The Golden Age of Pop Music...IMHO

The other day, I stumbled upon a Facebook discussion thread about a photo showing a radio station’s playlist from 1988, to which I commented on how lousy I thought pop music was that year. After composing that remark, I was moved to summon up my opinions about how I thought this genre seemed to be at its finest when I first began listening to it around 1964.

Pop music was thriving during the 1960s. I consider myself to be extremely lucky to become aware of it during this decade as Top 40 radio filled the radio airwaves with distinctive tunes coming from a diverse background.

Most notably, perhaps, the ‘British Invasion’ was in full force with artists like the Beatles, the Animals, Herman’s Hermits, the Hollies and Manfred Mann. My musical standards weren't yet very sophisticated, and I remember that I particularly liked “Get Off of My Cloud” by the Rolling Stones.



However, Great Britain wasn't the only source for pop music during the mid-60s. “Motown” permeated the scene with hits from Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Four Tops, the Temptations, and of course, the Supremes.

Artists such as The Beach Boys, the Byrds, Sonny and Cher and the Mamas and Papas led the “Sunshine Pop” movement from California. The Monkees with the 1966 hit,“I’m a Believer”, is an example. It is one of the first songs that I can recall consciously going to number one.



Even country songs from the likes of Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller and Buck Owens became mainstream Top 40 hits. This Statler Brothers tune is unforgettable to me because of the reference it makes to Captain Kangaroo, one of my favorite TV show back then. (Hey…I was only nine!)