theDIHEDRAL Playlist

I have been dreading this day since January 1^st, 2024. 

In case you haven’t been following along…

Each month this year, I’m creating a new climbing playlist for each decade going all the way back to the 1920’s.  A hundred years of music!  Not necessarily the best songs from each decade, but songs that I can envision on road trips, at the crag, at the gym, on training days, and on the send train. 

We kicked things off in January with the 1920’s.  February and March brought in hits from the 30’s and 40’s, April gave us the classics of the 1950’s, and we have arrived at what is probably the best decade of music that the world has ever known.

I haven’t been dreading the 60’s because the music is bad, I’ve been dreading the 60’s because the music is miraculous and abundant, and I am indecisive.  I’m not a spiritual person, but if someone wanted to make an argument for the idea of external forces at play, their best bet would be to play music from the 1960’s.

How or why, anyone would limit themselves to just 10 songs is beyond me, but I’ve made a commitment, and I plan to stick with it.

This was the hardest crag-list by far!!!I With great indecision, I was able to limit the list to 26 songs.  Chopping sixteen songs after that became a real Sophie’s Choice/Heinz Dilemma/Buridan’s Ass!

I’m only picking ten songs from each decade.  So, here is where I am depending on you to fill in the gaps.  If you have a song or songs that need to be added to the list, let me know and they are going on, no questions asked!

The 1960’s (In no particular order.)

1. Green Onions – Booker T. & the MGs
2. Louie Louie – Kingsmen
3. House Of the Rising Sun – Animals
4. I Want You Back – Jackson 5
5. Working In a Coal Mine – Lee Dorsey
6. Yellow Submarine – Beatles
7. Going Up to the Country – Canned Heat
8. California Soul – Marlena Shaw
9. Jump in the Line – Harry Belafonte
10. Comin’ Home Baby – Mel Tormé

You might be thinking ‘why in the world did you pick these 10 songs?’  You would be right to think that.  So, let me give you some context.  First, as a reminder, remember that I am not claiming these are the best songs from the 1960’s, these are just the 10 songs that make for a great climbing/road trip playlist.  Second, I realize how insane it is to leave out Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Cream, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and The Who, but everyone knows these musicians so well, that they don’t really need to be added to another list.  They have enough glory; they’ll be fine sitting this one out. Dropping Velvet Underground, James Brown, Dusty Springfield, Otis Redding, The Mamas and the Papas, and a dozen other artists did hurt a little.  Finally, independent of what songs were left off the list, the final products smacks!!!  If we were driving to the mountains, and this playlist popped up, there is no way we’re complaining!

There was so much going on as we moved into the 1960’s that is impossible to pick some primary cause for why so much great music was being made.  The music from the 1960’s irrefutably made the world a better place to live and a better place to climb!

You can find the playlist HERE!