Ray Charles. Howlin’ Wolf. Bob Dylan. Booker T & the MG’s. WXPN’s Dan Reed has 1962, the greatest year in music for you on Slacker.
In 1962, rock and roll was still pretty young, and the Billboard charts were filled with easy listening songs by Bobby Vinton, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, and more than a handful of one hit wonders.
Musically, there were glimmers of hope though. Chubby Checker taught the world to dance with The Twist, Booker T and the MG’s were cookin’ with Green Onions, and the surfing sounds of The Beach Boys were starting to swell. It was a big year for jazz with classics from John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, Charles Mingus, and Herbie Hancock.
WXPN’s annual countdown theme this year is the Greatest Year In Music. We’re asking you to vote for up to five of your favorite/greatest years in music. Voting ends Monday, October 26th and starting Monday, November 2nd, WXPN will play back the top greatest years in music all week long. Voting is easy – VOTE NOW here for what you think was the greatest year in music.
Below, WXPN’s Dan Reed hosts the 1962 episode of the Greatest Year In Music on Slacker.
