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The greatest week in rock history

Eric Boehlert writes this in Salon:

Thirty-four years ago this week, the Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Temptations, Santana, Crosby Stills and Nash, and Creedence Clearwater all shared top billing on the Billboard album chart.

There's never been another lineup quite like it -- and there will never be again.

  1. "Abbey Road," the Beatles
  2. "Led Zeppelin II," Led Zeppelin
  3. "Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas," Tom Jones
  4. "Green River," Creedence Clearwater Revival
  5. "Let It Bleed," the Rolling Stones
  6. "Santana," Santana
  7. "Puzzle People," the Temptations
  8. "Blood Sweat & Tears," Blood Sweat & Tears
  9. "Crosby, Stills & Nash," Crosby, Stills & Nash
  10. "Easy Rider" soundtrack (featuring the Byrds, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Steppenwolf)

Just imagine the mix tape possibilities from that single '69 week:

  • "Come Together,"
  • "Whole Lotta Love,"
  • "The Weight,"
  • "It's Not Unusual,"
  • "Green River,"
  • "You Can't Always Get What You Want,"
  • "Wooden Ships,"
  • "Gimme Shelter,"
  • "I Can't Get Next to You,"
  • "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding),"
  • "Here Comes the Sun,"
  • "Evil Ways,"
  • "And When I Die,"
  • "Bad Moon Rising,"
  • "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," and
  • "Born to Be Wild."

Seven of the acts from that December week have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And if you include the appearances of the Byrds and Jimi Hendrix on the "Easy Rider" soundtrack, as well as songwriting credits by Bob Dylan and The Band's Robbie Robertson, that's 11 Hall of Famers side-by-side in one week.

Not to mention some of rock's most inventive guitarists:

  • Keith Richards,
  • Roger McGuinn,
  • Jimmy Page,
  • George Harrison,
  • Carlos Santana and, of course,
  • Jimi Hendrix.


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