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The 100 Greatest Songs of 1969 #1 Something (1 Viewer)

timschochet said:
31. Rod Stewart “Handbags and Gladrags” (from An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down) 

https://youtu.be/iqgAZhXpHV0

Written by Mike D’Abo of Manfred Mann (and the original King Herod). D’Abo plays piano on this version. A great anthem and Stewart has rarely sung better. 
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I wasn't familiar with this song until it was used as the theme for "The Office" (UK). 

ETA - They don't use the Rod Stewart version though.

 
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22. The Temptations “I Can’t Get Next to You” (from Puzzle People) 

https://youtu.be/7RfGe6MvY84

More of the best of Motown and we’re not quite done yet. But you could choose just about any year from the 1960s and, if you’re choosing greatest songs, something from the Temptations will be there, and pretty damn high. 

 
timschochet said:
23. The Rolling Stones “Honky Tonk Women” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/61jfm219ArA

Love this; but then who doesn’t? There are times when I love the country version even more (“Country Honk” from Let It Bleed) but I couldn’t find room for that on this list. Maybe @Bracie Smathers or @Pip's Invitation will do so; it’s quite deserving. As are so, so many others...
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John Lennon was in a mood during an interview after the breakup and was asked about the Rolling Stones.  About the only 'nice' thing he had to say about the Stones was a backhanded compliment to 'Honky Tonk Woman'.

Remembering John Lennon’s savage attack on Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones

...  When asked what he thought of The Rolling Stones, Lennon replied: “I think its a lot of hype. I like ‘Honky Tonk Woman’ but I think Mick’s a joke...
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I'm with Pip, the only version is the standard electric IMHO.

Would have made it to my top-ten.

 
21. The Isley Brothers “It’s Your Thing” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/Tqc_EhmL8-E

The Isley Brothers had scored earlier in the decade with “Shout!” and “Twist and Shout” and later with “This Old Heart of Mine”. But “It’s Your Thing”, written in defiance of their old record label after they switched over, was their greatest recording. 
The show Laugh In had made the phrase “sock it to me!” very popular in 1969 and this tune reflects that. 

 
timschochet said:
21. The Isley Brothers “It’s Your Thing” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/Tqc_EhmL8-E

The Isley Brothers had scored earlier in the decade with “Shout!” and “Twist and Shout” and later with “This Old Heart of Mine”. But “It’s Your Thing”, written in defiance of their old record label after they switched over, was their greatest recording. 
The show Laugh In had made the phrase “sock it to me!” very popular in 1969 and this tune reflects that. 
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Their greatest recording? Work to Do or That Lady. But this is pretty damn good.

 
timschochet said:
20. Sly & the Family Stone “I Want to Take You Higher” (from Stand!)

https://youtu.be/6fjZaSRoWG0

My top 20 begins with this magnificent classic from Sylvester and company. It’s extraordinary how this band could combine rock, soul and funk into pop years, even decades before artists like Prince or anyone else. A true visionary. 
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I used to have the 45. The b side "Stand" is also pretty good.

 
19. The Who “Pinball Wizard” (from Tommy) 

https://youtu.be/4AKbUm8GrbM

One of the greatest opening guitars in all of rock music history. I also really prefer this, the original version, to the Elton John version which came out a few years later; I found that too polished. 
The lyrics are really goofy- “plays by sense of smell”, etc. But who really cares? Greatness. 

 
18. Creedence Clearwater Revival “Proud Mary” (from Bayou Country) 

https://youtu.be/5hid10EgMXE

I think this is CCR’s greatest song. And while the Ike and Tina cover is terrific in its own right, and very different from the original, the Fogerty version is preferable for my money, and is simply an incredible rock and roll classic. Rolling’ on the river. 

 
timschochet said:
19. The Who “Pinball Wizard” (from Tommy) 

https://youtu.be/4AKbUm8GrbM

One of the greatest opening guitars in all of rock music history. I also really prefer this, the original version, to the Elton John version which came out a few years later; I found that too polished. 
The lyrics are really goofy- “plays by sense of smell”, etc. But who really cares? Greatness. 
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If you can buy into the whole concept of Tommy, then you can buy into the “plays by sense of smell” lyric. The whole thing requires suspension of disbelief.

 
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Pip's Invitation said:
If you can buy into the whole concept of Tommy, then you can buy into the “plays by sense of smell” lyric. The whole thing requires suspension of disbelief.
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That’s a good point. However within that silliness there are some really great lyrics, concepts, and serious statements about the human condition, especially to be found on the greatest song on that album coming up a little later. 

 
timschochet said:
That’s a good point. However within that silliness there are some really great lyrics, concepts, and serious statements about the human condition, especially to be found on the greatest song on that album coming up a little later. 
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This, and the suspension of disbelief angle, make sense when you remember that while he was writing this, Townshend was in the process of becoming a disciple of Meher Baba. 

 
17. The Beatles “Here Comes the Sun” (from Abbey Road) 

https://youtu.be/KQetemT1sWc

Answers the question: what is the most popular Beatles tune on Spotify? I would have guessed “Hey Jude” or “Yesterday” or one of the early classics; I would not have selected anything by George. 
In any case there is little not to love about this song. I also very much love the Richie Havens cover, though not as much as the original. 

 
16. Led Zeppelin “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” (from Led Zeppelin) 

https://youtu.be/UyOg0mt2R2k

Greatest band ever at merging an acoustic ballad and hard rock all in the same song. This is a great example and furthermore it might include the best singing of Robert Plant’s long career. 

 
timschochet said:
20. Sly & the Family Stone “I Want to Take You Higher” (from Stand!)

https://youtu.be/6fjZaSRoWG0

My top 20 begins with this magnificent classic from Sylvester and company. It’s extraordinary how this band could combine rock, soul and funk into pop years, even decades before artists like Prince or anyone else. A true visionary. 
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The version at Woodstock is widely viewed as one of the highlights of the festival:

https://youtu.be/3fZBaPS_XvQ

 
15. The Rolling Stones “Midnight Rambler” (from Let It Bleed) 

https://youtu.be/4V1SvYwkVtk

At the same time as the Beatles were singing about the sun coming up, the Stones were singing about a serial killer. This is one of their greatest songs ever IMO, my personal favorite off the album (and top 3 for me), and one of its highlights is Mick’s stellar work on the harmonica. So good. 

 
timschochet said:
15. The Rolling Stones “Midnight Rambler” (from Let It Bleed) 

https://youtu.be/4V1SvYwkVtk

At the same time as the Beatles were singing about the sun coming up, the Stones were singing about a serial killer. This is one of their greatest songs ever IMO, my personal favorite off the album (and top 3 for me), and one of its highlights is Mick’s stellar work on the harmonica. So good. 
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so much a "long night of the soul" song. memories of cruising chicks in my older chum's fairlane station wagon w orange sunshine & stolen parental whiskey and ending up on a railroad bridge with one chick going way farther than you thought and the other having a nervous breakdown.

 
14. The Who “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (from Tommy)

https://youtu.be/ZqmC1T9rukk

Actually three songs in one: “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, “See Me, Feel Me”, “Listening to You” and all great, as befits the finale to one of the best albums of the year. Of particular note is Keith Moon’s drumming; it’s spectacular throughout. 

 
timschochet said:
14. The Who “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (from Tommy)

https://youtu.be/ZqmC1T9rukk

Actually three songs in one: “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, “See Me, Feel Me”, “Listening to You” and all great, as befits the finale to one of the best albums of the year. Of particular note is Keith Moon’s drumming; it’s spectacular throughout. 
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In a twisted way, I'd be interested to see how the "other" We're Not Gonna Take It would fare in a 1984 countdown. At least the video would be way up there in a video countdown (which I've brought up as a potential draft idea in the past).

 
timschochet said:
14. The Who “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (from Tommy)

https://youtu.be/ZqmC1T9rukk

Actually three songs in one: “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, “See Me, Feel Me”, “Listening to You” and all great, as befits the finale to one of the best albums of the year. Of particular note is Keith Moon’s drumming; it’s spectacular throughout. 
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Yeah, that is how I had them, as one conglomerated song and it was on my next-100 list.

I felt that the producer missed an opportunity on Tommy where a few songs 'could' have been combined into one shorter/tighter song.  I remember mentioning this to someone back in the 80s and they looked at me like I had beat a baby duck but I remember how clearly I had much better version of a 'shorter/tigher' song and still feel the same way.  

 
13. Crosby, Stills & Nash “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (from Crosby, Stills & Nash)

https://youtu.be/OvGfQCsfzUo

A love song for Judy Collins written in 4 parts. Stephen Stills’ magnum opus and probably his best ever achievement. 
Nothing but classics left on this list now (not that it hasn’t been that way for a while.) Nothing that you haven’t heard a million times. The only question left is the order. 

 
12. The Beatles with Billy Preston “Get Back” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/YEESfv-11ng

There were two versions of this song: the single linked here released in 1969, and a different version that appeared on the Let It Be album the following year. According to Wikipedia George Harrison plays rhythm guitar on this tune and John Lennon plays the lead, including the solo that occurs after the first chorus. That seems very unusual and I wonder if it’s actually correct. Calling our Beatles expert: @krista4? Can this be true? That solo sounds so much like George...

 
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timschochet said:
12. The Beatles with Billy Preston “Get Back” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/YEESfv-11ng

There were two versions of this song: the single linked here released in 1969, and a different version that appeared on the Let It Be album the following year. According to Wikipedia George Harrison plays rhythm guitar on this tune and John Lennon plays the lead, including the solo that occurs after the first chorus. That seems very unusual and I wonder if it’s actually correct. Calling our Beatles expert: @krista4? Can this be true? That solo sounds so much like George...
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Yes, this is correct.  John even said something about how when Paul was feeling nice toward him or feeling guilty about something he'd done, he gave John a solo, which happened here.

The song is also notable for being the only song where a non-Beatle was given a credit, as the single read:  "The Beatles with Billy Preston."

 
krista4 said:
Yes, this is correct.  John even said something about how when Paul was feeling nice toward him or feeling guilty about something he'd done, he gave John a solo, which happened here.

The song is also notable for being the only song where a non-Beatle was given a credit, as the single read:  "The Beatles with Billy Preston."
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Thanks! “Don’t Let Me Down” on the other side of the single is also credited to “The Beatles with Billy Preston”

 
timschochet said:
12. The Beatles with Billy Preston “Get Back” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/YEESfv-11ng

There were two versions of this song: the single linked here released in 1969, and a different version that appeared on the Let It Be album the following year. According to Wikipedia George Harrison plays rhythm guitar on this tune and John Lennon plays the lead, including the solo that occurs after the first chorus. That seems very unusual and I wonder if it’s actually correct. Calling our Beatles expert: @krista4? Can this be true? That solo sounds so much like George...
Click to expand...
see?! i knew you'd eventually try to sneak some no-account rancid fluff past me high in the countdown....

btw, Rancid Fluff was the name of my Oasis breakup tribute band. we'd show up, tune up & leave the stage before the lights came up, whereupon the audience would usually complain until the house lights were turned on, which highlighted 4 triggered bottles of Raid bugspray de-pesting a wooden stool with a pair of reflecto granny glasses on it.

 
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wikkidpissah said:
see?! i knew you'd eventually try to sneak some no-account rancid fluff past me high in the countdown....

btw, Rancid Fluff was the name of my Oasis breakup tribute band. we'd show up, tune up & leave the stage before the lights came up, whereupon the audience would usually complain until the house lights were turned on, which highlighted 4 triggered bottles of Raid bugspray de-pesting a wooden stool with a pair of reflecto glasses on it.
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I want to be your wonderwall. 

 
timschochet said:
16. Led Zeppelin “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” (from Led Zeppelin) 

https://youtu.be/UyOg0mt2R2k

Greatest band ever at merging an acoustic ballad and hard rock all in the same song. This is a great example and furthermore it might include the best singing of Robert Plant’s long career. 
Click to expand...
My favorite Led Zeppelin songs fluctuate, but this one is at the top of the list most of the time. ❤️

 
Ghost Rider said:
I love the Beatles, but they have two hits that I actively dislike, and Get Back is one of them.  Taxman is the other. 
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I'm not as big a fan of "Get Back" as many are, or clearly tim is, but Taxman?  I don't even know how you call that a "hit"?

ETA:  To be clear, I love Taxman more than Get Back.

 
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krista4 said:
I'm not as big a fan of "Get Back" as many are, or clearly Tim is, but Taxman?  I don't even know how you call that a "hit"?
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Actually it’s not my favorite. I really like it but I like “Don’t Let Me Down” about 10 x more. 
But this is a list of the top songs of 1969. Of course “Get Back” is going to be top 15. 

 
11. David Bowie “Space Oddity” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/iYYRH4apXDo

The song that introduced us to David Bowie. However, not a ton of people were actually aware of it in 1969; it only began to get radio play a few years later. Bowie actually re-released “Space Oddity” on 3 occasions in the 70s, each time following one of his other hits. Eventually it found its way into the charts and our collective consciousness. 

 
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