Category 1960s

“Color Him Father” (The Winstons)

Color Him Father, the Winstons

Today is Father’s Day, so it’s only fitting that today’s classic Father’s Day song of the day is “Color Him Father” by the Winstons. This song is about the singer’s appreciation of his stepfather, who stepped in when his real father was “killed in the war.” (The Vietnam War, presumably.) The lyrics say it best: I love this man I…

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“Heroes and Villains” (The Beach Boys)

Heroes and Villains, Beach Boys

Still honoring the late Brian Wilson, today’s classic song of the day is the Beach Boys’ “Heroes and Villains,” which may be Brian’s most complex and sophisticated tune—even more so than the group’s previous release, “Good Vibrations.” Brian Wilson wrote “Heroes and Villains” in collaboration with lyricist Van Dyke Parks, who wrote the words for most of the songs intended…

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“I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” (Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys)

Brian Wilson

This one truly saddens me. Brian Wilson has passed away. He was 82 years old. He’d been suffering for some months from dementia, although no cause of death was immediately given. Brian Wilson was a true musical genius. He was the driving force behind the Beach Boys, yes, but that often lightweight group was the vehicle for his sophisticated musical…

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“How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (Marvin Gaye/Junior Walker & the All Stars/James Taylor)

How Sweet It Is, Marvin Gaye

This week we’ve been featuring tunes that were hits multiple times for multiple artists. This brings us to our final classic multiple-artist hit of the day, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” This one was a hit for both Marvin Gaye and Junior Walker in the ’60s and for James Taylor in the ’70s. “How Sweet It…

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“Ooo Baby Baby” (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles/Linda Ronstadt)

Ooo Baby Baby, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

Today’s classic song that was a hit for multiple artists of the day is that smooth soul classic, “Ooo Baby Baby.” It was first a hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles then, about a dozen years later, for singer Linda Ronstadt. Smokey Robinson and fellow Miracle Pete Moore wrote “Ooo Baby Baby” back in 1965. The Miracles recorded it…

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