135. Mothers Of Invention - We're Only In it For The Money

Release Date: 1968
Label: Verve

Twenty-four hours after listening to this album I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It was bizarre, brilliant and in parts unlistenable, but it seemed to work as a concept. It reminds me of the Bonzo Dog Band - which is a compliment and I'd like to hear it again sometime, but I think that, if bought, it would gather dust.

Rating: 6/10
Favourite Track: What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?

104. The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat

Release Date: 1968
Label: Verve

Velvet Underground's second album, and their last with founding member John Cale. After poor sales of their first album, their relationship with Andy Warhol deteriorated so they fired him and found themselves working with former Dylan producer, Tom Wilson.

The album is a cacophony of feedback and discordant guitar, spoken-word stories and seventeen minute odes to heroin and fellatio. It's not as good as the first album, but nothing they did ever would be.


Rating: 6/10
Favourite Track: The Gift

91. The Velvet Underground & Nico- The Velvet Underground & Nico

Release Date: 1967
Label: Verve

Another album I already own, so I didn't feel the need to listen to it again.It's one of my favourites from this period, I can even cope with Nico's vocals on this after slagging them off for her solo offering - 'Chelsea Girls' - The production is rough and raw, but it works.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Venus in Furs

77. Nico- Chelsea Girl

Release Date: 1967
Label: Verve

You're likely to recognise Nico from the Velvet Underground's debut album (more on them later) and if you don't know the name, you'll know the voice. This is the second album in a row in which the lyrics have been sung in the singer's second language (Nico is of German orgin) and this is the poorer of the two albums because it doesn't go anywhere lyrically or musically (the title track is the best example of this). It sounds like Nico has a vocal range of three semitones, her performance is that flat and monotonous.

Rating: 4/10
Favourite Track:

76. Astrud Gilberto - Beach Samba

Release Date: 1967
Label: Verve

Astrud Gilberto first appeared on this blog lending her vocals to 'The Girl From Ipanema' which is on her husband's collaboration with Stan Getz (Getz/Gilberto).

Rating: 7/10

69. The Mothers of Invention- Freak Out!

Release Date: 1966
Label: Verve

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Wowie Zowie

41. Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto

Release Date: 1963
Label: Verve

The second album from Stan Getz, and this time he's with Joao Gilberto. I enjoyed the first offering and this was even better, because there were vocals (even if they were in Portugese). There's not much to say about the album other than the fact it was a welcome relief after the dross that was James Brown.

Rating: 7/10
Favourite Track: So Danco Samba

33. Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba

Release Date: 1962
Label: Verve

I had another pleasant surprise with this album, and it was party from start to finish. I have no idea who Stan Getz is, but feel as though I've heard of Charlie Byrd before, though I can't think why. The title of the album is actually misleading, the songs are neither jazz nor samba, but instead Bossa Nova.

Overall: 7/10
Favourite Track: Samba de Uma Nota So

19. Ella Fitzgerald- Sings The Gershwin Song Book

Release Date: 1959
Label: Verve

Coming soon after Lady In Satin, I was expecting Ella to bare a strong similarity to Billie Holiday. I was both right and wrong. Whilst they're both female, jazzy and great, Ella has the better voice and songs. This album, which would be perfect for a Sunday, was a delight. Now, I'd heard of George Gershwin already; assuming this album would be about him alone, but I wasn't aware his brother (Ira) wrote the lyrics for a lot of G.Gershwin's compositions. And it was the lyrics I particularly enjoyed on this record. Of course, they were your typical Tin Pan Alley couplets, but they managed to be both original, catchy and memorable. This should take nothing away from Ella Fitzgerald's vocal performance, however, which is beautiful throughout.

Overall: 8/10
Favourite Track: Someone To Watch Over Me

Next Album: Ray Charles- The Genius of Ray Charles