Contact Me ---- Kirby's Going AI
Tutorials $3.25ea (fingerpicking $5) or any 10 for $10 (use "Any10410" at checkout)
Best Deal - Any 50 for $25 Details here.
Paid request to learn your fav song $25 (comes with any 8 freebies - so 9 for $25)
*NEW* - Zoom Calls With Kirby @ $25/hr - Contact Me for a session

Lost Songs
Of the 60s
On The Acoustic

lost songs of the 60s

Welcome to these lost songs of the 60s on the acoustic section. Below are several great songs you won't find covered anywhere else as many of these classics came from customers of mine.

Some classics from Chubby Checker, Gene Pitney and Norman Greenbaum. Some of these groups and others have left us with some groovy one hit wonders. Help yourself to the sample video, several demos and free chord sheets. Enjoy!

Artists on this page:
Billy Roberts
Bobby Vee - Brian Hyland
Chubby Checker - Dave Matthews
Gary US Bonds
Gene Pitney - Mamas & Papas
Norman Greenbaum - PJ Proby
Scott McKenzie

Jump menu to quickly access the artists on this page.


Lost Songs Of the 60s
Chords, Lyrics, Demos, Tutorials

1. A You're Adorable - Brian Hyland

a youre adorable guitar lesson

A You're Adorable a.k.a the Alphabet song was first made popular in 1949 by Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters.

Brian Hyland recorded this song for his debut album "The Bashful Blonde" in 1960 but never released his version as a single. 

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = No
  • Rhythm = root down up root up down up
  • Picking = 
  • Chords = D, B7, Em, A7, E7, Gbm, G, Ddim
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Lost Songs Of The 60s

2. California Dreaming - Mamas & Papas

california dreaming guitar lesson

California Dreaming written by both members of The Mama's and The Papa's Michelle and John Phillips. Barry McGuire recorded the song first but the group decided to record it and released it in 1965.

This song is on the album "If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears". The song was played by a Boston DJ and picked up steam, eventually peaking at #4 in 1966.


  • Drop D Tuning: No 
  • Capo: 3rd fret
  • Rhythm: down down up down up down up will work but that's not exactly what I'm playing here as I'm using up stroke to accent the song 
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: Am, Esus, G, F, E, C, E7
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

3. Creeque Alley - Mamas & Papas

creeque

Creeque Alley was a single from The Mama's and The Papa's back in 1967 from the album Deliver.

The song peaked at #4 in Australia, #5 in the US and #9 in the UK.

Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

4.  Hey Joe - Billy Roberts

hey joe guitar lesson

Hey Joe was copyrighted by Billy Roberts in 1962. Later the song was covered by many artists and groups including The Leaves in 1965 and Jimi Hendrix in 1966.

To my knowledge this song was a single release and never appeared on a Billy Roberts album.

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = No
  • Rhythm = down down up down down up and repeat
  • Picking = one main riff
  • Chords = E, C, D, G, A
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

5. It Hurts To Be In Love - Gene Pitney

it hurts to be in love guitar lesson

It Hurts To Be In Love was released as a single by Gene Pitney in 1964 and became a top 10 hit song.

It's found on the album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = 4th fret 
  • Rhythm = down up down up and repeat 
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = D, Bm, G, Em, A7, Gbm, F
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Lost Songs Of The 60s

6. Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker

lets twist again guitar lesson

Let's Twist Again was released in 1961 and probably his best know song, reaching #8 on Billboard and #3 on the Cash Box charts. The song won a Grammy in 1962. He also recorded the song in German and Italian.

The song was #1 in the UK, Holland and Belgium. The song is found on the album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = 3rd fret
  • Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = G, C, Am, F, C7
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Lost Songs Of The 60s

7. Monday Monday - Mamas & Papas

monday monday guitar lesson

Monday Monday is also a song from the same album "If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears", but this track went to #1 in the US and was a huge top 10 in several other countries, reaching #2 in several countries.

This was the first song of a mixed gender of male and female, to reach #1 in the US. The song also won a Grammy Award. John Phillips said he wrote the song in 20 minutes.


  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: down down up down down up down up and repeat will work
  • Picking: No
  • Chords: G, C, F, A#, D7, Gadd11, A
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top


8. Niki Hokey - PJ Proby

niki hokey guitar lesson

Niki Hokey is a song from PJ Proby but to my knowledge the song was never a single release.

The track is on the 2011 compilation album "Greatest Hits From The Sixties.

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = No
  • Rhythm = down up down up 
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = E, A, B7
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

9. San Francisco - Scott McKenzie

san francisco guitar lesson

San Francisco was a #4 in the US but hit #1 in Germany, New Zealand and the UK when it hit the airwaves in 1967.

The song hails from the album "The Voice Of Scott McKenzie".

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = 4th fret but original key has no capo
  • Rhythm = root down up root up down up
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = Em, G, C, D, Bm, F, Am, Gm, A, Dbm, Gbm, E, Esus
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

10. Sealed With A Kiss - Brian Hyland

sealed with a kiss guitar lesson

Sealed With A Kiss was a #3 hit in both the US and UK in 1962 and the song was written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell.

The track is from his 1962 album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = capo first fret = original key
  • Rhythm = root down up down up root up down up
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = Em, D, A, Am, G, E7, B7, Gb, E
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

11. Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum

spirit in the sky guitar lesson

Spirit In The Sky was written by Greenbaum and released late in 1969. It was #3 in the US and hit #1 in Canada, the UK and Australia. The song is the 2nd most requested song at funerals, behind Danny Boy and is the most famous one hit wonder songs.

Found on the album "Spirit In The Sky".

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = No
  • Rhythm = down up down and repeat
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = A, D, E, C, G
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

12. Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee

take good care of my baby guitar lesson

Take Good Care Of My Baby was co-written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin but made famous by Bobby Vee in 1961. Vee had a #1 hit with this song.

It can be found on the album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning = Yes
  • Capo = 3rd fret
  • Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat
  • Picking = a few riffs
  • Chords = D, Bm, G, A7, Daug
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

13. This Little Girl Of Mine - Gary US Bonds

this little girl guitar lesson

This Little Girl is a Bruce Springsteen song from 1978. Gary US Bonds covered the song in 1981 and took the song to #11 in the US. 

The song can be found on his "Dedication" album.

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = No
  • Rhythm = down down up down up down up with some walking bass and repeat
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = Em, G, C, D, Bm, D7
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

14. True Love Never Runs Smooth - Gene Pitney

trueloveneverrunssmooth

True Love Never Runs Smooth was a single in the summer of 1963 for Gene Pitney. The track is from his album Only Love Can Break A Heart.

This song reached #17 in Canada, #18 in Australia and #21 in the US.

Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top



15. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers

unchained melody guitar lesson

Unchained Melody was a song in a 1955 film of the same name. The Righteous Brothers recorded their version in 1965. Of course these two lads were not actually brothers at all. Bobby Hatfield won a coin toss with his duet partner Bill Medley and took the lead vocals on this song as both wanted to sing the lead.

Phil Spector put this "throw away" song on a B-side assuming it would not get played but the DJ's proved him wrong and the song went to #4. It can be found on the album "Just One In My life.


  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: down down up down up down down and repeat
  • Picking: No
  • Chords: G, Em, C, D, Bm, G7, A#, Cm
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top Of Lost Songs Of The 60s

16. Whiter Shade Of Pale - Dave Matthews ver

whiter shade of pale guitar lesson

Whiter Shade Of Pale is of course an old 60's number from Procol Harum. Dave Matthews played an acoustic version on Howard Stern's radio show, but was never released as a single.

In fact it isn't on any Dave Matthews album I could find. 

  • Drop D Tuning = No
  • Capo = No
  • Rhythm = down down up down up and repeat
  • Picking = Yes
  • Chords = G, D/Gb, Em, Em/D, C, G6, Am, Am/G, D, D/C, D7, Dsus
Chords & Lyrics

 

Jump To Top

17. You've Lost That Lovin Feeling - The Righteous Brothers

youvelostthatlovinfeeling

You've Lost That Lovin Feeling was a huge #1 hit in both the UK and the US when it was released in 1964.

The song can be found on the album of the same name.

Chords & Lyrics Unavailable

 

Jump To Top Of Lost Songs Of The 60s

Thank you for visiting my lost songs of the 60s page and I hope you found some useful and helpful info here.


If you liked this 60's page, you might also like ... (click images)

the everly brothers guitar lessons
hermans hermits guitar lessons
the four seasons guitar lessons


Home Page
Centerd popup window on the screen