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The Swinging Sixties

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The Swinging Sixties Saw Musical and Cultural Upheaval

1969, the year in which I was born and the last year of what surely yet remains the most pivotal decade in the entire lengthy history of music. The Swinging Sixties began with the clean-cut crooning (by later comparison) of the likes of Bobby Vee, Roy Orbison and Billy Fury and ended with the earliest Heavy Metal sounds of - among many others - Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Steppenwolf. What happened during those ten years to so drastically alter not only musical tastes but entire aspects of society as a whole? Although I will almost exclusively be concerning myself with the music on this page - some of my own personal favourites only, given the obvious space and time restrictions - let us venture together on a journey through some of the magic, the wonders and the controversies of "The Swinging Sixties."

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Click on any of the links immediately below to visit the relevant section, or better still, browse - and listen to - the site in full!
  1. Elvis Presley
  3. Want to know more about Elvis Presley?
  4. More About The Swinging Sixties
  5. Roy Orbison
  8. Classic Hits of the Early Sixties (Various Artists)
  9. Swinging Sixties Blog Posts from Google
  10. The Supremes
  11. Sixties Classics on e-Bay
  12. The Rolling Stones
  14. Classic Hits of the Mid Sixties (Various Artists)
  16. Classic Hits of the Late Sixties (Various Artists)
  17. Who was your favourite band or artist from the 1960's?
  18. Flower Power on flickr.com
  19. What do you remember of The Swinging Sixties?
  20. A Bit about the Author

Elvis Presley

The King of Rock'n'Roll

Although I will progress - generally speaking - through this eventful decade in approximate chronological order, there can be no doubt that any wide ranging musical tribute work from this period has to begin with mention of Elvis Presley, the man who was often known simply as, "The King." It is unlikely that many would consider this the best of the three decades over which Elvis' career spanned, especially in the middle years of the period. A plethora of low budget movies, turned out almost on a supply line level, took him largely out of the music public's eye for a time but his return in the latter part of the decade to his very best cannot be disputed.

Here are a few samples of Elvis' best offerings from the 1960's. Simply click on the small screen to open the video in a new browser window.
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Elvis on Amazon - Great music at great prices

Look at some of the fantastic deals currently available on Elvis items! Click on the relevant image for more details...

(Not in the USA? Don't worry! As soon as the Amazon window opens, you will see an opportunity to transfer to your own country's page.)
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Want to know more about Elvis Presley?

Check this site out

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More About The Swinging Sixties

A hand-picked collection of mini-sites

A Guide to Living through the Swinging Sixties
The music, the hairstyle, the culture...
The Swinging Sixties
This surely was the pivotal decade for music evolving in to what it has become today. The Supergroups and Superstars who first appeared on the scene during these years are too numerous to mention but this page...
The music of the sixties
It was the sixties and the early seventies that produced some really fascinating music, some of which I am fortunate enough to have in my collection right now. Listening to these tracks even today brings back...

Roy Orbison

The "Big O"

I have always thought that there was a haunting element to the wonderful voice of Roy Orbison but certainly not in a derogatory fashion. I believe it actually leant an authenticity to the performance of many of his greatest tracks and the raw emotion came surging through. Although he of course first came to the fore in the early Sixties, his career spanned a great many years, culminating in his performances in the group, "The Travelling Willburys."
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Roy Orbison on Amazon

More great deals from one of the biggest retailers on the Interent. Remember that if you are not in the USA to switch to your country's site.
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Classic Hits of the Early Sixties (Various Artists)

Many of the biggest hits of the decade were of course from artists who perhaps had only one or two successes in all. Here are a selection of some of the top recordings falling loosely in to this category.
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Swinging Sixties Blog Posts from Google

More fantastic memories from around the Web

Swinging Sixties Celebration
The Swinging Sixties Celebration, 8 ? 10 June, is a decadent weekend of music, dancing and dining at luxury Marlborough Sounds resort Bay of Many Coves. Renowned Wellington Region musicians Nick Tansley and Andrew London will once again rock the ...
Hajdu: In Remembrance of a Master of Appalachian Swing Music
He was a master of American vernacular music, a virtuoso interpreter of traditional songs (and other music), and a major influence on folk and bluegrass musicians since he first found a national audience at the Newport Folk Festival in the Sixties.
Rat Pack Live show at York Barbican
York Barbican will be reliving the Swinging Sixties next spring with the debut appearance of The Rat Pack Live. Tickets have gone on sale for the nostalgic show on Saturday, April 27 2013 on 0844 854 2757 or online at yorkbarbican.co.uk or you can buy ...
The Diamond Decades: The 1960s
By 1966, the ripples of Swinging London were already a flood, sweeping through music, fashion and film, from Antonioni's Blow Up ? a painfully self-conscious study of Sixties hipness ? to Clive Donner's Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.
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The Supremes

One of the all-time most successful female bands

The Supremes (later to be known as, "Diana Ross and The Supremes") began life as, "The Primettes," in 1959 but their name was changed to its much more recognisable version in 1961. They had a string of Top 10 hits during the Sixties, many of which are still widely recognised and performed through to the present day.
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Sixties Classics on e-Bay

Click on any item for more information or to place your bid!
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The Rolling Stones

My all time favourite band

It is now more than forty years since The Rolling Stones appeared on the scene, yet still they continue to endure. The raw energy of tracks such as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Get Off Of My Cloud," has been countered with the mellower, "Lady Jane" and "Out of Time," among a great many more. Even during the Sixties themselves, the variety of material recorded by this mega-band was incredible...
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The Rolling Stones on Amazon

When looking to buy a Rolling Stones CD, we are more than spoiled for choice. Here are some of the great ones currently available. Click on any image for more details (and if appropriate, to view your country's site.)
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Classic Hits of the Mid Sixties (Various Artists)

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Hits of the Sixties on Amazon

There are of course a great many compilations of hits of the sixties available, featuring many of the top hits from various artists. Amazon offer a great many such items at fantastic, discounted prices. Click on the image of your choice to go to the Amazon site now (and, if appropriate, switch to your own country's home page.)
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Classic Hits of the Late Sixties (Various Artists)

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Who was your favourite band or artist from the 1960's?

Vote for one of the options below by clicking the small, upward pointing arrow to the left of your relevant choice - or better still, add a selection of your own!

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Elvis Presley

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The Supremes

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The Rolling Stones

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The Beatles

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Jimi Hendrix

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Flower Power on flickr.com

The latter part part of the Sixties was very much characterised by the hippy movement and the concept of "flower power."

Click on any photo to see it as a full size image.
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What do you remember of The Swinging Sixties?

Were you even born?

Stumble It!

Thank you for your visit and the time you have spent reading through this page and hopefully listening to some of the fantastic music. I very much hope you will spare just another extra moment or two to let me know what you thought...

  • OhMe May 8, 2009 @ 8:01 am | delete
    I sure have lots of memories from the 60's. Great lens. Lensrolling to Growing Up In Pendleton SC and Little Anthony And The Imperials.
  • SherryHolderHunt Jun 9, 2008 @ 9:35 am | delete
    Great lens! 5*'s, favorited
  • UMT Mar 19, 2008 @ 2:48 pm | delete
    Swinging sixties, oh no, that's so long ago. But Jimmy was great.
  • Retro_Loco Jan 26, 2008 @ 12:12 pm | delete
    I remember my bottle. My baby bottle, that is! I remember the nasty green shag carpet left over from the 60's in the house my family moved into in '72. I love 60's and 70's music. Fun lens! Just rolled it to Retro Loco.
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Gordon Hamilton on Lijit

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Gordon_Hamilton

Gordon Hamilton has lived in various parts of the UK, from the West of Scotland, to the East of Scotland, to West London. He is presently back living... more »

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