Life Playlists…the in between weeks: The Sixties

As I’ve planned for Life Playlists to air every fortnight – with a few exceptions – I thought I’d use those in between weeks to showcase different music decades, starting with the Sixties.  Today I’m choosing five tracks which are particular favourites.  I have to own up to never being a fan of either Elvis Presley or Cliff Richard although when Alan Tarney wrote for him in the late 1970s I did buy a couple of albums (I’m Nearly Famous and I’m No Hero) which I still have.  As the sixties progressed and the Beatles arrived the music scene exploded with new bands.  So much choice, too much in fact.  Because of this it’s been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but here they are…

 

TRACK ONE

My first choice is This Wheel’s On Fire which most people will recognise as the signature tune for Absolutely Fabulous. Co-written by Bob Dylan it was a hit in 1968, getting to No 5 in the UK singles charts and featured Julie Driscoll and the Brian Auger Trinity. In the early 1990s she collaborated with Adrian Edmonson, Jennifer Saunder’s husband and Ab Fab made the song its own.

 

 

TRACK TWO

The Turtles Happy Together featured right at the end of the last episode of Cold Feet this week.  Funny how you forget songs and then they pop up on TV and you’re back there with all those great memories once more.

 

TRACK THREE

Choice number three is Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart.  Originally a  hit in 1967 when it got to number five in the charts.  It was re-released in 1989 with Marc Almond dueting with Gene.  Despite being a huge star in the 1960s, this was Gene’s first number one.

 

TRACK FOUR

Well my sixties choices wouldn’t be complete without something from Motown. No dance or disco was complete unless Motown tracks were played. It was great dance music. And what a choice. So many stars – The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers to name but a few. However in the end I decided on The Four Tops with Walk Away Renee. Lead singer Levi Stubbs had the most amazingly effortless voice…still gives me goose bumps.

 

 

TRACK FIVE

And finally. I always find the last is the most difficult to choose. However, in the end I decided it had to be a Beatles track and it had to be something upbeat.  Got to Get You into my Life seemed a great choice. Written, rumour has it, with Yoko Ono in mind it was also covered by Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers in 1966, where it reached number 6 in the UK charts.

 

So that’s it from me for the time being.  Next Tuesday the 26th February writer Jane Risdon will be choosing her favourite five tracks.  With her background in the music business she’s bound to have some interesting choices.  So don’t miss it.

If anyone would like to come along, promote their work, choose five music tracks and give the reasons behind those choices then simply e-mail me at taurusgirl185@gmail.com and I’ll give you all the details.

Best wishes

 

Jo