Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1968.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 1968, Mauritius gains independence from the UK, motor racing world champion Jim Clark is killed at 32yrs when his car leaves the racing track and smashes in to a tree in Hockenheim, the new Abortion Act comes into effect allowing abortions in certain circumstances and provided free n the NHS, Martin Luther King is assassinated by James Earl Ray which leads to rioting across the US, the first Isle of Wight festival takes place, British tennis player Virginia Wade wins the US Open, the M1 motorway is completed, the Olympics take place in Mexico– which sees the Black Power Salute during a medal ceremony, anti-Vietnam protests take place in London, Mary Bell an 11yr old girl is sentenced to life imprisonment for the killing of two young boys, Senator Robert Kennedy is assassinated, the Kray twins are arrested for the murder of two underworld gang members and the films 2001: a Space Odyssey, Rosemary’s Baby, Bullitt, Night of the Living Dead, Planet of the Apes, Romeo and Juliet, Yellow Submarine, Funny Girl, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Oliver! are released.

When a playlist starts with Stevie Wonder and then goes onto Aretha Franklin then onto the Beatles and ends with the Mamas & Papas and also features both Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding, you know the 60s were everything and yes once again I could cry. Here’s all those gems from 1968, in no particular order.

1. For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder

2. Think by Aretha Franklin

3. Lady Madonna by the Beatles

4. Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield

5. Build Me Up by The Foundations

6. I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye

7. Everyday People by Sly and the Family Stone

8. Piece of My Heart by Big Brother & The Holding Company (Janis Joplin)

9. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding

10. Dream a Little Dream by Mamas and the Papas

Aretha & the Beatles are very close seconds, but it’s Marvin that is my favourite this week (one of the most perfect beginnings for a song ever).

See you next week for 1969!

 

 

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1965.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 1965, twin brother Ronnie & Reggie Kray are arrested on suspicion of running a protection racket in London, Sir Winston Churchill dies at the age of 90 and thousands attend his state funeral in London, The Gambia becomes independent from the UK, a Royal Air Force plane crashes in Oxfordshire just after take off from RAF Abingdon killing all 41 men on board, Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs escapes Wandsworth prison and flees to Brazil, Ian Brady and his girlfriend Myra Hindley are arrested and charged with the Moors Murders, the Magic Roundabout premiers on British TV, Mary Quant introduces the miniskirt from her shop on Kings Road, London, PizzaExpress opens its first restaurant in London, race riots break out in Watts, California leaving much of the city burnt and looted and 34 dead, the Voting Rights Act (allowing African Americans to vote) in the US becomes law, Rhodesia declares Unilateral Independence from the UK and becomes Zimbabwe, Malcom X is shot and killed in New York and the films Doctor Zhivago, the Sound of Music, Thunderbolt, the Ipcress File and Help! are all released.

I heart the 60s so much, I could almost cry just thinking about how good the music is from this era. In case you’re wondering how I come up with my list of top tens, I partly use my brain and what music knowledge it contains and I also do a thorough research into what songs were released in that year. I then do a “long list”, which I eventually and painstakingly (especially for the 60s), narrow the long list down to 10 songs. I’m telling you this because any of the songs in my long list for 1965 could’ve easily made my top ten. I did get there eventually though. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. My Generation by The Who

2. Help! by The Beatles

3. Stop! In The Name of Love by the Supremes

4. Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag by James Brown

5. Uptight by Stevie Wonder

6. I Got You Babe by Sonny & Cher

7. California Dreamin’ by the Mamas & the Papas

8. We Gotta Get Out of This Place by the Animals

9. I Put a Spell on You by Nina Simone

10. Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

Yet another week, where I am finding it near impossible to pick a favourite, but it’s between The Beatles, Sonny & Cher, The Supremes and The Who….and I think it’s going to have to be The Who as My Generation is such an authoritative example of British music from that (excuse the pun) generation.

See you next week for 1966!

 

 

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1964.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 1964, music TV programme Top of the Pops airs for the first time, the average weekly wage is £16, the British and French government agree a deal to build the Channel Tunnel expecting it to take 5 years to build, the Queen gives birth to Prince Edward, the first purpose-built guardwara is built in the UK in Bradford, violent riots take place between Mods and Rockers on Clacton  and Brighton beaches, the Great Train Robbery trials result in seven of the eleven men sentenced to 30 years in prison, BBC Two is born and and the BBC Television Service is renamed BBC One, Princess Margaret gives birth to a daughter– Sarah, the first Habitat store is opened, the first undercover shopping centre is opened in the UK in Birmingham, Malawi gains independence from the UK, the Post Office Tower in London is completed, the last executions take place in the UK, Malta obtains independence from the UK, the Olympics takes place in Tokyo, the general election takes place and Labour defeat the Conservatives making Harold Wilson Prime Minister, Northern Rhodesia becomes the independent Republic of Zambia ending 73 years of British rule, race riots takes place across the US, the civil rights act is signed by President Johnson in the US making it illegal to discriminate against anyone based not their race, religion, sex national origin or colour of their skin, Dr Martin Luther King wins the Nobel Peace Prize, Elizabeth Taylor marries Richard Burton for the first time, Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa and the films Dr. Stranglove, A Hard Day’s Night, Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Goldfinger and Zulu are all released.

So, we’re really starting to get a feel for the “British Invasion” as 7 out of these 10 acts are British. Our most British year of the 60s so far. Oh and it’s a good ‘un. Here’s my ten favourite tracks from 1964, in no particular order.

1. A Hard Day’s Night by the Beatles

2. All Day and All of the Night by the Kinks

3. I’m Into Something Good by Herman’s Hermits

4. Baby Love by the Supremes

5. I Get Around by the Beach Boys (Love them and love their slightly awkward standing around and singing)

6. Shout by Lulu (Lulu giving it 100% 60s)

7. Stay by the Hollies

8. The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals

9. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by Nina Simone

10. Downtown by Petula Clark

I’m really struggling to pick a favourite compared to all the other decades, as I seem to love them all equally each week, but if you’re really going to push me, I’ll say…the lads- The Beatles.

See you next week for 1965!