My rules:

• Only one song per artist/group
• The song must be released that specific year
• Songs from live albums not allowed
• Restricted to only 20 songs

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1969 was another great year in music, here are my 20 chosen songs (and those who came close).

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• Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones

  

  One of the greatest rock songs from any artist, “Gimme Shelter” is a glowering, snarling beast of a recording. It tiptoes in on one of music’s most recognizable chord-based riffs, ghostly “oooh’s,” and percussion ratcheting up the tension. When the full band enters—sinister low piano notes, fuzzy harmonica, organ chimes—it grabs you by the lapels and shakes you, begging you for shelter from an ominous storm.
  -Bill Janovitz (Rocks Off: 50 Tracks That Tell the Story of the Rolling Stones)

  It first appeared as the opening track on the band’s 1969 album Let It Bleed.  Greil Marcus, writing in Rolling Stone magazine at the time of its release, said of it, “The Stones have never done anything better.”

  The recording features Richards playing in his new open tuning on electric guitar. The recording also features vocals by Merry Clayton, recorded at a last-minute late-night recording session during the mixing phase, arranged by her friend and record producer Jack Nitzsche. Lisa Fischer was later recruited to perform the song during their concerts.
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  Oh, a storm is threat’ning
  My very life today
  If I don’t get some shelter
  Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
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  Continue reading “1969: 20 Songs Released in 1969 You Must Hear” →