The Beatles are still all-white by us… (Parlophone) Released: 22nd November 1968 Producer: George Martin, Chris Thomas Topped the chart: 1st December 1968 (for 7 weeks) 26th January 1969 (for 1 week) 8 weeks total There’s an unspoken rule that when a band self-title one of their albums and it isn’t their debut, it’s normally because they are trying to reset the clock: get back to basics. Strip everything back to a group of people in a room making music together. Which is

The real sound of the 60s, for better and worse… (Parlophone) Released: 1st August 1968 Producer: Ron Richards Topped the chart: 6th October 1968 (for 6 weeks) 24th November 1968 (for 1 week) 7 weeks total The wider public didn’t know it yet, but The Hollies’ debut greatest hits compilation was marking the end of an era. Founder member Graham Nash was on his way out to link up with some other blokes in America (I wonder what happened to them?), and so this record acts as a

Writer’s block never sounded this good…an American songwriting genius comes of age. (CBS) Released: 3rd April 1968 Producer: Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Roy Halee Topped the chart: 11h August 1968 (for 5 weeks) 22nd September 1968 (for 2 weeks) 7 weeks total Although very different in their sounds, the parallels between the early careers of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon are profound. Both born in the arse-end of nowhere, either rural (Dylan- Minnesota) or urban (Simon- Newark, Ne