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The 1960s are known for being an extremely influential decade for rock. While there are countless beloved and significant 1960s records, Collider managed to narrow down the top 10 classic rock albums from the decade.
The list, published on April 7, featured classics like the 1966 album Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane's 1967 record, Surrealistic Pillow, Big Brother and the Holding Company's album Cheap Thrills, released in 1968, Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 record, Green River, and Santana's 1969 album, Santana. Collider's top five classic rock albums from the '60s included The Rolling Stones' 1966 record, Aftermath, The Jimi Hendrix Experience's 1967 album, Are You Experienced, The Stooges' 1969 self-titled album, and the 1966 record Revolver by The Beatles.
Collider named The Velvet Underground & Nico's 1967 album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, the most perfect 1960s classic rock album. The publication reported that The Velvet Underground & Nico secured the top spot because of how influential it became for the punk scene. In addition, the Andy Warhol-produced record tackled subjects considered off-limits in the '60s.
Lou Reed Said He Viewed Andy Warhol as The Band's Protector
In a 1993 interview, The Velvet Underground & Nico's lyricist and singer, the late Lou Reed, shared that the band was able to release the exact record they wanted because of Warhol's role as the 1967 album's producer. Reed explained that Warhol, a well-known pop artist, was the band's "protector" because his presence dissuaded the record company from attempting to make the album more palatable.
"Because he was Andy Warhol, they left everything in its pure state. They would say, 'Is that okay Mr. Warhol?' And he'd say, 'Oh yeah.' And so they didn't change anything. And so right at the very beginning, we experienced what it was like to be in the studio and record things our way and have essentially total freedom," said Reed, who died in 2013 at the age of 71.
