The Doors: People Are Strange (1967)

I think this is the first Doors song I ever heard. I have been hooked ever since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB67l9velBI

The Doors: Five to One (1968)

Jim Morrison experienced a meltdown while performing "Five to One" in Miami. He was arrested for inciting a riot and indecent exposure. STP frontman Scott Weiland said this song inspired him to go into rock n roll. Like Morrison, Weiland died young from drug abuse. In college, a friend put this on at his house parties at 12:55.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tHPsphg9xc

Cream: SWLABR (1967)

The b-side to "Sunshine of Your Love" stands for "She Walks Like a Bearded Rainbow"--whatever that means...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngIxuGOVGeQ

Pink Floyd: Arnold Layne (1967)

"Arnold Layne" is based on a real person. In the song, the character steals women's clothes from a wash line. In real life, Roger Waters knew someone that stole knickers and bras for fun. This provided inspiration for the tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQTFRq1hjtM

Jimi Hendrix: Purple Haze (1967)

Psychedelic rock with obvious drug references combined with one of the all-time greatest riffs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjwWjx7Cw8I

Bob Dylan: Lay Lady Lay (1969)

Bob Dylan turned to Nashville for influence. The classic has been covered by groups ranging from Ministry to The Byrds and Duran Duran.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrZnnvEyTUs

The Kinks: All Day and All of the Night (1964)

Great garage rock tune. Four years later, controversy struck when The Doors released "Hello, I Love You" which many felt blatantly ripped off The Kinks classic. Ray Davies refused to sue, but UK courts found in The Kinks' favor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4DV-5d6a5g

The Supremes: Reflections (1967)

The Supreme fired Florence Ballard shortly after recording this classic. The song also reflects the psychedelic movement of the period. At the same time, the country seemed to be going crazy. So, the song had to have resonated with people wanting a return to normalcy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhxUmjVQNtI

The Band: The Weight (1968)

This song has everything in it. It's part gospel, part rock, part folk, and part R&B. It's Biblical, it's someone coming home from work, it's a world traveler. The song is everything to everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCw3-YTffo

Led Zeppelin: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (1969)

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant loved Joan Baez. So they covered her  "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO6bRjcyQN8

The Rolling Stones: Monkey Man (1969)

The prevailing theory is "Monkey Man" is about a bad acid trip. However, some believe it is a self portrait by Mick Jagger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNY8eYmzdH4

The Rolling Stones: Midnight Rambler (1969)

The Stones created the first blues opera with "Midnight Rambler." The song caused a stir as the song plays out a Boston Strangler rape/murder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNaAEJv_sDQ

Scott McKenzie: San Francisco (1967)

This is one of the most wonderful period pieces ever recorded. It became an anthem to the counterculture. Basically, McKenzie calls people to San Francisco to live free. By the time the song hit the charts, the San Francisco nirvana had run its course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ_WG3d3GL8

1964 in Music

British invasion began in earnest. Beatlemania exploded in America. They arrived at Kennedy Airport to screaming throngs and then appeared on Ed Sullivan three times in February. Meanwhile, Elvis transitioned to motion pictures and enters into a musical wilderness. Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones released their debut album. Pete Townshend accidentally broke his first guitar and created a sensation. The Kinks made their American debut. On the American side, Bob Dylan releases his anthem "The Times They Are-A Changing", Simon and Garfunkel record for Columbia, The Supremes score five straight number ones, and Sam Cooke is murdered.

#1 song:
I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles.

Important recordings:
All Day and All of the Night by The Kinks
Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles
Dancing in the Streets by Martha and the Vandellas
Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey
Hello, Dolly! by Louis Armstrong
I Get Around by The Beach Boys
The Way You Do The Things You Do by The Temptations
Twist and Shout by The Beatles
A World Without Love by Peter and Gordon
You Really Got Me by The Kinks
She Loves You by The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles

Other notable hits:
As Tears Go By by Marianne Faithfull
Come See About Me by The Supremes
Do Wah Diddy Diddy by Manfred Mann
Gloria by Them
I'm Into Something Good by Herman's Hermits
Little Red Rooster by The Rolling Stones
My Guy by Mary Wells
Rag Doll by The Four Seasons
She's Not There by The Zombies
Tobacco Road by The Nashville Teens
Glad All Over by The Dave Clark Five

1963 in Music

The Beatles begin their domination of the U.K. In response, The Daily Mirror coined the term "Beatlemania." They would launch the British Invasion in 1964. In the states, Bob Dylan releases The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie" is deemed indecent because no one can understand it. The Beach Boys had a big year with several notable recordings. On a sad note, Patsy Cline perished in a plane crash.

The #1 song of 1963:
Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs.

Important tracks:
Louie Louie by The Kingsmen
Be My Baby by The Ronettes
Blowin' In The Wind by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys

Other notable songs:
It's My Party by Leslie GoreLs
Another Saturday Night by Sam Cooke
Da Doo Ron Ron by The Crystals
Little Deuce Coup by The Beach Boys
Heat Wave by Martha and the Vandellas
My Boyfriend's Back by The Angels
Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Surf City by The Beach Boys
Little Surfer Girl by The Beach Boys
Walk Like a Man by The Four Seasons
Wipeout by The Safaris

The Batman theme (1966)

Neal Hefti combined surf, 12 bar blues, and camp to create the theme song to 1966's classic Batman series. Four tenors and four sopranos cry "Batman" eleven times. The song helped influence Prince's 1989 "Batdance." Since 1966, it has inspired and resulted in many parodies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWUn6tzOAwU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jgE-lrfZ3k&list=RD1jgE-lrfZ3k

The Who: We're Not Gonna Take It (1969)

Pete Townshend did not write "We're Not Gonna Take It" for Tommy. It was initially a reaction to politics of the period. However, as Tommy developed, and his followers became disenchanted, it became a natural fit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqmC1T9rukk

1962 in Music

The Beatles are rejected by Decca Records, Bob Dylan releases his debut, and Peter, Paul, and Mary have a #1 album. Pete Seeger has a big year as well. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards meet Brian Jones and the Rolling Stones form. The Beatles appear on "My Bonnie", which is credited to Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers. Elvis dominated while the Twist permeated.

#1 song:
Stranger on the Shore by Mr. Acker Bilk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFaH1KFmLyI


The Beatles- My Bonnie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgkAgyQgEH4

Important releases:
I Can't Stop Loving You by Ray Charles:
Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis:
Big Girls Don't Cry by The Four Seasons
Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs
He's a Rebel by The Crystals
If I Had a Hammer by Peter, Paul and Mary
The James Bond Theme by John Barry Orchestra
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee
Sherry by The Four Seasons:
Surfin' Safari by The Beach Boys
The Twist by Chubby Checker
Twistin' The Night Away by Sam Cooke
The Wanderer by Dion

Other Notable songs:
Return to Sender by Elvis
Good Luck Charm by Elvis
409 by The Beach Boys
The Ballad of Paladin by Duane Eddy
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do by Neil Sedaka
Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler
Johnny Angel by Shirley Fabares
The Loco-Motion by Little Eva
Roses Are Red by Bobby Vinton

1961 in Music

1961 provided a lull in rock music. Although Elvis returned, the pop scene focused on teen idols. However, change was coming. Motown began to move, Bob Dylan was a year away, and the seeds of the British Invasion were planted when The Beatles made their Cavern Club debut.

Motown scored it's first million seller with "Shop Around" and signed The Supremes. The Beach Boys release their initial single. Frank Sinatra starts Reprise Records. Judy Garland performed at Carnegie Hall. Patsy Cline is seriously injured in an auto accident.


Shop Around by The Miracles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM




I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZTk1hdpMs




Judy Garland:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-i2uXjQZHs



#1 Song of 1961:


Stand By Me by Ben E. King:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE

Other important releases:



Runaway by Del Shannon

At Last by Etta James

Crazy by Patsy Cline

Crying by Roy Orbison

Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

Please Mr. Postman by The Marvelettes

Runaround Sue by Dion

The Wanderer by Dion

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles
Other Hits:


Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker

Are You Lonesome Tonight by Elvis Presley

Calendar Girl by Neil Sedaka

Hello Mary Lou By Ricky Nelson

Spanish Harlem by Ben E. King

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens

1960 in music

In the year Kennedy won the White House, Elvis was discharged and hit the charts full steam. Ben E. King went solo. The Beatles make their Hamburg debut. Neil Young forms his first band at age 14.

#1 song:
It's Now Or Never by Elvis Presley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkMVscR5YOo



Other classics:

Are You Lonesome Tonight? by Elvis Presley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPjnE1WRMKo

Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8OlDPqYBLw

Cathy’s Clown by The Everly Brothers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXvKAWiU_cQ

Chain Gang by Sam Cooke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmZdvVnMXCc

El Paso by Marty Robbins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-y3DB0wLh4

Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjq4wYuwgxs

Shop Around by The Miracles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM

Walk, Don’t Run by The Ventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW21rcHiVU0



Chubby Checker set off a major dance craze:

The Twist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im9XuJJXylw



and then this...

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Brian Hyland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge9Ou3-YyqU