Written by Sal Maida and Mitchell Cohen, who have recruited for their “society” a gang of esteemed music obsessives: musicians, label executives, and journalists who chose favorite albums from the 60s and 70s to rave about and expound upon.

“These are the albums you might not read about, except here. No one needs to tell you why Pet Sounds, Revolver or Blonde On Blonde are essential parts of any decent record collection, or guide you towards classics by the Stones, Chuck Berry or the Hendrix Experience. Or which Pink Floyd album is indispensable. Although we have strong opinions about pantheon artists like Led Zep and Marvin Gaye, that isn’t what this book is about. We aren’t here to challenge or endorse rock orthodoxy. Neither is the mission to, once again, assert the brilliance of Skip Spence’s Oar, of such artists as Nick Drake, Big Star, and V.U, whose influence, despite the lack of any commercial success in their time, has been thoroughly documented elsewhere.”

What you will find out are how Evie Sands, with Any Way That You Want Me, made one of the most confident and accomplished albums by a female singer-songwriter before Tapestry. Find out how Bobbie Gentry followed up “Ode to Billie Joe” and the LP of that title with a haunting, mysterious concept album. You will be introduced to the quirky New York folk-rock duo of Bunky and Jake, to the art-rock of Ars Nova, and to the entrancing psych-pop of Blossom Toes. Georgie Fame, Joe South, the Hollies, Jackie DeShannon, the Impressions, the Everly Brothers, and Nico, all pop up here, often in ways you might not expect. This is a book for everyone who has gravitated to used-record stores, garage sales and flea markets in search of something he or she hasn’t encountered before. Browsing with a friend at a record fair, and have that friend say, “You need to hear this,” pretty much forcing an album you’ve never heard of into your hands.

This is the book version of that.