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Lost Songs
Of the 60s
On The Acoustic
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, Dion 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!
Barry McGuire - Billy Roberts
Bobby Vee - Brian Hyland
Buffalo Springfield
Chubby Checker - Cliff Richard
Dave Matthews - Dion
Gary US Bonds
Gene Pitney - Mamas & Papas
Norman Greenbaum - PJ Proby
Scott McKenzie
The Lovin Spoonful
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 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
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2. California Dreaming - Mamas & Papas
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
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3. Creeque Alley - Mamas & Papas
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.
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4. Daddy's Home - Cliff Richard
Daddy's Home was originally recorded by Shem And The Limelites back in 1961 as they wrote this song. It peaked at #2 for the band.
Twenty years later in 1981, Cliff Richard did a version of the song and it also peaked at #2 in the UK. The track is on his album "Wired For Sound".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret = original key
- Rhythm: down down up down up down down and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: D, Bm, Em, A7, D#, D7, Dmaj7, A/Db, Bm/A, E7
Chords & Lyrics
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5. Devil Woman - Cliff Richard
Devil Woman was released as a single back in 1976 and can be found on his album "I'm Nearly Famous". The song also appeared in the 2017 film "I, Tonya".
Cliff had a #9 in the UK and a #6 in the US, his first top 10. The song did reach #1 in South Africa. Download the Devil Woman Cliff Richards lyrics below.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down down up down up and repeat and some downstrokes
- Picking: No
- Chords: D, G, F, C, Dm, A7, A#
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6. Eve Of Destruction - 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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7. For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
For What It's Worth was penned by Stephen Stills and recorded in the winter of 1966 by Buffalo Springfield. Stills wrote the song about the Sunset Strip riots in Hollywood in Nov 1966, and not about the Vietnam War, which the song has been associated. The song hit #7 on the charts in 1967.
The song can be found on their first "Buffalo Springfield" album.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: a steady up and down will work
- Picking: a little
- Chords: E, A, D, C, G/A
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8. Hey Joe - 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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9. In The Still Of The Night - Dion
In The Still Of The Night was released as a single by Dion And The Belmonts back in 1960 and reached #38 in the US. This is a remake of an old Cole Porter song originally released in 1937. There is another song with the same name but a totally different song.
The song can be found on the album "Wish Upon A Star with Dion And The Belmonts.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 3rd fret
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: D, Em, A7, Dm/Cb, Dmaj7, Bm, G, Gbm, Gbm/F, Gbm/E, Dmaj7/D+, Gb, C, B7
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10. It Hurts To Be In Love - 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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11. Kind Woman - Buffalo Springfield
Kind Woman hails from the 3rd and final album by the group entitle "Last Time Around". Founding member Richard Furay played this song often as a solo artist and also with hi slater band Poco.
The song was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: C, G, C#, D, Db, Em
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12. Let's Twist Again - 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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13. Lucky Lips - Cliff Richard
Lucky Lips was written by those two writers who wrote many hits for Elvis, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Ruth Brown first recorded the song in 1956 and Cliff Richard
launched his version in 1963. This was a huge #1 in many countries and reached #4 in the UK. Cliff also recorded this song in German.
You'll find this song on his "40 Golden Greats" album.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down up down up down up and repeat with some walking bass
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: D, G, A, D7
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14. Monday Monday - Mamas & Papas
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
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15. Mr Soul - Buffalo Springfield
Mr Soul is a track from the groups 2nd album "Buffalo Springfield Again" which came out in 1967.
The song reached #63 on the Pop Charts in 1967. Download the Buffalo Springfield Mr Soul lyrics below.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: downstrokes
- Picking: Yes a little in the rhythm
- Chords: E, A, D
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16. My Foolish Heart - Cliff Richard
My Foolish Heart is an old jazz tune from 1949 that was recorded by many artists over the years.
Cliff put this on on his 1965 album "Love Is Forever" but he never released it as a single.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 1st
- Rhythm: root down up down up ad repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: G, Em, Am, D, G6, Am7, D7, Gmaj7, B7, Cmaj7, Em/D#, Em/D, Em/Db, Esus, E
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17. Nashville Cats - The Lovin Spoonful
Nashville Cats was a top 10 back in 1966 reaching #8 in the Us and #2 in Canada. The song was also a top 10 in Norway and New Zealand.
This song is from the 1966 album "Hums Of the Lovin Spoonful".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down root up down up and repeat
- Picking: A few riffs
- Chords: C, G, F
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18. Niki Hokey - PJ Proby
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
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19. On The Way Home - Buffalo Springfield
On The Way Home is a song on the last album by Buffalo Springfield entitled "Last Time Around". It was also the only track on the album where all members of the band played on the track as the band had already disbanded when the album was released in 1968 but was recorded in various sessions in 1967-1968.
To my knowledge there were no single releases from the album.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: root up down up root up down up and repeat
- Picking: No
- Chords: C, F, Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Em, Dm, A#, Bbmaj7
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20. Rain On The Roof - The Lovin Spoonful
Rain On The Roof was released as a single in 1966 and hails from the album "Hums Of The Lovin' Spoonful.
The song reached #10 in the US and #12 in Canada. The song peaked highest in new Zealand at #3.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: D, A7, G, Am, E7, Em
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21. Rock And Roll Woman - Buffalo Springfield
Rock And Roll Woman is a track on Springfield's 2nd album entitled Buffalo Springfield Again which was recorded over a 9 month period in 1968 and used session musicians.
This track came about because of a jam session between David Crosby and Stephen Stills. This track was never released as a single.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: a riff played in various places
- Chords: F, D, Am7, Dm7 (optional)
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22. Ruby Baby - Dion
Ruby Baby was released as a single from the album of the same name in 1962 and reached #2 in the US. The song was originally recorded by The Drifters who had a #10 on the R&B charts.
Del Shannon, Bobby Darin and The Beach Boys are just a few artists who have covered this one.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up down up and repeat with some walkin bass
- Picking: No
- Chords: A, G, D
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23. Runaround Sue - Dion
Runaround Sue was a #1 for Dion in Canada, New Zealand and the US and a #2 in Australia when it was released as a single in 1961. Dion co-wrote this one and was a hit after he went solo from The Belmonts.
The song can be found on the album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes a few riffs
- Chords: C, Am, F, G
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24. San Francisco - 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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25. Sealed With A Kiss - Brian Hyland
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
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26. Spirit In The Sky - 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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27. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard
Summer Holiday is the song from the 1963 film of the same name.
This was one of several singles from the album that all did very well on the charts in the UK.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: D, Bm, Em, A7, Gbm, E7, A, Dmaj7
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28. Take Good Care Of My Baby - 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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29. The Wanderer - Dion
The Wanderer was also a song released from the "Runaround Sue" album and written by long time friend Ernie Maresca. Dion used the same backup singers known as the Del-Satins for this track as he did with Runaround Sue.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: D, A, G, A7, E7
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30. This Little Girl Of Mine - 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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31. True Love Never Runs Smooth - Gene Pitney
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.
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32. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
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
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33. Whiter Shade Of Pale - Dave Matthews ver
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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34. You Didn't Have To Be So Nice - The Lovin Spoonful
You Didn't Have To Be So Nice was a single back in 1965 from this group. The song hit #10 in the US and #4 in Canada.
The track is from their album Daydream.
- Drop D Tuning = No
- Capo = 2nd fret
- Rhythm = down up down up down up
- Picking = a few riffs
- Chords = D, Gbm, G, A7, A7sus, Dmaj7
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35. You've Lost That Lovin Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
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.
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Thank you for visiting my lost songs of the 60s page and I hope you found some useful and helpful info here.
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