Although there are many millennials who may feel they are the first generation to conceive the idea of protesting social injustice, I have news for them.
They Aren’t. Civil unrest (and war) isn’t something new to America. It’s been around a long, long time.
Since the focus this week is the music of 1969, here are six songs from that year that put a spotlight on the racial divide in America and were a desperate plea for peace around the planet … and there were plenty more.
Once again, I have placed in parentheses the highest Billboard chart position for each song.
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
1969 Vintage Medley / Part 3
Sly & The Family Stone (#1) – Elvis Presley (#3)
Original Caste (#34) – Tim Hardin (#50)
Rascals (#1) – Youngbloods (#5)
How Sly of you Ray!! We are everyday people and we do need to love one and another right now!! And yes we do have different strokes!! Think of that poor child laying on the ground with a gun in his hand who will have to face the judgement day!! I for one Ray am going to sing from the mountain tops a song of freedom and a song of love for one and all!! Rock on my ole pal!!
Thanks, Fred.
You, my dear friend, said it all … perfectly!
Rock On!
Song’s with such a powerful message Ray …. in 1969 … and here we are today …. what is there about us that causes such unrest generation after generation …. every one of these was perfect. Only wish you were still on the air and could broadcast these messages much much further. Rock the Day my friend … you continue to teach and we are so fortunate!
Thanks, Barbara.
No one wishes they could be on the air more than I do but it is what it is so I do my best to get the “word” out there any way I can.
Remember … Love Is The Answer.
Rock The Day!
Ditto, what Fred said!! Sad that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Everyday people can not be heard above the noise & violence happening today.
Thanks, Pat.
We can make a difference by setting an example. You do that every single day and you have no idea how much I respect you for it.
You are the perfect example of quiet dignity!
Thanks, Ray, I try. Sometimes it seems it doesn’t matter much.
It always matters, Pat. If you can manage to make one person feel a little better about their life today, it matters. 🙂
GREAT SONGS!! Am on my 3rd time listening 🙂
So fitting for everything going on today: We all gotta live together! In the Ghetto – one of my favorite Elvis songs!! One Tin Soldier – seems the protests today are reflective of what this song is saying …. will we ever learn? 🙁
People everywhere just want to be free!!!
Come on people smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now …….. definitely need this in our world right now!!
Thank you, Penny.
I appreciate the positive feedback, and just like Wendy and Fred, you’ve managed to “connect” them all together very nicely. 🙂
The times keep changing with the common end goal seemingly out of reach: Sometimes I’m right and I can be wrong but I’d love to tell the world, “Do we simply turn our heads, and look the other way? You hold the key to love and fear all in your trembling hand, as do I. And I will bet my life you want the same. Go ahead and LOVE your neighbor.” I can’t understand it, so simple to me. XOXOXOXO
Thanks, Wendyl. 🙂
It is so nice having the delightful Dot Queen back in action. It’s almost as if you never left. Once again, you have put it together … with LOVE.
XOXOXOXO
I should come out of retirement more often! 🙂 Love how others and joined again too 🙂
You’re a natural leader 🙂
Oh how I have missed Wendy!!! And all the feedback is also so good to read!! We do have some really nice people out there that care!!
You rock, Fred. You really do!
Awww, Fred! I’ve enjoyed seeing you on here too! 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
OK Ray, you did it again, pushing all the right buttons.
Crazy Sly, always a great communicator, fooling you with his uptempo party music to get his point across.
Tim Hardin, I found my first album of his in a “cut out” bin. It had “If I Were a Carpenter” on it and I was hooked. What a great song. He died way too young. What more could we have had from him? I can only guess.
I first saw Jesse Colin Young at The Trama, an underground club in Philly, (a former bread warehouse). Come Together had just come out and the Youngblood’s put on a great show. It was a Sunday night, a school night, but I still went and was sleepy all day Monday, through school & work. It was well worth it!
Thank you, Don.
It is soooooo nice to hear I am not the only Tim Hardin fan out there! He had such an immense talent.
Jesse Colin Young is another unsung hero. Great singer/songwriter. I know he’s getting up there in age and he was diagnosed with Lyme disease about 7-8 years ago.
I’m beginning to wonder if you and I were brothers in a past life. 😉
Maybe. That would not be a bad thing.
Not bad at all.