Summing Up The Decade - The 60s

[castlikeaghille]

Ok - interesting response on Arcade Fire - did you see the programme last night? BBiE juries' out. Most original and multi talented band in the world, that's a good shout. They write music Jonny Borrell in Razorshite would cack his white pants even thinking about approaching.....I digress - time for audience participation again.

Here's a different game. I had to do a piece for a work mag on ten records that summed up the decade I was born giving a reason why. I then rolled that forward across the decades of my life. So in the best interests of recycling, here is the 60s. If there is interest the rest of the decades will follow in due course. Now remember, to play this is not just a case of listing your 10 favourite records from a decade.

1960’s - In alphabetical order…

1. The Beatles – Hey Jude

I’m on a hiding to nothing with the Fab Four. It was their decade. Whatever track I pick will be the wrong one for at least 75% of you. So in a spirit of desperation I chose the first one that came into ‘ma heed’ – nah, nah, nah nana nah…..lyrical genius (that'll be one of Macca's then?)

2. Glen Campbell – The Wichita Lineman

Yes that is the correct spelling. If you are goanna croon (and the 60’s was the era of croon), do it big, and they don’t come more croontastic than this ditty about a BT engineer…for those who remember when, Steve Wright in the Afternoon used this to play out his show.

3. The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset

Think carefree; think about a summer’s evening, think this – the Davis brothers at their very best - sorted

4. Tom Jones - It’s Not Unusual

Without Gloria Gaynor and this anthem from the Taffy Lothario, there would be no such thing as Karaoke…. and the world would be a poorer place as a result

5. The Monkeys – Daydream Believer

If you don’t feel good and have an overwhelming need to be pushed down the high street in yer beed after listening to this you need Prozac

6. Otis Reading – Sitting On The Dock of a Bay

Total musical nectar. The original chill out sound, and also one of the most poignant tracks listed. Reading was killed in a plane crash less than 48 hours after the final recording session.

7. The Righteous Brothers – You’ve lost That Lovin’ Feelin’

It was a toss up between this and Unchained Melody. This one on the grounds that it reminds me of that scene from Top Gun, and UM reminds me of Gareth Gates – no contest.

8. Stevie Wonder – Superstition

Ok maybe no the best track ever from the World’s worst driver, but without the intro to this song the home made skin flick would have been forever silent

9. Thunderclap Newman – Something in the Air

TN rose without a trace and disappeared equally quickly. In between they managed to make their mark on the world with this strangely upbeat ode to bloody revolution – excellent music to hoover to (as long as you are wearing a Che Guevara T-Shirt) ;D

10. Van Morrison – My Sweet Thing

The only approachable track on Astral Weeks, frequently cited by has bean music jurnos as the 2nd/3rd best album of all time behind Pet Sounds! But listen guys, when you’ve blown it big style with the opposition, it is only this or Wild Horses (see 70’s) that will both save your relationship and prove you are not just a pedlar of cheese…exquisite

Right - I am off a' fushiein'

Later fellas

CLaG

[splash]

Jesus CLaG yer choice of music is about as stiff as the rods that you use for salmon fishing.... ;D

Lets talk aboot the real alternative classics coming from from the sixties:perm any number of tracks from Lee Hazelwood, Jacques Brel, The Velvet Underground, Johnny Cash, Serge Gainbourg, The Doors, Nancy Sinatra, Iggy and the Stooges, Burt Bacharach, Charlie Mingus, Neil Young, Max Roach, Tim Buckley, Scott Walker, Pink Floyd etc etc and lets get away from all this Beatles/Stones/Kinks guff. Astral Weeks the second best album ever.. Aye right total music journo w**k IMHO written by people who have never listened to it ! Onlyy Glenn and maybe Otis are top ten material CLaG !

[pertempledog]

Now CLaG I will admit that the 60's was not my favourite time music wise so I'm no expert and am quite prepared to be shot down in flames (or flowers). OK I started off very young rocking round the clock or seeing the alligator later, and I remember queuing to see the brand new Forth Road Bridge while the radio played "Bits & Pieces" and something my mum liked by Herman's Hermits, but by the mid sixties I was not so keen on the sticky sweet pop of the time and was seduced away to the dark side of the Blues and progressive rock, but if I cast my mind back to the sounds drifting down the school corridors there are some sounds that quickly come to mind.....

Sonny & Cher/I got you. Seminal stuff surely.

The Beach Boys/ Almost as popular as the Beatles with those lazy summer sounds of I Get Around and Pet Sounds.

Jimi Hendrix - sooooo cool on his Watchtower.

Simon & Garfunkel Bridging Troubled Waters or taking you by the hand round London - you couldn't escape them - well not if you were in female company anyway.

Mamas & Papas, Carole King, Marvin Gaye, Otis Reading, Aretha Franklin..... Petula Clark going downtown......

For goodness sake we all sang "Tommy can you hear me" for about two years, and tried to look real cool to a Whiter Shade of Pale.....

Where is the Mighty Quinn Mr Mann or those Troggs singing Wild Thing, or that bloody Yellow Ribbon and was it Georgie who asked us all summer not to stop the carnival? And someone wanted us to buy a special potion while another boasted of his being a Union Man......

And not a mention for that wee band The Rolling Stones!!!!!!! CLaG how could you.....

And it goes on...

P.A.T.

PS for me it would have been Norwegian Wood

[kilravock]

how on earth can there be 4 posts without mention (Quinn excepted) of a certain Mr Zinnerman, especially that track from the now deleted Salmon album,........ She Casts, Just Like A Ghillie.

or Mr Springsteen when he was heavily into the sewin, .....Even If We're Just Castin In The Dark


and I suspect Mr Zephead may have an opinion ...........

[ibm59]

;D ;D ;D

[castlikeaghille]

kilravock said:

how on earth can there be 4 posts without mention (Quinn excepted) of a certain Mr Zinnerman, especially that track from the now deleted Salmon album,........ She Casts, Just Like A Ghillie.

Gawd...don't bring HM official opposition into this....or all the boys are in trouble... ;D ;D

[sinkingtip]

Tricky one this CLag. Don't know whats the more difficult for me - getting my head around Czech Nymphing or picking ONLY 10 seminal 60's tunes......probably this. The following list is zeitgeist led and stuff that generally had a major effect on me during this 'heady' period.
In no set order, chronologically or preferential........

Telstar - The Tornado's. Total 60's. Foot Tapper by the Shads would come a close second.

Fire Brigade - The Move. One note guitar riff and one of the catchiest 'hooks' ever written.

Light My Fire - The Doors. Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! Nuff said.

Louie Louie - The Kingsmen. 3 chord classic - say no more.

Green Tambourine - The Lemon Pipers. Totally underrated and often forgotten.

Kites - Simon Dupree And The Big Sound. Second only to Rolf's Sun Arise for sheer originality.

Fire - Crazy World Of Arthur Brown. Vote Monster Raving Loony and effect change.

Ruby Tuesday - Stones. Just a brilliant song and a life changing moment for me on first hearing.

Hero's And Villains - Brian Wilson (sorry but he IS the Beach Boys for me).

California Dreamin - Mommas and Papas. Stunning harmonies and total peace and love.

MacArthur Park - Richard Harris takes 'tiffin' with Jimmy Webb and a classic is born.

Beatles ??.............Eleanor Rigby or Every Little Thing from Beatles For Sale.

Going back to Czech Nymphing now for a bit of light relief.

[williegunn]

Bob Dylan, The Who appear to be missing from the lists.

[sinkingtip]

Well spotted Wullie - Pictures of Lilly or Armenia City In The Sky for the Who album "Sellout".

Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone. A band called Spirit do a fantastic version of this Dylan classic on their album "Spirit of '76".......probaly not many people aware of this neat little trio.

Respect WG

[castlikeaghille]

sinkingtip said:

Well spotted Wullie - Pictures of Lilly or Armenia City In The Sky for the Who album "Sellout".

Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone. A band called Spirit do a fantastic version of this Dylan classic on their album "Spirit of '76".......probaly not many people aware of this neat little trio.

Respect WG

I have to say that posters (even WG ) on this one have come up with all sorts of brilliant records. Many of them would come much higher up my personal favorites list than the ten I posted. However, the aim of this game is not subjective i.e. my favorite records are...It is an objective test i.e. these records sum up the decade because...

Having had a trial run with the 60's - I'll now post a 70's ten - now remember this is about association not preference

Takin' it easy

CLaG

[elwyman]

For all you 60's music fans, Easy Rider is on Sky Movies Sunday night.

[pertempledog]

castlikeaghille said:

sinkingtip said:

Having had a trial run with the 60's - I'll now post a 70's ten - now remember this is about association not preference

Takin' it easy

CLaG

GLag I'm ready for you now boy.....but one mention of Oink LLoyd Webber and I'm off.

[pertempledog]

[quote

Going back to Czech Nymphing now for a bit of light relief.

[/quote]

Forget that Sinkingtip - I'm putting you in charge of my ipod

P.A.T.

[sinkingtip]

Very good PAT - anytime my good friend. Remember ! - this world is full of a number of things

[pertempledog]

[quote author=castlikeaghille board=offtopicthreads thread=1177137520 post=1177193418 However, the aim of this game is not subjective i.e. my favorite records are...It is an objective test i.e. these records sum up the decade because...

Having had a trial run with the 60's - I'll now post a 70's ten - now remember this is about association not preference

Takin' it easy

CLaG[/quote]

CLaG that is indeed my point and ,I would suggest the point that Sinkingtip is making. Telstar was surely pivotal in musical terms and Tommy as an album set out a whole new approach and was as I recall the first Rock Opera.

Sinkingtip how could I have forgotten those hours sitting at an electric organ pretending to be able to replicate the short rift in Light My Fire and as for Green Tambourine.... arghhh! Mind you when that was ToTP I was wearing bell bottom jeans, (with a purple belt) and Paisley Pattern shirt and winkle pickers - cool or what!

P.A.T.

[pertempledog]

Now I think of it CLaG if its summing up a decade you're on about where are the "one, two, three, what are we fighting for" type songs.... surely 'nam must feature!

Anyway just back from walking the dogs out on the moor - just me, two dogs, a couple of grouse, a female golden plover (nice to see here), a roe buck....... and flippin' Telstar, over and over and over!

[elwyman]

How could you forget The Animals and House of the Rising Sun, a classic and better than Whiter Shade of Pale, IMO.

[ibm59]

Sad to see no mention of the great Anne Briggs without whom Bert J and Jimmy Page wouldn't have had Blackwaterside to mess around with. Never heard of her? Get down to your local disc shop and buy "A Collection" . Best fiver you'll ever spend. A real chanter.

[albyn73]

ibm59, Is she any relation to a Mr Ronnie Briggs.? Here's me sitting listening to one of the best singers ever grace vynil disc a Mr Clyde Mc Phatter, i thought you might have heard of him, with a name like Clyde........!

[pertempledog]

elwyman said:

How could you forget The Animals and House of the Rising Sun, a classic and better than Whiter Shade of Pale, IMO.

Spawned an entire generation of amateur guitarists with only one tune in their repetoire....

P.A.T.