Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1971.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 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

Opening day at the Walt Disney World Theme Park

In 1971, a stairway crush at the Rangers vs Celtic football match left 66 dead, several bombs were exploded around the UK by the Angry Brigade– a left-wing revolutionary group, Qatar gains independence from the UK, the death toll in The Troubles in Northern Ireland reaches 100 with the death of 14yr-old Annette McGavigan who got caught in crossfire between British soldiers and the IRA, the first CAT scan took place at Wimbledon hospital, the House of Commons voted to join the EEC (European Economic Community), the UK became the sixth nation to successfully launch a satellite into orbit, the world’s first domestic violence shelter opens in West London, 15 people are killed and 17 are injured in a bomb attack in Belfast, border battles between India and Pakistan erupt into full-blown war, The Walt Disney World Theme Park opens, the United Arab Emirates is established, Jim Morrison is found dead in a bathtub in Paris, Apollo 14 lands on the moon and a Clockwork Orange, Dirty Harry, Fiddler on the Roof, Shaft, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Get Carter, Walkabout and Diamonds Are Forever are all released.

Only 5 years left and then we’re done, gang! I’m going to miss doing these. Another week of music from the past, another week of legendary tunes. Here’s my favourites from 1971, in no particular order.

1. Move On Up by Curtis Mayfield

2. I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King

3. Spanish Harlem by Aretha Franklin

4. Let’s Stay Together by Al Green

5. Rainy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters

6. Maggie May by Rod Stewart

7. What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye

8. Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves by Cher

9. I’m Still Waiting by Diana Ross

10. Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner

Carole King or Curtis Mayfield? Carole or Curtis? Imma gonna go for Curtis. You know the score, tell me your favourite this week below in the comments. Cheers!

See you next week for a review of 2018 (including a top ten tunes from 2018). Top Ten Tunes from 1972 will be published the following week on 4th January. Happy Christmas y’all!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1970.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 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

The first Glastonbury Festival

In 1970, the half crown coin ceased to be legal tender, the grave of Karl Marx was vandalised by anti-Germanic racists at Highgate, London, four years after the declaration of independence Rhodesia is finally declared a republic and severs ties with the British Crown, 18 victims of Thalidomide are awarded £370,00 in compensation, Paul McCartney announces that he has left the Beatles and files a lawsuit against the other members of the band- effectively ending the band, Tonga became independent from the UK, the World Cup takes place in Mexico, the bodies of two children are discovered in shallow graves in woodlands in Essex and they form the Babes in the Woods case, the first General Election takes place where 18 year-olds can vote– the Conservatives win and Edward Heath becomes Prime Minister, British Army officers battle with the IRA in Belfast and 3 civilians are killed & 10 officers injured, 112 people are killed when a Manchester to Barcelona plane crashes into mountains in Spain- no one survives, dockers vote to strike which led to a state of emergency as food supplies become short, the Commonwealth Games take place in Edinburgh, riots take place in Notting Hill, Jimi Hendrix dies in London from a suspected drug-induced heart attack, the first Glastonbury Festival is held, the Gay Liberation Front arranged it’s first march in London, the Apollo 13 mission has a problem, the world’s first Jumbo Jet has its first commercial flight from New York to London, the US invades Cambodia, a cyclone in Bangladesh kills 500,000, 100,000 gallons of oil are spilled into the English Channel creating a huge oil slick, a fire at a nightclub in France leaves 142 teenage clubbers dead, Janis Joplin dies of a heroin overdose and the films Kelly’s Heroes, MASH, Catch-22, Airport, The Railway Children and Let It Be are released.

Welcome to the 70s! As bereft as I was to wave goodbye to the 60s, the 70s start off strong.  Here’s all my favourites, in no particular order. Spotify playlist at the end as always.

1. Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine by James Brown

2. Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) by Stevie Wonder (we played this at our wedding as we signed the register. Terribly tacky, I know, but we cared very little)

3. Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell

4. (They Long to Be) Close to You by Carpenters

5. Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel (controversial that I picked this instead of Bridge Over Troubled Waters?)

6. ABC by the Jackson 5 (Interestingly, I have featured The Jackson 5/The Jacksons more than I ever did with Michael Jackson as a soloist in these lists)

7. Band of Gold by Freda Payne (the dancing in this video is sublime)

8. Lola by the Kinks

9. Your Song by Elton John

10. Let It Be by the Beatles (the last time the lads will feature in these lists *sniff*)

Some people may be sick of hearing this song, but I think my favourite this week is Elton. Pray tell me, WHICH ONE IS YOURS?

See you next week for 1971!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1969.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 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 1969, the Space Hopper toy and the Raleigh Chopper bike were introduced to the UK, the Beatles perform for the final time on the rooftop of Apple Records, the very first flight of Concorde takes place, Ronnie & Reggie Kray are imprisoned for life, John Lennon & Yoko Ono marry, Paul McCartney marries Linda, Lulu representing the UK came joint first in the Eurovision Song Contest, the voting age is lowered from 21 to 18, rioting takes place in Derry, Northern Ireland, Monty Python’s Flying Circus aired it’s first episode on the BBC and Sesame Street also airs for the first time, regular colour television is broadcast on the BBC and ITV, the first man- Neil Armstrong- lands on the moon (or did he?), the music festival Woodstock takes place, the Beatles record their final album Abbey Road together, members of a cult led by Charles Manson kill 5 people, Richard Nixon becomes President of the US, former Rolling Stones guitarist Brain Jones is found drowned in his swimming pool and the films Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Midnight Cowboy, Easy Rider, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, The Italian Job, Hello Dolly!, Kes and Sweet Charity are all released. 

Times are a’changing. You can really see a shift in music style now as we reach the end of the 60s (sniff). We also see a baby David Bowie for the first time and miraculously there’s the Rolling Stones this week! Here’s my favourites from 1969, in no particular order.

1. I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 (this video will make you happy- I promise)

2. Wonderful World, Beautiful People by Jimmy Cliff

3. My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder

4. Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin

5. Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones

6. Come Together by the Beatles

7. The Israelites by Desmond Dekker

8. Spinning Wheel by Peggy Lee

9. Space Oddity by David Bowie

10. My Way by Frank Sinatra (this recording of Frank was done a little after 1969, but I thought you’d appreciate it anyway)

It’s almost a 4 way tie between The Beatles, Peggy Lee, The Jackson 5 and Bowie this week, but I’m going to pick  Bowie as my favourite.

See you next week for 1970!

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

The Krays sipping a lovely cuppa- nice lads.

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

Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral. He was honoured with a state funeral. They are usually only reserved for a monarch. Churchill was the last non-monarch to receive a state funeral.

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

I recently told someone that I wasn’t much of a fan of Bob Dylan yet here he is for second time appearing in my top tens. What the fuck do I know?

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

ADORE this photo of the lads

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

QUEEN

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!