The decade from 1965 through 1974 was easily the most tumultuous of my life and I suspect it was the same for many in my generation. In 1965, I was in 7th grade and at 13 I thought I knew it all. In 1974, I graduated college and knew I knew it all! Today, I can’t remember what I know…or if I ever knew it!
But I do know this: the music of that decade is firmly embedded in my psyche. When I was struggling to remember something in a homework assignment, I had little trouble remembering the music. All I needed to hear was few bars and I could “name that tune.” I’m sure all of you associate particular songs with particular moments.
The Summer of Love was in 1967, so any “tribute” to it should have been last year. But…I wasn’t blogging last year. And, more importantly, I see the year between the Summer of Love and the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago as the “high water” for that era. (Arguably, the high water can go all the way to Woodstock.) So a tribute now, a few weeks after a Democratic convention, which made its own history in a way which many of my generation wished the 1968 convention could have, is not inappropriate.
Here’s my personal compilation of music videos that helped shake up my musical world just as my generation was shaking up the political / cultural world!
Trailblazers
Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
Jerry Lee Lewis – Whole Lotta Shakin’
Buddy Holly – Peggy Sue (The intro is so “square“… lol!)
Ronettes – Be My Baby
(The Supremes established supremacy <g>, but I’ve always enjoyed the Ronettes more.)
Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron
(More of Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” from the Ronettes’ sister group.)
Pre-British Invasion and/or Americans
Beach Boys – Surfin’ USA
? and the Mysterians – 96 Tears (1966 Billboard #5)
Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man
Kingsmen – Louie Louie
Sam the Sham & Pharaohs – Wooly Bully (1965 Billboard #1)
Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction
Shadows of Knight – Gloria (1967 Billboard #5)
Buffalo Springfield – For What It’s Worth (Monterey 1967)
Doors -Break On Through
(The album with this song was the most played in my car’s 8-track!)
Martha & Vandellas – Dancing in the Street
Norman Greenbaum Spirit in Sky
Carole King – I Feel the Earth Move
( “Tapestry” album is indelibly associated with my first college girlfriend, Stephanie, my namesake)
Simon & Garfunkle – Sound of Silence
5th Dimension - Aquarius (1969 Billboard #1)
Mammas & Pappas – California Dreamin’
Supremes – Stop in the Name of Love
Smokey Robinson & Miracles – Tears of a Clown
Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watch Tower
Ritchie Havens – Freedom (Woodstock – what a performance!))
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (concert footage)
Bob Dylan & Joan Baez – Blowing’ in the Wind
Jefferson Airplane – Volunteers
(My favorite band for getting pumped up before an anti-war march.)
British Invasion
Beatles – Seventeen (Ed Sullivan)
Stones – Under My Thumb
(Jagger working his magic…check out that “stoned” woman..lol!)
Bee Gees – Massachusetts (pre-disco)
Dave Clark 5 – Various Hits (Saw them in Manila!)
Herman’s Hermits -Into Something Good (Saw them in Manila!)
Kinks – Tired of Waiting (One of my favorite bands!)
Who – My Generation
Troggs – Wild Thing
Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love
Peter & Gordon – World Without Love (One of my favorite vocalists!)
Petula Clark – Downtown (1965 Billboard #6)
Joe Cocker – The Letter
(Saw him at the Hard Rock in Vegas a few years back and he’s still great!)
Shocking Blue - Venus (This is a Dutch group.)
Moody Blues – Tuesday Afternoon
Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken
Compilations (short excerpts slideshow)
Golden Oldies 1965 and 1966
Beyond Rock:
One weekend in 1973 (?), I went to a movie on campus that didn’t sound too interesting but it was free and I was pretty bored, so… I ending up staying to see the second showing too just because of the music! The movie? The Harder They Come, which introduced me to Jimmy Cliff and various forms of Jamaican music (reggae, ska, etc.)
Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
Toots & Maytals – Sweet and Dandy (from The Harder They Come)
I’ll end with an upbeat song….!
Third World – Now That We Found Love
(Next week: thinking about 7th grade reminded that I took the “new math” that year. I think we need a “new civics.” Visit me next Sunday for the course!)
Note: The Anarchist Archive, selected posts from when i blogged elsewhere, is now open.
