Whether you’re a fan of old rock ‘n’ roll or just looking for new songs to play on your guitar, you’ll want to check out this 1960s guitar song collection. It’s full of great songs from musicians like Sly & the Family Stone, Duane Allman, Buck Dharma, and more.
Sonny Landreth
Known for his advanced technique and blistering slide guitar, Sonny Landreth is a one of a kind guitar player. His work has earned him two Blues Music Awards and a Grammy nomination.
Born in Canton, Mississippi, Sonny grew up in southwest Louisiana, where he began to study the music of his native Cajun culture. His influences include jazz, country, rock, swamp, and singer-songwriter styles. His unique style has anchored his music into grooves that are both familiar and relatable.
Sonny has worked with hundreds of world-class artists. He has won several blues awards, including a Best New Artist Award from the International Blues Foundation. In 2005, he released the album Zoo, which he produced with producer R.S. Field. Now he has returned with his third Provogue label album, Black Top Run, which will be released on February 21, 2020.
On his latest album, Landreth uses his signature style to explore bold new directions. He brings together the best elements of his past to create a new album that features innovative techniques and new sounds.
Derek Trucks
Among the many talented musicians that have passed through the doors of the Allman Brothers Band is Derek Trucks. The nephew of guitarist Butch Trucks, he is best known for his slide guitar playing.
Trucks toured with the Allman Brothers Band during his adolescence, playing the guitar in various bands and joining the Allman Brothers as an official member at age 20. As the band celebrated its 40th anniversary, Trucks wrote Midnight in Harlem for the Revelator album. The album’s 10-minute instrumental track is a showcase of his chops.
Throughout his career, Trucks has released a variety of albums, including his latest release, Almost Free. The new album is a tribute to old blues songs. Unlike some of his previous albums, Almost Free features a more unified sound. This is largely due to the addition of Kofi Burbridge, who was a key member of the Tedeschi Trucks Band since 2010.
This is a particularly strong album for Trucks. He tackles blues, gospel, and soul music in a variety of ways. He has a knack for playing the long blues jams.
Sly & the Family Stone
Among the most influential and innovative bands of the 60s was Sly & the Family Stone. Their songs and style were a mix of psychedelia, soul, and funk. They influenced Prince, George Clinton, and Janet Jackson. They spawned variants that became popular in urban black youth.
The first album by Sly & the Family Stone was A Whole New Thing. It featured a diverse group of black and white performers. It was a great combination of funk, soul, and rock.
The song “Look Around” is a funky rock number with a chorus and brass. Its message is a subtle one: if you look around, you’ll see that there’s something you can do to improve the world.
Sly & the Family Stone were the first to combine funk and soul. They influenced Janet Jackson, Prince, and OutKast. They were also the first to use a slapping style of playing.
The first single from the band’s debut album, “Dance to the Music”, was a hit. It was a simple song that introduced the band members and set them up for a successful song.
Blossom Toes
During the late ’60s, Blossom Toes released an album that was compared to the Bee Gees’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lone Heart Club Band. Their music has bright melodies and curious arrangements. The album was reissued in an expanded three-CD edition. The CD also includes previously unissued live material.
The album’s songs were largely influenced by the first wave of psychedelia. The melodies are filled with orchestral elements and spoken word intros. The music has a winsomeness to it, but the tone is sometimes antagonistic. There are several references to the US cops on “Billy Boo The Gunman” and on “Indian Summer” there is an implied menace in the Taxi Driver theme.
The band’s lyrics are sardonic and sometimes absurd. They also contain a lot of druggy harmony. The lyricists claim that all the songs were written while the acetate of Sgt. Pepper was being played in the studio. The album is an attempt to explore the possibilities opened up by The Beatles.
The twee melodies of Blossom Toes are similar to the Pretty Things or the Kinks. They are also reminiscent of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lone-Heart Club Band. They also have a few references to Chuck Berry’s 1958 song, “Ingo”.
Duane Allman
Those who are fans of Duane Allman know that the guitarist was a major figure in popular music in the 1960s. Although he only released a few albums under his own name, he left a significant mark on a wide array of recordings.
It’s no surprise that Duane Allman was an ace guitarist. His work with the Allman Brothers is some of the greatest ever recorded. However, he also found time for other projects. He also worked with Delaney and Bonnie and Friends and Derek and the Dominoes. In the late 60s, he was also a part of the Grateful Dead.
The Allman Brothers Band’s songs are a mix of soulful blues and jazz. The band also played a lot of cover versions. The Doors’ “Light My Fire” is one of the curious examples.
Duane Allman’s slide guitar work is spectacular. His slide solo on Boz Scaggs’ “Loan Me a Dime” is among the best in the world.
During his last eight months, he was still making improvements to his technique. His slide solos are incredibly fluid.
Buck Dharma
Whether you’re a Blue Oyster Cult fan or not, you might not know about Buck Dharma. The guitarist was one of the founding members of the band and is known for his rapid fire guitar riffs. He was also known for being a guitarist who has played virtually every instrument. You can find out more about his career and appearances on his website.
The BOC was initially composed of five original members. The last of them to quit the band was Eric Bloom. This was around the time that Pearlman approached CBS about putting together an album. Eventually, Memphis Sam took over as lead vocalist. However, the band was never very successful and most of its concerts are not very well promoted.
The album’s strongest track is “Steven the Harvester Presides O’er the Din of the Cups,” an 11-minute Woven Hand damnation call. It is a beautiful out-of-time piece. The guitarist’s introduction leads into a jangly solo and a sweet harmonizing. The song is a fusion of hard rock and folksy rendering.
Foghat
During the mid-seventies, Foghat became a big deal. They toured the US, and even opened for Steppenwolf. Their blues rock was popular among teenagers, as were homegrown riff titans.
Foghat formed in London in 1971. They got their start by auditioning for Albert Grossman’s Bearsville Records. Eventually they signed with the label, which featured an impressive roster of clients.
The band’s name relates to their signature instrument, the electric slide guitar. They were also known for using the electric piano.
While the band is credited with writing some good songs, most of their material is mediocre at best. Their live show is impressive, though. They have one platinum record, and are still going strong. They’ve released a few DVDs, including one in December 2013 called “Live in St. Pete.”
The new album, Under the Influence, features an AOR sound. It’s been funded by fans via PledgeMusic, and it charted Billboard hard rock albums. It lacks the bluesy edge of their earlier work, and lacks a thick bass heavy bottom end.
The title track is a solid, albeit ploggy, song. It’s not a bad opener. The guitar interplay is sharp, and the horns are nonintrusive. The lyrics are a bit cliched, but they do the job.
Mighty Baby
During the late 60s, Mighty Baby grew from the London Mod act The Action. Their self-titled debut album is considered one of the greatest psychedelic records of all time. In fact, their music is a little bit like the Grateful Dead. But they have a different flavor. They have a laid-back riff and a mystical quality to their sound. They are a fusion of jazz, blues, psychedelia and folk.
Among the bands that emerged from the 1960s British Mod scene were the Beatles, The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, the Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Traffic, The Who and The Who. The Coasters, who released a hit single in 1965 called “Let’s Go Stoned,” were also among the groups that arose from this musical craze.
The band’s members included Alan King, Chris Dreja, Roger Powell, Martin Stone, and Ian Whiteman. They had a reputation for a wild live show. But they never made it big. Instead, they slowed their pace to a more spiritual and artful approach. Their psychedelia-influenced sound evolved to become more like early Steve Miller Band and Jefferson Airplane.