1969’s Best Rock Albums

The ’60s closed on a foreboding note, and the following look back at 1969’s Best Rock Albums often reflects that. Unfortunately, a period fired by brightly colored dreams of peace and free love dissembled into one fraught with violence and sad endings.

The looming dissolution of the Beatles, after a stirring run of creative genius, signaled that everything would be different in the ’70s. They released their final album in Abbey Road, though the earlier-recorded Let It Be would follow, after some post-session doctoring from Phil Spector. They weren’t the only ones who departed: The original Jimi Hendrix Experience, Eric Burdon and the Animals and the Jeff Beck Group fell apart, even as Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones died. The warm feelings of Woodstock were quickly forgotten in the bloody aftermath of Altamont.

At the same time, bands appeared that would dominate the decade to come. Led Zeppelin released their acclaimed first and second albums in ’69, laying a sturdy foundation for superstardom. Chicago issued the first of what will eventually be four straight multi-album projects through 1972’s Chicago V. Mick Taylor joined the Stones, sparking their most heralded period – though one that was marked by a turn toward darker subject matter.

That was probably to be expected for a generation still reeling from shocking assassinations and an ever-escalating war. So, too, was a move toward nostalgia for the old ways. Bob Dylan went country, even as his old backing musicians in the Band released a determinedly homespun self-titled masterpiece. The Byrds also splintered, with two members breaking away to form the Americana-focused Flying Burrito Brothers.

All of it is woven together in the complex story that was 1969, as we count down staff-selected favorites from this turning point year:

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