Many a baby boomer got blessed with some seriously amazing music at the end of the 60s, and these soft rock jams from 1969 are just a few of them. I bet at least a couple of these mellow rock classics are still stuck in your head after all these years!
“Galveston” by Glen Campbell from ‘Galveston’
How about a country pop tune with some soft rock flavor? Glen Campbell’s massive hit with The Wrecking Crew was a crossover success on the country and pop charts. And it remains one of Campbell’s most enduring and signature classics. “Galveston” peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. It also did quite well in the UK and Canada.
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“Something” by The Beatles from ‘Abbey Road’
The Beatles dropped what would be the last record they recorded together in 1969 with Abbey Road. Though, their final album would be the following year’s Let It Be. “Something” was the main single released from Abbey Road, accompanied by “Come Together”, both of which remain favorites among Beatles fans today. “Something” has a soft rock vibe with tender lyrics, complete with a music video that featured all of the Fab Four’s then-wives. The song was a huge hit, reaching No. 1 on the Hot 100. It also reached No. 3 on the UK Singles chart.
“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby, Stills & Nash from ‘Crosby, Still & Nash’
Remember this lovely long suite from folk rock’s favorite band? “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” is definitely a folk rock song. But the soft rock elements are prominent enough to earn this CSN song a spot on our list. Penned by each member of the group, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” resonated with audiences enough to make it pretty high on the mainstream charts. The tune peaked at No. 21 on the Hot 100 and No. 11 in Canada.
“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond from ‘Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show’
Is there a chorus out there catchier than the one found in Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”? I’m not so sure. This entry on our list of baby boomer soft rock classics from 1969 was a smash hit back in the day. “Sweet Caroline” peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100. It also reached No. 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the US.
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More The List
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Tears for Fears perform on stage, UK, 1989, Curt Smith. He plays a headless Steinberger-style bass guitar. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
NASHVILLE – JANUARY 1: Pictured is Dan Seals for the Country Music Association Awards, 1986. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) -
1975: Singer and songwriter C.W. McCall (William Dale Fries, Jr.) poses for an MGM Records publicity still in 1975. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – JULY 27: (L-R) Jan Savage, Rick Andridge, Sky Saxon and Daryl Hooper of the rock and roll group 'Sky Saxon And The Seeds' pose for a portrait on July 27, 1967 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Don Henley during MTV Unplugged in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) -
Patty Loveless on 6/29/96 in Chicago, Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage) -
American country musician Buck Owens plays guitar in a promotion portrait for his 'All American Show,' mid 1960s. (Photo by Archive Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
American singer Roy Orbison at the Microphone at ATV House in London where he has signed a TV contract worth £10,000 for 2 shows on ITV. October 1964. (Photo by Greenwell/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)