SF0228 1969

1969

Big year, 1969.

It’s sometimes said that the most important song of 1977 was not by the Sex Pistols, but the Giorgio Moroder produced Donna Summer hit, ‘I Feel Love’. Probably true, in terms of influence.

Similarly, the biggest event of 1969 is traditionally designated as the moon landing on July 21^st. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. Though that’s not quite right, is it? Should be “one small step for A man”. It was later claimed that was what Neil Armstrong actually said but the indefinite article got lost in space. What did we actually get out of the space programme though? Not much.

Anyway, later that year something of ultimately far greater significance – hence the parallel with Donna Summer – occurred. ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet, sent its first message.

In Woodstock over 400,000 people gathered for three days of a music and art festival in New York state in August. It defined 1960s counterculture, in one way, but signalled its end in another.

A police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City in June sparked violent demonstrations. But it’s an ill wind. That became a major catalyst for the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Richard Nixon was inaugurated as US president. Spoiler alert, that didn’t end well. And another American political career that didn’t end well was Teddy Kennedy’s who drove off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in July, resulting in the drowning death of passenger Mary Jo Kopechne.

And something else not ending well was The Beatles, who performed live together for the final time on a London rooftop.

People do speculate as to whether there was anything that could have been done to keep the Beatles going. What if Brian Epstein hadn’t died. What if John hadn’t got zonked out on heroin. What if they’d been nicer to George. What if Yoko hadn’t stolen his biscuits.

But listening to this episode it becomes clear that the world was moving on, even past the ultimate band. We’ve already got synthesiser experiments, reggae, soul, funk and proto-punk. Glam rock and heavy metal are just round the corner.

I hope you enjoy the choices here. The concept of “alternative” music didn’t really exist in 1969, but if it did, it would sound something like this.