It's a shame, but probably my favourite winning song falls just outside the 60s...

Post 2 of 4: Winning Eurovision songs from 1966 to 1969.

Udo Jürgens - Merci Chèrie (1966)
Representing: Austria
Vabosity’s rating: 5/10
Hardly my favourite Eurovision song of the sixties, but it’s pleasant enough. Vince Hill had a minor hit with an English language cover version.

Sandie Shaw - Puppet On A String (1967)
Representing: United Kingdom
Vabosity’s rating: 6/10
The UK wins the Eurovision Song Contest for the very first time. Whoopee!

Massiel - La La La (1968)
Representing: Spain
Vabosity’s rating:1/10
This song has already featured in one my Foreign Language UK Hit Singles posts and it’s also a Eurovision winner, so here it is again. It’s bad enough having to submit a track I detest to the thread once, but twice?

Lulu - Boom Bang A Bang (1969)
Representing: United Kingdom
Vabosity’s rating: 3/10
Four nations (France, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK) tied for first place in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest, and as there was no tie break mechanism back then, all were declared as joint winners. I don’t know what’s more farcical, the fact that there were four winners in 1969 or the fact that Boom Bang A Bang was one of them.

Frida Boccara - Un Jour Un Enfant (1969).
Representing: France
Vabosity’s rating: 7/10
Of the four songs that won in 1969, this is my favourite. It’s a very nice song and Frida Boccara has a lovely voice.

Lenny Kuhr - De Troubadour (1969).
Representing: Netherlands
Vabosity’s rating: 6/10
Of the four songs that won in 1969, this is my second favourite. It’s an odd little song, but I rather like it.

Salomé - Vivo Cantando (1969)
Representing: Spain
Vabosity’s rating:1/10
Of the four songs that won in 1969, this is definitely my least favourite. Not to put too fine a point on it, it’s crap.

I agree, shame she's not known for more than this song. I far prefer her to the ghastly Dalida(da) who had similar heritage to Frida (both of italian-jewish origin from North Africa) but was vastly more successful.

Could be in Post 3 then..?

Thanks for these. I shall read these as well to help make sure I do not miss any!

No, it would be 1970...

Post 3 of 4: UK Eurovision entries from 1959 to 1963.

Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson - Sing, Little Birdie (1959)
Final placing in the Contest: Runner-up
Vabosity’s rating: 7/10
I’ve decided to start with 1959 rather than 1960, because the UK entry that year is so very quaint and you just can’t help but like it. Well, I can’t help but like it anyway.

Bryan Johnson - Looking High High High (1960)
Final placing: Runner-up
Vabosity’s rating: 7/10
The singer representing the UK in the first year of the new decade was Bryan Johnson, brother of the aforementioned Teddy Johnson. What I particularly like about this song is that even in 1960 it would have sounded distinctly old-fashioned.

The Allisons - Are You Sure (1961)
Final placing: Runner-up
Vabosity’s rating: 8/10
Very, very different from the previous two years’ British entries, and perhaps the first Eurovision song from any nation that was even remotely like some of the teen pop that was in the charts at the time.

Ronnie Carroll - Ring A Ding Girl (1962)
Final placing: 4th
Vabosity’s rating: 5/10
Ronnie Carroll (and not, as many people believe, Cliff Richard) was the first singer to represent the UK twice in the Eurovision Song Contest. He did so in consecutive years, 1962 and 1963. Of his two songs I definitely prefer this one from 1962, which may be far from brilliant, but is nowhere near as bad as its title might suggest.

Ronnie Carroll - Say Wonderful Things (1963)
Final placing: 4th
Vabosity’s rating: 2/10
I’d like to say wonderful things about this song, Ronnie, but unfortunately I can’t.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a major guilty pleasure for me, so am loving these Eurovision posts.

Like Gneiss my favourite Eurovision song is not from the sixties, but unlike Gneiss my favourite is not "All Kinds Of Everything" by Dana, it's Norway's 1995 winner, "Nocturne" by Secret Garden.

As it's not from the sixties I won't post it here, but if you like a a song that's 75% instrumental and sounds more Irish than Norwegian it's worth checking out.

I probably should have made this post a few days ago when I first heard the tragic news, but better late than never.

My tribute to Robin Gibb RIP:-

The Bee Gees - To Love Somebody (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykU8iSKkJR0

The Bee Gees - Craise Finton Kirk Royal Academy of Arts (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sudd9Sv2Bgg

The Bee Gees - Words (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JECTUQVrvzE

The Bee Gees - I've Gotta Get a Message to You (1968)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RUjnqH3kMw

The Bee Gees - I Started a Joke (1968)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRNTQvXSsfA

Robin Gibb - Saved By The Bell (1969)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcWOy...eature=related

Post 4 of 4: UK Eurovision entries from 1964 to 1969.

Matt Monro - I Love The Little Things (1964)
Final placing in the Contest: Runner-up
Vabosity’s rating: 5/10
Matt Monro was not called the British Sinatra for nothing; he was an exceptionally gifted singer who managed to transform this imho very mediocre song into one that could achieve second place in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Kathy Kirby - I Belong (1965)
Final placing: Runner-up
Vabosity’s rating: 5/10
Another imho very mediocre song, but Kathy Kirby does sing it well, which is probably why it too managed to achieve second place in the Contest. The UK had now come second five times in eight Eurovision appearances; quite an achievement.

Kenneth McKellor - A Man Without Love (1966)
Final placing: 9th
Vabosity’s rating: 1/10
Oh dear.

Sandie Shaw - Puppet On A String (1967)
See post #452.

Cliff Richard - Congratulations ((1968)
Final placing: Runner-up
Vabosity’s rating: 6/10
Cliff was the hot favourite to win in 1968 but did not, so it looks like congratulations were not in order that year.

Lulu - Boom Bang A Bang (1969)
See post #452.

Don't know if we've had much Four Seasons yet or Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (according to wiki Frankie and the group recorded under about 15 different names and the band has had approx 40 members over the years........)

Here they are in 1962 - Big Girls Don't cry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVBvy2cc0Io

Bye bye baby - later a big hit for the Bay City Rollers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJqlbgsU9A

Let's hang On

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4A9z...eature=related

After their 60s hits had dried up they disappeared for a while but had a resurgance in the mid 70s when they added a disco beat to their harmony singing and made some good Bee Gee-esque tracks like December 1963 (Oh What a Night ) and Who Loves Ya ?

I'm sure I wasn't aware of this before that last post but I saw an ad on the Tube today for a musical based on Franki Valli and the Four Seasons !

'Jersey Boys' it's called............

Blimey.........I didn't know this..........

Just watching the show on BBC4 about 'foreign' pop records in the UK Charts.............

The Singing Nun............did you know that she left the Church, came out as a Lesbian, recorded an anthem to the Birth Control Pill and killed herself in a suicide pact with her lesbian lover

Remember that next time you hear 'Dominique'............

indeed.

In tribute, and simply because I think it was one of the best songs of the decade... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-uzRYCFmUw

Good stuff!

How about some Frankie Valli without the Four Seasons?


This great track was not a hit in this country until re-released in 1970:-

Frankie Valli - You're Ready Now (1966)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR5GkJqcyqc


This song was a big hit over here for the Osmonds in 1975, but the original is a 100 times better (imo):-

Frankie Valli - The Proud One (1966)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnJR5MXo6Y


Andy Williams had the hit version in this country, but again I think the original is better:-

Frankie Valli - Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You (1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g-2JqVCubM

I may now find it more convenient to decide my top songs from the 60s on Jubilee Tuesday rather than Monday. I shall still let you know them on the day I decide them. While I like the ring of "top 60 songs from the 60s for the Queen's 60th Jubilee", I may find I like so many songs that I feel I need to do a top 100. Watch this space!

Just spent a great couple of hours looking through this thread, here are a few that I don't think have been mentioned :-

Peace loving man - Blossom Toes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRt5eulbTzY


From the great Pete Dello (Honeybus)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgZAyWz_abw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdDxR-o6xXk


From a great folk/rock band - Trees
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI8Xg5mqQNw

Good stuff!

As you have submitted some fairly obscure tracks to this thread you are probably unaware that there are two sixties threads. This one for anything from the sixties (but primarily well known tracks and big hits) and The Rare 60's Classics Thread, which is specifically for more obscure sixties tracks. The latter thread is definitely worth your while checking out too, although as it's been going strong for two years it's likely to take you somewhat longer than a couple of hours to look through!

Thanks I will seek out that thread, sounds like my sort of thing

Diana Luke's 60s show last Saturday may well have been one of her best. She played 5 songs that I have pictured being in my top 10 and should all be in my top 20. One of these, the Small Faces' Lazy Sunday, was of course played on Pick of the Pops earlier in the day.

So, today (well I mean Tuesday) I finally decided my favourite songs of the 60s. I had around 180 ideas!! From these I decided a top 100, from which I deduced my top 10. I shall list them as an A-Z of artists to make it easy to spot the multi-song acts, then rank my top 10 seperately at the end. I shall spread these over a few posts for ease of reading. Here goes, brace yourselves!


Herb Albert:- Mexican Shuffle (64)
Herb Alpert:- Spanish Flea (65)

Animals:- House of the Rising Sun (64)
Animals:- I’m Crying (64)
Animals:- Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (65)
Animals:- It’s My Life (65)

Beach Boys:- California Girls (65)
Beach Boys:- Good Vibrations (66)
Beach Boys:- Heroes & Villains (67)
Beach Boys:- Do It Again (68)

Beatles:- She Loves You (63)
Beatles:- Can’t Buy Me Love (64)
Beatles:- I Feel Fine (64)
Beatles:- We Can Work It Out (65)
Beatles:- Strawberry Fields Forever (67)
Beatles:- Magical Mystery Tour (67)
Beatles:- Lady Madonna (68)
Beatles:- Hey Jude (68)

Chuck Berry:- Memphis Tennessee (63)
Chuck Berry:- No Particular Place to Go (64)

Dave Berry:- The Crying Game (64)
Dave Berry:- Little Things (65)

Bonzo Dog Doodah Band:- I’m the Urban Spaceman (68)
Boxtops:- The Letter (67)
Joe Brown & the Bruvvers:- Picture of You (62)
Floyd Cramer:- On the Rebound (61)

Cream:- Strange Brew (67)
Cream:- The White Room (69)
Cream:- Badge (69)

Crosby Stills Nash & Young:- Marrakesh Express (69)
Dakotas:- The Cruel Sea (63)
Dave Davies:- Death of a Clown (67)
Billie Davis:- Tell Him (63)
Spencer Davis Group:- Gimme Some Loving (66)
Donovan:- Mellow Yellow (67)
Julie Driscoll, Brian Augar & the Trinity:- This Wheel’s on Fire (68)
Easybeats:- Friday on My Mind (66)

Part 2:

Georgie Fame:- Get Away (66)
Georgie Fame:- The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde (67)

5th Dimension:- Aquarius (69)
Fleetwood Mac:- Man of the World (69)
Four Tops:- Reach Out I’ll Be There (66)
Jet Harris/ Tony Meehan:- Diamonds (63)

Hollies:- We’re Through (64)
Hollies:- Stop Stop Stop (66)

Mary Hopkin:- Those Were the Days (68)
Humble Pie:- Natural Born Boogie (69)
Ivy League:- Funny How Love Can Be (65)
Jethro Tull:- Living in the Past (69)

Kinks:- Set Me Free (65)
Kinks:- Sunny Afternoon (66)
Kinks:- Dead-End Street (66)

John Leyton:- Johnny Remember Me (61)
Love:- Alone Again Or (67)

Loving Spoonful:- Daydream (66)
Loving Spoonful:- Summer in the City (66)

Manfred Mann:- 5-4-3-2-1 (64)
Manfred Mann:- Fox on the Run (68)

Monkees:- Alternate Title (67)
Chris Montez:- Let’s Dance (62)
The Move:- Blackberry Way (69)
Sandy Nelson:- Let There Be Drums (61)
Esther & Abi Ofarim:- Cinderella Rockafella (68)
Robert Parker:- Barefooting (66)
Don Partridge:- Rosie (68)
Pink Floyd:- See Emily Play (67)
Reparata & the Delrons:- Captain of Your Ship (68)

Rolling Stones:- Little Red Rooster (64)
Rolling Stones:- The Last Time (65)
Rolling Stones:- Let’s Spend the Night Together (67)

Jimmy Ruffin:- What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted? (66)
Searchers:- Love Potion no 9 (64)
Del Shannon:- Keep Searching (65)

Nancy Sinatra:- These Boots Are Made for Walking (66)
Nancy Sinatra:- Sugartown (67)

Sir Douglas Quintet:- She’s About a Mover (65)
Small Faces:- Lazy Sunday (68)
Sonny & Cher:- The Beat Goes On (67)
Status Quo:- Pictures of Matchstick Men (68)
Steppenwolf:- Born to Be Wild (69)

Supremes:- The Happening (67)
Diana Ross & the Supremes:- Reflections (67)

R Dean Taylor:- Gotta See Jane (68)
Them:- Baby Please Don’t Go (65)
Thunderclap Newman:- Something in the Air (69)

Traffic:- Paper Sun (67)
Traffic:- Hole in My Shoe (67)

Tremeloes:- Here Comes My Baby (67)
Tremeloes:- Suddenly You Love Me (68)

Troggs:- Wild Thing (66)
Troggs:- I Can’t Control Myself (66)

Turtles:- Happy Together (67)
Turtles:- She’d Rather Be With Me (67)

Velvelettes:- Needle in a Haystack (64)

The Who:- I Can’t Explain (65)

Stevie Wonder:- I Was Made to Love Her (67)

Yardbirds:- For Your Love (65)
Yardbirds:- Heart Full of Soul (65)
Yardbirds:- Over Under Sideways Down (66)

Zager & Evans:- In the Year 2525 (69)


Of which, these are my Top 10 songs from the 60s:-

10 The Move:- Blackberry Way
9 5th Dimension:- Aquarius
8 Beatles:- We Can Work It Out
7 Small Faces:- Lazy Sunday
6 Turtles:- Happy Together
5 Velvelettes:- Needle in a Haystack
4 Ivy League:- Funny How Love Can Be
3 Mary Hopkin:- Those Were the Days
2 Beatles:- I Feel Fine
1 Beach Boys:- Do It Again

Great list there mm...

Really? Otherwise nice list.

Some mega 60's hits I love I've noticed still aren't up

I alluded earlier to the great Pomus/Shuman song-writing duo and this is one of their best. A song as fast rolling as the city it celebrates.

Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas

My fav from The Small Faces, a classic song of rebellion

Small Faces - Lazy Sunday Afternoon

I don't mind how many times Gold play this. It always brings a smile.

The Hollies - Bus Stop