Sunshine Superman

This album's artwork to me really epitomizes the psychedelic vibe. The art-nouveau style on the american release is one of my favorite designs ever (maybe sans the photo of Donovan in the middle). I don't think Donovan gets enough cred. This album, Mellow Yellow, and Hurdy Gurdy Man, all classics. Supposedly, John Paul Jones and John Bonham both played on the Hurdy Gurdy sessions.

Donovan - Sunshine Superman
Epic - 1966

The Velvet Underground & Nico

I know, another obvious one, but its got the peel-off banana sticker cover, "Venus in Furs", and really is the true intersection of the art and music world in the 20th century. For those of you that don't know, Andy Warhol is credited as producer, though he's been said to be more of a catalyst and facilitator. Whatever, the fact that Lou Reed, John Cale, and Andy Warhol all happened to appear in the universe at the same time, and in New York City, no less, is nothing short of a miracle, and this is the untarnished record of that cosmic alignment. It goes from dark songs like "Venus in Furs" to the tenderness of "I'll be your mirror" to the lament of "Femme Fatale" in under 50 minutes. Few have made a bolder statement since. A moment of silence, please :)

Ege Bamyasi

From the first note of "Pinch", you know you are going somewhere new with Can on this record. They didn't have a very long period of making music this good, in fact, this and Tago Mago are the only ones I listen to over and over, but they were doing something so forward-thinking, far out, and yet really slamming rhythmically, that this record not only holds up, but is that rare gift of an album that is always revealing more of itself to you with each listen. I also love that they recorded it in a disused cinema near Koln. The cover art is great in that its both a play on the band's name and is like their nod to the Velvet Underground with their Warhol cover. In no particular order, check out Vitamin C, I'm So Green, Spoon, and Pinch.

Can - Ege Bamyasi
United Artists - 1972

Some Girls

OK, I love the track "Miss You". I mean, Shattered is great, too, but Miss You has all the elements, the hook, the harmonica, the four-on-the-floor beat. Perfection. Again, the image here isn't the original cover (featuring apparently unlicensed photos of Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, and Lucille Ball), which I have yet to track down. I suppose it's becoming obvious that I really just aspire to having all these rare discs, and that I'm hoping the internet gods will somehow cause them to come my way... We'll see!


Rolling Stones - Some Girls
Atlantic 1978