
Antonio Azevedo
July 30, 2016 at 2:52 pm
What about The Who Sell Out?
Strven
July 30, 2016 at 2:59 pm
The illusion is my top band of the 60s. They never made it big but are great
Keith Jordan
September 15, 2016 at 12:30 am
I saw The Illusion in concert, promoting their third and last album. They were so great, I immediately bought all three albums. They also made a top-40 single. It’s good to see them remembered.
Mike Heyd
October 11, 2016 at 2:53 pm
I didn’t know anyone else remembered them. Cool band!
Joe
July 30, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Country Joe & the fish electric music for the mind and body is greatest psych album ever
bill
July 30, 2016 at 10:21 pm
preferred ‘fixin to die’
Ng
July 30, 2016 at 3:16 pm
Steve Hillage “Live Herald” and all his other albums.
Psychedelicpiper
July 30, 2016 at 3:16 pm
“Currents” is not a psychedelic rock album. It has some elements, but Tame Impala has essentially put the genre behind him with that album. “Innerspeaker” would have been the obvious choice for most fans of the genre.
Robert
July 30, 2016 at 3:41 pm
I certainly would rate “Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” by Spirit somewhere in the top 25 psychedelic albums of all time as well….
Randy Dethrow
July 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm
You know, when I think of ‘psychedelic’ I think of music so far out it scrambles your brain, and almost nothing on this list is all that weird or trippy. Leaving out Hawkwind – the originators of ‘space rock’ is just plain wrong. And if you’re going to stick with the 60s and 70s, leaving out “The Parable of Arable Land” by Red Krayola is unforgivable. You want trippy? “California” by Mr. Bungle. “Last Rights” by Skinny Puppy. “Duck Stab” by the Residents. “Psychic Powerless: Another Man’s Sac” by the Butthole Surfers. “The Crushed Velvet Apocalypse” by the Legendary Pink Dots. “The Sylvie and Babs Hi Fi” by Nurse with Wound. “First Grand Constitution and Bylaws” by Secret Chiefs 3, “25,000 Feet Per Second” by Farflung, and a whole host of other bands who were certainly weirder and lend themselves to mind expansion more than anything on this list.
gijsio
July 31, 2016 at 3:04 am
you are a bit insane in the membrane
dan
August 1, 2016 at 1:30 am
yeah but he held it together and got the message through. 🙂
stuart
August 16, 2016 at 9:50 pm
a great anthology of psychodelia from randy, impressed….i was arround for the origional ,but perhaps i should brush up on more recent stuff.,,, the gods and the zombies had a bit of the feel too!!…i feel that the recording gear bands used also had a big influence on the sound ,phasing being the most obvious. i still think hole in my shoe by traffic fills the role of best “pop” psychodelic music followed by the worst,..status qou, pictures of matchstic men!!!.
bad psychodelic music is like the awfull “reggae” atempted by big rock stars/ bands,embarrasing…
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 3:37 pm
Stuart,Hole In My Shoe is no.1
ERIC M
November 3, 2016 at 1:22 am
Get a haircut and get a real job!
Slick
February 6, 2019 at 5:19 pm
When I think Psychedelic I think fuzztone and wa wa peddles, music that can’t be listened to without being mellow or mind altered. Many of these were unique and iconic for the time, but psychedelic, nah. Tommy James and the Shondells tried to do this with Crimson and Clover.
Jeff Brown
July 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention “”Freak Out”!
Jefferson Airplane “After Bathing at Baxter’s”
Pink Floyd “Meddle”
You may have to expand it to 30! Jeff
Mark Pikus
July 30, 2016 at 6:16 pm
Frank Zappas FREAK OUT was DOO WHOP his favorite music.
Mike
August 3, 2016 at 11:15 pm
I agree with Meddle, especially Echoes, plus maybe Obscured by Clouds
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 1:20 pm
100% Mike
Shakashuri
July 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm
No Gong? Tsk Tsk….You is easily the greatest space rock album of all time. Also, I dunno if I’d call Captain Beefheart psychedelic. Weird, experimental, avant-garde for sure, but probably not psychedelic. Drop the Nirvana album, add You by Gong, and I’d be okay with the list. As it stands though, like most top lists, you’ve favored popular bands over bands that are far more psychedelic but lesser known.
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 1:23 pm
You is one of the best ever
Nick Siegel
July 30, 2016 at 3:46 pm
No Kansas or Styx 🙂
Nick Watt
August 1, 2016 at 2:13 pm
Kansas and Styx were pretty 2nd rate prog rock bands, neither band has anything to do with psychedelia. This isn’t a game of let’s list my favourite bands from the 60s and 70s FFS.
Galad Elflandsson
July 30, 2016 at 3:56 pm
a pair from Canada
Plastic Cloud (1968)
Bent Wind “Sussex” (1969)
and “A Psychedelic by Phantasia” (1969)
patrice décarie
July 30, 2016 at 3:56 pm
yep, one mentioned the moody blues….days of future pass.
Stuart
July 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm
“Wow” by Moby Grape. And I, too, am a huge Spirit fan.
Cathy Boucher
July 30, 2016 at 4:10 pm
The first two albums of Ultimate Spinach, The group Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Mad River, The Fraternity of Man, of Course Quicksilver Messenger Service.
From Germany Ash Ra Temple with Manuel Gottsching. Also, from England, Quintessence.
There are quite a lot not mentioned!
javadava
July 31, 2016 at 3:19 am
I was looking for Ultimate Spinach my psychedelic brother. They weren’t the best but they coulld weave a good trip.
javadava
July 31, 2016 at 3:19 am
I was looking for Ultimate Spinach my psychedelic brother. They weren’t the best but they coulld weave a good trip.
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Love Ashra and Manuel Gottscing
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Gottsching not Gottscing.Sorry
Joe Duke
July 30, 2016 at 4:15 pm
Maggot Brain – Funkadelic, Double Bummer – Bongwater, Inner Visions – Stevie Wonder, Bitches Brew – Miles Davis, In the Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson. Also, Sauceful of Secrets or Atom Heart Mother BBC would be better choices for Pink Floyd. And Syd Barrett – The Madcap Laughs really should be included.
deborah
September 17, 2020 at 5:07 am
indeed, thank You, Syd Barrett Pink Floyd, also Gong, and Kaleidoscope side trips and a beacon from mars, definitely Jerry Garcia & the Grateful Dead
Pete Lyall
July 30, 2016 at 4:29 pm
How come no Gong or Steve Hillage, masters of the genre.
Eduardo
July 31, 2016 at 4:42 am
I fully agree. Unforgivable mistake!
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 2:07 pm
And our beloved Gilli Smyth-Space Whisperer
Chromex
July 30, 2016 at 4:39 pm
AT least in rock you can’t get any more psychedelic then
1. Angel’s Egg- Gong
2. Fish Rising- Steve Hillage
but also , even more psychedelic than anything on the above list:
1. Sun Ra It’s After The End of the World
2. John Coltrane Ascension
3/ Alan Silva and the Celestrial Communications Orchestra- Seasons
4. K. Stockhausen Sternklang
5. Tetsu Inoue- Inland
Try listening while under the influence
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Gong,Steve Hillage,Sun Ra and Daevid Allen&Euterpe 100%
Chris Clarence Sønderup
July 30, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Your total forgot: Zodiac, The Cosmic Sound from 1967.
scott weber
July 30, 2016 at 4:58 pm
I would include Moody Blues, “Days of Future Passed” and (knowing you already included a Floyd album), “Meddle”.
Keith
July 30, 2016 at 4:59 pm
How ‘Tame Impala – Currents’ made this list is just bizarre. That is, by far, their most pop album to date. There is little (if anything) psychedelic about any track on it.
52dedhed
July 30, 2016 at 5:12 pm
What about The Moody Blues “In Search of the Lost Chord”, Grace Slick and the Great Society (“White Rabbit” before Jefferson Airplane), The Blues Magoos “Psychedelic Lollipop”, OMG, just too many to mention. As with ALL “Top” lists they are the opinions of the list-maker.
Phish
July 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm
The United states of america
John of Asheville
July 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm
One album wonder Touch. Robin Trower, Bridge of Sighs.
Angelo Furlan
July 30, 2016 at 5:48 pm
How about the Electric Prunes? Their second album, “Underground,” is awash with tremolo and reverb and more fuzz than you can shake an amp with.
David
July 30, 2016 at 5:52 pm
Birds fifth dimension
Kendon
July 30, 2016 at 6:33 pm
Vanilla Fudge, HP Lovecraft
David Steele
July 30, 2016 at 6:54 pm
“It’s A Beautiful Day” should rate a mention. And possibly George Harrison’s “Wonderwall Music.”
Amy Kadori
July 30, 2016 at 6:55 pm
Jefferson Airplane’s Crown of Creation WAS meant to be played on an acid trip. It took you on a space ship to another planet and at one point had fabulous sound effects that made your head explode. Back in the day it was a MUST when I altered my consciousness.
Fred
July 30, 2016 at 7:02 pm
“Grape Jam,” Moby Grape ought not to be missed.
Nick Garrie
July 30, 2016 at 7:09 pm
The Nightmare Of JB Stanislas
robin
July 30, 2016 at 7:17 pm
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King
steve emerick
July 30, 2016 at 8:08 pm
vanilla fudge is not on the list?
that epitomized the era!
Huge omission
Rick Perry
September 4, 2016 at 1:47 pm
You Keep Me Hangin’ On
Michael Nelson
December 30, 2018 at 8:30 pm
Season of the Witch , is badass
Graham Syms
July 30, 2016 at 8:20 pm
I’ll just throw in ‘ The Zodiac: Cosmic Sounds ‘
terry
July 30, 2016 at 8:29 pm
No Daevid Allen’s Planet Gong???????
Paulo Dias
July 30, 2016 at 8:42 pm
I think the Blues Magoos’ “Psychedelic Lollipop” should be on the list.
Cliff Merganz
July 30, 2016 at 8:44 pm
I’ve heard all but maybe 4 of those albums and think you have a great list. A list of the greatest Psychedelic Songs would probably be another good list. Summertime, by Big Brother and the Holding Company was voted by Guitar Player Magazine as having the most psychedelic solo of all time a few years ago.
James Russell
July 30, 2016 at 9:01 pm
Not having at least 2 of the first 5 Hawkwind releases here is ridiculous.
S. R.
July 30, 2016 at 9:34 pm
No Sgt. Pepper? No Lothar (Space Hymn)??? No Deep Purple (Shades Of)???? Not a bad start but without these 3, this list is seriously lacking
Thepsych
July 30, 2016 at 9:48 pm
Cool that HP Lovecraft made the list! Very underrated some of the best Psych sounds of the 60s, but should have been their 2nd album!! Beatles you got it right, revolver is my fav as well. Rolling Stones shouldn’t be on that list, I would pick something else, for an exemple some of Spirit’s masterpiece albums. Elevators should have been easter everywhere. Otherwise great list. Alot of these albums I would use on my top 10 list as well.
Wayne Brittain
November 3, 2016 at 8:34 pm
I agree about the Stones album. Probably the worst they ever made.
Grant Hamilton
July 30, 2016 at 9:54 pm
Aladdin by Rotary Connection
Pat tilley
August 4, 2016 at 7:52 am
Glad someone has mentioned rotary connection
Deborah OConnor
July 30, 2016 at 10:20 pm
As a survivor of that era, I’ve been around for all of it. Shocked that you chose Revolver over Sgt. Pepper. It was certainly hinting in that direction but I remember well when Sgt. Pepper came out. It was like an atomic musical explosion that resounded all over the world. Spring 1967 leading into the Summer of Love, Haight Ashbury, all of it. I was 18 that year and it was an exciting and magical time to be young. Make no mistake, Sgt. Pepper was the springboard that freed musicians to try new and bold stuff. I saw the Beatles, the Stones, Country Joe and the Fish, Cream, the Doors, so many of them. Wish I’d seen them all, thanks for the review and the gorgeous psychedelic album covers.
JP Peretti
July 30, 2016 at 10:51 pm
Cheap Thrills by Big Brother And The Holding Company should be on this list.
Robert Lovejoy
July 30, 2016 at 11:04 pm
I agree with most of the comments and would also suggest Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde. The album jacket (a photo of Dylan in a jacket!) was photographed slightly out of focus and looked amazing “under the influence”. The first Creedence album and the first Jethro Tull album were also magnificent. Still, my go to trip music was always QMS, particularly The Fool.
Keith
July 30, 2016 at 11:05 pm
Also very odd that nothing by The Black Angels made this list. They are far more psychedelic than Tame Impala. ?
Dan McCrory
July 30, 2016 at 11:38 pm
How about Yes? Listened to all their albums back to back one night on acid. Believe me, they fit the bill!
Chris Paulsen
July 30, 2016 at 11:42 pm
Santana’s Abraxas and/or Caravansarai should’ve been picked as among the foremost psychedelic albums. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, The Mothers of Invention’s Absolutely Free and Herbie Hancock’s Thrust would’ve among my choices too.
Mark S
July 31, 2016 at 1:50 am
Absolutely Free?
“Hey, punk, where you goin’ with that flower in your hand?
I’m goin’ up to Frisco to join a psychedelic band.” — Frank Zappa
And earlier that same record,
“Flower Power Sucks.”
DANIEL HARMON
July 30, 2016 at 11:57 pm
WHAT ABOUT THE ELECTRIC PRUNES , THE STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK OR THE LEMON PIPERS
Gary Griffith
August 6, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Bingo!!! These are true to the form of psychedelic music. Most of the albums listed have nothing to do with the music art form of psychedelia! I agree also with Spirit, King Crimson, the Moody Blues (hello!!!!), and let’s see, the Beatles? What about Magical Mystery Tour!? What about Tangerine Dream? It’s about the music!!!!
Chris
July 31, 2016 at 12:28 am
Baxters by the Airplane is much more trippy than Pillow. Crown of Creation as well.
Great Society with Grace Slick shouldve been on the list along with Sunfighter and Baron Von Tollbooth & The Chrome Nun.
Blows Against The Empire and not to forget Grace Slicks first solo album Manhole as well.
Your whole top twenty could havr been filled with Jefferson Airplane and its off shoots!
Parrellelograms by Linda Perhacs is another one that shouldve made it 🙂
Alan
May 25, 2020 at 9:15 pm
Finally, a mention of Blows Against the Empire! Officially, they were Jefferson Starship at the time, but that album gets my vote for best psychedelic trip — I don’t even need drugs for it! Can’t believe Baxter’s was listed instead.
Blair Bartholomew
July 31, 2016 at 1:01 am
Children of the Future – Steve Miller Band
Begin -The Millennium
Acrid
July 31, 2016 at 1:15 am
Though I’d been listening to many of these by 69, it was Jeff Beck’s Truth & Dr. John’s The Night Tripper that open the door to psychedelic music for me.
Mark S
July 31, 2016 at 1:46 am
I think you should have put “We’re Only in it for the Money” (the greatest anti-psychedelic album of all time… which makes your inclusion of Trout Mask Replica even more wrong-headed) on this list so that some unsuspecting soul would have streamed it immediately after listening to Iron Butterfly and had an aneurysm. Oh, an why Traffic rather than Mr. Fantasy? Had you just not heard it? I swear you picked some of these after doing nothing more than Googling their cover images.
Grant McIntosh
July 31, 2016 at 1:52 am
United States of America’s eponymous album…..Garden of Earthly Delights, Coming Down, Love Song For The Dead Che, Cloud Song etc. Wonderful stuff.
Grant McIntosh
July 31, 2016 at 2:14 am
West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band – A Child’s Guide to Good and Evil.
Tom Mott
July 31, 2016 at 2:27 am
For additional consideration:
Funkadelic – Funkadelic
Sly & the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Zombies – Odeyssey and Oracle
Small Faces – Ogdens Nut Gone Flake
Can – Tago Mago
WesC
July 31, 2016 at 3:00 am
Why does Trout Mask Replica make these lists? Just because an album is weird and was made in the 60s doesn’t make it psychadelic. Captain Beefheart only did acid one time, and he wasn’t impressed. He was just a naturally strange dude.
gijsio
July 31, 2016 at 3:08 am
okay, but “safe as milk” is a must
WesC
July 31, 2016 at 5:02 am
I wouldn’t call that album psychadelic either.
gijsio
July 31, 2016 at 3:06 am
spirit clear spirit…wow
Robert Rendch
July 31, 2016 at 3:19 am
I must point out Aorta’s first album. Pretty overlooked.
motomech
July 31, 2016 at 3:20 am
A main criteria should be the “effect on culture” and on the basis of that the Moody Blues and The Vanilla Fudge should have been included.
Fun “also-rans” would be the two Captains, Captain Beyond’s Dancing Madly Backwards and Randy California’s studio album, Kaptain Kopter and the (Fabulous) Twirly Birds.
ArtJ
July 31, 2016 at 3:41 am
If BubblePuppy was on the list, then Fever Tree should be on it. Imitation Situation and San Fransisco Girls were top psycadelic songs.
Max Rosan
July 31, 2016 at 4:00 am
You’ve all been played like fools. At the end of the album list, please read: “uDiscover is a brand new way to find out more about music from Universal”. Yes, some of the LPs shown were psychedelic back in those days. But as others have commented, some of the albums mentioned were not truly psychedelic, while other truly psychedelic albums (though not necessarily Universal Inc. productions) didn’t make it on this list. Dear whoever created this “psychedelic” list of albums: what was your point? Does Universal claim to own the corner market of psychedelia? There were *so* many cottage label records in the 1960s of truly psychedelic music, and you have left them out. For shame.
Joe Wethington
July 31, 2016 at 4:27 am
Sgt. Pepper, Are You Experienced…
Smysizzle
August 1, 2016 at 5:21 am
Thank you!
Eduardo
July 31, 2016 at 4:38 am
GONG can’t be out of this selection. It’s a fake.
GC
July 31, 2016 at 4:59 am
Traffic certainly but Mr Fantasy would be my choice.
Tom
April 15, 2020 at 8:48 pm
Low spark of high heeled boys
jim
July 31, 2016 at 5:53 am
Fever Tree and Captain Beyond should have been included. I agree, Capt. Beef Heart should have been left out. No inclusion of any Zappa is really strange. I’ve experienced all three while tripping and can attest to their ability to raise the enjoyment factor. Pink Floyd’s Meddle lp is most enjoyable while in an altered state. Now you need to do part two of this list.
jim "Earl" Munroe
July 31, 2016 at 6:02 am
R U serious? Hendrix 1st ALBUM w/ PURPLE HAZE, ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? THE WIND CRIES MARY, and HEY JOE and more. It was a revoluntionary LP. It was a Psychdelic start to what came after. Come on, get it RIGHT!!!
barry Selcovitz
July 31, 2016 at 6:35 am
Kaleidoscope (Mexican psychedelic band … not the U.S, band) / Morgen (killer fuzz psych ) / High Tide – Sea Shanties
phil
July 31, 2016 at 8:47 am
Dukes of Stratosphere’s 25 O’clock should be in there + Beefheart’s Strictly Personal rather than Trout.
Kev Stacey
July 31, 2016 at 8:53 am
Stonefield are the perfect carriers of the psychedelic torch into the 21st century, and their latest album “As Above, So Below” would be a perfect addition to this list, ditto their debut album “Stonefield”. If you’re not familiar with their work, go to their YouTube channel Stonefieldband, and their music is available on iTunes, and keep an eye out for their live shows.
Dave
July 31, 2016 at 11:39 am
Two missing that spring to mind straight away are Jimi’s “Are You Experienced” & The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper” (although I think “Revolver” is better than Pepper).
Seokho
July 31, 2016 at 11:50 am
How about any of Spacemen 3.?
One of the best neo psych band ever.!
Gerry Ross
July 31, 2016 at 12:05 pm
It’s hard to argue with this list, although I would have chosen Traffic’s MR. FANTASY over their second one (which is still a great ‘un, and my favorite album of theirs-it’s just not nearly as lysergic). Procol Harum’s debut and The Dukes Of Stratosphere’s 25 O’CLOCK would have been prime choices, too.
Roberto Medeiros
July 31, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Gentle Giant´s “Acquiring the Taste” is the most psychedelic album the bandmade. I think it would fit well. Best regards !
DOROTHY ANNE WILSON
July 31, 2016 at 12:44 pm
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: every song on the entire album!!!
Deano
August 2, 2016 at 6:32 pm
At last someone with taste!
Albert
July 31, 2016 at 2:51 pm
innerspeaker
SES ZOO
July 31, 2016 at 2:57 pm
A good list , ,but like every one else we had our favorite in Pearls Before Swine albums ….. Will say being in my 60s now and still listening to most of these today , Maybe have to sit back and have a psychedelic Sunday on this 31st of July ,,
Ed Johnson
July 31, 2016 at 3:08 pm
Amboy Dukes, Kalidascope, Beacon from Mars, Bongwater, Mourning Reign, Shadows of Knight, A giant crab comes forth, Bangor’s Flying Circus, Smooth Ball , Chambers Brothers time has come today, Balloon Farm, Lollipop Shoppe, Love DaCapo, Lyres, The E types Live, Gay Bikers on Acid, and my favourite Electric Lady land .
Alexander
July 31, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Where is the White Noise album An Electric Storm, an absolute must and cult album?
rockin robert
July 31, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Any CD by Ozric Tentacles
Jule
July 31, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Iron Butterfly “Metamorphosis”
Barry Horton
July 31, 2016 at 3:52 pm
How could you forget The Blues Magoos Electric Comic Book?
Jule
July 31, 2016 at 3:54 pm
What about Jethro Tull? esp. “Aqualung” was a “must be played”
Barry Horton
July 31, 2016 at 4:00 pm
What about the Blues Magoos “Electriic Comiic Book””
Otto
July 31, 2016 at 6:20 pm
I agree with quite a few of the previous comments, having started to buy records in 1961, at age 7, and eventually amassing a collection of over 10,000 individual pieces. My collection ranges from the earliest Motown singles to current blu-ray releases, such as the recent XTC 5.1 remasters by Steve Wilson. Right off the top of my head, I would’ve included Todd Rundgren’s “A Wizard, A True Star”, released in March of 1973. That album was literally a trip, conceived by Rundgren after dropping acid! Unfortunately, it was so long, at over 55 minutes, that the sound quality suffered due to the limitations of a vinyl LP. Thankfully, a newly-remastered CD was released in December of 2014 with superior sound.
Charlie D
July 31, 2016 at 7:08 pm
I think The Gun deserves an honorable mention. Also Steve Margoulis’ :Tonto’s ……(can’t remember the full name – had it on 8-track)
tom
August 1, 2016 at 10:47 pm
tontos expanding headband !
James J Patterson
July 31, 2016 at 7:15 pm
How about the guy who invented Flower Power? Donovan’s Sunshine Superman, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Gift From A Flower To A Garden, Cosmic Wheels, Open Road all more than qualify. Cheers!
Mike R Godwin
July 31, 2016 at 10:00 pm
Agreed: The most psychedelic Donovan album is Sunshine Superman, not Gift – Hurdy Gurdy Man and Mellow Yellow are excellent too.
If you include Country Joe and the Fish, there is no excuse for not including East West by the Butterfield Blues Band as Eastern Jam is more or less a continuation of the instrumental East West
Kevin Ayers and the Whole World’s Shooting At The Moon
Syd Barrett’s The Madcap Laughs
Incredible String Band ‘5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion’
Tomorrow (Keith West, Steve Howe, Junior and Twink) were the best live psychedelic band I ever saw, closely followed by Blossom Toes.
Da Capo is more psychedelic than Forever Changes, though it is a close thing.
dan
August 1, 2016 at 1:44 am
damn i thought id get through the whole list and no donovan of course he should be there. since you mentioned all those ill say there is a mountain and lelena and atlantis i still love them so much. oh also csn or csny for their inclusion and spirit of them, ex broken arrow by young. 🙂 and since i believe you put nirvana you gotta say smashing pumpkins. did anyone say santana? but thanks so much for this list OH I ALMOST FORGOT! BEACH BOYS PET SOUNDS YOU CAN GO SEE IT HES ON TOUR WITH IT NOW BRIAN WILSON 50TH ANNIVERSARY!!! 🙂 AND THE FONT IS TRIP!!! 🙂
Brody
July 31, 2016 at 7:41 pm
You got Country Joe in there. To me, that’s a major plus.
Though a list without The Byrds’ Fifth Dimension has a pretty huge hole in it.
David Nash
July 31, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Any early Tangerine Dream.
Tere
July 31, 2016 at 8:47 pm
King Crimson. In the Court of the Crimson King
Tyler
July 31, 2016 at 9:08 pm
What about yoshimi battles the pink robots? Don’t really know what Ty Segall is doing on here
Wilhelm Hagberg
July 31, 2016 at 9:16 pm
A descent list containing most of the psychedelic highlights. I do miss the Incredible String Band, Vanilla Fudge, Tomorrow and United States of America however. Blue Cheer, the Doors and Traffic are certainly drug inspired but don’t really have a psychedelic approach in their music IMHO. Same goes for Capt. Beefheart who has his own brand of insanity that isn’t really psychedelic.
paul carpanini
July 31, 2016 at 11:02 pm
For starters, Safe as Milk by Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, and Freak Out and Were Only in it For the Money, by The Mothers of Invention. The United States of America’s self titled debut album. And how about the Ultimate Spinach’s 1st album also self titled and their 2nd album Behold and See. And finally the Amboy Dukes Journey to the Center of Your Mind! All of these albums would be at the top of my list for all time best psych albums hands down.
Jerry Nielsen
August 1, 2016 at 2:12 am
George Harrison “Wonderwall Music”
Scott Nelson
October 31, 2016 at 8:00 pm
Wonderwall and Electronic Sounds by Harrison. I also wonder if anyone remembers SRC “Milestones” very psychedelic!
fabian
August 1, 2016 at 2:57 am
what about sargent pepper´s???…..
Robert
August 1, 2016 at 3:14 am
I used to listen to Tangerine Dream when in need psychedelic enjoyment.
Ric
August 1, 2016 at 6:27 am
How about The Bevis Frond?
Triptych, New River Head or Son of Walter in particular.
How come my comments never get posted?
Geeb
August 1, 2016 at 8:38 am
Innerspeaker is the best Tame Impala album
dave
August 1, 2016 at 11:24 am
music in a dolls house….;. FAMILY
DeWitt T Perkins
August 1, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Noticed not one mention of a wonderful album from 1968, Brightest Selection Ogden’s Special Nut Gone Celebrated Flake Tobacco by The Small Faces. Sad
bill
August 1, 2016 at 1:50 pm
25 albums is clearly inadequate. Try top 100 psych albums. Also perhaps state a darte cutoff? “Top 100 psych lps of the 60s and 70s”? If you let it go up till the present you’d need a top 500. Also state clearly the ‘one album per group’ rule which you seem to be followng but which many commenters dont seem to get. It should go without saying that any group with one album on the list probably did other psych lps too.
Neal
August 1, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Miles Davis, “Bitches Brew”
Nick Watt
August 1, 2016 at 3:05 pm
My vote would be the two albums by the British Kaleidoscope ‘Tangerine Dream’ and ‘Faintly Blowing’ (both on Fontana). Also Odyssey and Oracle by the Zombies is a must. The Lame Impala album you chose is the least psychedelic thing they’ve ever done. You also missed out the Electric Prunes and all the other bands that appeared on Lenny Kaye’s excellent Nuggets album. Quite what King Crimson, Kansas, Styx, Todd Rundgren, Lyndsey Buckingham, The Cure,Fleetwood Mac, Mr Bungle or Skinny Puppy have to do with psychedelia I’ll never know, it seems some people will do anything to plug their favourite bands 😉
P.S. Amazed that you left of Julian Cope off the list, especially as you own a big chunk of his catalogue!!!
Jerry Nielsen
August 1, 2016 at 4:33 pm
It would be fun to see a vote. First, define “60’s mot Psychedelic album”. Artwork, content, both? Impact on our society??
Peter Snaith
August 2, 2016 at 3:39 pm
The Hook will grab you .. ” The Hook ” UNI label..
Glenn Rehse
August 2, 2016 at 4:12 pm
What about Plasticland or Rain Parade? The Dukes of Stratosphere? All better than The Fraternal Order.
Bill McGuire
August 2, 2016 at 4:21 pm
Captain Beyond had an album, “Sufficiently Breathless” that might be included.
Uriah Heep, maybe.
Electric Prunes, probably.
Fever Tree, definitely.
Allan Parsons, I Robot, maybe. Tales of Mystery and Imagination, probably. Of course, you will likely call Parsons stuff something else.
Spirit, yes.
Donovan, yes.
Tough making lists, but it certainly makes us think.
Tom Pappas
August 2, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Robin Trower…Bridge of Sighs
Captain Beyond…Captain Beyond and Sufficiently Breathless
Kevin
August 2, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Where’s the Picchio dal Pozzo?? The Rhinoceros? The Nektar? The Caravan?
Thomas Holzborn
August 2, 2016 at 5:49 pm
I miss The Moody blues album In Search Of The Lost Chord or Days Of Future Passed!!!!!
John Knewitz
August 2, 2016 at 6:06 pm
All great selections and many more commented on, some of which I’ve never heard, or, in some cases, heard of (so much music, so little time!). I must say though, being a child of the 50’s and 60’s, in my mind Yellow Submarine really opened the door to the genre . . .
Mitch
August 2, 2016 at 6:12 pm
ODESSEY AND F-ING ORACLE?
OS MUTANTES??
Deano
August 2, 2016 at 6:38 pm
I can’t believe that The United States of America by the USA isn’t on there. It is possibly THE most psychedelic album of all time,…………………Why omit?????
bill
April 2, 2020 at 11:09 pm
Joe Byrd and the Field Hippies-American Metaphysical Circus
Dave
August 2, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus by Spirit.
kevin
August 2, 2016 at 8:00 pm
You got that right 12 Dreams of Dr Sardonicus should be in the top 10!
Troy Neu
August 2, 2016 at 7:48 pm
What about Voyage 34 by Porcupine Tree??
Kevin
August 2, 2016 at 7:57 pm
What about Spirit 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardoicus?
Rob Perry
October 7, 2017 at 1:13 am
Yes what about Spirit’s 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus?
Kim Dione
August 2, 2016 at 8:31 pm
I am in total agreement with those who feel both the Moody Blues and Spirit should have been included in the list…especially the Moody Blues, as they were always the albums of choice to listen to while doing acid. Their music truly enhanced the hallucinations, defining the effect of psychedelic music.
kenmat
August 2, 2016 at 8:32 pm
Please add The Grays! One album only. Beats the hell out of most of the psychedelic bands I’ve heard. Here’s a teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE-znePV0UQ
Theresa
August 2, 2016 at 8:38 pm
What about Deep Purple and Uriah Heat.
Erland Eikestad
August 5, 2016 at 7:47 am
Those were Progressive/Hard Rock Bands, and it’s Uriah HEEP, dear (After a character in Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield”). They had nothing to do with the Psychedelic era whatsoever. The bands the members played in prior to D.P. and U.H. might have been Psychedelic of some sorts, though.
stuart royle
August 16, 2016 at 9:57 pm
yes erland,uria heep were an early “heavy rock”band as oppose to electric blues but were born out nof the gods who had psychedelic roots.
Mick
August 2, 2016 at 8:49 pm
Have you ever heard about “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”? It’s considered the most important album of psychedelic era and of 1967 Summer of Love. It’s a record by The Beatles and it’s considered one of the most important in rock and pop history.
Erland Eikestad
August 5, 2016 at 8:01 am
Well; It’s been an ongoing and probably never ending discussion whether
“Revolver” or “Sgt.Pepper…” is their top (Psychedelic) Album achievement.
Revolver’s got “Yellow Submarine” which because of the Animated Movie, sort of started the Psychedelic Design and took Psychedelia into the Mainstream.
Personally, I’d say “Sgt.Pepper”.
However, if one stop and thinks for one second;
“Magical Mystery Tour” might tip both from the Psychedelic Peak #1.
It’s got “I Am The Walrus”, and “Flying”, “The Fool On The Hill”, and the list goes on.
And The MOVIE’s probably the most Psychedelic journey ever done.
But of course, This list’s all about ALBUMS.
Richard Wagner
August 2, 2016 at 9:00 pm
What about a one-shot album by a group called “The United States of America”?
Dirk Schnork
August 2, 2016 at 9:14 pm
What about the Shaggs “Philosophy Of The World”? You will think you are on acid while listening to it.
Ridiculous Dream Recordings
August 2, 2016 at 9:36 pm
Great list. Some very solid psychedelia in music. Of course Umma Gumma by Pink Floyd is the ultimate psychedelic Album.
Pasquale
August 2, 2016 at 10:04 pm
Tame impala? ?????? Ma per favore…
Tom Bachey
August 2, 2016 at 10:06 pm
The Number One, and I only saw one post that shod it, is Ogden’s Nutgone Celebrated Flake Tobacco by The Small Faces. Second place is a tie between several bands, and I don’t think anyone mentioned T. Rex Electric Warrior, either. Deep Purple – Fireball!! The Doors – When the Music’s Over! There is a lot of good music from that era, and I listen to SiriusXM and they play a lot of it.
ade
August 2, 2016 at 10:29 pm
how about ‘Hapshash and the Coloured Coat’ from 1968? Freakiest thing i ever heard…..
Patrick Longworth
August 2, 2016 at 10:42 pm
Cream’s album is my favourite of the ones on here that I have heard, I am not that keen on this genre of rock etc. One band that had similar music, yet not on the list, is The Ides of March from Chicago. Ogre, Ballad of Eleanor Rigby, Superman and other songs are just as creative and unusual as the psychedelic music represented above
Garrett Jennings
August 2, 2016 at 11:17 pm
For me The Who’s “Tommy” album is the best psychedelic rock album
Richard
August 2, 2016 at 11:27 pm
Substitute ‘Safe As Milk’ for ‘Trout Mask Replica’ – definitely considered as psychedelic as Floyd’s Piper when it was released. Very popular with fans of psychedelia at the time.
Omitting Incredible String Band baffles me. ‘Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter’ was definitely considered as having a strong psychedelic vibe at the time and was far more popular with those fans than ‘folkies’ who disowned it.
Madison
August 3, 2016 at 12:41 am
No one mentioned TOUCH !!!
Herbert heath
August 3, 2016 at 1:15 am
Mahogany Rush. Album-Strange Universe??
misconduckt
August 3, 2016 at 3:54 am
you could have left out the Stones…ick…but not Liquid Sound Company or FLower Travelin Band
Jay
August 3, 2016 at 6:15 am
Lots of good suggestions in the comments. The first 3 GONG albums and Syd Barrett’s “The Madcap Laughs” are10x more psychedelic than half of the original list!
John-Christopher Ward
August 3, 2016 at 6:22 am
Amon Düül ll
Muswell
August 3, 2016 at 8:26 am
Keith Wests Tomorrow deserve a place on any best of psych list.
Beresford du-Cille
August 3, 2016 at 1:10 pm
What about “We are Ever So Clean” and “If Only for a Moment” both by Blossom Toes? Then there is ‘Music in a Doll’s House’ by Family? Terrific albums and typically psychedelic.
steve
August 3, 2016 at 1:42 pm
The American Metaphysical Circus – Joe Byrd and the Field Hippies
henry
August 3, 2016 at 2:36 pm
You can take Nirvana off your list. Nothing they ever did was remotely psychedelic. You should have included The American Metaphysical Circus by Joe Byrd and The Field Hippies.
Frank Moore
October 7, 2017 at 1:01 am
The original British Nirvana was certainly psychedelic! Check out the song Rainbow Cgaser.
Malte
August 3, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Good list and good suggenstions here but i miss BRAINTICKET – “Cottonwoodhill” and SPOOKY TOOTH – “Ceremony”: Very trippy…
Wilde
August 5, 2016 at 9:18 am
ah, at last someone mentiones Brainticket, definitely a must on such a list.
Mark
August 3, 2016 at 10:54 pm
No Bubble Puppy here??? Gathering of Promises is easily in the top 10. Without that one, the list lacks relevance.
Mike S
August 3, 2016 at 11:34 pm
Agree with Doors, but what about L.A?
Echoes from Meddle, Dark Side?
Zappa – Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Hot Rats?
beatles White Album? – ask Charlie
Cream Disraeli Gears
Caravan to Midnight Trower
Harvest, Goldrush, Walk On -N Young
Colours Eberhard Weber
Ambient albums by Eno
White Noise Electric Storm weird
TomWaits Swordfish Trombones, Mule Variations
Mike S
August 3, 2016 at 11:44 pm
Culpeper’s Orchard Second Sight
George Harrison Living in the Material World
Cat Stevens Buddha & The Chocolate Box
Mike S
August 3, 2016 at 11:56 pm
Elliott Smith XO, Elliott Smith, And/Or
ted
August 4, 2016 at 2:01 am
What, no Procol Harum?
Hippie_true
August 4, 2016 at 2:18 am
Hit or miss of songs from a nobody who never lived in the 60’s. Where is Moby Grape, where is the best psyco hit song that hit the charts, ‘Crimson and Clover’ by Tommy James. Just listen t that stoned… And where is the number one psyco band Pink Floyd? Listen to most of their music wiil make you a believer.
BOBORINI BOBBIDOLL
August 4, 2016 at 8:17 pm
I GREW UP IN THAT ERA……I ALSO COLLECT THIS MUSIC……A FEW GROUPS NOT MENTIONED MUCH….SPOOKY TOOTH, SPIRIT, BLUE CHEER, GRATEFUL DEAD, MOBY GRAPE and A FEW FAVORITES LIKE AIRPLANE , QUICKSILVER AND IRON BUTTERFLY…..AFTER BATHING AT BAXTERS AND AIRPLANE LIVE AT THE FILMORE MY FAVORITES
BOBORINI BOBBIDOLL
August 4, 2016 at 8:41 pm
EVER play BACH BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS backwards ……..a real trip!
Wilde
August 5, 2016 at 9:01 am
You don’t even have to play it backwards…it’s also a trip playing it forward!
Brian Thomas Hickey
August 5, 2016 at 9:05 am
H.P. Lovecraft 2
Chris Elliott
August 5, 2016 at 4:27 pm
Here’s a few for the list, though some of it might be concept or prog. rock. Regardless here’s a few titles to think about : King Crimson – In The Court Of Crimson King, Radiohead – Ok Computer, The Police – Synchronicity, Rush – 2112, Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?, I Mother Earth – Scenery And Fish, Pink Floyd – Ummagumma (& just about everything they released before Dark Side Of The Moon)
Chris Elliott
August 5, 2016 at 5:15 pm
And so not to draw too much critique Everything Pink Ployd released could just about fit, just think the earlier ones are more trippy. Also perhaps David Bowie – Space Oddity, Alice Cooper – Welcome To My Nightmare.
Mike S
August 5, 2016 at 9:28 pm
from all our comments, it shows how hard it is to define what pschedelic music is, and where is the boundary with progressive and mellow music, as is the problem with all genres in whatever art form. Is it music that sounds good when people are on drugs or is it music that supposedly emulates the effect of listening to music whilst on drugs? or (as in the case of many Beatles compositions) is it music that was composed by musicians as a result of their drug experiences? Mostly it seems that it’s just music that was trendy/cool with hippies in the 60’s i.e fashionable of that era.
Tal H
August 5, 2016 at 11:18 pm
Sweet Smoke “Just a poke”
Matt Redman
August 6, 2016 at 2:57 am
Tangerine Dream
Larry
August 6, 2016 at 4:05 am
King Crimson – Court of the Crimson King
Santana – Abraxas
Pepper
Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells
Land of Point – Harry Nilsson
Beach Boys – Endless Summer
Jimi – Are You Experienced?
Nanker Phelge
August 6, 2016 at 11:20 am
Vanilla Fudge
Kingston Wall
Nadorpa
August 6, 2016 at 6:01 pm
Green. STEVE HILLAGE.
Dukes of Stratosphear (both albums)
Post-modern but pretty damn good! Also
A Wizard, a True Star by T. Rundgren.
William McGinn
August 7, 2016 at 5:58 am
I looked pretty hard and not a mention of Ten Years After and one of their great psychedelic tunes ‘50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain’..
William McGinn
August 7, 2016 at 6:14 am
Ten Years After’s Cricklewood Green with ‘50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain’..
Bjorn
August 8, 2016 at 8:27 am
I miss Moody Blues. In Search of the Lost Chord and To Our Chidren’s Children’s Children are surely as psychedelic as it gets.
James
August 8, 2016 at 10:03 am
Wings of the Delerious Demon by Ilhan Mimaroglu
Nick Hales
August 8, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Always loved the Live Dead album from the Grateful Dead with ‘The Eleven’ and ‘St Stephen’. Also extremely obscure Ramases album sticks in my mind with Spire of St George’s Stockport taking off as a rocket on the cover, not the best but exceptional for unknowns..
Mat
August 9, 2016 at 9:47 am
The Music Machine – (Turn On), 13th Floor Elevators – Easter Everywhere, The Chocolate Watchband – No Way Out or The Inner Mystique & Red Crayola – Parable of Arable Land.
Vik
August 11, 2016 at 9:15 am
Grand Funk’s ‘Survival’ ..
Byron
August 16, 2016 at 8:27 pm
Some additions:
The Small Faces Ogdens Nut Gone Flake
Ultimate Spiniach Behold & See
Bubble Puppy A Gathering Of Promises
Buffalo Springfield Again
Janus Gravedigger
Paul
August 17, 2016 at 12:25 am
yes that would be one of my first
alexandros
August 16, 2016 at 8:32 pm
CHOCOLATE WATCH BAND,CA QUINTET,BLUES MAGOOS,BEACON STREET UNION,long list
Lee Hartopp
August 16, 2016 at 8:47 pm
Tago Mago Can ???????
Anderson Brown
August 16, 2016 at 8:55 pm
I love Axis: Bold As Love, but strictly speaking I think both Are you Experienced? and Electric Ladyland are more “psychedelic.”
Matt Krohn
August 16, 2016 at 9:49 pm
The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus by Spirit!
John Ceragioli
August 16, 2016 at 10:15 pm
What about Vangelis, It’s a Beautiful Day, Mike Oldfield or King Crimson?
Tim Smith
August 16, 2016 at 11:03 pm
Being a pom from that era obviously greatly influenced by the home grown scene as our access to the great US music scene was limited to listening to John Peel on tinny transistor radios. One I would add is from 67 Art ” Supernatural Fairy Tale” they morphed into Spooky Tooth who are always worth a mention
RYNO21A
August 17, 2016 at 5:52 am
This list is lame. No Vanilla Fudge, Electric Prunes, Seeds, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, or Amboy Dukes? Vanilla Fudge should definitely be on the list.
Caio Rocha
August 17, 2016 at 5:54 am
As a lot of people have mentioned, Odessey & Oracle is probably the most striking absence. I agree Caravan is missing too, but I’d pick their self-titled debut, since they only got more progressive/pop on further albums. Not sure about Revolver… if you want a Beatles one, I’d have to agree with this other commenting person that Magic Mystery Tour is their most psychedelic, even if it’s not as innovative. But then I’m not sure if the Beatles should be there at all. The Byrds aren’t, so historical importance is clearly not the point for the list. That said, neither Hendrix nor Cream nor the Doors nor Aphrodite’s Child were ever thaaat psychedelic. The Stones were, that one time, but I’m not sure if they stand side by side with all those naturals. Also, Happy Trails, Live/Dead and Easter Everywhere are trippier than QSM, Anthem of the Sun and (believe it or not) Psychedelic Sounds. The British Nirvana is not good enough. July and H.P. Lovecraft were awesome picks, though. Nice to remember the first Soft Machine and Traffic albums too, since they tend to be best remembered by their later stuff on other genres. And, of course, Electric Music for the Mind and Body, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Vincebus Eruptum, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Forever Changes and Surrealistic Pillow are all rightful psych classics. I’d add Moby Grape, Cheap Thrills and Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake just as easily, though. From the less obvious parts of the world, I’d suggest Brazil’s Os Mutantes (1968 self-titled) and Paêbirú (1975, by Zé Ramalho & Lula Côrtes), Argentina’s Almendra (1969 self-titled), Germany’s Neu! (1972 self-titled), Turkey’s Elektronik Türküler (1974, by Erkin Koray) and, also counting for more recent stuff, Sweden’s Commune (2014, by Goat), since Tame Impale wasn’t that good at their prime and had long passed it by the time they made Currents, let’s face it.
Caio Rocha
August 17, 2016 at 6:06 am
Oh, yeah, Vanilla Fudge and The United States of America would have been welcome too. Beefhearts and Pretty Things? Hum.. not so much. And you obviously meant Mr. Fantasy when you mentioned Traffic, right? Their second isn’t psychedelic at all. And why not include some psychedelic soul too? The Temptations’ Cloud Nine and the Chambers Brothers’ Time Has Come Today are really trippy and great, as is Fukadelic’s Maggot Brain.
Caio Rocha
August 17, 2016 at 6:26 am
Now if you wanted to make a list of important pioneers in the genre, it could have Butterfield’s East/West, , the Beatles’ Rubber Soul, Donovan’s Sunshine Superman, the Byrds’ Fifth Dimension, the Yardbirds’ Roger the Engineer, the Elevators’ Psychedelic Sounds, the Seeds’ self-titled, Blues Magoos’ Psychedelic Lolipop, the Mothers’ Freak Out! and even (why not?) The Velvet Underground & Nico. Or maybe Blues Project’s Projections?
Rick
August 17, 2016 at 6:51 am
You forgot about Frank Marino and the Mohagany Rush—Dragonfly
And John Magloughlan —Birds of fire
King Crimson—Court of the Crimson King
Uriah Heep—-Everything They Did
Flash—Both Albums
I’m glad to see you put Blue Cheer in there.
Gary
August 17, 2016 at 2:58 pm
Ozzeric tentacles everything they’ve done to date
griff
August 17, 2016 at 5:38 pm
Monster Magnet ’25…TAB’
Monster Magnet ‘Spine Of God’
Hawkwind ‘Doremi Fasol Latido’
ShaneWreck
August 18, 2016 at 11:55 pm
Kim Fowley – Outrageous
Now this Album is Psyhcadelic from Hell !
Webfellows
August 25, 2016 at 9:41 pm
What about Pearl. Janes Joplin with Big Brother and the holding companies. Whoever made this list was not alive during the Physcidelic era.
Cecil Meulenberg
August 28, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies
Jamie
August 29, 2016 at 11:16 am
Small faces ogdens nut gone flake should be there too its a gem lol
Malcolm
August 30, 2016 at 11:04 pm
All of the above are worthwhile candidates from this era. But this is the mother lode. It is now a 4 CD set that has stuff you would have to look for ages to find. It is:
Nuggets- Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965 – 1968
Enjoy.
Marty
September 17, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Own several of them; heard many of them. Love: “The Less I know the Better”.
Grant
September 18, 2016 at 7:44 pm
Weird list. Some are good choices; many make me scratch my head. Jimi Hendrix Experience for instance: Axis Bold as Love but not Are You Experienced?, it was the start of psychedelic music. How about King Crimson – Epitaph, The Amboy Dukes – Journey to the Center of the Mind, MC5 – Kick Out the Jams, Rotary Connection – Aladdin, Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed, Vanilla Fudge, Uriah Heep, Procul Harem, and on and on.
tenzopolis
September 27, 2016 at 6:54 pm
Seriously. No Zappa. Seriously. Nirvana and Tame Impala but not Zappa. Fking Millennials.
Waywuwei
November 2, 2016 at 4:36 pm
Yes, what about “Freak Out” the first Mothers of Invention Album?
Steve Counsel
October 5, 2016 at 11:43 pm
Small Faces Ogdens Nut Gone Flake a glaring omission
wigwamclan
October 7, 2016 at 5:27 am
Wot, no Flying Teapots!
Stathis
October 7, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Too many comments before I got to see this but need to highlight:
United States of America (mentioned once already) and
Electric Prunes – Mass in F Minor
Daniel Hanlon
October 8, 2016 at 1:49 am
You. Forgot. Pipers at thr gates dawn, saucer full of secrets. By pink floyd. How about. The electric prunes. I had to much to dream last night
Kezzworld
October 8, 2016 at 5:45 pm
A list of 25 top psychedelic albums without a Gong album onboard, is just a list.
Chinbeard
October 8, 2016 at 10:53 pm
Dinosaur Swamp by Flock !
Better than half the stuff in the list.
Captain
October 9, 2016 at 1:07 am
Wheels of Fire – Cream. Many like Disreali Gears because they know Sunshine of Your Love but Wheels of Fire has far better music on it than most of the list above and all sorts of sound effects – if that is what psychedelic music is all about. Deceptive, illusory sounds, odd lyrics and brilliant playing all abound on this 1968 album.
LEON VAN ORMAN
October 9, 2016 at 4:43 am
741 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS ON THE BILLBOARD TOP 100 ALBUMS LIST – HOW CAN U NOT INCLUDE “DARK SIDE OF THE MOON”?
george de munnik
October 9, 2016 at 8:14 am
sweet smoke,,,,,,silly sally and just a poke ??????????
robin jones
October 9, 2016 at 5:04 pm
United States of America, very trippy album
Jim Klassen
October 9, 2016 at 8:55 pm
Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?, Traffic – Dear Mr. Fantasy, (going out on a limb here), Miles Davis – In A Silent Way..
These three albums have many of the psychedelic elements that many of the above mentioned have too..
Jeffrey Bonior
October 9, 2016 at 11:08 pm
What? No Sgt. Pepper. I challenge you.
Mark S.
October 10, 2016 at 12:19 am
Definitely Beatles “Sargent Pepper” & “Magical Mystery Tour” & Donovan “Sunshine Superman” should have made the cut.
Valerie Austyn
October 10, 2016 at 4:24 pm
Agree with many of the above comments – Sgt Pepper, Crown of Creation, Strawberry Alarm Clock, but what about ELP? – some pretty trippy keyboards there.
nick m
October 10, 2016 at 11:53 pm
what about “It’s A Beautiful Day” same name album.
Pete (Michael) Bloomfield
October 11, 2016 at 8:26 pm
All three Jimi Hendrex, Creams Wheels of Fire, and Disrali Gears, Sgt. Peppers, Led Zep ONE,
Big Brother and the holding Co. W/ Janis Joplin, Iron Butterfly, (The FIRST Platnum LP!)In a Godda de edda,Frank Zappa, hot rats, Electric Flag, (imi Hendrex, Buddy Miles, Mike Bloomfield, The Trios(not a band…Just three in a band…..Black Sabbath, Cream , Electric Flag,
Are truely amazing and totally out of sight, baby.
Greydog
October 13, 2016 at 6:01 am
Surrealistic Pillow is kind of a pop album. After Bathing At Baxter’s and Crown Of Creation are psychedelic albums. Wild Honey by the Beach Boys comes close. I prefer Quicksilver’s Happy Trails to their first album. Magical Mystery Tour is probably the Beatles most psychedelic. The 2nd Moody Blues album comes in pretty strong.
Steve E
October 31, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Blows Against The Empire…come on…who didn’t want to stand on the deck of that starship ?
Steve
October 31, 2016 at 5:53 pm
Small Faces..Ogdens Nut gone flake
Scott
October 31, 2016 at 5:56 pm
Hot Tuna – Phosphorescent Rat, Grateful Dead – Aoxomoxoa (instead of Anthem), Quicksilver – Happy Trails, Zep III, Miles Davis – Bitches Brew, Mahavishnu Orchestra (any), Renaissance – 1st album, Judy Henske & Jerry Yester – Farewell Aldebran….to name a few.
Brian
October 31, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Sgt. Pepper? Dark Side? It’s only cliche bc its true.
Louis
October 31, 2016 at 6:43 pm
How about Les Rallizes Denudes also acid mothers temple some very good Japanese psychedelic out there also neib’rhood childr’n, pieces, Allah Las, soundcarriers, west coast pop art experimental band, aorta, ant trip ceremony, amon duul 2, five day week straw people, baby grandmothers, Churchill’s, factory, father yod, Haymarket square, Christopher. The list is endless and would be better as a top 5000 list.
Tom R.
October 31, 2016 at 6:52 pm
OMG no Led Zeppelin. Shame on somebody. LOL
Kevin
October 31, 2016 at 7:57 pm
How about a long forgotten, little known band from Brooklyn – who’s debut album got them an opening act at The Fillmore East – opening for Black Sabbath on their Maiden USA tour…none other than Sir Lord Baltimore debuting with “Kingdom Come”
Scott Nelson
October 31, 2016 at 8:11 pm
There were many more that were very psychedelic. This group of people ahead of me caught most of them. Great to listen to the old tunes. I was thinking of SRC “MILESTONES” out of Detroit and I agree strongly with Bubble Puppy. Iggy Pop or MC-5 anybody?
Grateful Doug
November 1, 2016 at 12:42 am
If a ‘psychedelic album’ is one that sounds good on psychedelics, why would anyone in that state play Pink Floyds’ “Piper” when they could listen to Meddle, Dark Side, or Wish You Were Here?
Dewayne
November 1, 2016 at 1:43 am
Hawk Windows should have been mentioned.
They had a psynthasiser as big as a car on stage.
If you don’t know who Hawk wind is you don’t know Psychedelic rock.
Qjar
November 1, 2016 at 3:13 am
My teen years were in the 60’s and most of the albums listed here were far from psychedelic.
Danicrispy
November 1, 2016 at 6:54 am
This list needs some Yes, all their music is very psychedelic
gtrplyr
November 1, 2016 at 11:43 am
Mad River, Faust, Dukes of Stratosphear, Gong Trilogy, Spirit
Tony Brown
November 1, 2016 at 9:16 pm
I agree with the majority of comments that there are many on this list that are there more for the artwork than the music. Pink Floyd’s ‘ Saucer full of secrets ‘ to me was more Psychedelic than ‘ Piper at the gates of dawn ‘. Even the art work reflected that. You can’t get much more Psyhedelic than ‘Set the controls for the heart of the sun’.
Agitation Free
November 1, 2016 at 9:41 pm
I can’t believe there is no Ceyleib People? No CJ Quintet “A Trip Through Hell?” No Guru Guru?? Amon Duul ll, Agitation Free?? Left out some great bands!!
Gregg C
November 2, 2016 at 1:07 am
What about- Big Brother and the Holding Company?
Andrew
November 2, 2016 at 1:26 am
Either of the first two Procol Harum albums. Any of the Move or first ELO albums.
Geoffrey Pond
November 2, 2016 at 2:17 am
The Airplane’s After Bathing At Baxter’s and CJ& Fish I Feel Like I am Fixin’ To Die, It’s a Beautiful Day’s first album a must for your Psychedelic record collection.
Douglas White
November 2, 2016 at 3:39 am
Wrong Iron Butterfly album. Metamorphosis was far superior to Inna Gadda da Vida
Waywuwei
November 2, 2016 at 7:57 am
They left out Sgt. Peppers which to me was the first Beatles Psychedelic album. They weren’t the leaders, they were just in the groove like everyone else. Revolver was great but not psychedelic. Traffic’s first album was the revolutionary one: Mr. Fantasy.
They left out Big Brother and the Holding Company. the first two albums everyone had.
And Dr. John, the Night Tripper!!!
And Moody Blues was very big and very psychedelic.
And there was probably never a more Psychedelic band than the Fugs. They didn’t get widespread distribution but they were soooo stoned.
Oh, and the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band.
And where is the Velvet Underground? Really.
Also, they start with the Forever Changes Love album which was my favorite but it was their third album. The first Love album preceeded Revolver by months and had wonderful songs from Arthur Lee “No Matter what you do”, “Singed D.C.” & “My little red Book”.
And I almost forgot one of the most important psychedelic pioneers: Donovan. How could they forget him? His First album in ’65 “Catch the Wind” was a British echo of Dylan, quickly followed by “Fairytale” his own direction into the Celtic fantasies. In ’66 “Sunshine Superman” was full on Celtic psychedelic followed a year later by “Mellow Yellow”.
Led Zeppelin was late to the game in 1969 but had an outsized influence.
Tuco
November 2, 2016 at 12:10 pm
good list…obviously 25 albums are few to please everyone…but don’t miss “Fifth Dimension” of The Byrds, one of the first example of psychedelic music…good choice “Currents” at 25th position!!!
waywuwei
November 2, 2016 at 4:41 pm
YES!!! The Byrds were way out in front. In 1965: Mr. Tamborine Man, and Turn, Turn, Turn followed in 1966 with Fifth Dimension. First group to transition from Folk Rock to Psychedelic Rock.
kenny
November 2, 2016 at 2:14 pm
How about Magical Mystery Tour? Stones ripped off the Beatles a number of times.
Homer Mitchell
November 2, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Great job. Impossible task, of course. I recommend the Holy Modal Rounders’ 1967 very freaky Indian War Whoop and/or their The Moral Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders with the classic “Bird Song”.
geoff Strickland
November 2, 2016 at 6:15 pm
You can not leave out Kaleidoscope and Beacon from Mars.
richard jamison
November 2, 2016 at 10:40 pm
Tommy James and the Shondells were one of the original Psy Bands
Richard
November 2, 2016 at 11:03 pm
Psychedlic Furs – Forever Now. Love my way and President Gas…
ERIC M
November 3, 2016 at 1:24 am
Robin Trower – Bridge of Sighs
Charles Cotten
November 3, 2016 at 4:40 am
I don’t know how you could possibly leave off Sergeant peppers lonely hearts club band. It’s better than the rest of those albums put together. And it should be number one and revolver number two.
Tony
November 3, 2016 at 9:03 am
One of the best Psychedelic Albums for me was White Noise ,,,An Electric Storm …..how it never got in the top 25 really dont know …..would have been my number 1 !!!!
pixletwin
November 4, 2016 at 3:09 pm
No “SmileySmile” by the Beach Boys? That album is far FAR more psychedelic than many of the albums on this list.
Joe P
November 4, 2016 at 5:07 pm
Others have listed it here – PET SOUNDS!!! Brian Wilson going on a total spacial trip and exploring layers of sounds, thereby leading to inspiring some of the biggest albums and artists listed here! Too bad SMiLE was not released when it should have been too. Not only would the ultimate psychedelic single, Good Vibrations, have been on it, but the rest of it would have been mind exploration to the ultimate degree.
Cardiocard
November 4, 2016 at 5:12 pm
and the GONG?
Eddio Piña
November 4, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Hi
There´s a band i´m pretty sure noone of you know. but they are one of the finest spychedelic bands ever. They are “Ladies W.C.” from Venezuela 1969. “the “Ladies” were a foursome with Adib Casta on lead Guitar, Steve Scoot on bass and Harmonica, Seija Brothers, Mario and Jaime on drums and rythm guitar.
Search for “Ladies W.C. Band Venezuela” in google for futher information, and Youtube for music of this band.. You won´t be disappointed
Netreagent
November 4, 2016 at 6:38 pm
Has to be some Donovan in there
JB
November 4, 2016 at 7:26 pm
“Currents” should not be on that list.
A – it’s not even psychedelic. it’s 80’s synth pop.
B – it’s not anywhere near as good as “Lonerism”. that album is a psychedelic masterpiece.
treefinger
November 4, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Velvet Underground and Nico
Matt
November 4, 2016 at 11:01 pm
Any Donovan album from the 1960s. His Greatest Hits album is an excellent collection of psychedelia.
Radharc
November 5, 2016 at 3:40 am
H.P. Lovecraft II is far more psychedelic than their debut album. Also, I’d have to go with BLue Cheer’s “OutsideInside” over Vincebus Eruptum.
Michael Cornwell
November 5, 2016 at 5:12 am
What about Pink Floyd—-Dark side of the Moon
YHY
November 6, 2016 at 4:36 am
yas!!!
Dennis B
November 5, 2016 at 1:08 pm
I didn’t see the entire second half of the above so maybe this was mentioned later…..KING CRIMSON
nine9nine9
November 5, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Some good choices here. Had their been room, might I suggest The Chambers Bothers; can’t get any more psychodelic than their 11-minute version of “Time Has Come Today.”
neto
November 5, 2016 at 2:20 pm
The 1st King Crimson and Van der Graaf Generator albuns? Yes – tales from topographic Ocean?
tricky to puck up the best one!
Tstatguy
November 5, 2016 at 8:54 pm
Has anyone out there listen to Frank Zappa’s “Lumpy Gravy”?
YHY
November 6, 2016 at 4:37 am
most of pink floyd’s songs in general should be on the list~
Leigh
November 7, 2016 at 11:43 am
Am I the only one who listened to Tangerine Dream while on acid ??
Bermudes
November 8, 2016 at 8:25 pm
I think any record by “Os Mutantes” should be on the list!
David B.
November 11, 2016 at 4:51 pm
I appreciate this list a lot, as I’ve wanted to explore the roots of the psychedelic rock that I’ve come to hear today. Of course it is a difficult job to just put 25, especially 25 albums that everyone would agree on. But for that, I’m thankful for all the people that commented and for their suggestions. Also wanted to say that I’m so glad that Kevin Parker and his Tame Impala project are on the list! InnerSpeaker and Lonerism are incredible works of psychedelic music (and Currents I think is incredible and unique; Kevin is more than willing to explore and experiment with his style, like truly great artists often do. Whether or not you want to classify it as Psych Rock is a different story), especially considering the resources he had available for those two albums, and I’m really happy to see that even generations before me are able to appreciate what he does. He composes nearly all the songs, for all the instruments, and records, produces, and mixes them, Nearly all by himself! Seeing him receive the appreciation, credit and love that he deserves makes me very happy.
Again, thank you to everyone that contributed! So glad to have this resource, truly.
psydonia B.Sh.
November 13, 2016 at 10:45 am
What about Orzic Tentacles?
In my opinion, one of the most influential psychedelic bands from post 80-era. They’re still kickin’ !
Kie Miskelly
November 15, 2016 at 3:16 pm
Nice list but Nirvana’s All of Us should be in there instead of Simon…
charley
November 15, 2016 at 8:32 pm
A big up vote for 12 Dreams of Dr.Sardonicus by Spirit.A great headphone album
Grant
November 16, 2016 at 12:01 am
Rotary Connection
The Ambiy Dukes- Journey to the Center of the Mind
Strawberry Alarm Clock
John
November 16, 2016 at 2:02 am
Great list. It’s really impossible to list 30 of the greatest psychedelic rock albums of all-time. This is your list. I would’ve included Spirit – The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, Wishbone Ash -Self titled, The Bob Seger System – Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, Deep Purple – In Rock, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band – Safe As Milk, The Zombies – Odyssey and Oracle, The Small Faces – Odgen’s Nut Gone Flake, Velvet Underground – Loaded, Quicksilver Messenger Service – Self Titled. Just to name a few…..
John
November 16, 2016 at 2:24 am
Great list. It’s really impossible to list 30 of the greatest psychedelic rock albums of all-time. This is your list. I would’ve included Spirit – The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus, Wishbone Ash -Self titled, The Bob Seger System – Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, Deep Purple – In Rock, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band – Safe As Milk, The Zombies – Odyssey and Oracle, The Small Faces – Odgen’s Nut Gone Flake, Velvet Underground – Loaded, UFO – UFO 1, King Crimson, In The Court of the Crimson King, Steppenwolf – Self Titled, Scorpions – Lonesome Crow, just to name a few…..
Fred Beck
November 16, 2016 at 3:20 am
Agree with so many of the additional recommendations for this list. One I did not see mentioned, and in honor of his recent passing, was Leon Russell and Marc Benno’s “Asylum Choir II”.
You couldn’t get much more trippy, or melodic, than with this one.
Lyle Crump
November 16, 2016 at 4:22 pm
As a teenager of the 60’s I would add 12 Dreams of Doctor Sardonicus by Spirit, The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Moody Blues – In Search of the Lost Chord, On the Threshold of a Dream and A Question of Balance. They where the Princes of Acid Rock but the King of Acid Rock was Jimi Hendrix with Electric Ladyland and especially Voodoo Child (Slight Return). The first two Led Zeppelin albums were very psychedelic, The Birds – Fifth Dimension album,( They are drinking LSD kool aid on the cover) and Freak Out with the Mothers Of Invention would also be on the list.
S. A. Gerber
November 16, 2016 at 5:22 pm
“In Search of the Lost Chord”——-The Moody Blues.
Jim Ryan, Jr
November 16, 2016 at 8:02 pm
For your consideration I offer: Pink Floyd-Meddle, Sgt Pepper’s, Spirit-Twelve Dreams, Robin Trower, Wishbone Ash, the Hollies, Mothers of Invention-Mud shark in your mythology!!! Zombies, Spooky Tooth, Genesis, King Crimson, Moody Blues, ELP, Yes, Leon Russell-Carney or work with Mark Benno and Asylum Choir and who could forget his work on Pet Sounds?, as well as Mad Dogs ands Englishman work, Deep Purple, Talking Heads almost any of their first 4 albums, Hot Tuna, along the same vein, Baron Von Tollbooth and Ballad of the Chrome Nun, Turtles…thanks for the list, you have my head spinning and looking through my old albums! Heck, even CSNY the early days, dueling leads…and even a softer sound, David Crosby-If I Could Only Remember My Name…
Marty
November 17, 2016 at 3:57 pm
I have 5 of them.
rod schaffer
November 19, 2016 at 9:19 pm
The Doors first album is their masterpiece but I wouldn’t consider it psychedelic.
Recently heard “Wooden Shjips” especially the album “West”. great stuff.
David Charlton
December 6, 2016 at 8:19 pm
Psychedelic music is a broad category. I see English and American genres, I see progressive, and even power pop in these lists. I thought the beatles went psych with Sgt Peppers and Mystery Tour is more of the same. Chambers group is a southern gospel group with one of the greatest psych songs of all time. I love the small faces but Itchycoo Park is there best psych song. To me the greatest psych songs are Piper at the Gates of dawn the long instrumentals and keyboard driven Arthur Brown. did you see her eyes is a favorite (Illusion) Eight miles high by Lighthouse, I’ve looked at lists with 200 albums and I never see Zappa on the lists.
ed
January 3, 2017 at 3:15 pm
good list, but one of the greatest psychedelic albums of all time (and probably most overlooked) is Loosen Up Naturally by the Sons of Champlin.
Steve
January 15, 2017 at 8:41 pm
How about Zero Time by Tonto’s Expanding Headband?
Victor
January 20, 2017 at 12:58 am
The Beach Boys: Smile
mark
January 20, 2017 at 1:55 pm
don’t forget about Twink- Think Pink, 13th Floor Elevators- Easter Everywhere, Morgen, Dragonfly and Captain Beefheart- Safe As Milk…all of these should make the list
Russ Algood
January 23, 2017 at 8:17 pm
Moody Blues – In Search of the Last Chord – Best Ever
DL
February 11, 2017 at 2:48 am
Collectors – late 60’s Canadian band from Vancouver?
John Blaney
February 13, 2017 at 6:44 pm
What about Music in a Doll’s House by Family?
Produced by Dave Mason of Traffic. It was a totally psychedelic album
Clifford Bowen
February 15, 2017 at 12:13 pm
Synergy: Electronic Realizations For Rock Orchestra.
mike
February 16, 2017 at 1:14 am
triumvarat spartacus think I spelled that right lost the album years ago.
Sheryl
February 16, 2017 at 4:13 am
Deep Purple Smoke on the Water
nic
February 17, 2017 at 10:59 am
I’m supprised not to find any refference to Julian Cope albums.
Hunter
February 24, 2017 at 12:07 am
Robin Trower – Bridge of Sighs
Pablo
February 25, 2017 at 4:28 pm
Please remove artists like Tame Impala, this looks like a publicity for them; they nothing to do with the list, not in generation, neither in quality
Scott
October 8, 2017 at 6:26 pm
Innerspeaker is nothing but quality and is better than half of the stuff mentioned. Currents though is not psychedelic.
Pete
February 27, 2017 at 5:42 pm
How about Savage Resurrection,or Mad River,or SRC,or Fifty Foot Hose .from the US Or Family ‘Music in a Doll’s House’,Eric Burdon & the Animals Winds of Change, from the UK.The more recent Amorphous Androgynous (FSOL) albums.Gong & Steve Hillage. Tim Blake (New Jerusalem) The late guitarist.Christian Boule.(Photo Music) Sundial,Porcupine Tree.
Brian Plester
March 29, 2017 at 2:29 am
Tully – Oz band?
Janne
April 15, 2017 at 12:59 pm
I misses:
Moody Blues!
In Search Of The Lost Chord
Gary Bauder
April 15, 2017 at 5:15 pm
As a survivor of many LSD enhanced music experiences, I can personally attest to the power of Hawkwind as THE premier Psychedelic experiential band. Additionally, Kraftwerk’s Radioactivty LP is a si gularly wondrous experience while properly under the lysergic influence. Cheers.
Perry Logan
April 15, 2017 at 5:48 pm
A favorite of mine is “Space Ritual,” by the British band Hawkwind.
guitar53
April 15, 2017 at 11:21 pm
Lothar and the Hand People
Ron
April 16, 2017 at 12:07 am
Lighthouse…One Fine Morning.
Val
April 17, 2017 at 6:53 pm
Psychedelic Music is in the eye, or the mind, of the beholder..Pink Floyd, Hendrix and Country Joe would all be on my list. I would add “The Who Sell Out” which included some classic psychedelic cuts that made full use of stereo in it’s day.
chiang
April 19, 2017 at 9:23 pm
Zappa must be here!!!
(and why not Pepper the gateway for all of them?)
Marc Gregory
April 21, 2017 at 10:48 pm
Chambers Brothers Time Has Come Today (long Version), Rare Earth (Get Ready long version), Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet, Moody Blues Threshold of a Dream, Early Santana, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Paul Butterfield, Savoy Brown (Lookin In), Ten Years After Ssssh, Grand Funk Railroad (Paranoid), Vanilla Fudge (1967). To name a few…
steve Leonard
April 22, 2017 at 5:40 am
Where’s Fever Tree
Berry
April 23, 2017 at 12:50 pm
The first Automatic Man..
DON FARQUIMI
May 13, 2017 at 11:44 pm
AND WHERE IS ” CAN TAGO MAGO?”
Ack
May 19, 2017 at 5:03 pm
I suppose you should have been there to qualify in making the list:
Some of your selections were correct, but some were obscure and others are in a different category.
Here are a few that should be there:
Its a Beautiful Day
Seven dreams of Dr Sardonicus
In search of the lost chord
After bathing at baxters
Cheap Thrills
Happy Trails
Sgt Peppers
Abraxus
Vanilla Fudge
Spooky Two
Brian Reed
April 26, 2020 at 5:06 am
Yours is a great list. Add Curved Air- Air Conditioning and the Amazing As your Mind Flies By, by Rare Bird
Nexus
May 29, 2017 at 4:01 pm
Umma Gumma far best and above all others,
Tago Mago,
Heaven & Hell – Vangelis..
Tom Miller
October 7, 2017 at 2:01 pm
I tend to agree that it is far more connected to what they are talking about than any on this list. Some of these albums are so far from psychedelic it’s hard to take the whole list seriously. Glad to see Umma on the page at least.
Waymand672003
September 18, 2017 at 1:16 am
‘The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.’ !968! And ‘Odessea and Oracle’ by the Zombies! Same year.
Michael
September 20, 2017 at 7:45 pm
Arthur Brown was out there , 1983 a Mermaid I should turn to be , Electric Lady Land, started a trip , took you there , and returned you for a nice soft landing .
turtle1954ful
September 18, 2017 at 5:05 am
Vanilla Fudge
ThommyO
September 25, 2017 at 7:38 pm
Nice call with the Fraternal Order of the All. Always thought Andrew Gold should have made a second album under that name.
Neil
October 1, 2017 at 9:23 am
My idea of Psychedelic doesn’t include prog and space rock, but I think Baxters, Electric Music,Fixin to Die, S F Sorrow, United States of America and Savage Ressurection would be my personal favorites.I love early Hendrix, Byrds and Love, (Arthur Lee and Bryan Maclean wrote some great songs).
Goran Conradsen
October 4, 2017 at 7:19 pm
This is an obscure one from norway. It came out last year George & Jaqueline – A Love Story Set In Kaleidoscopic Dreams
by Spring Vibes Arkestra.
As it was reviewed in Record Collector shifting from the gentle territory mapped out by Broadcast or Stereolab to exotica and more guitar based nu-psych. Not everything works, but they definitely have a psychedelic mind-set.
there’s tape loops, backwards guitars , flutes and finger cymbals,congas, music concrete
Elmer
October 5, 2017 at 1:20 am
…Easter Everywhere…
John Mason
October 5, 2017 at 4:54 pm
No one on staff with the balls or the brains to offer some insight/ and or justification into the validity of each choice!?!?—WOTTA WASTE OF SPACE!?!?!?!
Geoffrey
October 6, 2017 at 1:17 am
What about “It’s a Beautiful Day” by “It’s a Beautiful Day?” White Bird, Girl With No Eyes, Hot Summer Day, and more.
EB
October 6, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Blows Against the Empire!
Start with side 2 – “Sunrise” and from there it builds…the finale still puts me in a very special state of mind as i saw them do it live in 73or4
doug b
October 6, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Spirit’s first album with “Mechanical World” or “The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” !
Tom Miller
October 7, 2017 at 2:08 pm
So psychedelic has to be from the 60s I see. Sorry but some of these are pretty lame. I guess my idea of psychedelic music is vastly different than yours. While I agree on some of the bands, not really the album choices. Jefferson Airplane & Cream are the only 2 I agree with.
spaski
October 7, 2017 at 2:11 pm
what about captain Lockheed and the starfighters,Can,Magma,Pretty things Parachute,Ash RA,Steve Hillage Gong,and Mr.Zappa of course
spaski
October 7, 2017 at 2:15 pm
what about captain Lockheed and the starfighters,Can,Magma,Pretty things Parachute,Ash RA,Steve Hillage Gong,and Mr.Zappa of course and the long songs on Electric Ladyland by Jimi H.
Hans Lehmann
October 8, 2017 at 9:15 am
I would add “Incence and Peppermints” by the Strawberry Alarm Clock!
Stephen C Dietrich
October 8, 2017 at 5:16 pm
I’m impressed by the inclusion of The Fraternal Order of All – Greetings From the Planet Love. Hard to believe this is the same person who wrote “Thank You For Being A Friend” Great album.
Frans
October 8, 2017 at 9:01 pm
Why do people always feel obliged to include at least one Beatles album in the top-5 of whatever-greatest list? Both Sgt. Pepper’s and Revolver include a few songs that could be classified as psychedelic, but apart from them, these two albums are basically pop songs collections.
Merrill M Hess
October 9, 2017 at 1:57 am
Good list but I would like to add some obscure masterpieces. Most of these you can find on Youtube. Acid folk of Balaklava by Pearls Before Swine and both albums by Forest (Forest & Full Circle. They don’t sing about fairyland. Their music is FROM fairyland. Very atmospheric.). Dance of the Lemmings by Amon Duul II (and others by them), A Time Before This by Julian’s Treatment (psychedelic soul-jazz science fiction rock), all three albums by the Mandrake Memorial (especially Puzzle. They improved with each release.), Zero Time by Tonto’s Expanding Head Band (masterpiece of Moog. They were the force behind Stevie Wonder’s musical hits in the 70s.), Principle Edwards Magic Theatre, Celestial Oceans by Brainticket, Pookah (only did one eponymous album. Difficult to find but posted on Youtube.), Touch by Touch (Famous for it’s split bi-fold cover. Did one spectacular album that was an anthem on underground stations. It actually fits a bit more under early pioneering progressive rock. Members of Yes admitted Touch as a major influence. Almost impossible to find but it’s posted on Youtube.), Gracious! by Gracious (This one is also more progressive rock. A tongue-in-cheek concept album on Heaven and Hell.). And last, I limited myself to three recordings by Popol Vuh (Anchored by Florian Fricke, not the Scandinavian metal band.) In den Gärten Pharaos, Einsjäger und Siebenjäger, and Aguirre, the Wrath of God (soundtrack to Werner Herzog film). Some of their music can be considered more world music, devotional, or mystical but some is quite psychedelic, all beautiful.
mark knowles
October 9, 2017 at 2:16 am
The Zombies- Odyssey and Oracle is really an inexcusable omission on this list. It certainly has to be one of the top 25. I think it qualifies above more than a couple on this list.
kevin
October 9, 2017 at 5:29 am
Grand funk railroad the closer to home
Wishbone ash Argus
Santana Abraxas
theo
October 9, 2017 at 8:33 am
No Incredible String Band? 5000 Spirits … should also be on that list, and not forgetting Hangman’s and Wee Tam and Big Huge.
Al Long
October 10, 2017 at 12:48 am
What about Atlantis Philharmonic or Black Mass by Lucifer?
Frankie T.
October 14, 2017 at 2:16 am
Fun list and great comments. Just have to say, however, that the list gets one critical thing right: Revolver is a more important psychedelic album than Sgt. Pepper. Revolver came out in 1966, before psychedelia had been mainstreamed into the pop culture. “I’m Only Sleeping”? “Rain”? “Love You To”? “Tomorrow Never Knows”? There were innovations in each of these songs that inspired and re-appeared in later psychedelic music. Revolver was the psychedelic vanguard! IMNSHO
Kryten
November 23, 2017 at 3:23 am
You’ll never get everyone to agree but that’s what make discussions like this fun in a pub or afterwards in a field/park/front room/garden. For my two pennies, what about Kaleidoscope both Mexican and UK bands’ debut albums? The list could go on and on, but that the point.
Rolling Thunder
February 13, 2018 at 6:16 pm
King Crimson’s In The Court of The Crimson King
David Eck
February 14, 2018 at 2:49 pm
Simply Saucer from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. What’s more psychedelic than a theremin?
John Mason
February 14, 2018 at 11:35 pm
After Bathing at Baxter’s much more mind-bending than Pillow and likewise Doors’ Strange Days instead of debut album
J
February 15, 2018 at 7:18 pm
Butterfield Blues Band : East-West (1966)
gary guill
February 16, 2018 at 11:05 am
Wow!@@!! Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus…By Spirit…. you guys are lame in your picks!!!
Brenda K Coale
February 20, 2018 at 6:31 pm
In the court of the crimson king!
steve
February 23, 2018 at 10:29 pm
Vanilla Fudge: Renaissance, SRC, Frost-Frost Music, Caravan, Bungie, Pink Ferries, Andromedia…at the bare min. how could you leave off Donovan and the Zombies?
Pat
March 3, 2018 at 12:09 pm
We Are Ever So Clean by Blossom Toes. The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter by Incredible String Band.
Marcus Askew
March 5, 2018 at 3:49 pm
What about the 1968 underrated psych one-off The Five Day Week Straw People
J.Skar
April 14, 2018 at 3:19 pm
After Bathing at Baxter’s by J.Airplane -w- “head”phones!!!
Ned
April 16, 2018 at 9:32 pm
Tontos Expanding Head Band; Zero Time
Dustin Blomquist
May 20, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Leaf Hound – Growers of Mushroom
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band – Safe as Milk
The Byrds – Fifth Dimension
The Apple Pie Motherhood Band – The Apple Pie Motherhood Band
Seatrain – Seatrain
Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfield Again
T2 – It’ll All Work Out in Boomland
The Yankee Dollar – The Yankee Dollar
Kalaidoscope – Side Trips
Dr. John – Gris-Gris
The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle
Fraction – Moon Blood
The Misunderstood – Before the Dream Faded
Tyrone
July 23, 2018 at 9:08 pm
If you’re unfamiliar with Shin Jung Hyun, do yourself a favor and search for his music. His epic “Beautiful Rivers and Mountains” is a good place to start. He was truly revolutionary; his history is a fascinating read.
Virgil Osborn
August 12, 2018 at 5:02 pm
Umma Gumma and either of the first 2 Pearls Before Swine albums….
William Danford
November 22, 2018 at 7:37 am
No ‘Happy Trails’ ? Odd, Garcia once called it #1 ever.
Geoff
December 28, 2018 at 11:31 am
You missed Twink Think Pink album…classic Psych 1970! Also the David. Pretty things SF Sorrow, and Zombies Oddesey And Oracle
David
December 29, 2018 at 1:07 am
Santana Abraxis or whatever it is now called
Blind Faith
Donovan
Jerry
February 7, 2019 at 1:28 am
Vanilla Fudge – Vanilla Fudge
Bjorn
April 8, 2019 at 8:55 am
Moody Blues – In Search of the Lost Chord
Psychedelicpiper
April 11, 2019 at 12:08 am
Not the greatest list. Ty Segall shouldn’t be on there. Tame Impala’s “Currents” is not psychedelic, it’s the album where he ditched psychedelia for 80’s synthpop. “Innerspeaker” is the best album he’s done.
Blue Cheer is more proto-metal than psychedelic.
Jefferson Airplane’s “After Bathing at Baxter’s” and “Crown of Creation” are both far better and more psychedelic albums than “Surrealistic Pillow”.
“H.P. Lovecraft’s” second album is also better and more psychedelic imo.
The 13th Floor Elevators’ “Easter Everywhere” is the band’s peak, but I’ll admit their debut is fab, too.
I understand this list only limited one album per artist.
John
July 11, 2019 at 9:24 pm
Hmmm ?´g go with quite a few more here…..
Incence & Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock
Maggot Brain – Funkadelic
Eight Miles high – The Birds
The Charlatans (US Psych Pioneers) ANything…
The Prety Things – S.F. Sorrow
John
July 11, 2019 at 9:31 pm
Parachute – The Pretty Things
Voyage 24 – The Porcupine Tree
Ten Years After – Ten years after
Takes Off – Jefferson Airplane
Crown of Creation – jefferson Airplane
Oar – Skippy Spence
Relics – Pink Floyd (Despite the fact that its a complilation)
Jeff
August 18, 2019 at 1:28 pm
Tame Impala Currents???? Tame Impala Innerspeaker is a much better choice.
Tel X
October 21, 2019 at 12:31 pm
The Millennium – BEGIN
My favourite psychedelic album of all time.
Curt Boettcher was a genius.
Dan C
November 3, 2019 at 9:03 pm
I am so glad I found this discussion as I love psychedelic music. Many of you have introduced me to bands & albums I didn’t know existed. I sure have a lot of listening to do now. So, thanks for that.
I was 17 (Soon to turn 70, ugh) during the Summer of Love & worked in a record store so I got first listen to all the new albums & turned on my friends to many of the greats ones even before radio play.
It really was a magical time where one album after another exploded with creativity.
I also got up-front tickets to many shows where I saw the Doors, Spirit, Airplane, Hendrix, Joplin, Iron Butterfly, It’s a Beautiful Day & many others. So I lived psychedelia.
I was glad to see that a few here mentioned my favorite psychedelic album, Traffic’s Mr. Fantasy (US Version). It has a very trippy mood throughout it.
Another favorite of mine which also fits that mood & was not mentioned here is Fat Matress’ first album. Their lead guitarist was Noel Redding, Hendrix’ bassist, although this album sounds nothing like the Experience. Chris Wood, Traffic, plays on it too.
I might add that I do not like many of the CD versions of classic albums as the added “newer” songs take away from the feel of the original ones.
spaski
January 3, 2020 at 2:20 pm
you forgot Ummagumma..very essential psychedelic album……Doors?,don’t think so
Terry Platt
March 1, 2020 at 1:43 pm
Steve Hillage ‘Green’
Terry Platt
March 1, 2020 at 2:17 pm
No mention for Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’, one of the trippiest albums ever… but perhaps even more so –
‘A Saucerful Of Secrets’, ‘Umma Gumma’, and especially ‘Meddle’.
Also, not to be forgotten, ‘The Madcap Laughs’ by Syd Barrett.
I also added The Small Faces’ ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake’ earlier – but if we can just step outside of the purely musical arena for a moment, let’s also throw in the original 1978 radio series of ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy’, which has all the attributes of psychedelia in dramatised form, in its broad sweep of ideas and comedy. The music backgrounds are psychedelic in themselves, including –
Terry Riley’s ‘A Rainbow In Curved Air’, Jean-Michel Jarre’s ‘Oxygene’, Fripp And Eno’s ‘Wind On Water’ (from ‘Evening Star’), Tomita’s ‘The Engulfed Cathedral (from ‘Snowflakes Are Dancing’), and of course, the very atmospheric theme tune, ‘Journey Of The Sorcerer’ by The Eagles. All of those belong on the list.
And… just a week from today, coming up to it’s 42nd anniversary of the very first radio broadcast. Don’t panic – that’s something to celebrate by rolling a big fat one!
Bill
April 9, 2020 at 12:05 am
I can’t believe that no one even mentioned Eric Burdon and the Animals.
schmelik
April 15, 2020 at 5:49 pm
Is there a Spotify playlist?
wopi54
April 17, 2020 at 2:10 pm
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn!
KD
April 25, 2020 at 9:54 pm
wopi54:
Piper is a glaring omission. It should definitely be top 5.
Val
May 4, 2020 at 9:21 pm
As I was scrolling down the list I was thinking that the Zombies and Love belonged on the list. Turns out both were in the Top 10…. as they deserved. I have a number of the other albums on the list so can argue with them either.
Tom Garvey
May 23, 2020 at 3:24 am
Black Mass by Lucifer/Mort Garson! Tip of the hat to Clyde Clifford . KAAY Little Rock was an oasis for underground music in the late 60’s into the 70’s.
Stevo In Yr Stereo
May 23, 2020 at 10:04 pm
I know taste is subjective and there is no right or wrong, but still this list is so flawed. A few of these selections are spot on, but most are absolute garbage and not at all psychedelic, like Cinema Olympia, to name one of the worse tracks recommended here. The most psychedelic song ever recorded is Mind Flowers by Ultimate Spinach. If you don’t know it, check it out.
Brian L Richards
June 20, 2020 at 7:13 pm
Yes Ultimate Spinach should be on the essential list, it is at once ultimately psychedelic, cringing lyrically and sonicly mind bending, and A movie and sub B movie all at the same time, Cosmic Man!
Brian L Richards
June 20, 2020 at 8:15 pm
To illustrate my point about Ultimate Spinach lyrics here is the track listing for the album Behold & See -Side A 1.Gilded lamp of the Cosmos 2.Visions of Your Reality 3.Jazz Thing 4.Mind Flowers Side B 1. Where You’re At 2. Suite: Genesis of Beauty (in four parts) 3. Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse 4.Fragmentary March of Green.
In contrast Loudon Wainwright III’s The Acid Song is a good antidote:
“Driving on acid is easy
Driving on acid’s a breeze
Just keep the car on the highway
Don’t laugh and don’t fart and don’t sneeze”
https://genius.com/Loudon-wainwright-iii-the-acid-song-lyrics
Brian L Richards
June 20, 2020 at 6:58 pm
Each to his own, but maybe ranking isn’t necessary, rather cosmically experience them all at once, so here are my essential 30 in no particular order https://photos.app.goo.gl/aBRo6Ck8zxJKtGBD8
ucas
September 30, 2020 at 6:16 pm
worst rolling stones album, serious?
Thomas Mittemeyer
November 29, 2020 at 10:44 pm
I’d pull several off of the list and replace them with more worthy choices. Granted, to each their own and peace to all as it’s all opinion.
Frank Zappa’s (Mother’s of Invention) 1st 4 (probably all really) albums were not only way ahead of their time, but influenced about everyone (Beatles, Airplane, to name a couple). Frank did it ALL (except for the acid). His genius from social commentary, outstanding composition and incredible guitar chops stand alone.
Traffic – Dear Mr. Fantasy —> right on down til their last album.
Phish – Junta, Rift. The most psychedelic live jam band still drawing new fans as they always will be long past their dying days. Thanks to Trey Anastasio (amazing guitarist and songwriter in touch w the universe).
Same goes for the Grateful Dead as they are morphing into a new band with the tremendous guitar playing of John Mayer. Still as always a roller coaster of psychedelia.
Glad to see Love at the top. You got that one SPOT ON.
Kudos also seeing XTC on your list. Well deserved. Their music continued to get higher with each album. They deserved so much more recognition than they got. Love those guys.
So many more but it’s time to (we’re a fade, you missed this).
Iron Butterfly needs removal. In a Gadda doesn’t come close to true psychedelia. Just pop of the times. Just my opinion.
Pink Floyd? Julian Cope? Robyn Hitchcock, and so many more. Thanks ✌️❤️
Tony
February 21, 2021 at 10:06 am
Having spent my early 20s in the psychedelic era, I can make a couple of suggestions based on 1st-hand experience. These are just a couple of quick memories off the top of my head (where there isn’t nearly as much hair as there was then!).
Time Has Come by the Chambers Brothers (1967) especially “Time Has Come Today”, an 11-minute track that was great for listening to under the influence. You could probably put it on a loop and leave the planet for hours.
Cricklewood Green by Ten Years After (1970). Every time I hear “Sugar the Road”, “Working on the Road”, or “50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain”, I am transported back to New Years Eve of 1972.
Kurt
March 27, 2021 at 9:51 am
Plasticland were from Wisconsin. Their history dates back to the late 70’s but their albums began in the 80’s. Some of the best neo-psych available. Check out “Wonder, Wonderful, Wonderland” – one of the best psych albums ever and I believe worthy of such a list!
Guy
May 5, 2021 at 7:25 am
Forbnl-Goajtskra
Less known but in my opinion there’s nothing better to listen to while tripping.
Ray
July 11, 2021 at 6:46 pm
I didn`t go through all the hundreds` of comments But for me the most way out, psychedelic L.P from the 1960s is “Come and Have Some Tea” by the Tea Company. Also ,as other correspondents` mentioned, the excellent “White Noise” from 1969 is a great contender!
Jeff
August 19, 2021 at 7:41 pm
Good article/idea to reach the fans of 60’s Psychedelia. You did mention “most were made during the golden era of 1966-1968” Agree immensely so to not include The Byrds’ ground breaking LP “The Notorious Byrd Brothers” was a huge omission. Parke Puterbaugh of Rolling Stone wrote in 1999 “it is a “brilliant window onto an unforgettable place and time”.
Jimmy
September 2, 2021 at 1:26 am
Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?
Allen Howell
September 30, 2021 at 11:21 pm
An overlooked psychedelic-assisted album from the 1980s is a bizarre 1983 side-project by Robert Smith of The Cure and Steven Severin of Siouxsie & The Banshees. Allegedly they camped out in a studio for several weeks with lots of LSD, a pile of campy movies, and eventually emerged with a complete album. The Project was named The Glove in honor of The Beatles’ trippy animated film The Yellow Submarine, while the album would be called Blue Sunshine in honor of a horror film in which people who took LSD and became psychotic murderers. The lyrics from the songs seem to come straight out of Wonderland.
Skip Lewis
December 17, 2021 at 7:55 pm
A Gathering of Promises by Bubble Puppy would fit in nicely with these great psychedelic albums.
Ras Otis
January 26, 2022 at 7:25 am
Honorable Mentions for your consideration: There is But One Truth Daddy – The Wind in the Willows (1968). This featured a mind-blowing narration taken from the book of the same name. The band included Debbie Harry who went on to become lead vocalist for Blondie. Then there’s The Wozard of Iz – Mort Garson (1968) who wielded the Moog synthesizer at its psychedelicest. “
CEvans
April 30, 2022 at 7:11 am
I completely agree on some of these tracks but there are some glaring omissions. I did a “ctl f” and saw that one other person had already mentioned them back in 2016, but Rain Parade’s ’83 debut Emergency Third Rail Power Trip is in the top 10 of essential Psychedelic LPs, for sure. That Pink Floyd’s Interstellar Overdrive, or at least some other Syd Barrett composition isn’t in this top 5 is an oversight, IMHO. Syd kicked the whole thing off, folks. I also would have definitely included 8 Miles High by The Byrds. I give thanks and credit for the effort of the list. It made me reconsider some songs I hadn’t considered, especially that track by The Temptations’ Runaway Child, Running Wild. Love the inclusion of The Porpoise Song by The Monkees and Legend of a Mind by The Moody Blues.
CEvans
May 1, 2022 at 6:46 pm
Replying to myself for clarification:
I get that this is a collection of albums and not individual songs. When I mentioned songs I should have also stated the LPs they came from. One is Pink Floyd’s debut, Piper at the Gates of Dawn. In retrospect, I wouldn’t necessarily argue that Fifth Dimension (8 Miles High) was The Byrds’ most psychedelic album. I just think that The Byrds have a place at this table.
As to Pink Floyd kicking the whole thing off, well, that’s just plain wrong. I can, though, make an argument that what Syd Barrett did solidified this music as a genre where “psychedelic” had previously been only an influence or ingredient in music. Just my opinion. Clearly up for debate.
It was good beer.
Danny
April 27, 2023 at 12:31 am
Let me share one that has not been mentioned and is one of the absolute psychedelic pearls in my opinion – Cottonwoodhill by Brainticket. The name already says it all… The inner söeeve warns: The LP’s original inner sleeve warns: “After Listening to this Record, your friends may not know you anymore” and “Only listen to this once a day. Your brain might be destroyed!” Well…it’s a bit of a joke… in fact, I think it can completely turn every corner of your Brain on! What a record!
Thanks for some great suggestions on the list…psychedelic music can sound very different and has many faces, but you have pinned some classics here that are indeed standing out! I will check the ones I have missed from this list…of course, 30 best is very limited…there are many more to consider,as the comments tackle a bunch of amazing and not listed stuff… I believe The Legendary Pink Dots have actually created many,many outstanding psychedelic albums…but we are talking old classics I guess… Brainticket.Brainticket.Brainticket…. Have a nice trip!
Scott
June 3, 2023 at 10:22 am
Look at Butthole Surfers, three albums from the 1980s:
Psychic … Powerless … Another Man’s Sac (1984)
Locust Abortion Technician (1987)
Hairway to Steven (1988)
Best psychedelic band to emerge after 1972.
Also:
Psychocandy (1985) — Jesus and Mary Chain (one of the CD versions adds “Some Candy Talking” midway through; skip this song)
Explosions in the Glass Palace (1984) — Rain Parade (6-song EP)
People in Sorrow (1969) — Art Ensemble of Chicago
The Inner Mounting Flame (1971) — Mahavishnu Orchestra
We found the Beatles’ psychedelic credentials completely lacking (“Tomorrow Never Knows” aside), but found Dylan c. 1965-66 to be terrific.
Another non-psychedelic album that works really well: Closer (1980) — Joy Division
And of course there are dozens upon dozens of live Grateful Dead LPs, the best mostly in the Dick’s Picks and Dave’s Picks series. The third CD in volume 15 (Elizabethtown, 1977) is particularly incredible.
Also the original Nuggets album (1977) and the two great box sets that followed. And Miles Davis’ 1970s albums are pretty great.
Jeff Downing
July 6, 2023 at 7:30 pm
This is a thoughtful, varied and overall great list. Thanks for this. I agree with 80% of it. The other 20% I will check out!
Stefano
November 16, 2023 at 10:05 pm
The Byrds, “Fifth Dimension” (“Eight Miles High”)
Arthur Brown, “The Crazy World of Arthur Brown” (“Fire”)
Procol Harum, “A whiter shade of pale”
The Who, “I Can See For Miles”
Jeff
November 17, 2023 at 5:30 pm
No one has mentioned Vanilla Fudge. It was the epitome of Psychedelia
GratefulDave
December 4, 2023 at 1:12 am
You missed by far one of the best Tripp album ever “Misic In A Doll’s House” by Family, also by them is “It’s Only A Movie” and “Fearless” both great Tripp albums too. Glad to see you have Spirit on here but “12 Dreams is only number 4 for them, “Spirit (tital album), “Clear” and “The Family That Plays Together” are far better, also I have to comment on “Aoxomoxoa”, it’s OK but any LIVE Dead is better, after all they were the house band at Keasey’s acid tests. Oh, almost forgot to mention The Incredible String Band’s “We Tam” and The Hangmans Beautiful Daughter. Take it from me, I’ve eaten more LSD and Shrooms than most, I started when I was 13 and I’m 65 now and still doin’ it!!!!!
pat
December 27, 2023 at 11:09 pm
you should mention the “Ash Ra Tempel” group
louis Vanrenen
March 17, 2024 at 1:52 am
Thank you for making Forever Changes # 1… another favorite of mine, and much loved by many, is the phenomenal Quick Silver Messenger Service