Hello all. MC Stammer here with the year that was 1966. The year of "Revolver", "Pet Sounds", "Blonde on Blonde", and of the Beatles becoming more popular than Jesus. Before we get to the main course I'd like to begin with the biggest loser of the week. This song landed as the 197th song of all time one spot behind "Gimme Some Lovin'" which was the #10 song for 1966. If Only Rolling Stone had ranked this as say,their 150th song of all time instead of 174 it would be setting at #3 this week.....

Paint it Black – Rolling Stones

Wow, that song is only No. 11 in 1966.

Dropping 9 spots is the song originally written for Ronnie Bennett to be the Ronettes follow up to "Be My Baby"

10. (1) (3 years) Beach Boys - Don’t Worry Baby (1964)

And now for more mechanical sounds of the era ....


9. (6) (2 years) The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)

Brian Wilson's production masterpiece is a free-form melange of hushed vocals, organ, tambourines, harpsichord, wind chimes and the first theramin ever heard on a pop record. Are these the same dorks on that "Don't Worry Baby" clip from a few years earlier???


8. (-) (New) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966)

I know it's not too cool to like the Who these days but I still happen to think this anthem is pretty great. Can't better John's clip from the other thread but thought I'd add a clip for this one.


7. ( (2 years) The Who - My Generation (1965)

Yeahhhh man, like this song really speaks to me man.

6. (-) (New) Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows (1966)

Before we get to the top 5 I'd like to play a special request from ... me. I am a big garage rock/protopunk fan from this era and since 1966-67 is the peak for this movement I figured I'd play one that barely missed out this year. I bought the original vinyl lp of this back about 25 years ago at a record fair for $16.00. Probably worth about 25 today.... #12 for 1966 at AM


96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians

If there is one song I would use to describe the 60's this is it. Timeless.

5. (10) (2 years) Mamas and the Papas - California Dreaming (1965)

What can I say about this one. When the dark foreboding intro snaps into the gruff, piercing vocals of Levi Stubbs you know this is somethin' special. For my money the best Motown ever.


4. (-) (New) Four Tops - Reach Out (I’ll Be There) (1966)

Don't look at me to knock out Mr. Zimmerman's sacred cow.

3. (2) (2 years) Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone (1965)

Transcendent.

2. (-) (New) Beach Boys - God Only Knows (1966)

We finish with our final Killer B of the evening and my 2nd favorite song of the 60's. The Byrds ode to air travel would help usher in Psychedelic Rock and would prove to be the last work that original member Gene Clark (who was afraid of flying) would ever do with the band. So sit back, break out the shrooms and enjoy.



1. (-) (New) The Byrds - Eight Miles High (1966)



And my favorite cover song of all time.

MC Stammer signin' off


Recap:

1. (-) (New) The Byrds - Eight Miles High (1966)
2. (-) (New) Beach Boys - God Only Knows (1966)
3. (2) (2 years) Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone (1965)
4. (-) (New) Four Tops - Reach Out (I’ll Be There) (1966
5. (10) (2 years) Mamas and the Papas - California Dreaming (1965
6. (-) (New) Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows (1966
7. (8) (2 years) The Who - My Generation (1965)
8. (-) (New) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966
9. (6) (2 years) The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)
10. (1) (3 years) Beach Boys - Don’t Worry Baby (1964)




Last Cut: (Ruing mournfully)

In Dreams – Roy Orbison
Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke
When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge
Summer In The City – Lovin’ Spoonful



Never had a Chance:

River Deep Mountain High – Ike and Tina Turner
Wild Thing – Troggs
Gimme Some Lovin’ – Spencer Davis Group
Yesterday – Beatles
Tracks of My Tears – Miracles
Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes

Bend The Rules (Pleeze):

Paint It Black – Rolling Stones
96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians
Paperback Writer – Beatles
The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore – The Walker Brothers

Bumping this up so it doesn't get lost. Stammer posted this yesterday but I see people posting in thread 3.

Stammer and John, thanks a lot for your lists!

I almost forgot about bending the rules, however I mentioned a week ago the possibility of extending the list to 20 songs (not extending the challengers to 20 per year) to make it easier for songs to stay several weeks on the list.

But I also think there are advantages of keeping the format. 1) There will be less confusion about the rules and 2) the condition will be the same for every song in the game, so that the overall ranking will be fair.


Surely somebody is interested in doing 1967...?

I'll do it if nobody who hasn't gone before wants to.

Henrik, I think the system is just fine the way it is. I did not see your 20 song proposal, I was just being facetious with my lists.

Since I made 1961, can I book 1971? And 1981? And 1991? And 2001?
But, come on, somebody 1967? Stephan? Henrik?

I'll volunteer to do a list on Sunday for whatever year is up next. If somebody does '67 or '68 or whatever before then I can do whatever comes next.

I can do 67.

Here's a groovy show for you. There has been a lot of tough choices to make, and some of you are bound to be disappointment. But look at it this way: Disappointment might be your only appointment tonight, so just make the best out of it.

We're kicking of with this raw and unpolished rock gem. It's about drugs, and they are not ashamed to say it straight out.



10.(--) ( NEW ) Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For the Man (1967)

This next one is a survivor from a couple of years back. Doesn't it make you wonder if you too could be a rock singer? (Scroll up for video)

9.( 3) (3 years) Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone (1965)

This next one has been posted before, and I wouldn't be surprised if it sticks for a couple years more. I mean, who doesn't like this one?

8.( 5) (3 years) Mamas and the Papas - California Dreaming (1965)

I'm lucky to do such a great year as 1967. This next song makes me want to head out in the fields and have promiscuous sex with many anonymous partners without protection while at the same time experiment with mind-expanding drugs in a consequence free enviroment. It's the summer of love, young people. Enjoy it, and enjoy The Beatles.



7.(--) ( NEW ) The Beatles - A Day In the Life (1967)

Great, Rune, great

The Beach Boys were an amazingly good band, (if you choose to look past Kokomo) and this is the prime of their lives. Good vibrations gives me good vibrations. I can't stop shakin', it's that good! Scroll up for video.

6.( (2 years) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966)

There's The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and then The Kinks. They are British Invasion royalty, and deserve every minute of airplay they get. This one is one of their best.



5.(--) ( NEW ) The Kinks Waterloo Sunset (1967)

Number four is the longest survivor on this list, and it's one of The Beach Boys' finest moment. I don't worry, baby, as long as music like this plays on my stereo. Video has been posted earlier (I think)

4.(10) (4 years) Beach Boys - Don’t Worry Baby (1964)

Honorio, can I please do 1971? With you doing 1969 or one of those others?

Number three is new! '67 was the year of the Beatles, and this song was one of the best they ever made. Here's Strawberry Fields Forever! Mmm, strawberries...



3.(--) ( NEW ) The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)

Scroll up for more Beach Boys magic. God only knows how they made this one.

2.( 2) (2 years) Beach Boys - God Only Knows (1966)

And number one is one of my all time favorite songs. I believe it was number three or four on my list of songs when that poll was made. This song is out of this world!

1.( 4) (2 years) Four Tops - Reach Out (I’ll Be There) (1966)

1.( 4) (2 years) Four Tops - Reach Out (I’ll Be There) (1966)
2.( 2) (2 years) Beach Boys - God Only Knows (1966)
3.(--) ( NEW ) The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)
4.(10) (4 years) Beach Boys - Don’t Worry Baby (1964)
5.(--) ( NEW ) The Kinks Waterloo Sunset (1967)
6.( 8) (2 years) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966)
7.(--) ( NEW ) The Beatles - A Day In the Life (1967)
8.( 5) (3 years) Mamas and the Papas - California Dreaming (1965)
9.( 3) (3 years) Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone (1965)
10.(--) ( NEW ) Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For the Man (1967)


Out:
The Byrds - Eight Miles High
Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows
The Who - My Generation
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man

Never even made the list:
Aretha Franklin - Respect
The Doors - Light My Fire
Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale

Thanks Rune for a great show! I hope you had a good time out in the fields...

Somehow I always seem to agree with everyone's picks!!

I've changed my mind and it's now OK to book years in advance. One year per decade is probably a good limitation though, just like Honorio did (I leave it up to you and mismaiome to decide about 1971).

Schleuse, did you want to book a year in the early '80s?

More importantly, is anybody up for 1968?

The all-time list again.

1. Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues (1956 / 48 / 6 / 1 / 1)
2. Elvis Presley - That's All Right (Mama) (1954 / 32 / 5 / 1 / 2)
3. Dave Brubeck - Take Five (1959 / 27 / 4 / 2 / 0)
4. The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby* (1964 / 25 / 4 / 1 / 1)
5. Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues (1958 / 25 / 4 / 3 / 0)
6. Del Shannon - Runaway (1961 / 24 / 4 / 3 / 0)
7. Big Mama Thornton - Hound Dog (1953 / 22 / 3 / 2 / 0)
7. The Platters - The Great Pretender (1955 / 22 / 3 / 2 / 0)
9. Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone* (1965 / 19 / 3 / 2 / 0)
10. Etta James - At Last (1961 / 18 / 4 / 2 / 0)
11. Hank Williams - Your Cheatin' Heart (1953 / 18 / 2 / 1 / 1)
12. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows* (1966 / 18 / 2 / 2 / 0)
13. The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)* (1966 / 17 / 2 / 1 / 1)
14. Roy Orbison - In Dreams (1963 / 16 / 3 / 4 / 0)
15. The Beatles - She Loves You (1963 / 16 / 2 / 1 / 1)
16. The Ronettes - Be My Baby (1963 / 16 / 2 / 3 / 0)
17. The Everly Brothers - All I Have to Do Is Dream (1958 / 14 / 3 / 5 / 0)
18. Kitty Wells - It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels (1952 / 14 / 2 / 2 / 0)
19. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (1958 / 14 / 2 / 4 / 0)
20. Chuck Berry - Maybellene (1955 / 13 / 2 / 1 / 1)
20. Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife (1959 / 13 / 2 / 1 / 1)
22. The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go (1964 / 12 / 2 / 1 / 1)
23. The Shirelles - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (1960 / 12 / 2 / 2 / 0)
24. Sam Cooke - You Send Me (1957 / 12 / 2 / 3 / 0)
25. Elmore James - Dust My Broom (1951 / 11 / 2 / 1 / 1)
25. Link Wray - Rumble (1958 / 11 / 2 / 1 / 1)
25. Henry Mancini - Moon River (1961 / 11 / 2 / 1 / 1)
28. Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (1957 / 11 / 2 / 2 / 0)
29. Gene Vincent - Be Bop A Lula (1956 / 11 / 2 / 4 / 0)
30. The Mamas and the Papas - California Dreamin'* (1965 / 10 / 3 / 5 / 0)

* = included on Rune's list from 1967

Mismaiome, of course you can do 1971. Obviously you deserve it, if only for finding so many funny Smilies.
I would be happy doing 1972 (if nobody else want to do it).

Henrik, do you mind me booking whatever year is available on Sunday?

I need a few free moments to do a list and that's the first day where I'll have the time.

Slush, I think you could do 1968 on Sunday. We're in no rush. Thanks!

Sweetness. Time to start planning.

I would like to take the next one available after 1968. Which one is available?

I think it is 1969, so

1968 Slush
1969 Jonah
1970 ?
1971 Mismaiome
1972 Honorio
.
.
.
1981 Honorio
.
.
.
1991 Honorio
.
.
.
2001 Honorio
.
.
.

Have I forgotten someone?

Well, this is really quite the tough thing to do. I admit, I may not get everything posted tonight, but I'll try to finish it at work tomorrow (isn't that what work is for?

In at #10...is the same #10 from last week. Check out the video Rune posted for the original, or check out the Thin White Duke's version below:



10. (10) (2 years) Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For the Man (1967)

I wish I could get a version of Marvin singing this in the 60s, but the song is so good that this will do (and maybe you can try some karaoke):



And then, there is also this abomination from the 80s:



9. (--) (NEW) Marvin Gaye - I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Once again, an amazing song for #8 is the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations." Check above for the real video or look below for the bastardization of it from an 80s commercial:



8. (6) (3 years) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966)

One of the greatest uses of a great song in a great movie, here's #7 with "The Weight:"



Or check out the version from Scorsese's masterpiece about the Band, The Last Waltz:



7. (--) (NEW) The Band - The Weight (196

The final song from Otis Redding is his best known and one of the most beautiful pieces in recorded pop music history:



6. (--) (NEW) Otis Redding - Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay (196

Oh, and I didn't know this version of "Dock of the Bay" existed, but unfortunately it does. It'll either make you laugh or just anger you (nice hair though):



Samir: No one in this country can ever pronounce my name right. It's not that hard: Samir Na-gheen-an-a-jar. Nagheenanajar.
Michael Bolton: Yeah, well at least your name isn't Michael Bolton.
Samir: You know there's nothing wrong with that name.
Michael Bolton: There was nothing wrong with it... until I was about 12 years old and that no-talent ass clown became famous and started winning Grammys.
Samir: Hmm... well why don't you just go by Mike instead of Michael?
Michael Bolton: No way. Why should I change? He's the one who sucks.

That hair is even better than Michael Bolton's hair.



And I gotta show the iconic movie scene from Pulp Fiction:



5. (--) (NEW) Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man (196

This seems like the kind of song that might just keep going and going and going and never get kicked off a list.



4. (9) (4 years) Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone (1965)

Man, this is just an amazingly beautiful song.



Supposedly, this is Damon Albarn's favorite song of all time. This version isn't particularly good, but it's still pretty cool to see the two of them together.



3. (5) (2 years) The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset (1967)

I think this Altamont version of "Sympathy for the Devil" embodies the spirit of the song very well. Having Hell's Angels jackets running around just gives an ironic twist. Plus, my dad is somewhere in the crowd.

"Something funny always happens when we start that number."

Warning: There's a scary looking naked lady in this video.



2. (--) (NEW) The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil (196

You've probably noticed that 0 of the 3 Beatles songs in contention are on this list and none of them will be. I kinda feel like a jerk cause I know most people love "Strawberry Fields Forever," "A Day in the Life," and "Hey Jude" and I'm eliminating all of them. I just don't like them that much.

So, as a consolation to the Beatles fans I'm putting on "Dear Prudence," my favorite Beatles song from 1968. Had it actually been high enough to be in contention this song would've been #6 on my list. It baffles me that this beautiful song is outside the AM 3000.



6*. The Beatles - Dear Prudence (196

My favorite Beach Boys song and possibly my favorite song from the entire decade. I don't think such a perfect piece of pop music has been made since "God Only Knows."

Note on the video: Supposedly the audio and visual aspects are from two different sources, but I like to see the live performance.



1. (2) (3 years) Beach Boys - God Only Knows (1966)

1. (2) (3 years) Beach Boys - God Only Knows (1966)
2. (--) (NEW) The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil (1968)
3. (5) (2 years) The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset (1967)
4. (9) (4 years) Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone (1965)
5. (--) (NEW) Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man (1968)
6. (--) (NEW) Otis Redding - Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay (1968)
7. (--) (NEW) The Band - The Weight (1968)
8. (6) (3 years) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations (1966)
9. (--) (NEW) Marvin Gaye - I Heard it Through the Grapevine (1968)
10. (10) (2 years) Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For the Man (1967)

Out

11. Four Tops - Reach Out (I’ll Be There) (1966)
19. The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)
16. Beach Boys - Don’t Worry Baby (1964)
18. The Beatles - A Day In the Life (1967)
13. Mamas and the Papas - California Dreaming (1965)

Didn't Make the Cut

15. The Beatles - Hey Jude
14. The Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash
12. Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
17. Glenn Campbell - Wichita Lineman

Didn't make the cut to not make the cut

20. Steppenwolf - Born to Be Wild

Would have made an expanded list:

The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year (Could've been #1)
Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People (Could've been #4)
The Beatles - Dear Prudence (Could've been #6)
The Beatles - Blackbird (Could've been #7)
The Zombies - Time of the Season (Could've been #8)
Aretha Franklin - Think (Could've been #9)

The Beatles are going to get killed in this competition. This will be an AM first. It's really surprising how few Beatles songs there are in yearly top 10's and which ones they are.

What does that say? To me it says they had a ton of great songs in which everyone has personal favorites, but nobody can really agree on a few amazing ones that transcends their catalog.

Lucky for you all, I have a rare bout of insomnia tonight (actually Monday morning), so I'm ready to get next year started.

I thought 1969 was one of the essential years of music and history in general, but it looks like a lot of the essential bands released their track-length musical masterpieces a little bit earlier.

Regardless, squeezing in the countdown at this moment gives me a chance to cut some of the classics that personally don't do anything for me. It is no personal vendetta against any of you, except every last one of you who cut the Beatles! Just kidding!

[strong]1969[/strong]

[strong] (NEW) #10 Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds



I'm a sucker for songs with big glorious crescendos. Elvis' style had already established rock n' roll for the masses... this song had the epic sound and orchestration to match his stature. I wish the end could just keep repeating, Hey Jude style.

oops, anybody around to tell me how to make things bold? I thought I followed the instructions from another thread.

If you don't mind substance over style, I don't have to worry about it.

[a strong]HTML is annoying[/strong]

Nevermind

That didn't come out until 1991 and it's an album. We're doing songs here.

#9. (10) (Third Year) Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For The Man



I'll vote for this one just to keep VU around, and also to keep around any selection from VU + Nico. I can think of a few other songs that I would have liked to see appear, but they have no more top 10s.

Ha Ha John. I almost thought you were serious.

#8 (NEW) Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter




This was a final four song in bracketology was it not? I wonder why this song is less irritating or dated than some of the other regarded Stones songs. Probably it's use in a ton of movies since it came out helps it's timelessness, but probably also the next of unrest and menace it represents musically, which can fit to reflect times of crisis of any generation.

#7 (NEW) David Bowie - Space Oddity



The first sign of Bowie's songwriting skill, particularly being able to house all sorts of otherworldly lyrical concepts in incredibly wonderful melodies. Does anyone know if this song was inspired by the movie 2001, released in the same year?

#6 (NEW) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son



This song wastes no time with it's fiery lyrical attack and it's over quickly, but I think its directness is what sticks and what I guess was needed at the time it was released. This isn't to knock other poetic and powerful protest songs, but a song like Fortunate Son is the type of blunt instrument the musical community should put out whenever there's injustice to fight.

It might be time to hit the sack, since I'm getting preachy ordering around those, unlike me, who play and write music profesionally. I'll try to wrap things up later this evening.

Slush and Jonah, excellent selection and presentation. Although is quite sad to see part so soon the two 1967 masterpieces from The Beatles, all the songs selected are fantastic anyway.

Heh, I knew cutting the Beatles wasn't gonna be popular. I was kinda hoping someone would've taken 1968 before I had to do the dirty work. I can't believe there are no more Beatles songs left. "Let It Be" at #11 in 1970 is just cruel and how the hell is "Here Comes the Sun" at #48 for 1969?

"Here Comes the Sun" and "Blackbird" are my personal favorite Beatles songs. I love the Beatles (probably my favorite band), but I would have been much more upset if you had cut "God Only Knows." That song is the closest it gets to pop perfection.

Welcome back, everybody! I at least got a little sleep last night. So I'll wrap this up and maybe get an early bedtime to reset myself for a normal work week.

5. (NEW) Desmond Dekker - The Israelites



A relatively recent discovery for me, I really dig this song and it's placement amidst all of the big exploding psychadelic anthems of the era. It feels so organic and probably brought world music (the kind not coopted by U.S. or U.K. musicians) into the fold of mainstream pop music.

4. (6) (2nd year) Otis Redding - Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay



I just had one of those moments where you actually really listen to the lyrics of the song for the first time and it matches with the music so perfectly that you feel physical tingles down your spine as you comprehend its perfection. Such restraint, such melancholy.

In a cruder sense I've also been inspired to find a clip of the sketch comedy show The State where they keep singing this song as part of a record collection commercial. Does anyone know where I could find that. Youtube is not being helpful.

3. ( (4th year) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations



3 years separating it's first appearance and it still deserves all the recognition it can get. It's all about the progressive multi-part suite-ness of it all. Using the studio to set a mood and make sounds as lush as possible.

2. (3) (3rd year) The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset



I think the theme of the songs I like from this period are the equally balanced amounts of sadness and joy in this music, and the comfort in accepting that balance as the way the world works.

It's been a fun ride, but here it is.

#1 (2) (4th Year) Beach Boys - God Only Knows

I can't say anything more about this song than what I already said in Bracketology and what I read from by better writers. Maybe we can test its everlasting beauty beauty by putting it in a challenging context.

SPOILERS! Don't watch unless you've seen Boogie Nights!

1 (2) (4th Year) Beach Boys - God Only Knows
2. (3) (3rd year) The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
3. (8) (4th year) Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
4. (6) (2nd year) Otis Redding - Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay
5. (NEW) Desmond Dekker - The Israelites
6. (NEW) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
7. (NEW) David Bowie - Space Oddity
8. (NEW) Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
9. (10) (Third Year) Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For The Man
10. (NEW) Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds

Gone but not forgotten

Marvin Gaye - I Heard it Through the Grapevine
Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
The Band - The Weight
Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil

Missed it by THAT much

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers to Cross
CCR - Proud Mary

Well, I guess my prediction about "Like A Rolling Stone" was wrong.

Well done Stammer.

Who's up next?

...and I meant well done Jonah (Stammer too, but earlier).

Ugh, I'm off for another cup of coffee.

Yes, thanks Jonah!

The Beach Boys are definitely the winners of this little game!

Anyone interested in doing 1970? For newcomers, the task is to post a list of your personal 10 favorites among the last top 10 (presented just above) and the top 10 AM songs from 1970. Preferably with some comments and YouTube links.

Henrik have you done one yet?

Um, no ... alright, I'll do 1970 tomorrow!