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Joe Simonetti wrote on October 01, 2007 report
This is an interesting list. I don't imagine (and would never expect) music lovers and critics to agree on "best of" album lists. Be that as it may, Jimi Hendrix's "Band of Gypsys" (1970) broke enough new ground, musically speaking, and has sold enough copies world-wide to be included on this list and it's shocking that the album didn't even find its way onto the "best of the rest" section.
The album runs the gamut, from R&B and Soul ("Changes", "We Gotta Live Together" to funk ("Who Knows?"), melding rock and soul along the way "Power to Love" (aka "power of Soul") and features the ground-breaking aural recreation of the Vietnam War with "Machine Gun" <- Even if you were to treat the bomb sounds, helicopters, sirens, and gunfire tones as "gimmickry" -- the song still features a blistering guitar solo, which at the time of the albums release was widely considered the greatest guitar solo ever on a rock album.
I used to collect Jimi Hendrix recordings, so I know he wasn't the most consistent performer of his or any era. But the New Year's 1970 Fillmore East run, from which this album was culled, saw Hendrix in peak form. Any list that claims to offer "the best rock albums 1969-79" and excludes "Band of Gypsys" loses credibility. I'd buy that and I think most people would too.
Additionally, it's interesting to note that the album and band's name were a tribute to Django Reinhart, since this website focuses primarily on Jazz. -
David Frakes wrote on January 16, 2010 report
What about Frank Zappa & the Mothers "Roxy and Elsewhere"? What I would describe as a great recording of an incredible live performance.
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Chris Kenny wrote on March 12, 2010 report
I could'nt agree more with the both of you.
KIP -
Austin Albahae wrote on June 13, 2010 report
Stumbled on your site searching for Mad Dogs & Englishmen...and nice to see your top 10 list...
my2c ..I Love seeing my "If I were stranded on that old desert island" picks....Rock Of Ages - Mad Dogs & Englishmen - Ya Yas - Before The Flood and can't argue with; Waiting For Columbus- 4 Way Street - or ABB Live at The Filmore
Footnote: As a "retired" Dead Head I won't bother with any of the Dick's Pick's since The Is Nothing Like A Grateful Dead concert, so it is at least fair to add Europe '72 to this best 10 list as The Dead were after all the most successful live rock band in R&R history...
