“1960’s Top 99 Soul ‘n’ Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Classics” copyright 2016 00individual TLL
1960’s TOP 99 SOUL ‘n’ RHYTHM ‘N’ BLUES CLASSICS
The mid-to-late late ’50s, all of the ’60s, and most of the ’70s was the height of popular Soul R ‘n’ B groups, singers, and their songs. This was an incredible time for 00individual as he was nine in 1960 up through eighteen in 1969 – and he grew up with, and has very fond respect and love for these Rhythm and Blues and Soul songs.
Not all listed were major hits, and some highly-respected and world-class singers and groups were consciously omitted to allow for other righteous singers and groups songs to be recognized.
This was a time when the popularity of the Beatles could still be knocked out of their Number 1 domination by Mary Wells with the classic “My Guy”.
The Stroll, the Twist, the Mashed Potatoes, the Monkey, the Dog, the Bird, the Limbo, the Loco Motion, the Frug, the Madison, the Shimmy, the Jerk, the Hully Gully, the Watusi, the Pony, the Hitchhike, and the Swim were the main dance crazes of the ’60s that stand as highly representative of a time when dancing was fun and so were the matching songs.
Soul and R ‘n’ B were a genre that predominantly centered around love and all of its infinite emotions. Even for those too young to have had the experience of love’s pains and pleasures, these songs were felt deeply, as the Rhythm connected with the Soul’s primitive longing for connection. These songs were righteously memorable and meaningful.
Although there are countless songs that a list of 500 would be more concise; this yearly list of the 1960 decade represents important impressive landmarks of a time of innocence and growth of not only the music industry and artists, musicians and songwriters, but for those highly fortunate to have joyfully heard and lived these classics during the peak of Soul and R ‘n’ B History.
Please excuse the extra bold type as it does not imply any emphasis; for some reason some are and some aren’t and cannot be changed to regular or bold – it’s a funky free wordpress deal.
While comprising this list, 00individual was once again amazed at being able to sing in his head nearly every one of these, lyrics and all – OK, maybe not totally – but enough to win big on a game show!
Get Down, get Funky, get Bluesy, get Soulful:
1960
The Shirelles – Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Ray Charles – Georgia On My Mind
Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs – Stay
The Miracles – Shop Around
Sam Cooke – Chain Gang
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters – Finger Poppin’ Time
Gary US Bonds – New Orleans
Rosie & the Originals – Angel Baby
The Drifters – This Magic Moment
1961
The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman
Ben E. King – Stand By Me
Dee Clark – Raindrops
Carla Thomas – Gee Whiz
Shep & the Limelites – Daddy’s Home
Roy Hamilton – You Can Have Her
Brook Benton – Fools Rush In
1962
Ray Charles – I Can’t Stop Loving You
Barbara George – I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More)
The Contours – Do You Love Me
Booker T. and The MG’s – Green Onions
Gene Chandler – Duke of Earl
Barbara Lynn – You’ll Lose a Good Thing
Chuck Jackson – Any Day Now
Mary Wells – You Beat Me to the Punch
Ketty Lester – Love Letters
Mary Wells – The One Who Really Loves You
The Crystals – He’s a Rebel
The Shirelles – Baby It’s You
The Ikettes – I’m Blue (The Gong-Gong Song)
The Corsairs – Smokey Places
The Orlons – The Wah-Watusi
Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford – I Need Your Lovin’
1963
Little Stevie Wonder – Fingertips – Part 2
Martha and The Vandellas – Heat Wave
Barbara Lewis – Hello Stranger
Inez & Charlie Foxx – Mockingbird
The Miracles – You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
Ruby and The Romantics – Our Day Will Come
Major Lance – The Monkey Time
The Essex – Easier Said Than Done
Marvin Gaye – Can I Get a Witness
Doris Troy – Just One Look
Lenny Welch – Since I Fell for You
The Drifters – Up on the Roof
The Ronettes – Be My Baby
Betty Everett – You’re No Good
The Exciters – Tell Him
The Jaynetts – Sally, Go ‘Round the Roses
Jan Bradley – Mama Didn’t Lie
The Drifters – On Broadway
The Crystals – Then He Kissed Me
Shirley Ellis – The Nitty Gritty
Bob & Earl – Harlem Shuffle
1964
Mary Wells – My Guy
The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go
Dionne Warwick – Walk On By
Martha & the Vandellas – Dancing in the Street
Larks – The Jerk
Little Anthony & the Imperials – Goin’ Out Of My Head
The Four Tops – Baby, I Need Your Loving
1965
The Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself
Wilson Pickett – In the Midnight Hour
Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
Barbara Mason – Yes, I’m Ready
James Brown & The Famous Flames – Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag (Parts I & II)
Barbara Lewis – Baby, I’m Yours
Martha and The Vandellas – Nowhere to Run
Mel Carter – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me
The Miracles – Ooo Baby Baby
The Ad Libs – The Boy From New York City
Dobie Gray – The “In” Crowd
Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come
1966
The Temptations – Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
Sam & Dave – Hold On! I’m A Comin’
The Supremes – You Keep Me Hangin’ On
The Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There
Bobby Hebb – Sunny
James & Bobby Purify – I’m Your Puppet
Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces – Searching for My Love
J. J. Jackson – But It’s Alright
Aaron Neville – Tell It Like It Is
Shorty Long – Function at the Junction
1967
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Your Precious Love
Jackie Wilson – Higher and Higher
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – More Love
Bar-Kays – Soul Finger
Otis Redding – Try a Little Tenderness
1968
Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Otis Redding – (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay
Clarence Carter – Slip Away
The 5th Dimension – Stoned Soul Picnic
Sly & The Family Stone – Dance to the Music
Sam & Dave – I Thank You
1969
The Temptations – I Can’t Get Next to You
Booker T. & The M.G.’s – Time Is Tight
As the ’60’s decade ended and the ’70s decade began, groups and artists like the Spinners, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Sly and the Family Stone, the Staples Singers, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, the Temptations, James Brown, the Impressions, Aretha Franklin, the Miracles, Diana Ross, the Stylistics and many, many other new artists and groups continued strong with music of substance and a righteous groove!
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