Best Songs of 1969
For these year-end lists, I like to undertake the seemingly impossibly task of creating an hours-long mix. The order you see below represents that effort, which you can listen to via Spotify or Apple Music. Sadly all 100 tracks aren’t available, but you get the general idea. Track notes to come eventually or maybe never.
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Make Your Own Kind of Music
Mama Cass Elliott
Make Your Own Kind of Music
Dunhill
Via LOST
-
Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In
The 5th Dimension
The Age of Aquarius
Soul City
Notes
-
In the Hole
The Bar-Kays
Gotta Groove
Volt
via Stax/Volt box set
-
Harlem Shuffle
Bob & Earl
Bob & Earl
Crestview
via The Rolling Stones cover
-
Can I Change My Mind
Tyrone Davis
Can I Change My Mind
Dakar
via eMusic
-
It’s Your Thing
The Isley Brothers
It’s Our Thing
T-Neck
Notes
-
Cissy Strut
The Meters
The Meters
Sundazed
via Pitchfork’s Top 200 of the ’60s
-
Compared to What
Les McCann & Eddie Harris
Swiss Movement
Atlantic
via my dad
-
Spinning Wheel
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Columbia
via my dad
-
Time Is Tight
Booker T. & The MGs
Time Is Tight 7"
Stax
Notes
-
Israelites
Desmond Dekker & The Aces
The Israelites
UNI
via Pitchfork’s Top 200 of the ’60s
-
Brighter Tomorrow
Soul Swingers
Brighter Tomorrow 7"
Topaz
via the Wheedle’s Groove compilation
-
I Can’t Get Next to You
The Temptations
Puzzle People
Gordy
Notes
-
Get Ready
Rare Earth
Get Ready 7"
Rare Earth
via my dad
-
Feeling Alright
Joe Cocker
With a Little Help From My Friends
A&M
Notes
-
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
The Rolling Stones
Let It Bleed
Atco
Notes
-
Walk on By
Isaac Hayes
Walk on By 7"
Stax
Notes
-
The Ghetto
Donny Hathaway
Everything Is Everything
Atco
Notes
-
Light My Fire
Erma Franklin
Soul Sister
Brunswick
Notes
-
Touch Me
The Doors
The Soft Parade
Elektra
Notes
-
My Dark Hour
Steve Miller Band
Brave New World
Capitol
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Children of the Sun
The Misunderstood
Children of the Sun 7"
Fontana
via Nuggets II box set
-
Love Buzz
Shocking Blue
At Home
Penny Farthing
via the Nirvana cover
-
Kick Out the Jams
MC5
Kick Out the Jams
Elektra
via the Presidents of the United States of America cover
-
I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Stooges
The Stooges
Elektra
Notes
-
Superman
The Clique
Sugar on Sunday
White Whale
via the R.E.M. cover
-
Sugar Sugar
The Archies
Everything’s Archie
Calendar
Notes
-
Break Away
The Beach Boys
Break Away
Capitol
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Dance Around the Maypole
The Acid Gallery
Dance Around the Maypole 7"
CBS
via Nuggets II box set
-
Leave Me Be
The Zombies
Early Days
London
via past experience
-
Victoria
The Kinks
Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
Reprise
via past experience
-
Rainmaker
Harry Nilsson
Harry
RCA
via past experience
-
Pickin’ Up the Pieces
Poco
Pickin’ Up the Pieces
Epic
via 2024 research
-
Wheels
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Gilded Palace of Sin
A&M
via 2024 research
-
Don’t Let Me Down
Dillard & Clark
Through the Morning Through the Night
A&M
via the Light in the Attic Country Funk II compilation
-
Get Back
The Beatles & Billy Preston
Get Back 7"
Apple
Notes
-
Polk Salad Annie
Tony Joe White
Black and White
Monument
via the Foo Fighters’ Sonic Highways
-
Me and Mr. Hohner
Bob Darin
Commitment
Direction
via the Country Funk II compilation
-
I’m Gonna Make Her Love Me
Jim Ford
Harlan County
Sundown
via the Country Funk compilation
-
Proud Mary
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Bayou Country
Fantasy
Notes
-
Galveston
Glen Campbell
Galveston
Capitol
Notes
-
Leaving on a Jet Plane
John Denver
Rhymes & Reasons
RCA
Notes
-
Seven Bridges Road
Steve Young
Rock Salt & Nails
A&M
Notes
-
Lungs
Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
Poppy
Notes
-
Hungry Eyes
Merle Haggard & The Strangers
A Portrait of Merle Haggard
Capitol
via past experience / 2023 research
-
I Just Don’t Understand
Willie Nelson
My Own Peculiar Way
RCA
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)
Peter Sarstedt
Peter Sarstedt
World Pacific
via The Darjeeling Limited
-
Je T’aime Moi Non Plus
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin / Serge Gainsbourg
Fontana
via past experience / 2024 research
-
My Cherie Amour
Stevie Wonder
My Cherie Amour
Motown
via past experience
-
The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
Roberta Flack
First Take
Atlantic
Notes
-
A House Is Not a Home
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Volt
Notes
-
Choice of Colors
The Impressions
The Young Mods&rsqou; Forgotten Story
Curtom
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Everyday People
Sly and the Family Stone
Stand!
Epic
via my dad
-
Give Peace a Chance
Plastic Ono Band
Give Peace a Chance 7"
Apple
Notes
-
30 Century Man
Scott Walker
Scott 3
Phillips
via The Life Aquatic
-
Little Hands
Alexander “Skip” Spence
Oar
Columbia
via the Beck cover
-
A Woman Like You
Bert Jansch
Birthday Blues
Transatlantic
via general knowlege / 2024 research
-
Atlantis
Donovan
Barabajagal
Epic
Notes
-
Come All Ye
Fairport Convention
Liege and Lief
Island
via general knowledge / 2024 research
-
Cello Song
Nick Drake
Five Leaves Left
Hannibal
via that Volkswagon commercial and (probably?) Napster
-
Buzzin’ Fly
Tim Buckley
Happy Sad
Elektra
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell
Clouds
Reprise
Notes
-
Helplessly Hoping
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Atlantic
via my dad
-
Down by the River
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Reprise
Notes
-
All I See Is You
Icewater
unreleased until Keep an Eye on the Sky
No Label
via the Big Star Keep an Eye on the Sky box set
-
I Started a Joke
Bee Gees
Idea
Atco
Notes
-
Girl From the North Country
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash
Nashville Skyline
Columbia
Notes
-
A Boy Named Sue
Johnny Cash
At San Quentin
Columbia
Notes
-
Me and Bobby McGee
Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Smash
Notes
-
Suspicious Minds
Elvis Presley
Suspicious Minds 7"
RCA
Notes
-
The Weight
Jackie DeShannon
Laurel Canyon
Imperial
via the Country Funk II compilation
-
Up on Cripple Creek
The Band
The Band
Capitol
via The Mountain
-
These Eyes
The Guess Who
Wheatfield Soul
RCA Victor
Notes
-
Can’t Find My Way Home
Blind Faith
Blind Faith
Atco
Notes
-
Crystal Blue Persuasion
Tommy James & The Shondells
Crystal Blue Persuasion 7"
Roulette
via Breaking Bad
-
Evil Ways
Santana
Santana
Columbia
Notes
-
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Columbia
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye
Steam
Steam
Mercury
via Sonics games as a kid (single released in 1969; album in 70)
-
Shadow of a Memory
The 21st Century
Shadow of a Memory
Dot
via eMusic
-
Twenty-Five Miles
Edwin Starr
25 Miles
Gordy
via eMusic
-
I Want You Back
The Jackson 5
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5
Motown
Notes
-
Someday We’ll Be Together
Diana Ross & The Supremes
Cream of the Crop
Motown
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
Marvin Gaye
M.P.G.
Tamla
Notes
-
Son of a Preacher Man
Dusty Springfield
Dusty in Memphis
Atlantic
Notes
-
Take a Letter, Maria
R.B. Greaves
R.B. Greaves
Atlantic
via the Atlantic soul box set (?)
-
Licking Stick
James Brown & The Flames
Say It Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud
King
via past experience / 2024 research
-
I Let a Good Man Go
Patrinell Staten
Little Love Affair / I Let a Good Man Go 7"
Sepia
via the Wheedle’s Groove compilation
-
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Bobby Womack
My Prescription
Capitol
Notes
-
Rainy Night in Georgia
Brook Benton
Rainy Night in Georgia 7"
Cotillion
via eMusic
-
The Thrill Is Gone
B.B. King
Completely Well
ABC
Notes
-
Lookin’ for a Home
Al Kooper & Shuggie Otis
Kooper Session
Columbia
via past experience (Shuggie Otis)
-
Star Spangled Banner
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Jimi Hendrix: Woodstock
MCA
Notes
-
Ramble On
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin II
Atlantic
via my dad
-
Nothing Is Easy
Jethro Tull
Stand Up
Reprise
via past experience / 2024 research
-
Pinball Wizard
The Who
Tommy
Polydor
via past experience
-
Space Oddity
David Bowie
Space Oddity
Philips
via past experience
-
Bird on the Wire
Leonard Cohen
Songs from a Room
Columbia
via past experience
-
Pale Blue Eyes
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
MGM
via the R.E.M. cover / past experience
-
My Way
Frank Sinatra
My Way
Reprise
Notes
-
Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond
Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show
UNI
via past experience