You’ll also need “Wooden Ships” which was done by both CSNY and Jefferson Airplane.
I absolutely love that one! Volunteers– what a great way to sum up an era. Great combo of very sweet melody with “revolution is in the air” lyrics.
*
Up against the waaaaall,
Up against the Wall motherfuckers.
Tear down the waaaaall!*
Yeah, I’m 23 years old. I named the Beatles albums I could remember off the top of my head. You can blame the inclusion of Yellow Submarine in that category on the animated movie.
Ah, yes, The Fugs. When I heard their Dirty Old Man on Dr. Demento in 8th grade, I knew what I wanted to grow up to be! 
Let’s not forget Steppenwolf and The Animals (House of The Rising Sun)
And for an obscure artist, how many remember Arthur Brown singing Fire (I am the god of hellfire, and I bring you…FIRE!) on the album “The Crazy World of Arthur Brown”? Oh, and Freddy and The Dreamers and Billy Joe Royal (Down In The Boondocks).
And I don’t believe anybody has mentioned the immortal voices of Gene Pitney (Town Without Pity, Liberty Valance) and Connie Francis (Where The Boys Are).
You need The United States of America - The United States of America. A great and seemingly little known album that a fair few bands have ripped off over the years with little acknowledgment. Portishead namechecked them, but I don’t think Stereolab ever did. If you just download one song it should probably be The American Metaphysical Circus, The Garden of Earthly Delights or I Wouldn’t Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar.
Another good shout is Vanilla Fudge - Vanilla Fudge - it’s an album of covers, the highlight of which is their version of The Supremes You keep me hanging on. This video is apparently from the Ed Sullivan show, whatever that means.
By the end of the '60s albums were dominating pure singles, so many of the best songs never became hits. Some albums I didn’t see mentioned.
Beatles: Rubber Soul and Revolver - where they made the transition from cool love songs to something deeper, leading up to Sgt. Peppers, already mentioned. I’ve seen one survey giving Revolver as their best album. Abbey Road is far better than Let it Be, and the recent Let it Be Naked is far better than the original.
Dylan: Besides the two mentioned, Bringing it All Back Home is a must as the transition from folk (side 2) to electric rock (side 1.) The folk is folk only because is done on acoustic guitar - he had already made the transition to surrealistic songwriting. Check out the Carnegie Hall concert from the bootleg series, where he introduced “It’s Alright Ma.”
Cream: Wheels of Fire. This is a great example of how some bands blew through the 3 minute single, concentrating on the music. It has Crossroads, but also a very long version of Spoonful and a very long drum solo (Toad.) Well, I like it.
Stones. Beggars Banquet, Between the Buttons, Let it Bleed. Try “Their Satanic Majesties Request” if you want to see what happens when a group totally loses control and direction.
The Who - Tommy and the Who Sell Out. They started experimenting with operatic forms with “A Quick One While He’s Away” but Tommy was boundary breaking. (I’ve never actually heard all of Victoria by the Kinks, another opera.)
There are lots of “Hits of the '60s” CDs out there, which have a selection of hit singles. Those are good to get a feeling for what early AM hit radio was like, and to show how much stuff changed as the 60s progressed. If you listen to these for a few weeks, you can get the impact of Sgt. Peppers and Highway 61 much better.
I’ll agree with Thudlow Boink on Yellow Submarine. Down there with Let it Be in my book, and album I hate because I was subjected to The Long and Winding Road complete with treacly strings every five minutes during the summer of 1973. Spector deserves the noose for that mix alone. I assure you, you will listen to side 2 of Yellow Submarine only once.
And strong love for Crimson and Clover from this corner. Great song.
I worked very hard to cut my playlist down by picking no more than 2 songs per artist. Some of these songs may be early 70’s as I don’t have exact date info. Well see if it’s too big to post. Sorted by artist.
Show And Tell Al Wilson
Eighteen Alice Cooper
No More Mr. Nice Guy Alice Cooper
Blue Sky The Allman Brothers Band
Ramblin’ Man The Allman Brothers Band
Bend Me Shape Me American Breed
House Of The Rising Sun The Animals
Fire Arthur Brown
Along Comes Mary The Association
Cherish The Association
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry B. J. Thomas
Takin’ Care Of Business Bachman-Turner Overdrive
You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Weight, The The Band
Barbara Ann The Beach Boys
Good Vibrations The Beach Boys
Here Comes The Sun The Beatles
Long And Winding Road,The The Beatles
Laugh, Laugh The Beau Brummels
To Love Somebody Bee Gees
Stand By Me Ben E. King
Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) Betty Everett
Ain’t No Sunshine Bill Withers
Lean On Me Bill Withers
Nothing From Nothing Billy Preston
Maria Blondie
And When I Die Blood, Sweat & Tears
Lucretia MacEvil Blood, Sweat & Tears
Hooked On A Feeling Blue Swede
Ride Captain Ride Blues Image
We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet The Blues Magoos
Ode To Billie Joe Bobbie Gentry
Sunny Bobby Hebb
Tossin’ And Turnin’ Bobby Lewis
Come Back When You Grow Up Bobby Vee
Letter,The The Box Tops
One Toke Over The Line Brewer & Shipley
Gypsy Woman Brian Hyland
Rainy Night In Georgia Brook Benton
Mr. Tambourine Man The Byrds
Turn! Turn! Turn! The Byrds
Anticipation Carly Simon
Right Thing To Do, The Carly Simon
Feel Like A Natural Woman Carole King
Smackwater Jack Carole King
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye The Casinos
Oh Very Young Cat Stevens
Moonshadow Cat Stevens
Tequila (mambo, salsa) The Champs
Colour My World Chicago
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Chicago
He’s So Fine The Chiffons
Sweet Talkin’ Guy The Chiffons
You Never Can Tell Chuck Berry
Stormy Classics IV
Traces Classics IV
Do You Love Me The Contours
Hair The Cowsills
Bad Moon Rising 90 Creedence Clearwater Revival
Down On The Corner Creedence Clearwater Revival
Chicago / We Can Change The World Crosby, Stills & Nash
Wasted On The Way Crosby, Stills & Nash
Tracy The Cuff Links
Susie Q Dale Hawkins
Feelin’ Alright Dave Mason
Medley: Devil With A Blue Dress… The Detroit Wheels
Runaround Sue Dion & The Belmonts
Do You Know The Way To San Jose Dionne Warwick
I Say A Little Prayer Dionne Warwick
Sunshine Superman Donovan
China Grove The Doobie Brothers
Listen To The Music The Doobie Brothers
Break On Through 91 The Doors
L.A. Woman The Doors
Cover Of “Rolling Stone”,The Dr. Hook
On Broadway The Drifters
Save The Last Dance For Me The Drifters
I Only Want To Be With You Dusty Springfield
Son Of A Preacher Man Dusty Springfield
Summertime Blues Eddie Cochran
Knock on Wood Eddie Floyd
Hey There Lonely Girl Eddie Holman
Free Ride The Edgar Winter Group
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) Edison Lighthouse
War Edwin Star
Crocodile Rock Elton John
Daniel Elton John
Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley
From The Beginning Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Hoedown Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Spill the Wine Eric Burdon & War
After Midnight Eric Clapton
Sunshine Of Your Love Eric Clapton
Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In The Fifth Dimension
One Less Bell to Answer The Fifth Dimension
Western Union The Five Americans
Ooh Child The Five Stairsteps
Smile A Little Smile For Me Flying Machine
Hocus Pocus 92 Focus
Fool For The City Foghat
Rescue Me Fontella Bass
Baby Now That I’ve Found You The Foundations
Build Me Up Buttercup The Foundations
Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got) The Four Tops
Baby I Need Your Lovin The Four Tops
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You Frankie Valli
Let’s Hang On Frankie Valli
All Right Now Free
Reach Out Of The Darkness Friend and Lover
Love or Let Me Be Lonely The Friends Of Distinction
Young Girl Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Quarter To Three (swing) Gary U.S. Bonds
Duke of Earl Gene Chandler
Be-Bop-A-Lula Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps
Tuff Enuff The Georgia Satellites
I Heard It Through The Grapevine Gladys Knight & The Pips
If I Were Your Woman Gladys Knight & The Pips
Wichita Lineman Glen Campbell
Radar Love 99 Golden Earring
I’m Your Captain Grand Funk Railroad
We’re An American Band Grand Funk Railroad
Midnight Confessions The Grass Roots
Temptation Eyes The Grass Roots
American Woman 182 The Guess Who
Share The Land The Guess Who
If You Don’t Know Me By Now Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
59th Street Bridge Song,The (Feelin’ Groovy) Harpers Bizarre
Everybody’s Talkin’ Harry Nilsson
Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter Herman’s Hermits
There’s A Kind Of Hush Herman’s Hermits
Bus Stop The Hollies
Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress The Hollies
Grazing In The Grass Hugh Masekela
Vehicle Ides Of March
Proud Mary (Ike & Tina Turner) Ike & Tina Turner
It’s Your Thing The Isley Brothers
Put A Little Love In Your Heart Jackie DeShannon
Lonely Teardrops Jackie Wilson
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher And Higher Jackie Wilson
I’ll Be There The Jackson 5
Never Can Say Goodbye The Jackson 5
Doctor My Eyes Jackson Browne
I Got You James Brown
Fire And Rain James Taylor
Sweet Baby James James Taylor
Down On Me Janis Joplin
Me And Bobby McGhee Janis Joplin
Come A Little Bit Closer Jay & The Americans
This Magic Moment (Jay & The Americans) Jay & The Americans
Somebody To Love Jefferson Airplane
White Rabbit Jefferson Airplane
Great Balls Of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis
Aqualung Jethro Tull
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted Jimmy Ruffin
Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,The Joan Baez
Cry Me A River Joe Cocker
Judy In Disguise John Fred & His Playboy Band
I Walk The Line Johnny Cash
I Can See Clearly Now Johnny Nash
Baby I Need Your Lovin (Johnny Rivers) Johnny Rivers
Secret Agent Man Johnny Rivers
Sunshine Jonathan Edwards
Big Yellow Taxi 87 Joni Mitchell
Carey Joni Mitchell
Shotgun Junior Walker & The All Stars
What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) Junior Walker & The All Stars
What Condition My Condition Is In Kenny Rogers
Tired Of Waiting For You The Kinks
You Really Got Me The Kinks
Walk Away Renee (Left Banke) Left Banke
Green Tambourine Lemon Pipers
1-2-3 (Len Barry) Len Barry
It’s My Party Lesley Gore
Judy’s Turn To Cry Lesley Gore
Goin’ Out Of My Head (Lettermen) The Lettermen
Different Drum Linda Ronstadt
Silver Threads And Golden Needles Linda Ronstadt
Goin’ Out Of My Head (Little Anthony) Little Anthony & The Imperials
I Will Follow Him Little Peggy March
Good Golly Miss Molly Little Richard
Tutti Frutti Little Richard
Your Mama Don’t Dance Loggins & Messina
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) Looking Glass
Black Is Black Los Bravos
I’m Gonna Make You Mine Lou Christie
Lightnin’ Strikes Lou Christie
Summer In The City The Lovin’ Spoonful
To Sir With Love Lulu
Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd
California Dreamin’ The Mamas & The Papas
Monday, Monday The Mamas & The Papas
Do Wah Diddy Diddy Manfred Mann
You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.
Dancing In The Street Martha & The Vandellas
Nowhere To Run Martha & The Vandellas
I Do 98 The Marvelows
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye) Marvin Gaye
My Guy Mary Wells
Classical Gas Mason Williams
Hang On Sloopy The McCoys
Brand New Key Melanie
Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) Melanie
Love (Can Make You Happy) Mercy
Angel Of The Morning Merrilee Rush
Daydream Believer The Monkees
Pleasant Valley Sunday The Monkees
I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band) The Moody Blues
In The Summertime Mungo Jerry
Little Bit Of Soul, A The Music Explosion
96 Tears The Mysterians
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (Slow) Neil Sedaka
Laughter In the Rain Neil Sedaka
After The Gold Rush Neil Young
Needle & The Damage Done,The Neil Young
Mr. Bojangles The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Girl Watcher The O’Kaysions
Good Morning Starshine Oliver
Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay Otis Redding
Time Won’t Let Me The Outsiders
If You Want To Get To Heaven The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
I Think I Love You The Partridge Family
Indian Reservation Paul Revere & The Raiders
When A Man Loves A Woman Percy Sledge
Do You Feel Like We Do Peter Frampton
Show Me The Way Peter Frampton
Leaving on a Jet Plane Peter, Paul And Mary
Puff, the Magic Dragon Peter, Paul And Mary
Downtown Petula Clark
My Love Petula Clark
Money (Pink Floyd) Pink Floyd
Us And Them Pink Floyd
Whiter Shade Of Pale, A Procol Harum
Amie Pure Prairie League
Indiana Wants Me R. Dean Taylor
Take A Letter Maria R.B. Greaves
I Just Want To Celebrate 89+ Rare Earth
Beautiful Morning, A The Rascals
People Got To Be Free The Rascals
Busted Ray Charles
I Can’t Stop Loving You Ray Charles
Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling The Righteous Brothers
You’re Sixteen (You’re Beautiful And You’re Mine) Ringo Starr
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,The Roberta Flack
Find A Reason To Believe Rod Stewart
Gasoline Alley Rod Stewart
Brown Sugar The Rolling Stones
Sympathy For The Devil The Rolling Stones
What I LIke About You The Romantics
Our Day Will Come Ruby & The Romantics
Hold On, I’m Comin’ Sam & Dave
Soul Man Sam & Dave
Evil Ways Santana
Oye Como Va Santana
Love Potion Number Nine The Searchers
Needles And Pins The Searchers
Georgy Girl The Seekers
Look Of Love,The Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66
Gloria (Shadows Of Knight) Shadows Of Knight
Will You Love Me Tomorrow? (The Shirelles) The Shirelles
America Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) Sly & The Family Stone
I Second That Emotion Smokey Robinson
Tears Of A Clown, The Smokey Robinson
Expressway To Your Heart The Soul Survivors
Like To Get To Know You Spanky & Our Gang
Sunday Will Never Be The Same Spanky & Our Gang
Gimme Some Lovin’ The Spencer Davis Group
Dirty Water The Standells
Stuck In The Middle With You Stealers Wheel
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Steam
Born To Be Wild Steppenwolf
Magic Carpet Ride Steppenwolf
How Can I Be Sure Steve Winwood
For Once In My Life Stevie Wonder
Place In The Sun, A Stevie Wonder
Green Eyed Lady Sugarloaf
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (Supremes) The Supremes
Baby Love The Supremes
Ain’t Too Proud To Beg The Temptations
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep The Temptations
Easy To Be Hard Three Dog Night
Mama Told Me Not To Come Three Dog Night
Lion Sleeps Tonight,The The Tokens
Green, Green Grass Of Home Tom Jones
It’s Not Unusual Tom Jones
Crystal Blue Persuasion Tommy James
Draggin’ The Line Tommy James
Dizzy Tommy Roe
Surfin Bird The Trashmen
Wild Thing The Troggs
Elenore The Turtles
You Showed Me The Turtles
Hawaii Five-O 87+ The Ventures
Walk, Don’t Run The Ventures
Five O’Clock World The Vogues
Turn Around, Look At Me The Vogues
Squeeze Box The Who
Won’t Get Fooled Again The Who
Land of 1,000 Dances 87+ Wilson Pickett
Mustang Sally Wilson Pickett
Long Distance Runaround Yes
Roundabout Yes
Groovin’ The Young Rascals
Get Together The Youngbloods
In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) Zager & Evans
Stay (cha-cha) The Zodiacs
She’s Not There The Zombies
Time Of The Season The Zombies
Up Up And Away The 5th Dimension
Wedding Bell Blues The 5th Dimension
Threadkiller. :dubious:
The Ed Sullivan Show was the top television variety show in America from 1948 to 1971. If you got booked on Ed Sullivan, you had arrived. Sullivan introduced the Beatles to America in February 1964.
The sixties were before MY time- but not my parents! Hideously deprived of my own stereo system, and the money with which to buy any cool, new stuff, I had to make do with the foggy old Beatles and (noone’s mentioned this yet) Emerson, Lake, and Palmer.
Durn hippies.
I thought ELP were the 70s?
Speaking of AM hit radio, WABC’s Top 100 Songs of the Year.
CMC +fnord!