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4 Forgotten Duets From the 1960s That Still Sound Ethereal
American Songwriter has published a list highlighting four duets from the 1960s that the writer considers particularly dreamy and "ethereal," spanning folk, pop and psychedelic influences. The piece is a nostalgic, opinion-led retrospective rather than breaking news, aimed at reminding readers of lesser-celebrated tracks from an era when psychedelia's dreaminess touched many genres.
The selections range from well-known hits to more obscure album cuts. "Some Velvet Morning" by Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra (1967) reached No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" (1968) peaked at No. 11. Joan Baez and Mimi Fariña's "Swallow Song," written in 1964 and recorded in 1965, and Fairport Convention's "Book Song" (1969), featuring Sandy Denny and Iain Matthews with sitar and cello, were never released as singles and did not chart.
In short
- American Songwriter lists four "ethereal" duets from the 1960s.
- Includes hits by Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazlewood and Simon & Garfunkel.
- Also features lesser-known tracks by Joan Baez/Mimi Fariña and Fairport Convention.
Explained simply
The 1960s was a period of considerable musical experimentation when artists frequently collaborated on duets, creating atmospheric recordings that blended folk, pop and psychedelic influences. These duets allowed musicians to explore unconventional combinations of instruments and voices, producing sounds that were often quite different from what dominated commercial radio. Some became well-known hits whilst others remained largely overlooked.
Several notable duets exemplify this creative period. Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra released "Some Velvet Morning" in 1967, reaching the top 30, whilst Simon & Garfunkel achieved greater commercial success with "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," which peaked at number 11 in 1968. Folk musicians Joan Baez and Mimi Fariña recorded "Swallow Song" in 1965, and Fairport Convention's "Book Song" from 1969 featured Sandy Denny and Iain Matthews with sitar and cello accompaniment; neither of the latter two was released as a single.
These duets show how artists used collaboration to pursue musical experimentation in the 1960s, combining voices and instruments in ways that reflected the era's creative ambitions. Whether commercially successful or not, they remain part of a significant chapter in music history demonstrating the period's artistic diversity.