And Clapton Didn't Even Know

So "Music From Big Pink" saved rock? Other releases of 1968 include:

- White Light/White Heat
- Astral Weeks
- Bookends
- The White Album
- Beggar's Banquet
- Village Green Preservation Society
- Sweetheart Of the Rodeo
- We're Only In It For the Money
- Truth
- Electric Ladyland
- Child Is the Father To Man
- Cheap Thrills
- Lady Soul
- Traffic
- James Taylor
- Wheels Of Fire
- Waiting For the Sun
- This Was

As much as I love The Band I find it hard to single out MFBP as a cornerstone album when viewed amongst this group. Over time the Velvet Underground proved far more influential and we're currently on the third generation of female singers trying to sound like Aretha (Clapton plays a track on "Lady Soul"). I would also point out that the following year (1969) saw the release of two Led Zeppelin albums and the full blown emergence of prog rock. Clearly the long guitar solo still had life post MFBP.

The film documentary "Beware Of Mr. Baker" is well worth seeing. Ginger Baker is a fascinating person who's lived a crazed life. The movie provides nice insights into this period of music.

Jfant

Re: the first power trio

Many say Cream

Some argue for Buddy Holly and the Crickets

From my perspective, it's probably Johnny Kidd and the Pirates (ca 1962)

I don't think there's a definitive answer

I'll have to listen to Change of the Century again to fully appreciate this. I know Cream's live playing pretty well and I think they had few equals--probably none in their time. A few years later the Mahavishnu Orchestra kicked up a similar amount of dust, but there were five of them and the bass player stuck to the bassics.

Rock could use some saving these days but not back then when it was firing on all burners.

Cream was a different breed than holly and the crickets. No need to compare.