Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1

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Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1 features music courtesy of The 5^th Dimension, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Otis Redding, and The Supremes.

Ah, the 1960s – what a time, what a time! What better way to reminisce on the decade than to highlight some of its best and most memorable songs. Like the other editions of the decade series on The Musical Hype, there are far too many awesome musicians and songs to recognize in one musical compendium – at least with blurbs involved. We begin the process for the 60s with Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1. Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1 features some of the 60s finest songs courtesy of The 5^th Dimension, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Otis Redding, and The Supremes among others. So, let’s relive the turbulent 1960s with these epic musical classics!

1. Aretha Franklin, “Respect”

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You • Atlantic • 1967

“What you want, baby, I got it / What you need, do you know I got it? / All I’m askin’ is for a little respect when you get home.” WOO! The best way to kick off any 1960s-oriented playlist starts with the Queen – The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin! Amazingly, another soul legend, Otis Redding (who also appears on this list), wrote and recorded “Respect” first. That said, it is the funky, gospel-infused Aretha version, commencing her classic 1967 LP, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, that is the definitive version, PERIOD. Notably, this liberation anthem won two Grammys (Best Rhythm & Blues Recording and Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female). “R-E-S-P-E-C-T / Find out what it means to me!”

Appears in :

10 Favorite Soul Classics by Aretha Franklin (2018)

2. Barrett Strong, “Money (That’s What I Want)”

The Collection • Spectrum Music • 2004

“The best things in life are free / But you can give them to the birds, and bees / I need money.” Woo! What a memorable line from the Barrett Strong classic, “Money (That’s What I Want)”. The legendary Motown singer/songwriter, who passed away at the age of 81 on January 28, 2023 , leaves behind some truly iconic songs as a writer, primarily. While he’s most renowned for his pen, he scored a hit on the pop charts with “Money,” which peaked at no. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 1960.

The chorus is the most famous part of this early soul classic, with Strong singing lead, supported by marvelous background vocals: “I need money (That’s what I want) / That’s what I want (That’s what I want).” Still, the verses are infectious, including the second where Strong, showing ample personality, asserts, “Your love gave me such a thrill / But your love don’t pay my bills.” Hence, that’s why Strong needs M-O-N-E-Y! “Money” was penned by another icon, Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford. Gordy also produced this super catchy joint. A record that is well into its 60s, “Money (That’s What I Want)” never grows old or sounds the least bit anachronistic.

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3. The 5^th Dimension, “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)”

The Age of Aquarius • Sony Music Entertainment • 1969

“This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius!” Two-part songs are commonplace in the 2020s, particularly in hip-hop/rap. They are not brand-new, however. In 1969, Grammy-winning soul collective, The 5^th Dimension, impressed with two-parter for the ages: “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)”. Neither parts of the song were original to the group; both are covers. Where do these songs originate? A controversial and explicit 1960s musical called Hair, which was a BIG DEAL. The 5^th Dimension took these two songs from this musical and turned them into one of the biggest hits of all time. “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, spending a total of 17 weeks on the chart. Furthermore, the record won the collective two Grammys: Record of the Year and Best Contemporary Vocal Performance By A Group. Their album, The Age of Aquarius, was also nominated for the most highly coveted Grammy, Album of the Year.

“Harmony and understanding

Sympathy and trust abounding

No more falsehoods or derisions

Golden living dreams of visions.”

“Aquarius” arrives first, in all its lush, hippie, and psychedelic glory. Take one listen and this record is like NOTHING you’ve ever heard (at least, at the time), from a soul collective. The production and orchestration – horns, strings, and the rhythm section – are stunning. The voices are picturesque in timbre – electrifying, and playful. The harmonies are angelic; utterly celestial. Arguably, “Let The Sunshine In” is the crème de la crème with its repetitive lyrics, and even livelier vibe. “Sunshine” is more driving, energy, and soulful, running slightly longer than “Aquarius.” Even with the repetitive lyrics, “Let The Sunshine In” is a song that you don’t want to end in the least. Even well into the 2020s, “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In” is a truly refreshing listen.

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4. Mahalia Jackson, “Somebody Bigger Than You and I”

I Believe • Columbia • 1960

“Who made the mountains? Who made the trees? / Who made the rivers flow to the see?” legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson sings on the moving faith-based ballad, “Somebody Bigger Than You and I”. “Somebody Bigger Than You and I” appears on Jackson’s 1960 album, I Believe. Penned by Johnny Lange, Hy Heath, and Sonny Burke, Jackson authentically brings the writers’ poetic lyrics to life. She continues singing in the first verse, “Who hung the moon in a starry sky? / Somebody bigger than you and I.”

Of course, that somebody bigger than you and I refers to God. The second verse, Jackson continues to ask questions about all of the miraculous things God does without specifically naming Him. By the bridge, He is the pronoun, making it clear (if there was ever any doubt), this uplifting record pays ode to God. “He lights the way when the road is long / And He’ll keep you company,” Jackson sings, adding, “He walks beside you just like He walks with me.” Accompanied by orchestra and choir, alongside Jackson’s once-in-a-lifetime, anointed pipes, “Somebody Bigger Than You and I” is truly special. Notably, other late, great icons, Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston, recorded covers on How Great Thou Art (1967) and The Preacher’s Wife (1996) respectively.

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5. Sam Cooke, “(What A) Wonderful World”

The Man Who Invented Soul • RCA • 2000

Apparently, the late, great Sam Cooke didn’t know much about various things – academics specifically. See Exhibit A : “Don’t know much about history / Don’t know much biology / Don’t know much about a science book / Don’t know much about the French I took.” So, is the iconic soul musician totally inept on “(What A) Wonderful World”? Absolutely not! While the soulful Cooke may not be well-versed in the things mentioned throughout this highlight, he probably isn’t interested in learning either. Why? The focus is love. Why? The focus is love.

See Exhibit B :

“But I do know that I love you

And I know that if you love me, too

What a wonderful world this would be.”

Yes, Cooke makes it clear that he is no genius, but he understands the power of love above all! Ultimately, “(What A) Wonderful World” is a bright, optimistic sounding vintage soul classic. It has a simplistic vibe and sensibility yet feels potent to the n^thdegree. The lyrics are memorable and catch, while the backdrop is terrific, too. Cooke penned “(What A) Wonderful World” alongside Lou Adler and Herb Alpert – yeah, that Herb Alpert! This gem would peak at no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 back in 1960, among Cooke’s highest charting hits.

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6. The Exciters, “Tell Him”

Tell Him • Capitol • 2012

“If you want him to be / The very part of you / Make you want to breathe / Here’s the thing to do.” Clearly, The Exciters had to “Tell Him” things to win him over. The things the group told us made us believe that their 1962 hit, which reached no. 4 on the pop charts, was the original version of the song. ACTUALLY, this gem, composed by Bert Russell (real name Bert Berns), was originally penned as “Tell Her” and first recorded by Johnny Thunder (Gil Hamilton) in 1962. Before The Exciters would release the original, beloved version as “Tell Him,” Ed Townsend would record a second version of “Tell Her!” Of course, it should come as no shock that the most popular version of “Tell Him,” which has been covered a lot, comes from The Exciters.

“Tell Him” is incredibly fun, even six decades later. There is an innocence and a vintage vibe that makes this tongue in cheek record such a gem. The vocals are exuberant, as is the spirit of the song itself. These girls want to secure the guy, so “Tell Him” provides a prescription of sorts. Is the prescription simplistic and dated? There is an argument for such, but still, there’s relevance: “Tell him that you’re never gonna leave him / Tell him that you’re always gonna love him / Tell him, tell him, tell him, tell him right now.” Woo! Still, we must remember, “Tell Him” was “Tell Her,” so arguably, the guy had to “Swallow his foolish pride” originally. Regardless, “Tell Him” is a certified classic. Hard to believe this bop is a cover!

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7. Lesley Gore, “You Don’t Own Me”

Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts • Mercury • 1963

“You don’t own me / I’m not just one of your many toys.” #FACTS. “You Don’t Own Me” ( Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts) is an empowerment anthem to women everywhere. Lesley Gore (1946 – 2015) put him in his rightful place on this 1963 gem. She continues singing in the first verse, “You don’t own me / Don’t say I can’t go with the other boys.” Basically, Gore, an independent woman, is going to do what she wants to and NO man is going to tell her otherwise. “You Don’t Own Me” was written by Dave White Tricker and Johnny Medora. It was produced by an icon: Quincy Jones. The sound of the record hearkens back to the glory days, and features a lush, string-laden arrangement. Furthermore, compositionally, the shift between minor and major is genius. So is the harmonic scheme in general. A huge hit, “You Don’t Own Me” peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

Of course, the centerpiece of this uplifting, feminist anthem is the chorus, which is varied each and every time. In the second chorus, Gore asserts, “I don’t tell you what to say / I don’t tell you what to do / So just let me be myself / That’s all I ask of you.” Woo! Furthermore, Gore is “young and I love to be young / I’m free and I love to be free.” Understandable, particularly since she was only 17 when “You Don’t Own Me” was recorded and released. The big takeaway regarding “You Don’t Own Me” is how it takes a confident stance for girls everywhere. It’s a message of, “You do you,” and don’t let anybody, especially the boys, tell you what to do and how to live.

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8. Archie Bell & The Drells, “Tighten Up”

Tighten Up • Atlantic • 1968

“In Houston we just started a new dance / Called the Tighten Up/ This is the music / We tighten up with.” WOO! Archie Bell & The Drells struck gold in 1967 with their infectious soul classic (and dance), “Tighten Up”. In the 1960s, there were many dances that earned success, fueling their respective soundtracks up the charts. “Tighten Up” earned the Houston, Texas collective their sole no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The lyrics, centered around tightening up, are fun, period. Even so, “Tighten Up” is about the aesthetic. The music, which Archie Bell highlights lyrically, is locked-in – on autopilot. Bell encourages the backing band to “Tighten up on the drums,” “Tighten up on that bass now,” “Now let the guitar fall in,” and “Tighten up on that organ now.” The significance of the dance goes without saying. Also, the chorus of sorts helps solidify the catchiness (and tightening) with Bell sings, “Let’s tighten up now / Do the tighten up / Everybody can do it now / So get it.” Perhaps more could be said but honestly, there is no need to. “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell & The Drells, from their 1968 album, Tighten Up, speaks for itself.

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9. The Supremes, “I Hear A Symphony”

I Hear A Symphony • Motown • 1966

“You’ve given me a true love / And every day, I thank you, love.” Oh, how sweet! The Supremes delivered a surefire, soul classic with “I Hear A Symphony” ( I Hear A Symphony, 1966). “I Hear A Symphony” was sweet music to the ears of pop and soul enthusiasts alike in the mid-1960s. The exuberant, 1965 record about true love spent two weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The iconic Motown girl group, consisting of Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson, continues singing, in the opening section, “For a feeling that’s so new / So inviting, so exciting.” Oh, love, in all its splendor!

Of course, the hook line is that legendary titular lyric: “Whenever you’re near, I hear a symphony.” The Supremes follow it up with numerous poetic lines, such as “A tender melody / Pulling me closer, closer to your arms / Then suddenly (I hear a symphony) / Ooh, your lips are touching mine…” and later, “I hear a tender rhapsody of love now, baby, baby.” This Motown classic was not only performed by icons but written by the iconic collective, Holland-Dozier-Holland (Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland). Brian and Dozier also produced this catchy gem. Sure, songs don’t sound like “I Hear A Symphony” anymore but the nostalgia and the innocence of this love-driven number is refreshing in much more blunt and explicit times. It’s sad that Diana Ross and The Supremes have failed to ever win a Grammy.

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10. Otis Redding, “Cigarettes and Coffee”

The Soul Album • Atlantic •  1966

“It’s early in the morning / About a quarter ‘til three / I’m sitting here talking with my baby / Over cigarettes and coffee, now.” The late, great Otis Redding is best known for gems like “Sittin’ On (The Dock of the Bay)”, “These Arms of Mine”, and “Try a Little Tenderness”. Also, Redding penned “Respect”, though Aretha Franklin owns the definitive version. Sadly, “Cigarettes and Coffee”, a marvelous gem from his 1966 album, The Soul Album (1966), doesn’t get the same hype. It should though! “Cigarettes and Coffee” is a cover, though the original received little fanfare; the Redding version is easily the definitive take. The record was written by Jerry Butler, Eddie Thomas, and Jay Walker.

On “Cigarettes and Coffee,” Redding proves he was a once in a generation artist. Despite the fact that he didn’t live long, his impact on soul music is undeniable. “Cigarettes and Coffee” finds Redding at his most expressive; his voice is amazing with vocal cracks, grit, nuance. “Cigarettes” oozes with soul, only amplified by an epic horn arrangement/overall production.

“But it seems so natural, darling

That you and I are here

Just talking over cigarettes and drinking coffee.”

You listen to records like “Cigarettes and Coffee”, and it makes you yearn for that authentic soul sound that’s so rare in the 2020s. Otis Redding is EVERYTHING on this 1966 highlight from The Soul Album which is, indeed, soulful.

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11. The Beatles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”

1 • Apple Corps Ltd. • 2000

“I wanna hold your hand / I wanna hold your hand.” Yes, please! The Beatles rank among the most important bands of all time if NOT the most important. Honestly, that can’t be overstated. The British band’s catalog features hit after hit after hit – NO CAP! One of the best of the best is undoubtedly their 1963 record, “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” This two-and-a-half-minute song is nothing short of a vibe. It’s one of the most fun, catchiest, and easily recognizable songs ever written.

“Oh, yeah, I’ll tell you something

I think you’ll understand

When I’ll say that something

I wanna hold your hand.”

The lyrics aren’t particularly deep, and that’s part of the charm. Paul McCartney and John Lennon keep things simple, which proves to be a winning formula. Furthermore, harmonically, The Beatles also keep it simple for the most part, though the B chord (a III chord which should resolve to vi chord but doesn’t) is distinct. Also, the bridge (or post-chorus) adds a welcome change of pace harmonically (“And when I touch you / I feel happy inside”). Is there anything more to be said about “I Want to Hold Your Hand?” It’s a surefire pop/rock classic.

Appears in :

The Beatles vs. Lakeside: Head 2 Head 11 (2022)

12. Etta James, “At Last”

At Last • UMG Recordings, Inc. • 1960

“At last / My love has come along / My lonely days are over / And life is like a song.” Oh, the nostalgia – the vibes! It’s fitting that the ‘last’ song of any ‘last’ list be “At Last” by Etta James. “At Last” is a gorgeous classic, period. James sounds elite – the perfect singer to perform this Harry Warren and Mack Gordon-penned joint.

“At Last” commences with a lush introduction before Etta James blesses us with her compelling instrument. She sings two verses, focused on matters of the heart, before unveiling a contrasting bridge section:

“I found a dream that I could speak to

A dream that I can call my own

I found a thrill to press my cheek to

A thrill that I’ve never known.”

Ooh la-la Etta! After that change of pace harmonically (love remains intact, of course), Ms. James delivers one final verse on this Chess Records staple. The closing lines are iconic themselves: “And here we are in heaven / For you are mine at last.”

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13. Wilson Pickett, “Hey Jude”

Hey Jude • Atlantic • 1969

Many musicians have covered The Beatles. The band has no shortage of classics and surefire hits. “Hey Jude” is one of the band’s best – epic to the n^thdegree (“Hey, Jude, don’t make it bad / Take a sad song and make it better”). Had no one else recorded it ever again, the original version would be sufficient. Of course, then came soul icon Wilson Pickett with his gritty, powerful pipes, delivering “Hey Jude” like we’ve NEVER heard before. Pickett’s cover, which appeared on his 1969 album, Hey Jude, impacted the pop charts, peaking at no. 23. Pickett puts every ounce of himself in his soulful rendition of “Hey Jude.” From the onset, Pickett breathes new life into a song that kicked some serious butt already. The backdrop embraces soul, his wheelhouse, with its use of organ, ripe guitar, a robust bass line, and punchy horns. All of this provides the inspiration for the once-and-a-lifetime singer to serve up an authentic, ultra-inspired take of this John Lennon and Paul McCartney gem. Pickett is most true to self during the breakdown section, which, was one of the best moments of the original too. Wilson goes wild, flaunting that signature wail that made so many of his own songs great, not to mention showcased a bigger-than-life personality. The Beatles are untouchable – we know this. That said, Wilson Pickett showed the world how you absolutely slay when covering a big hit – specifically one of the band’s most dominant number one hits.

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Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1 [: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Apple Corps Ltd., Atlantic, Capitol, Columbia, Mercury, Motown, RCA, Sony Music Entertainment, Spectrum Music, UMG Recordings, Inc.; Victoria Regen from Pixabay]

Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1 | Playlist

Published by the musical hype on July 28, 2023July 28, 2023