It was the final chapter of one of the most pivotal decades in modern history. The political and cultural shifts that occurred in the decade of the 1960s redefined social roles, political viewpoints and worldviews in general. The final year delivered event after fateful event that could not have been better scripted by Hollywood.

As we enter the final few months of its fortieth anniversary, I felt it a fitting juncture to look back on, and truly ponder some of these momentous occasions. My rhetorical question through all of this, is how have these events impacted the world you and I live in right now?

The following is my non-exhaustive list of some album releases during the year nineteen hundred and sixty-nine. If you’re like me, and still trying to go back and catch up with decades upon decades of great music, I highly recommend Lala.com. You can listen to anything in their entire library, one time through, for free.

As you go through (and hopefully listen, and re-listen) to this list, try and comprehend that all of this music came out in 1969.

Before 2010 begins, I will be posting many more blog posts that go deeper into various aspects of the cultural and social significance of the year 1969.

A Non-Exhaustive List of 1969 Album Releases:

Abbey Road – The Beatles

The Allman Brothers Band – The Allman Brothers Band

At San Quentin – Johnny Cash

Ball – Iron Butterfly

Ballad of Easy Rider – The Byrds

The Band – The Band

Bayou Country – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Bless Its Pointed Little Head – Jefferson Airplane

Blind Faith – Blind Faith

Blood Sweat & Tears – Blood, Sweat & Tears

The Brothers: Isley – The Isley Brothers

Chicago Transit Authority – Chicago

Clouds – Joni Mitchell

Concerto in B. Goode – Chuck Berry

Country Folk – Waylon Jennings

Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash

David’s Album – Joan Baez

Deep Purple III – Deep Purple

Doing His Thing – Ray Charles

The Doobie Brothers – The Doobie Brothers

Dusty in Memphis – Dusty Springfield

Easy – Marvin Gaye

Elephant Mountain – The Youngbloods

Ella – Ella Fitzgerald

Empty Sky – Elton John

From Elvis in Memphis – Elvis Presley

From Genesis to Revelation – Genesis

Get Down To It – James Brown

Grand Funk – Grand Funk Railroad

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – The Hollies

Hot Rats – Frank Zappa

Instant Replay – The Monkees

I Say A Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin

Kick Out the Jams – MC5

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin

Let It Bleed – The Rolling Stones

Live/Dead – The Grateful Dead

Love Man – Otis Redding

Mothermania – The Mothers of Invention

Mott the Hoople – Mott the Hoople

My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder

My Own Peculiar Way – Willie Nelson

My Way – Frank Sinatra

Nashville Skyline – Bob Dylan

A Natural Woman – Peggy Lee

Pretties For You – Alice Cooper

Rhymes and Reason – John Denver

A Salty Dog – Procol Harum

Santana – Santana

Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud – James Brown

The Soft Parade – The Doors

Tommy – The Who

Touching You, Touching Me – Neil Diamond

Turtle Soup – The Turtles

Ummagumma – Pink Floyd

The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground

Volunteers – Jefferson Airplane

Wanted Dead or Alive – Warren Zevon

Yellow Submarine – The Beatles

Yer’ Album – James Gang

Yes – Yes