What songs from the 1960's are still on your playlist?

[MaVolta]

The 1960's boasts a vast array of music styles and genres throughout the decade. Many genres crossed and blurred lines, and new sub-genres or were created.

Throughout the 60's, we had a variety of pop, rock, Motown / R&B and soul. There were all of those tragedy songs, muscle car songs, and surf songs playing on the radio. Then came The Beatles and the British invasion. Folk music evolved into folk-rock, and Bob Dylan became one of the most influential songwriters of the decade and beyond. Folk music became a popular genre for the counterculture and protest songs (anti-war, civil rights). Folk-rock segued into psychedelic rock and songs of the drug culture. Elvis made a comeback in '68. Later in the decade, progressive rock began to merge various genres and styles, including classical music. And by the end of the decade, blues rock was moving to hard rock and heavy rock territory.

So much happened? What did I miss?

Here's an article that I found for a memory refresher.

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/60smusic.html

So, what songs from the 1960's are still on your playlist today?

[Winter2025VA]

@MaVolta wrote:
The 1960's boasts a vast array of music styles and genres throughout the decade. Many genres crossed and blurred lines, and new sub-genres or were created.

Throughout the 60's, we had a variety of pop, rock, Motown / R&B and soul. There were all of those tragedy songs, muscle car songs, and surf songs playing on the radio. Then came The Beatles and the British invasion. Folk music evolved into folk-rock, and Bob Dylan became one of the most influential songwriters of the decade and beyond. Folk music became a popular genre for the counterculture and protest songs (anti-war, civil rights). Folk-rock segued into psychedelic rock and songs of the drug culture. Elvis made a comeback in '68. Later in the decade, progressive rock began to merge various genres and styles, including classical music. And by the end of the decade, blues rock was moving to hard rock and heavy rock territory.

So much happened? What did I miss?

Here's an article that I found for a memory refresher.

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/60smusic.html

So, what songs from the 1960's are still on your playlist today?

[Winter2025VA]

"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" is a song co-written by the soul singer Otis Redding and the guitarist Steve Cropper. Redding recorded it twice in 1967, including just three days before his death in a plane crash on December 10, 1967. It was released on Stax Records' Volt label in 1968, becoming the first posthumous #1 single in the US. It reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart.

[Winter2025VA]

"The Twist" is an American song written and originally released in 1958 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side to "Teardrops on Your Letter". It was inspired by the twist dance craze. Ballard's version was a moderate hit, peaking at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. On the US Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart, the original version of "The Twist" first peaked at number 16 in 1959 and at number six in 1960. By 1962, the record sold in excess of one million copies, becoming Ballard's fourth million seller.

[Winter2025VA]

"It's Now or Never" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and released as a single in 1960. The song is Presley's biggest hit, with 20 million copies sold worldwide, it is one of the best-selling singles of all time. It was recorded by Bill Porter at RCA Studio B in Nashville. It is written in E major and has a tempo of 80 BPM.

[Winter2025VA]

Dionne Warwick: “Walk on By” (1964).

[MMinSoCal]

Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds

White Bird by It's A Beautiful Day

Let A Woman Flow by It's A Beautiful Day

Didn't Want To Have To Do It by Lovin' Spoonful

White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane

[nctarheel]

EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THIS ONE.

1963- Surfin' Bird- The Trashmen

The Trashmen - Surfin Bird - Bird is the Word 1963 (RE-MASTERED) (ALT End Video) (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - ...

[EricC28201]

Cotton Candy - Al Hirt

Magic Trumpet - Herb Alpert

Mas que nada - Sergio Mendez and Brasil 66

Sheila & Dizzy - Tommy Roe

Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones

Sugar Shack - Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs

Groovin - The Young Rascals

[Raynyky]

Beau Brummells:

Laugh, Laugh, Sad Little Girl

Billy Joe Royal:

Down in the Boondocks, Hush

Skeeter Davis: End of the World 

Cream: Sleepy Time Time

[BeatleloverKT]

So I took a trip down memory lane with Jerry Blavat aka "The Geater with the heater" and came up with these gems we used to dance to (apologies if they've been posted before):

The real thing  Tina Britt 1968

The 81  Candy and the Kisses 1964

I went to many venues where he was there and he would often come down and dance with us (Remember the Wagner walk?)  He was very personable and he liked the ladies!

Such good times 💜

[BobH07]

I certainly remember The 81.

Not familiar with second. Of course, I was off to college by then.

How about these:

Little Queeny

Amazons & Coyotes

Shake A Tail Feather

Flat Foot Sam

Every Day Of The Week

Trickle Trickle

And if course Bila

[BeatleloverKT]

I like most of those songs, some I've not heard.

Don't forget:

Sally saying something  Billy Harner, 1967. Great song!
You can see the Wagner walk on you tube. I'll bet you remember it when you see it. Good times 💜

[BobH07]

Yes, I remember the walk.

I listened to the Tina Britt song. The melody reminds me of Heat Wave.

They were the best days of my life.

[BeatleloverKT]

If I remember correctly, Heat Wave was the Geators opening song most of the time. I love that song, reminds me of great times. I was young in the 60's but always remember how great the music was 💜

[BobH07]

Here's another one that I forgot about:

Someone by The Contrails

Great one for a slow dance

[BeatleloverKT]

I'm not familiar with the Contrails. I'm still reminiscing about my Jerry Blavat days and here's another gem he used to dance with us to:

It's a good feeling  Smokey Robinson&the

Miracles from 1967. This was one we did

the Wagner Walk to.

Again good times 💜

[BobH07]

It's been a long time since I heard that Smokey song.

I used to have the "Make It Happen" LP.

You can hear Someone on YouTube.

[BobH07]

Novelty songs from the 60s:

1960:

Alley Oop.  Hollywood Argyles

Mr Custer.  Larry Verne

Yogi.  Ivy Three

Alvin's Orchestra.  David Seville & Chipmunks

1961:

Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On The Bedpost Overnight).  Lonnie Donegan

The Astronaut.  Jose Jimenez

The Touchables In Brooklyn.  Dickie Goodman

1962:

Monster Mash.  Bobby (Boris) Pickett

Ahab The Arab.  Ray Stevens

Speedy Gonzalez.  Pat Boone

Cinderella.  Jack Ross

My Boomerang Won't Come Back.  Charlie Drake

Monsters Holiday.  Bobby Pickett

Ben Crazy.  Dickie Goodman

1963:

Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh.  Alan Sherman

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport.  Rolff Harris

Petunia The Italian Mouse.  Lou Monte

Martian Hop.  Ran-Dells

Harry The Hairy Ape.  Ray Stevens

1964:

Leader Of The Laundromat.  Detergents

1965:

Crazy Downtown.  Alan Sherman

10 Little Bottles.  Johnny Bond

1966:

They're Coming To Take Me Away.  Napoleon XIV

1967:

Snoopy vs The Red Baron.  Royal Guardsmen

Return Of The Red Baron.  Royal Guardsmen

Wild Thing.  Senator Bobby

1968:

Here Comes The Judge.  Shorty Long

1969:

Gitarzan.  Ray Stevens

Along Came Jones. Ray Stevens

[MaVolta]

That was a fun list of songs, thanks for putting it together. I remember most of them. We always had the radio on in the mornings during breakfast and getting ready for school. Everyone seemed to enjoy the silly songs back then. 

[BeatleloverKT]

I was surprised to find that Jerry Blavat has a playlist on You tube. I'm listening to it now as the news is so depressing 😥 Remember Get an ugly girl to marry you by Jimmy Soul? That's on now. Much better than the news 👍

[MaVolta]

---

@BeatleloverKT wrote:

I was surprised to find that Jerry Blavat has a playlist on You tube. I'm listening to it now as the news is so depressing 😥 Remember Get an ugly girl to marry you by Jimmy Soul? That's on now. Much better than the news 👍

---

I'll have to check some of these out. I'm liking YT these days, as well. Sometimes I remember the songs when I hear them, but don't remember who the artists were.

[BeatleloverKT]

I have not read his book, but it's on my bucket list. And I love You tube! Amazing what you can find on there!

[BobH07]

Two more that I forgot:

S.O.S.:  Edwin Starr

At The Top Of The Stairs:  Formations

[BobH07]

Love You So/My Babe:  Ron Holden & Thunderbirds

Hold On:  Radiants

[BobH07]

I will have to check out his playlist. Have you read the book he wrote?

Yes, I remember Jimmy Soul. He had one other hit, "Twistin' Matilda".

[BeatleloverKT]

I like some of the songs, some I've not heard of. I love Monster Mash and have a soft spot for Snoopy and the Red Baron, the Christmas one. It was my husbands favorite Christmas song 💜

[1968Hoya46]

Just One Look: Doris Troy (1963).  (great voice; cannot believe that was her only hit).

[BeatleloverKT]

I like some Du-wop music, even though I am a rock'nroller forever, but I do like some of your picks from today:

Denise  Randy&the Rainbows. My top pick 👍💜

Next from the incredible American Graffiti Movie:

Step by step  Crests

Barbara Ann  Regents

Heart and soul  Cleftones

And my other favs:
Stay  Maurice Williams&the Zodiacs

Blue Moon  Marcels

There's a moon out tonight  Capris

Pretty little angel eyes  Curtis Lee

To be loved  Pentagons

You belong to me  Duprees

[BobH07]

Here's another great one that I forgot:

Mixed Up Shooked Up Girl by Patty and The Emblems