1960s

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" is Bacharach and David at their collaborative best

Benjamin Kassel

Apr 3, 20223 min read

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" is Bacharach and David at their collaborative best

And Dionne Warwick's light, polished vocal performance takes the onetime show tune to the next level.

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 23, 20223 min read

"Evil Ways": the birth of Latin cool

Okay, how has it taken me this long to talk about Santana on here? That's borderline criminal — and I'm remedying that ASAP.

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 5, 20224 min read

"Mrs. Robinson": not (just) a film song

Simon & Garfunkel's hit from The Graduate is a reflection of their thoughts on mid-60s America.

"Reach Out I'll Be There" is... a bit more unusual than I realized

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 28, 20223 min read

"Reach Out I'll Be There" is... a bit more unusual than I realized

I didn't realize that until I looked a little closer for this post, which also led me to appreciating the song even more.

"Undun," the Guess Who's jazzy warning against acid

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 20, 20223 min read

"Undun," the Guess Who's jazzy warning against acid

One of the finest pop compositions of the 60s is very much embedded in its time.

Diving into "21st Century Schizoid Man" in memory of Ian McDonald

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 12, 20224 min read

Diving into "21st Century Schizoid Man" in memory of Ian McDonald

As I've done twice before, I pay tribute to a recently deceased musician by looking back at one of their works.

"California Dreamin'," as heard from a Californian's perspective

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 8, 20223 min read

"California Dreamin'," as heard from a Californian's perspective

What can I say? It's a winter's day.

On "I Got You Babe," Groundhog Day, and diegetic music

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 2, 20223 min read

On "I Got You Babe," Groundhog Day, and diegetic music

No song is more appropriate for a musical discussion on February 2 (or 3).

"Spinning Wheel" is a most unusual jazz fusion track... and I love it

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 31, 20224 min read

"Spinning Wheel" is a most unusual jazz fusion track... and I love it

This song is out there, but it's a good kind of out there because of how Blood, Sweat & Tears mediate all its intricacies and oddities.

"Little Boxes": a warning against blind conformity

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 30, 20223 min read

"Little Boxes": a warning against blind conformity

Malvina Reynolds' Daly City-inspired song seems to have been taken to heart soon after by students of her alma mater.

"Iko Iko," a thoroughly New Orleans record from a 60s girl group

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 24, 20223 min read

"Iko Iko," a thoroughly New Orleans record from a 60s girl group

The Dixie Cups' cover of a traditional song from their hometown stands out from the time's typical pop fare in nearly every way.

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is Baroque pop with plenty of additional intrigue

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 13, 20223 min read

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" is Baroque pop with plenty of additional intrigue

A J.S. Bach-inspired structure yields a unique and iconic recording.

"The Tears of a Clown" is unique in a profoundly Motown way

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 28, 20213 min read

"The Tears of a Clown" is unique in a profoundly Motown way

Uncommon instruments for pop and a spin on a heartbreak narrative make for an iconic soul number.

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 11, 20214 min read

Tommy Roe's key changes make me "Dizzy"

...but the song has more than just that to offer. It ends up lending itself to a discussion on risk taking in pop writing and production.

"Waterloo Sunset" examines a complex case of escapism

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 7, 20213 min read

"Waterloo Sunset" examines a complex case of escapism

The Kinks' beautiful psychedelic pop rock track has a narrator who just can't let himself enjoy life to the fullest.

Shocking Blue's rocking "Venus" has a surprising country backstory

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 29, 20214 min read

Shocking Blue's rocking "Venus" has a surprising country backstory

...and I only learned about it today.

"Fire" reflects its title through the raw energy of the Jimi Hendrix Experience

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 19, 20213 min read

"Fire" reflects its title through the raw energy of the Jimi Hendrix Experience

Is it pyromania? No, but it's a frantic and psychedelic trip that makes you feel like something's burning inside you.

As the Temptations say, "Get Ready" for what lies ahead in the near future

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 14, 20213 min read

As the Temptations say, "Get Ready" for what lies ahead in the near future

In my excitement for this coming week, I hear this tune capturing my eagerness to go full speed ahead into these next few days.

"96 Tears": Grounded in its time, or anticipatory of rock's future?

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 7, 20213 min read

"96 Tears": Grounded in its time, or anticipatory of rock's future?

Its sound as as mid-60s as you can get, but its perspective might lend itself to being a forerunner of more contemporary movements.

"The Weight": sonically genre-melding and restrained, but thematically heavy indeed

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 2, 20214 min read

"The Weight": sonically genre-melding and restrained, but thematically heavy indeed

Upon a close listen, the load-bearing in the chorus leads to a reconfiguring of the entire narrative and outlook of the tune.

Unfortified Castle

Music opinions thrown from a glass house.