15 ’60s Songs Everyone Knew the Words To, But No One Talks About Anymore

1. Harper Valley PTA – Jeannie C. Riley

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 In 1968, this sassy country-pop anthem flew to No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country charts, making Riley the first woman ever to do so until Dolly Parton in 1981. Its story of a widowed mom exposing her snooty PTA rivals struck a chord nationwide. Why it matters today: Penned by Tom T. Hall, based on a real woman who “had grit” and confronted hypocrisy in her small town, the song became a feminist rallying cry. It sold over six million copies, earned a Grammy, and even inspired a 1978 movie and 1981 TV series starring Barbara Eden.

2. A World Without Love – Peter & Gordon

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Released in 1964, this gentle ballad was written by Paul McCartney (but credited to Lennon–McCartney) and hit No. 1 in both the US and UK, even though the Beatles never recorded it. What’s surprising now is that despite its massive success and enduring melody, this Lennon–McCartney gem rarely gets airtime outside oldies circles. It helped cement the trend of performers releasing hit-penned songs without ever recording them.

3. This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & the Playboys

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 In early 1965, this upbeat pop track shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, moving a million units in just weeks . Produced by Snuff Garrett and bolstered by Wrecking Crew session musicians (Leon Russell, Hal Blaine), it was lifted by singer Gary Lewis’s youthful charm and tight harmonies. Why you don’t hear it much now is because, although it launched seven Top 10 hits for the band initially, the group quickly faded as tastes shifted. Al Kooper, one of the songwriters, later admitted he found the final version “disgusting”, a sanitized version of his intended R&B style .

4. Little Woman – Bobby Sherman

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In 1969, teen idol Bobby Sherman scored big with this affectionate love song. With his clean-cut image and TV presence, he became a heartthrob, this track was a staple on radio and in teen bedrooms. What’s faded since is because, although it broke into the Top 5 upon release, it’s rarely heard today unless you’re sifting through late‑’60s nostalgia stations. It stands as a reminder of the short shelf life of teen-pop fame.

5. The Rain, the Park & Other Things – The Cowsills

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Released in 1967, this dreamy, psychedelic pop song hit No. 2 in the U.S. It showcased rich harmonies (a family band!) and a mellow, summer vibe that made it radio-ready and an easy listen. Why it’s mostly forgotten: Though the Partridge Family later overshadowed the Cowsills in TV fame, this song faded into an oldies routine. It’s fondly recalled by collectors, but outside Americana playlists, it seldom resurfaces.

6. Tracy – The Cuff Links

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 Released in 1969, “Tracy” climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the Top 5 in Canada and the UK, featuring Ron Dante virtually singing every part himself by layering his voice dozens of times. The catchy bubblegum‑pop sound made it an immediate radio favorite. Why you don’t hear it now is because ever though it was a massive international hit, the Cuff Links never scored another chart success. Because it lacks the enduring themes or the band’s continued presence, “Tracy” faded into old‑ies rotations and rarely resurfaces beyond nostalgia collections .

7. In the Year 2525 – Zager & Evans

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 This eerie dystopian track shocked listeners in 1969 with verses that looked millennia into humanity’s decline, questioning reliance on pills, machines, test‑tube children, and eventual extinction . It held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and topped the UK chart for three weeks. Why it disappeared is because, despite being massively successful, Zager & Evans never followed up: they remain the only act to score simultaneous U.S. and U.K. No. 1 hits without any further chart entries . Its heavy sci‑fi content and novelty feel left it out of modern playlists, surviving mainly on classic‑rock compilations and ‘one‑hit wonder’ retrospectives .

8. Bread and Butter – The Newbeats

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In mid‑1964, this bright pop‑rock single shot to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to its catchy piano riff and Larry Henley’s distinctive falsetto voice . It became the defining hit of The Newbeats and remains their signature song. However, despite launching subsequent minor hits, the group never replicated the success of this tune, which means “Bread and Butter” largely vanished from mainstream radio by the ‘70s. Today it’s heard only occasionally on old‑ies stations or sampled in novelty compilations .

9. Come On Down to My Boat – Every Mother’s Son

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 Released in April 1967, this upbeat track soared to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ranked No. 22 on Billboard’s year-end list. A carefree metaphor for escaping over‑protective rules, it became a defining garage‑pop moment . Why it’s hard to find now is because the band recorded just one album and never charted again. As summer pop moved on, the song quietly retreated into crate‑digging territory. Its breezy charm survives mainly on retro playlists and ’60s-themed collections .

10. Love Is Blue – Paul Mauriat

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This instrumental orchestral piece dominated U.S. airwaves in 1968, spending weeks at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and turning Mauriat’s album Blooming Hits into a No. 1 LP . Its rich, melodic arrangement tapped into the easy‑listening craze of the era. Why it faded was because despite its chart performance, “Love Is Blue” lacks lyrical content or a performing artist to promote, it’s purely orchestral. As musical tastes shifted to rock, soul, and singer‑songwriters, the track receded from mainstream rotation and is now mostly confined to vintage instrumental playlists .

11. Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie – Jay & the Techniques

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Released in March 1967, this catchy soul-pop track climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a gold disc for selling over a million copies . Originally offered to Bobby Hebb, it ended up with Jay & the Techniques instead . Why it’s seldom heard today is that, despite being the group’s signature hit, it remains largely forgotten outside classic‑60s or nostalgia playlists. The upbeat references, perhaps to childhood games, resonated then but lack a lasting identity to keep it in modern rotation .

12. Grazing in the Grass – Hugh Masekela

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This joyful trumpet instrumental hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 (one of very few instrumentals to do so) and also topped the R&B chart, peaking at No. 15 on Adult Contemporary . It was included on his album The Promise of a Future, recorded in L.A. While still celebrated in jazz circles and included in Grammy Hall of Fame, it rarely crosses into mainstream pop playlists today. Its infectious groove endures, but largely as part of vintage or jazz-specific compilations .

13. Judy in Disguise – John Fred & His Playboy Band

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A playful parody riffing on “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” this song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1968, pushing the Beatles’ own Hello, Goodbye off the top spot . It also hit No. 1 in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and No. 3 in Canada and the UK . However, as a one-hit-wonder novelty, the band never released another major hit, and the song’s whimsical wordplay feels dated to modern audiences. It remains a fun footnote in ’60s pop history but isn’t part of regular oldies rotation .

14. Classical Gas – Mason Williams

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 Released in April 1968, this instrumental masterpiece reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart, winning three Grammys in 1969 for Instrumental Composition, Performance, and Arrangement. Though still widely admired by guitarists and in instrumental categories, it rarely appears on mainstream radio. It’s maintained as a benchmark among musicians rather than a pop staple, and often learned rather than streamed .

15. Young Girl – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

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 Released in March 1968, this dramatic pop song went Gold and hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as No. 1 in the UK, backed by powerful instrumentation from the Wrecking Crew . At the time, it resonated widely and earned a Gold certification. Why it’s mostly off air is that its storyline, of a man ending a relationship after discovering the girl is underage, sounds problematic today. Though not explicit, the song’s theme has led many radio stations to retire it from regular rotation. Still, it remains a notable example of the era’s dramatic pop storytelling style and continues to be studied in retrospectives of 1960s music culture.

This story 15 ’60s Songs Everyone Knew the Words To, But No One Talks About Anymore was first published on Daily FETCH

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