Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 3

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Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 3 features music courtesy of B.B. King, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, and Smokey Robinson. 

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 continue the process for the 60s with 🎧 Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 3, following 🎧  Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1 and 🎧  Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 2. 🎧 Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 3 features some of the 60s finest songs courtesy of 🎙 B.B. King, 🎙 Johnny Cash, 🎙 Ray Charles, 🎙 The Rolling Stones, and 🎙 Smokey Robinson among others. So, let’s relive the turbulent 1960s with these epic musical classics! 

1. Ray Charles, “Hit the Road Jack”  

💿 True Genius • 🏷 Tangerine • 🗓 2021 

“What’d you say?” Ah, who doesn’t love a great, tongue in cheek classic! That is what the late, great 🎙 Ray Charles serves up on 🎵 “Hit The Road Jack”, which was penned by 🎼 ✍ Percy Mayfield. “Hit The Road Jack” is one of the 17-time 🏆 Grammy winner’s most beloved and most popular songs.  Notably, it spent two weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961 – impressive.  Furthermore, the record is credited to Charles, and his orchestra, with 🎙 The Raelettes, who provide superb background vocals. Yes, it is Ray’s lead vocals that take the cake, but The Raelettes play a sizable role in the success of this classic joint. 

The incredibly catchy chorus of “Hit the Road Jack” is one of the most easily recognizable of all time: “Hit the road, Jack, and don’t ya come back / No more, no more, no more, no more.” Charles serves up gritty, soulful lead vocals. He sings with an incredible amount of personality which is always a win.  There are no shortage of memorable lyrics aside from the chorus.  Perhaps the best example is the first verse:    

“Old woman, old woman, don’t treat me so mean 

You’re the meanest old woman that I’ve ever seen 

I guess if you say so 

I’ll have to pack my things and go (That’s right).”   

Beyond the epic vocals – lead and backgrounds – the instrumental arrangement and production (🎛 Sid Feller produces) are on-point too 💪.  Idiomatic of the early 1960s, listening to 🎵 “Hit The Road Jack” north of 70 years later, it still sounds epic to the nth degree.  This is a two-minute-long oldie that never, ever gets old.

Appears in 🔻:  

2. Roberta Flack, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”

💿 First Take • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1969

“The first time, ever I saw your face / I thought the sun rose in your eyes …” Those memorable lyrics hail from the epic classic, 🎵 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”. While iconic, 🏆 Grammy-winning musician 🎙 Roberta Flack is renowned for her definitive take, that definitive take is indeed a cover 🤯. Shocking, right? “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” predated the ‘Flack treatment’ by 12 years 🤯.  British singer, songwriter, and playwright 🎼 ✍ Ewan MacColl penned it in 1957, whereas Flack recorded it as the sixth track on her 1969 album, 💿 First Take. So, while MacColl wrote the song, who first released it? That would be Bonnie Dobson in 1961. 

“And the first time, ever I kissed your mouth 

I felt the earth move in my hands 

Like the trembling heart 

Of a captive bird.”   

“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” marked one of six top-10 hits for Roberta Flack. That’s impressive. Even more impressive is the fact that the record spent six weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first of three number one hits. Adding to the accolades, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was certified gold by the RIAA, while parent album, First Take, has been certified platinum 💪. Oh, and how about the Grammys? Flack took home the highly coveted Record of The Year at the 15th Annual GRAMMY Awards, a ceremony where she’d win two of her four trophies. So, what makes this one of the best records of the 1970s and, honestly, all-time? It’s Flack’s pure performance, which is truly hypnotic and mesmerizing in its quality. Often, she takes a calm, cool, and collected approach.  Still, she understands when to dig in more – up the ante.  Beyond impeccable, sophisticated singing, the arrangement and production (🎛 Joel Dorn) are utterly sublime. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” always sounds organic, embracing being non troppo (not too much). It benefits from subtlety, with its piano (🎹 Flack), guitar (🎸 John Pizzarelli), and light, tasteful drumming (🥁 Ray Lucas), string bass (🎙 Ron Carter), and the glorious, glorious, strings 🎻. So much more could be said about the sheer elegance, and stupendous-ness of 🎵 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”.  Ultimately, the music speaks for itself, and speaks volumes.    

Appears in 🔻: 

3. The Rolling Stones, “Paint It, Black”

💿 Aftermath • 🏷 ABKCO Music & Records Inc. • 📅 1966

“I see a red door and I want it painted 🎨 black.” Early on, 🎵 “Paint It, Black” is one of the darker songs from 🎙 The Rolling Stones’ illustrious catalog. It’s set in a minor key, and even if it wasn’t, the lyrics confirm the depression and morbidity of the track. Dark it may be, but that didn’t inhibit it from earning the band one of 23 top 10 hits. Precisely, “Paint it Black” is one of the band’s 8 no. 1 hits, spending two weeks at no. 1 on the Hot 100 in 1966. 🎙 Mick Jagger continues singing in the first verse of the 💿 Aftermath gem, “No colors anymore, I want them to turn black / I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes / I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.” You know it’s bad when girls in summer clothes anger you…

The first verse only sets the tone as far as Jagger’s mood. The second verse provides more insight into what has happened to cause his anger, depression, and ultimately grief. He mentions cars all painted black, which suggests a funeral procession. He follows up with “With flowers and my love, both never come back,” which confirms the lover is deceased. As “Paint It Black” progresses, Mick continues to struggle with depression, shocked about her death in the fourth verse, and viewing things once seen as bright and cheerful as, well, black, of course. The blackness The Rolling Stones desire includes the sun, “Blotted out from the sky / I wanna see it painted, painted, painted / Painted black, yeah.” Fun fact: 🎵 “Paint It, Black” features 🎙 Brian Jones playing sitar, adding to the unique sound of this classic. A less fun fact: Did you know The Rolling Stones – an iconic band – has only won three 🏆 Grammys? Make it make sense!

Appears in 🔻:

4. Percy Sledge, “When A Man Loves A Woman”

💿 When a Man Loves a Woman • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1966

“When a man loves a woman / Can’t keep his mind on nothin’ else / He’d change the world for the good thing he’s found.” Those lyrics hail from one soul’s greatest songs, 🎵 “When A Man Loves a Woman” (💿 When a Man Loves a Woman).  The 🎙 Percy Sledge classic is one of the most easily recognizable songs of all-time, regardless of genre.  Unsurprisingly, the 1966 gem peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (the pop charts), Sledge’s sole top-10 hit. While his expressive, powerful vocals make “When A Man Loves a Woman” the masterpiece that it is, the songwriting is credited solely to 🎼 ✍ Andrew Wright and Calvin Lewis. However, according to Sledge, he is a co-writer… the narrative, and heartbroken nature of this soul staple were based on Sledge’s own experiences, with the raw draft of the song, performed in Quin Ivy’s sound studio/record store, being improvised and impromptu. Even when reworking the record as the song we know,  the late soul singer may be an uncredited writer… interesting 🤔.  

Also interesting is the recording itself.  The production is superb and benefits from being non troppo.  The accompaniment suits him perfectly, with its soulful styling.  The backdrop includes organ, guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals, and of course, glorious, articulated horns 🎺 🎷. According to Rhino, two versions were recorded, due to out of tune horns.  Ultimately, the tapes were mixed up and the first version, with those out of tune horns, was the version released.  No harm, no foul, all told!  Regardless, the backdrop never overshadows Sledge, who is always the focal point, sharing love pain marvelously.     

“When a man loves a woman 

He can do her no wrong 

He can never want 

Some other girl.” 

🎵 “When A Man Loves a Woman” – a soul joint for all time!  

Appears in 🔻:

Percy Sledge, When a Man Loves a Woman: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 142 (2023)

5. The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Do You Believe in Magic”

💿 Do you Believe in Magic • 🏷 BMG Heritage • 🗓 1965

Question: “Do you believe in magic 🪄 in a young girl’s heart?” Yes, we do, 🎙 The Lovin’ Spoonful! “How the music can free her whenever it starts?” The American folk-rock band has a few hits to their name with 🎵 “Do You Believe in Magic” ranking among their biggest and best known.  A top-10 single from the collective’s debut LP, 💿 Do You Believe in Magic, “Do You Believe in Magic” peaked at no. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The record was penned by 🎼 ✍ John B. Sebastian, who also sings lead on the exuberant, feel-good pop classic.  Although brief, “Do You Believe in Magic” is potent. It was once used in McDonald’s commercials after all, among others.  Also, the anthem is a popular soundtrack for an assortment of films.  

“I’ll tell you about the magic 🪄, and it’ll free your soul,” Sebastian sings near the end of the first verse, continuing, “But it’s like  tryin’ to tell a stranger ‘bout-a rock ‘n’ roll.” Word 🤘! Magic 🪄 and music 🎶 are intertwined throughout “Do You Believe in Magic.” That’s a big part of the – wait for it – MAGIC 🪄.  “If you believe in magic, don’t bother to choose / If it’s jug band music or rhythm and blues.” WOO! Besides the magical lyrics and strong vocals from John B. Sebastian, the music rocks too.  The groove is consistent and strong from the jump.  There’s a winning guitar 🎸solo – 🤘.  The instrumentation, overall, successfully bridges folk, pop, and rock.  Honestly, deep analysis is not necessary.  The magic 🪄 of 🎵 “Do You Believe in Magic” speaks for itself.  

Appears in 🔻:  

6. B.B. King, “The Thrill Is Gone”

💿 Completely Well • 🏷 Geffen • 🗓 1969 

When you think, 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone”, the first name that comes to mind associated with the song is the iconic, blues musician, 🎙 B.B. King.  His 1969 recording, which appears on his album, 💿 Completely Well, marks the biggest hit of career, peaking at no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Furthermore, it would earn King the first of 15 Grammy 🏆 wins. Specifically, King won the Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. While B.B. has earned definitive honors, to reiterate, “The Thrill Is Gone” was written by 🎼✍ Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins back in 1951, 18 years before King would release it 🤯. Hawkins originally recorded it.

What makes the B.B. King version the one to beat? Let’s start with the marvelous guitar 🎸 soloing by King. In the hands of King, that guitar oozes with soul. Besides killin’ it on Lucille 🎸, King also kills it with his vocals, bringing the heat. “The thrill is gone / The thrill is gone away,” he sings soulfully in the first verse, later adding, “You know you done me wrong, baby / And you’ll be sorry someday.” Woo! Notably, some of the lyrics are different compared to Hawkins’ original. Besides amazing vocals and epic soloing, the arrangement and production (🎛 Bill Szymczyk) are utterly sublime. The core instrumentation includes electric piano 🎹, bass, drums 🥁, and of course King on guitar 🎸. The expanded instrumentation adds even more goodness – strings 🎻 – which amplify the blues. Additional drama on a blues song? Yes please! While it is a shame that the thrill is gone, musically, 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone” is easily one of the greatest songs of all time, thanks to 🎙 B.B. King 💪.  

Appears in 🔻:  

7. Johnny Cash, “Ring of Fire”  

💿 The Essential Johnny Cash • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 2002  

“Love is a burning thing / And it makes a fiery ring.” Indeed, 🎙 Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003), indeed.  “Bound by wild desire / I fell into a ring of fire.” Dang! 🎵 “Ring of Fire” is one of the most iconic country songs of all-time, PERIOD.  In the hands of Mr. Cash, “Ring of Fire” peaked at no. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, one of two top-20 hits by the iconic country musician. The country standard was penned by Cash’s eventual second wife, 🎼 ✍ June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. Carter Cash didn’t write it for Cash, but rather her sister, Anita Carter, per Alex Baker of Fender. Unsurprisingly, early in 🏆 Grammy history, at the 6th Annual Grammy Awards, Cash earned his first Grammy nomination for Best Country & Western Recording. 

So, what makes “Ring of Fire” the sugar honey iced tea? The theme and songwriting go a long way, particularly the catchy chorus.  Sing along if you know it!    

“I fell into a burning ring of fire  

I went down, down, down   

And the flames went higher  

And it burns, burns, burns,   

The ring of fire  

The ring of fire.”    

Of course, those expressive, nuanced vocals of Johnny Cash are the biggest attraction 💪. That baritone is nothing short of amazing.  Also, throw in the mariachi horns 🎺  and the backdrop is distinct and sweet.  The groove is infectious, reminding us just how fabulous the country/western music of the past is.  Still, the focal point is the icon himself, Johnny Cash, who made 🎵 “Ring of Fire” a gargantuan hit. The greatness of the song speaks for itself.   

Appears in 🔻:   

8. Clarence Carter, “Slip Away”

💿 This Is Clarence Carter • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1968

“What would I give for just a few moments / What would I give just to have you near.” So far, nothing that blind blues/R&B musician 🎙 Clarence Carter sings on 🎵 “Slip Away” sounds far-fetched.  He continues singing in the first verse, “Tell me, you will try to slip away somehow / Oh, I need you darling, I want to see you right now.” Now, this is where things have crossed the line, Clarence! On this no. 6 hit on the Hot 100 from his 1968 album, 💿 This Is Clarence Carter, Mr. Carter tells her to cheat! Clarence, don’t you know that cheaters never win !

Ultimately, why Carter so passionately sings on the chorus, “Can you slip away, slip away, slip away,” is because he wants to be with her.  Clearly, she’s spoken for, but CC doesn’t care! “Now I know it’s wrong, the things I ask you to do / But please, believe me darling, I don’t mean to hurt you,” he sings in the third verse, adding, “But could you just slip away without him know you’re gone / Then we could meet somewhere, somewhere we’re both unknown.” Oh, the unfaithful greatness! Besides memorable songwriting, there are plenty of reasons why “Slip Away” is a classic.  It begins with the sound: a magnificent groove carried by the rhythm section, sensational guitar playing, a robust bass line, idiomatic soul, and those exuberant horns.  Of course, what about the incredibly gritty, nuanced, soulful lead vocals by Clarence Carter! It is easy to buy what he’s selling with his vocals, even if it is cheating.  Of course, the crowning achievement is the memorable, catchy chorus.  Ultimately, 🎵 “Slip Away” is  the second biggest hit of Carter’s career only behind 🎵 “Patches”. 

Appears in 🔻:

Clarence Carter, Slip Away: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 134 (2023)

9. Wilson Pickett, “Land of 1000 Dances”  

💿 The Exciting Wilson Pickett • 🏷 Atlantic • 📅 1966  

“Na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na.” WOO, 💿 The Exciting Wilson Pickett – what a great way to characterize legendary soul singer, 🎙 Wilson Pickett (1941 – 2006).  He was, indeed, quite exciting, infusing ample energy into his music.  The 1960s marked the ascent of Pickett, with 🎵 “Land of 1000 Dances” ranking among his best and most important songs of his career.  “Land of 1000 Dances” was written by and originally performed by 🎙 🎼 ✍ Chris Kenner in 1962.  Pickett recorded the definitive version in 1965, produced by 🎛 Jerry Wexler, Jim Stewart, Rick Hall, Steve Cropper, and Tom Dowd. “Land of 1000 Dances” marks one of two top-10 hits by Pickett. “Land,” his most successful of the two, peaked at no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 💪.   

What makes “Land of 1000 Dances” so awesome? It’s fun, infectious, and tongue 👅 in cheek period.  You can’t listen to this Wilson Pickett classic without smiling, singing along, or moving and grooving.  Those “na na(s)” rank among the most memorable parts.  That said, there are plenty of fun lyrics, including those that reference other songs, and of course, dances: “Got to know how to pony / Like Bony Maronie / Mash potato, do the alligator.”  Pickett also references the infectious 🎙 Little Richard classic, 🎵 “Long Tall Sally”, and another notable dance from the era, the Watusi, sigh. Songs don’t sound like 🎵 “Land of 1000 Dances” anymore, but it’s incredibly refreshing revisiting this six-decade-old gem in the 2020s.   

Appears in 🔻:  

10. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me”

💿 The Fabulous Miracles • 🏷 Motown • 🗓 1963  

“I don’t like you / But I love you / Seems that I’m always / Thinking of you.” Ooh-wee!  🎵 “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” appears as the opening track on 🎙 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ 1963 album, 💿 The Fabulous Miracles.  Written and produced by 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Smokey Robinson, who also sings lead, “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” is one of the best and biggest hits by the legendary Motown act.  How well did this love-driven joint perform on the pop charts? Well, it peaked at no. 8, earning it the honors of one of the collective’s six top-10 hits. 

There’s plenty to ❤️ about “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me.” The theme of love that you can’t quit is incredibly relatable. Robinson conveys it superbly from a vocal and songwriting perspective.  

“I don’t want you 

But I need you 

Don’t want to kiss you 

But I need to.” 

Woo! He brings plenty of personality to the table, via a once-in-a-lifetime tenor.  Also, we can’t fail to mention The Miracles, who bring the heat 🥵 as well. Speaking of other aspects of songwriting, what about that lilting feel? This record executes 12/8 superbly 💪. Gotta love how the piano carries those triplets, not to mention the drum groove, and the way that the rest of the rhythm section is locked in.  Furthermore, what about those horns 🎺 🎷? All told, 🎵 “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” ranks among those utterly sublime, early, Motown classics. It’s old, but still lit 🔥! 

Appears in 🔻:  

11. Ray Charles, “Georgia on My Mind”

💿 True Genius • 🏷 Tangerine • 🗓 2021

“Georgia, Georgia / The whole day through / Just an old, sweet song / Keeps Georgia on my mind.”  The late, iconic musician 🎙 Ray Charles earned 11 top-10 hits throughout his illustrious career. He also earned three no. 1 hits, including 🎵 “Hit The Road Jack” and the beloved jazz standard, 🎵 “Georgia On My Mind”, which spent one week atop the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1960. “Georgia on My Mind” wasn’t written by or for Charles – it was penned in 1930 by 🎼 ✍ Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell.  So, what is Charles’ connection to the song besides covering it in 1960? Charles was born in the Peach 🍑 State.  Charles’ stirring, soulful rendition of “Georgia on My Mind” is the one to beat, PERIOD. 

“Other arms, reach out to me / Other eyes 👀 smile 😀 tenderly / Still in peaceful dreams I see / The road leads back to you.” Sigh 😌. Charles’ voice is the biggest draw of “Georgia on My Mind.” His instrument was, indeed, ‘once-in-a-lifetime.’  That said, so many other musical cues make this six-decade-plus recording epic.  The orchestral arrangement and production (🎛 Sid Feller) are celestial 😇.  There’s just something about strings 🎻 that provide a serious lift 🏋️ 💪. Of course, the rhythm section is on-point, namely Charles’ magical piano 🎹 playing. Also, those easy listening, choral vocals can’t be left out of the mix, providing further enhancement.  When Ray Charles sings about his home state on 🎵 “Georgia On My Mind”, you buy what he is selling.  There’s a reason why it’s the official state song. 

Appears in 🔻:

Ray Charles, Georgia On My Mind: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 174 (2023)

Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 3 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; ABKCO Music & Records Inc., Atlantic, BMG Heritage, Geffen, Sony Music Entertainment, Tangerine; Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay]

Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 3 | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on December 6, 2023December 6, 2023