1964: The Year In Music

1964 – The Beatles appear on the Ed Sullivan Show, drawing in 73.7 million viewers. Cassius Clay changes his name to Muhammad Ali. Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act into law. And, crucially for this post today, some cracking tunes were released.

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums from 1964, judging them on their quality and longevity before giving my overall opinion on the year in music itself.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Where Did Our Love Go (The Supremes)

The Supremes are probably THE girl group of the 60’s, and “Where Did Our Love Go” is one of their classics.

The clapping and piano chords are a lot of fun, and the chorus / background vocals / saxophone solo are incredibly catchy.

9 – Last Kiss (J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers)

I like the focus on the bass, but the rest of “Last Kiss” is a little boring.

8 – We’ll Sing in the Sunshine (Gale Garnett)

The guitar and vocal harmonies are lovely, but “We’ll Sing in the Sunshine” hasn’t stood the test of time for good reason.

7 – My Guy (Mary Wells)

Another classic song with female vocals – the girls are carrying this top ten so far!

The lyrics and vocals are obviously great, but I want to give a shout-out to the drumming in particular – the fills are a big part of the song’s charm!

6 – Everybody Loves Somebody (Dean Martin)

Dean Martin was one of the great entertainers of the 60’s, and his voice suits “Everybody Loves Somebody” very well.

It sounds a lot like a classic Hollywood ballad, which is to say it’s sweet and heart-warming.

5 – I Get Around (The Beach Boys)

We’re still in the early stages of Beach Boys hits where they aren’t necessarily pushing themselves to their creative limits, but “I Get Around” has an intense energy throughout that I love.

4 – Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)

Roy Orbison has been consistently fantastic throughout these musical retrospectives, and “Oh, Pretty Woman” is the cream of the crop.

It has an iconic guitar riff, a vocal hook that burrows into your brain, and a really great bridge that ties the whole thing together.

3 – Hello, Dolly! (Louis Armstrong)

Louis Armstrong has one of the most unique voices in music history, and I love it.

I really like the vibrant trumpet and guitar, and Armstrong’s vocals always put a smile on my face.

2 – She Loves You (The Beatles)

And so begins the Beatles’ dominance on the Billboard charts.

“She Loves You” hooks you immediately with a chorus, and McCartney and Lennon’s overlapping vocals became a staple of the 60’s sound.

1 – I Want to Hold Your Hand (The Beatles)

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” wastes no time at all getting to the guitar riff and hand claps, and the harmonised vocals are stellar yet again.

What sets this song apart from other Beatles hits from the early years, I think, is the really clever bridge that effectively uses exciting chords.

FAVOURITE – “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Roy Orbison)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “Last Kiss” (J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers)

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – I Get Around (The Beach Boys)

“I Get Around” is the song of 1964 to make the Billboard hits as well as the highest-rated songs, and I think that’s thoroughly deserved.

The Beach Boys took a huge leap from commercial pop to more artistic and thought-out experimentation, with this song’s rising choruses and slower verses making it one of the most unique tracks of the year.

9 – You Never Can Tell (Chuck Berry)

I’ll always remember “You Never Can Tell” as the song that plays during Pulp Fiction’s dancing scene.

It’s classic Rock & Roll, with excellent woodwind and a catchy chorus.

8 – The Sound Of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)

We’ve had some classics on this music retrospective so far, but “The Sound Of Silence” must be the first all-timer!

Simon & Garfunkel’s lyrics and vocals are haunting, and I really love the frantic crescendos contrasting with the quieter sections.

7 – A Hard Day’s Night (The Beatles)

The Beatles were still finding their creative footing in the early 60’s, but once “A Hard Day’s Night” came out you knew it wouldn’t be long before the golden age.

The title track from one of their most successful albums has both a catchy chorus and a powerful verse, sung by Lennon and McCartney respectively.

6 – You Really Got Me (The Kinks)

The Kinks are one of the unsung heroes of the 60’s, and “You Really Got Me” is their biggest hit.

That guitar riff is era-defining, and the rising chord changes add an intensity to the whole thing.

5 – The Girl From Ipanema (Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto)

The smooth Brazilian Bossa Nova is heavenly, and the vocals on “The Girl From Ipanema” are divine.

4 – Be My Baby (The Ronettes)

1964 has had some great girl-group songs, but “Be My Baby” is definitely the best of the bunch.

The percussion is fantastic throughout, and the melody / backing vocals both add great depth to the track.

3 – A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke)

The musical scene was changing considerably in 1964, but political and civil unrest were starting to come to the forefront too.

The best protest song of the era has to be “A Change Is Gonna Come” – Cooke gives an all-time great vocal performance, and the tender instrumentation is so heartfelt and passionate.

2 – The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Bob Dylan)

Bob Dylan was the MVP of 1963, claiming half of the ten highest-rated songs of the year, but that doesn’t mean his work was done.

“The Times They Are A-Changin'” is a definitive anthem to shepherd in a new youth with invigorated ideologies, and the harmonica is a great touch.

1 – The House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals)

“The House Of The Rising Sun” is arguably the track with the greatest longevity on this list – it has almost a billion plays on Spotify, which is more than some modern hit songs!

It’s a cool take on a classic folk song, with some production that still hooks your interest almost sixty years later.

BEST SONG OF 1964 – “A Change Is Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Charles Mingus)

I can’t remember the guy’s last name, but I know he made a really great album. God, if only I could recall what his surname was …

“Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus” by Charles something-or-other is a continuation of the great man’s mastery of Jazz, with eight mostly excellent tracks.

4 – The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Bob Dylan)

“The Times They Are A-Changin'” is very much an extension of “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” from 1963, with engaging guitar and thought-provoking lyrics.

3 – The Sidewinder (Lee Morgan)

A different kind of Jazz this time – Lee Morgan brings the trumpet to the forefront in “The Sidewinder”, and it works really well.

Shout-out to the drummer, pianist and double bass player – they all do a great job of keeping up with the frantic trumpet playing.

2 – A Hard Day’s Night (The Beatles)

The Beatles are getting better and better each year, and “A Hard Day’s Night” is their best work yet.

It has all the energy and fun songwriting of their debut record, but with a newfound maturity in the composition. The title track, “And I Love Her” and “Can’t Buy Me Love” were all instant classics.

1 – Getz / Gilberto (Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto)

“Getz / Gilberto” is unlike any other album of 1964, and it might just be my favourite album on this retrospective so far.

It brought Brazilian Bossa Nova to the mainstream in a really intelligent way, and won a ton of deserved Grammys in the process.

BEST ALBUM OF 1964 – “Getz / Gilberto” (Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto)

Final Thoughts

This year was waaay better than the previous few years. The hits were good, the highest-rated songs were fantastic, so if the albums had been a little stronger across the board we would’ve had our first slam-dunk of a year in music.

Overall Grade: B-

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: