Music Lists Are Us: Favorite '60s Songs by Year with brief comments

1969 (what a good year for music)

Golden Slumbers by The Beatles (just a small part of the famous medley; perfect & devastating)

I Can't Get Next to You by The Temptations (one of the best songs by Motown's best group)

One by Three Dog Night (Nilsson's original, this version or Aimee Mann's; all excellent)

This Girl's in Love With You by Dionne Warwick (nobody can write songs like this anymore)

Our Prayer by The Beach Boys (not a hit, but really exquisite a capella harmonies)

Oh Happy Day by The Edwin Hawkins Singers (a big mainstream hit by a gospel choir; love it)

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight by Linda Ronstadt (did anyone not want to hear that from Linda in '69?)

I Wonder Why by Ella Fitzgerald (gospel-y pop song by Randy Newman sung by Ella; a hidden gem)

My Way by Frank Sinatra (what could anyone say about this? If you hear it you'll know)

Riot by Hugh Masekela (great little instrumental from the African jazz trumpeter)

Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations

Catavento by Milton Nascimento

Chelsea Morning by Joni Mitchell

Suite: Judy Blue Eyes by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) by The Delfonics

Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me) by Bettye Swann

Galveston by Glen Campbell

Tighten Up Your Own Thing by Etta James

Unfaithful Servant by The Band

1968

Mrs. Robinson by Simon & Garfunkel

All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix

I Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin

Lady Madonna by The Beatles

Some of Shelley's Blues by Linda Ronstadt (with The Stone Poneys)

Grazing in the Grass by Hugh Masekela

Baby, Now That I Found You by The Foundations

Do You Know the Way to San Jose by Dionne Warwick

Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell

I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye

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

If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Nena Na Na by Jose Feliciano

I Shall Be Released by The Band

1967

A Day in the Life by The Beatles

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson

I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You by Aretha Franklin

Different Drum by The Stone Poneys (with Linda Ronstadt)

A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum

Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Dedicated to the One I Love by The Mamas & The Papas

Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles

I Wish It Would Rain by The Temptations

Tell Mama by Etta James

Stoney End by Laura Nyro

Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba

Happy Together by The Turtles

Bernadette by The Four Tops

So Long Marianne by Leonard Cohen

Meditation by Frank Sinatra & Antonio Jobim

1966

God Only Knows by The Beach Boys

Ain't Too Proud To Beg by The Temptations

Monday Monday by The Mamas & The Papas

You Keep Me Hanging On by The Supremes

Paperback Writer by The Beatles

Mas Que Nada by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

Land of a Thousand Dances by Wilson Pickett

Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkel

What the World Needs Now by Dionne Warwick

Sloop John B. By The Beach Boys

Sunny by Bobby Hebb

The Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra

You Can't Hurry Love by The Supremes

Emavungweni by Hugh Masekela

Sweet Pea by Tommy Roe

1965

Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) by The Beatles

Nowhere to Run by Martha & The Vandellas

Ooo Baby Baby by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

What the World Needs Now by Jackie DeShannon

Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

My World is Empty Without You by The Supremes

Agua de Beber by Astrud Gilberto & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me by Mel Carter

My Generation by The Who

I Got You Babe by Sonny & Cher

Jaan Pehechan Ho by Mohammed Rafi

Back in My Arms Again by The Supremes

I Want Candy by The Strangeloves

People Get Ready by The Impressions

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' by Nancy Sinatra

Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers

1964

The Way You Do The Things You Do by The Temptations

Don't Worry Baby by The Beach  Boys

Anyone Who Had A Heart by Dionne Warwick

You Never Can Tell (C'est La Vie) by Chuck Berry

Wishin' and Hopin' by Dusty Springfield

Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi

Dancing in the Streets by Martha & The Vandellas

Corcovado by Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto & Astrud Gilberto

A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke

I Get Around by The Beach Boys

Uyadela by Miriam Makeba

Leader of the Pack by The Shangri Las

How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You by Marvin Gaye

Bleecker Street by Simon & Garfunkel

The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) by Betty Everett

Baby I Need Your Lovin' by The Four Tops

The Warmth of the Sun by The Beach Boys

1963

In My Room by The Beach Boys

Be My Baby by The Ronettes

The Girl From Ipanema by Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto & Astrud Gilberto

Don't Think Twice, It's Alright by Bob Dylan

Mockingbird by Inez Foxx & Charlie Foxx

You Don't Own Me by Lesley Gore

Sukiyaki (Ue o Muite Aruko aka I Look Up As I Walk) by Kyu Sakamoto (U.S. release)

Pole` Mze` by Miriam Makeba

In A Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

I Saw Her Standing There by The Beatles

Heatwave by Martha & The Vandellas

I've Been Good to You by The Miracles

Surfer Girl by The Beach Boys

Just One Look by Doris Troy

Pride and Joy by Marvin Gaye

1962

Up On The Roof by The Drifters

Cast Your Fate to the Wind by Vince Guaraldi

Don't Make Me Over by Dionne Warwick

Hey Good Lookin' by Ray Charles

The End of the World by Skeeter Davis

Miserlou by Dick Dale

Do You Love Me by The Contours

Break It To Me Gently by Brenda Lee

Bring It On Home To Me by Sam Cooke

The Loco-Motion by Little Eva

Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock

She's Got You by Patsy Cline

Oye Como Va by Tito Puente

Good Luck Charm by Elvis Presley

If I Had a Hammer by Peter, Paul & Mary

Guinean Song by Hugh Masekela

1961

Stand By Me by Ben E. King

Baby, It's You by The Shirelles

I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline

Unchain My Heart by Ray Charles

Waltz For Debbie by The Bill Evans Trio

Cupid by Sam Cooke

Somewhere by Jim Bryant & Marni Nixon (West Side Story Movie Soundtrack)

Cry Me a River by Ella Fitzgerald

Ue  o  Muite Aruko (Sukiyaki) by Kyu  Sakamoto (Japanese release)

Crazy by Patsy Cline

My Favorite Things by John Coltrane

Unsquare Dance by The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

America by Rita Moreno, George Chakiris & chorus (West Side Story Movie Soundtrack)

Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler

Who Put The Bomp by Barry Mann

1960

At Last by Etta James

Will You Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles

Giant Steps by John Coltrane

All I Have to Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers

Good Bait by Nina Simone

Chain Gang by Sam Cooke

A Sunday Kind Of Love by Etta James

Save The Last Dance For Me by The Drifters

Stay by Maurice William's & The Zodiacs

Won't Be Long by Aretha Franklin

Cathy's Clown by The Everly Brothers

Under The Lowest by Nina Simone

Naima by John Coltrane

There's a Moon Out Tonight by The Capris

Shop Around by The Miracles

to be continued