Garnet's Gems

Hiya folks, been awhile. I got very distracted when my father passed away, but I’m back now! I just spent the first half of my American history seminar reorganizing my albums charts, so I figured, why not share some of these rankings? We’re starting with 1964 because it’s the first year I’ve listened to 10 or more albums from. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

10. Kinks – The Kinks: 6.5

1964 is really the musical era of babies and toddlers, almost the entirety of this list is comprised of early albums by artists who would go on to radically alter the musical landscape of American pop culture.

This is one of the Kinks’ weaker albums, but it’s still got one great track, it’s still got some interesting songwriting, and gosh darn Early British Invasion rock is just so pleasant on the ears.

But also, thank goodness they got better from here.

9. Wednesday Morning, 3 AM. – Simon & Garfunkel: 7.5

I feel like I’d like this one more if the mixing/panning was a little less awkward and stilted, and also if the guitar tones were better. I really do quite like both the vocals and the songwriting on this one. Obviously The Sounds of Silence is the standout track here, but an easy second place for me would have to be The Sun is Burning, very 1960s style apocalyptic imagery.

Even the weakest Simon & Garfunkel album is solidly good, it just goes to show how great a duo they were.

8. The Judy Collins Concert – Judy Collins: 7.75

A live album??? How scandalous! No, but this one is actually very good. Judy Collins is an excellent singer, but I’ve often found her arrangements and covers to be a bit bland and pale. This is not particularly the case with this album, though it is present to some degree. Here, her voice shines through with some very sparse and airy arrangements. I quite like her cover of The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (one of my favourite Bob Dylan songs), and Cruel Mother is also a highlight, but honestly the average quality of these songs is fairly consistent the whole way through.

7. The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Bob Dylan: 8

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear (and not for the only time here). This is solidly a great album, Bob’s early folky work usually is pretty great just generally, and there are too many highlights to mention, so instead I’ll point out some tracks that didn’t really land with me. With God on Our Side feels too obvious and kinda boring musically, Restless Farewell isn’t a bad song, but Bob usually has such excellent closing songs that I can’t find myself too excited for this one.

Overall a great album, give it a listen if you love acoustic folk music.

6. England’s Newest Hitmakers – The Rolling Stones: 8

Yes, I listened to the American versions, sue me. No other blues cover band was ever as convincing as the Stones. The songs themselves range from forgettable to somewhat notable, with one exception (the excellent Buddy Holly Not Fade Away), but the sheer charisma that Jagger, Richards, & pals bring to the table turns them all into thrilling classics.

This is a greater than the sum of its parts album if I’ve ever heard one. Good blues.

5. Another Side of Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan: 8

Annnnndddd, he’s back! Both Dylan albums on this list are fairly similar in terms of quality, probably the closest two in his early discography, but this one is a bit more consistent. Less folky, more personal, this one feels like Dylan bearing his soul.

Just give it a listen, these songs work best together.

4. 12 x 5 – The Rolling Stones: 8

I wish I could say that the Stones were the last repeat artist on this list, but I would be lying. This one shares the strengths of England’s Newest Hitmakers but also has Time is on my Side and It’s All Over Now, soooooo… It’s better.

3. Beatles For Sale – The Beatles: 8.25

Some idiots out there will tell you that this is the worst Beatles album, and they would be wrong.

This is a rocking and rolling thrill ride all the way through. What the Stones do for the blues, the Beatles do for rock n’ roll.

Beatles for Sale has some of the best Beatles songs ever (Eight Days a Week and I’ll Follow the Sun), a slew of great high energy rockers, and then also Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby. Very good album, but you can’t win them all.

2. Where Did Our Love Go? – The Supremes: 8.75

Motown gets so unfairly ignored nowadays, but the Supremes were an elite vocal group that put most of the era’s rock to shame.

There isn’t a bad track here, they’re all good. This album gives to your ears what eating a warm slice of banana cake (covered in butter) gives to your mouth.

1. A Hard Day’s Night – The Beatles: 9

3 artists accounted for 6 albums in this list, I wish I could say I was sorry, but I can’t, ’64 was a weak year for a lot of artists, and for music as a whole. Only a few artists were making elite music (also I haven’t listened to every good album, so I’m working with what I know)

Any song on this album could’ve been the best of many other bands. Lennon & McCartney may not have hit their peak on this album, but had the Beatles finished before ’65 they would still have had a very fair shot at the title of best artist of the 60s.

The mixing, the harmonies, the instrumentals, and the songwriting is all elite here. Pick a song at random, it’s excellent.

Pure pop genius.

Final thoughts

This isn’t the most interesting year to talk about in music, too much repetition, but I felt I had to get through it before moving on to more interesting times.

Bye!!!