The Best of 60s Pop Music
Contents
A blog dedicated to the best pop music from the 1960s. Find new and old favorites, and rediscover the joy of pop music from one of the best decades for the genre.
The Beatles
Pop music in the 1960s was a time of change and innovation. The Beatles were at the forefront of this change with their groundbreaking music. Their influence can still be felt today. Let’s take a look at some of the best of 60s pop music.
Introducing The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group, whose best-known lineup comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band. Rooted in skiffle and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several genres, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements in innovative ways. In 1963 their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”, but as their songwriting grew in sophistication their pioneering and groundbreaking new recordings; they came to be perceived as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s youth culture. During the band’s initial years they released pop singles such as “Love Me Do” (1962), “Please Please Me” (1963) and “From Me to You” (1963).
##Heading: The Beatles in Britain
##Expansion:
After their break-up in 1970, the group released two albums of previously unreleased material: Anthology 1 (1995) and Anthology 2 (1996). Most of The Beatles’ catalogue has been reissued on vinyl and Compact Disc. The Beatles’ album sales total more than 800 million copies worldwide. They are the best-selling band in history, with sales of over 600 million records in the United States. McCartney has released a solo album every decade since 1970; his most recent being Egypt Station (2018). Harrison died of cancer in 2001 at age 58. Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building in 1980 at age 40. Starr remains a member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band; he has toured regularly with them since 1989
##Heading: Historic Milestones
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Historic milestones regarding The Beatles include:
– They are the only band to have four members inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – as both solo artists and as a group
– In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them #1 on its list of “The Greatest Artists of All Time.”
– In 2008, Billboard magazine placed The Beatles at number one on its 50th Anniversary Issue: The Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists chart.
Please Please Me
“Please Please Me” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles. It was their first UK No. 1 single, and topped the charts in Britain for 11 weeks. The song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
In 2012, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as number 459 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
With The Beatles
With The Beatles was the second studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 22 November 1963 on Parlophone, exactly eight months after their debut Please Please Me.
With The Beatles showed an increase in sophistication in both songwriting and recording technique compared to the group’s debut. It features original songs by John Lennon–Paul McCartney (including their first UK number 1 single “From Me to You”), as well as three songs written by George Harrison and two by Ringo Starr. Hear some of the album’s hits below!
-It Won’t Be Long
-All I’ve Got to Do
-All My Loving
-Don’t Bother Me
-Little Child
-Till There Was You
-Please Mister Postman
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys were one of the most successful bands of the 60s. They had hits like “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” They were able to blend pop and surf music to create a unique sound. The Beach Boys are often considered one of the pioneers of the “California Sound.”
Surfin’ Safari
The Beach Boys’ first album Surfinn’ Safari, released in 1962, was the first surf album ever made, and it included their first big hit, “Surfin’ Safari”. The album climbed to No. 14 on Billboard’s Top LPs chart and was certified gold by the RIAA. It also spawned the singles “409” and “Shut Down”.
Surfin’ USA
“Surfin’ U.S.A.” is a song composed by Chuck Berry, with lyrics adapted from “Sweet Little Sixteen” by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It was first recorded and released in 1963 by the Beach Boys, on their album Surfin’ U.S.A.. The Beach Boys version reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1963.
The song is considered to be one of the band’s signature songs and has been included on numerous Beach Boys compilation albums, such as Greatest Hits (1965), made Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list at number 272, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2013, the recording was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, deeming it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Shut Down, Vol. 2
Shut Down Volume 2 is the Beach Boys’ tenth studio album, and their second in 1964. It reached number 4 in the US upon its initial release. The album is one of their “transitional” works, side one of which contains five new rock and roll/surf songs (alternately titled Fun, Fun, Fun until December 1963), while side two contains six new ballads sung in close harmonies. Three of the ballads were written by Brian Wilson solo (“Don’t Worry Baby”, “The Warmth of the Sun”, and “This Whole World”), and three were co-written with Mike Love (“In My Room”, “She Knows Me Too Well” and “I’ll Bet He’s Nice”).
The Supremes
Diane Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard were high school friends who formed The Supremes in Detroit, Michigan during the early 1960s. The trio became the most successful popular music female group of the 1960s and are, to date, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. They are also the best charting group in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. With 12 number-one singles on the Hot 100 and 18 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, The Supremes helped to define the Motown Sound and are credited with being a major factor in the success of the Motown record company.
Where Did Our Love Go
“Where Did Our Love Go” is a 1964 song recorded by American music group the Supremes for the Motown label. It was also released as a single which reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. The song was written and produced by Motown’s main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland.
A Bit of Liverpool
The Supremes dominated the airwaves in the 1960s with their string of #1 hits, and they became one of the most successful pop groups of all time. The group was originally known as The Primettes, and they were a trio consisting of Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard. The group signed with Motown Records in 1961, and they released their first single, “I Want a Guy,” in 1962. The song was not a hit, but it did catch the attention of Motown founder Berry Gordy, who signed the group to the label.
The Supremes released their debut album, ” Meet the Supremes,” in 1963, and it peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album spawned the singles “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes” and “Baby Love,” both of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Baby Love” spent four weeks at #1 on the chart, and it became one of the biggest hits of 1964. The Supremes followed up with their second album, “Where Did Our Love Go,” in 1964. The album featured the title track, which topped the Hot 100 chart for two weeks, becoming the group’s second #1 hit.
The Supremes went on to release several more hit albums and singles throughout the 1960s before Diana Ross left the group to pursue a solo career in 1970. Ross was replaced by Jean Terrell, and The Supremes continued to release hit singles including “Up the Ladder to the Roof” and “Stoned Love.” However, by 1973, Mary Wilson was the only original member remaining in The Supremes, and after a final album and tour together, Wilson disbanded the group.
The Kinks
The Kinks are often considered one of the most important and influential bands of the 1960s. They were one of the first British Invasion bands to break through in America, and they had a string of hits in the UK and US. The Kinks were a driving force in the development of rock and roll, and they had a huge impact on the music of the 1960s.
Kinda Kinks
The Kinks, formed in Muswell Hill, North London, in 1964, are an English rock band that achieved success in the 1960s and early 1970s. The Kinks are recognized as one of the most important and influential rock bands of the era. They were ranked at number 24 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ray Davies, guitarist Dave Davies, bassist Pete Quaife (replaced in 1969 by John Dalton), and drummer Mick Avory (replaced in 1984 by Bob Henrit).
The band’s first hit, “You Really Got Me”, peaked at number one in the UK charts in August 1964, while their debut album reached number five. Their next two singles, “All Day and All of the Night” and “Tired of Waiting for You”, both reached the top ten in early 1965. During this time they toured extensively throughout Britain, Europe and America with acts such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who.
The Kink Kontroversy
The Kinks were one of the most popular bands of the 1960s. They were also one of the most controversial. In 1965, they were banned from touring America after an incident in which guitarist Dave Davies was accused of assaulting a photographer. The ban was later lifted, but the Kinks’ reputation as a troublesome band had been cemented.
Throughout their career, the Kinks were known for their sharp wit and humor. Their songs often poked fun at aspects of British society, and they were not afraid to court controversy with songs like “Lola” (which featured a transgender protagonist) and “Father Christmas” (a Christmas song with a dark edge).
Despite their reputation as troublemakers, the Kinks were one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. They helped to pioneer the British Invasion of America, and their music was a major influence on both punk rock and Britpop.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are one of the most iconic and influential bands of the 20th century. They rose to prominence in the UK during the 1960s with their signature brand of blues-influenced rock and roll. The Rolling Stones are known for their hits such as “Satisfaction,” “Paint It Black,” and “Brown Sugar.” They are also considered one of the greatest live bands of all time. In this article, we will explore the best of the Rolling Stones’ 60s pop music.
Out of Our Heads (US)
Out of Our Heads is the third American studio album by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released on 30 July 1965 by London Records as their second album released in the United States. It is also considered the US version of their fourth UK studio album, Aftermath, since it included tracks from that album not found on their second US album 12 X 5.
The majority of Out of Our Heads was recorded between February and May 1965 at RCA Studios in Hollywood, and Chess Studios in Chicago. The album includes the band’s first hit single written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, “The Last Time”, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Pop Singles Chart. Another charting single from the album was “Satisfaction”, which reached No. 1 on both Cashbox and Record World’s charts, and No. 4 on Billboard’s Pop Singles Chart. Out of Our Heads became the Stones’ first #1 album in the US, reaching that position on Billboard’s Top LPs chart in September 1965 and remained there for four weeks. In 2012, Rolling Stone ranked Out of Our Heads at #116 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
December’s Children (And Everybody’s)
The Rolling Stones’ fifth British and seventh American studio album, December’s Children (And Everybody’s), was released on 4 December 1965 by London Records in the United Kingdom and on 13 December by ABKCO Records in the United States. It peaked at No. 4 on Billboard”s pop albums chart and at No. 2 in the UK. The album was released in a monaural version in the US as filler for the album Out of Our Heads that appeared three weeks earlier, which entered the Billboard chart four days sooner and thus reached a higher position; Out of Our Heads mono also spent more weeks on the UK album chart.
The album featured “Get Off of My Cloud”, which topped the US and UK singles charts, as well as “As Tears Go By”, one of several hits written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for other artists. Disputes over what material should comprise December’s Children led to Brian Jones being effectively removed from the decision-making process for its selection, although he remained on cover artwork; newly hired engineer Glyn Johns also had an influence on its content.
The album has been reissued several times since its initial release; a deluxe edition issued in November 2005 included previously unreleased tracks, alternate versions of released tracks, and a live recording of “Get Off of My Cloud”. A 40th anniversary edition was released in Britain in November 2005 with a slightly different track listing. Reviewers generally praised December’s Children upon its release; many commentators have since viewed it as one of the Rolling Stones’ strongest albums from their mid-1960s peak period.
