My Top 5 60s Musical Memories [VIDEOS]
Yeah, I'm a true kid of the 60s.It was during that amazing decade that I first became a music and trivia junkie. Believe me, I had it pretty bad. I learned at a pretty early age that trivia about all those great groups was just something that stuck in my head.
For some reason, I couldn't remember who was vice-president in 1820, but when it came to minutiae about the music of the 60s, I was a real sponge. Now, If I could remember that much about law, for example, I'd be a great lawyer, but since music trivia seems to be my forte, I'm working in radio.
This weekend, 92-9 The Lake will feature 3 Classic Hits of the 60s every hour. I'm looking forward to listening to all those great 60s hits myself. In honor of that, I thought I'd share my Top 5 musical moments of the 60s.
It's hard to pick just 5 songs from such a rich decade, but here goes. Most of the songs on this list are songs that really got me the first time I ever heard them. Some of them might be a bit obscure, but that's my taste in music.
Here are my Top5 60s Musical Memories in no particular order.
1. Good Vibrations -The Beach Boys-
Being a huge beach Boy fan in general and being an even bigger fan of Brian Wilson, I heard about this song long before I ever got to hear it. I knew that it was going to be something special. I remember reading that, in recording the song, that he used 4 or 5 different studios because, to Brian, each studio had a slightly different sound and that critics who had heard the song were just blown away by it. by the way, it cost more to produce than any single released up until that time. Here they are performing the song in a fairly recent reunion concert.
2. You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
-Another record that hit me right between the eyes the first time I heard it was this one. From the time Bill Medley comes in with that amazing voice of his until the final thundering chords, the song still hooks me. I've heard a rumor that Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley did the vocals in one take. It doesn't matter if that's true or not, but between their amazing vocals and Phil Spector's equally amazing production, everything about this song works.
3. Yesterday - The Beatles
This is one that I heard for the first time on the "Ed Sullivan Show." I was about 15 and nursing a broken heart for my Jr. High girlfriend. I'll be discreet and not name her here. Still, the song blew me away the very first time I heard it. I bought the record and played it until my parents both had to be sedated, I'm sure, but, to their credit, they just let me play it over and over.
4. House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
this is another one that hooked me the first time I heard it. I have to tell you that, the first time I heard it, I thought it was the most unique thing I'd ever heard in my life. While Eric Burdon's vocals are incredible, it was that haunting organ part played by Alan Price that I found interesting. There was something very haunting about that organ part and, despite the fact that I've heard this record a million times, those organ flourishes still impress me.
5. Mr. Tambourine Man - The Byrds
The first thing that caught my ear was that great 12 string Rickenbacker guitar of Roger McGuinn's. That alone hooked me right off the bat, but, in addition to that, the vocal harmony and the great lyrics make this one a pretty much perfect storm of the recording industry. The song, written by Bob Dylan, remains one of my favorites. I was such a fan of the Byrds that I wasn't happy until I owned my very own Rickenbacker 12-string.
So, there you have it. Ask me for my Top 5 favorite 60s hits tomorrow and you'll probably get a different list. What are your favorites?