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Jimi Hendrix is one of the most remembered pioneers for introducing a new sound in the sixties. His 1967 song "Purple Haze" in particular has become a time marker for the beginning of hard rock. Hendrix treated feedback and distortion as an important part of the art. Even his softer songs had timeless appeal such as "The Wind Cries Mary," "Bold As Love" and "Little Wing." He is also remembered for his lucid cover of the Dylan song "All Along The Watchtower." Other psychedelic pop acts had timeless appeal because of well-crafted hypnotic melodies as in "Time Of The Season" by The Zombies, "Along Comes Mary" by The Association, "Liar Liar" by The Castaways and "Incense And Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock. The term psychedelic music implied music created and performed under the influence of mind-altering drugs. But certain artists such as Frank Zappa of Mothers Of Invention, claimed to not take drugs, yet were considered psychedelic because the music was so unconventional. Psychedelia reached its most avantgarde peak with "Revolution 9" by The Beatles from their White Album in 1968. The recording was not so much a song but a montage of experimental studio tricks using soundbites to create a very unusal sonic experience. This recording inspired several artists to begin incorporating sounds other than those originating from musical instruments in their recordings. |
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