Category 1960s

“The Sh-Down Down Song (You Better Leave Him Alone)” (The Ginger-Snaps featuring Dandee Dawson)

The Sh-Down Down Song

Your totally forgotten Girl Group song of the day is “The Sh-Down Down Song (You Better Leave Him Alone),” credited to “The Ginger-Snaps featuring Dandee Dawson.” The song was written and produced by the very prolific songwriting team of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri for Dunhill Records. It was released in 1965 and went absolutely nowhere, which is a shame…

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“Let’s Live for Today” (The Grass Roots)/”I Count the Tears” (The Drifters)

Let's Live for Today, the Grass Roots

Your classic song that sounds an awful lot like another classic song of the day is “Let’s Live for Today” by the Grass Roots. It was released in May of 1967 and hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100—and it bears a striking resemblance to the Drifters’ 1961 hit, “I Count the Tears.” The music for “Let’s Live for Today”…

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“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” (Nina Simone/The Animals/Santa Esmeralda)

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, The Animals

Today’s classic song of the day had popular recordings by three very different artists in three very different styles. We’re talking about “Don’t Be Misunderstood,” first recorded by Nina Simone in a simmering soul version, then by the Animals in a bluesy rock version, then by Santa Esmeralda in a fiery Latin disco version. It says something that the song…

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“Alone Again Or” (Love)

Alone Again Or

Your influential but overlooked song from an influential but overlooked album of the day is “Alone Again Or” by the band Love, from their album Forever Changes. It’s one of those songs you know when you hear it, but probably wouldn’t think of otherwise. It was released as a single in January of 1968 but only bubbled under the Billboard…

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“Morning Girl” (The Neon Philharmonic)

Morning Girl, The Neon Philharmonic

Your Baroquely eccentric classic song of the day is “Morning Girl” by the Neon Philharmonic. The group Neon Philharmonic was really a guy named Tupper Saussey, who did the composing and arranging, and vocalist Don Gant. Despite Gant’s vocals, this is most definitely a Tupper Saussey production, and it’s every bit as eccentric as he was. “Morning Girl” was released…

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