3. Moby GrapeMoby Grape

They were the most interesting band that came out of the San Francisco scene in the late 60s. They seemed less out of it, more focused, and less noodly than some of the others. It’s a record that gets forgotten a bit, this one, but it’s full of fantastic songs and really well played, with a great guitarist in Jerry Miller. At the time, we were starting out with Fairport, and we were more influenced by The Byrds and the Lovin’ Spoonful, and singer-songwriters like Phil Ochs or Joni Mitchell, than by psychedelic bands, really. But within a few years later, we were getting into the British contingent a bit more, like Pink Floyd and Soft Machine. Soft Machine gave us permission to improvise and try new things out. I’ll always thank them for that.