Of Forest Fame (60's)

As the name suggests, these are all songs from the movie, Forrest Gump. It’s not that I have any particular love for the movie, I think it’s alright, yet the music on it is what makes it special. I actually listened to the soundtrack frequently before I ever saw the movie, my parents clearly seeing its quality, making this album one of my earliest exposures to music of the past. And so when it came to finding my favourite 60s songs, I found quite a few to be off this album, so much so that I thought it deserved an episode of its own. It actually covers many more decades than just this meaning I had to cut some great, non-60’s songs. It also contains 60’s artists which I couldn’t use as I’d either already done so or am holding for the future. So the fact that I could still find 5 great songs gives an insight into the enormous scope of this CD. It is simply the best soundtrack ever released. If you only buy one Original Movie Soundtrack this year, buy this!

San Francisco – Scott Mckenzie
Raise your hands people and sway. This is one of those songs that is unimaginably pleasant. The harmonious music is a perfect backing to the soothing voice. It is no surprise then that this song became an anthem for hippies in America. It makes me happy and I’m sure it made Scott Mckenzie happy enough to forget that the rest of his music was ordinary.

Land of 1000 Dances – Wilson Picket
I needed a jazzy song and I needed an upbeat song, two reoccurring themes of this album. Thankfully this song fitted the bill perfectly. It’s a rather simple-minded song, but that’s the beauty of it.

Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
I haven’t heard much of The Byrds but from what I read they seem to be very much of the build The Beatles. Highly popular and accomplished yet somehow lacking the genius of their English counterparts especially as most of their biggest hits were covers. However they put their own style into the music they played, producing many memorable pop songs, this included

California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas
I can hardly criticise them for their name by today’s standards however I’m sure in their time it was rather extraordinary. Musically they were a vocal group rather than a band with the instruments playing the back seat to their vocal harmonies. Harmonies more than present in this song. I think my affinity with this song comes from the hilarious version I heard on a sketch show once. This is good none-the-less

Mrs Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
This song is in the same vain as the first one, pleasant. It’s hard to describe it in any other way. This song actually started out as simply a few snippets, written for a movie, however its popularity prompted it to be turned into a fully fledged song, a #1 song at that. But enough of the history, just sit back, close your eyes and enjoy.

If I were you I wouldn’t take much notice of the very brief briefings I’ve given here as to be honest I don’t much about any of these songs other than the fact I like them.

This was written March 8, 2006. What? Why?