The Greatest Year In Rock/Pop Music!

[cyberdad]

Definitely 1965, as that was when I got a transistor radio for my 10th birthday (I still have it!).

Well sure! And also because I was living in Honolulu at the time as a high school kid, and leading up to New Year's Eve, KORL kept promoting "ring in 1965 on channel 65". So I did....and there was never a doubt that it would be a great year! (And KORL's heavy rotation of PAMS series 18 jingles was just so much frosting on the cake).

 

[BobSmolarek]

I love this subject. For me it would be 1964, followed by 1966, then 65. That period from 1964 to 1975 was phenomenal. All my favorite years for music were in that period. Also loved 1971, something about being 13 years old makes you really love music, I've noticed that time after time. What I'd like to know, if you were born in 1980 are your favorite years say 1992 to 1994?

 

[oldies76]

It is interesting, and telling, that no one has picked anything later than 1980 as the "best" year.

1983 gets a great honor! New wave, mixed with contemporaries, dance hits.

Songs like:

Jeopardy
Billie Jean
Let's Dance
Major Tom
Union of the Snake
Promises Promises
Mad World
Overkill
Mr. Roboto
You Are
Islands in the Stream
Freak a Zoid

And many, many more!! This music went well in the arcades, playing those "nostalgic" video games!

 

[willdav713]

It is interesting, and telling, that no one has picked anything later than 1980 as the "best" year.

1983 gets a great honor! New wave, mixed with contemporaries, dance hits.

Songs like:

Jeopardy
Billie Jean
Let's Dance
Major Tom
Union of the Snake
Promises Promises
Mad World
Overkill
Mr. Roboto
You Are
Islands in the Stream
Freak a Zoid

And many, many more!! This music went well in the arcades, playing those "nostalgic" video games!

Add Flashdance
Dancing on the Ceiling
Let's Hear it for the Boy
Holding out for a Hero from 1985 and most of the stuff from the Footloose soundtrack.

Do wa ditty
Dance Floor and the many hits from Zapp.
Hill Street Blues theme from Mike Post

 

[Corky Marlowe]

I have to go with 1968. What a wild year that was!

And very much "all over the place", too. While you had stuff like "Hush" by Deep Purple, "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones in the top 5, and "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" by the Amboy Dukes in the top 20, not to mention Steppenwolf hitting their stride, the number 1 spot was often occupied by middle of the road-ers like Bobby Goldsboro, Herb Alpert, and Paul Mauriat. (Yes, "Hey Jude" was number 1 for almost 2 months, but 1968 was also the first year since '64 that the Stones didn't have a number 1 single in the US.) Likewise, in 1974, a year that a lot of hard rocking stuff was on the charts (BTO's hits "Let It Ride", "Takin' Care Of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", Golden Earring's "Radar Love", "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo" by Rick Derringer, "Jet" by Paul McCartney), the number one song of the year was Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were".

 

[oldies76]

I have to go with 1968. What a wild year that was!

And very much "all over the place", too. While you had stuff like "Hush" by Deep Purple, "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones in the top 5, and "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" by the Amboy Dukes in the top 20, not to mention Steppenwolf hitting their stride, the number 1 spot was often occupied by middle of the road-ers like Bobby Goldsboro, Herb Alpert, and Paul Mauriat. (Yes, "Hey Jude" was number 1 for almost 2 months, but 1968 was also the first year since '64 that the Stones didn't have a number 1 single in the US.) Likewise, in 1974, a year that a lot of hard rocking stuff was on the charts (BTO's hits "Let It Ride", "Takin' Care Of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", Golden Earring's "Radar Love", "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo" by Rick Derringer, "Jet" by Paul McCartney), the number one song of the year was Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were".

1968 also had Dionne Warwick's "Valley of the Dolls" alongside, Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man", Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash" and Jimi Hendrix "Gloria". Huge differences in music genre, but all accepted then and aired. "Harper Valley PTA" #1 before "Hey Jude" is another story too.

 

[CTListener]

I have to go with 1968. What a wild year that was!

And very much "all over the place", too. While you had stuff like "Hush" by Deep Purple, "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones in the top 5, and "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" by the Amboy Dukes in the top 20, not to mention Steppenwolf hitting their stride, the number 1 spot was often occupied by middle of the road-ers like Bobby Goldsboro, Herb Alpert, and Paul Mauriat. (Yes, "Hey Jude" was number 1 for almost 2 months, but 1968 was also the first year since '64 that the Stones didn't have a number 1 single in the US.) Likewise, in 1974, a year that a lot of hard rocking stuff was on the charts (BTO's hits "Let It Ride", "Takin' Care Of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", Golden Earring's "Radar Love", "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo" by Rick Derringer, "Jet" by Paul McCartney), the number one song of the year was Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were".

1968 also had Dionne Warwick's "Valley of the Dolls" alongside, Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man", Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash" and Jimi Hendrix "Gloria". Huge differences in music genre, but all accepted then and aired. "Harper Valley PTA" #1 before "Hey Jude" is another story too.

Hendrix had a hit with "Gloria"? The Them/Shadows of Knight song?

 

[deltas69]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdC-rKHc47w I don't recall it being a hit...in fact I had never heard it..but here ya go...

 

[oldies76]

Hendrix had a hit with "Gloria"? The Them/Shadows of Knight song?

Not a hit, released on a Vinyl 7" EP, I believe from 1968 or so.

Check this out also, the full 8 1/2 minute version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBRt6va-ZqI&feature=related

 

[deltas69]

I kinda groove on this version....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAeu7-N5oR4

 

[cyberdad]

I have to go with 1968. What a wild year that was!

And very much "all over the place", too. While you had stuff like "Hush" by Deep Purple, "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones in the top 5, and "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" by the Amboy Dukes in the top 20, not to mention Steppenwolf hitting their stride, the number 1 spot was often occupied by middle of the road-ers like Bobby Goldsboro, Herb Alpert, and Paul Mauriat. (Yes, "Hey Jude" was number 1 for almost 2 months, but 1968 was also the first year since '64 that the Stones didn't have a number 1 single in the US.) Likewise, in 1974, a year that a lot of hard rocking stuff was on the charts (BTO's hits "Let It Ride", "Takin' Care Of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", Golden Earring's "Radar Love", "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo" by Rick Derringer, "Jet" by Paul McCartney), the number one song of the year was Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were".

1968 also had Dionne Warwick's "Valley of the Dolls" alongside, Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man", Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash" and Jimi Hendrix "Gloria". Huge differences in music genre, but all accepted then and aired. "Harper Valley PTA" #1 before "Hey Jude" is another story too.

Then there was the surprise hit of the year...."Baby Come Back" by the Equals. A band fronted by Eddy Grant. "Heavy Rotation" to this day on my iPod!

 

[radioman148]

I have to go with 1968. What a wild year that was!

And very much "all over the place", too. While you had stuff like "Hush" by Deep Purple, "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones in the top 5, and "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" by the Amboy Dukes in the top 20, not to mention Steppenwolf hitting their stride, the number 1 spot was often occupied by middle of the road-ers like Bobby Goldsboro, Herb Alpert, and Paul Mauriat. (Yes, "Hey Jude" was number 1 for almost 2 months, but 1968 was also the first year since '64 that the Stones didn't have a number 1 single in the US.) Likewise, in 1974, a year that a lot of hard rocking stuff was on the charts (BTO's hits "Let It Ride", "Takin' Care Of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", Golden Earring's "Radar Love", "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo" by Rick Derringer, "Jet" by Paul McCartney), the number one song of the year was Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were".

1968 also had Dionne Warwick's "Valley of the Dolls" alongside, Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man", Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash" and Jimi Hendrix "Gloria". Huge differences in music genre, but all accepted then and aired. "Harper Valley PTA" #1 before "Hey Jude" is another story too.

Then there was the surprise hit of the year...."Baby Come Back" by the Equals. A band fronted by Eddy Grant. "Heavy Rotation" to this day on my iPod!

Great record, and what a fabulous opening lead guitar. I also still listen to it often.

 

[CTListener]

I have to go with 1968. What a wild year that was!

And very much "all over the place", too. While you had stuff like "Hush" by Deep Purple, "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones in the top 5, and "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" by the Amboy Dukes in the top 20, not to mention Steppenwolf hitting their stride, the number 1 spot was often occupied by middle of the road-ers like Bobby Goldsboro, Herb Alpert, and Paul Mauriat. (Yes, "Hey Jude" was number 1 for almost 2 months, but 1968 was also the first year since '64 that the Stones didn't have a number 1 single in the US.) Likewise, in 1974, a year that a lot of hard rocking stuff was on the charts (BTO's hits "Let It Ride", "Takin' Care Of Business", and "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", Golden Earring's "Radar Love", "Rock & Roll Hootchie Koo" by Rick Derringer, "Jet" by Paul McCartney), the number one song of the year was Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were".

1968 also had Dionne Warwick's "Valley of the Dolls" alongside, Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man", Rolling Stones "Jumping Jack Flash" and Jimi Hendrix "Gloria". Huge differences in music genre, but all accepted then and aired. "Harper Valley PTA" #1 before "Hey Jude" is another story too.

Then there was the surprise hit of the year...."Baby Come Back" by the Equals. A band fronted by Eddy Grant. "Heavy Rotation" to this day on my iPod!

Great record, and what a fabulous opening lead guitar. I also still listen to it often.

Much bigger hit in the UK than here, but I do remember it getting a few spins on WRKO back when. It's a staple of British oldies radio to this day. Believe it or not, I heard it just a week ago as part of the canned music mix at one of the local supermarkets, a Big Y store.

 

[unitron]

It had to be 1977!! Right in the middle of the "Classic Hits" era (1964-1989). It was a great year for "feel-good" songs like "Undercover Angel," "Heaven on the 7th Floor," "Right Back Where We Started From," "That's Rock 'n' Roll," "Ariel," "Hot Line" and "You Made Me Believe In Magic." 1977 also had timeless love songs like "We're All Alone," "Nobody Does It Better," "How Deep Is Your Love," and "She Did It" by Eric Carmen. Other cool songs were "Blinded by the Light," and "Isn't It Time" by the Babys.

"Angel in Your Arms," "Heard It in a Love Song," "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude," "When I Need You" ... quality stuff. Mellow isn't necessarily a bad thing! On the other hand, the top song that year was a little something by Debby Boone you might just remember...

LeAnn Rimes' rendition of that song was FAR worse, and it was said that her version was recorded for audiences about her age, you know, NOT old enough to remember Debby Boone's version. :

Unfortunately the Boone version cheated Kasey Cisyk out of much deserved recognition.

Not to mention the parts where Debbie was flat and screechy.

 

[firepoint525]

It had to be 1977!! Right in the middle of the "Classic Hits" era (1964-1989). It was a great year for "feel-good" songs like "Undercover Angel," "Heaven on the 7th Floor," "Right Back Where We Started From," "That's Rock 'n' Roll," "Ariel," "Hot Line" and "You Made Me Believe In Magic." 1977 also had timeless love songs like "We're All Alone," "Nobody Does It Better," "How Deep Is Your Love," and "She Did It" by Eric Carmen. Other cool songs were "Blinded by the Light," and "Isn't It Time" by the Babys.

"Angel in Your Arms," "Heard It in a Love Song," "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude," "When I Need You" ... quality stuff. Mellow isn't necessarily a bad thing! On the other hand, the top song that year was a little something by Debby Boone you might just remember...

LeAnn Rimes' rendition of that song was FAR worse, and it was said that her version was recorded for audiences about her age, you know, NOT old enough to remember Debby Boone's version. :

Unfortunately the Boone version cheated Kasey Cisyk out of much deserved recognition.
Not to mention the parts where Debbie was flat and screechy.

You want screechy? Listen to Whitney Houston scream "I Will Always Love You." When she died, most media outlets played the shrillest notes of that song! :

Debby Boone parlayed nepotism into a hit, but was never able to do anything with the Boone name after that. She never had another hit.

The Cisyk version was credited to "original cast" or something like that, so even if her version had been the one to become the hit, she still would have remained relatively anonymous.

 

[CTListener]

Debby Boone parlayed nepotism into a hit, but was never able to do anything with the Boone name after that. She never had another hit.

She had a No. 1 country hit in 1980, "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again," and three others that topped out between No. 14 and No. 30.

 

[firepoint525]

Debby Boone parlayed nepotism into a hit, but was never able to do anything with the Boone name after that. She never had another hit.

She had a No. 1 country hit in 1980, "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again," and three others that topped out between No. 14 and No. 30.

Well, the subject line said "rock/pop music." Didn't know that we could borrow from other genres. Didn't she also have a Christian music career (however briefly) as well?

 

[CTListener]

Debby Boone parlayed nepotism into a hit, but was never able to do anything with the Boone name after that. She never had another hit.

She had a No. 1 country hit in 1980, "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again," and three others that topped out between No. 14 and No. 30.

Well, the subject line said "rock/pop music." Didn't know that we could borrow from other genres. Didn't she also have a Christian music career (however briefly) as well?

Yes she did, won a couple of Dove Awards as well. Sorry about veering off topic. I just figured that perhaps the Boone name helped her up the country charts just as it did the pop charts, seeing as how country music appealed to an older demographic back then, people who might have enjoyed her dad's music 15-20 years before.

 

[unitron]

It had to be 1977!! Right in the middle of the "Classic Hits" era (1964-1989). It was a great year for "feel-good" songs like "Undercover Angel," "Heaven on the 7th Floor," "Right Back Where We Started From," "That's Rock 'n' Roll," "Ariel," "Hot Line" and "You Made Me Believe In Magic." 1977 also had timeless love songs like "We're All Alone," "Nobody Does It Better," "How Deep Is Your Love," and "She Did It" by Eric Carmen. Other cool songs were "Blinded by the Light," and "Isn't It Time" by the Babys.

"Angel in Your Arms," "Heard It in a Love Song," "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude," "When I Need You" ... quality stuff. Mellow isn't necessarily a bad thing! On the other hand, the top song that year was a little something by Debby Boone you might just remember...

LeAnn Rimes' rendition of that song was FAR worse, and it was said that her version was recorded for audiences about her age, you know, NOT old enough to remember Debby Boone's version. :

Unfortunately the Boone version cheated Kasey Cisyk out of much deserved recognition.
Not to mention the parts where Debbie was flat and screechy.

You want screechy? Listen to Whitney Houston scream "I Will Always Love You." When she died, most media outlets played the shrillest notes of that song! :

Debby Boone parlayed nepotism into a hit, but was never able to do anything with the Boone name after that. She never had another hit.

The Cisyk version was credited to "original cast" or something like that, so even if her version had been the one to become the hit, she still would have remained relatively anonymous.

Yeah, I'm afraid that particular Houston song is one where loud is confused with good.

Boone's follow-up single, "California", was actually good.

Not to be confused with the Georgia Prophets song.

 

[SolidGold16]

Yeah, I'm afraid that particular Houston song is one where loud is confused with good.

Boone's follow-up single, "California", was actually good.

Not to be confused with the Georgia Prophets song.

I was just going to mention this song until I saw you got to it first. I remember hearing on the radio here in CA back then, although it got scant airplay even in the state it's named after.

IMHO, it's a much better sounding song than "light" and her voice is more mellow. She's really not too bad of a singer.

Debby Boone - California http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0e1cnuJeHI