Various Artists - The '60s: Original NBC Motion Picture Soundtrack (1999)

This landed on my doorstep earlier this year as part of a multi-CD "care package" from a long-time reader and friend o' the blog. I never saw the two-part mini-series (probably because of reviews like this), so I have no idea what would be on the soundtrack. I'm guessing Dylan and CCR. Before we start, let's check a few reviews:

Think of these ’60s standards from the NBC miniseries as Big Chill: The Unused Tracks. - Entertaiment Weekly

Most of the 15 selections have been spinning on oldies stations for years. - Allmusic

We have no use for this miniseries. - Wikipedia

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #22

Tracks:

1. Chimes of Freedom - Bob Dylan and Joan Osborne. Original version released in 1964. While I appreciate his songwriting talents, I just can't stand Dylan's voice. Next.
2. The Weight - The Band. For years, I assumed this song was titled, "Take A Load Off, Annie." And not only was I wrong about the title, the name is Fanny, not Annie. Ah, well it's a classic for good reason. This song peaked at #63 in 1968, so it took a while to be fully appreciated but cream rises to the top.
3. Do You Believe in Magic? - The Lovin' Spoonful. This peppy tune peaked at #9 in 1965 and I'll sing along with John Sebastian every time. Deservedly ranked number 216 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
4. Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann.  #1 in 1964. Another one that I'll sing along with every time much to chagrin of other bar patrons (but they eventually join in, too).
5. Can I Get a Witness - Marvin Gaye. #22 in 1963. The brilliance of Holland/Dozier/Holland, the emotional voice Marvin Gaye and the playing of The Funk Brothers. More of this, please. 
6. My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels. #1 in 1963.  One of the great call-and-response tunes. There's more R&B on this compilation than I would have guessed - thankful for that.
7. Don't Worry Baby - The Beach Boys. #17 in 1964. The song with which Brian Wilson showed the world he was more than just surf tunes. Wonderful harmonies supporting a beautiful falsetto melody. When I'm done listening to the disc, I'll come back to this track again. Wow.
8. My Girl - The Temptations. #1 in 1965. The group's signature tune, it was recently selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant." They got that right.
9. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream. #5 in 1968. And we move to the psychedelic rock portion of the compilation. This tune possesses not only one of the all-time great bass lines, Clapton's solo ain't too shabby, either. Surprisingly, they include the longer album version here.
10. Draft Morning - The Byrds.  Never heard this one before - it's a deep cut from The Notorious Byrd Brothers album (1968). Beautiful folk-rock interrupted by gunfire. Powerful protest music. I'll revisit this one.
11. Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane. #5 in 1967. I can't hear this song without picturing Grace Slick tripping on LSD, eyes widening with increasing intensity as she wails out the chorus. Immediately associated with the Haight-Ashbury counterculture. I like how the song just sort of ends as is if the musicians suddenly got bored with it.
12. Feelin' Alright - Traffic. I'm more familiar with the Joe Cocker cover, but the groove is the same and this one has a sax solo so it all evens out.
13. Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud - James Brown. #10 in 1968. JB with his bad self. The influence of both music and lyrics cannot be overstated. Not to mention that groove is catchy as hell.
14. Winds Of Change - Eric Burdon and The Animals. My first time hearing this one. The opening cut to the 1967 album of the same name, this thing is a psychedelic trip complete with sitar, sound effects, electric violin, and spoken word. Turn on, tune in, drop out.
15. Chicago/We Can Change The World - Graham Nash. #35 in 1971. Probably included to soundtrack a scene about the 1968 Democratic National Convention. This one doesn't do much for me, but that doesn't mean this CD isn't a great compilation overall.

I was right about Dylan, wrong about CCR.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.