CHRONOLOGY IV: So you want to be a rock 'n' roll star?

[Woof]

... well, listen now to what I say:

Below, you'll find 12 album titles, each of which is a staple of what is now known as "classic rock" and all of which were released in the US between 1966 and 1980, inclusive.

OBJECT: List the 12 albums, in chronological order of their initial release date in the US from earliest to latest. I'm not asking for the artists; order the letters that precede each album title only. Most of the albums were released in different calendar years, although two pairs were released in the same calendar year.

Any comments you want to include are welcome, but at the top of your submission, give your answers in this form: H B C I J L A D G F K E. Please double and triple check your answers, so that you don't duplicate letters or leave any out.

SCORING: For each of the 12 correct answers in order, your score for that answer will follow this pattern:
0, if you got the position exactly right
1, if you are 1 position away, either before or after
3, if you are 2 positions away, either before or after
2 more points for each additional position


Your 12 individual scores are added together, along with the optional bonus answer (see below) to get your overall score. Lowest overall score wins. Ties are broken by the number of 0 scores (the more, the better), then the number of 1 scores, etc.

Example: If you were shown 4 album titles, with the correct order A B C D, and you give B D C A as your answer, here's how we score it:

First correct answer (A) is 3 positions later in your list, so score as 1 + 2 + 2 = 5
Second correct answer (B) is 1 position earlier in your list, so score as 1
Third correct answer (C) is in the correct position, so score as 0
Fourth correct answer (D) is 2 positions earlier on your list, so score as 1 + 2 = 3

Your total score would be 5 + 1 + 0 + 3 = 9

BONUS: (This is optional.) Supply the two pairs of letters for the two pairs of albums released in the same calendar year. If you're correct, I'll subtract 3 points from your score…but if you're wrong, I'll add 2 points.

No outside help, as on the other board quizzes. PM me with your answers by 11:59pm (Pacific time) on Sunday, November 8th.

Let's rock 'n' roll:

A. The Dark Side of the Moon
B. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
C. Sticky Fingers
D. Tommy
E. Layla and Other Love Longs
F. Electric Ladyland
G. Physical Graffiti
H. Hotel California
I. Eat A Peach
J. Back in Black
K. Toys in the Attic
L. Days of Future Passed

[cheezguyty]

Great, I've only heard of four of these (not to mention I've never listened to any of them). I guess I'll be using random.org like last time (Hey, it netted be 15th out of 20 players!).

[immaf]

I may join you, again. I too have only heard of 4 of these albums, and never listened to any of them. (I have head a few of the title songs, however -- I think.)

But I will have my revenge! If I ever find the time to properly research it, I may try to run a chronology quiz about opera.

[John Boy]

Thanks, guys. When I also recognized only four of the names, I thought, well, that's just me and my decades-long track record of knowing nothing about the genre. If two other boardies are similarly ignorant, I feel better.

[Paucle]

Wow, I haven't played any of these yet, but I think I'm on board for this one. Worked retail records from over 10 years, and know the release year of every one of these albums.
Will have to guess on which came first for the ones that share a year, but the bonus will offset that if I guess wrong.

[Randy G]

Originally Posted by Paucle

Wow, I haven't played any of these yet, but I think I'm on board for this one. Worked retail records from over 10 years, and know the release year of every one of these albums.
Will have to guess on which came first for the ones that share a year, but the bonus will offset that if I guess wrong.

You better come through then.

I recognize 8 albums by title -- you can generally tell who's older here, that we still refer to them as "albums"* -- and, of those, can place the date exactly for 2 and probably within a year or so for 3 others.

* I have an original vinyl album of one of these, plus about 5 others from the same group.

[Woof]

Since the bonus involves two independent guesses, the scoring will be as follows:

Should you get neither pair correct, you'll be docked 2 points
Should you get one pair correct, your score won't change*
Should you get both pairs correct, you'll reap the 3 point bonus

(*aka The Score Remains the Same)

Sorry for not spelling this out initially.

[debramc]

Wow, maybe I have a chance - I know the bands of all but 2 with certainty, 95% on one and a reasonable guess on the other just based on who's missing. I'm not so good with actual release dates but I do remember what was going on in my life when I first heard lots of these so I might have a decent chance of lining them up.
(and I have vinyl albums of 3 of these, somewhere, maybe in the garage - so sad...)

[Woof]

Originally Posted by debramc

I'm not so good with actual release dates but I do remember what was going on in my life when I first heard lots of these so I might have a decent chance of lining them up.

That was pretty much my situation, too. For most of those albums, I can recall with fair detail where I was and what I was doing when I first heard the music. Of course, such an approach only works for people of a "certain age."

[dhkendall]

Yup, very familiar with most of these too, so instant entry for me!

Originally Posted by Woof

Of course, such an approach only works for people of a "certain age."

Oh god, am I "of a certain age" now? 'Scuse me, I have to go yell at some kids to get the hell off my lawn ...

[Woof]

Entries received so far:

dhkendall
Paucle
ej!fan
kharizma
MarkBarrett
Robin Thomas
jeffryfisher
immaf
Gneq
Randy G
econgator
mackensa
happybooker

And a friendly reminder that submissions are due by 11:59 pm PST on Sunday, Nov. 8.

[immaf]

Given my age, I probably *ought* to know all of these. However, I never did (and still don't) listen to the "popular" music of the day. So my knowledge is almost non-existent. I entered anyway, with a slightly tweaked list originally generated by random.org.

[mackensa]

I guess I am of that age too, and I remember 9 of them, but trying to place exactly when I was listening to them was tough. I can relate a few to places and people (the way I usually remember when songs came out). I am putting the 3 I don't remember at the end.

[Peggles]

Originally Posted by John Boy

Thanks, guys. When I also recognized only four of the names, I thought, well, that's just me and my decades-long track record of knowing nothing about the genre. If two other boardies are similarly ignorant, I feel better.

Make it three other boardies. I too only recognized four. On a TD which has a pop music question, I usually use a "drop" if one is allowed.

[RackMe]

Sadly, even rock "music"-hater me knows a few of these discs full of noise pollution, er, albums... I might even play this one... maybe

edit: Nah... Decided to look 'em up instead. Good thing; I would have proven just how much I didn't know about the subject.

[cinemaniax7]

Rock-n-roll is NOT my particular area of expertise, but since so many of were kind enough to enter my contest last week, I feel it's only fair that I reciprocate. Unlike many of you (and John Cusack in High Fidelity), I date the events of my life not through music but, rather, through movies. I am only certain about a couple of the albums on Woof's list as to their initial release, and fortunately I can reasonably form bookends with these. The others are simply too close together for me to date with any certainty. Good selection, though, Woof!

[Woof]

Submissions received so far from:
dhkendall
Paucle
ej!fan
kharizma
MarkBarrett
Robin Thomas
jeffryfisher
immaf
Gneq
Randy G
econgator
mackensa
happybooker
Reddpen
Wimple
Vanya
cheezguyty
cinemaniax7
LifelongJeopfan
stooopid
debramc
AceRimmer
Woppy T
gargle
cbec
Teapot37
bottomofmytrousersrolled

Thanks for all of the interest and the very knowledgeable responses I've received. There are 2.5 hours remaining for any procrastinators to submit responses, so keep 'em coming!

[Woof]

Rock 'n' Roll, entry 1


B. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (June 1, 1967)

The Summer of '67, proclaimed the "Summer of Love" by the hippies of San Francisco, produced one of the biggest explosions of popular music ever seen. Debut albums by the Doors, the JImi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd and the Velvet Underground were accompanied by new releases from Cream, the Jefferson Airplane and the Rolling Stones. Arguably, though, none of those albums had the lasting impact of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles. An early concept album as well as the beginning of The Beatles’ exploration of psychedelic rock, it incorporated new studio techniques, and orchestral and Indian instrumentation.

Unsurprisingly, this proved to be the easiest album for people to place in time and order.

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (0)
AceRimmer
bomtr
cbec
cinemaniax7
debramc
dhkendall
econgator
ej!fan
Gneq
immaf
jeffryfisher
kharizma
mackensa
Paucle
Reddpen
Teapot37
Vanya
Wimple
Woppy T

With a Little Help from My Friends (1)
gargle
happybooker
MarkBarrett
Randy G
stooopid

Fixing a Hole
cheezguyty (7)
Robin Thomas (9)
LifelongJeopfan (19)

Scores after Round 1:
0 AceRimmer
0 bomtr
0 cbec
0 cinemaniax7
0 debramc
0 dhkendall
0 econgator
0 ej!fan
0 Gneq
0 immaf
0 jeffryfisher
0 kharizma
0 mackensa
0 Paucle
0 Reddpen
0 Teapot37
0 Vanya
0 Wimple
0 Woppy T
1 gargle
1 happybooker
1 MarkBarrett
1 Randy G
1 stooopid
7 cheezguyty
9 Robin Thomas
19 LifelongJeopfan

[Woof]

Rock 'n' Roll, entry 2


L. The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed (April, 1968 [US])

Formed initially as an R&B band, Birmingham-based Moody Blues made a major change in direction with the release of their second album, Days of Future Passed. Equal parts concept album, progressive rock and symphonic bombast, it produced two enduring singles and catapulted the Moody Blues to international prominence.

This proved to be the second most difficult album for people to place. Some were apparently tripped up by its earlier UK release date in 1967, which alas had some impact on the bonus, too. Further confusion may have arisen from the late chart success of "Nights in White Satin," which finally hit the airwaves in 1972.


Nights in White Satin (0)
AceRimmer
bomtr
cbec
econgator
ej!fan
Gneq
kharizma
Paucle
Reddpen
Robin Thomas


Tuesday Afternoon (1)
jeffryfisher
LifelongJeopfan
Randy G
Woppy T

Time to Get Away
cheezguyty (3)
dhkendall (3)
gargle (3)
Wimple (3)
cinemaniax7 (5)
debramc (5)
mackensa (5)
Vanya (7)
happybooker (9)
stooopid (9)
immaf (13)
MarkBarrett (15)
Teapot37 (17)

Scores after Round 2:
0 AceRimmer
0 bomtr
0 cbec
0 econgator
0 ej!fan
0 Gneq
0 kharizma
0 Paucle
0 Reddpen
1 jeffryfisher
1 Woppy T
2 Randy G
3 dhkendall
3 Wimple
4 gargle
5 cinemaniax7
5 debramc
5 mackensa
7 Vanya
9 Robin Thomas
10 cheezguyty
10 happybooker
10 stooopid
13 immaf
16 MarkBarrett
17 Teapot37
20 LifelongJeopfan

[Woof]

Rock 'n' Roll, entry 3



F. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (October 16, 1968)

Jimi Hendrix in many senses epitomizes both the promise and the disappointment of the late '60s: a superstar electric guitarist who revolutionized how future players would approach the instrument and the frontman of a multiracial band in an era that still saw mostly segregated popular musical acts, who a mere two years later would die in London at age 27, asphyxiating on his own vomit (and thereby forming a triumvirate of self-induced deaths of 27 year old musicians with Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison). Electric Ladyland, the last album before The Experience disbanded, pushed musical boundaries and included several iconic Hendrix performances.

I was surprised at the number of entries that professed complete ignorance about this title. Unsurprisingly, then, this proved to be the third most difficult album to place. [N.B. Rather than risk the wrath of TPTB, I've used the sanitized cover art for this album. Use Google Image search to see the original cover art, which was banned in several locales]

Voodoo Chile (0)
AceRimmer
bomtr
cbec
debramc
ej!fan
gargle
Gneq
kharizma
Paucle
Reddpen
stooopid
Teapot37
Wimple

All Along the Watchtower (1)
cinemaniax7
dhkendall
mackensa
Vanya
Woppy T

Still Raining, Still Dreaming
MarkBarrett (3)
Robin Thomas (3)
immaf (5)
jeffryfisher (3)
econgator (7)
LifelongJeopfan (11)
Randy G (15)
cheezguyty (17)
happybooker (17)

Scores after Round 3:
0 AceRimmer
0 bomtr
0 cbec
0 ej!fan
0 Gneq
0 kharizma
0 Paucle
0 Reddpen
2 Woppy T
3 Wimple
4 dhkendall
4 jeffryfisher
4 gargle
5 debramc
6 cinemaniax7
6 mackensa
7 econgator
8 Vanya
10 stooopid
12 Robin Thomas
17 Randy G
17 Teapot37
18 immaf
19 MarkBarrett
27 cheezguyty
27 happybooker
31 LifelongJeopfan