Some of my age (there are relatively few that are older)
will remember a little television show called “This Was the Week that Was,” or
TWTWTW or TW3. This British come American show hosted by David Frost has
nothing to do with what I’m about to write about. But it could give me a title
as I discuss the “Decade that Wasn’t a Decade.”
This is the period, in my not so humble opinion, which was
the most prolific and groundbreaking era of popular music and Rock and Roll.
The period is the ten years from 1965 to 1975. Not a decade by usual
expression, but it is on the bi-decal five year milestones. Actually, it would
probably be more accurate to say 1963 to 1973. Yea, that’s the ticket. This is
about 1963 to 1973.
This was the era — dare I say “decade” — in which popular
music took the greatest turn for the better, a musical explosion, and we’re
still benefitting from that most productive musical time.
I don’t have much to say. Either you know this music or
you’re deaf. These are the songs that made the songs that made us what we are
today — song-wise that is.
A simple list of the artists with top albums during those
years will suffice to make my point.
1963
The Beatles
James Brown
Bob Dylan
Beach Boys
Stevie Wonder
4 Seasons
Rick Nelson
Roy Orbison
Martha and the Vandellas
The Surfaris
The Tymes
Peter Paul and Mary
Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
Trini Lopez
The Rooftop Singers
Nino Tempo and April Stevens
Lesley Gore
Little Peggy March
1964
The Beatles
John Coltrane
Muddy Waters
The Ronettes
Beach Boys
Johnny Cash
Sam Cooke
The Kingsmen
Bob Dylan
The Supremes
The Animals
Dionne Warwick
The Rolling Stones
The Drifters
Jan and Dean
Manfred Mann
Dusty Springfield
The Wailers
4 Seasons
Louis Armstrong
Dean Martin
Peter and Gordon
Joan Baez
1965
The Beatles
Otis Redding
B.B. King
Bob Dylan
The Byrds
The Rolling Stones
Beach Boys
Yardbirds
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
James Brown
Marvin Gaye
Tom Jones
The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Miracles
Roy Orbison
Righteous Brothers
The Shangri-Las
The Temptations
The Zombies
Herb Alpert
Them
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Little Anthony and the Imperials
Freddie and the Dreamers
Mel Carter
The Impressions
Ramsey Lewis
Barry McGuire
Martha and the Vandellas
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Sonny and Cher
Shirley Bassey
Four Tops
Billy Joe Royal
Wilson Pickett
The McCoys
Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Tom Jones
Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
1966
The Beatles
Beach Boys
Cream
The Mama’s and the Papa’s
John Mayall
Simon and Garfunkel
Bob Dylan
The Rolling Stones
Mothers of Invention
Otis Redding
The Yardbirds
The Who
The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Monkees
Otis Redding
Sam and Dave
Nancy Sinatra
Dusty Springfield
The Supremes
The Association
The Byrds
James Brown
The Statler Brothers
Frank Sinatra
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Donovan
The 4 Seasons
The Cyrkle
Tommy James and the Shondells
Righteous Brothers
The Supremes
Simon and Garfunkel
Percy Sledge
Johnny Rivers
Petula Clark
1967
The Beatles
The Doors
Aretha Franklin
The Velvet Underground
Jimi Hendrix
Moby Grape
Cream
The Byrds
Jefferson Airplane
Pink Floyd
Buffalo Springfield
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Bob Dylan
Otis Redding
Merle Haggard
Albert King
The Rolling Stones
The Bee Gees
Ray Charles
Herman’s Hermits
Franki Valli
The Royal Guardsmen
The Monkees
The Mama’s and the Pappa’s
The 5th Dimension
Arthur Conley
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Paul Mauriat
Elvis Presley
Dion Warwick
The Association
The Box Tops
The Cowsills
The Left Banke
Van Morrison
Sam and Dave
Jackie Wilson
Beach Boys
Glen Campbell
Bobbie Gentrie
Lulu
The Music Explosion
The Buckinghams
Spncer Davis Group
1968
The Beatles
Johnny Cash
Van Morrison
The Band
Love
Jimi Hendrix
The Zombies
Aretha Franklin
The Who
The Byrds
Dr. John
Otis Redding
The Flying Burrito Brothers
Cream
Simon and Garfunkel
The Kinks
The Grateful Dead
The Velvet Underground
The Mothers of Invention
Big Brother and the Holding Company
The Moody Blues
The Monkees
Marvin Gaye
The Doors
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Glen Campbell
The Supremes
Steppenwolf
Herb Alpert
The Box Tops
Mason Williams
Sly and the Family Stone
Tommy James and the Shondells
Marin Gaye
The Delfonics
Archie Bell and the Drells
Simon and Garfunkel
Hugh Masekela
Bobby Goldsboro
Dion
Dionne Warwick
O.C. Smith
Hugo Montenegro
Richard Harris
Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
The Isley Brothers
The Irish Rovers
1969
The Beatles
Elvis Presley
Led Zeppelin
Dusty Springfield
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
The Band
The Rolling Stones
Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Who
Sly and the Family Stone
Santana
The Stooges
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
The Grateful Dead
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Nick Drake
MC5
The Velvet Underground
Jefferson Airplane
The Archies
Johnny Cash
Frank Sinatra
Bob Dylan
Mary Hopkin
Joni Mitchell
The Temptations
Stevie Wonder
Zager and Evans
The 5th Dimension
Classics IV
The Edwin Hawkins Singers
The Young Rascals
The Ventures
Tammy Whynette
Henry Mancini
James Brown
Jay and the Americans
The Supremes
Tommy Roe
Tommy James and the Shondells
Blood, Sweat and Tears
1970
The Beatles
George Harrison
Simon and Garfunkel
The Grateful Dead
Van Morrison
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
John Lennon
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
James Taylor
The Velvet Underground
Derek and the Dominos
Carpenters
The Stooges
Santana
Black Sabbath
The Meters
Nick Drake
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Randy Newman
Beach Boys
MC5
Elton John
Neil Diamond
Led Zeppelin
The Jackson 5
Three Dog Night
Stevie Wonder
The 5th Dimension
Chicago
Eric Clapton
Dionne Warwick
B.J. Thomas
The Jaggerz
Robert Flack
Allman Brothers Band
Bread
James Brown
Ike and Tina Turner
Edwin Star
Joni Mitchell
The Kinks
Merle Haggard
Dawn
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Supremes
Ray Stevens
B.B. King
Norman Greenbaum
1971
Led Zeppelin
Carole King
The Who
Black Sabbath
Marvin Gaye
John Lennon
Joni Mitchell
The Rolling Stones
Cat Stevens
Jethro Tull
Allman Brothers Band
Janis Joplin
Sly and the Family Stone
T. Rex
Rod Stewart
Dolly Parton
The Doors
John Prine
Alice Cooper
Elton John
Funkadelic
James Brown
John Denver
James Taylor
Don McLean
The Osmonds
Isaac Hayes
Carpenters
Van Moorison
Jean Knight
Johnny Cash
Aretha Franklin
Neil Diamond
Bee Gees
Chi-Lites
Cher
The New Seekers
Richie Havens
Tom Jones
Ocean
Joan Baez
The Temptations
Melanie
Paul and Linda McCartney
Carly Simon
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Nilsson
Diana Ross
Donny Osmond
1972
David Bowie
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Stevie Wonder
Curtis Mayfield
The Rolling Stones
Todd Rundgren
Lou Reed
Proessor Longhair
Steely Dan
Al Green
O’Jays
Nick Drake
Randy Newman
Elton John
Eagles
Dr. John
Big Star
War
Mott the Joople
Three Dog Night
Harry Chapin
Mac Davis
Loggins and Messina
Hollies
Michael Jackson
Yes
The Temptations
Deep Purple
Chuck Berry
The Hillside Singers
Chi-Lites
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Carenters
Bobby Vinton
The Moody Blues
Sammy Davis, Jr.
The Staple Singers
John Denver
Johnny Cash
Billy Preston
Edgar Winter Group
Carly Simon
Paul Simon
Bread
Alic Cooper
Billy Paul
America
The 5th Dimension
Lobo
Neal Diamond
Seals and Crofts
Bill Withers
Luther Ingram
Chicago
Michael Jackson
1973
Pink Floyd
Led Zeppelin
Paul and Linda McCartney
Elton John
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Al Green
Marvin Gaye
Grand Funk (no longer a railroad)
Stevie Wonder
Bob Marley and the Wailers
The Stooges
Bruce Springsteen
Sly and the Family Stone
New York Dolls
The Who
Paul Simon
David Bowie
Lou Reed
Mott the Hoople
Toots and Maytals
Roxy Music
ZZ Top
Jackson Browne
Maria Muldaur
George Harrison
Al Wilson
The Stylists
Allman Brothers Band
The Isley Brothers
The Spinners
Stories
Electric Light Orchestra
Gilbert O’Sulivan
Vicki Lawrence
Jim Croce
The Doobie Brothers
Stealers Wheel
Mike Oldfield
Carpenters
Ringo Starr
Deodato
The Jackson 5
Aerosmith
Dawn
Diana Ross
Donny Osmond
Tower Of Power
Charlie Rich
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Bob Dylan
Elton John
Eagles
Helen Reddy
Rick Derringer
Barry White
Brownsville Station
Cher
Steve Miller Band
Kool and the Gang
I rest my case.
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