The summer months are almost upon us so what better time is there to present a compilation looking at the period in the mid 60s where music makers from the USA* were producing tunes that reflected the then more innocent age. There are songs about cars, mopeds, having fun, girls (and boys) and there are hints at the more reflective music that would become more prevalent later int he decade. ‘Guess I’m Dumb’ by Glen Campbell being a good example of that. Brian Wilson’s finger prints are all over this compilation as well. He was churning out so much music in the mid 60s that he recorded with more than just The Beach Boys. These included The Honeys which featured his future wife, Marilyn, within their ranks. The songs by The Survivors, the aforementioned Glen Campbell as well as Jan & Dean have Wilson’s fingerprints all over them.
Future Beach Boys collaborators, Bruce Johnson and Terry Melcher are also represented here, not only under their own names (Bruce & Terry) but as The Rip Chords. Harry Nilsson and Phil Spector are both represented by their writing credits on the song ‘This Could Be The Night’ by The Modern Folk Quartet. Phil Spector also produced the original version of ‘Chapel of Love’ by Darlene Love. This was not released until 30 years after it was recorded. There are numerous other artists, some more well known than others but whenever I play this, it always makes me think of summer.
Disc 1
- Let’s Dance – Chris Montez
- Johnny Angel – Shelley Fabares
- Walk Don’t Run ’64 – The Ventures
- Surf City – Jan & Dean
- Kick That Little Foot Sally Ann – Road Robin
- I Get Around – The Beach Boys
- Not The Lovin’ Kind – Dino, Desi & Billy
- Three Window Coupe – The Rip Chords
- Little Honda – The Hondells
- I Live For The Sun – The Sunrays
- That’s The Way The World Has Got To Be (Part 1) – Chris Lucey
- For You – Rick Nelson
- Anywhere The Girl Are – The Fantastic Baggys
- Another Saturday Night – Sam Cooke
- Strange Love – Darlene Love
- Rising Sun – The Deep Six
- Everybody Loves A Clown – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
- The Big Beat – Bob & Sheri
- I’m A Drifter – Joe & Eddie
- Meet Me Tonight Little Girl – Philip & Stephan
- The Night Has A Thousand Eyes – Bobby Lee
- Man With Money – The Everly Brothers
- Summer Means Fun – Bruce & Terry
- Smokey Joe’s – Donna Loren
- Let Me Be – The Turtles
- You Say Pretty Words – Ramona King
- So Hard To Find – The Critters
- Guess I’m Dumb – Glen Campbell
- I Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound – Dion & The Wanderers
- Baby What You Want Me Top Do? – Bob & Bobby
- This Could Be The Night – The Modern Folk Quartet
- Keep On Dancing – The Ronettes
- Land Of The Free – Bonnie & The Treasures
Disc 2
- Pamela Jean – The Survivors
- Ride Away – Bob & Sheri
- Walk Right In – The Moments
- Twistin’ The Night Away – Sam Cooke
- Hey Little Cobra – The Rip Chords
- Tell ‘em I’m Surfin’ – The Fantastic Baggys
- Dream For Sale – Joey Paige
- The Rebel Kind – Dino, Desi & Billy
- Roses & Rainbows – Danny Hutton
- That’s How It Goes – Joey Heatherton
- Somebody Groovy – The Mamas & The Papas
- Haloween Mary – P. F. Sloan
- They’re Jealous Of Me – Doona Loren
- The Birds & The Bees – Jewel Akens
- Many Are The Times – Lee Mallory
- Over You – Paul Revere & The Raiders
- I’m Sweet On You – Tina & The Mustangs
- June Bride Baby – The Goldbriars
- The Sh-down Down Song (You Better Leave Him Alone) – The Ginger-Snaps Dandee Dawson
- Deep Purple – Nino Tempo & April Stevens
- I’m Through With You – Mark V
- He’s A Doll – The Honeys
- The End – Ian Whitcomb
- This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
- Baby I See You – Deana Martin
- Eve Of Destruction – Barry McGuire
- Bye, Bye, Bye – The Tikis
- What Am I Going To Do – The Dovers
- Call Me – Chris Montez
- Baby Dear – Wildflowers
- Chapel Of Love – Darlene Love
- All Summer Long – The Beach Boys
The cover art is adapted from one used by Andrew Sandoval for his podcast of the same name. If you have not heard any of the episodes, I would highly recommend it.
This compilation could not be reproduced on Spotify due to one or more songs not being listed don that platform.
*I think that is where all of the artists on this compilation were from anyway