Top 20 Representative Songs From the 1960s

Here are my choices for the top 20 representative songs for the decade of the 1960s. I have chosen 20 because that's about an hour's worth and should fit on a CD.

Here are the guidelines I used to make my decision:

Each artist (or group) can only be represented by one song
Overall popularity (number of hits during the 60s) is an important factor, but it needs to be weighed against the popularity of individual songs (or, my perception of the popularity...)
The representative song of a given group must have hit #1
Reluctantly, artists who peaked in the 50s, are generally excluded
I have tried (really) to choose the best representative songs, not necessarily my favorites...

The results (alphabetically by artist):

Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In (The 5th Dimension)
- This has often been used as a theme song for our generation, so it seems appropriate to include it here. It's hard not to like this song.
I Get Around (The Beach Boys)
- We could argue forever about which Beach Boys song to choose. They had 26 hits in the 60s, half of which were in the top 10. "I Get Around" and "Good Vibrations" sold the most copies, but the former peaked at #1 right as we graduated, and no song of theirs was on the charts longer.
Hey Jude (The Beatles)
- No Beatles song was on the chart longer nor held the #1 position longer. It has also been selected as the number one song of all time among numerous listener surveys. The runner-up for our purposes would be "I Want To Hold Your Hand."
I Can't Stop Loving You (Ray Charles)
- While I personally prefer "Hit the Road Jack," this song was Ray's only Gold album, and it was on the charts (and at #1) longer than any of his others. Ray's massive contributions to music mandate his inclusion here.
The Twist (Chubby Checker)
- Jeez, how can you leave off a song which rises to #1 twice! And we did know how to Twist, didn't we?!
Teen Angel (Mark Dinning)
- How can we have a 60s hit list without a tear-jerker...
Runaround Sue (Dion)
- It may have been his only #1 hit, but it sure was memorable. Admittedly, this one could be replaced with others.
Light My Fire (The Doors)
- The Doors were one of the most memorable groups of our times, even though they only had 2 #1 hits in the 60s. The "long" version of this song with its extended instrumental section is always a treat to hear.
Theme From "A Summer Place" (Percy Faith and His Orchestra)
- Looking back, it's hard to believe that a dreamy orchestral piece like this tied for the longest at #1 in the 60s; but it happened, and we loved it!
Rag Doll (Four Seasons)
- Their only Gold record in the 60s. How can we forget their falsettos?
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) (Four Tops)
- It's a tossup between this and "Reach Out, I'll Be There" ...
Monday, Monday (The Mamas & The Papas)
- As long as you didn't try to make sense of the lyrics, this was a great song from a memorable group.
Hey Paula (Paul and Paula)
- This is one of those rare one-hit groups with a really memorable song. Singing to each other really worked here.
Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Elvis Presley)
- Leaving Elvis out would be worse than leaving out the Beatles! His "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956 is often attributed as the start of Rock 'n Roll. In the 60s, this song was at #1 the longest for him and was hauntingly beautiful.
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (The Righteous Brothers)
- Have you heard this song this week yet? It is certainly one of the most played songs of all time and thus belongs on our list.
Satisfaction (I Can't Get No) (The Rolling Stones)
- They pushed the limits on lyrics (do you remember what was controversial about this song?) and were the "bad boys" of their time. And they're still around! They had 18 hits in the 60s, starting in 1964.
Leader of the Pack (Shangri-Las)
- I never liked this song much myself, but it sure was memorable! Rhmmm-rhmmm. They actually had 5 other top-40 songs, two in the top-10.
Soldier Boy (The Shirelles)
- Unfortunately, this brings back memories of another event we will always associate with the 60s: the Vietnam War, and friends and classmates we lost there. I think it is the most memorable of the Shirelle's six top-10 hits.
When a Man Loves a Woman (Percy Sledge)
- Like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," this song just never dies. It is one of the most played songs of all time. It went Gold, but none of his other 4 songs made it into the top 10.
Baby Love (The Supremes)
- Finally, we can't leave this super "girl group" off our list, can we? This song stayed at #1 longer than the rest.

Hey, you say, where are the Everly Brothers. They peaked in the 50s, with only 1 #1 hit in the 60s (Cathy's Clown). Hard choices had to made to leave out Connie Francis, The Animals (The House of the Rising Sun was their only #1 hit), The Byrds, Del Shannon, Marvin Gaye, The Box Tops, and others. Sorry, "Purple People Eater" (by Sheb Wooley) was a 1958 #1 hit!

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