Various Artists: Positively '60s

The double-disc anthology Positively '60s collects 30 of the decade's definitive tunes. The set ranges from psychedelic pop like the Byrds' "Eight Miles High," Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," and Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" to socially conscious songs like Dion's "Abraham, Martin & John," Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction," and the Impressions' "People Get Ready." The Yardbirds' "For Your Love," the Zombies' "Time of the Season," and the Hollies' "Bus Stop" capture the mid-'60s British Invasion sounds; Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" and the Band's "The Weight" exemplify the rootsy sounds of late-'60s American rock; and Harry Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin'," Leon Russell's "A Song for You," and the Guess Who's "These Eyes" reflect the singer/songwriter trend that emerged at the end of the decade. Positively '60s' other highlights include Canned Heat's "Going Up the Country," Traffic's "Feelin' Alright," John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band's "Give Peace a Chance," and Mountain's "Mississippi Queen." Even with the 5th Dimension's "Age of Aquarius," this collection's representation of '60s soul is fairly weak, but otherwise the set delivers a decent selection of the decade's pop and rock sounds.
--Heather Phares, All-Music Guide

Tracks

1. Eight Miles High - Byrds
2. The Weight - The Band
3. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
4. Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan
5. California Dreamin' - Mamas / Paps
6. These Eyes - Guess Who
7. For Your Love - Yardbirds
8. Feelin' Alright - Traffic
9. Time of the Season - Zombies
10. Bus Stop - Hollies
11. Get Together - Youngbloods
12. Lodi - Creedence Clearwater Revival
13. Everybody's Talkin' - Nilsson, Harry
14. Abraham,Martin & John - Dion
15. Ride My See-Saw - Moody Blues
16. Give Peace a Chance - Plastic Ono Band
17. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag - Country Joe / Fish
18. Going up the Country - Canned Heat
19. Rollin' and Tumblin' - Winter, Johnny
20. What About Me? - Quicksilver Messenger Service
21. Do You Believe in Magic - Lovin' Spoonful
22. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In - 5th Dimension
23. Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group
24. People Get Ready - Impressions
25. In the Year 2525 - Zager & Evans / Evans
26. Lay Down - Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins...
27. I'm Going Home - Ten Years After
28. Song for You - Russell, Leon
29. Mississippi Queen - Mountain
30. Eve of Destruction - McGuire, Barry

Various Artists - Positively '60s - 2000 - Capitol 23589