Lost Songs Of the 60s
On The Acoustic
Welcome to these lost songs of the 60s on the acoustic section. Below are a ton of great songs you won't find covered anywhere else because many of these classics came from customers of mine.
Some classics from Peter & Gordon. The Byrds, Norman Greenbaum, Zagar & Evans and many others.
Some of these groups are still going and others have left us with some groovy one hit wonders. Enjoy!
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Lost Songs Of the 60s A-E
Visit the A-Z- Directory to see other 60s artists, or scroll to the bottom of this page.
1. Barry McGuire
Eve Of Destruction was recorded in 1965 and they nailed it in one take. The plan was to come back and do several more takes to get a final polished version. But that one take tape was leaked out to a DJ who started playing the song and it became a #1 hit ... with a single take of a song.
The Byrds and The Turtles both rejected this song when it was offered to them.
The song can be found on McGuire's album "Eve Of Destruction".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = a simple root up down up root up down up will work here
- Picking = No
- Chords = D, G, A7, Bm
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2. Billy Roberts
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
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3. Bobby Vee
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
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4. Boyce & Hart
I Wonder What She's Doin Tonight reached #7 in the US for Boyce & Hart who wrote the song a year earlier.
Gary Lewis & The Playboys also covered the song which can be found on the Boyce & Hart album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning = Yes
- Capo = 3rd fret
- Rhythm = a steady shuffle plus downstrokes
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = C, G, D
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5. Coven
One Tin Soldier hails from the movie "Billy Jack" if anyone remembers that film from the Drive In days. Song was written by Canadians Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter who first recorded the song in 1969 as part of the group The Original Caste.
The song became more popular however in 1971 with a release by the group "Coven", whose version as I mentioned was part of the soundtrack for the movie Billy Jack. Skeeter Davis also recorded the song in 1972.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes blended in with the rhythm
- Chords = C, G6, Am, Am/F, F, Dm7, Gsus, Em
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6. Chubby Checker
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
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7. Dave Matthews (60s cover)
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
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8. Dusty Springfield
Son Of A Preacher Man was offered to Aretha Franklin but she passed over this song when it was pitched to her, so Dusty Springfield picked this one up. Later Aretha went back and did record the song.
The track is off of her 1968 album "Dusty In Memphis".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = You could play down down up with a chop but I'm using a shuffle in here as well as you'll see
- Picking = No but a few slide riffs
- Chords = E, A, B7, D, E7, D7
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Lost Songs Of the 60s F-H
9. Gary US Bonds
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
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10. Gene Pitney
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
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Lost Songs Of the 60s I-L
11. Janis Joplin
Trouble In Mind is an old bluesy number dating back to 1925, but Janis Joplin was captured doing a version in a bar in 1961, so this cover is from that version.
This track is on the "18 Essential Songs" album 1995.
- Drop D Tuning = Yes
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = play a down up down up with some riffs
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = D, A, G, B7, E, D7
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12. Kathy Young
A Thousand Stars was released by Kathy Young and The Innocents in 1960.
This track is on the album "The Sound Of Kathy Young".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = 1,2,3 up down up .. with 1,2,3 being arpeggio notes and some downstrokes
- Picking = Yes but not in the original recording
- Chords = C, F, Gb, G
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13. Leslie Gore
It's My Party was released in 1965 and was a huge hit for Leslie Gore. My vocal range is on the low end here. This was the first hit song for producer Quincy Jones.
The song hails from the album "I'll Cry If I Want To".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = root down up down up and repeat with a few a chops and downstrokes thrown in
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A, D, E, A7, Dm, C, F, B7, Gbm, Bm
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Lost Songs Of the 60s N-Q
14. Nancy Sinatra
These Boots Are Made For Walkin' was a #1 in 1966 in both the UK and in the USA for Nancy Sinatra.
this song is found on her album "Boots".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = down down up down up down up and repeat, you'll also have some shuffle
- Picking = No just a decending riff
- Chords = E, A, G, E7
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15. Norman Greenbaum
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
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16. PJ Proby
Niki Hoeky 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
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Lost Songs Of the 60s R-S
17. Ray Columbus
Til We Kissed was released as a single in 1965 but failed to chart in Australia and New Zealand.
This song can be found on the album "Til We Kissed (The Greatest Hits Of)".
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = No
- Rhythm = down strokes to start then root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking = Yes
- Chords = A, Gbm, D, E
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18. Scott McKenzie
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
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Lost Songs Of the 60s T-Z
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