June 1965–great month for a rolling stone
Was it really 50 years ago?
Yes, the Grateful Dead will soon be celebrating their 50th anniversary and goodbye in Chicago in early July Fare Thee Well.
But June 1965 was also the month of the creation of two of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time, not songs from a quirky Lonny Strum list of personal faves (Top 20 Records of all time), but two universal rock standards, Like A Rolling Stone and Satisfaction.
Like A Rolling Stone—Bob Dylan
Dylan’s voice was never melodic, but on Like a Rolling Stone his unique vocal style was perfect for lyrics poets wished they could write:
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
Dylan’s handwritten lyrics to the song fetched $2 million at an auction in 2014, a world record for a popular music manuscript. Not too shabby.
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Rolling Stones
Not nearly as poetic as Dylan’s lyrics but this Stones tune is their most famous, most covered, and universally revered. In fact in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine named “Satisfaction” in #2 on its list of The Greatest 500 songs of all Time.
When I’m drivin’ in my car
And the man comes on the radio
He’s tellin’ me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to drive my imagination
I can’t get no, oh no, no, no
Hey, hey, hey, that’s what I say
I can’t get no satisfaction
I can’t get no satisfaction
‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can’t get no, I can’t get no
These songs are truly great. From second one of each record, they capture the era and put me back into the summer of 1965, playing ball with my friends, going to the Springfield, NJ pool and trips to Bradley Beach. (I was also learning my Haftarah portion for my fall 1965 bar mitzvah).
Whether you are old enough to remember them as new songs or not, these two classics are now celebrating their 50th birthday. They wear well. Still love hearing them today.
More Strumings
- Tips= To Insure Prompt Service
- It’s All Over.
- A DJ Once More.
- States Rights and States Responsibilities.
