
Claude Lemaire continues his series on records that transformed the pop and rock music landscape, organized by year of release.

In his new series, music and vinyl expert Claude Lemaire highlights essential recordingsโand the best pressings to seek outโfor your LP collection, indexed by year of release.

On June 18, 1967, the Monterey Pop Festival bore witness to a performance that would become legendary in the annals of rock history. Jimi Hendrix, a relatively unknown guitarist at the time, took the stage and delivered a performance that catapulted him into superstardom and forever changed the landscape of rock music. This electrifying set,…

The stage, lit only by spotlights and the soft glow of amplifiers, became his canvas. From the opening riffs, the audience was entranced. Each note, each chord was not just heard but felt

Joe Cockerโs breakthrough came in 1968 with a soulful, waltz-time cover of โWith a Little Help from My Friends,โ crafted alongside Chris Stainton and studio ace Jimmy Pageโlaunching a transatlantic ascent capped by Woodstock.

James Brownโs funk revolution redefined rhythm, shifting focus to the downbeat groove in hits like โPapaโs Got a Brand New Bag.โ Meanwhile, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Eddie Floyd shaped soulโs evolution, fueling discoโs dancefloor legacy.

From jump blues and Ray Charlesโs boundary-breaking โWhatโd I Sayโ to the polished hits of Motown and gritty grooves of Stax, this sweeping history traces soul musicโs riseโand discoโs rootsโin a racially and musically transformative America.