10 Best Rock Music Double Albums Released In The 1960s

Feature Photo: F. van Geelen, Omroepvereniging VARA, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our list of the 10 Best Rock Music Studio Double Albums Released in the 1960s presents a selection of truly standout double albums released in that decade. Unlike the ’70s, the ’60s were not a time when double albums were frequently released. The record business was a far different animal in the 1960s. With the exception of bands like The Beatles and The Stones, record sales did not match the numbers that the industry saw starting in the mid-’70s when albums like Frampton Comes Alive! turned the industry upside down.

Bands in the 1960s also put out albums more frequently and released standalone singles between albums. There just was no time to put out double albums. But, of course, there were some really great ones that were real gems. Most of them came out towards the end of the decade, and changes in the music industry were beginning to happen. Here are ten essential ones that everyone should have in their collections.

# 10 – A Gift from a Flower to a Garden – Donovan

We kick off our list of the 10 Best Rock Music Studio Double Albums Released in the 1960s with a notable entry from the Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. The album, A Gift from a Flower to a Garden, was Donovan’s fifth studio album, released in 1967. This release is particularly interesting because its two halves were also released separately in the United States as Wear Your Love Like Heaven and For Little Ones, while the complete two-record set was also issued as A Gift from a Flower to a Garden.

This distinction is one reason this double album made our list, as it highlights the different ways the music was marketed. The music on the album represented Donovan’s stance against drug use and the excesses of the 1960s. After some legal troubles, he decided to turn it all around and promote more natural forms of enhancement, such as meditation.

# 9 – Trout Mask Replica – Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band

Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart is one of the most important records of the 1960s. This album is a stunning amalgamation of diverse musical elements, including blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and garage rock, with a hint of avant-garde. It throws everything into the pot, stirs it up, and flips it upside down, resulting in a sound that is incredibly captivating yet not for everyone. Fans of musical innovators like Frank Zappa—who produced the album, absolutely loved it. Captain Beefheart, the mind behind this masterpiece, has unfortunately fallen a bit under the radar in classic rock history, which is regrettable given his brilliance as an artist.

# 8 – Odessa – Bee Gees

Long before the Bee Gees became a worldwide phenomenon in the mid-1970s with their string of pop hits and the phenomenally successful soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever, they sounded completely different in the 1960s than they did in the mid-’70s. Of course, many fans remember the pre-disco Bee Gees hits, such as “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and others. Yet, beyond these, not enough attention has been given to their sixth studio album, Odessa, a two-record set released in early 1969. Initially, Odessa didn’t receive much love from anyone, but over time, it has come to be seen as one of the greatest musical works the band ever put out. This is truly a great album filled with amazing songs that everyone should take a chance on.

# 7 – Tommy – The Who

In the number seven position on our 10 Best Rock Music Studio Double Albums Released in the 1960s list is The Who’s acclaimed double album Tommy. Pete Townshend’s story of a young man named Tommy Walker became one of the most significant rock operas of all time. This story and album fueled a Broadway play and a major motion picture. I remember seeing Tommy in the movie theaters when I was about 15 years old. It was a frightening movie, mostly because of all the low-life characters in it, although Elton John was a blast.

This was a wonderful, brilliant rock album that was turned into a just-over-the-top, sad, depressing movie that even its uplifting ending couldn’t erase from the first two-thirds of the film. However, putting the film aside, the original Tommy album is simply brilliant. The story isn’t really that original, as Townshend has said he was inspired by the teachings of Meher Baba, who was seen as a major spiritual figure. Yet, the music is just jaw-dropping. It’s even more stunning that after Pete Townshend composed the music for Tommy, he followed the album with two even stronger albums: Who’s Next and Quadrophenia.

# 6 – Freak Out! – The Mothers of Invention

Frank Zappa makes his second appearance on this list, the first as the producer of Captain Beefheart’s album. However, in the number six spot, he comes front and center as the leader of his band The Mothers of Invention. Freak Out! was The Mothers of Invention’s debut album. It became one of the most essential rock albums ever released, paving the way for experimentation in rock and roll that would inspire thousands of artists and captivate music fans looking for something more original than a 3-minute pop or rock song.

# 5 – Wheels of Fire – Cream

At the halfway point on our 10 Best Rock Music Studio Double Albums Released In The 1960s list is the classic Cream album Wheels of Fire. This legendary Cream album is a bit of an exception on this list. It’s the only album that’s half studio, half live. Yet, because so few double live or double studio albums were released in the ’60s, we decided to make an exception and include this one. One reason is that the studio album is just amazing.

How can we neglect an album that opens with the song “White Room,” which is followed by “Sitting on Top of the World”? Songs like “Politician” and “Born Under a Bad Sign” were also part of the studio half of this double record set. Of course, disc two drew from live performances recorded at Winterland and the Fillmore in San Francisco and included the songs “Crossroads,” “Spoonful,” “Traintime,” and “Toad”—just killer versions of those songs. This is another legendary rock album everyone should have in their collection.

# 4 – The Chicago Transit Authority – Chicago

Chicago Transit Authority (Remastered) [CD]

One of the hallmarks of all these two-record sets that we’ve placed on this list is that so many of them were innovative records that fueled new musical movements. Chicago, as well as Blood, Sweat and Tears, merged the sounds of rock and roll and jazz like no other bands had ever done before. However, as innovative as that was, the album’s success was based not just on musical ingenuity and production, but also on the sheer wonderful assortment of songs the band composed for the record.

Chicago’s debut album was fueled by songs such as “Questions 67 and 68,” “I’m a Man,” “Beginnings,” and the widely successful single “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” However, our favorite song on the album was the closing track “Liberation,” which really showcased the talents of guitarist Terry Kath. At the time, the band consisted of Peter Cetera on bass and lead vocals, the incredible guitarist Terry Kath, Robert Lamm on keyboards, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone, Walter Parazaider on saxophone, and Danny Seraphine on drums.

# 3 – Blonde on Blonde – Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde was his seventh studio album release and also his first double studio album. In fact, it’s one of the first rock and roll double studio albums ever released. It is considered one of his most significant album releases. The album is filled with many songs that would become some of his most well-known, including the opening track “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.”

The album also includes songs such as “I Want You,” “Just Like a Woman,” “Visions of Johanna,” “Absolutely Sweet Marie,” and the side four track, the 11-minute-long “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands.” Musicians on the album included Al Kooper, Robbie Robertson, Joe South, and many more. The album became a top 10 hit in 1966 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” hit number two on the charts. In the United States, the album was eventually certified double platinum. Over time, the album has continued to gather more and more accolades from critics and fans alike.

# 2 – Electric Ladyland – The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Just off the top spot on our 10 Best Rock Music Studio Double Albums Released in the 1960s list is the monumental Jimi Hendrix album Electric Ladyland. This two-record set was the final studio album released by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Sadly, it was only the third album that the band ever released. Of course, tons of compilations and outtakes albums have been put out over the years because Hendrix died so young. It stands as one of the greatest rock albums of all time, even though it’s a two-record set. It was by far his most commercially successful album. It was The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s only number one album in the United States.

The album was fueled by his widely successful remake of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” as well as songs that would become classics over time like “Voodoo Chile,” “Burning of the Midnight Lamp,” and “Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland).” At the time, The Jimi Hendrix Experience consisted of Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell. Nonetheless, there were some pretty impressive guest appearances on the album, including Steve Winwood on Hammond organ and Jack Casady on bass on “Voodoo Chile.” Buddy Miles played drums on “Rainy Day, Dream Away” and “Still Raining, Still Dreaming,” while The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones played percussion on “All Along the Watchtower.” What an album this was.

# 1 – The Beatles (White Album) – The Beatles

The Beatles (The White Album) (50th Anniversary

We close out our 10 Best Rock Music Studio Double Albums Released in the 1960s list with the phenomenal album by The Beatles, simply titled The Beatles. Of course, because of its pure white album cover, almost everyone calls it The White Album. Putting the title aside for a moment, many people call this their favorite Beatles album. Many critics and fans also argue that The Beatles’ White Album is their greatest musical achievement.

While some would argue instead for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is seen as one of the most innovative albums of all time because of its recording techniques, many would also argue for Abbey Road because of the sheer brilliance of every song on the record and because it was the final album the band recorded together. Nonetheless, we love all these albums, and obviously, this is the only Beatles double studio album that the group ever released. It may not just be the greatest double album of the ’60s; it’s probably the greatest double album of all time.