What a year for classic Rock, songs that are as fresh today as when they were released back in’65. Smokey Robinson is listed and as many of you know he has been accused of some very serious crimes against women. It raises the question do you disregard an artist’s body of work because of horrible behavior? I guess you could add in Ike Turner as another of those who did some horrid things.

The Guess Who’s “Shakin’ All Over” was originally released by Johnny Kid & the Pirates in 1959. Do you believe that Mae West recorded it in 1966 and then Billy Idol in 1987.

The Them’s “Gloria” has been sung by everyone including Patti Smith and the Doors. They named themselves after a 1954 sci-fi horror Film. Gloria was the “B” side to the single “Baby Please Don’t Go“. Them’s “Here Comes the Night” features a young studio guitarist in Jimmy Page. Them’s “Here Comes the Night” features the young studio guitarist Jimmy Page.

The Impression’s’ “People Get Ready” is an anthemic Civil Rights song. For the time Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” helped break the mould of the 3-minute single. Clocking in at 6:13 minutes it was an A and B side single release. Because of listener demand many radio stations were forced to play both sides. Although Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction” was a bit of a one hit wonder it is still as relevant today as when it was released.

The Animals ‘We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place” became a popular anthem for those conscripted for the Vietnam war. Before drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard became a one-handed drummer due to a 1984 car accident there was Victor Molton of the Barbarians. Their song “Are You a Boy Or Are You a Girl” was a reference to The Rolling Stones, Liverpool hair styles and skintight pants.

The Bobby Fuller Four’s “I Fought the Law” has been covered by diverse artists such as Hank Williams Jnr. (1978) the Clash (1979) and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1992). I guess we would all be more familiar with Hendrix version of “Hey Joe” (1967) than that of the Leaves.

The Who’s “My Generation” was banned by the BBC because Daltrey’s vocals resembled stuttering and might be deemed to be offensive.

A couple of my absolute favourites of 1965. Son House with “Death Letter“, Slim Harpo’s “Baby Scratch My Back the Byrds, “Chimes of Freedom”, Junior Wells’ “Hoodoo Man Blues” and Donovan’s “Universal Soldier“. Unfortunately, Sir Mack Rice’s “Mustang Sally” has lost its shine due to the fact that nearly every bar room Blues Band offers up a rendition. Of course, every Beatles song listed is a favourite

ninteen and SIXTY-FIVE

• (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones*
  1-2-3 – Len Barry
  99 Plus One – June Gardner
  A Lover’s Concerto – The Toys
  A Taste of Honey – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass*
  A Well-Respected Man – The Kinks
  All I Really Want to Do – The Byrds*
  Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl? – The Barbarians
  Baby Scratch My Back – Slim Harpo
  Barbara Ann – The Beach Boys
  Big Chief – Professor Longhair
  Blues Run the Game – Jackson C. Frank
  Can’t Seem to Make You Mine – The Seeds
  Catch The Wind – Donovan*
  Catch Us If You Can – The Dave Clark Five
  Chimes of Freedom – The Byrds
  Club-A-Go-Go – The Animals
  Concrete And Clay – Unit 4 + 2
  Could You Would You – Them feat. Van Morrison
  Darling Baby – The Elgins
  Death Letter – Son House
  Desolation Row – Bob Dylan*
  Desperado – The Playboys
  Dirty Water – The Standells
  Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Frank Wilson
  Do You Believe in Magic – The Lovin’ Spoonful
  Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals
  Draft Dodger Rag – Phil Ochs
  Eight Days A Week – The Beatles
  Eve Of Destruction – Barry McGuire
  Feeling Good – Nina Simone
  Finger Poppin’ – lke And Tina Turner
  First, I Look at The Purse – The Contours
  Five Long Years – Eddie Boyd
  Fool, Fool, Fool – Ray Brown and the Whispers
  For Your Love – The Yardbirds
  Friday on My Mind – The Easybeats
  Get Off of My Cloud – The Rolling Stones
  Gloria – Them
  Going To a Go-Go – Smokey Robinson
  Grab This Thing – The Mar-Keys
  Green Green Grass of Home – Tom Jones*
  Heart Full of Soul – The Yardbirds
  Help! – The Beatles
  Here Comes the Night – Them feat. Van Morrison
  Hey Joe, Where You Gonna Go? – The Leaves
  Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan
  Hobo Blues – John Lee Hooker
  Hoodoo Man Blues – Junior Wells
  I Belong with You – Bobby & Laurie*
  I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) – The Four Tops
  I Can’t Stand It – The Spencer Davis Group
  I Do Love You – Billy Stewart
  I Fought the Law – The Bobby Fuller Four
  I Got Loaded – Lil Bob & The Lollipops
  I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
  I Want Candy – The Strangeloves
  If You Gotta Go, Go Now – Manfred Mann
  I’m Into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits
  I’m Your Witchdoctor – John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers*
  In My Life – The Beatles
  In the Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
  It Ain’t Me Babe – The Turtles
  It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones
  John The Revelator – Son House
  Keep On Running – The Spencer Davis Group
  King Of the Road – Roger Miller
  L.S.D. – The Pretty Things
  Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan 
  Maggie’s Farm – Bob Dylan
  Maiden Voyage – Herbie Hancock
  Matchbox Blues – John Jackson
  Monkey Dog – O.V. Wright
  Mr. Jones (Ballad of A Thin Man) – The Grass Roots
  Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds
  Mrs. Brown – Herman’s Hermits
  Mustang Sally – Sir Mack Rice
  My Generation – The Who*
  My Little Red Book – Manfred Mann
  Mystic Eyes – Them feat. Van Morrison*
  Never Again – The Whispers
  New Orleans – The Strangeloves
  Night Life – Willie Nelson*
  Nothing Can Stop Me – Gene Chandler
  Nowhere To Run – Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
  OOO Baby Baby – Smokey Robinson
  People Get Ready – The Impressions
  Preachin’ Blues – Son House
  Railroad Bill – John Jackson
  Rescue Me – Fontella Bass
  Respect – Otis Redding
  Rock Me Baby – Otis Redding
  Shakin’ All Over – Normie Rowe & The Playboys*
  Shakin’ All Over – The Guess Who
  She’s About a Mover – Sir Douglas Quintet
  She’s So Fine – The Easybeats
  Shotgun – Jr. Walker And the All Stars
  Smokestack Lightnin’ – Howlin’ Wolf
  Soul Man – Sam & Dave
  Strange Fruit – Nina Simone
  Subterranean Homesick Blues – Bob Dylan
  Teasin’ You – Willie Tee
  The Carnival Is Over – The Seekers
  The Cheater – Bob Kuban & The In-Men
  The Dawn of Correction – The Spokesmen
  The End – The Union
  The Last Time – The Rolling Stones
  The Ostrich – The Primitives
  The Price of Love – The Everly Brothers
  The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson
  Ticket To Ride – The Beatles
  Too Many Fish in The Sea – The Marvelettes
  Trash – Duane Eddy
  Treat Her Right – Roy Head
  Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) – The Byrds
  Turquoise – Donovan
  Twisting Time – King Curtis
  Universal Soldier – Donovan
  Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder*
  Wang Dang Doodle – Koko Taylor
  We Gotta Get out of This Place – The Animals
  We’re Gonna Make It – Little Milton
  Whip It on Me – Jessie Hill
  Whittier Blvd. – The Midniters
  Wild About You – The Missing Links
  Wild Thing – The Troggs
  Wolly Bully – Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs
  Yes, I’m Ready – Barbara Mason
  Yesterday – The Beatles
  You – Marvin Gaye
  You’re Gonna Make Me Cry – O.V. Wright
  You’re Gonna Miss Me – The 13th Floor Elevators
  You’ve Got Your Troubles – The Fortunes
  You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling – The Righteous Brothers
  Zydeco Sont Pas Sale (Snapbeans Ain’t Salty)-Clifton Chenier
• * Seen perform live with some qualifications – The Byrds no but I did see McGuinn, Hillman and Clark. Bobbie &Laurie no but I have seen Bob Bright (R.I.P.) sings on numerous occasions, and he was a dear friend of mine.