Some of the best classic rock songs of all time came out in the 1960s, including these three tunes. All out in 1969, they are so good, they still rock our world today, even after so many years have passed.
“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond
It’s likely that almost everyone can sing “Sweet Caroline” by heart. Out by Neil Diamond on his Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show record, Diamond wrote the uptempo tune by himself. Diamond was inspired to write the song by seeing a picture of a young Caroline Kennedy.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Sweet Caroline” says, “Warm, touchin’ warm / Reachin’ out, touchin’ me, touchin’ you / Sweet Caroline / Good times never seemed so good / I’ve been inclined / To believe they never would.”
“Sweet Caroline” is played during the eighth inning of every Boston Red Sox home game at Fenway Park.
“Come Together” by the Beatles
Originally written by John Lennon as a campaign song for California’s gubernatorial candidate Timothy Leary, Paul McCartney later added to the version of “Come Together” that was released by the Beatles. On their iconic Abbey Road album, “Come Together” remains one of the Beatles’ most revered songs of their historic career.
What Lennon later called “gobbledygook”, “Come Together” says, “He bag production, he got walrus gumboot / He got Ono sideboard, he one spinal cracker / He got feet down below his knee / Hold you in his armchair, you can feel his disease / Come together, right now / Over me.”
The lyrics may have been nonsensical, but the song’s appeal is undeniable. Ike Turner also recorded it with his then-wife, Tina Turner. Other artists who covered “Come Together” include Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, and Arctic Monkeys.
“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” by B.J. Thomas
His first No. 1 hit, B.J. Thomas makes “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” the title track of his sixth studio album. The song, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, is also part of the soundtrack for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
A song about stubborn optimism, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” says, “But there’s one thing I know / The blues they send to meet me / Won’t defeat me / It won’t be long ’till happiness steps up to greet me / Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head / But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turning red / Crying’s not for me / ‘Cause, I’m never gonna stop the rain by complaining.”
Photo by Robin Platzer/Getty Images
Most Viewed
-
SAS Hotel – Brussel – Belgium – 14/11/1997 Studio portrait of Meredith Brooks posing with Fender Stratocaster guitar Photo gie Knaeps -
The Beatles at the press launch for their new album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', held at Brian Epstein's house at 24 Chapel Street, London, 19th May 1967. Left to right: George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Ringo Starr, John Lennon (1940 – 1980) and Paul McCartney. (Photo by John Downing/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
American musician Stevie Nicks of the group Fleetwood Mac perform onstage at the Los Angeles Forum, Inglewood, California, December 6, 1979. In the foreground is American musician Lindsey Buckingham. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) -
Television still shows the popular music and television group the Monkees as they perform onstage in an episode of their self-titled tv show, late 1960s. From left, Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz (on drums), and Michael Nesmith. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – APRIL 1975: Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd onstage at the Sports Arena in April 1975 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Hollies 1969 (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** -
(MANDATORY CREDIT Gutchie Kojima/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Nirvana, group portrait, backstage at Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Japan, 19th December 1992. (From left) Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl. (Photo by Gutchie Kojima/Shinko Music/Getty Images)
