200 MOST ESSENTIAL 60s SONGS: 30- 21. Check back here for the next update.

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.

#30

A DAY IN THE LIFE

The Beatles

"A Day In The Life" was the highlight track on the 1967 watershed Beatles album 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. Consisting of 2 unfinished song fragments- one by John Lennon and another by Paul McCartney, the epic track demonstrates The Fab Four at the peak of its skill. It is a monumental track, ambitious and impressive. In the hands of lesser musicians (and producer), it would all have crumpled into a heap. With George Martin at the helm, all 4 Beatles shine.

#29

FOR YOUR LOVE

The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds would later evolve into Led Zeppelin and influence hard rock and heavy metal. With "For Your Love", the group shifted gears, distancing itself from British blues towards a more mainstream pop sound. The single made the Top 10 in Britain and America in 1965.

#28

PEOPLE

Barbra Streisand

Few artists become so revered that they seem to be unrivalled. Like Frank Sinatra before her, Barbra Streisand occupies a category of her own. "People" became her breakthrough single in 1964. Since then, Streisand has been showered with trophies such as Oscars, Golden Globes, Tonys, Grammys and Emmys for her music, acting and directing.

#27

APACHE

The Shadows

The Shadows backed Cliff Richard on his early singles. When the British group unleashed "Apache" in 1960, it became the first of 5 UK #1 singles for the band in its own right. Hank Marvin in particular, influenced many guitarists, including Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page.

#26

SOMEBODY TO LOVE

Jefferson Airplane

Jefferson Airplane knew how to deliver psychedelic pop. The proof is in "Somebody To Love". Grace Slick belts out a mighty vocal at the outset and never lets up. There's an urgency in her delivery. The other members drive the track. The song was penned by her brother Darby Slick. It reached #5 on the US Hot 100 in 1967.

#25

KICK OUT THE JAMS

MC5

"Kick Out The Jams" is not that well known, but it mattered enough to help pave the way for punk rock. In 1969, the American group barely dented the Billboard chart, but inspired the likes of Alice Cooper, The Dead Kennedys, The New York Dolls and The White Stripes.

#24

EIGHT MILES HIGH

The Byrds

By 1966, The Byrds' sound had matured. "Eight Miles High" represented a sonic turning point and a shift in themes. The group moved further from its folk/rock roots and followed a psychedelic new path. Gene Clark co-wrote the track with David Crosby and Roger McGuinn for the 'Fifth Dimension' album.

#23

I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG

Otis Redding

Otis Redding was a key influence on the gritty soul style that rivalled the polished Motown Sound. The vocalist could be commanding, but lost none of his power of persuasion when he changed pace for a ballad. "I've Been Loving You Too Long" is a heartfelt love song he co-wrote with Jerry Butler of the Impressions. Producer Steve Cropper utilizes the Stax/ Volt in-house horn section, never allowing it to overshadow Redding. In 1965, the disc reached #2 on the Soul Chart.

#22

LIKE A ROLLING STONE

Bob Dylan

"Like A Rolling Stone" was recorded for Bob Dylan's 1965 album 'Highway 61 Revisited'. He had just bravely defied his fanbase by going electric. The single peaked at #2 in the U.S. and #4 in Britain.

#21

I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU

Ray Charles

Ray Charles had already virtually single-handedly created soul music in the 1950s. In 1962, he magnified the genre's parameters when he recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You". The song was a remake of Don Gibson's 1958 composition. Uncle Ray's cover injected country and western into his brand of soul. The single topped the American Pop, Soul and Adult Contemporary charts. It also reached #1 in the UK.

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