4 Rock Songs From 1960 That Every 60s Kid Still Knows by Heart Today
American Songwriter's list highlights four rock songs from 1960 that remain instantly recognisable to those who grew up in the decade, showcasing the era's teen idols and rising duos. The piece serves as nostalgic recognition of tracks that helped define early 1960s rock, reflecting on how these songs launched or boosted the careers of their performers.
The four songs are Bobby Rydell's "Wild One" (his first Top 5 single), Ricky Nelson's "Young Emotions" (a Top 15 hit released the year before his first No. 1, "Travelin' Man"), Bobby Vee's "Devil Or Angel" (his first gold single, originally recorded by The Clovers in 1956) and The Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved" (which followed their No. 1 hit "Cathy's Clown" and was later a crossover success for Linda Ronstadt).
– Bobby Rydell's "Wild One" was his first Top 5 single
– Ricky Nelson's "Young Emotions" preceded his 1961 No. 1 "Travelin' Man"
– Bobby Vee's "Devil Or Angel" was his first gold record
– The Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved" followed "Cathy's Clown"
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Bobby Rydell, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Vee and the Everly Brothers were among the most popular young singers in America as rock and roll moved into a new phase at the start of the 1960s. Where the previous decade had been shaped by rougher, rebellious performers, this new wave leaned towards clean-cut, radio-friendly stars who topped the charts with catchy, romantic songs aimed squarely at a teenage audience.
Each of these acts built a career on a string of hits during this period. Rydell was a teen idol from Philadelphia, Nelson had grown up on television before becoming a recording star, Vee was a young singer who broke through after starting his career as a teenager himself, and the Everly Brothers were a harmony duo known for close vocal blending that influenced many later musicians.
Songs from this era are often revisited by music writers and publications because they remain widely recognised decades on, having shaped the sound of early 1960s pop and rock and helped launch or sustain the careers of the artists who recorded them.