It's getting near dawn

Cream - Disraeli Gears - 1967

And we have arrived to one of the craziest years in the history of popular music. Of course, since for the most part, we've been listening to The Beatles so far, the changes seem even more pointed. But the fact was that 1967 was the year of psychedelia, and it seems that everyone was doing it, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Quite the contrary, it was what made music grow and move in different and more creative directions.
And it was 1967 the year in which Cream released this one, their second album. And, of course, they were not immune to the spirit of the era.
While there's lots of blues here, this album couldn't have been released at any other time. And songs like "Sunshine of Your Love" are here to remind us of that.
I think Eric Clapton shines the brightest when playing more bluesy tunes but, at least in this album, he is a powerful force, and I am enjoying listening to this one again an awful lot. It's probably not a perfect album, but there's not really a bad track either. Even some of the weaker ones (I would maybe put "World of Pain" here) are well worth a listen because of Clapton's guitars.

• Apparently, the title for the album came up while they were talking about bicycles and someone said "Disraeli Gears" instead of "derailleur gears", which refers to a type of transmission for bikes. Disraeli, of course, refers to Benjamin Disraeli, former UK Prime Minister.
• "SWLABR" is an acronym for "She Walks Like A Bearded Rainbow". Yes, lots and lots of drugs. It's a great tune anyway!
• "Mother's Lament", which is a traditional song done in a clearly mocking tone, is also known as, ehem, "Your Baby has Gone down the Plughhole". Talk about throwing the baby with the bathwater. 

It seems you just got lost somewhere out in the world

Big Brother & The Holding Company - Big Brother & The Holding Company - 1967

This one is a strange mixture of folk, country, psychedelia, and it doesn't always work too well, to be honest. Songs in which Janis Joplin's vocals are less preeminent, like "Light is Faster than Sound", while interesting enough, are also forgettable enough. Now, when Janis gets the chance to sing, that's a different thing. Mind you, she was never my favourite female singer. I am usually more partial to either less coarse or deeper ranges of female voices. But it is her voice that carries this album for the most part. 

• In the original release, the last track is "All is Loneliness", which is one of the most interesting tunes here, but also, it's a clearly psychedelic/experimental one. What was the reason so many bands would put their most "out there" tracks at the end of their albums?
• The re-release, which is the version I have, has two extra tracks, "Coo Coo" and "The Last Time", both previously released as singles, and alternate versions of "Call On Me", and "Bye Bye Baby". The four are great, so definitely an improvement.

While a little chappy waves a golden wand

David Bowie - David Bowie - 1967

Well, this is a very strange album. It's all over the place, for starters. But definitely sounds more like vaudeville than, well, than anything that would sound in those days, I guess. At some points, it's surprisingly silly and juvenile, for example "Love you till Tuesday". There's some elements, mostly in the lyrics, that foresee topics that would be a thing in later releases, but musically it's clear that he still hadn't found his style, and this one is not for everybody.

• As an example of themes that he would continue to develop in the future, we have "We Are Hungry Men", which deals with cannibalism, infanticide and abortion. Yes, pure joy. But more to the point, there's the idea of some "messiah" that wants to lead people, which is a commonly revisit topic in his songs.
• "Rubber Band" has a tuba. Seriously, a tuba. Can't help but think "one more OOMPA and you will be evicted!" Especially since the Rubber Band plays tunes out of tune.