From the "enlightened" vantage point of middle age (I'll be damned), I must say that Zaikesman's list--plus a Whitman's Sampler of other nominations--constitute the music from that period that I really love--especially Big Star, the New York Dolls, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, the Stooges, the Rolling Stones, and Neil Young.
However, it would be revisionist history to say those were my favorites then. Growing up in a very small North Carolina town, I hadn't heard of most of these artists, and wouldn't until the late 70s (and my late teens), when I discovered CREEM magazine and another world opened up for me. Of the aforementioned, the only songs I can remember hearing from that period are "Angie," by the Stones, "Reeling in the Years" by the Dan, and "Heart of Gold" by Young. Not even Morrison and Mitchell made it up into our neck of the woods, much less Alex Chilton or Iggy Pop.
The bands I really loved were Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, and Elton John. Then, in 1975, I discovered Kiss! And Fleetwood Mac! And puberty!
Anyone else out there ever join the Kiss Army? I did.
And this concludes this week's episode of True Confessions. Join us next week when we examine the disco era and blow dryers.