As anyone that has experienced the intensity of war will attest, memories, both good and bad are burned into one’s mind forever and can be brought forth with great clarity by some seemingly minor occurrence. Even 40 or 50 years later, veterans can remember an experience as if it happened yesterday. They can easily recall the names of buddies from years ago when they can’t remember where they left their car keys ten minutes ago. Sometimes those recollections pop into their heads from a sight or sound. In fact, a song that was popular during their wartime experiences can immediately take them back. I believe that music and war are inseparably linked in a soldier’s DNA. Just mention the name Irving Berlin, Tommy Dorsey, or Glen Miller to a WWII veteran and you will get a reaction and probably a smile. Mention a song by Steppenwolf, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, or The Temptations to a Vietnam veteran and you will find the same reaction. For a soldier far from home, music often provided one of the few tangible links to home and normalcy; a few minutes where a soldier could occupy his or her mind and block out the horrors of war; it helped to keep sanity in an insane situation.

Music was important throughout the Vietnam War but never more then during the late 60’s. It was a time of incredible turmoil and unrest at home, when every night on TV there were body counts thrown around until viewers were either emotionally numb or motivated to protest. The stark pictures of bombings, mangled enemy and civilians bodies, or wounded soldiers being carried to waiting helicopters was too much for many to take. Even for me, once I returned home, I often turned off the TV when the national news came on. But for the soldiers in Vietnam, often the only escape from the cold reality of war was music.

Not only did music provide a means of expression for rebellious young people in this country, it was at the same time an anthem for American soldiers in Southeast Asia.

I have listed what I consider to be some of the more important songs of 1968, and provided a link to the Top 100 Hits of 1968.

-Abraham, Martin and John – Dion

-Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

-Amen – Otis Redding

-Born to Be Wild – Steppenwolf

-Both Sides Now – Judy Collins

-Crimson and Clover –Tommy James & The Shondells

-Dance to the Music – Sly & The Family Stone

-Delilah – Tom Jones

-Different Drum – Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Poneys

-Do You Know the Way to San Jose – Dionne Warwick

-Dream A Little Dream of Me – Mama Cass Elliot

-Dreams of the Everyday Housewife – Glen Campbell

-Everyday People – Sly & The Family Stone

-Gentle on My Mind – Glen Campbell

-Girl Watcher – The O’Kaysions

-Hello, I love You – The Doors

-Hey Jude – The Beatles

-Honey – Bobby Goldsboro

-Hooked On A Feeling – B.J. Thomas

-I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye

-I Say A Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin

-I Wish It Would Rain – The Temptations

-I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – The Supremes & The Temptations

-In-A-Gadda-Da-Via – Iron Butterfly

-Judy in Disguise (with Glasses) – John Fred & His Playboy Band

-Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones

-Just Dropped In – Kenny Rogers & The First Edition

-Lady Madonna – The Beatles

-Lady Willpower – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

-Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes

-MacArthur Park – Richard Harris

-Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf

-Mony Mony – Tommy James & The Shondells

-Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel

-Over You – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

-Pappa’s God a Brand New Bag - Otis Redding

-People Got To Be Free – The Rascals

-Revolution – The Beatles

-Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud (Part 1) – James Brown

-Scarborough Fair – Simon & Garfunkel

-Sealed with a Kiss – Gary Lewis & The Playboys

-Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day – Stevie Wonder

-(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

-Stoned Soul Picnic – The 5th Dimension

-Summer Rain – Johnny Rivers

-Summertime Blues – Blue Cheer

-Suzie-Q (Part 1) – Creedence Clearwater Revival

-(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone – Aretha Franklin

-Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vinton

-Think – Aretha Franklin

-This Guy’s In Love With You – Herb Alpert

-This Magic Moment – Jay and The Americans

-Those Were the Days – Mary Hopkins

-Tighten Up – Archie Bell & The Drells

-‘Till – The Vogues

-Time for Livin’ – The Association

-U.S. Male – Elvis Presley

-The Unknown Soldier – The Doors

-Valleri – The Monkees

-(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls – Dionne Warwick

-Walk Away Renee – Four Tops

-White Room – Cream

-Who Will Answer? – Ed Ames

-Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor

-You’re All I Need to Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

-Young Girl – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

-Yummy Yummy Yummy – Ohio Express

I know there are many other songs besides those listed here which are meaningful to people that were old enough in 1968 to comprehend what was happening to their country. However, if you listen to the above songs, or simply read the titles, you will get a good idea of a culture in transition. It was the beginning of a radical change in philosophy brought on by war protests, drugs, despair, patriotism, and ultimately the hope for a better future. It all seemed to come together in a peaceful gathering at the Woodstock Festival of 1969. I am apparently the only person in my age group that did not attend the concert.