By popular demand, I have added 1964 and now 1963 (originally the rankings started with 1965).
Once again there weren’t as many songs to review so I was able to do it quickly. So much has changed in music over the years. Getting a record deal and gaining traction in 1963 is a lot different from doing the same in 2018. While just 200 to 300 songs were released in ’63, there are over 1700 songs to review in 2017 (as an example).
The Beatles hit mainstream music in this year, with two albums. And of course they dominate the handful of songs that made this list. This is the only year I’ve reviewed in which I didn’t choose a single song for my “Awesome” rating.
Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because we can all agree that on some days, certain songs kick more ass than other songs – yet other days they do not. It all depends on mood and situation. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow – if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:
Awesome
Great
Solid
Not Bad
…with some inter-group splitting.
The full list of songs is in chart form at the end, but here were my favorites from that year…
5 Pretty Good Songs from 1963
Ring Of Fire – Johnny Cash
Puff The Magic Dragon – Peter, Paul and Mary
Surfin’ U.S.A. – The Beach Boys
Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals
Walk Like a Man – The Four Seasons
6 Great Songs from 1963
Blowin’ In The Wind – Bob Dylan
I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
Twist and Shout – The Beatles
I love the Ed Sullivan footage of these guys…
Surfin’ Bird – The Trashmen
Was I tempted to stick the Family Guy clip here? I was tempted to stick the Family Guy clip here…
Alright fine. Too tempting to resist…(complete, with Office Space nod at the end)
All My Loving – The Beatles
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
The above songs, plus the best from 1964, I put on a playlist for you on YouTube here
Here is the full list of songs from 1963
| Great – 1 | Blowin’ In The Wind | – | Bob Dylan |
| Great – 1 | I Want To Hold Your Hand | – | The Beatles |
| Great – 1 | Twist and Shout | – | The Beatles |
| Great – 1 | Surfin’ Bird | – | The Trashmen |
| Great – 5 | All My Loving | – | The Beatles |
| Great – 5 | I Saw Her Standing There | – | The Beatles |
| Solid – 7 | Ring Of Fire | – | Johnny Cash |
| Solid – 7 | Puff The Magic Dragon | – | Peter, Paul and Mary |
| Solid – 7 | Surfin’ U.S.A. | – | The Beach Boys |
| Solid – 7 | Then He Kissed Me | – | The Crystals |
| Solid – 7 | Walk Like a Man | – | The Four Seasons |
| Not Bad – 12 | Another Saturday Night | – | Sam Cooke |
| Not Bad – 12 | She Loves You | – | The Beatles |
| Not Bad – 12 | Wipe Out | – | The Surfaris |
| Not Bad – 15 | Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah | – | Allan Sherman |
| Not Bad – 15 | Yakety Sax | – | Boots Randolph |
| Not Bad – 15 | Surf City | – | Jan & Dean |
| Not Bad – 15 | It’s My Party | – | Lesley Gore |
| Not Bad – 15 | My Boyfriend’s Back | – | The Angels |
| Not Bad – 15 | Little Deuce Coupe | – | The Beach Boys |
| Not Bad – 15 | Do You Want To Know A Secret | – | The Beatles |
| Not Bad – 15 | From Me to You | – | The Beatles |
| Not Bad – 15 | Please Please Me | – | The Beatles |
| Not Bad – 15 | Da Doo Ron Ron | – | The Crystals |
| Not Bad – 15 | Be My Baby | – | The Ronettes |
| Not Bad – 15 | One Fine Day | – | The Chiffons |
Dobber's Take 
Leave a Reply