I read a magazine article awhile back on the career of The Rolling Stones. The writer of the piece stated that if you were to burn a cd of ominous songs that best defined the turmoil of the late '60s, that 3 of the songs that belong on the disk should be the following tracks:

'Gimme Shelter', The Rolling Stones

'All Along The Watchtower', Jimi Hendrix

'Riders On The Storm', The Doors


Anyone else agree with this list? What other songs would you add on as well, to describe the entire vibe of the late '60s and early '70s?

Any list that doesn't contain "What's Goin' On" under this standard is fraudulent.

I'd also put in for all 3 parts of A Love Supreme.

namepeace said:

I dont know if 'What's Goin' On' would or should be included on that kind of list. The song contains some hope within the lyrics, in the midst of all the chaos and turmoil of society.

I think that the writer was referring to songs that encapsulated the utter lack of hope during the era, the way that these 3 songs did.

[Edited 8/18/08 16:01pm]
[Edited 8/18/08 16:03pm]

PurpleJam said:

But your explanation of "What's Goin' On" proves there wasn't an "utter lack of hope." There's always hope. Hell, the #1 song of 1969 was "Sugar, Sugar."

PurpleJam said:

I hear as much desperation as hope in the song. "Mother, mother, everybody thinks we're wrong/oh, but who are they to judge us/simply 'cause our hair is long . . ."

It's emblematic of the era: the ideals of the 60's generation crashing against the realities of the 60's and early 70's.

namepeace said:

Yes I know. The song is clearly a desperate plea for hope and peace among all of the chaos. Its tragic AND hopeful at the same time. But you would be a bit hard pressed to find such messages of hope in those other 3 songs. I belive it was that type of vibe the writer was talking about.

AlexdeParis said:

Of course there was and is always hope expressed in many songs throughout any era. The writer though, was talking about burning tracks onto a cd that represented the dark underbelly of those times, without having any of the optimism of the other songs from that time period. 'What's Goin' On' was one of those important songs that expressed and dealt with many of the real issues of its day, including despair and hope. The 3 listed songs above, however, really only dealt with the theme of hopelessness.