Any Major ABC: 1960s
No other decade offers as much fun in the task of compiling music as the 1960s. Indeed, the idea for the concept of this series — whereby we go through a decade through the medium of the alphabet, from A-Z, each letter getting a song — was prompted by the first song on this mix. One morning on my way to work I heard Amen Corner’s If Paradise Was Half As Nice, and I thought: “How would I accommodate this in a standard CD-R mix with home-made covers; PW in comments”?
This is the result: a jukebox of 1960s joy, completed by a suggestion from reader rntcj (try saying that when you’re drunk) who filled the X-shaped gap. Reader Randy T. has been helpful with filling gaps in other decades; so before I die, I seek to cover the ABCs from the 1940s to the 2000s.
For the most part, the song choices are a bit random. How do you choose between Mamas & Papas, Monkees, Marvin Gaye, Manfred Mann, Marvelettes, Moody Blues, Martha Reeves, McCoys or Mindbenders? There were some difficult choices, often made of the spur-of-the-moment variety. And after sampling a lot of favourites along the way.
And then which Mamas & Papas song? Well, the one featured has always intrigued me: as a declaration of sexual liberation by women in the 1960s, Go Where You Wanna Go must have seemed revolutionary. But there is also the payback of John Philips, who had his wife sing about her affair with songwriter Russ Titelman (other stories suggest that it was about Philips’ affair with Papas singer Denny Doherty). John Philips had a habit of doing that sort of thing to his bandmates.
As always, the mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R and includes home-twisted covers. PW in comments.
Amen Corner – (If Paradise Was) Half As Nice (1968)
Bar-Kays – Soul Finger (1967)
Chris Andrews – Pretty Belinda (1969)
Doris Days – Move Over Darling (1963)
Equals – Soul Groovin’ (1968)
Foundations – Baby Now That I’ve Found You (1967)
Gene Chandler – Duke of Earl (1962)
Hollies – Bus Stop (1966)
Impressions – It’s Alright (1963)
Jay & the Americans – Come A Little Bit Closer (1964)
Kinks – Dandy (1966)
Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine (1968)
Mamas & The Papas – Go Where You Wanna Go (1966)
Nancy Sinatra – The City Never Sleeps At Night (1965)
Otis Redding & Carla Thomas – Bring It On Home To Me (1967)
Procol Harum – Homburg (1967)
Quicksilver Messenger Service – Dino’s Song (1968)
Ronettes – (The Best Part Of) Breakin’ Up (1964)
Supremes – The Happening (1967)
Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual (1965)
Unit 4 + 2 – Concrete And Clay (1965)
Velvelettes – He Was Really Saying Somethin’ (1964)
Walker Brothers – The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore (1966)
X-Cellents – Hey Little Willie (1965)
Young Rascals – Lonely Too Long (1967)
Zombies – She’s Not There (1964)
PW = amdwhah
Thank you for this compilation and all the others. How about Xavier Rudd as a X for the 2000s?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHFzLR7wJUI Xavier Rudd – Let Me Be (2004)
Your Any Major Paris In Black & White Compilation includes Yves Montand from 1948 and Quincy Jones from 1957 so those artists could work too
Nice collection – as always, well done …
And tricky, your challenges for the 40s and 2000s … apart from rather obscure heavy metal bands, how about
X-press 2 feat. David Byrne “Lazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB_I1YBAozE ???
… got some airplay in the early 2000s
Oh, great idea. I think I have some of his songs stashed somewhere.
I have a 1941 recording of “Hobo Blues” by a fellow named Yank Rachell.
And I have a 1958 doo-wop single titled “Down the Aisle of Love” by a Pennsylvania group called the Quin-Tones.
Yup, they are on my 1950s mix, which is ready to go (next year). Different song, though.
Hi!
Thanx for the “help” mention. “rntcj” = 1st initial of sibling’s names = easy to remember. Feel free to contact outside here for any/other assistance. Been collecting/researching/listening etc. music since ’77 but collection dates back to ’20’s in various formats = 78’s, LP’s (a few 45’s), cassette, CD, & MP3’s.
Also, here’s an invite to anyone to personally managed Yahoo! Music group. When you click to join just put in “rntcj sent me” to be accepted. Click link here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/OBSCURE60sBANDS/conversations/messages
Click on “header” picture to get a blue “Join Group” box. Can use “made up” info. Once accepted, enjoy ALL = uploads, music files, discussions, requests etc.
Cheers!
Ciao! For now.
rntcj
Dead link.
Please repost !
TIA
Re-upped