Etta James? Adele?
September 26, 2018 12:27 PM   Subscribe

I'm looking for songs that people in their 60s and 70s would enjoy. Some specifics under the fold.

The reason I need these songs isn't super important. I'm just looking for songs that people in their 60s and 70s would enjoy. I know that's not super specific and people like all sorts of different types of music and taste is highly variable etc. But think of your average, midwestern, recent retiree type of person.

-I would generally prefer female vocalists, if possible.
-I'm looking not only for songs they might have nostalgia for but also contemporary songs they would enjoy but may not know.
-Upbeat songs generally preferred.

I'm leaving this sort of purposefully vague, I apologize! Thank you in advance!
posted by Lutoslawski to Media & Arts (32 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
My dad fits this demographic (67, recently retired tradesman from a small town), but admittedly does not seem to do female vocalists. It's all girly music to him. On the off-chance it helps, though, I've listed some stuff he loves below and that he listens to with his friends in the same cohort.

Old favourites:
The Eagles
Blue Oyster Cult
AC/DC
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Kansas
Foreigner
Boston

'Newer' stuff that he got into big as a result of me forcing it on him during long car trips as a teen:
Tom Waits
Nick Cave

Newer stuff that he got into on his own:
Eminem
posted by northernish at 12:34 PM on September 26, 2018


If they like soul, there’s quite a bit of really good newer soul it there these days. Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Durand Jones all are amazing.

There’s also a bunch of really high quality soul remasters and rereleases popping off through labels like Numero Group. It’s highly probable unless you were way into soul back then, that you’d have heard them. So, kind of new.
posted by furnace.heart at 12:37 PM on September 26, 2018 [2 favorites]


Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughan
Annie Lennox/ Eurythmics
Tony Bennett with Lady Gaga
Diana Krall (with or without Tony Bennett)

Music that would have been popular when they were in their teens or twenties, so from the late 50's (Du Wop, Motown)
60's (Woodstock generation)
maybe early 70s
posted by citygirl at 12:40 PM on September 26, 2018


The Big Chill Soundtrack
Not mostly women singers but I'm sure you can find covers of the songs sung by women. I'm in my sixties and I always feel happy when I recognize this soundtrack coming on. I also loved the sound track for Guardians of the Galaxy..
They are basically soundtracks of my youth.
posted by BoscosMom at 12:43 PM on September 26, 2018


Some of these might work:
Girl groups (The Supremes, Dixie Cups, The Shirelles)
Carpenters
Olivia Newton John
Carole King
Dionne Warwick
Patsy Kline

Newish:
Madonna
Pink
Adele
Amy Winehouse
Norah Jones
Elle King
posted by XtineHutch at 12:48 PM on September 26, 2018


I'm With Her
Leon Bridges
posted by Jacob G at 12:48 PM on September 26, 2018


So born in the 40s or 50s? I'm thinking they might nostalgically like stuff they heard when they were young that's more their parents' generation, sort of the way Peter Paul & Mary is nostalgic for me though before my time.

Rosemary Clooney in 1954.
Doris Day in 1956.
A little less upbeat Joe Stafford in 1952.

That kind of thing? Those are some maybe slightly obvious choices.
posted by Smearcase at 1:04 PM on September 26, 2018


Some older stuff:
Dusty Springfield
The Supremes
Martha and the Vandellas
Freda Payne - "Band of Gold"
Jeannie Riley - "Harper Valley PTA"
Cilla Black - "Anyone Who Had a Heart"
The Toys - "A Lover's Concerto"
Honey Cone - "Want Ads"
The Crystals - "He's a Rebel"
posted by Iridic at 1:10 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


My mom fits squarely into your demographic and she LOVES Michael Buble. She also likes Adele very much!
posted by stellaluna at 1:12 PM on September 26, 2018


I'm mid-70s. I love doo-wop and motown but for solo women I like Adele and Amy Winehouse and Annie Lennox. I very much like Nina Simone (who does some upbeat stuff), Etta James, Aretha Franklin, pretty much any blues and soul singers. Loved songs like "When a man loves a woman" and others from Little Richard and Chuck Berry (50s rock and roll). We wanted to dance! I like some of my mother's faves but that was mostly Big Band/Swing instrumentals. I'll listen to the nostalgia shows that PBS puts on but that's for fun, not for listening to on my own. I'm sure there's a lot more but my aged brain isn't cooperating.
posted by MovableBookLady at 1:17 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


Janis Joplin
posted by FencingGal at 1:42 PM on September 26, 2018 [3 favorites]


My parents pretty much fit your demographic (late 60s, one is Midwestern, and, as I think your post implies, both white). They like a lot of stuff with female vocalists from a bunch of different eras. Artists that come to mind include Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant/10,000 Maniacs, Lady Antebellum, Alison Krauss, The Mamas and the Papas, Carole King, Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks, and Kelly Clarkson. They do also have some older girl group stuff like "One Fine Day" and "It's In His Kiss" in their usual rotation. Seconding Peter Paul and Mary, and anything from the Seeger family. Mom likes old jazz standards by singers like Billie Holiday and Lena Horne but it's less of Dad's thing.
posted by capricorn at 2:12 PM on September 26, 2018 [2 favorites]


I feel like Norah Jones might work pretty well. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, honeyhoney, and/or Lera Lynn if you're looking for stuff that skews more blues rockish.
posted by PussKillian at 2:17 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


You want to look at the track listings for the Hard to Find 45s on CD series, which specializes in old one-hit wonders and lesser-known singles that never quite made it into oldies radio Valhalla. I've played a few tracks for my dad, and I can tell you that nostalgia hits all the harder when you haven't heard a song since 1963.

(You could shop around for the CDs themselves, but they can be, er, hard to find.)
posted by Iridic at 2:20 PM on September 26, 2018


My parents (both in their mid 60s) really love everything from Daptone Records, particularly Sharon Jones and James Hunter.
posted by kendrak at 2:38 PM on September 26, 2018


Joni Mitchell!

Here are some more upbeat crowd pleasers.

Big Yellow Taxi
Raised on Robbery
Help Me
Chelsea Morning
Both Sides Now (original recording, the late recording is beautiful but quite slower and more emo)
Cary
California
posted by wemayfreeze at 2:41 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


[just realized you said songs not artists but he loves all the songs on these albums]

My husband (70) found a Cowboy Junkies CD in the street and he loves it.

Enya and also Celtic women singers

he has a CD of Bob Dylan singing with Johnny Cash he really likes

Highwayman 2 which is better than Highwayman IMO

Meet Joe Black Soundtrack (includes Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's Over the Rainbow) and also a good cover of Wonderful World sung by ?
Last of the Mohicans Soundtrack
Any "best movie soundtrack" song compilations

The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkle

Judy Collins, James Taylor

Forever Young sung by Alfie Boe

He never plays the Norah Jones CD I bought him (sorry Norah)

The Byrds, Yanni, Righteous Brothers

Perhaps Love album - Placido Domingo with John Denver
posted by cda at 3:12 PM on September 26, 2018


I've been thinking about this song lately and you give me a reason to recommend it, Saffire sings a song called Middle Aged Blues Boogie. It's off The Uppity Blues Woman album. Another great female blues woman artist is Katie Webster.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 3:58 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


My parents are in this demographic and they're more hip than Enya. They were both single during the disco era, which might have an impact on their tastes. I think whole albums were played, so I don't know exactly which song would be the best.
Linda Ronstadt, who my mom loves. I know she listened to most of the songs on that list.
Queen - Night at the Opera and Day at the Races, which my step-dad likes
Bruce Springsteen - entire œvre
Gladys Night and the Pips, believe it or not. Midnight Train to Georgia & I Heard It Through the Grapevine
My mom apparently likes Dusty Springfield but I don't remember any of her albums in the house.
posted by fiercekitten at 4:26 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


Back in the 80’s, radio decided to call the rock/pop music of the 50’s and 60’s that they were still playing “oldies”. Since then the 70’s have been wrapped in, so that may help as a search term.

Adele and Amy Winehouse are both contemporary artists that could fit in there. Dolly Parton got going in the 70’s; you’d want to check specific songs, because lots of stuff from the 80’s (by everyone) had some unfortunate production choices. Cher is a maybe. Also Streisand.

There’s also Oasis as a semi-contemporary dude group, but they’re kinda throw-backy.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 5:23 PM on September 26, 2018


FWIW, lots of folks in their 60s were part of the early punk and new wave scenes in the mid-to-late 70s.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:28 PM on September 26, 2018 [2 favorites]


My 77 year old father loves The Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, and Bruce Springsteen. These are artists that were new to him in the late '90s...he missed them earlier due to life. He also really likes the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 6:52 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


Oh lord please don't make them listen to Enya .. how does anyone find that uplifting!? I know, different strokes for different folks but.. shudder.

I am not technically part if this demographic but their generation made the best music .. a lot has already been mentioned but I thought of a few to add - Streisand, for one. Donna summer, patti labelle, carole king, judy collins, emmylou harris. Anything "great american songbook-y" would work, i'd think. Big yes to Nina Simone, Aretha , Cher, Dolly .. Patsy Cline (not so uplifting always tho) .. Billy joel, beatles, simon and Garfunkel. Hmm. This is a broad question.. Im starting to feel like the answer is "all the music I know and love" which is.. yes a bit broad.

So I'll get randomly specific - recently I went on a Kirsty MacColl tear after watching a tracy ullman video to one of her songs .. and I can't get "a New England" out of my head. Also, pete townsend/the Who's "Blue Red and Grey" is very very pleasing. Also all Stevie Wonder. Does it have to be only female vocalists ?

You know .. another idea .. if you watch some of the kennedy honors shows from during the obama administration you'll get a nice overview of 20th century musical greatness ..
posted by elgee at 8:11 PM on September 26, 2018


My mom, age 70, loves classic rock (Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, Fleetwood Mac), and as far as newer artists, she's crazy about Lady Gaga, Florence and the Machine, and Hozier.
posted by SamanthaK at 8:13 PM on September 26, 2018


You cannot beat Earth, Wind & Fire or Bill Withers. Timeless.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 8:20 PM on September 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


Moody Blues
America

Not female. But oldies that appeal from the past, while being just as listenable today. Upbeat.

Also, for females, how is it no one mentioned Heart?

I'm in that demographic. For more ideas, listen to SomaFM's Leftcoast 70s station.
posted by Goofyy at 2:55 AM on September 27, 2018


Bee Gees
Arlo Guthrie
Johnny Cash
posted by KneeDeep at 3:52 AM on September 27, 2018


I'm 72. My thought is that most people my age have continued to have new favorites through the years, so you need not limit yourself to pre-1975.

Someone must have mentioned Whitney Houston. And the Eagles.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:02 AM on September 27, 2018


My dad also likes the Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones album of Everly Brotherss songs - Foreverly.

I normally listen to a radio station nightly while doing dishes. The station has a heavy amount of 80s music in rotation. My dad asks about artists every couple weeks when he floats through while I'm doing kitchen stuff. Recently he's taken an interest in Cyndi Lauper. Cyndi Lauper has an album of standards so that may be worth looking at for your purposes. My dad is also into a couple Portugal. The Man songs.

She & Him Vol 1 might also be a thing folks would enjoy.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:24 PM on September 27, 2018


Lake Street Dive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EPwRdVg5Ug

The Hot Sardines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4-XIKt-ADs
posted by browse at 5:00 AM on September 28, 2018


Not female, I know, but my dad (69) has a serious obsession with Bruno Mars. :)
posted by hessie at 6:32 AM on September 28, 2018


Alabama Shakes has a fantastic vocalist in Brittany Howard and is heavily influenced by the roots rock style that was more popular earlier last century.

Some highlights:

Hold On
Sound and Color
Gimme All Your Love
Guess Who
I'm In Over My Head
This Feeling
posted by Rhaomi at 6:17 PM on September 28, 2018


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