We're Gonna Party Like it's (a Year that Ends in 6)

May 25, 2016 3:22 PM

Two of my dear friends are turning 40 and 50, respectively, so we're going to have a party. Throw me some great songs from 1966 and 1976 to put on the mix! Bonus points for forgotten gems; a simple thanks for songs that are still in oldies-tight-rotation.
posted by baseballpajamas to Media & Arts (18 answers total)

1976? I only got Don't go breaking my heart and (gulp) Get up and Boogie. I will be watching the thread with great interest.
posted by Namlit at 3:30 PM on May 25, 2016

1976: Afternoon Delight!
posted by mochapickle at 3:41 PM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

1976:
Play that Funky Music, Wild Cherry
The Boys Are Back in Town
Daddy Cool
posted by frumiousb at 3:48 PM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

1976 needs KC & the Sunshine Band, Shake Your Booty and pretty much everything else on Rhino's Soul Train: The Dance Years, 1976.
posted by stefanie at 3:50 PM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

Blitzkrieg Bop
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:52 PM on May 25, 2016 [4 favorites]

1966:
Eleanor Rigby, the Beatles
Last Train to Clarksville, the Monkees
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), Cher
It's a Man's Man's Man's World, James Brown
posted by frumiousb at 3:53 PM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

Marvin Gaye - Lets get it on (1973)
posted by Sarah_M at 4:49 PM on May 25, 2016

From the time travel heart break division:
1966: This Old Heart of Mine (Isley Brothers)
1976: If You Leave Me Now (Chicago)
posted by forthright at 5:34 PM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

From the Billboard archive for 1966 (minus Ballad of the Green Berets and Winchester Cathedral because nobody wants to hear those again).

The Sound Of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel
We Can Work It Out, The Beatles
My Love, Petula Clark
Lightnin' Strikes, Lou Christie
These Boots Are Made For Walkin', Nancy Sinatra
(You're My) Soul And Inspiration, The Righteous Brothers
Good Lovin', The Young Rascals
Monday, Monday, The Mamas & The Papas
When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge
Paint It, Black, The Rolling Stones
Paperback Writer, The Beatles
Strangers In The Night, Frank Sinatra
Hanky Panky, Tommy James And The Shondells
Wild Thing, The Troggs
Summer In The City, The Lovin' Spoonful
Sunshine Superman, Donovan
You Can't Hurry Love, The Supremes
Cherish, The Association
Reach Out I'll Be There, Four Tops
96 Tears, ? & The Mysterians
Last Train To Clarksville, The Monkees
Poor Side Of Town, Johnny Rivers
You Keep Me Hangin' On, The Supremes
Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
I'm A Believer, The Monkees
posted by she's not there at 6:46 PM on May 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom was for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration.
posted by irisclara at 7:44 PM on May 25, 2016

1976: Richard Hell & the Voidoids' 'Blank Generation' is a great song that includes surrealist birth scene narrated by infant.
I was saying let me out of here before I was even born, it's such a gamble when you get a face.
posted by feral_goldfish at 8:44 PM on May 25, 2016 [3 favorites]

1966: the Velvet Underground & Nico:
'All Tomorrow's Parties'
'I'll Be Your Mirror'
(Both subtly appropriate for milestone birthday party with dear friends.)
posted by feral_goldfish at 8:55 PM on May 25, 2016 [2 favorites]

1976: David Bowie
'Station to Station' (not even remotely danceable, if that's an issue): life as journey (less obviously than the title might suggest; also, more cocaine and electric guitar train sound effects.)
'Golden Years': aging, escaping, protecting, admiring.
'TVC15': newfangled gadgets can be trouble; Bowie wants this one to give back his girlfriend and get off his lawn.
posted by feral_goldfish at 9:42 PM on May 25, 2016 [2 favorites]

1976:

The Nerves - Hanging on the Telephone
Dwight Twilley - I'm on Fire
Peter Frampton - Show Me the Way
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
Heart - Magic Man
Al Green - Full of Fire
Hall & Oates - Rich Girl
Wings - Let 'Em In
Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
Steely Dan - Kid Charlemagne
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
The Brothers Johnson ‎– Strawberry Letter #23
Parliament - Do That Stuff
Lou Rawls - You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing
Vickie Sue Robinson - Turn The Beat Around
Diana Ross - Love Hangover
Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way
Bryan Ferry - Let's Stick Together
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - American Girl
posted by hydrophonic at 10:43 PM on May 25, 2016 [3 favorites]

1966 was the year the Beatles released Revolver and the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds — some would call those the two greatest rock albums of all time. Plenty to choose from there, including:

The Beatles — Got to Get You Into My Life

The Beach Boys — Wouldn't It Be Nice?

Also from 1966:

Stevie Wonder — Uptight (Everything's Alright)
posted by John Cohen at 6:43 AM on May 26, 2016

The Doors first album was released Jan 4, 1967. Close enough? Lesser played cuts are Soul Kitchen and Twentieth Century Fox. Other songs include Light My Fire, Break On Through and Back Door Man.
posted by Homer42 at 6:53 AM on May 26, 2016

I made a Spotify playlist of many of the songs from 1976. I too have someone close turning 40 this year so this was great.
posted by youknowwhatpart at 7:54 PM on May 26, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks for all your help, folks. Here's the final mix, if you're interested: (public link to PDF on Google drive)
posted by baseballpajamas at 9:46 AM on May 30, 2016 [1 favorite]