200 MOST ESSENTIAL 60s SONGS: The Top 10. This countdown concludes here.

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1961

1962

1963

1964

 

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.

#10

WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO

The Supremes

Prior to the success of "Where Did Our Love Go", The Supremes had struggled. The 1964 US#1 and UK #3 hit single changed the Motown girl group's fortunes. It was the first of a dozen chart-toppers for the only American group to amass that total despite the British Invasion. Diana Ross paved the way for countless imitators and The Supremes is still the defining girl group.

#9

PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG

James Brown

James Brown changed the rules with "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag". In the process, he laid the groundwork for disco, hip hop and funk. In 1965, the single topped the Soul Chart and climbed to #8 Pop.

#8

RESPECT

Aretha Franklin

Ever since recording "Respect", Aretha Franklin has been the undisputed Queen Of Soul. In around 2:30 minutes, she asserts herself, twisting Otis Redding's lyrics from a new perspective. In the context of the civil rights struggle, a woman of colour demanding respect was revolutionary. Along with the crown, Franklin made the British Top 10 and topped the US Soul and Pop charts in 1967.

#7

 

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE

Led Zeppelin

"Whole Lotta Love" began as a blues number. Led Zeppelin transformed it into a sonic blast, injecting it with hard rock and the seeds of heavy metal. In 1969, the single made the American Top 10.

#6

HIT THE ROAD JACK

Ray Charles

Ray Charles is the main architect of soul music, taking the call and response of gospel into the secular styles of R&B. He had already cut seminal recordings in the preceding decade, but "Hit The Road Jack" accelerated that evolution. In 1961, the single reached #1 in America and made the British Top 10. The floodgates were now open wide.

#5

MY GENERATION

The Who

In just over 3 minutes, The Who's "My Generation" established itself as the manifesto for youth. Pete Townshend's lyrics convey the sentiments of a generation that was struggling to find its place among all the tumult of the decade. In 1965, the disc flew to #2 in Britain. The Who's execution and attitude influenced hard rock, new wave and punk music.

#4

GOOD VIBRATIONS

The Beach Boys

Committing Brian Wilson's concept onto vinyl was no mean feat. Painstaking hours went into the creation of "Good Vibrations". It was the most expensive single ever made. The glorious end result is still thrilling to this day. The Beach Boys took harmonies to loftier heights. This single raised the bar in terms of production techniques. On both sides of the Atlantic, the disc topped the chart.

#3

(I CAN’T GET NO) SATISFACTION

The Rolling Stones

By 1965, The Rolling Stones were legitimate rivals to The Beatles. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" remains one of rock's most defining tracks. Powered by Keith Richard's unmistakable guitar riff, Jagger expresses the frustrations of youth. The song swiftly was adopted as an anthem, reaching #1 in many countries, including America and the UK.

#2

BLOWIN’ IN THE WIND

Bob Dylan

Folk music had an undeniable impact on popular culture in the 1960s. Its protest songs inspired marches, demonstrations and actions reacting to a myriad of causes. These included civil rights, the war in Vietnam, nuclear weapons and injustice. Bob Dylan soon became the commentator for the times and, in 1963, "Blowin' In The Wind" was his "I Have A Dream" moment.

#1

I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND

The Beatles

Beatlemania was gaining ground as the group released singles such as "Love Me Do" and "She Loves You". Several countries capitulated to the Fab Four's charm and music. When "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was unleashed, The Beatles became the dominant musical force. Released in late 1963, just as American audiences fell under their spell, The Beatles experienced an international #1 for the first time. Many significant rock musicians cite hearing this song as the precise moment when their destiny became clear. Its emergence was an undeniable line in the sand.

1965

 

1966

1967

1968

1969

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