May 26, 2024 | Jamie Hayes

1960s Hits You Can't Forget


They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore

The 1960s was the best decade in music. Remember these classics?

60Sgallery

"The Twist” — Chubby Checker

Release: June, 1960

Songwriter(s): Hank Ballard

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Chubby Checker in Holland, 23 Dec. 1964Joop van Bilse, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Hey Jude" — The Beatles

Release: August 26, 1968

Songwriter(s): Lennon–McCartney

Grayscale Photo of The Beatles wave to fans after arriving at Kennedy AirportUnited Press International, Wikimedia Commons

"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby Lewis

Release: April 30, 1961

Songwriter(s): Ritchie Adams and Malou René

Singer Bobby Lewis performs onstage at the Cousin Brucie's First Annual Palisades Park ReunionBryan Bedder, Getty Images

"I'm a Believer" — The Monkees

Release: December 27th, 1966

Songwriter(s): Neil Diamond

Grayscale Photo of the music group The Monkees from their television seriesNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

“Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” — The 5th Dimension

Release: March 1969

Songwriter(s): Music by Galt MacDermot and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni

The 5th Dimension in concert at Eastern Michigan UniversityArnie Lee, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

“Sugar, Sugar” — The Archies

Release: May 24, 1969

Songwriter(s): Jeff Barry, Andy Kim

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the singer Andy Kim facing the camera and smilingFeld Brothers Management Corp., Wikimedia Commons

“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” — Marvin Gaye

Release: October 30, 1968

Songwriter(s): Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong

Publicity photo of Marvin Gaye in 1973Jim Britt, Wikimedia Commons

“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” — Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires

Release: November 1, 1960

Songwriter(s): Lou Handman and Roy Turk

Photo of Elvis Presley with his backup group for many years, The Jordanaires.Press Department, Wikimedia Commons

“I Can’t Stop Loving You” — Ray Charles

Release: February 15, 1962

Songwriter(s): Don Gibson

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Ray Charles wearing a dark suitEric Koch, Wikimedia Commons

“I’m Sorry” — Brenda Lee

Release: May 16, 1960

Songwriter(s): Dub Allbritten and Ronnie Self

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the singer Brenda Lee smiling and facing the camerajacqlennon, Flickr

“Hello, Dolly!” — Louis Armstrong And The All Stars

Release: January 1964

Songwriter(s): Jerry Herman

Grayscale Photo of Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars Perform in Edmonton Gardens.Provincial Archives of Alberta, Wikimedia Commons

"It's Now or Never" — Elvis Presley

Release: July 5, 1960

Songwriter(s): Wally Gold, Aaron Schroeder, and Eduardo di Capua

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Elvis Presley in a gray suit performingTruus, Bob & Jan too!, Flickr

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" — Procol Harum

Release: May 12, 1967

Songwriter(s): Keith Reid, Gary Brooker, and Matthew Fisher

Grayscale Portrait Photo of th British rock group Procol Harum, in 1967.KRLA Beat/Beat Publications, Wikimedia Commons

"Theme From ‘A Summer Place’” — Percy Faith And His Orchestra

Release: September 11, 1959

Songwriter(s): Music by Max Steiner and lyrics by Mack Discant

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Photo of Percy Faith at workRadio Album magazine, Wikimedia Commons

“Big Girls Don’t Cry” — The Four Seasons

Release: October 1962

Songwriter(s): Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the band The Four Seasons in 1966Philips Records, Wikimedia Commons

“Sugar Shack” — Jimmy Gilmer And The Fireballs

Release: 1963

Songwriter(s): Keith McCormack and Faye Voss

Photo of the Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs, ‎Sugar Shack, RecordGreg(ory), Flickr

“Honky Tonk Women” — The Rolling Stones

Release: July 4, 1969

Songwriter(s): Jagger–Richards

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Rolling Stones in concert, Houtrusthallen The HagueBen Merk (ANEFO), Wikimedia Commons

“(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” — Otis Redding

Release: January 8, 1968

Songwriter(s): Steve Cropper and Otis Redding

Grayscale Portrait Photo of singer Otis Redding in a white suit smilingStax Records, Wikimedia Commons

“Big Bad John” — Jimmy Dean

Release: September 1961

Songwriter(s): Jimmy Dean

Publicity photo of singer, actor, television presenter and businessman Jimmy DeanWilliam Morris Agency, Wikimedia Commons

"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" — Aretha Franklin 

Release: February 10, 1967

Songwriter(s): Chips Moman and Dan Penn

Publicity photo of Aretha Franklin from BillboardAtlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Hello Stranger" — Barbara Lewis

Release: March 1963

Songwriter(s): Barbara Lewis

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the singer Barbara LewisAtlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Sinnerman" — Nina Simone

Release: May 20, 1965

Songwriter(s): Traditional

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the singer Nina Simone in 1969.Gerrit de Bruin, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"White Rabbit" — Jefferson Airplane

Release: June 1967

Songwriter(s): Grace Slick

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the group Jefferson AirplaneKRLA/Beat Publications-page 1, Wikimedia Commons

Stevie Wonder — "My Cherie Amour"

Release: January 28, 1969

Songwriter(s): Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Stevie Wonder performing on piano.Jack de Nijs, Wikimedia Commons

Creedence Clearwater Revival — "Fortunate Son"

Release: October 1969

Songwriter(s): John Fogerty

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968)Fantasy Records, Wikimedia Commons

The Beatles — "A Day In The Life"

Release: May 26, 1967

Songwriter(s): Lennon–McCartney

Grayscale Portrait Photo of The Beatles Jumping in the airingen uppgift, Wikimedia Commons

The Kinks "You Really Got Me"

Release: August 4, 1964

Songwriter(s): Ray Davies

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the English rock group the Kinks in June 1965KRLA Beat/Beat Publications, Wikimedia Commons

Bob Dylan — "Like a Rolling Stone"

Release: July 20, 1965

Songwriter(s): Bob Dylan

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Bob Dylan performing wit his guitar.Rowland Scherman, Wikimedia Commons

Jimi Hendrix — "Little Wing"

Release: December 1, 1967

Songwriter(s): Jimi Hendrix

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Jimi Hendrix performing on stageUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

"Louie Louie" — The Kingsmen

Release: June 1963

Songwriter(s): Richard Berry

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the Band The Kingsmen in 1966Scandore/Shayne, Wikimedia Commons

“Love Is Blue (L’amour Est Bleu)” — Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra

Release: 1967

Songwriter(s): Music by André Popp and lyrics by Pierre Cour

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Paul Mauriat a French orchestra leader in a dark suitgubama, Flickr

The Band — "The Weight"

Release: August 8, 1968

Songwriter(s): Robbie Robertson

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the members of the music group The BandCapitol Records, Wikimedia Commons

The Mamas & The Papas — "California Dreamin'"

Release: December 8, 1965

Songwriter(s): John Phillips and Michelle Phillips

Photo of The Mamas and the Papas performing on The Ed Sullivan ShowCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

Nancy Sinatra — "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'"

Release: December 16, 1965

Songwriter(s): Lee Hazlewood

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Nancy SinatraNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

Roy Orbison — "Crying"

Release: August 16, 1961

Songwriter(s):  Roy Orbison and Joe Melson

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Roy Orbison wearing sunglasses holding a guitarJack de Nijs, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Mrs. Robinson" — Simon & Garfunkel

Release: April 5, 1968

Songwriter(s): Paul Simon

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Simon & Garfunkel arrive at Schiphol AirportNationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

“I Want You Back” — The Jackson 5

Release: October 1969

Songwriter(s): The Corporation

Grayscale Photo of the Jackson on The Ed Sullivan Show.Bernie Ilson, Wikimedia Commons

“Be My Baby” — The Ronettes

Release: August 1963

Songwriter(s): Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector

Grayscale Publicity photo of The RonettesGAC, Wikimedia Commons

“I Wanna Be Your Dog” — The Stooges

Release: July 1969

Songwriter(s): Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, Iggy Pop

Photo of the Album cover The Stooges  by The Stoogestraaf, Flickr

"I Get Around" — The Beach Boys

Release: May 11, 1964

Songwriter(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love

The Beach Boys on The Ed Sullivan Show performing 'I Get Around'Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons

"It's Not Unusual" — The Beach Boys

Release: January 22, 1965

Songwriter(s): Les Reed and Gordon Mills

Trade ad for The Beach Boys's single Capitol Records, Wikimedia Commons

"My Way" — Frank Sinatra

Release: March 21, 1969

Songwriter(s): Music by Jacques Revaux and lyrics by Gilles Thibaut, Claude François, and Paul Anka

Portrait of Frank Sinatra at Liederkranz Hall, New YorkWilliam P. Gottlieb, Wikimedia Commons

"Dancing in the Street" — Martha and the Vandellas

Release: July 31, 1964

Songwriter(s): Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter

Martha & The Vandellas, Gordy Recording ArtistsJames J. Kriegsmann, Wikimedia Commons

"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" — BJ Thomas

Release: October 1969

Songwriter(s): Burt Bacharach and Hal David

Grayscale Publicity photo of singer B.J. Thomas facing the cameraWilliam Morris Agency-management, Wikimedia Commons

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" — James Brown

Release: June 1965

Songwriter(s): James Brown

Photo of James Brown performing on the ABC Television program Music Scene.ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

"Turn! Turn! Turn!" — The Byrds

Release: October 1, 1965

Songwriter(s): Pete Seeger

Grayscale Photo of the American rock band the Byrds in early 1965KRLA Beat/Beat Publications, Inc, Wikimedia Commons

"My Generation" — The Who

Release: October 29, 1965

Songwriter(s): Pete Townshend

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the English rock band the Who, pictured here in 1965.KRLA Beat/Beat Publications, Wikimedia Commons

"Dance to the Music" — Sly and the Family Stone

Release: November 17, 1967

Songwriter(s): Sly Stone

Publicity photo of the American band Sly and the Family Stone in 1968William Morris Agency, Wikimedia Commons

"Dazed and Confused" — Led Zeppelin

Release: January 12, 1969

Songwriter(s): Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the band Led Zeppelin.Atlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"I Got You Babe" — Sonny & Cher

Release: July 9, 1965

Songwriter(s): Sonny Bono

Sonny & Cher leave the Netherlands. Schiphol Airport, 1 Sept. 1966Joop van Bilsen, Wikimedia Commons


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