Hey all!
If you’ve been following AIRHeads, you know our domain is usually Alternative and Indie Rock (AIR!).
But for this event, we’ve decided on a special project, to go back to the roots of where it all came from. Going back to the influences. This time, we’re stepping away from the modern era for a massive special project: AIRHeads Do the Classics!

Part One, released today ,covers the pivotal years of 1954 through 1969, tracing the line from the birth of rock n roll right into the eve of the 70s. Part 2, which will be released soon as part of this event, will cover the 70’s themselves (And might slip a bit into the 80’s). There’s a lot of songs waiting for you. So let’s get into the time machine, and see where we land… get ready!

The Mid-Fifties: The Birth of the Cool & Rock

We kick things off in 1954, moving from smoky jazz clubs to the very first sparks of Rock & Roll.

We begin with the cool, effortless vocals of Chet Baker’s “I Fall In Love Too Easily” (1954), a smooth jazz classic with some brilliant piano. Quickly transitioning into the high-octane spark of the Rock & Roll revolution. You’ll feel the electricity in Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” (Get ready for those iconic guitar double-stops!), the rolling piano rhythms of Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill,” and the quintessential 1957 strut of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day.” These are the foundation stones of everything that followed.

The Early Sixties: Soul, Crooners, and Surf

As the 60’s approach, we witness an explosion of soul and pop, with three all-time classics: featuring the powerhouse vocals of Etta James on “At Last,” Ray Charles’ iconic “Georgia on My Mind,” and the smooth harmonies of The Drifters’ “Save the Last Dance for Me.”

Meanwhile elsewhere, we see the shifting sounds of the “British Invasion” and the rise of guitar culture. Foreshadowing the future, we see the reverb-soaked instrumentals of The Shadows’ “Dance On” (1962) and the surf-pop perfection of The Beach Boys’ “Little Deuce Coupe” (1963) show the early rock and roll vibes.

The British Invasion & The Mid-60s Shift

By 1965 and 1966, we see the rise of the riff-based with The Kinks’ “Set Me Free” and The Yardbirds’ “Heart Full of Soul,” alongside the bluesy sting of Albert King’s “Crosscut Saw.” Elsewhere, we see the evolution of previous styles – the fun polished pop of The Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville“, and the birth of Motown with the The Temptations’ “Get Ready“. Crooner legend Frank Sinatra brings the sophisticated swagger of “That’s Life“, meanwhile folk-rock is slowly born, here represented with Simon & Garfunkel’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”

1967–1968: The Summer of Love & Beyond

While 1967 and 1968 are often defined by the “Summer of Love,” the musical reality was far more diverse and experimental than the hippie stereotypes suggest. We’ve curated a selection that highlights this incredible variety, moving from the top of the charts to the deepest corners of the underground.

On the baroque-pop and psychedelic side, The Zombies deliver the gorgeous “Beechwood Park” from their masterpiece Odessey and Oracle, while a young Bee Gees showcase their early psych-pop brilliance with “World.” Even The Beatles – you might have heard of them – make an appearance with the haunting, stripped-back “Cry Baby Cry” from the White Album. And with a sharp contrast to the massive, brass-heavy pop perfection of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes off You.”

As the mainstream was evolving, the “alternative” spirit we love at AIRHeads was being born on the fringes. We’ve included the gritty, proto-punk pulse of The Velvet Underground’s “I’m Waiting For The Man” and the debut of the legendary poet Leonard Cohen with “So Long, Marianne.” Meanwhile, the sun-drenched sounds of California were fully blossoming. We travel to Laurel Canyon to bring you the soulful country-rock of Buffalo Springfield’s “Kind Woman” and the iconic, breezy performance of “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” by The Mamas & The Papas, led by the beautiful Cass Elliott (Mama Cass).

1969: Approaching the 70’s

We conclude this first chapter in 1969, a year that signaled a massive shift in the musical landscape, as the 70’s loom large. We bring you the outlaw energy of Johnny Cash’s “San Quentin” – performed in San Quentin prison itself, to rousing cheers of the inmates. Scott Walker brings “The Old Man’s Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime)“, a baroque pop classic with a monstrous bassline and topical lyrics. Folk and psychedelia merged into the intricate harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s “Wooden Ships” – including no less than 7 guitar solos! Finally, tragic-figure and songwriting legend Nick Drake brings the quiet, morning-light folk of “Saturday Sun.” And finally – the legendary Elvis Presley in his great “in Memphis” album, brings the beautiful classic “True Love Travels On a Gravel Road“.

Full song list with downloads:

1. Chet Baker – I Fall In Love Too Easily (1954)
2. Chuck Berry – Maybellene (1955)
3. Fats Domino – Blueberry Hill (1956)
4. Buddy Holly – That’ll Be the Day (1957)
5. Etta James – At Last (1960)
6. Ray Charles – Georgia on My Mind (1960)
7. The Drifters – Save the Last Dance for Me (1960)
8. The Shadows – Dance On (1962)
9. The Beach Boys – Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
10. The Kinks – Set Me Free (1965)
11. The Yardbirds – Heart Full of Soul (1965)
12. Albert King – Crosscut Saw (1966)
13. The Monkees – Last Train to Clarksville (1966)
14. The Temptations – Get Ready (1966)
15. Frank Sinatra – That’s Life (1966)
16. Simon & Garfunkel – The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) (1966)
17. Bee Gees – World (1967)
18. The Velvet Underground – I’m Waiting for the Man (1967)
19. Leonard Cohen – So Long, Marianne (1967)
20. Frankie Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (1967)
21. The Zombies – Beechwood Park (1968)
22. The Beatles – Cry Baby Cry (1968)
23. Buffalo Springfield – Kind Woman (1968)
24. The Mamas & The Papas – Dream a Little Dream of Me (1968)
25. Johnny Cash – San Quentin (1969)
26. Scott Walker – The Old Man’s Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime) (1969)
27. Crosby, Stills & Nash – Wooden Ships (1969)
28. Nick Drake – Saturday Sun (1969)
29. Elvis Presley – True Love Travels on a Gravel Road (1969)

Spotify playlist:

That’s it for now! Next time – the 70’s!