New countdown: 200 MOST ESSENTIAL 60s SONGS. Continues tomorrow.

Caffé Latté looks back at…

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL

SONGS OF THE

1960s

No decade was as turbulent as the 1960s. Politically and socially, there was turmoil. Musically too, the rules were changing at breakneck speed. This was the decade of Flower Power, Motown, Woodstock, girl groups, Beatlemania, psychedelia and The British Invasion. Here are 200 songs that matter most from the period. These recordings had an impact on music and provided the soundtrack to the 10 years that made up the Sixties.

#200

WHERE DO YOU GO TO (MY LOVELY)

Peter Sarstedt

This single by singer / songwriter Peter Sarstedt was issued in 1969. It deals with a jet-setting woman and so captured the imaginations of record-buyers that it reached #1 in Britain and Australia.

#199

THERE'S A KIND OF HUSH

Herman's Hermits

One of the pop gems produced by Mickie Most, "There's A Kind Of Hush" was a Top 10 smash all over the world in 1967.

#198

HAPPY TOGETHER

The Turtles

American group The Turtles reached #1 Stateside in 1967 with this infectious upbeat song.

#197

IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA

Peter Sarstedt

Hard rock group Iron Butterfly helped promote heavy acid rock with the epic 1968 track "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". In the process, the Californian band proved that an audience existed for lengthy tracks. The album version of this song ran for 17 minutes.

#196

IT'S NOT UNUSUAL

Tom Jones

This 1965 single kickstarted the career of Tom Jones. It became his first hit in both Britain (where it reached #1) and the U.S. He continues to perform and record to this day.

#195

(THERE'S)  ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME

Sandie Shaw

Burt Bacharach and Hal David created many timeless classics during the 1960s. In 1964, Sandie Shaw's version of "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me" topped the UK chart.

#194

 

GRAZING IN THE GRASS

Hugh Masekela

South African musician Hugh Masekela added to the sound of pop and jazz with his recordings such as the 1968 U.S. #1 "Grazing In The Grass".

#193

TIME HAS COME TODAY

The Chambers Brothers

Fusing soul with psychedelic rock, The Chambers Brothers played a key role in exposing the public to the nascent sub-genre. "Time Has Come Today" peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 5 weeks in 1968.

#192

HARPER VALLEY P.T.A.

Jeannie C. Riley

Few songs cut by female vocalists had a sting as effective as on this timeless country crossover hit entitled "Harper Valley P.T.A." for Jeannie C. Riley. It reached #1 in the U.S.A., Canada and Australia in 1968.

#191

TIME OF THE SEASON

The Zombies

In 1969, English group The Zombies issued this track which manages to blend various musical styles into a tightly executed yet underrated pop nugget.

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