The Grateful Dead - s/t

Genre: Psychedelic
Year: 1967
About: The Grateful Dead are the Godfathers of the jam scene, and this is the album that started it all (over 20 years before the explosion!) Their debut is much more alive and fast-paced than their later releases, presumably due to amphetamines according to members. Closest to the band's true live sound is Viola Lee Blues tying up the end of the album with a nice jam, which errupts into a frenzy of acid-drenched madness before they bring it back together to finish the song. Characteristic psychedelic organ hops around behind the fuzzed out guitars, with Jerry Garcia's leads starting to show some of the individuality he'd later become known for. The entire album is a solid showcasing of what had become the "San Francisco Sound" as shown by the frontrunners of the scene. Released during the the Summer of Love, this album is a perfect introduction to the counterculture of the 60's.
Sounds Like: Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Country Joe & the Fish
Experience

Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

Genre: Experimental, Progressive, Jazz Fusion
Year: 1969
About: Highly influencial, Frank Zappa's first solo studio outing is full of inventive songwriting and large scale composition. Unlike anything beforehand, Zappa paved the way for various genres of music on this album, exploring vast uncharted territory with this release. There is some stellar jamming lead guitar throughout the album, carrying the listener through much of the quirky fusion excursions. The ensemble features several new instruments to the rock scene, such as flute, saxophone, clarinet, and electric violin. On a side note, this album marks one of the first 16-track recordings to be released to the public while the Beatles were still working with 8-track technology. For those new to Zappa, as with much of his work, it may take a few listens, but it is thoroughly worth the time.
Sounds Like: Captain Beefheart, Gong, The Mothers of Invention, King Crimson
Experience