"(Albums were large thin vinyl discs with groves in them with a label in the center)"
This thread reminds me that it seemed much more exciting buying vinyl than CD's. The much larger cover image, better liner notes, and that pristine black vinyl.
With CD's, by the time I finish struggling with the security tape, the joy is sucked out.
Of course, in the end, it's the quality of the music the matters most.
To me the great year was '65. The Beatles released their best album: Rubber Soul, The Stones released Satisfaction - once voted the best rock song ever, and definately the all time best - most creative - Stones song, Dylan released his Highway 61 Revisited - with the canonical Like a rolling stone - I could go on... but you get the picture: '65 is my year.
Tor
I agree with '65, but '68 is a close second. The riots, the assassinations, the music, the war, the mood of the country. It wasn't all positive by a mile, but things were happening and changing. It was so raw.
"Here's a little perspective to make me realize my age.
Yeah. I have another similar example that reminds me of my age, although it's not musical. Consider a movie set 13 years into the future upon its release, and then consider the current date.
I remember the day very clearly 40 years ago as my band, called the Djinn was reorganizing. We had previously lost our bass player and were having trouble getting a good replacement. So I switched from lead guitar, bought a Beatles Bass, and had the rhythm player take over lead guitar. We then got a new rhythm player. It was our first practice with the new line-up and our manager brought in the new Beatles album.
We did not get any practice done that day. We listened to Sgt Pepper's over and over. It blew me away. Although it was not my favorite Beatles album it had the most memorable impact upon release.
This is too much nostalgia for me, makes me sad, makes me wish i could do it all again. Mustn't feel sorry for myself, anyway, nostalgia is a thing of the past.
Speaking of Paul McCartney, about 10 years ago I was talking to a 20-something girl in a club one night and mentioned something about Paul and the Beatles. She said, and I swear this is true, "He was in a band before Wings?"
To be fair, Sir Paul was in Wings for much longer than he was in the Beatles <G> as I remember him saying in an interview once.
And NOW Peeps, if yah REALLY want to go misty-eyed - GET the hankerchiefs ready, put on them flares and put a flower in yer hair . .http://www.thebeatles.com/ . .you HAVE been warned . . [/link]
If I remember right, Sgt. Peppers was made on a four-track tape recorder. In Abbey Road, yes, absolutely, but still. The recording technique stuff is probably the most innovative thing about that album. I am not putting the album down, I just think it's not the greatest of the Beatles albums. At least not when you look at the songwriting and -performing.