Early Songs About Taking Things

Post

Subscribe

I received a request for this topic from a member of one of the Discord servers I am involved with. He was looking for songs for a soundtrack to a student film, and I told him I’d have it done by the end of June, so here we are.

Now, this is a topic that covers a lot of songs, and so this will be the first of three columns on this topic, with a fourth semi-related one to come afterwards.

So, for this first one, the songs will cover the 1960s and 1970s.

Therefore I present Early Songs About Taking Things!


Taking can mean theft, or asking people not to steal, or it can mean something willingly given. In songs, it can mean a lot of different things, in fact, and so that is why this is such a long list.

The rules: the word “take” (or its derivatives) must appear in the title, one version of each song across all columns, I need to like the song, one song per artist across all columns (sorry fans of Abba, The Doobie Brothers, The Angels, et al.). They are listed in chronological order, the date of first release, either as single or the home album. These are not just charting singles, but songs from my collection that fulfill the requirement and that I like.

Here are fifteen early songs about Taking Things!

’ Take Good Care Of My Baby’ by Bobby Vee (1961)

Let’s start this with some of the bubblegum pop from the start of the 1960s. This is a decent little song, but its like was wiped from the charts by The Beatles only a year later.

’Baby Let Me Take You Home’ by The Animals (1964)

The Animals were an early exponent of blues-rock, but this track is a little more like the standard rock of the time. Still good.

’I Wanna Take A Trip To The Islands’ by The Surfaris (1964)

The Surfaris are known for one track, but they released some decent surf music songs during the mid-1960s.

’It Takes Two’ by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston (1965)

I am embarrassed to admit I discovered this song through a movie soundtrack, but I am glad I did – Marvin Gaye had a lot of great music.

’Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ by Frankie Valli (1967)

A song I first heard as a cover version, the original is so much better than any to follow. Valli has a unique voice.

’Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town’ by Kenny Rogers And The First Edition (1969)

Kenny Rogers’ first hit song, one that tells a rather tragic tale. And an anti-Vietnam War song to boot.

’Take A Letter Maria’ by R.B. Greaves (1969)

An interesting song about infidelity, one I own on 45. I like Greaves’ singing voice; I wonder what happened to him.

’I Want To Take You Higher’ by Sly And The Family Stone (1970)

Sly And The Family Stone were a band ahead of their time, and yet no-one seems to talk about them today. They should – this band is amazing.

’Take It Easy’ by The Eagles (1972)

A band I had a few songs to choose from, but this one is definitely the best, laid-back AOR classic rock.

’Takin’ Care Of Business’ by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1973)

One of the songs by BTO that have become all-time classics of the classic rock scene, this is just really good.

’Take The Money And Run’ by The Steve Miller Band (1976)

The Steve Miller Band released a string of songs that have seeped into the public conscience, and this is just one of that list.

’Takin’ It To The Streets’ by The Doobie Brothers (1976)

I think I first heard this song in a TV advert for some charity, and it worked – it made me look up the song and discover this fine band.

’Take Me To The River’ by Talking Heads (1978)

While I prefer the live version from Stop Making Sense, this is just a great example of Talking Heads at their best.

’Take A Long Line’ by The Angels (1978)

One of my very favourite songs ever, and one of the greatest songs to come out of Australia, The Angels are the band I have seen live more than any other. Love this song.

’Take The Long Way Home’ by Supertramp (1979)

And we finish this list with Supertramp and their pop-rock stylings, and one of their more popular tracks.

So, that covers the 1960s and 1970s. Some different music styles across these tracks, but most seem to fall under that classic rock moniker.

Two more columns to come!
Hope you enjoyed this one.

#music
#list
#pop_culture
#performing_arts
#quirky
#retro
#vintage
%wneverywhere