The 40 Essential Albums of 1967

Accused of psychedelia, Beatlephobia and murky-mix syndrome, this underrated keeper is distinguished by complex rhymes, complex sexual stereotyping and the non-bluues, oh-so-rock-&-roll pianos of Ian Stewart, Jack Nitzsche, Nicky Hopkins and Brian Jones. Like all Beatles and Stones albums till that time, it was released in different American and British versions. The surefire U.S.-only "Let's Spend the Night Together"/"Ruby Tuesday" single parlay is almost too much because its greatness is understood- "Backstreet Girl," bumped to the Flowers compilation released later that year, more closely resembles such gemlike songs of experience as "Connection," "My Obsession" and "She Smiled Sweetly." Capper: Mick and Keith's zonked music-hall "Something Happened to Me Yesterday," the Stones' drollest odd-track-out ever.