6 of the 60s: 7/2/14 (1969)

It's humpday 60s time, and this week I've got another half-dozen nuggets from 1969, the year Queen Elizabeth II's son Charles was proclaimed Prince of Wales...

Sly & The Family Stone - "Hot Fun In The Summertime"
from the album Greatest Hits (1970)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
Songwriter: Sly Stone

This theme for the summer of 1969 was not just a great pop record, but the pinnacle of Stone's work, comparable to the best of the Beach Boys (who covered it later) and the Beatles...

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


The Ventures - "Hawaii Five-O"
from the album Hawaii Five-O (1969)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriter: Mort Stevens

One of the best TV theme songs of all times, and by far the coolest, from the biggest instrumental rock band in America.

Donovan - "Atlantis"
from the album Barabajagal (1969)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7
Songwriter: Donovan Leitch

The Scottish singer at his trippiest, this half-spoken tale of the lost civilization of legend was rumored to have Paul McCartney singing back-up, though he denies it.

The Bubble Puppy - "Hot Smoke & Sassafras"
from the album Bubble Puppy - A Gathering Of Promises (1969)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14
Songwriters: Roy Cox, Rod Prince

This Texan psychedelic band didn't last long, but they had one killer hit with this jam that's a riff off a Beverly Hillbillies line used by Grandma to deride poor Jethro...

The 5th Dimension - "California Soul"
from the album Stoned Soul Picnic (1968)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #25
Songwriters: Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson

The best vocal group of the early 70s (if not the rock era) took this classic from the Motown writing team and got down with it.

James Brown - "World"
from the album It's A New Day So Let A Man Come In (1970)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #37
Songwriter: James Brown

My favorite single from the Godfather Of Soul, this pleading for peace is so appropriate in this unsure time right now.

That's it for today's trip...I'll be back tomorrow with 7 more from 1979 and 8 from 1989...