The List

3 Rock Songs From 1964 That Still Make Me Smile Today

Rock music in the 1960s almost always evokes a feeling of nostalgia. But especially with these three songs, all out in 1964, itโ€™s nearly impossible not to smile while listening to them.

โ€œCanโ€™t You See That Sheโ€™s Mineโ€ by The Dave Clark Five

The Dave Clark Five include โ€œCanโ€™t You See That Sheโ€™s Mineโ€ on The Dave Clark Five Return!, their sophomore album in the United States. The song, a Top 5 hit, was written by Clark and Mike Smith.

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โ€œCanโ€™t You See That Sheโ€™s Mineโ€ says in part, โ€œ’Cause can’t you see that she’s mine / We’ve been together for a long long time / And it’ll stay that way, because I know she loves me too.”

“Can’t You See That She’s Mine” is their only hit single from the record.

โ€œCome A Little Bit Closerโ€ by Jay And The Americans

โ€œCome A Little Bit Closerโ€ is the first Top 5 hit from Jay And The Americans. The song is the title track of their third studio album. Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart, and Wes Farrell are the song’s three writers.

โ€œCome A Little Bit Closerโ€ says, โ€œCome a little bit closer, you’re my kind of man / So big and so strong / Come a little bit closer, I’m all alone / And the night is so long.”

Interestingly, they also recorded a Spanish version of โ€œCome A Little Bit Closerโ€. In 1977, Johnny Duncan and Janie Fricke had a Top 5 country single with their duet version of this hit.

โ€œThe House Of The Rising Sunโ€ by The Animals

โ€œThe House Of The Rising Sunโ€ is unquestionably The Animalsโ€™ most popular song. Their first and only No.1 single, โ€œHouse Of The Rising Sunโ€ is part of their eponymous debut record.

A traditional folk song, The Animals are among the first acts to have a successful release of this song. They decided to do it after performing the song live with Chuck Berry in 1964.

“‘House of the Rising Sun’ is a song that I was just fated to. It was made for me, and I was made for it, โ€ The Animalsโ€™ lead singer Eric Burdon tells Songfacts. โ€œIt was a great song for the Chuck Berry tour because it was a way of reaching the audience without copying Chuck Berry.”

โ€œThe House Of The Rising Sunโ€ says, โ€œOh mother, tell your children / Not to do what I have done / Spend your lives in sin and misery / In the House of the Rising Sun.”

In 1980, Dolly Parton released a cover of this song, which is on her 9 To 5 And Odd Jobs album. Partonโ€™s version became a Top 15 country hit. It also hit the Top 30 on Billboardโ€™s Hot 100 chart. Also, heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch’s version of this song came out in 2014.

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