- 01“Kind Hearted Woman Blues”In songs like “Kind Hearted Woman Blues” and “Love in Vain Blues,” Johnson’s broken croon hovers above sparse, dirt-caked guitar notes.from the chapter
- 02“Love in Vain Blues”In songs like “Kind Hearted Woman Blues” and “Love in Vain Blues,” Johnson’s broken croon hovers above sparse, dirt-caked guitar notes.from the chapter
- 03“Rock Awhile”In 1949, Carter and his band laid down “Rock Awhile,” widely recognized as the first recording of an overdriven guitar.from the chapter
- 04“Rocket 88”But the fuzz tone that has become such an integral part of doom, sludge, and post-metal didn’t emerge until 1951, when Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats, an alter ego of Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, unleashed “Rocket 88.”from the chapter
- 05“Don’t Worry”Ten years later, Grady Martin used a shoddy preamp in a recording console to create an even fuzzier form of distortion for Marty Robbins’ song, “Don’t Worry.”from the chapter
- 06“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”Gibson capitalized on the idea, unleashing the Fuzz-Tone pedal in 1962, which became one of the standout characteristics of The Rolling Stones’ 1965 hit, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”from the chapter
- 07Vincebus EruptumThe trio’s 1968 debut, Vincebus Eruptum, is Robert Johnson-style blues laced with fuzz.from the chapter
- 08“Summertime Blues”The album opens with a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues.”from the chapter
- 09RenaissanceFive months after Vincebus Eruptum came out, heavy rockers Vanilla Fudge released Renaissance, featuring an exceptionally creepy cover of Donovan’s “Season of the Witch.”from the chapter
- 10“Season of the Witch”Five months after Vincebus Eruptum came out, heavy rockers Vanilla Fudge released Renaissance, featuring an exceptionally creepy cover of Donovan’s “Season of the Witch.”from the chapter
- 11Wheels of FireTwo months later, Cream put out Wheels of Fire, which starts with the dramatic intro of “White Room.”from the chapter
- 12“Black Sabbath”That section’s slow tempo is a steppingstone to Black Sabbath’s crawl in the world-changing “Black Sabbath.”from the chapter
- 13In-A-Gadda-Da-VidaIron Butterfly’s title-track from In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida exploded in the US, sounding like music by The Doors’ evil cousin.from the chapter
- 14Shades of Deep PurpleDeep Purple also put out Shades of Deep Purple and The Book of Taliesyn in 1968.from the chapter
- 15The Book of TaliesynDeep Purple also put out Shades of Deep Purple and The Book of Taliesyn in 1968.from the chapter
- 16GunThe track starts Gun with cinematic crescendos, evoking a similar portentousness as “White Room.”from the chapter
- 17Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps SoulsCoven played shows with Vanilla Fudge and Jimmy Page’s The Yardbirds in 1967 and ’68 before releasing the highly influential Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls in 1969.from the chapter
- 18“Wicked Woman”In addition to “Black Sabbath,” Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls features a track called “Wicked Woman;” Sabbath’s eponymous LP includes the song “Evil Woman.”from the chapter
- 19“Evil Woman”In addition to “Black Sabbath,” Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls features a track called “Wicked Woman;” Sabbath’s eponymous LP includes the song “Evil Woman.”from the chapter
- 20Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin starts with “Good Times Bad Times.” Bonham’s drumming in the track is a revelation to this day.from the chapter
- 21“Dazed and Confused”Side one of Led Zeppelin closes with the Ent-like stride of “Dazed and Confused.”from the chapter