This was originally a tape series, and a very long one: sixteen C-90s, which is twenty-four hours of music, all from the period December ‘63 to May ‘69, with no repeats. The last tape, Volume 16, was completed in 2000. CD conversion started shortly thereafter and has proceeded at a spectacularly slow pace: Volume 15 was a year ago. And the fact that CDs contain 80 minutes, maybe, while I used to cram 91, even 92 minutes onto a cassette, has never really been dealt with — five tracks from the tape don’t appear here — hasn’t bothered me as much as I thought it would.

The next volume, though, won’t be a version of a tape: it will be constructed from scratch. Not that I’m worried about having enough material. I just hope it won’t take me another year to do.

Track listing for 111136-2:

1. Del Shannon: Stranger in Town
2. The Beach Boys: Don’t Worry Baby
3. Dionne Warwick: Reach Out for Me
4. The Yardbirds: Shapes of Things
5. Elvis Presley: U. S. Male
6. The Seekers: I’ll Never Find Another You
7. Stevie Wonder: A Place in the Sun
8. Gary Lewis and the Playboys: She’s Just My Style
9. The Animals: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
10. The Arbors: The Letter
11. Jackie Wilson: Whispers (Gettin’ Louder)
12. The Beatles: Love Me Do
13. Petula Clark: Don’t Give Up
14. Percy Sledge: Take Time to Know Her
15. The Easybeats: Friday on My Mind
16. Dusty Springfield: Stay Awhile
17. Edwin Starr: Agent Double-O-Soul
18. The Newbeats: Run, Baby, Run (Back into My Arms)
19. Brenda and the Tabulations: Dry Your Eyes
20. The Hollies: On a Carousel
21. Jay and the Techniques: Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie
22. The 5th Dimension: Stoned Soul Picnic
23. The Bee Gees: Words
24. Creedence Clearwater Revival: I Put a Spell on You
25. The Turtles: It Ain’t Me Babe
26. Bob Dylan: Subterranean Homesick Blues
27. The Temptations: Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
28. The Lovin’ Spoonful: Darling Be Home Soon

The hits, as they used to say on the radio, just keep on comin’. I can’t place this picture too accurately, but it does seem to look the part, and sometimes that’s all I need.

Track listing for 111126-2:

1. The Gants: Road Runner
2. Marvin Gaye: Ain’t That Peculiar
3. The Mamas and the Papas: Creeque Alley
4. The Edwin Hawkins Singers: Oh Happy Day
5. The Turtles: She’d Rather Be with Me
6. Sonny and Cher: The Beat Goes On
7. The Critters: Mr. Dieingly Sad
8. The Electric Prunes: Get Me to the World On Time
9. The Supremes: Back in My Arms Again
10. The Beatles: Get Back
11. Tommy Roe: Sweet Pea
12. Creedence Clearwater Revival: Proud Mary
13. San Remo Golden Strings: Hungry for Love
14. The Byrds: Eight Miles High
15. The Doors: Touch Me
16. ? and the Mysterians: I Need Somebody
17. Gary Lewis and the Playboys: Count Me In
18. The Guess Who: Shakin’ All Over
19. The Dells: There Is
20. The American Breed: Bend Me, Shape Me
21. Lee Dorsey: Ride Your Pony
22. The Fireballs: Bottle of Wine
23. Billy Stewart: I Do Love You
24. The Kingsmen: The Jolly Green Giant
25. The Four Tops: It’s the Same Old Song
26. Herman’s Hermits: Wonderful World
27. Raymond Lefevre: Soul Coaxing (Âme Caline)
28. I Know a Place: Petula Clark

Yep, here’s another one, and there’s at least one more in the can, assuming I can even find the can these days. The bisected young lady was hawking Fama garments in Italy some time around 1963.

Track listing for 111122-2:

1. The Rolling Stones: Mother’s Little Helper
2. Stevie Wonder: For Once in My Life
3. The Lovin’ Spoonful: Daydream
4. Brenda Lee: Is It True
5. Frank Sinatra: That’s Life
6. Jan and Dean: New Girl in School
7. Diana Ross and the Supremes: Reflections
8. The Yardbirds: Happenings Ten Years Time Ago
9. The Impressions: You Must Believe Me
10. The Grass Roots: Let’s Live for Today
11. Simon and Garfunkel: Scarborough Fair/Canticle
12. Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through the Grapevine
13. Hugh Masekela: Grazing in the Grass
14. The 4 Seasons: Let’s Hang On!
15. The Beatles: Please Please Me
16. The Trashmen: Surfin’ Bird
17. The Amboy Dukes: Journey to the Center of the Mind
18. Petula Clark: Downtown
19. Brenton Wood: The Oogum Boogum Song
20. Jon and Robin: Do It Again (A Little Bit Slower)
21. The Dave Clark Five: Over and Over
22. Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
23. Bee Gees: I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You
24. The Beau Brummels: Just a Little
25. The Bobby Fuller Four: I Fought the Law
26. Bobby Vee: Come Back When You Grow Up
27. Sandy Posey: I Take It Back
28. The Rascals: A Ray of Hope
29. Glen Campbell: Wichita Lineman

Lucky number 13, as the deejays used to say two-thirds of the way through the Top 40 countdown. The cover photo originally sold Van Raalte hosiery in all those puffy shades.

Track listing for 111118-2:

1. The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night
2. Gene Pitney: It Hurts to Be in Love
3. The Shangri-Las: Give Him a Great Big Kiss
4. Billy Joe Royal: Down in the Boondocks
5. Jr. Walker and the All-Stars: Shotgun
6. Brian Hyland: The Joker Went Wild
7. The Barbarians: Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl
8. The Animals: We Gotta Get Out of This Place
9. Canned Heat: On the Road Again
10. Dion: Abraham, Martin and John
11. The Supremes: I Hear a Symphony
12. Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas: Little Children
13. Petula Clark: Kiss Me Goodbye
14. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Purple Haze
15. The Dave Clark Five: Glad All Over
16. Aretha Franklin: Respect
17. Dusty Springfield: You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
18. Deon Jackson: Love Makes the World Go Round
19. Tommy James and the Shondells: Get Out Now
20. Simon and Garfunkel: The Sounds of Silence
21. The Temptations: (I Know) I’m Losing You
22. The Guess Who: These Eyes
23. Lee Dorsey: Working in the Coal Mine
24. The Kinks: A Well Respected Man
25. The Miracles: Going to A Go Go
26. Cream: Sunshine of Your Love
27. The Who: Happy Jack
28. Spanky and Our Gang: Like to Get to Know You

The twelfth in this seemingly-endless series, and we’re not through yet. The cover photo was scissored out of a Sears hosiery ad.

Track listing for 111112-2:

1. The First Edition: Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
2. Clarence Carter: Slip Away
3. Cream: Badge
4. Johnny Rivers: Baby I Need Your Lovin’
5. The Rolling Stones: Get Off of My Cloud
6. Herman’s Hermits: Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter
7. The Supremes: My World Is Empty Without You
8. Bee Gees: New York Mining Disaster 1941
9. The Doors: Light My Fire *
10. J. J. Jackson: But It’s Alright
11. Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart: I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight
12. The Classics IV: Stormy
13. The Tams: What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)
14. Mitch Ryder: What Now My Love
15. Them: Gloria
16. The Shangri-Las: I Can Never Go Home Anymore
17. Simon and Garfunkel: Homeward Bound
18. Shades of Blue: Oh How Happy
19. The Statler Brothers: Flowers on the Wall
20. The Tremeloes: Suddenly You Love Me
21. Manfred Mann: Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)
22. The Four Tops: 7 Rooms of Gloom
23. Lesley Gore: My Town, My Guy and Me
24. The Foundations: Build Me Up Buttercup
25. The Beach Boys: The Little Girl I Once Knew
26. Oliver: Good Morning Starshine
27. Jackie DeShannon: What the World Needs Now Is Love
28. The Beatles: I Am the Walrus

* I need hardly point out that this is the 45 edit.

The eleventh in this seemingly-endless series. Cover photo courtesy of Cautiva, which strikes me as an odd name for a hosiery manufacturer.

Track listing for 111107-2:

1. The Temptations: My Girl
2. The Zombies: Tell Her No
3. The Human Beinz: Nobody But Me
4. The Hombres: Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)
5. The Miracles: The Tracks of My Tears
6. The Gentrys: Keep On Dancing
7. Joe Tex: Skinny Legs and All
8. The Troggs: Love Is All Around
9. Senator Bobby: Wild Thing
10. Paul Revere and the Raiders: Kicks
11. The Sapphires: Who Do You Love
12. The Young Rascals: Good Lovin’
13. Henson Cargill: Skip a Rope
14. Ohio Express: Yummy, Yummy, Yummy
15. Gerry and the Pacemakers: I Like It
16. The Beatles: She’s a Woman
17. The Chambers Brothers: Time Has Come Today
18. The Premiers: Farmer John
19. Sandy Posey: Single Girl
20. The Grass Roots: Midnight Confessions
21. The Velvelettes: He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’
22. The Outsiders: Respectable
23. The Box Tops: The Letter
24. Brooklyn Bridge: The Worst That Could Happen
25. The Rolling Stones: Jumpin’ Jack Flash
26. The Silkie: You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away
27. John Fred and His Playboy Band: Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)
28. Iron Butterfly: In-a-Gadda-da-Vida *
29. The Sunshine Company: Happy
30. The Beach Boys: When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)

* I need hardly point out that this is the 45 edit.

The tenth in this seemingly-endless series. Cover art found in a Burlington ad.

Track listing for 111102-2:

1. Eric Burdon and the Animals: San Franciscan Nights
2. Lulu: Morning Dew
3. Tom Jones: It’s Not Unusual
4. Aretha Franklin: Since You’ve Been Gone
5. The Music Explosion: Little Bit O’Soul
6. Johnny Rivers: Poor Side of Town
7. The 5th Dimension: Carpet Man
8. The Rascals: How Can I Be Sure
9. Lesley Gore: Look of Love
10. The Four Tops: Reach Out I’ll Be There
11. The Wonder Who: Don’t Think Twice
12. Gene Pitney: I’m Gonna Be Strong
13. Del Shannon: Keep Searchin’ (We’ll Follow the Sun)
14. The Beatles: Hey Jude
15. Ed Ames: My Cup Runneth Over
16. Herman’s Hermits: I’m Into Something Good
17. The Hollies: Bus Stop
18. The Dave Clark Five: Try Too Hard
19. The Happenings: See You in September
20. Bobby Goldsboro: See the Funny Little Clown
21. The Temptations: Cloud Nine
22. Dusty Springfield: Wishin’ and Hopin’
23. Crazy Elephant: Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’
24. The Blues Magoos: (We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet
25. Brenda Holloway: When I’m Gone
26. The Beach Boys: God Only Knows
27. Otis Redding: (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay
28. Dionne Warwick: Anyone Who Had a Heart

The ninth in a series that isn’t even starting to slow down. The cover art (from Belle-Sharmeer) is slightly anachronistic, but not by much, and the appeal, of course, is timeless — much like these tunes. I wrote a piece on the compilation of this very disc, which you can read here.

Track listing for 111099-2:

1. The Beatles: I Feel Fine
2. Martha and the Vandellas: Quicksand
3. Jewel Akens: The Birds and the Bees
4. The Ronettes: Walking in the Rain
5. The Outsiders: Time Won’t Let Me
6. Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders: Game of Love
7. The Shangri-Las: Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand)
8. Terry Stafford: Suspicion
9. The Royal Guardsmen: Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
10. James Brown: Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
11. The Byrds: Turn! Turn! Turn!
12. The Rose Garden: Next Plane to London
13. Jefferson Airplane: White Rabbit
14. Marvin Gaye: I’ll Be Doggone
15. The Yardbirds: Heart Full of Soul
16. Crispian St. Peters: The Pied Piper
17. Peter and Gordon: I Don’t Want to See You Again
18. The Doors: Hello, I Love You
19. Freddie and the Dreamers: Do the Freddie
20. The Toys: A Lover’s Concerto
21. The Standells: Dirty Water
22. Brenda Holloway: Every Little Bit Hurts
23. The Cowsills: The Rain, the Park and Other Things
24. The Strangeloves: I Want Candy
25. Jackie Ross: Selfish One
26. The Vogues: You’re the One
27. The Rascals: A Beautiful Morning
28. Scott McKenzie: San Francisco (Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
29. The Buckinghams: Kind of a Drag
30. The Association: Windy

I never seem to run out of this stuff, although clearly there must be an upper limit somewhere. Our cover girl is brandishing some BVDs, from a period when BVD was trying to establish itself as a manufacturer of hosiery.

Track listing for 111095-2:

1. The Electric Prunes: I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)
2. Nancy Sinatra: Sugar Town
3. Carla Thomas: B-A-B-Y
4. Neil Diamond: Thank the Lord for the Night Time
5. Herman’s Hermits: Silhouettes
6. The Larks: The Jerk
7. The Four Tops: Bernadette
8. Love: My Little Red Book
9. Bubble Puppy: Hot Smoke and Sasafrass
10. The Left Banke: Walk Away Renee
11. Brenton Wood: Gimme Little Sign
12. Lou Christie: Lightnin’ Strikes
13. Donovan: Sunshine Superman
14. The Marvelettes: Don’t Mess with Bill
15. Syndicate of Sound: Little Girl
16. The Dave Clark Five: At the Scene
17. Dobie Gray: The “In” Crowd
18. Shirley Bassey: Goldfinger
19. The Hollies: I’m Alive
20. Jan and Dean: Dead Man’s Curve
21. The Temptations: I Wish It Would Rain
22. The McCoys: Fever
23. Billy Stewart: Summertime
24. The Beatles: Paperback Writer
25. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: All Along the Watchtower
26. The Searchers: Don’t Throw Your Love Away
27. Fred Hughes: Oo Wee Baby, I Love You
28. The Beach Boys: Wendy
29. The Music Machine: Talk Talk
30. Tommy James and the Shondells: Crimson and Clover

The seventh in a series of — well, frankly, I don’t know how many there will be. It’s not like I’m going to run out of material any time soon. Another B&W picture, this time from Ergee.

Track listing for 111091-2:

1. Manfred Mann: Do Wah Diddy Diddy
2. The Hondells: Little Honda
3. Jackie DeShannon: When You Walk in the Room
4. The Sunrays: I Live for the Sun
5. The Beatles: Penny Lane
6. The Byrds: Mr. Tambourine Man
7. Dusty Springfield: I Only Want to Be with You
8. Buffalo Springfield: For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey, What’s That Sound)
9. The Shangri-Las: Past, Present and Future
10. The Four Tops: Ask the Lonely
11. The Walker Brothers: The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore)
12. The 4 Seasons: Save It for Me
13. Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone
14. Simon and Garfunkel: The Boxer
15. The Supremes: You Keep Me Hangin’ On
16. Ronny and the Daytonas: Little GTO
17. Wilson Pickett: Land of 1000 Dances
18. The Yardbirds: Over Under Sideways Down
19. Chubby Checker: Hooka Tooka
20. Jay and the Americans: Cara Mia
21. The Lovin’ Spoonful: Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind
22. Millie Small: My Boy Lollipop
23. The Strangeloves: Cara-Lin
24. The Rolling Stones: Ruby Tuesday
25. Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade of Pale
26. Richard Harris: MacArthur Park