Aren't you just a bit tired of being wound tight as a drum and frazzled by the all the insane political infighting, screams of "You lie!", two wars, the swine flu, and the apparent total disconnect from reality of a large portion of our population right now? I know that I am.
So.......I spent Sunday evening putting together a bit of a lull in all the craziness. I did this for me as well as for you. And like my Sinatra Playlist, there is no socially responsible agenda here. There is nothing to think about in this post unless you know this music. If you are old enough it might bring back some great memories of a time that will likely seem like both long ago and only yesterday.
I was 22 when I entered the 1960s. This is the music of that formative decade of my life. This music is called Popular Music, or "Pop." It is the music of the people; the music you got over the radio when you were riding in the car; it is Top Ten and Top 100 Billboard Magazine music; it is the music of American Bandstand and music sung on TV prime time variety shows. It is the music you found yourself memorizing and singing in the shower, humming on the way to work, or when you were working in the garden. It is simply the music most listened to by much of middle America in the 1960s. Little of it is "cutting edge," but some of it is; and all of it was influential and set the tone for the next generation of popular music.
I have not put into the Playlist one song by each artist or group so I could have 20 different artists. Rather I have included a representative group of songs by a few of the artists who rose above most others on the popular music airwaves.
We start with the only seminal work of the Beach Boys: "Good Vibrations." From there it is only some of the very best of The Mamas and the Papas, The Association, The Lovin' Spoonful, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, and Bobby Darin. And while all those individuals and groups were "Pop" they each represent a very distinctive style within the genre. No one could confuse one with the other.
Are they the only singers and groups that were important in the 60s? Of course not. There were dozens of others in the Pop music genre alone. Not represented here are very important musical genres of the 60s: Rock, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rockabilly, Standards and Country to name a few. But this Playlist does represent the Popular music that most of America listened to in the 60s.
So sit back, and allow yourself to be propelled into the magic of the songs of my young adulthood. Just slip on some headphones, or turn on some nice speakers, and listen. Open OS or any other site in another tab and go about reading, writing or whatever else you want to do. The list will keep playing until you want to stop it.
44487 page views 2010 10 01
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Lucy Mercer
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Comments
I hear ya about how tiring the last few weeks have been politically Monte, but you left out the Motown! I kid, of course. I remember those days well and think I know every word to every one of these songs, even after all these years. Your playlist is like one of those Time Life infomercials they show at four in the morning. Man, those were some good times for music!
Cherish was "our song" .... teehee! Thanks a bunch!
-rated-
Mike: I didn't know you were that OLD ? ;-)
bobbit: I just love that song. Who thought that they could do a #1 hit of a song that describes how they got together?
Jeanette: you are more than welcome!
SKay, I do too; Mama Cass was a real favorite, and such a sweet, mellow voice.
Thanks, Spotted: love that you love this Playlist.
Hey, Fab: we used to ride our bikes from tavern to tavern and this music was all there was on the juke boxes.
Mothership: NOBODY, including Old Blue Eyes himself, did Mack the knife like Darin. I have a Darin CD in which he sings those teenie bopper stuff and some great lounge standards. He transformed himself from teen idol to Vagas superstar. I would have loved to see that concert you saw!
It doesn't get any better than this! Some of the best sounds ever.
Their fine music definitely fits alongside the Association, the Mamas & the Papas, the Beach Boys, and the Lovin' Spoonful.
Rated.
HIGHLY RATED
Kevin: I agree. In an exercise like this some very good groups get left out.
bnc: yes, in some ways simpler. But the 60s were really a time when the nation was torn up, mostly by Viet Nam and by civil rights issues. So it is kind of amazing that so many good songs came from that period, songs that are largely not political in nature.
Glad you enjoy it, Donna!
Thanks, Greg. I figured you would resonate with this one. I know your great love is jazz, but you have a heart for all music.
Was surprised (and pleased) to see you include Mack The Knife.
Good tunes, Monte. Thanks. :-D
Suzie: a nostalgia trip is good for the soul, and I am glad yours gets to go on the ride. Cass Elliot did have such a wonderful pure tone and her mellow ballads were wonderful. She is one of my all time favorite female vocalists.
Enjoyable post.. thank you..
Fireeyes, you are such a music buff, I could have guessed that you would know them all.
Thanks, Mary. Music is very therapeutic for me, and know that it can be for most. Can't begin to count the times when I was sitting feeling sorry for myself and realized that if I would just play some music then I would feel better. Unfortunately, too often I didn't think about it until after I was already miserable for quite some time! ;-)
GeeBee: nice to know some of the facts about those two bands and their members. Some of those folks moved from one band to another, formed bands, disbanded and restarted under another name. They were sort of recycled until they found the niche they were best in. Creeque Alley is the precise narrative of how the Mamas and the Papas came to be. If you haven't done so, listen to the lyrics, it tells the story.
Maybe because the harmonies are inviting.
Monte
Monte
Monte
Monte
Monte
I like to share the music of my life, which now spans 71 years. As you say, and my music library proves it, the British Invasion alone would take dozens of play lists. My interests are eclectic but I tend to concentrate on American Standards, pop music of the 50s, 60s and 70s, and country music, mostly of the 70s and 80s.
I also love classical and opera, but that is not, except for arias by the likes of the three tenors, not so well received here. For me it is a break from my more serious writing that makes me smile, as it hopefully does others. I am glad it did so for you.
Peace,
Monte
I was 12 in 1967, and we sang some of these songs in glee club, on the pep club bus, and at home for my own enjoyment.
Life was pure and simple then.
I was 12 in 1967, and we sang some of these songs in glee club, on the pep club bus, and at home for my own enjoyment.
Life was pure and simple then.
Ischmoopie, I would love to know the derivation of your handle! Glad you enjoyed these songs.
Everybody: I don't know what happened to this post but in late May it had about 4500 hits and today has almost 45000! Who knew? Obviously some unknown sites have linked to it and pushed the listening audience way up. It is now head to head with my post on American Standards music as the most popular post on this blog.
However it happened, thanks to all the readers and listeners who enjoy my Musical Tribute Series!
Monte