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1965 Page
We feature albums from the year 1965 throughout 2015. During this 50th anniversary celebration of this music, we have written original reviews these albums:

* 1965 Album of the Year

Below are further descriptions of each album, in the order that we reviewed.

January 28, 2015
Begin Here by The ZombiesThe Zombies were one of the more original pop groups from the first “British Invasion” of the early to mid 1960s. Their British debut, Begin Here is balanced between covers and originals while aptly displaying the group’s penchant for harmony and composition.

Review of Begin Here

March 5, 2015
Kinda Kinks by The KinksThe Kinks recorded and released their first majority-original album in quite a hurried frenzy in early 1965. Although some of the tracks on Kinda Kinks are underdeveloped, the album is still a rock gem which shows the vast promise of this talented band.

Review of Kinda Kinks

March 22, 2015
Bringing It All Back Home by Bob DylanBob Dylan exponentially extended the boundaries of two musical genres with his 1965 brilliant release Bringing It All Back Home. This was not simply done by adding electric backing instruments to one side, but more potently through his profound, introspective and sometimes surreal lyrical passages.

Review of Bringing It All Back Home

June 13, 2015
For Your Love by The YardbirdsFor Your Love is admittedly less a true album than a compilation made mainly of singles and B-sides from the previous year. Still, this first official studio album by The Yardbirds has large historical significance as the moment when Eric Clapton had the lead guitarist reigns over to Jeff Beck.

Review of For Your Love

July 30, 2015
Out of Our Heads by The Rolling StonesThe most successful phase of their long career started in mid-1965 for The Rolling Stones, first with the June release of the single “Satisfaction” followed by the July release of Out of Our Heads. More importantly, this album proved the viability and popularity of the group’s original songs for the first time.

Review of Out of Our Heads

August 6, 2015
Help by The BeatlesHelp!, a hybrid between songs from the featured film and other recordings from early 1965, saw The Beatles straddle the line between the rock formula of their early years and the branching out and inventiveness of the late 60s Beatles. The album was a phenomenal success worldwide and it spawned three #1 singles.

Review of Help!

September 15, 2015
Otis Blue by Otis ReddingOtis Redding found breakthrough success with his third album, Otis Blue. More importantly, the musical arrangement and soulful vocals would provide influence that rippled through rock, blues, and soul for decades to come.

Review of Otis Blue

November 15, 2015
Having a Rave Up by The YardbirdsThe Yardbirds released a unique and divergent album in late 1965 with Having a Rave Up. It features newer studio recordings on the first side and live tracks from a year and a half earlier on the second side.

Review of Having a Rave Up

November 26, 2015
Do You Believe In Magic by The Lovin SpoonfulThe Lovin Spoonful‘s debut album (and single of the same name) sparked a very successful but meteoric stint for the quartet. Do You Believe in Magic was also a showcase for the group’s incredible diversity in playing styles and genres.

Review of Do You Believe In Magic

December 3, 2015
Rubber Soul by The BeatlesFor the first time in their meteoric career, The Beatles were able to compose and produce an album in one (albeit short) block of dedicated time. Rubber Soul, while still mostly filled with “love” songs, shows the group in a more deliberate, thoughtful and mature light, both lyrically and musically.

Review of Rubber Soul

December 6, 2015
Turn Turn Turn by The ByrdsThe Byrds second album was the last to feature all members of the original quartet. Turn! Turn! Turn! built on the tremendous momentum that the group had built through 1965 and solidified the group as original and iconic contributors to 1960s music.

Review of Turn! Turn! Turn!

December 14, 2015
My Generation by The WhoEarly on in their career, The Who went through several managed style (and name) changes. Their debut album, My Generation, reflects a confluence of these early styles as well as some indications of their compositional originality and sonic innovations to come.

Review of My Generation

August 30, 2015
Highway 61 Revisited, Album of the YearAn album born of the romanticism of a major American musical artery, Highway 61 Revisited was a historical, breakthrough album for Bob Dylan. The album saw Dylan’s full realization of rock based arrangements while maintaining the depth of his poetic lyrics and contemporary themes.

Review of Highway 61 Revisited

March 9, 2020
The Beach Boys TodayThe Beach Boys Today! was the 1965 studio album by The Beach Boys where they subtly started shift in production technique and lyrical themes. Producer and group leader Brian Wilson decided to move away from the surfing / cars / girls themes that had brought them super-stardom and towards more mature themes with richer accompanying orchestration.

Review of The Beach Boys Today!

March 20, 2020
Here Are the Sonics by The SonicsIn 1965 The Sonics unleashed a record that captured their live sound at the peak of its power. The 12 tracks on Here Are the Sonics!!! were recorded with a limited number of mics, giving into a highly energetic, lo-fi feel that was a huge influence on the later genre of punk rock.

Review of Here Are the Sonics!!!

May 5, 2020
Animal Tracks by The AnimalsThe Animals released a pair of 1965 albums that were each titled Animal Tracks, a May 1965 release in their native UK and a September release in the US. Aside from sharing a title these two records bore little resemblance in either song selections or effective approach.

Review of Animal Tracks

June 27, 2020
Mr Tambourine Man by The ByrdsThe Byrds‘ 1965 debut, Mr. Tambourine Man, has been credited as a significant step in the evolution of rock n’ roll. The songs draw heavily from Dylan and other folk contemporaries but are delivered with a distinct electric sound and backbeat which would reverberate in influence for decades to come.

Review of Mr. Tambourine Man

All Reviews     1966 →

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