There are way too many forgotten songs that have been lost to time from the 1960s. The tail-end of that decade was packed with legendary music, so that comes as no surprise. I think we should revisit at least a few somewhat forgotten songs from 1969, don’t you? Let’s take a look at just three songs from that year that deserve way more love today!
“Smile A Little Smile For Me” by The Flying Machine
This debut hit from The Flying Machine was quite a successful release for the short-lived bubblegum pop and rock outfit. “Smile A Little Smile For Me” ended up being their only Top 40 hit in the US, peaking at No. 5. And what a song to be known for. This gem of a pop-rock song follows the story of a young woman struggling with a breakup, and it’s honestly quite an uplifting song for anyone in her situation.
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“Laughing” by The Guess Who
This gem from The Guess Who was all the rage back in 1969, but I just don’t hear it in the wild as much as I used to. But if you remember this song like the back of your hand, I’m not very surprised. “Laughing” was a huge hit in Canada, where it peaked at No. 1 on the Top Singles chart and No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It also made it to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the States. The song is now known as one of the band’s signature songs, complete with a previously hard-to-find music video that was in “lost song” limbo for a few years.
“My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” by David Ruffin
How about some soothing soul music to close out our list of forgotten songs from 1969? “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” by David Ruffin dropped in January of 1969. It became yet another Motown Records hit that year. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Hot 100 and did even better on the R&B Singles chart. “Walk Away From Love” from 1975 would be Ruffin’s only other song to match the success of “My Whole World Ended”.
Photo via the album cover for The Flying Machine’s “Smile A Little Smile For Me” single
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(Original Caption) A singer called Joni. Joni Mitchell, Canadian singer-songwriter, United Kingdom, 1968. The guitar-pickin' gal is Joni Mitchell, a long blonde haired Canadian folk singer. Pictured last night outside the Revolution club, Joni is here (until 1st October) for radio, television and concert appearances. Apart from concert appearances, 25 year old Joni will be heard on "Top Gear" on Radio One and "The Monday Show" on BBC 1. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -
English rock band the Beatles arrive at London Airport from the USA, with their manager Brian Epstein (1934 – 1967, in coach doorway), 2nd September 1965. From left to right, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
George Jones, who released several country songs about whiskey -
Elvis Presley and Scotty Moore (left) performing on The Milton Berle Show at NBC's Hollywood studio, Los Angeles, California, 5th June 1956. Presley performed 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and 'Hound Dog'. Press reaction to his performance was largely negative with his gyrating movements during 'Hound Dog' proving particularly controversial. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) -
Singer and musician Merle Haggard performs at the Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, August 16, 1983. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) -
John Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls at event, New York, 1990s. (Photo by Steve Eichner/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images -
Pop group The Byrds (l to r): Chris Hillman; Dave Crosby; Mike Clark; Jim McGuinn; and Gene Clark. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)