ROCK
INTRODUCTION
I remember when I was young, my mother's sister and my auntie, had LP's of Johnny O'keefe and Normie Rowe. I used to hear them, and watch them dance to that music. Later it became evident, that I was also a collector of a lot of those 60's sounds. The rock bands that I have compiled below, are a result of some of those earlier influences. I haven't included the Beatles below, as they probably deserve a whole section dedicated to them, they were superlative. I have written a bit about each band below, and have samples of these songs so you can listen. Further down I will cover other Rock bands from the 60's, and work further on to the 70's, the 80's, and so on. All these sounds were fundamental for my musical comprehension, and paved the way to making me the musician that I have become.
The Essentials 60's collection1. Shake Your Hips The Rolling Stones
2. Little Green Bag George Baker Selection 3. Wishful Sinful The Doors 4. Shakin’ All Over Normie Rowe 5. Undecided Master Apprentices 6. Everlovin’ Man The Loved Ones 7. Baby Please Don’t Go Them 8. I Feel Free Cream 9. Do Wah Diddy Diddy Manfred Mann 10. Rumble Link Ray 11. Children of the Revolution T Rex 12. Victoria The Kinks 13. I’m waiting for the man The Velvet Underground 14. Daydream The Lovin’ Spoonful 15. Pretty Flamingo Manfred Mann 16. Shamans Blues The Doors 17. Sunny Afternoon The Kinks 18. Sorry Suzzanne The Hollies 19. Tin Soldier The Small Faces 20. Wild Child The Doors 21. There is a Mountain Donovan 22. Tales of Brave Ulysses Cream 23. She’s Not There The Zombies 24. Evil Hearted You The Yardbirds 25. Run Run Run The Velvet Underground 26. Carrie Ann The Hollies 27. Just Passing The Small Faces |
COMMENTARY ON THE 60’S COLLECTION WRITTEN BY (ANDREW IOANNIDIS)
1. SHAKE YOUR HIPS - THE ROLLING STONES
One of my favourite Rolling Stones tracks. That shaking of the hips is always sexy to me, and the female hip shakes the best. Guitar work from Keith Richards is exceptional. I also like the use of saxophone and brass in the background. Mick Jagger’s harmonica towards the end of song is a nice touch. Charlie Watts drumming and offbeat snare hits, at certain points of the song is terrific.
2. LITTLE GREEN BAG - GEORGE BAKER SELECTION
Written in 1969, by a Dutch band called the George Baker Selection. This song is typically jazzy, with a mellow, cool voice that gradually builds. I have memories of hearing this song in the Adam’s family record collection. I particularly love the way the vocals build up when the chorus comes in, it resembles a Latin type of musical pattern. And to think the song is all about weed, I was too young to understand the hidden lyrical reference, but I remember dancing to this song in the lounge room when I was young.
3. WISHFUL SINFUL - THE DOORS
A little different from the other standard Doors songs. Written in 1969, from their ‘Soft Parade’ album. A far more obscure album compared to their more popular regular albums. ‘Wishful Sinful wicked you’, as Morrison sings, I tend to think upon recently listening to it, relates to me and you buddy. Our typical obsession to possess sexually many women. Morrison is brilliant, and he is accompanied by the best orchestration, and fellow musicians. Robby Krieger on guitar is superb. Densmore on drums, rolls the snare tastefully in all the right places.
4. SHAKIN' ALL OVER - NORMIE ROWE
Normie Rowe was a gun in his time. Typical 60’s sound, with the good old shaking lyrics, always a favourite of mine. The twangy, tremolo guitar just before the chorus line ‘shakin all over’ is exciting and still gives me goose bumps. And that roll of the percussive drum after is quite primal. I have a few of the early Normie Rowe CD’s, he had a real interesting voice suited to the British invasion that was characteristic of the time.
5. UNDECIDED - MASTER APPRENTICES
Master Apprentices were another 60’s Aussie band that typified originality and British groove. The guitar work of Mick Bower gave this Adelaide band their signature, it is terrific in this song, listen to its swing. Jimmy Keays on vocals sounds grouse, this dirty sound, loud fast, and distinctive, which is understandable buddy the guy is of Scottish decent.
6. EVERLOVIN' MAN - THE LOVED ONES
The Loved Ones for me were one of my favourite Australian rock bands. Gerry Humphry’s distinctive vocals are sensational. Ian Clyne on the organ is the catalyst for their sound. And Rob Lovett on guitar is a maestro. I particularly like the high notes that Gerry sings on this song. Try and emulate and hold the pitch he reaches, it is amazing how he still holds it together. I certainly can’t reach that pitch, and he has a much deeper voice than me.
7. BABY PLEASE DON’T GO - THEM
Probably should be a song in everyone’s 60’s collection. I prefer Van Morrison in this band, the Irish ‘garage band’ Them. This band did some wonderful things. In fact this cover, which is a ‘Big Joe Williams’ original blues creation, is speeded up, and believe it or not, they have added ‘Jimmy Page’ on rhythm guitar as Page was a professional studio session guitarist those days in 1964. The distinctive lead guitar of Billy Harrison has influenced many guitarists over the years. Them the band made this song their own, and more popular than the original blues version, I can play you the original one day, I have in my collection all the blues masters dating from the 30’s till the 50’s. Still the original is sweet, I like all the versions.
8. I FEEL FREE - CREAM
This song to me describes the uniqueness of this trio. Cream, as they say were the ‘cream of the crop’. Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker were the ‘top cats’ of the 60’s British Jazz and Blues circles. Many of their songs had a Greek Mythological theme and flavour running thru its veins. The harmonies on this song are superb, tempo, bass, and eclectic Clapton guitar riffs brilliant. For a three piece band, the sound was so full, exemplifying the expertise of each musician.
9. DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY - MANFRED MANN
Manfred Mann in the 60’s we’re an institution in London. Paul Jones on the vocals had a British Jazz and Blues historical resume. Manfred Mann the keyboard player gave the band its musical signature. I like this song as there is the innocent British pop loving feel about it. I especially like the use of the drums, and the rolls on the tom toms, and shaker/tambourine. Great Jones voice, strong and direct.
10. RUMBLE - LINK RAY
Link Ray was a pioneer American rock guitarist. I have put this song in as a special tribute in this collection. It is not a song done in the 60’s, it was recorded in 1958, but I have special memories of it in the 60’s. I want you to take note of the ‘power chord’ in this song, which he pioneers with his ‘overdriven, distorted’ electric guitar. Quite ahead of his time, I mean Bill Haley was singing Rock around the Clock, and this guy single handed was doing a Jimmy Hendrix drone in the 50’s, how outrageous. This guy they reckon is the father of ‘Heavy Rock’. Take note in this song, the unusual bluesy stroll, and its ‘oddball, eleventh and one and a half bar’ in the second part of the 12th bar, it is wicked. I have been playing guitar for a long time, since 8 years of age, and this guy even today still blows my mind. He has some amazing other songs that I am happy to play you when you come here. He is responsible for the Batman theme song in the 60’s television programme. And many other classic TV themes that you would have not known he wrote. To me this songs typifies ‘juvenile delinquent street fighting’ and it has a mean expression about it, all done magnificently on guitar, of a bloke that really is familiar with his craft.
11. CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION - T REX
T Rex is a great British band dating back from 1967, and I reckon quite innovative and legendary. A lot of their earlier songs are ‘Baroque’ melodies and surreal lyrics filled with Greek and Persian mythology. This song is one of their more commercially well known numbers but nevertheless a good one. I do like the violin and string section they use in the background. Marc Bolan plays a powerful guitar chord riff and is a terrific vocalist. The percussive talents of Bill Legend, and the interesting bass playing of Steve Currie is worthy of a mention in this song.
12. VICTORIA - THE KINKS
What I like about this group The Kinks is their playful attitude. Ray Davies main vocalist is considered to be one of the greatest lyricists, up there with Syd Barrett, Lennon & Mcartney, and so on. This song is away from their popular hits. I like it because it rocks to a good pace and describes Victoria a grim reality of life in Britain a true downtrodden working class place dear to Ray Davies. I like the musicianship, the beat, and the production which is raw, but pretty tight. It builds to an exultant climax of brass and strings, combined with heavy rock guitar, and raucous background vocals from Dave Davies brother of lead singer. The Davie brothers were blessed with talent, and have influenced each other in the song writing process.
13. I’M WAITING FOR THE MAN - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
The Velvet Underground were a very influential group that I have a natural affinity and an important group that have influenced me from the 1960’s period. They have come up with a few powerful spiritual messages in many of their songs, and the folk way of expressing them is very heartening. Lou Reed and John Cale are a magical combination, quite poetic and eclectic for their time. Lou Reed would write the lyrics, and John Cale would drive the rhythms and the music. This song is great, it was released 1967 from their debut album ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’. This album John is a must for any serious record collector, it was financed and produced by Andy Warhol, and is considered to be the 13th greatest album of all time. Listen to it closely, it’s about purchasing heroin on a busy intersection in New York. The man is a drug dealer. Despite the grim story of drug dealing, this band liked to advertise the definite reality that actors, artists, and musicians were involved in as far as substance abuse. The traditional guitar, bass, and drums, and percussive barrelhouse style piano, pounds thru the song. The continuous instrumental drone, and the distinctive voice of Lou Reed makes this song really effective, I really like it a lot.
14. DAYDREAM - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL
This song was released by The Lovin’ Spoonful in 1966. To me it shows the masterly song writing ability of lead vocalist John Sebastian. I like the violin in the background, it gives the song character. I also think Sebastian’s voice is magic. The essence of the music in the song is that of a folk flavoured American pop feel. Quite different to their earlier album tracks, which were from jug-band roots, but modernized their way. This song was the style I wanted to select for this collection, and was a close toss up with some of the music of the Mamas and Papas, but there was not enough space, so I chose this track, because I particularly like Sebastian’s voice.
15. PRETTY FLAMINGO - MANFRED MANN
Another song written by Manfred Mann in 1966. There is a special feature of bassist Jack Bruce in this song, who later formed the band Cream with Clapton.
It’s a great love song of the 60’s. ‘Cause her hair glows like the sun and her eyes can light the skies’ are terrific lyrics, this woman called Flamingo, which all the guys have fallen for, and plan to win her affection. Manfred Mann knew how to capture the love songs from that decade, it is obvious on this track.
16. SHAMANS BLUES - The Doors
I particularly like this Doors track. Morrison is always referring to a shaman here or there. It’s another song from that great ‘Soft Parade’ album which every collector should have. I love the bass on the keyboards from Ray Manzarek, and especially that lead break on his organ, typical Doors musicianship. And Morrison, near the end of the song, ‘You’ll be dead and in Hell before I’m born. Sure thing. Brides maid. The only solution. Isn’t it amazing?’ What the hell is he talking about? Love it.
17. SUNNY AFTERNOON - THE KINKS
This song from The Kinks impresses me. It is a fierce competitor with its opponent ‘Taxman’ from The Beatles, but in my books better. Lyrics relating to the high taxes in Britain during the 60’s. I love the piano, and the interesting walking bass that goes down the scale till the vocals enter. The vocals are exceptional, and clever melody very unique for its time.
18. SORRY SUZANNE - THE HOLLIES
The Hollies were a great British band that formed together in Manchester during the 60’s. This song typifies their bright vocal harmonies. Vocalist Allan Clarke, guitarist & vocalist Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, and Bassist Bobby Elliot, have been the main members to continue thru the groups history. The enigmatic song writing partnership of Clark, Nash, and Hicks, along with Jimmy Page a great session guitarist of the 60’s, helped launch the careers of the Everly Brothers, who emulated a lot of The Hollies original compositions. This band rank high in my 60’s favourite circle of bands, and this track is typical of the sweet British love songs. When you bop to the Hollies pop, you absorb all those clever vocal tracks, they were never short of a sweet tune, many of their tunes denoted clever melody.
19. TIN SOLDIER - THE SMALL FACES
Is a lovely song from The Small Faces. This band is remembered with quite a few memorable songs, and their concept album ‘Ogdens Nut Gone Flake’, is considered to be ahead of its time. This band with Steve Marriott leading chief writer and vocalist evolved to be Britain’s most successful ‘psychedelic’ acts before disbanding in 1969. I have included two of their more conservative tracks in this collection, but their more obscure albums are worth listening to. They were the first band to incorporate the use of ‘flanging’, before Pink Floyd used this technique, and a lot of bands copied their revolutionary method. This is where when playing two identical master tapes simultaneously, you alter the speed of one of them very slightly by touching the ‘flange’, which yields a distinctive comb filtering effect. Later on Pink Floyd became the masters of recording effects, after they worked out these methods The Small Faces were doing in the early 60’s. Steve Marriott’s vocals are exceptional and has chosen a most tasteful heart rending tale for his love lyric.
20. WILD CHILD - THE DOORS
A song from the Doors album, ‘The Soft Parade’. Typical blues number about a wild child beautifully written composition from Morrison. John, listen to the guitar work of Krieger, simply brilliant. I like the way he plays his notes so clear and crisp, and the way he slides his chords up and down on his guitar. And those bass notes from Manzarek’s keyboards, following every note from the guitar pattern. And how about the last lyric from Jimmy Morrison, ‘Remember when we were in Africa?’. Great stuff.
21. THERE IS A MOUNTAIN - DONOVAN
Donovan is a greatly respected songwriter and musician of the 60’s. This song is really playful. I like the flute in the beginning, and the percussion bongos and congas. ‘Caterpillar sheds his skin, to find a Butterfly within’, ingenious lyrics. I have a few albums from Donovan. I particularly like his clever musical compositions always inspirational, and his quirky psychedelic lyrics.
22. TALES OF BRAVE ULYSSES - CREAM
Great mythology from Cream. The songs speaks mountains, about the homework these guys did in preparation of their music. Every word uttered beautiful ancient poetry. ‘Her name is Aphrodite, and she rides the crimson shell, and you see the girls the colours of the sea bind your eyes with trembling mermaids’. Are you kidding? they were either on LSD, or it was a definite tribute to Homer’s Odyssey. It’s more the latter. Artist Martin Sharp provided the lyrics to Clapton, it’s well documented the words Sharp wrote on the back of a ‘beer mat’ which he gave to Clapton during a chance meeting. The simplest of meetings like that can result in a great composition like this. I am most impressed with Clapton’s wah – wah pedal effect on his guitar. Very sweet guitar chord progression in D minor. The guitar is trembling, and sounding like a moving wave in the ocean. Love the Cream, masters of psychedelic feel.
23. SHES NOT THERE - THE ZOMBIES
This song from The Zombies is a must in every 60’s collection. Released in 1964, and created by the band’s great songwriter Roger Argent. Argent’s electric piano features distinctively in this song, the backing vocals and the folk type close-harmony style are brilliant. It’s in a minor key, which makes it more effective, jazz tinged type of musical flow. It has been covered by many bands, including Santana, but this original version is by far the best.
24. EVIL HEARTED YOU - THE YARDBIRDS
I had to put a song in done by The Yardbirds in this collection, as they have influenced many bands in the 60’s. John this band was unbelievable, it had three of Britain’s most accomplished guitarist all playing together in one band. The likes of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. Because of the band’s inclusion of such fine guitarists, the band was responsible for many 60’s guitar innovations. ‘Fuzz tone, feedback, distortion, backwards echo, improved amplification, slide-guitar, harmonics’, the list is endless. And this was around 1963, when guitar techniques were still in their beginnings. I had to include this song, it is known for its guitar solo featuring ‘Spanish scales’, which were highly unusual for 1965, when this song was written. This Spanish scale is extremely common in Spain, Arabic, Greek, and Middle Eastern music. A ‘Phrygian dominant scale, fifth mode of the harmonic scale’. Have a listen to that lead break from Clapton, very sweet notes played on the frets of his guitar, and the slow and faster tempo of the proceeding verses. The British rock/pop scene were not familiar with these ethnic scales, until Barrett really exemplified it even further in 1967 with Pink Floyd, Barrett listened closely to the work of The Yardbirds and other respective Middle Eastern artists.
25. RUN RUN RUN - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
This is another Velvet Underground classic. I have put another of their tracks as it depicts the raw uniqueness of Lou Reed’s guitar solo, forgive me for this mate, I am a guitarist myself, and I cannot help being biased. It sort of has a Zorba type of time signature flowing thru it. And the lead guitar riffs from Reed, is very non-conventional. The song was written on the back of an envelope by Reed on the way to a gig. It details a number of characters living in New York City, ‘Teenage Mary, Seasick Sarah, and so on, seeking drugs. Not all The Velvet Underground’s songs were about drugs, but it just so happens the ones I put on this collection worked out this way. Still clever lyrics, wonderfully put together, Reed was good at it. I like the band very much, most influential for aspiring musical and lyrical artists.
26. CARRIE ANN - THE HOLLIES
Terrific song from The Hollies, another vocal romantic classic. It was written by Clarke, Nash, and Hicks, about Marianne Faithful. A few bands including the Rolling Stones and the Beatles have written about Marianne Faithful. I like this song, ‘Hey Carrie Ann, what’s your game now, can anybody play’. The ‘Ann’ gives it away, as it is ‘Marianne’, I don’t know why everyone was obsessed with her, Mick Jagger had an affair with her, and a few other musicians as well, somehow they were all attracted to this chick. Anyway, great chorus in this song, and the voices of this band sublime.
27. JUST PASSING - THE SMALL FACES
This is a very short one and a half minute song from The Small Faces, just enough to get closure for this 60’s collection. I like Marriott’s voice, and laughter at the end. With a horn tooting in the background, cute song to end the Essential 60’s Collection. Still very well worth listening to some of their other more notable psychedelic songs as well.
1. SHAKE YOUR HIPS - THE ROLLING STONES
One of my favourite Rolling Stones tracks. That shaking of the hips is always sexy to me, and the female hip shakes the best. Guitar work from Keith Richards is exceptional. I also like the use of saxophone and brass in the background. Mick Jagger’s harmonica towards the end of song is a nice touch. Charlie Watts drumming and offbeat snare hits, at certain points of the song is terrific.
2. LITTLE GREEN BAG - GEORGE BAKER SELECTION
Written in 1969, by a Dutch band called the George Baker Selection. This song is typically jazzy, with a mellow, cool voice that gradually builds. I have memories of hearing this song in the Adam’s family record collection. I particularly love the way the vocals build up when the chorus comes in, it resembles a Latin type of musical pattern. And to think the song is all about weed, I was too young to understand the hidden lyrical reference, but I remember dancing to this song in the lounge room when I was young.
3. WISHFUL SINFUL - THE DOORS
A little different from the other standard Doors songs. Written in 1969, from their ‘Soft Parade’ album. A far more obscure album compared to their more popular regular albums. ‘Wishful Sinful wicked you’, as Morrison sings, I tend to think upon recently listening to it, relates to me and you buddy. Our typical obsession to possess sexually many women. Morrison is brilliant, and he is accompanied by the best orchestration, and fellow musicians. Robby Krieger on guitar is superb. Densmore on drums, rolls the snare tastefully in all the right places.
4. SHAKIN' ALL OVER - NORMIE ROWE
Normie Rowe was a gun in his time. Typical 60’s sound, with the good old shaking lyrics, always a favourite of mine. The twangy, tremolo guitar just before the chorus line ‘shakin all over’ is exciting and still gives me goose bumps. And that roll of the percussive drum after is quite primal. I have a few of the early Normie Rowe CD’s, he had a real interesting voice suited to the British invasion that was characteristic of the time.
5. UNDECIDED - MASTER APPRENTICES
Master Apprentices were another 60’s Aussie band that typified originality and British groove. The guitar work of Mick Bower gave this Adelaide band their signature, it is terrific in this song, listen to its swing. Jimmy Keays on vocals sounds grouse, this dirty sound, loud fast, and distinctive, which is understandable buddy the guy is of Scottish decent.
6. EVERLOVIN' MAN - THE LOVED ONES
The Loved Ones for me were one of my favourite Australian rock bands. Gerry Humphry’s distinctive vocals are sensational. Ian Clyne on the organ is the catalyst for their sound. And Rob Lovett on guitar is a maestro. I particularly like the high notes that Gerry sings on this song. Try and emulate and hold the pitch he reaches, it is amazing how he still holds it together. I certainly can’t reach that pitch, and he has a much deeper voice than me.
7. BABY PLEASE DON’T GO - THEM
Probably should be a song in everyone’s 60’s collection. I prefer Van Morrison in this band, the Irish ‘garage band’ Them. This band did some wonderful things. In fact this cover, which is a ‘Big Joe Williams’ original blues creation, is speeded up, and believe it or not, they have added ‘Jimmy Page’ on rhythm guitar as Page was a professional studio session guitarist those days in 1964. The distinctive lead guitar of Billy Harrison has influenced many guitarists over the years. Them the band made this song their own, and more popular than the original blues version, I can play you the original one day, I have in my collection all the blues masters dating from the 30’s till the 50’s. Still the original is sweet, I like all the versions.
8. I FEEL FREE - CREAM
This song to me describes the uniqueness of this trio. Cream, as they say were the ‘cream of the crop’. Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker were the ‘top cats’ of the 60’s British Jazz and Blues circles. Many of their songs had a Greek Mythological theme and flavour running thru its veins. The harmonies on this song are superb, tempo, bass, and eclectic Clapton guitar riffs brilliant. For a three piece band, the sound was so full, exemplifying the expertise of each musician.
9. DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY - MANFRED MANN
Manfred Mann in the 60’s we’re an institution in London. Paul Jones on the vocals had a British Jazz and Blues historical resume. Manfred Mann the keyboard player gave the band its musical signature. I like this song as there is the innocent British pop loving feel about it. I especially like the use of the drums, and the rolls on the tom toms, and shaker/tambourine. Great Jones voice, strong and direct.
10. RUMBLE - LINK RAY
Link Ray was a pioneer American rock guitarist. I have put this song in as a special tribute in this collection. It is not a song done in the 60’s, it was recorded in 1958, but I have special memories of it in the 60’s. I want you to take note of the ‘power chord’ in this song, which he pioneers with his ‘overdriven, distorted’ electric guitar. Quite ahead of his time, I mean Bill Haley was singing Rock around the Clock, and this guy single handed was doing a Jimmy Hendrix drone in the 50’s, how outrageous. This guy they reckon is the father of ‘Heavy Rock’. Take note in this song, the unusual bluesy stroll, and its ‘oddball, eleventh and one and a half bar’ in the second part of the 12th bar, it is wicked. I have been playing guitar for a long time, since 8 years of age, and this guy even today still blows my mind. He has some amazing other songs that I am happy to play you when you come here. He is responsible for the Batman theme song in the 60’s television programme. And many other classic TV themes that you would have not known he wrote. To me this songs typifies ‘juvenile delinquent street fighting’ and it has a mean expression about it, all done magnificently on guitar, of a bloke that really is familiar with his craft.
11. CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION - T REX
T Rex is a great British band dating back from 1967, and I reckon quite innovative and legendary. A lot of their earlier songs are ‘Baroque’ melodies and surreal lyrics filled with Greek and Persian mythology. This song is one of their more commercially well known numbers but nevertheless a good one. I do like the violin and string section they use in the background. Marc Bolan plays a powerful guitar chord riff and is a terrific vocalist. The percussive talents of Bill Legend, and the interesting bass playing of Steve Currie is worthy of a mention in this song.
12. VICTORIA - THE KINKS
What I like about this group The Kinks is their playful attitude. Ray Davies main vocalist is considered to be one of the greatest lyricists, up there with Syd Barrett, Lennon & Mcartney, and so on. This song is away from their popular hits. I like it because it rocks to a good pace and describes Victoria a grim reality of life in Britain a true downtrodden working class place dear to Ray Davies. I like the musicianship, the beat, and the production which is raw, but pretty tight. It builds to an exultant climax of brass and strings, combined with heavy rock guitar, and raucous background vocals from Dave Davies brother of lead singer. The Davie brothers were blessed with talent, and have influenced each other in the song writing process.
13. I’M WAITING FOR THE MAN - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
The Velvet Underground were a very influential group that I have a natural affinity and an important group that have influenced me from the 1960’s period. They have come up with a few powerful spiritual messages in many of their songs, and the folk way of expressing them is very heartening. Lou Reed and John Cale are a magical combination, quite poetic and eclectic for their time. Lou Reed would write the lyrics, and John Cale would drive the rhythms and the music. This song is great, it was released 1967 from their debut album ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’. This album John is a must for any serious record collector, it was financed and produced by Andy Warhol, and is considered to be the 13th greatest album of all time. Listen to it closely, it’s about purchasing heroin on a busy intersection in New York. The man is a drug dealer. Despite the grim story of drug dealing, this band liked to advertise the definite reality that actors, artists, and musicians were involved in as far as substance abuse. The traditional guitar, bass, and drums, and percussive barrelhouse style piano, pounds thru the song. The continuous instrumental drone, and the distinctive voice of Lou Reed makes this song really effective, I really like it a lot.
14. DAYDREAM - THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL
This song was released by The Lovin’ Spoonful in 1966. To me it shows the masterly song writing ability of lead vocalist John Sebastian. I like the violin in the background, it gives the song character. I also think Sebastian’s voice is magic. The essence of the music in the song is that of a folk flavoured American pop feel. Quite different to their earlier album tracks, which were from jug-band roots, but modernized their way. This song was the style I wanted to select for this collection, and was a close toss up with some of the music of the Mamas and Papas, but there was not enough space, so I chose this track, because I particularly like Sebastian’s voice.
15. PRETTY FLAMINGO - MANFRED MANN
Another song written by Manfred Mann in 1966. There is a special feature of bassist Jack Bruce in this song, who later formed the band Cream with Clapton.
It’s a great love song of the 60’s. ‘Cause her hair glows like the sun and her eyes can light the skies’ are terrific lyrics, this woman called Flamingo, which all the guys have fallen for, and plan to win her affection. Manfred Mann knew how to capture the love songs from that decade, it is obvious on this track.
16. SHAMANS BLUES - The Doors
I particularly like this Doors track. Morrison is always referring to a shaman here or there. It’s another song from that great ‘Soft Parade’ album which every collector should have. I love the bass on the keyboards from Ray Manzarek, and especially that lead break on his organ, typical Doors musicianship. And Morrison, near the end of the song, ‘You’ll be dead and in Hell before I’m born. Sure thing. Brides maid. The only solution. Isn’t it amazing?’ What the hell is he talking about? Love it.
17. SUNNY AFTERNOON - THE KINKS
This song from The Kinks impresses me. It is a fierce competitor with its opponent ‘Taxman’ from The Beatles, but in my books better. Lyrics relating to the high taxes in Britain during the 60’s. I love the piano, and the interesting walking bass that goes down the scale till the vocals enter. The vocals are exceptional, and clever melody very unique for its time.
18. SORRY SUZANNE - THE HOLLIES
The Hollies were a great British band that formed together in Manchester during the 60’s. This song typifies their bright vocal harmonies. Vocalist Allan Clarke, guitarist & vocalist Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, and Bassist Bobby Elliot, have been the main members to continue thru the groups history. The enigmatic song writing partnership of Clark, Nash, and Hicks, along with Jimmy Page a great session guitarist of the 60’s, helped launch the careers of the Everly Brothers, who emulated a lot of The Hollies original compositions. This band rank high in my 60’s favourite circle of bands, and this track is typical of the sweet British love songs. When you bop to the Hollies pop, you absorb all those clever vocal tracks, they were never short of a sweet tune, many of their tunes denoted clever melody.
19. TIN SOLDIER - THE SMALL FACES
Is a lovely song from The Small Faces. This band is remembered with quite a few memorable songs, and their concept album ‘Ogdens Nut Gone Flake’, is considered to be ahead of its time. This band with Steve Marriott leading chief writer and vocalist evolved to be Britain’s most successful ‘psychedelic’ acts before disbanding in 1969. I have included two of their more conservative tracks in this collection, but their more obscure albums are worth listening to. They were the first band to incorporate the use of ‘flanging’, before Pink Floyd used this technique, and a lot of bands copied their revolutionary method. This is where when playing two identical master tapes simultaneously, you alter the speed of one of them very slightly by touching the ‘flange’, which yields a distinctive comb filtering effect. Later on Pink Floyd became the masters of recording effects, after they worked out these methods The Small Faces were doing in the early 60’s. Steve Marriott’s vocals are exceptional and has chosen a most tasteful heart rending tale for his love lyric.
20. WILD CHILD - THE DOORS
A song from the Doors album, ‘The Soft Parade’. Typical blues number about a wild child beautifully written composition from Morrison. John, listen to the guitar work of Krieger, simply brilliant. I like the way he plays his notes so clear and crisp, and the way he slides his chords up and down on his guitar. And those bass notes from Manzarek’s keyboards, following every note from the guitar pattern. And how about the last lyric from Jimmy Morrison, ‘Remember when we were in Africa?’. Great stuff.
21. THERE IS A MOUNTAIN - DONOVAN
Donovan is a greatly respected songwriter and musician of the 60’s. This song is really playful. I like the flute in the beginning, and the percussion bongos and congas. ‘Caterpillar sheds his skin, to find a Butterfly within’, ingenious lyrics. I have a few albums from Donovan. I particularly like his clever musical compositions always inspirational, and his quirky psychedelic lyrics.
22. TALES OF BRAVE ULYSSES - CREAM
Great mythology from Cream. The songs speaks mountains, about the homework these guys did in preparation of their music. Every word uttered beautiful ancient poetry. ‘Her name is Aphrodite, and she rides the crimson shell, and you see the girls the colours of the sea bind your eyes with trembling mermaids’. Are you kidding? they were either on LSD, or it was a definite tribute to Homer’s Odyssey. It’s more the latter. Artist Martin Sharp provided the lyrics to Clapton, it’s well documented the words Sharp wrote on the back of a ‘beer mat’ which he gave to Clapton during a chance meeting. The simplest of meetings like that can result in a great composition like this. I am most impressed with Clapton’s wah – wah pedal effect on his guitar. Very sweet guitar chord progression in D minor. The guitar is trembling, and sounding like a moving wave in the ocean. Love the Cream, masters of psychedelic feel.
23. SHES NOT THERE - THE ZOMBIES
This song from The Zombies is a must in every 60’s collection. Released in 1964, and created by the band’s great songwriter Roger Argent. Argent’s electric piano features distinctively in this song, the backing vocals and the folk type close-harmony style are brilliant. It’s in a minor key, which makes it more effective, jazz tinged type of musical flow. It has been covered by many bands, including Santana, but this original version is by far the best.
24. EVIL HEARTED YOU - THE YARDBIRDS
I had to put a song in done by The Yardbirds in this collection, as they have influenced many bands in the 60’s. John this band was unbelievable, it had three of Britain’s most accomplished guitarist all playing together in one band. The likes of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. Because of the band’s inclusion of such fine guitarists, the band was responsible for many 60’s guitar innovations. ‘Fuzz tone, feedback, distortion, backwards echo, improved amplification, slide-guitar, harmonics’, the list is endless. And this was around 1963, when guitar techniques were still in their beginnings. I had to include this song, it is known for its guitar solo featuring ‘Spanish scales’, which were highly unusual for 1965, when this song was written. This Spanish scale is extremely common in Spain, Arabic, Greek, and Middle Eastern music. A ‘Phrygian dominant scale, fifth mode of the harmonic scale’. Have a listen to that lead break from Clapton, very sweet notes played on the frets of his guitar, and the slow and faster tempo of the proceeding verses. The British rock/pop scene were not familiar with these ethnic scales, until Barrett really exemplified it even further in 1967 with Pink Floyd, Barrett listened closely to the work of The Yardbirds and other respective Middle Eastern artists.
25. RUN RUN RUN - THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
This is another Velvet Underground classic. I have put another of their tracks as it depicts the raw uniqueness of Lou Reed’s guitar solo, forgive me for this mate, I am a guitarist myself, and I cannot help being biased. It sort of has a Zorba type of time signature flowing thru it. And the lead guitar riffs from Reed, is very non-conventional. The song was written on the back of an envelope by Reed on the way to a gig. It details a number of characters living in New York City, ‘Teenage Mary, Seasick Sarah, and so on, seeking drugs. Not all The Velvet Underground’s songs were about drugs, but it just so happens the ones I put on this collection worked out this way. Still clever lyrics, wonderfully put together, Reed was good at it. I like the band very much, most influential for aspiring musical and lyrical artists.
26. CARRIE ANN - THE HOLLIES
Terrific song from The Hollies, another vocal romantic classic. It was written by Clarke, Nash, and Hicks, about Marianne Faithful. A few bands including the Rolling Stones and the Beatles have written about Marianne Faithful. I like this song, ‘Hey Carrie Ann, what’s your game now, can anybody play’. The ‘Ann’ gives it away, as it is ‘Marianne’, I don’t know why everyone was obsessed with her, Mick Jagger had an affair with her, and a few other musicians as well, somehow they were all attracted to this chick. Anyway, great chorus in this song, and the voices of this band sublime.
27. JUST PASSING - THE SMALL FACES
This is a very short one and a half minute song from The Small Faces, just enough to get closure for this 60’s collection. I like Marriott’s voice, and laughter at the end. With a horn tooting in the background, cute song to end the Essential 60’s Collection. Still very well worth listening to some of their other more notable psychedelic songs as well.