They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore

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

"The Twist” — Chubby Checker

Release: June, 1960

Songwriter(s): Hank Ballard

Joop van Bilse, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Hey Jude" — The Beatles

Release: August 26, 1968

Songwriter(s): Lennon–McCartney

United Press International, Wikimedia Commons

"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby Lewis

Release: April 30, 1961

Songwriter(s): Ritchie Adams and Malou René

Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

"I'm a Believer" — The Monkees

Release: December 27th, 1966

Songwriter(s): Neil Diamond

NBC 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

Arnie Lee, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

“Sugar, Sugar” — The Archies

Release: May 24, 1969

Songwriter(s): Jeff Barry, Andy Kim

Feld Brothers Management Corp., Wikimedia Commons

“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” — Marvin Gaye

Release: October 30, 1968

Songwriter(s): Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong

Jim Britt, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: November 1, 1960

Songwriter(s): Lou Handman and Roy Turk

Press Department, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: February 15, 1962

Songwriter(s): Don Gibson

Eric Koch, Wikimedia Commons

“I’m Sorry” — Brenda Lee

Release: May 16, 1960

Songwriter(s): Dub Allbritten and Ronnie Self

jacqlennon, Flickr

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

Release: January 1964

Songwriter(s): Jerry Herman

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

Truus, Bob & Jan too!, Flickr

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" — Procol Harum

Release: May 12, 1967

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

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

Radio Album magazine, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: October 1962

Songwriter(s): Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio

Philips Records, Wikimedia Commons

“Sugar Shack” — Jimmy Gilmer And The Fireballs

Release: 1963

Songwriter(s): Keith McCormack and Faye Voss

Greg(ory), Flickr

“Honky Tonk Women” — The Rolling Stones

Release: July 4, 1969

Songwriter(s): Jagger–Richards

Ben Merk (ANEFO), Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: January 8, 1968

Songwriter(s): Steve Cropper and Otis Redding

Stax Records, Wikimedia Commons

“Big Bad John” — Jimmy Dean

Release: September 1961

Songwriter(s): Jimmy Dean

William Morris Agency, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: February 10, 1967

Songwriter(s): Chips Moman and Dan Penn

Atlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Hello Stranger" — Barbara Lewis

Release: March 1963

Songwriter(s): Barbara Lewis

Atlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Sinnerman" — Nina Simone

Release: May 20, 1965

Songwriter(s): Traditional

Gerrit de Bruin, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"White Rabbit" — Jefferson Airplane

Release: June 1967

Songwriter(s): Grace Slick

KRLA/Beat Publications-page 1, Wikimedia Commons

Stevie Wonder — "My Cherie Amour"

Release: January 28, 1969

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

Jack de Nijs, Wikimedia Commons

Creedence Clearwater Revival — "Fortunate Son"

Release: October 1969

Songwriter(s): John Fogerty

Fantasy Records, Wikimedia Commons

The Beatles — "A Day In The Life"

Release: May 26, 1967

Songwriter(s): Lennon–McCartney

ingen uppgift, Wikimedia Commons

The Kinks "You Really Got Me"

Release: August 4, 1964

Songwriter(s): Ray Davies

KRLA Beat/Beat Publications, Wikimedia Commons

Bob Dylan — "Like a Rolling Stone"

Release: July 20, 1965

Songwriter(s): Bob Dylan

Rowland Scherman, Wikimedia Commons

Jimi Hendrix — "Little Wing"

Release: December 1, 1967

Songwriter(s): Jimi Hendrix

Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

"Louie Louie" — The Kingsmen

Release: June 1963

Songwriter(s): Richard Berry

Scandore/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

gubama, Flickr

The Band — "The Weight"

Release: August 8, 1968

Songwriter(s): Robbie Robertson

Capitol Records, Wikimedia Commons

The Mamas & The Papas — "California Dreamin'"

Release: December 8, 1965

Songwriter(s): John Phillips and Michelle Phillips

CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: December 16, 1965

Songwriter(s): Lee Hazlewood

NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

Roy Orbison — "Crying"

Release: August 16, 1961

Songwriter(s):  Roy Orbison and Joe Melson

Jack de Nijs, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Mrs. Robinson" — Simon & Garfunkel

Release: April 5, 1968

Songwriter(s): Paul Simon

Nationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

“I Want You Back” — The Jackson 5

Release: October 1969

Songwriter(s): The Corporation

Bernie Ilson, Wikimedia Commons

“Be My Baby” — The Ronettes

Release: August 1963

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

GAC, Wikimedia Commons

“I Wanna Be Your Dog” — The Stooges

Release: July 1969

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

traaf, Flickr

"I Get Around" — The Beach Boys

Release: May 11, 1964

Songwriter(s): Brian Wilson and Mike Love

Trailer screenshot, Wikimedia Commons

"It's Not Unusual" — The Beach Boys

Release: January 22, 1965

Songwriter(s): Les Reed and Gordon Mills

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

William 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

James J. Kriegsmann, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: October 1969

Songwriter(s): Burt Bacharach and Hal David

William Morris Agency-management, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: June 1965

Songwriter(s): James Brown

ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

"Turn! Turn! Turn!" — The Byrds

Release: October 1, 1965

Songwriter(s): Pete Seeger

KRLA Beat/Beat Publications, Inc, Wikimedia Commons

"My Generation" — The Who

Release: October 29, 1965

Songwriter(s): Pete Townshend

KRLA Beat/Beat Publications, Wikimedia Commons

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

Release: November 17, 1967

Songwriter(s): Sly Stone

William Morris Agency, Wikimedia Commons

"Dazed and Confused" — Led Zeppelin

Release: January 12, 1969

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

Atlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"I Got You Babe" — Sonny & Cher

Release: July 9, 1965

Songwriter(s): Sonny Bono

Joop van Bilsen, Wikimedia Commons