Best Oldies Music

Are you looking to find some free music oldies but goodies without joining a club or signing a membership? Are you frustrated with having to buy CD sets in order to get your favorite song? Well don’t worry because there are many places where you can still get your favorite songs for free!

Whether you enjoy the rock bands of the 70’s and 80’s, groups from the 60’s like the Beatles, Rolling Stones or even the Monkees, you are sure to find what you want! Maybe you are searching for Big Band music like Glenn Miller or Tommy Dorsey, or really enjoy the music of the 50’s. No problem, you can find whatever you like without having to jump through hoops or pay for music sets when you only want a song or two!

Here are some great places to find free music oldies but goodies:

* Project Playlist
If you are looking for a place to get great rock music, you will find everything from Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash to punk rock, heavy metal or great rock ballads of the 70’s and 80’s from groups like KISS, AC/DC and Whitesnake as well as many more. Project playlist carries many other genres of music as well.

* Pandora Radio
Design your own radio station! Would you like to create a free list of only the songs that you enjoy? You can find an extensive selection of songs in their library and choose what you want. Then sit back and relax as you here your songs being played exclusively on your new radio station.

*Jango
Covering music genres like country, jazz, rock, pop, r&b and even electronica as well as others, Jango will let you create your own playlist of great music. If you just want to turn on a station and listen , you can choose from their wide selection of radio stations.

*GotRadio
If you enjoy big band music or are stuck in the fifties, check out GotRadio. They specialize in free music oldies but goodies.
There are many ways to get your favorite songs for free. No matter what style of music you enjoy, you don’t have to be subject to club prices or membership fees to get it. Here are some more ideas for you to consider.

*Go to your favorite genres website. You will find lists of your favorite artists and songs that you can choose from.

*Online companies will often give away free downloads as a reward for you trying their products.

*Social Networks
Many social networking sites are now giving you the ability to create your own playlists within your social site.

No matter what style of music you like, today you have plenty of opportunities to find free music oldies but goodies! Give it a try and I’m sure you will be satisfied.

Virtually anyone can name an “oldies” tune at the drop of a hat. You don’t have to be a passionate music lover, you don’t have to know every word to every B side single. Many oldies have insinuated themselves inside the brains of people around the world.

What makes an Oldie?

Generally, the start of music we love today began in the 1940’s. Anything from the decades from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and perhaps (now that we’re well into the 21st century) even into the 70’s can be considered an “oldie.” And what’s the saying? Oldie but Goodie. Meaning, these songs are not just old and boring… they are classics in their own right.

Oldies music lyrics can be sung by different artists, can be set amid a backdrop of different instruments, but the lyrics remain unchanged, and the tune is recognizable to those who love them.

Some examples of oldies music include Elvis Presley tunes. And remember the Louis Armstrong classic from the 40’s, What a Wonderful World? Timeless. Ageless. We hear it today and we recognize it instantaneously. We sing along and feel the comfort of the words.

Oldies Music Lyrics: A different sense, a different style

Oldies music seems to have a different style than music of today. The music of the mid 20th century seemed more meaningful, beautiful in a sense, toward humanity and what it means to be in love with life. Though certainly there is music today that fills that bill, overwhelmingly there is more serenity to the oldies tunes. Different eras bring about different styles in music and today’s rapidly changing technology has brought about an advancement in music such as techno pop, rap, and dance mix. This music couldn’t have existed in the mid 20th century because the instruments used to reach these new musical heights had not yet been invented.

Some might even argue that if a 45 record does not exist for a music single, it is not a true oldie. Surely, as time marches on that definition will change as the number of actual 45’s in existence will dwindle. But certainly the idea of an “oldie” remains.

And conversely, some might argue (more than likely the older generation) that oldies don’t sound nearly as good if not played on a record player. Something about the scratch of the needle on the vinyl record perhaps that transports the person back to a simpler time. The crisp, clear melodies heard from a CD player more than likely sounding a bit hollow and empty to their ears.

Oldies Music Lyrics: Singers who have etched lyrics in our minds

Some other Oldies singers include: Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole singing “Unforgettable,” Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly singing “True Love,” nearly anything Frank Sinatra sings, of course. Art Garfunkel with “I only have eyes for you.” And the beauty of these is, just the mere mention of them on paper can bring back the lyrics and tunes inside your head.

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save every day
Till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

Jim Croce could not have said it any better, about a loved one, or about oldies music lyrics.

The term, “oldies,” refers to both popular music from the 1950s-1970s and the radio format that specializes in this type of music. “Golden oldies” usually refers to oldies music exclusively from the 1950s-early 1960s. Oldies songs are typically from the R&B, pop and rock music genres but may also include country, movie soundtrack, novelty, and other types of popular music played on the radio from around 1950-on. Pop music genres that had their heyday before the 1950s (e.g., ragtime, big band) are generally considered “too old” to be included in the oldies radio format. Oldies music radio stations, which typically feature bands and artists such as (to name a few) Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Pat Boone, Sam Cooke, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, the Rascals, the Association, the Temptations, the Who, Elton John, and Fleetwood Mac, cover a wide variety of styles including early rock and roll, rockabilly, doo-wop, surf rock, girl groups, the British Invasion, folk rock, psychedelic rock, baroque pop, soul music, Motown, and bubblegum pop. Oldies music also overlaps with classic rock which focuses on the rock music of the late 1960s and 1970s as well as newer music in a similar style.

The phrase, “oldies but goodies,” was first coined in 1957 by renowned deejay Art Laboe who, at around that time, used to get frequent requests from his listeners for songs from the early 1950s. A central figure in L.A. radio for over half a century, Laboe was the first deejay to play rock and roll on the West Coast and one of the first to play black and white artists on the same show. In 1959, he put together the first LP to feature (mostly older) songs by different artists. This immensely popular compilation album, entitled “Oldies But Goodies,” stayed on Billboard’s Top 100 LP’s chart for over three years and has, to date, spawned some 14 sequels. (Click here for a recent interview with Art Laboe.)

Soon after the release of Laboe’s first “Oldies But Goodies” album, the phrase, “oldies but goodies,” became commonplace and by around 1960, people were waxing nostalgic for 1950s doo-wop which was already starting to be classified as “oldies.” Little Caesar And The Romans’ 1961 hit, “Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me of You)” and its sequel, “Memories of Those Oldies But Goodies,” both pay homage to early doo-wop and doo-wop artists. This wave of nostalgia brought about a doo-wop revival in the early 1960s which was the first of many nostalgia movements in pop music since the term, “oldies,” was first applied to older pop music.

While “golden oldies” has remained a constant over the years, the larger body of pop music that we still call “oldies” today - which is made up of core golden oldies songs plus more modern material - is not fixed but has been gradually expanding forward in time to keep up with changing demographics. Nowadays, oldies music is generally considered to include all of the 1970s, even disco, and the same is expected to be true someday for the music of the 1980s, now often described as “retro.” Oldies music is also expanding in breadth as thousands of long-forgotten tunes from the 1950s and 1960s that never made the Top 40 in their day are being rediscovered and resurrected. Whether because of nostalgia, curiosity, or a genuine love for good music, the oldies format has maintained a huge following and will probably continue to do so for many years to come.

Amy Gold (c) Copyright 2005, allbutforgottenoldies.net

Amy Gold is the webmaster of http://www.allbutforgottenoldies.net/ Visit her website where you can search and browse thousands of song titles from 1960-1975 with links to audio clips. Her website also has interviews, RSS feeds, and many tips and resources of interest to oldies music collectors and other music hobbyists.

I have read that the 1970’s were a pivotal decade, sending American culture in a new direction. The decade started with the “Smiley Face” stickers and bubblegum music, and took off from there, in several different directions. Here are some of my favorite hits from that decade:

1) “Popcorn”-
This song was music played on the Moog Synthesizer, an instrument that became popular in the late “60’s. It was composed by Gershon Kingsley and first released in 1969, although it was the band “Hot Butter” that really made it a hit in 1972. “Hot Butter” was mostly just Stan Free playing the synthesizer. I loved it because it really does sound like popcorn; it’s catchy and fun.

2) “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”-
This was originally a South African Zulu folk song, and was made a hit in the U.S. by the Tokens in 1961. It was remade in 1972 by Robert John, which is the version I liked best. It was actually a big hit in South Africa when it was recorded by Solomon Linda in 1939, who had written it based on an experience he had chasing lions who were stalking his family’s cows. This is a catchy tune too, although some of the words can be confusing to some people.

3) “Stairway to Heaven”-
This Led Zeppelin song, from 1971, was everyone’s favorite in my school. Actually it has been the most requested song ever on FM stations, as well as the most popular sheet music in rock and roll, selling over a million copies. It was written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, and is eight minutes long. It was never released as a single.

4) “Lady Marmalade”-
This was a song about prostitutes in New Orleans in the French Quarter (red-light district), and was recorded by Patti Labelle in 1974. It was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan and became their biggest hit. I couldn’t understand a lot of the words but I was thrilled to be able to understand the French ones “Voulez-vouz coucher avec moi, ce soir? (do you want to go to bed with me tonight?)”

5) “I am Woman”-
This song came out in 1972. Helen Reddy wrote lyrics and Ray Burton changed some of them to fit into the music he wrote for it. They were both Australians. Feminism was big in the “70’s and this became one of the leading feminist anthems. I found it affirming and exciting.

6) “Riders on the Storm”-
This song, from 1971, was Jim Morrison’s last, shortly before his death. The effect of rain in this song was from the electric piano. I think the piano solo was the best part of the whole song, but it was partly cut out to shorten the song for AM radio. This is my favorite song of all time.

The 1970’s were good years for music. There was lots of variety, everything from disco to feminist and protest songs, as well as darker, more “adult” songs. . There was music to please everyone. It is unfortunate that this music doesn’t get played much any more, except for the really big hits. A lot of lesser-known 1970’s music would be great to hear again.

Tracy Crowe loves the music from the 60’s and 70’s best

For great ways to listen to all your music, visit http://www.i-found-it-here.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Crowe

The Reggae beat has been through many stages since its formulation in Jamaica in the early 1960s. It began with the Ska beat which derives from a strong influence of rhythm & blues, and then Rocksteady, before reaching it’s worldwide appeal as Reggae during the Seventies to early Eighties and producing such artist’s as:

Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Junior Delgado, Burning Spear, Third World, Pat Kelly, Matumbi, Black Uhuru, Black Roots, Big Youth, The Mighty Diamonds, One Blood, Junior English, Bunny Wailer, Prince Lincoln , Pablo Gad, Aswad, Steel Pulse, Carol Thompson, Louisa Marks, Janet Kay, Sister Love, and many more big name Reggae performers. We must remember that Bob Marley was the fore runner for all the above mentioned artist’s.

The 12″ 45rpm vinyl record was first introduced during this period of reggae history, and toasting (an early form of rapping) was a also a seventies invention. It was started by Sound System DJs at dances to futher entertain their audiences and became so popular that many artist’s began adding toasting to their records to make their tunes unique.

The Reggae beat also became faster and more sophisticated musically, to keep up with the new sound coming in from the USA called Funk which used the aid of the new electronic musical instruments and included the famous syndrome used on many a tune.

Meanwhile artist’s and musicians living in the UK had a hard time establishing a foot hold in the Reggae market due to Jamaica’s dominance. Up to now Reggae did not have a romantic side, and it was felt that the lovers amongst us should be catered for, so Lover’s rock was born right here in the U.K, showing a softer side to this wonderful music. Lovers rock also covered many of the popular pop songs in the UK charts and made cover versions almost the norm.

Even the vinyl records suddenly changed colour from their usual black, to green, white, yellow, blue, multi and many others in between.

Roots music, which had a heavy Reggae bass line and lyrics to match, really captured the mood of what life is like living in the ghetto. It also became the fore runner for another style, called Steppers, an almost dance beat that you step to. Last but not least Rockers derives mainly from taking the old Rock Steady rhythms and revamping them with a new bass line and beat. Think of it as early remixing of a slow tune into disco dance tune which is used today throughout the music industry.

You can find these tunes for sale on this site.

This period was also a very enterprising time for creating your own records labels although most of them are no longer around, but this website has many exhibits of these labels, plus many more to come, they are a rarity in their own right.

During this period I was an avid record buyer and as a consequence I built up a vast and extensive collection,I also ran my own recording studio until the late 90s. which equiped me with a sound knowledge on the subject.

http://www.reggaerevive45.com/acatalog/Reggae_History.html

The 1970s was probably the first decade in which the cynicism of a generation was widely reflected in the popular culture and music of that generation. Like most decades, musically the ‘70s could be divided up into five year periods; the first years saw the rise of the influence of indie band the Velvet Underground and a shift away from bubble gum rock of the ‘60s; the Beatles broke up and suddenly everyone was experimenting.

In the garages of the United States and the United Kingdom, kids were figuring out just what the hell they really COULD do with their guitars and their electronic equipment, not to mention a pissed off voice. While the United Kingdom turned out some synthy stuff, the States and several bands in the UK were much more focused on the do it yourself grind that punk music offered. The indie ethos was thus created through the actions of the proto punk bands; they separated themselves from their cultural norms through their outward appearances as much as their music. Richard Hell, the Ramones, and in the UK the Sex Pistols all had their roots in the indie movement, and several of them never left the scene behind. Once again, indie was to have a huge influence on popular, although in the case of punk the major labels would not pick up on the fervor until the latter half of the 1990s, when (just as in the ‘70s) annoying music again ruled the day.

Another indie development in the 1970s was the creation of progressive rock. Now, this rock was totally at odds with Beatles, Byrds, and all the other peaceful music of the ‘60s. It created its sound using a full range of instruments, and was just as experimental as the electronica movement of the 1990s. Unlike punk, though, progressive rock was to catch big label attention early in its development, and made the jump from indie to “scene” relatively quickly. In fact, a big part of the growth of punk was in reaction to the commercialization of prog rock.

New Wave was the third form of music to develop on the indie scene, and like progressive rock it was quickly usurped and mutilated by labels, who would sign anyone with any connection to the true sound. This type of music was pretty much right in between punk and prog; experimental and edgy at the same time. In fact, some of the most influential artists in the New Wave movement are still cited by label successes such as U2 today; Elvis Costello was known for his pointed lyrics, and Blondie was perhaps the most well-known band of this era (although today they are labeled as disco in many ignorant quarters). Sire Records and Stiff Records were two of the major players in the indie market in the ‘70s.

Of course, when a new sound is created, sooner or later someone will capitalize on the potential money. When the big labels came knocking, it was the Clash and the Cult that answered the door; their New Wave sound was the newest hit on radio in the early ‘80s and signaled the end of New Wave as far as indie scene followers were concerned.

IndieUpdate.com is the Indie Music blog. IndieUpdate provides news, reviews and more on indie music independent artists, independent labels, and anything else related to the indie music scene. Bookmark us or subscribe to our feed today and stay in tune!

When you are planning a baby shower, you want to do more than worry about the baby shower games. Here are some simple to do, inexpensive baby shower games for the next party you host:

1. The Baby Name Game: All you need are several sheets of paper and some pencils or pens. All party goers get a limited amount of time to write potential baby names for the mother. Stipulations can be made on the game, like all names need to begin with “A” and “S” or they need to be names that could be used for both a boy and a girl. The party attendant with the most names on their list at the end of the time limit wins.

2. The Tummy Game: All you need is a large roll of yarn and the future mommy’s tummy! All the party goers will cut a piece of yarn that they believe represents the size of the future mommy’s tummy. At the end of the game, an actual piece of yarn will be cut that represents the size of her baby belly. The person who has the piece of yarn that matches the actual measurement closest wins.

3. The Tray Game: This game can be used for several situations, but none are as fun as the version for a baby shower. Place all kinds of items that will be used with new baby on a tray: a disposable diaper, wipes, a rattle, a bottle, a pacifier, a baby blanket…anything that a new mom would need. The more items on the tray, the harder the game will be. Show the tray to all the party goers for about one minute. Provide a piece of paper and a pencil and give everyone 5 minutes to write down as many items off the tray that they can remember. The person who remembers the most items wins. (Items from the Tray Game can be given to the new mother as a gift from the party host.)

Prizes for all your baby shower games can be small, like scented candles or perfumed soaps. All of these baby shower games are simple, inexpensive, and will make your next shower a big hit!

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Baby Shower Games, printable activities, party planning tips, menus, recipes, and party supplies to help complete your event

If you like the golden oldies theme, you’re probably an adult. It’s fun and easy to have a golden oldies celebration. Pick your era but don’t worry about mixing them up. Think back to the good old days when music was about lyrics and simple tunes, movies were romantic and funny, and the life was sweet and unhurried. You can have a swinging sixties party or just let your guests decide on a time period between the twenties and the sixties that they liked best.

Golden oldies décor should be plastic and colorful since that was the rage of the time. The sixties were all about rounded and curvy furniture and art pieces so pull out your mom or grandma’s old stuff. Lava lamps were the rage in the 70’s so if you can get your hands on one or two of these they’ll add to the atmosphere. A lot of stuff in your parent’s attic is probably just the thing you need. Let your guests dress in tights and bold prints or Doris Day dresses. Hair can be done long and bobbed like the Beatles or gelled and wavy like Errol Flynn. For women, pile long hair high on your head or wear short hair smooth and put on a polka dot hair band.

Have plenty of golden oldies soundtracks and display your eight track if you have one. Round colorful plastic bowls full of popcorn and snacks should be placed around the room. Make sure there is a dance-floor as well, so your guest can bust out moves to all their old favorites.

Food can be simple but bring elements in from the days of the golden oldies – offer your guests soda pops or floats, which are basically colas with ice cream in them in a tall glass. 70’s staples such as quiche and fondue will also go down well with guests.

Having a ‘Golden Oldies’ party is a great way to reminisce about times gone by. The ideas above are only starting point – throw a few more into the mix and your party will be memorable.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino takes a common sense approach to planning and organizing events, celebrations and holiday parties with unique ideas for Golden Oldies birthday party supplies and fun party games. She explains proper etiquette and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free holiday printable games and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Themes including Golden Oldies Party Supplies to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or “just because” parties. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

Before you make any real preparations for your Golden Oldies Party, you need to think of the era that you wish to use. Even though you want to plan the party based on the post-1950s with the music, dress, and events that transpired during that era, you may choose to zero in on a more specific decade. After all, if most of the guests were not born until the 1950s, they will not have a clue about the events of the 1950s except what they have read or heard. Think of the era in which most of your guests were teenagers or older and base your party around that decade.

How do you plan a Golden Oldies Party if all of your guests are from a different era? A fun thought might be to allow your guests to come dressed as they did growing up in that decade of rock and roll and partying. If you have several guests, it can make for an exciting party with music and costumes from several decades. Encourage your guests to share events they remember as teenagers: dances, school, shopping, clothes, activities, games, television shows, etc. Not only will your party be fun, it will allow all of the guests to share some trivia from their past and give younger guests an opportunity to take a walk into another decade if only for a moment.

No matter what decade you choose for your Golden Oldies party, rest assured that you will certainly entertain your guests. Nothing is more eventful that a party that lets guests go back into the past for just a few hours and relive their carefree years in high school and college. Those days are in the past, but a party can bring them back into focus for just a few hours and give everyone a taste of the Golden Oldies decades.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or “just because” parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.