Now we start on the “Swinging Sixties”. In my humble opinion the 60’s were the most innovated decade of music on record (pardon the pun). The 1960s were a musical explosion — a decade that reshaped sound, culture, and creativity forever.

Youth Rebellion & Counterculture: The post-war baby boomers came of age, challenging norms through music. Civil rights, anti-war protests, and feminist movements fuelled powerful lyrics and bold experimentation.

British Invasion: Bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones brought fresh energy and global appeal, transforming pop and rock music into cultural phenomena.

Folk Revival: Artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez used music as protest and poetry, giving voice to social change

Psychedelic Rock: Acts like The Doors and Jefferson Airplane pushed boundaries with surreal sounds and mind-expanding themes.

Motown Magic: Detroit’s Motown Records introduced soulful, polished pop with stars like Marvin Gaye and The Supremes, creating “The Sound of Young America”.

Fusion & Experimentation: Folk rock, progressive rock, and avant-garde styles emerged, blending genres and defying musical conventions

• Woodstock & Music Festivals: These gatherings became symbols of peace, love, and artistic freedom.
• Film & Pop Music: Soundtracks and music-driven films amplified pop’s reach and impact.

The 60s weren’t just a decade — they were a turning point. Music became a mirror of society, a tool for change, and a playground for innovation.

A few observations of some of the below songs: Two classics from Etta James “All I Could Do Is Cry”and “At Last”. Jesse Hill’s “Ooh Poo Pa Doo” a song I first heard sung by Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Jackie Wilson’s “Night” is listed. In 1972 Van Morrison released the album St Dominics Preview which included the song “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile”. How about the song ‘LSD-25′ by the Gamblers, a daring song title for 1960. The label execs were convinced it was about a Naval ship! Johnny Kidd and the Pirates “Shakin’ All Over”, I have great memories of Way Out West’s Patron Saint Chris Wilson singing this classic at our Christmas gigs. New Orlean’s piano virtuoso James Booker’s “Gonzo” is a classic. Booker was a flawed genius and he also recorded a song titled “Smacksie” and then ironically went to the slammer for drug usage. Harry Connick Snr. was the D.A. and Booker’s lawyer and he kept Booker from a jail sentence in exchange for piano lessons for his son Harry Connick Jnr.! You may remember Ringo Starr (1974) doing a cover of Johnny Burnette’s hit “You’re Sixteen”. What is it with old men singing about 16 year olds and school girls? Slim Harpo’s created a new genre, Swamp Blues with the song “Rainin’In My Heart”.

I have been to New Orleans 10 times. Every time I hear Fats Donino’s song “Walking to New Orleans” I have a hankering to go back again.

Ninteen and sixty

• A Fool In Love – Ike and Tina Turner
• A Thousand Stars – Kathy Young & The Innocents
• All I Could Do Is Cry – Etta James
• Alley-Oop – The Hollywood Argyles
• Angel Baby – Rosie & The Originals
• Angel On My Shoulder – Shelby Flint
• Apache – The Shadows
• At Last – Etta James
• Baby Sittin’ Boogie – Buzz Clifford
• Baby, What You Want Me To Do? – Jimmy Reed
• Beatnik Sticks – Paul Revere & The Raiders
• Big Boy Pete – The Olympics
• Big Chief – Professor Longhair
• Big Mr. C – The Link Eddy Combo
• Blues Come to Texas – Lil’ Son Jackson
• Boss Man Blues – Smoky Babe
• Bye Bye Baby – Mary Wells
• Call Me Juke Boy – Juke Boy Bonner
• Carnival Time – Al Johnson*
• Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers
• Chain Gang – Sam Cooke
• Charlena – The Sevilles
• Chills and Fever – Johnny Love & His Orchestra
• Church Key – The Revels
• Come On, Pt.1&2 – Earl King
• Crawdad Song – Doc Watson, Clarence Ashley and Group
• Cry to Me – Solomon Burke*
• Diamonds and Pearls – The Paradons
• Do The Chicken – Earl Hooker
• Doggin’ Around – Jackie Wilson
• East LA. – Bob Arlin
• Fannie Mae – Buster Brown
• Finger Poppin’ Time – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
• Fortune Teller – Benny Spellman
• Freeway – The Fugitives
• Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles*
• Gonzo – James Booker
• Gun Slinger – Bo Diddley
• Hangover – Roosevelt Sykes
• Have Love Will Travel – Richard Berry
• He Will Break Your Heart – Jerry Butler
• Holy One – Freddy Fender
• I Am the Black Ace – Black Ace
• I Count the Tears – The Drifters
• I Love The Way You Love – Mary Johnson
• If You Believe in Me – Phil Sloan
• Image of a Girl – The Safaris
• It Will Stand – The Showmen
• It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley
• John Brown’s Body – Pete Seeger
• Juicy – Lynn Hope
• Just a Little Bit – Rosco Gordon
• Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go – Hank Ballard
• Let’s Have A Party – Wanda Jackson
• Little by Little – Junior Wells
• Boogie Jake Loaded Down – Boogie Jake
• Lonely Weekends – Charlie Rich
• Louisiana Man – Doug Kershaw*
• LSD-25 – The Gamblers
• Madison Blues – Elmore James
• Messin’ With The Kid – Junior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band
• Mission Bell – Donnie Brooks
• Mississippi Heavy Water Blues – Robert Pete Williams
• Mope-Itty Mope – The Boss-Tones
• Mother-In-Law – Ernie K-Doe
• Mule Skinner Blues – The Fendermen
• My Babe – Little Walter
• My Old Man’s a Dustman – Lonnie Donegan
• Mysteries Of A Hobo’s Life – Cisco Houston
• New Orleans – Gary U.S. Bonds
• Night – Jackie Wilson
• Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out – Nina Simone
• On the Rebound – Floyd Cramer
• Ooh Poo Pah Doo – Jessie Hill
• Over You – Aaron Neville*
• Red River Blues – Lil’ Son Jackson
• Richmond is a Hard Road to Travel – The New Lost City Ramblers
• Road Runner – Bo Diddley
• Rooster Blues – Lightnin’ Slim
• Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters
• Shake ‘n‘ Stomp – Dick Dale
• Shake Your Moneymaker – Elmore James
• Shaking All Over – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
• Shop Around – The Miracles
• Shopping for Clothes – The Coasters
• Shortnin’ Bread – Paul Chaplain and His Emeralds
• Spanish Harlem – Ben E. King
• Spoonful – Howlin’ Wolf
• Standing At The Crossroads – Elmore James
• Stay – Maurice Williams
• Stewball – Memphis Slim
• Stompin the Boogie – Roosevelt Sykes
• Stone Crazy – Buddy Guy*
• Surf Beat – Dick Dale
• Take A Little Walk With Me – Otis Spann
• The Hoochi Coochi Coo – Hank Ballard
• The Madison Time – Ray Bryant Combo
• The Old Payola Roll Blues (Pts. 1 & 2) – Stan Freberg
• The Twist – Chubby Checker
• Theme from “A Summer Place” – Percy Faith And His Orchestra
• There Is Something on Your Mind – Bobby Marchan
• Think – James Brown
• This Magic Moment – The Drifters
• This Old Heart – James Brown
• Those Oldies But Goodies – Little Caesar & The Romans
• Today I Sing the Blues – Aretha Franklin
• Tonight’s The Night – The Shirelles
• Too Close Blues – Lightnin’ Slim
• Train Done Gone – Eddie ‘Blues Man’ Kirkland
• Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino
• Wild Weekend – The Rockin’ Rebels
• Will My Man Be Home Tonight – Lillian Offitt
• Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles
• Won’t be Long – Aretha Franklin
• You Been Torturing Me – The Four Young Men
• You Talk Too Much – Joe Jones
• Your Dice Won’t Pass -Sally Doston, Smoky Babe & Hillary Blun
• You’re Sixteen – Johnny Burnette