Pure Gold On 45

The Top 40 US psychedelic singles, chosen by musician and leading psych collector ERIK LINDGREN

My criteria for this list was to pick the most imaginative, excessive, and creative songs released as 7”s in the latter half of the 60s. Extra points were given for sophisticated composition, dynamic production, and colourful lyrics. Unique musical textures such as backwards sounds, theremin/electronics, heavy echo/reverb, and other interesting sonic effects helped in their rank.

I shied away from songs that are more garage in character (e.g. Gonn’s Blackout Of Gretely, The Bees’ Voices Green & Purple and Sweet Cherry’s Funny Things Floating), which are unquestionably brilliant records, but which don’t exactly fit the definition of psychedelic music. I also avoided songs that were humorous or insincere in character (e.g. Kim Fowley’s The Trip and Jefferson Handkerchief’s I’m Allergic To Flowers).

My final criterion was that the vocal and instrumental performances had to be somewhat accomplished and production value had to bring out the best of the music. Everything is subjective of course, but this is what I’d consider to be the Top 40 first-generation US psychedelic singles.

The prices vary wildly, since some of these discs are extremely rare and only a handful of copies are known to exist. …

by Erik Lindgren
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