We got word that the 2025 calendar is the exact same at 1969. So what do we do? We create an entire series surrounding 1969 - the year of Woodstock, Vietnam, Nixon, the Moon Landing, and Sesame Street's debut.
In classic Song & Fury style, we curated a playlist titled 1969, featuring music that defined a historic year with handpicked tracks that still resonate today. We'll share picks on artists such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Who, Joni Mitchell and more.
Although most celebrated tracks dance around the year 1969, we found twenty timeless gems sure to make you groove. Check out our playlist below!
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles: What better way to start off any playlist than with this song? Known as one of the most recognizable Beatles songs, "Here Comes The Sun" features soft acoustics and alluring vocals, perfectly matching sweet lyrics such as "Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces/Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here." The track hails from the band's second to last album Abbey Road and was written and sung by the "quiet Beatle" George Harrison. Harrison confirmed he wrote this song at the country house of his friend Eric Clapton and portrayed the song as a positive escape from the dark and gloomy mood surrounding The Beatles at the time.
Bring It On Home - Led Zeppelin: Fresh off the band's sophomore album Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin's track "Bring It On Home" that features roaring guitars, thundering drum beats and soaring vocals. The track was originally written by Sonny Boy Williamson II and Willie Dixon, that Led Zeppelin created their own rock n roll version of.
Pinball Wizard - The Who: Arguably one of The Who's greatest hits, "Pinball Wizard" was written guitarist and primary songwriter by Pete Townshend, that presents powerful guitar strums and vivacious vocals from Roger Daltery. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Townshend once called it "the most clumsy piece of writing [he'd] ever done." Nevertheless, the song was a commercial success and remains one of the most recognized tunes from the band's 1969 rock opera, Tommy. It was a perpetual concert favorite for fans of The Who due to its pop sound and familiarity.
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR): "Fortunate Son" was written by John Fogerty and listed on CCR's fourth studio album, Willy and The Poor Boys. The track was originally released as a single, together with "Down On The Corner," in September 1969. It became the anthem of the Anti-Vietnam War Movement fixed on such lyrics - "It ain't me, it ain't me/I ain't no millionaire's son/It ain't me, it ain't me/I ain't no fortunate one." The song reached number 14 on the US Billboard Charts on November 14, 1969 and remains one of the most historical songs in pop culture history.
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond: The most recognizable song from singer-songwriter Neil Diamond "Sweet Caroline" was originally released with the title "Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)" in May 1969. The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week ending August 16, 1969. The song has become extremely popular amongst professional sporting events not only in America, but also in Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico.
Piece Of My Heart (Live At Woodstock) - Janis Joplin: Although Joplin's original version of this track was released one year earlier in 1968, "Piece Of My Heart (Live At Woodstock)" serves its purpose and exclaims the true hippie vibe of its owner, Janis Joplin. Originally written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, the track is most identifiable with Janis Joplin due to her encore performance of the song at the Woodstock Music & Arts Festival on August 27, 1969 in Bethel, New York. With Joplin's dominating vocals and bluesy dynamic, the song remains timeless and a fan-favorite from Woodstock.
The Weight - Live At Woodstock - The Band: The Band's Woodstock version of the track "The Weight" is featured on the deluxe edition of the 1969 self-titled album. When they performed the track live at Woodstock as their final number of their main set, the crowd was so pleased and earned The Band an encore. "The Weight" is the band's most well-known song and gained considerable album-oriented rock airplay even though it was not a significant hit single for the group in the US, only peaking at number 63. The track's most memorable chorus lyrics - "Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free, Take a load off Fanny, and you put the load right on me" - have been sang by many fans over the last 56 years.
Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell: "Both Sides Now" was written by Canadian Folk singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell and is featured on the 1969 album, Clouds and is one of her best-known songs. The earliest recording of the song was recorded by Judy Collins, whose version appeared on the US Singles Chart in Fall of 1968. The track is written in F-sharp major. Mitchell used a guitar tuning of D-A-D-F#-A-D with a capo at the fourth fret. The song uses a modified I–IV–V chord progression.
Throughout this year, we'll be posting individual articles surrounding our hand-selected songs from 1969 and why the songs are so relevant to our lives nowadays. Stay tuned for more from our 1969 series!
SONG & FURY
cant wait to follow the releases as they come up throughout the calendar year