3 Folk Rock Gems From 1969 That Have Been Lost To Time
The article highlights three folk rock songs from 1969 that it says deserve more recognition: “Darkness, Darkness” by the Youngbloods, “These Things Too” by Pearls Before Swine and “Autopsy” by Fairport Convention. It argues that these tracks were overlooked despite their distinctive qualities, reflecting how some notable music of the era slipped beyond mainstream attention.
“Darkness, Darkness” reached only No. 124 in the US, while Pearls Before Swine’s title track from the album *These Things Too* did not chart. “Autopsy”, written by Sandy Denny, appears on Fairport Convention’s *Unhalfbricking* and features Richard Thompson on dulcimer and lead guitar, with a sound drawing on jazz and blues.
- Three 1969 folk rock tracks are singled out as overlooked.
- The Youngbloods’ “Darkness, Darkness” reached No. 124 in the US.
- Fairport Convention’s “Autopsy” blends folk with jazz and blues.
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Folk rock combines folk music’s acoustic instruments and songwriting with elements of rock. In 1969, it sat within a busy music scene, where songs could receive little notice even when critics or later listeners found them distinctive.
The Youngbloods, Pearls Before Swine and Fairport Convention were three bands working in this broad style. Their songs “Darkness, Darkness”, “These Things Too” and “Autopsy” had different paths: the first reached a low position on the US chart, the second did not chart, and “Autopsy” was written by Fairport Convention singer Sandy Denny.
The songs show how chart success and later recognition do not always match. Their varied sounds also reflect the range of music being made under the folk rock label at the time.