1967 seems to have stolen all of the thunder regarding hippie culture in the ‘60s, earning the moniker ‘Summer of Love’, but I would argue that 1969 bettered 1967 for cultural and musical impact.

As the decade ended, youth culture had earned their fully formed identity and virtually everything relevant in contemporary music had to pass a ‘credibility test’ for it to be taken seriously. In essence, the hippies had invoked a form of quality control over the artists who represented them, and it worked incredibly well. Of course, FM radio had started to gain in popularity around this time, and its laid back, less commercial format would be better suited for the long form music that was starting to become popular. It is that change that signals the approaching end of this series.

Featured tracks include:

Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James and the Shondells

My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder

What Does It Take? – Jr. Walker & the All Stars

The Ballad of John and Yoko – The Beatles

Israelites – Desmond Dekker

Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones

Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers & the First Edition

Reconsider Me – Johnny Adams 

I Can’t Get Next to You – The Temptations

Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sly & the Family Stone

Get Together – The Youngbloods