Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 5 features some of the โ60s finest songs by Joe Cocker, Joe Simon, The 5th Dimension, The Beatles, The Byrds, and The Supremes.
Ah, theโฏ1960s โ 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.โฏ 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 โ at least with blurbs involved. We continue the process for the โ60s with Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 5, following โฏIncredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 1, Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 2, Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 3, and Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 4. Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 5 features some of the โ60s finest songs by Joe Cocker, Joe Simon, The 5th Dimension, The Beatles, The Byrds, and The Supremes. So, letโs relive the turbulent 1960s with these epic musical classics!โฏ โฏ
1. The Rascals, โA Beautiful Morningโ
2. The Supremes, โStop! In The Name of Loveโ
3. The Byrds, โTurn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)โ
4. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, โDancing in the Streetโ
5. Four Tops, โI Canโt Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)โโฏโฏโฏ
6. The Temptations, โBeauty is Only Skin Deepโ
7. The Beatles, โStrawberry Fields Foreverโ
8. Bobby Vinton, โMr. Lonelyโ
9. John Coltrane, โGiant Stepsโ
10. The 5th Dimension, โWedding Bell Bluesโ
11. The Dave Brubeck Quartet, โUnsquare Danceโ
12. The Mamas & The Papas, โCalifornia Dreaminโโ
13. The Winstons, โColor Him Fatherโ
14. Joe Simon, โNine Pound Steelโ
15. Joe Cocker, โBye Bye Blackbirdโ
1. The Rascals, โA Beautiful Morningโ
Time Peace: The Rascalsโ Greatest Hits // Atlantic // 1990
โItโs a beautiful morning, ah / I think Iโll go outside a while and just smile.โ The positive, feel-good vibes are alive and well on โA Beautiful Morningโ, the 1968 classic by The Rascals. What better way to begin a beautiful playlist? The Rascals had been called The Young Rascals. โA Beautiful Morningโ is credited to The Rascals. Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, vocalists for The Rascals, penned the blue-eyed soul classic. Unsurprisingly a pop hit, it peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968.
โIf the weatherโs fine and you got the time
Itโs your chance to wake up and plan another brand-new day
Either way, itโs a beautiful morning, ah.โ
Good, positive vibes were crucial to the success of โA Beautiful Morning.โ So was the musical accompaniment. Enthusiastic from the onset, the ringing wind chimes set the tone. From there, the listener is blessed with a soulful drum and percussive groove, a big bass line, and sublime guitar and keys. Also amplifying โA Beautiful Morningโ instrumentally are the bright, articulated horns. The lead vocals (Cavaliere) are sensational โ assertive and gritty from the beginning. Adding to the excellence is a tuneful melody. Also, the harmonized background vocals are superb too, adding sweetness. Nearly 60 years after its release, โA Beautiful Morningโ remains the ultimate, feel-good, morning vibe.
Appears in :
- The Rascals, A Beautiful Morning: Throwback Vibez 109 (2024)
- 13 More Remarkably Beautiful Songs (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
2. The Supremes, โStop! In The Name of Loveโ
More Hits by The Supremes // Motown // 1965
The Supremes, one of Motownโs iconic collectives, have 12 no. 1 hits to their name. That is nothing short of epic! Sadly, a Grammy has eluded Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson, among other members throughout the years. Even without that statuette, The Supremes donโt need the validation of an award as their timeless hits speak for themselves. Among those marvelous number ones is the show-stopping, โStop! In The Name of Loveโ, which spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Appearing as the fourth track from More Hits by The Supremes, which was released in 1965, it was penned by Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, and Lamont Dozier. What a team! Brian and Lamont also produced this exuberant classic.
โStop in the name of love / Before you break my heart,โ The Supremes sing utterly sublimely on the centerpiece, the chorus. They urge him to, โThink it over.โ Sound advice! Beyond the tuneful chorus, the verses are superb too. The girls know this man isnโt faithful. Diana Ross sings, โI watch you walk down the street / Knowing your other love youโll meet.โ Adding to potentially devastating matters of the heart, โBut this time, before you run to her / Leaving me alone and hurt / (Think it over).โ Besides the fun songwriting and fabulous vocals by the group, the instrumental is marvelous too, including the use of organ, amplifying the soul, and the use of vibraphone and articulated horns. Honestly, thereโs not much to โthink overโ when it comes to the quality of โStop! In The Name of Loveโ โ itโs the catโs meow!
Appears in :
- The Supremes, Stop! In The Name of Love: Throwback Vibez 20 (2024)
- 10 Songs Thatโll Stop U in Ur Trax (2024)
- Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 2 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
3. The Byrds, โTurn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)โ
Turn! Turn! Turn! // Sony Music Entertainment // 1965
So, letโs get a little โspiritualโ โ a little Biblical โ shall we? From the Ecclesiastes, specifically Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV): 1 There is a timeโฏfor everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2โฏA time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3โฏA time to killโฏand a time to healโฆ We arenโt intentionally promoting religion โ make that decision for yourself โ but we are providing the source of The Byrdsโ 1965 classic, โTurn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season).โ Members of the legendary band, with the arrival of Turn! Turn! Turn! were Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Michael Clarke, and Chris Hillman. The folk-rock title track, written by the legendary Pete Seeger, is based on the text from Ecclesiastes 3 from the Old Testament. Whether youโre religious or not, this passage of scripture, and song itself, is prudent and thoughtful. Also, โTurn! Turn! Turn!โ was a no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent three weeks in the penthouse, the second of two no. 1 hits by the collective. If youโve never encountered โTurn! Turn! Turn!โ youโre missing out.
Appears in :
- Turn: 5ive Songs (2021) No. 3
- 11 Songs You Surely Must Turn Up (2021)
- 13 Songs That Say It Thrice (2024)
- 13 Engaging Season Songs for Any Season (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
4. Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, โDancing in the Streetโ
Dance Party // Motown // 1965
โCalling out around the world / Are you ready for a brand-new beat?โ Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, a seminal Motown collective, had a Dance Party in 1965. Woo! โDancing in the Streetโ, the opening track from the album, was the biggest hit of the iconic girl groupโs career. The infectious song was written by William โMickeyโ Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter, and Marvin Gaye. Stevenson produced this gem that reached no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. โSummerโs here and the time is right / For dancing in the street.โ Yes, maโam! What makes โDancing in the Streetโ the sugar honey iced tea? Martha Reeves is a compelling frontwoman, delivering dynamic, high-energy vocals. Given the style Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were renowned for, Reevesโ personality plays a pivotal role in the success of this cut. Itโs a cutesy, playful, and tongue-in-cheek cut, tailormade for Reeves. โThereโll be laughing, singing, and music swinging / Dancing in the street,โ Reeves sings in the second verse, citing the cities where these dances occur (Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C., Motor City aka Detroit). Besides the verses, the pre-chorus and chorus mark some of Reevesโ top-notch moments. In the pre-chorus, she asserts โAll we need is music, sweet music.โ In the chorus, she delivers those timeless lyrics, โIt doesnโt matter what you wear / Just as long as you are there / So come on, every guy, grab a girl / Everywhere around the world.โ
Itโs not all about Martha, of course! The Vandellas (Rosalind Ashford-Holmes and Betty Kelly) โhold it downโ with the background vocals โ the harmonies, riffs, etc. Although โDancing in the Streetโ lacks sophisticated sound quality taken for granted in the 21st century, the instrumental backdrop rocks . There is ample fuel for The Vandellasโ fire. The rhythm section builds a fantastic anchor (specifically the drums) while the horns provide bite. The baritone saxophone brings it on those low notes! No lengthy analysis is necessary for โDancing in the Streetโ which speaks for itself.
Appears in :
- Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Dancing in the Street: Throwback Vibez 89 (2024)
- 13 More Epic Songs Fueled by DANCE (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
5. Four Tops, โI Canโt Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)โโฏโฏโฏ
Four Tops Second Album // Motown // 1965
โSugar pie, honey bunch / You know that I love you / I canโt help myself / I love you and nobody else.โ #ICONIC chorus! Ah, โI Canโt Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)โ โ one of, if not the greatest HONEY songs of all-time! Four Tops were the stuff and โI Canโt Help Myselfโ ranks at the top of their illustrious catalog.โฏ This mid-1960s joint, which appeared on Four Tops Second Album, peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the vibe of vibes nearly six decades later.โฏ This Holland-Dozier-Holland (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland) composition is an innocent soul song about L-O-V-E. Even though โIn and out my life / You come, and you go,โ ultimately, โWhen you snap your fingers or wink your eye / I come a-running to you.โ Why? Sheer love, baby! Backed by those incredible Motown musicians, and produced by Dozier and Brian Holland, โI Canโt Help Myselfโ is that oldie you find that you canโt help listening to because itโs so enduring and timeless.โฏโฏ
โฏ
Appears in :โฏโฏ
- 11 Songs That Are Sweet Like Honey (2023)โฏโฏ
- 11 Songs That Require HELP (2023)
- Songs Where Musicians Just Canโt, Vol. 2 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
6. The Temptations, โBeauty is Only Skin Deepโ
50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1961-1971 // Motown // 2011
โNow good looks Iโve learned to live without / โCause now I know itโs love that only counts.โ โBeauty is Only Skin Deepโ commences assertively with biting trumpets and a heavy-handed drum roll. Soon enough, this brief but potent gem from The Temptations settles into a cool, classy groove. โBeauty is Only Skin Deepโ was written by Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield. Whitfield also produced the classic. The instrumental arrangement is superb. The rhythm section cooks while the horns up the ante with those articulated riffs. Notably, The Temptations werenโt the first to record this cut. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles took those honors. Even so, The Temptations released it as a single and made it a hit. โBeautyโ peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.
Who handles lead vocals on โBeauty is Only Skin Deepโ for the iconic Motown collective? That would be the dynamic David Ruffin. Ruffin is on his โA gameโ delivering soulful, gritty lead vocals. The Temptations back him superbly, keeping the same energy, especially in the chorus. Ruffin has tuneful melodies to work with and memorable and thoughtful lyrics (โA pretty face may be some guyโs taste / But Iโll take lovinโ in its placeโ). Of course, the crรจme de la crรจme is the chorus, among the catchiest of the groupโs career:
โโCause I know that
Beauty is only skin-deep
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I know that
Beautyโs only skin-deep
Oh, yeah.โ
Oh, yeah, indeed! โBeauty is Only Skin Deepโ is utterly delightful โ The Temptations at their best!
Appears in :
~ Table of Contents ~
7. The Beatles, โStrawberry Fields Foreverโ
Magical Mystery Tour // Universal // 1967
โStrawberry Fields Forever,โ the eighth track from Magical Mystery Tour (1967), marks a more complex record by The Beatles. โStrawberry Fields Foreverโ is not nearly as simple as some of their four-chord songs. The sound itself plays a sizable role in the innovativeness and overall success of the record. Notably, โStrawberry Fields Foreverโ uses the mellotron, specifically the famous flute sound that can be found in DAWs and synthesizers widespread these days. Itโs one of many colors that shape this particular record. Alongside the mellotron, the timbre is further accentuated with trumpet, cello, and perhaps most intriguingly, swarmandal (an Indian harp). Adding to the intrigue, thereโs awesome timbrel contrast throughout the song. Of course, itโs not only the instrumental that draws great attention to โStrawberry Fields Forever.โ The vocals by John Lennon are on point, as always. The melody of this tune easily gets stuck in oneโs head. Furthermore, the lyrics are nothing short of excellent in their own right โ dreamy, reflective, trippy.
โLet me take you down, โcause Iโm going to
Strawberry Fields
Nothing is real, and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry Fields forever.โ
Appears in :
~ Table of Contents ~
8. Bobby Vinton, โMr. Lonelyโ
Roses Are Red // Salt & Pepper // 1962
โLonely, Iโm Mr. Lonely / I have nobody for my own.โ โMr. Lonelyโ by Bobby Vinton was originally recorded in 1962. It didnโt become a hit until 1964 โ let that sink in. Although โMr. Lonelyโ appeared on his 1962 album, Roses Are Red, it was not released as a single. That was not the choice of Vinton but rather, the record label. Vinton penned the eventual, beloved classic with Gene Allan. In 1964, reprised on the album, Mr. Lonely, โMr. Lonelyโ reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1964. It marked the fourth and final no. 1 hit for Vinton.
โMr. Lonelyโ is one of Vintonโs best hits. The theme is straightforward. Bobby is lonely. Why is he so lonely? โNow Iโm a soldier, a lonely soldier,โ he sings, adding, โAway from home through no wish of my own.โ He misses home while completing service in the U.S. Army. He sings about loneliness and longing for home expressively with his smooth tenor and ripe falsetto. Heโs backed by an orchestra which only sweetens this sincere, thoughtful ballad. โLetters, never a letter / I get no letters in the mail,โ he sings in the second verse, adding, โIโve been forgotten.โ Aww, so sad . His sadness through song resonated in the 1960s and endures today. โMr. Lonelyโ didnโt get its just due early on, but eventually earned the success it deserved initially.
Appears in :
- Bobby Vinton, Mr. Lonely: Throwback Vibez 101 (2024)
- Bobby Vinton vs. Akon: Head 2 Head No. 26 (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
9. John Coltrane, โGiant Stepsโ
Giant Steps // Rhino // 1960
Bmaj7 D7 | Gmaj7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 | amin7 D7 |โฆ Those are some gnarly chord changes that hail from a once-in-a-lifetime jazz classic from a once-in-a-lifetime jazz musician. John Coltrane (1926 โ 1967) was one of the most influential and talented musicians of all time, regardless of genre. Whenever Coltrane played the saxophone, it sounded like a spiritual, transcendent experience โ it โhit differentโ as they say. One of his most beloved songs is โGiant Stepsโ, the opener from his 1960 landmark album, Giant Steps. Trane penned this complex jazz standard, which is remarkably difficult to improvise over. Why? Itโs non-standard chord changes (excerpted above) coupled with a quick tempo. โGiant Stepsโ isnโt a blues record built on the standard I, IV, and V progression; itโs far more advanced! The circle of fifths is still in play, mind you, as well as the common ii โ V- I progression, but in an adventurous, higher level, innovative sort of way. After all, thereโs a reason why a gifted jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan fails to deliver a solo thatโs as rousing as Traneโs. No shade, of course!
Is Flanaganโs piano solo on โGiant Stepsโ an epic fail? No, of course, not โ heโs Tommy Flanagan! However, Flanaganโs solo is more memorable for the fact that it pales in comparison to the epic solo it follows, courtesy of Trane. Honestly, anybody who followed Coltrane on tenor saxophone had an uphill battle. Hence, the big takeaway isnโt Flanagan โ he was a legend regardless of this โaverageโ solo โ itโs about TRANE. Backed by the sizzling hot drum groove (Art Taylor) and an active bass line (Paul Chambers), John is on autopilot. Even sixty-plus years after โGiant Stepsโ arrived, listening back to Traneโs solo, itโs other-worldly โ utterly genius. The riffs are prodigious, fitting perfectly atop those complex chord changes. So much can be said and analyzed in depth regarding โGiant Stepsโ โ it is giant, giant song. That said, for the music lover who isnโt a music theory buff, acknowledging and appreciating the genius of Coltrane on this song that was far ahead of its time is sufficient.
Appears in :
~ Table of Contents ~
10. The 5th Dimension, โWedding Bell Bluesโ
The Age of Aquarius // Sony Music Entertainment // 1969
โBill, I love you so, I always will / I look at you and see the passion eyes of May.โ Was Marilyn McCoo singing to her future husband, Billy Davis Jr. on โWedding Bell Bluesโ? Yes. Both members of the iconic, eclectic soul collective were engaged when the song was released. But, this beloved The 5th Dimension classic is a cover . โWedding Bell Bluesโ was written and originally performed by the late Laura Nyro (1947 โ 1997). Nyro, a fantastic songwriter, provided the Grammy-winning soul collective with several songs with โWedding Bell Bluesโ earning top honors. โBillโ was the potential groom addressed in her original. Still, Marilyn addressing her eventual husband (they married the same year) is an irresistibly sweet storyline. The fourth track from the collectiveโs 1969 album, The Age of Aquarius, earned them their second no. 1 hit following their โace-in-the-hole,โ โAquarius / Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)โ.
The songwriting is marvelous. Laura Nyro was โthe stuff,โ and, rightfully, posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. โOh, but am I ever gonna see my wedding day?โ McCoo asks, adding, โIโd never scheme or lie, Bill, thereโs been no fooling / But kisses and love wonโt carry me till you marry me, Bill.โ Bill had to marry Marilyn โ it was inevitable! Notably, Davis Jr. and McCoo would have success as a duo post-5th Dimension. Besides urging Bill to โtake those wedding vows,โ the musicianship of โWedding Bell Bluesโ shines. Itโs groovy and โsunnyโ from the get-go. The piano is crucial to the accompaniment. Additionally, sweet orchestration ups the ante โ soaring strings, bright, biting horns, and mallets. The lead vocals are authentic, commanding, fun, and playful. The 5th Dimensions backing vocals are assertive โ a fabulous response to the lead. With tuneful melodies and encouraging matrimony (โOh, come on Billโ and โCome on and marry me, Bill / I got the wedding bell bluesโ), โWedding Bell Bluesโ was an inevitable chart-topper on the pop charts.
Appears in :
- The 5th Dimension, Wedding Bell Blues: Covers No. 29 (2024)
- 13 Songs Filled with the Blues (2024)
- 11 Marvelous, Bell-Ringing BELL ๏ธ Songs (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
11. The Dave Brubeck Quartet, โUnsquare Danceโ
Time Further Out // Sony Music Entertainment Inc. // 1961
Jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck (1920 โ 2012) had no shortage of innovative spirit as a musician. He opted against the tried and true and pushed boundaries. One such way he did so was by exploring nontraditional and asymmetric meters. In 1961, The Dave Brubeck Quartet โ Brubeck, Paul Desmond (saxophone), Joe Morello (drums), and Eugene Wright (bass) โ released Time Further Out, which features the 7/4 masterpiece, โUnsquare Danceโ.
โUnsquare Danceโ runs merely two minutes in duration. Wright provides a mighty foundation with the string bass highlighting key beats โ one, three, and five. Itโs not only Wright who maintains a groove. Handclaps play a pivotal role โ part of the charm of โUnsquare Dance.โ Who performs those claps? Did Desmond clap since he didnโt play alto sax on it? Eventually, Brubeck enters the mix incorporating the blues (itโs still built on a blues progression) and country/western flavor. Eventually, Joe Morello brings the drums in alongside the handclaps, but doesnโt embrace the whole kit โ itโs the rim of the snare action, baby! Minimalist yet brilliant musically, โUnsquare Danceโ ranks among the best songs of the Dave Brubeck catalog.
Appears in :
- The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Unsquare Dance: Throwback Vibez 31 (2024)
- 13 More Epic Songs Fueled by DANCE (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
12. The Mamas & The Papas, California Dreaminโ
If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears // MCA // 1966
โAll the leaves are brown (All the leaves are brown) / And the sky is gray (And the sky is gray) / Iโve been for a walk (Iโve been for a walk) / On a winterโs day (On a winterโs day).โ Those iconic, memorable lyrics hail from โCalifornia Dreaminโโ, written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips. Lou Adler produced this beloved The Mamas & The Papas classic, released in 1965. Ultimately, it appears on the folk-rock/pop bandโs 1966 album, If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears. โCalifornia Dreaminโโ was originally recorded by Barry McGuire in 1965. However, The Mamas & The Papasโ version was the first released. A big hit, it peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
So, what makes โCalifornia Dreaminโโ โthe catโs meowโ โ the โsugar honey iced teaโ? EVERYTHING, honestly. It exemplifies the 1960s pop sound. It begins with one of the most memorable guitar riffs of all time. The minor key is established from the get-go. Also established early is the infectious groove. Beyond that, โCalifornia Dreaminโโ delivers tuneful melodies, awesome vocal harmonies, and impeccable use of the call-and-response style.
โStopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees (Got down on my knees)
And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray).โ
Denny Doherty handles the lead vocals superbly. John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, and Cass Elliott (Mama Cass) soundly support with their backing vocals. One of the most unique sounds heard on โCalifornia Dreaminโโ is a flute solo. Itโs not just any flute that Bud Shank plays โ itโs an alto flute. The lower-sounding instrument is perfect for this minor-key, folk rock/pop gem. โCalifornia Dreaminโโ is often cited as one of the greatest songs ever. That should come as no surprise. Take one listen and its magic is revealed. Itโs clichรฉ to say but the music speaks for itself.
Appears in :
- The Mamas & The Papas, California Dreaminโ: Throwback Vibez 96 (2024)
- Celebrating The United States Through Song (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
13. The Winstons, โColor Him Fatherโ
Color Him Fatherโฏ// Metromediaโฏ// 1969
โThereโs a man at my house, heโs so big and strong / He goes to work each day, and he stays all day long.โโฏThatโs admirable. โฏFurthermore, โHe comes home each night, looking tired and beat,โโฏhe never frowns,โฏaskingโฏโHowโs my child?โ As these lyrics suggest, The Winstonsโฏdeliverโฏa special record that highlights how special a loving,โฏdedicatedโฏfather is on โColor Him Fatherโโฏfrom their 1969 album of the same title.โฏโI think Iโll color this man fatherโฏ/ I think Iโll color him love.โโฏ The chorus isโฏincredibly memorable and more importantly, thoughtful and touching. โฏ Making โColor Him Fatherโ even more thoughtful is the fact that we learn this man who isโฏโcoloredโโฏfatherโฏisnโt the biological father!โฏSee Exhibit B, the second verse:
โOur real old man,โฏhe got killed in the warโฏโฏ
And she knows she and seven kids couldnโt of gotten very farโฏโฏ
She said she thought that she could never love againโฏโฏ
And then there he stood with that big wide grinโฏโฏ
He married my mother, and he took us inโฏโฏ
And now we belong to the man with that big wide grin.โ
Wow, the feels, the feels, the feels given off thisโฏtop 10 hit (reached no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100).โฏAlso, deservedly, The Winstons were nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. โฏโฏโฏ โฏ
Appears inโฏ:โฏโฏโฏ
- The Winstons, Color Him Father: Throwback Vibezโฏ 41โฏ(2022)โฏโฏ
- 10โฏCommandmentโฏSongs:โฏA FewโฏKept,โฏMostโฏBroken (2022)โฏ
- 15 Must-Hear, Throwback Vibez, Vol. 2 (2022)โฏโฏ
- 13 Songs Where HIM is the Pronoun (2023)โฏ
- 11 Songs All About Daddy (2024)
~ Table of Contents ~
14. Joe Simon, โNine Pound Steelโ
No Sad Songs // Sound Stage 7TM // 1967
โThrough these walls / I see the sun / Iโm here because / The wrong Iโve done.โ Uh-oh, Joe Simon โ sounds like a sad song to me! โNine Pound Steelโ is the sixth track from his 1968 album, No Sad Songs. Not sad? Thatโs debatable. In the first verse, he admits, โI stole from her / Oh when I shouldโve stood up like a man / You see, Iโve got to say good morning / To a nine-pound steel.โ Although not a top 40 hit for the southern soul singer, it impacted the pop charts, reaching no. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. โNine Pound Steelโ was written by Dan Penn and Wayne Carson. Simon delivers commanding vocals, steeped in soul, specifically that southern soul. He sings authentically with incredible expression and nuance from the beginning. Beyond his epic lead, the supporting vocals are utterly sublime. Thematically, heโs paying for his wrongdoing in the slammer aka prison. Not only has his incarceration affected him, but itโs affecting his girl. โI know someday / Iโll be free (someday) / Please darling / Oh honey, wait for me.โ โNine Pound Steelโ has marvelous production including exuberant rhythmic piano, robust bass line, and a consistent, anchoring drum groove. โNine Pound Steelโ is another timeless gem from Simonโs collection.
Appears in :
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15. Joe Cocker, โBye Bye Blackbirdโ
With a Little Help From My Friends // A&M / UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1969
โPack up all my cares and woes / Feeling low, here I go / I should have dialed (Bye, bye, blackbird) โฆโ Joe Cocker was the definition of a male powerhouse. That man could flat-out sing ! โBye Bye Blackbirdโ is NOT a Joe Cocker original. Sure, Joe makes this Mort Dixon and Ray Henderson-penned number his own, but it was first recorded in 1926 ! The first hit version also arrived in 1926, courtesy of Gene Austin. It has been covered hundreds and hundreds of times. This standard appears as the second track on his 1969 album, With a Little Help From My Friends. There is a more iconic cover from the LP but โBye Bye Blackbirdโ in his hands is EPIC.
Denny Cordell produced โBye Bye Blackbird,โ which features a bluesy, soulful instrumental. The piano leads the charge initially. However, โBye Bye Blackbirdโ becomes even grander with the organ entering the mix as well as an incredible guitar solo by the one-and-only Jimmy Page around the 1:40 mark. The star of the show, Mr. Cocker, gives his all to the vocals, singing commandingly, soulfully, and infusing grit. Besides his dynamic, nuanced lead, the background vocals bring the heat too. Again, this is not an original written for Cocker, but he makes it sound original. Itโs easy to buy what he sells as he sings: โNobody seems to love / Or understand me / And horrid hard luck stories / They keep on handinโ me.โ Indeed, Joe, indeed. โBye Bye Blackbirdโ = sensational.
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Incredible Songs: 1960s, Vol. 5 (2024) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic, MCA, Metromedia, Motown, Sony Music Entertainment, Sound Stage 7TM, UMG Recordings, Inc., Universal; cottonbro studio from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson, InspiredImages, Jo Justino, Stuart Hampton, Vika_Glitter from Pixabay]