Oldies: Pass the Fritos III – Part 3

What makes certain oldies stand the test of time? Is it just nostalgia that keeps listeners coming back for more? Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s radio stations played songs people wanted to hear- and discarded the songs they didn’t- and what people wanted to hear were catchy songs that made them feel something- good or bad, happy or sad- love stories from the universal human experience- and oh how there was money to be made off human emotion (and too often the artists saw very little of it).

The Box Tops

It was the popular songs- the cream of the crop- that were admitted to the oldies canon but thankfully one can still find forgotten gems. For me there is innocence and simplicity in oldies music and the best oldies songs are like magical spells that go straight to my soul and make me feel young and free and it’s summer again. These days people will do almost anything to feel something and with oldies music there is little danger of getting arrested, injured, or divorced. Here are some more of my favorites. Enjoy!

Paul Revere & the Raiders

01. The Box Tops – “The Letter” (1967)

02. Buddy Holly – “Rave On” (1958)

03. The Animals – “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” (1965)

04. The Beach Boys – “Do You Wanna Dance?” (1965)

05. The Grass Roots – “Let’s Live for Today” (1967)

06. The Box Tops – “Cry Like a Baby” (1968)

07. The Partridge Family – “I Think I Love You” (1970)

08. Nancy Sinatra – “So Long, Babe” (1965)

09. The Box Tops – “Neon Rainbow” (1967)

10. The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations” (1966)

11. The Partridge Family – “Somebody Wants to Love You” (1970)

12. Manfred Mann – “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” (1964)

13. Johnny Rivers – “Secret Agent Man (Live)” (1966)

14. Paul Revere & the Raiders – “Hungry” (1966)

15. The Animals – “House of the Rising Sun” (1964)

16. Tommy James and the Shondells – “Mirage” (1967)

17. Lulu – “To Sir with Love” (1967)

18. The Beach Boys – “I’m Waiting for the Day” (1966)

19. Manfred Mann – “Just Like a Woman” (1966)

20. Tommy James and the Shondells – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (1967)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...