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.
#60
PEOPLE GET READY
The Impressions
In case soul was getting too mainstream, the Curtis Mayfield-led vocal group The Impressions reminded us all that R&B began in the church. "People Get Ready" took soul back to its gospel roots. It peaked at #3 R&B and #14 Pop in 1965.
#59
THANK YOU (FALETTINME BE MICE ELF AGIN)
Sly & The Family Stone
Powered by Larry Graham on bass, Sly and The Family Stone delivered one of the decade's funkiest tracks, previewing the future of R&B in the process. Unleashed in December 1969, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" topped both the Soul and Pop charts in 1970.
#58
GREEN RIVER
Creedence Clearwater Revival
John Fogerty steered American rock music towards a new hybrid that drew from sources such as swamp rock and country. On tracks such as "Green River" his songwriting skill created an endearing and enduring hit. In 1969, the single reached #2 in America and went Top 20 in the UK.
#57
THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS
The Miracles
Smokey Robinson had a gift for writing classics. "The Tracks Of My Tears", featuring the songwriter fronting The Miracles, seems basic and light, but closer analysis reveals the sadness of the protagonist's predicament. The Motown single made the US Top 20 and reached #9 in Britain.
#56
I AM THE WALRUS
The Beatles
The Beatles aimed to be innovative as their musicianship developed during the 1960s. Producer George Martin was perfect in his role, guiding the band members and shaping The Fab Four's sound. "I Am The Walrus" showcased Martin's talent as well as new possibilities in recording. The experimental track was the B-side for the 1967 #1 hit "Hello Goodbye".
#55
LOVE CHILD
Diana Ross & The Supremes
"Love Child" was a daring release for the usually risk-averse Motown label. That Berry Gordy allowed his premier chart act to sing a song that dealt with raw reality and topics such as illegitimate children is astonishing. Girl groups generally steered clear of such issues. "Love Child" however, reflected a shift at the Detroit hit factory. The rise of gritty soul and psychedelia resulted in a new direction for the label's acts such as The Temptations, Gladys Knight & the Pips and The Supremes. Issued in 1968, the disc topped the American Hot 100 and peaked at #2 R&B. It climbed to #15 on the British chart.
#54
THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Simon & Garfunkel
Paul Simon's initial key influence was The Everly Brothers. By the 1960s, Bob Dylan had given folk music renewed prominence. He and Art Garfunkel recorded an acoustic version of "The Sounds Of Silence" in 1964 for the duo's debut album. That LP failed to excite the public. The duo split. Meanwhile, Dylan went electric in mid-1965. Columbia Records decided to re-tweak the Simon & Garfunkel track. The reworked electric- rock version (now entitled "The Sound Of Silence") took off, giving the duo its first major hit, climbing all the way to #1 in America. The pair re-united and enjoyed a string of hit singles.
#53
SPACE ODDITY
David Bowie
A little more than a week prior to Neil Armstrong stepping foot on the lunar surface, David Bowie's "Space Oddity" was released. In Britain, the disc became the legendary musician's first chart hit, travelling to #5. Bowie would need to wait 3 years for the world to catch up to his musical vision. During the 1970s, he revolutionized rock music and influenced countless artists. In 1975, "Space Oddity" was re-released and this time landed at #1.
#52
RIVER DEEP- MOUNTAIN HIGH
Ike & Tina Turner
Phil Spector had applied his Wall Of Sound to other recordings, but he threw everything into the extraordinary song created by him with couple Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The 1966 single cost over $20,000 to complete; an unheard of figure in those days, but Spector wanted to match the production standards employed by The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Tina Turner gives one of rock's most energetic and memorable vocal performances on the disc. Ike, although credited on the track, was paid to keep away. Spector's epic was finally ready for release. The producer was crushed when the single flopped in America. It did however, reach #3 in the UK and charted well in Europe and Australia.
#51
MR. TAMBOURINE MAN
The Byrds
Folk-rock expanded its audience largely because of The Byrds' remake of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man". In 1965, the single reached #1 on both sides of the Atlantic.
1960
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1969
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