Music has been a constant in my life. Early memories go back to 1958/59 when my mother and I were living with her parents and two sisters in Germany. My father, a Canadian army officer, was off leading a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon at the time.
The aunts had an extensive record collection, and I remember bonding with them over strains of “Volare” by Domenico Modugno. Twenty years later, I included it in my repertoire while struggling to become a professional singer. (It didn’t pan out, but that’s another story.)
The Beatles first attracted me in 1963. “She Loves You” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand” were all the rage among us eight-year-olds that year in Canada. (We were ahead of the U.S. In this, thanks to our British ties.)
The band’s historic appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on Feb. 9, 1964, became an important “where were you when…?” milestone.
After the Beatles came to the rest of the “British Invasion,” including the harder-edged sound of the Rolling Stones. They got my attention in 1965, but I was still mostly a “teenybopper” for a couple more years.
“Beatlemania” was surpassed by “Monkeemania” in 1966. Otherwise known as the “Pre-Fab Four” (the band was put together for a TV show), young girls everywhere went wild, especially for heartthrob Davy Jones. It shocked many of the old fans when Davy died of a massive heart attack in 2012, at 67.
While all this fluffy fun was going on, other bands, including The Beatles and Stones, were evolving and exploring the depths of their talent. Music became more profound, often drug-induced, but mostly brilliant.
In 1967, The Beatles released their break-through concept album, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Psychedelic bands such as The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane enjoyed great success during this period, with songs celebrating the counterculture of the ’60s.
The hippie movement took hold in San Francisco during the “Summer of Love.”
I loved everything about this and have been a hippie, in spirit, ever since!
⭐Read more Musical Memories of 1967 HERE⭐
⭐Click HERE for some favourite psychedelic tunes!⭐
In 1968, I was shipped off to boarding school, a unique but confining experience.
Click on red letters for Musical Memories of Boarding School:
(In chronological order from left (H) to right (T)
Another musical milestone from that year was my first taste of “heavy metal thunder,” courtesy of John Kay & Steppenwolf, followed by the movie “Easy Rider” in 1969. These two events were instrumental in my transition to “Eternal Hippie/Rockchick”!
Do you like 60s music? What songs shaped your life?
Looking forward to your comments!
Originally written as a guest post for JINGLE JANGLE JUNGLE in Sept. 2015.
Reading “Rock On” at Eugi’s Causerie II inspired me to update and republish it.
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
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29 thoughts on “RAMBLINGS OF AN OLD ROCK CHICK”
You are my favorite old rock chick. The Beatles stand out to me as an important part of my musical memories. My parents went to visit my oldest sister at her college one weekend and they came home with Meet The Beatles. We were thrilled. We all screamed when they were on Ed Sullivan; my mother smiled. I’ve enjoyed a lot of bands, but I don’t think anyone will every top the Beatles.
Love,
Janie
Debbie,
Who’s the old rock chick? 🙂 I am a fan of 60s mewsic and of these artists you’ve featured I reckon it was The Monkees that I most related to. I’m sorry for the late return visit. It’s just been one of those weeks where I’ve been more out of sync than in. Have a good weekend, my friend!
Hi Cathy! No worries, I know you’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff lately. It is nice to see you, regardless. 🙂 Since I’m officially a “senior citizen”, that would make me the old rock chick. 😀 I hope things are going well at your end. We are plodding along, here. Thanks for coming by!
Parallel lives… Except I never went to boarding school. I always feel lucky to have grown up when I did with the music we had. Saw Paul McCartney last year in concert–a dream come true.
Hi Becky! We are lucky to have experienced the most significant era of music, as well as all the cultural changes. 🙂 You must have been so thrilled to have your concert dream come true! We’ve been crossing off that bucket list for a few years now. Boy, do I miss going to live shows! There’s nothing like it. ?
Hi Debbie – yes … my era too … I still can’t really understand music – but am so glad these songs are still around … as I do love them – and now enjoy seeing the biographical series of these ‘hardened’ music rockers. I do learn too … but White Shade of Pale springs to mind … as too Leonard Cohen and Dylan .. et al – fascinating post – thank you – Hilary
Leonard Cohen is a much-loved Canadian icon! ? And “Whiter Shade of Pale”, one of the original rock classics. You know more about music than you think, Hilary! 🙂 Bob Dylan is still around, as well. Thanks for coming by! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
I was a baby in ’62- but a baby with a ten years older sister. She wasn’t near as psychedelic as I became; I was big Four Seasons. If you’ve seen the FB posts of late, at least feel honored yours is the first blog post I’ve read since prolly Wednesday, and even this much comment is a bit of an effort right now. Hang in there!
Chris, I saw what you posted on Facebook and truly appreciate the effort. I hope you feel better, soon! Thanks for coming by.
Oh, thanks for the trip down memory lane! The music of the 60s and 70s really shook up the culture in so many ways and it’s never been the same since! While I was still in elementary school when the Beatles came on the scene, I quickly became a fan. Never really cared for the Stones though (I know….sacrilege.) I enjoyed reliving my youth through your clips. xoxo
Hi Lisa! 🙂 The 60s and 70s were the best! Every generation probably says the same thing about the music they grew up with. 😀 My husband doesn’t like The Stones either. Go figure! I’m glad you enjoyed the musical memories. Thanks for coming by.
I am so locked into 1960s music now, and have been for several weeks in and out, this year. All of what you featured here, brings fond memories, and in some cases, still resonates.
I may be a tad biased, but 1965-1975 is my favourite decade for music. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the memories, Myke. Thanks for coming by!
Nice walk back through nostalgia from our past. Those vids brought back memories man! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thanks for coming by.
Quite the collection I still have over 200 LPs and 300 CDs. Listening to music has really changed. These were fun. I love Volare, and I too have a “not so successful” singing career in my past. If I ever come UP there, we can do a duet?
…also, glad you’re back
Thank you! I’m taking it slowly. Don’t want to get burned out, again.
I kept all my LPs, 45s and cassettes and still play them, occasionally. A duet with you would be fun, Paul! 😀 Thanks for coming by!
On February 9, 1964, I was sitting and trying to watch The Beatles with my 16-year-old aunt screaming in my ear…
I never understood that whole screaming thing! 😀 Thanks for coming by, John.
I love 60s music. I graduated high school in 1969. The 60s and 70s had some great music.
Have a fabulous day and week, Debbie. Rock on. ♥
Hi Sandee! 🙂 You were a couple of years ahead of me. We had the best music, didn’t we? Thanks for coming by.
We parallel in our tastes in music, Debbie, even though I’ve got you by several years. Songs from the early Beatles were a major part of life back then. I also enjoyed the sixties surfin’ sound since I was a Florida resident and that was the in-thing back then.
My favorite groups besides The Beatles are Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. Rock on!
Thanks for inspiring me to re-vamp this post, Eugenia! 🙂 We do have similar tastes and I love Led Zeppelin, as well.
Great post! I love Volare, but prefer the Dean Martin rendition.
Thank you, Freda. 🙂 I appreciate the visit!
That was a lot of my musical history as well. So many great (and sometimes not so great) memories.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Music was so much better back then! Most people who grew up in the 60s and 70s will agree. 🙂 Not that all current music is bad, but you really have to dig to find it. Thanks for coming by, Lee.