PITCHFORK'S TOP 200 SONGS OF THE SIXTIES

First of all, sorry for the long delay since the last post. Vacation. But I'm back and I'm ready to break down some biscuits, baby!

So, let's get into it! Pitchfork Media has been featuring their Top 200 songs of the 1960's. Now, I usually hate these lists, but this one is way more insightful than the standard Rolling Stone, classic-rock establishment bullshit. I mean, they don't ignore the ol' chestnuts -- Beatles, Stones, Dylan, et al -- but there are also plenty of surprises.

Most of all, I have to give it up to the folks at Pitchfork for including a decent amount of black music. Usually, these lists equate the Sixties with rock and the white counterculture. But to this website's credit, they paint a broader picture here by folding in jazz, reggae, and most of all, soul music. (A good deal of country, too, and garage/proto-punk -- even some Brazilian, French, and African selections.)

Any list of the best songs of the Sixties that neglects such essential, almost sacred musical moments as "(Sitting on) The Dock of the Bay" and "A Change Is Gonna Come" isn't worth a dime. Pitchfork ranked Otis's minimalist masterpiece at #28 and Sam Cooke's civil-rights anthem at #3!

James Brown gets four spots: "Night Train (Live at the Apollo)" (#195), "Mother Popcorn (You Got to Have a Mother for Me)" (#184), "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (#74), and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (#33). Sly gets three: "Everyday People" (#128), "I Want to Take You Higher" (#78), and "Hot Fun in the Summertime" (#60). Aretha gets two: "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (#157) and "Think" (#15). Same with Stevie: "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (#169) and "I Was Made to Love Her" (#111).

But what really impressed me was the inclusion of some lesser-known soul gems like Irma Thomas's "Time Is On My Side," The Flirtations' "Nothing But a Heartache," and Lorraine Ellison's "Stay With Me."

I was also impressed by the Jamaican music presence on the list: early reggae classics by Alton Ellis, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, The Maytals, and The Paragons. Jazz is represented by: Charles Mingus's "Solo Dancer," The Cannonball Adderley Quintet's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," Albert Ayler's "Ghosts," Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things," Miles Davis's "Shh/Peaceful," Stan Getz's "The Girl From Ipanema," and Vince Guaraldi Trio's "Linus & Lucy."

I was surprised by a few choices. "Sympathy for the Devil" is only #39? Velvet Underground's "Sunday Morning" is higher than "Heroin" or "Venus in Furs"? "Manic Depression" is higher than Jimi's "All Along the Watchtower"? "Hot Fun in the Summertime" is higher than "Everyday People" or "I Wanna Take You Higher"? "It's a Man's World" is higher than "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" or "Mother Popcorn"?

Here are the top 10, for those who don't want to scroll through all 200...

10. Desmond Dekker & The Aces -- Israelites

9. The Who -- I Can't Explain

8. Johnny Cash -- Folsom Prison Blues (Live at Folsom Prison)

7. The Beach Boys -- Wouldn't It Be Nice

6. The Ronettes -- Be My Baby

5. The Beatles -- A Day in the Life

4. Bob Dylan -- Like a Rolling Stone

3. Sam Cooke -- A Change Is Gonna Come

2. The Jackson 5 -- I Want You Back

1. The Beach Boys -- God Only Knows

I'm not so sure about two Pet Sounds tracks in the top 10, but they are great songs. Props to Pitchfork for making an unusually interesting list.