The Essential Songs of 1969 closes the decade out on a high note. Creedence Clearwater Revival released three albums that year, tossing out superb singles like alt-country candy. Led Zeppelin were establishing a new brand of heavy metal while the Stooges were embracing the aesthetic that would evolve into punk rock in the 1970s. Meanwhile, a pre-teen boy from Gary, Indiana was rocketed his four older brothers into the pop music stratosphere.
At the Crossroads – Sir Douglas Quintet
Bad Moon Rising – CCR
Ballad of John and Yoko – The Beatles
A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
Bring Me Sunshine – Willie Nelson
Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
Come Together – Beatles
Down By the River – Neil Young
Down on the Corner – CCR
Feelin' Alright – Joe Cocker
Fire – Jimi Hendrix
Fortunate Son – CCR
Galveston – Glen Campbell
Get Back – Beatles
Gimme Shelter – Rolling Stones
Good Times, Bad Times – Led Zeppelin
Grazing In The Grass – Friends Of Distinction
Green River – CCR
Here Comes The Sun – Beatles
Homecoming – Tom T. Hall
Honky Tonk Women – Rolling Stones
Hot Burrito #1 – The Flying Burrito Brothers
Hot Fun in the Summertime – Fly and the Family Stone
I Can't Get Next To You – Temptations
I Forgot to Be Your Lover – William Bell
I Wanna Be Your Dog – Stooges
I Want You Back – Jackson 5
I’m a Man – Chicago
In The Ghetto – Elvis Presley
It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers
Just a Little Lovin’ – Dusty Sprinfield
Kick out the Jams – MC5
Lay Lady Lay – Bob Dylan
Leaving On A Jet Plane – Peter, Paul & Mary
Living Loving Maid – Led Zeppelin
Many Rivers to Cross – Jimmy Cliff
Matty Groves – Fairport Convention
Monkey Man – Rolling Stones
Mother Popcorn – James Brown
My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
My Way – Frank Sinatra
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
Nothing But a Heartache – The Flirtations
Oh Well (Part 1) – Fleetwood Mac
Okie from Muskogee – Merle Haggard
Polk Salad Annie – Tony Joe White
Proud Mary – CCR
Ramblin' Gamblin' Man – Bob Seger System
Shangri- La – The Kinks
Something – The Beatles
Something in the Air – Thunderclap Newman
Son of a Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
Space Oddity – David Bowie
Spinning Wheel – Blood, Sweat & Tears
Stand – Sly & the Family Stone
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Tall Dark Stranger – Buck Owens
The Thrill is Gone – B.B. King
Victoria – The Kinks
A Week in a Country Jail – Tom T. Hall
Working Man Blues – Merle Haggard
You Can’t Always Get What You Want – Rolling Stones