Classic Rock was a 31-volume series issued by Time Life during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The series spotlighted popular music played on Top 40 radio stations of the mid-to-late-1960s.

Much like Time-Life's other series chronicling popular music, volumes in the "Classic Rock" series covered a specific time period, including single years in some volumes and stylistic trends in others. Each volume was issued on a compact disc, cassette or (on volumes issued through 1990) 2-LP vinyl record set. Individual volumes generally contained 22 tracks, and represented the highlighted time period's most popular and noteworthy tracks. Also included was a booklet, containing liner notes written by some of the most respected historians of the genre, photographs of the artists, and information on the songs (writers, performers and peak position on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart).

History

"Classic Rock" was first issued in the winter of 1988, with the first volume in the series titled Classic Rock: 1965. Like most compilation albums, songs by two of the era's most successful groups – The Beatles and The Rolling Stones – were not included due to licensing issues; however, several albums had cover art with drawings of male rock singers resembling The Beatles.

As was the case with Time-Life's other series, "Classic Rock" was advertised in television and magazine advertisements. The series was available by subscription (by calling a 1-800 number); those who purchased the series in that fashion received a new volume roughly every other month (on the format of their choice), and had the option of keeping the volumes they wanted.

Each volume was also offered for individual sale. When the series was fully issued, a customer could purchase the entire series at once (or a group of albums, as packaged by Time-Life as part of a promotion), often at a discounted price.

New volumes continued to be issued through 1991, the final one being a volume titled Classic Rock: Rock Renaissance IV (an album of hard rock from the mid- to late-1960s). An additional volume, titled Totally Fantastic '60s, was released in 1996.

Time-Life continued to offer "Classic Rock" through the early-2000s (decade), after which it was replaced by other series.

In 1999, Time-Life issued a "budget" box set, "Classic '60s: Greatest Hits", containing three CDs or cassettes of 12 songs each, for retail sale.

The series

Album listing

As with many of Time-Life Records' multi-volume releases, the volumes were not issued in a logical, sequential order by date or era of the subject; that is, issuing volumes covering 1964 before progressing to 1965. In the track information section, the volumes will be listed sequentially by era; the following list is the order in which the volumes were released.

1988

  • Classic Rock: 1965
  • Classic Rock: 1966
  • Classic Rock: 1964
  • Classic Rock: 1968
  • Classic Rock: 1967
  • Classic Rock: 1969
  • Classic Rock: 1966: The Beat Goes On
  • Classic Rock: 1965: The Beat Goes On
  • Classic Rock: 1964: The Beat Goes On
  • Classic Rock: 1967: The Beat Goes On

1989

  • Classic Rock: 1968: The Beat Goes On
  • Classic Rock: 1969: The Beat Goes On
  • Classic Rock: 1966: Shakin' All Over
  • Classic Rock: 1965: Shakin' All Over
  • Classic Rock: 1967: Shakin' All Over
  • Classic Rock: 1964: Shakin' All Over
  • Classic Rock: Rock Renaissance
  • Classic Rock: Creedence Clearwater Revival
  • Classic Rock: 1968: Shakin' All Over

1990

  • Classic Rock: 1969: Shakin' All Over
  • Classic Rock: Rock Renaissance II
  • Classic Rock: 1966: Blowin' Your Mind
  • Classic Rock: 1965: Blowin' Your Mind
  • Classic Rock: 1967: Blowin' Your Mind
  • Classic Rock: On the Soul Side
  • Classic Rock: Rock Renaissance III
  • Classic Rock: 1968: Blowin' Your Mind
  • Classic Rock: On the Soul Side II

1991

  • Classic Rock: 1964: A Go Go
  • Classic Rock: Bubblegum, Garage and Pop Nuggets
  • Classic Rock: Rock Renaissance IV

mid-1990s

  • Classic Rock: Totally Fantastic '60s

Track listing

1964

1964: The Beat Goes On

1964: Shakin' All Over

1965

1965: The Beat Goes On

1965: Shakin' All Over

1965: Blowin' Your Mind

1966

1966: The Beat Goes On

1966: Shakin' All Over

1966: Blowin' Your Mind

1967

1967: The Beat Goes On

1967: Shakin' All Over

1967: Blowin' Your Mind

1968

1968: The Beat Goes On

1968: Shakin' All Over

  • "All Along the Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix Experience
  • "Piece of My Heart" - Big Brother & The Holding Company
  • "The House That Jack Built" - Aretha Franklin
  • "The Horse" - Cliff Nobles & Company
  • "Spooky" - Classics IV
  • "You're All I Need To Get By" - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
  • "Summertime Blues" - Blue Cheer
  • "I Love You" - People
  • "Jennifer Juniper" - Donovan
  • "Stoned Soul Picnic" - The Fifth Dimension
  • "Take Time to Know Her" - Percy Sledge
  • "Time Has Come Today" - The Chambers Bros.
  • "Quick Joey Small" - Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus
  • "Baby Now That I've Found You" - The Foundations
  • "Different Drum" - The Stone Poneys
  • "Susie-Q, Part 1" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
  • "Journey to the Center of the Mind" - Amboy Dukes
  • "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)"- John Fred & His Playboy Band
  • "Reach Out of the Darkness" - Friend & Lover
  • "Young Girl" - Gary Puckett & Union Gap
  • "Stay In My Corner" - The Dells

1968: Blowin' Your Mind

  • "Fire" - The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
  • "I Can't Stop Dancing" - Archie Bell and The Drells
  • "Hey, Western Union Man" - Jerry Butler
  • "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
  • "Son of a Preacher Man" - Dusty Springfield
  • "Darlin'" - The Beach Boys
  • "The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)" - Otis Redding
  • "Soul Serenade" - Willie Mitchell
  • "I'm a Midnight Mover" - Wilson Pickett
  • "I Put a Spell On You" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
  • "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - Iron Butterfly
  • "Yummy Yummy Yummy" - Ohio Express
  • "I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight" - Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
  • "Cinnamon" - Derek
  • "Stormy" - Classics IV
  • "Angel of the Morning" - Merrilee Rush
  • "Words" - The Bee Gees
  • "Hold Me Tight" - Johnny Nash
  • "Simon Says" - 1910 Fruitgum Co.
  • "She's a Heartbreaker" - Gene Pitney
  • "My Baby Must Be a Magician" - The Marvelettes
  • "Here Comes the Judge" - Shorty Long

1969

  • "I Want You Back" - The Jackson 5
  • "Venus" - Shocking Blue
  • "Hot Fun In the Summertime" - Sly & The Family Stone
  • "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" - Diana Ross & The Supremes & The Temptations
  • "You Showed Me" - Turtles
  • "Oh What a Night" - Dells
  • "Get Together" - Youngbloods
  • "Build Me Up Buttercup" - Foundations
  • "I Can't Get Next to You" - Temptations
  • "No Time" - The Guess Who
  • "One" - Three Dog Night
  • "Time of the Season" - The Zombies
  • "Let's Work Together" - Wilbert Harrison
  • "Dizzy" - Tommy Roe
  • "Soul Deep" - Box Tops
  • "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" - Junior Walker & The All-Stars
  • "Baby Baby Don't Cry" - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
  • "Hawaii Five-O" - The Ventures
  • "Crystal Blue Persuasion" - Tommy James & The Shondells
  • "Only the Strong Survive" - Jerry Butler
  • "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" - Jackie DeShannon
  • "Mendicino" - Sir Douglas Quintet
  • "Hey There Lonely Girl" - Eddie Holman

1969: The Beat Goes On

  • "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" - Joe Cocker
  • "Games People Play" - Joe South
  • "Take a Letter Maria" - R.B. Greaves
  • "Sugar, Sugar" - The Archies
  • "Polk Salad Annie" - Tony Joe White
  • "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" - David Ruffin
  • "I Want to Take You Higher" - Sly & The Family Stone
  • "Spinning Wheel" - Blood Sweat & Tears
  • "Sweet Cherry Wine" - Tommy James & The Shondells
  • "Time Is Tight" - Booker T. & MGs
  • "Everybody's Talkin'" - Nilsson
  • "In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" - Zager and Evans
  • "Run Away Child Running Wild" - The Temptations
  • "I Got a Line on You" - Spirit
  • "Going Up the Country" - Canned Heat
  • "Backfield In Motion" - Mel & Tim
  • "Israelites" - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
  • "Rock Me" - Steppenwolf
  • "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" - Marvin Gaye
  • "Jam Up Jelly Tight" - Tommy Roe
  • "Can I Change My Mind" - Tyrone Davis
  • "Oh Happy Day" - Edwin Hawkins Singers

1969: Shakin' All Over

  • "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" - The Fifth Dimension
  • "Eli's Coming" - Three Dog Night
  • "My Pledge of Love" - Joe Jeffrey Group
  • "These Eyes" - The Guess Who
  • "Nothing But a Heartache" - The Flirtations
  • "I Started a Joke" - The Bee Gees
  • "I'm Gonna Make You Mine" - Lou Christie
  • "It's Your Thing" - The Isley Brothers
  • "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" - Steam
  • "Someday We'll Be Together" - Diana Ross & The Supremes
  • "Going In Circles" - Friends Of Distinction
  • "Commotion" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
  • "Twenty-Five Miles" - Edwin Starr
  • "The Thrill Is Gone" - B.B. King
  • "That's the Way Love Is" - Marvin Gaye
  • "Something In the Air" - Thunderclap Newman
  • "Crossroads" - Cream
  • "Stand" - Sly & The Family Stone
  • "Hang 'Em High" - Booker T. & The MG's
  • "Worst That Could Happen" - Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge
  • "Atlantis" - Donovan

Rock Renaissance

  • "Purple Haze" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
  • "Till the End of the Day" - The Kinks
  • "All I Really Want To Do" - The Byrds
  • "Get Me to the World On Time" - The Electric Prunes
  • "Black Magic Woman" - Fleetwood Mac
  • "Kentucky Woman" - Deep Purple
  • "Whipping Post" - The Allman Brothers Band
  • "Sookie Sookie" - Steppenwolf
  • "Feelin' Alright" - Joe Cocker
  • "Sugar and Spice" - The Cryan Shames
  • "Catch the Wind" - Donovan
  • "Kick Out the Jams" - MC5
  • "Seven & Seven Is" - Love
  • "I'm Gonna Love You Too" - The Hullaballoos
  • "Ballad of Easy Rider" - The Byrds
  • "Paper Sun" - Traffic
  • "Homburg" - Procol Harum
  • "Hey Joe" - Leaves
  • "Money" - The Kingsmen
  • "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" - The Yardbirds
  • "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" - Country Joe & The Fish
  • "Combination of the Two" - Big Brother & The Holding Company

Rock Renaissance II

  • 01 - Cream - White Room
  • 02 - Seeds - Pushin' Too Hard
  • 03 - Byrds - My Back Pages
  • 04 - Hollies - Pay You Back With Interest
  • 05 - Searchers - Bumblebee
  • 06 - Pretty Things - Don't Bring Me Down
  • 07 - Troggs - I Can't Control Myself
  • 08 - Love - My Little Red Book
  • 09 - Kinks - Dedicated Follower of Fashion
  • 10 - Santana - Evil Ways
  • 11 - Traffic - Forty Thousand Headmen
  • 12 - Them - Mystic Eyes
  • 13 - Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane
  • 14 - Van Morrison - Moondance
  • 15 - Flying Burrito Brothers - Christine's Tune
  • 16 - Balloon Farm - A Question of Temperature
  • 17 - Yardbirds - Stroll On
  • 18 - Cream - Tales Of Brave Ulysses
  • 19 - Standells - Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White
  • 20 - Sir Douglas Quintet - The Rains Came
  • 21 - Quicksilver Messenger Service - Who Do You Love
  • 22 - Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home

Rock Renaissance III

  • 01 - Nashville Teens - Tobacco Road
  • 02 - Paul Revere & The Raiders - Steppin' Out
  • 03 - Searchers - When You Walk In the Room
  • 04 - Bobby Fuller Four - Love's Made a Fool of You
  • 05 - Troggs - "With a Girl Like You"
  • 06 - Barbarians - Are You a Boy Or Are You a Girl
  • 07 - Seeds - "Can't Seem to Make You Mine"
  • 08 - Sonics - Psycho
  • 09 - Byrds - 5 D (Fifth Dimension)
  • 10 - Chocolate Watch Band - Let's Talk About Girls
  • 11 - Five Americans - I See the Light
  • 12 - Nazz - Hello It's Me
  • 13 - Procol Harum - A Salty Dog
  • 14 - Moody Blues - Ride My See Saw
  • 15 - Cream - I Feel Free
  • 16 - Joe Cocker - Delta Lady
  • 17 - Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider
  • 18 - Steppenwolf - The Pusher
  • 19 - Blood Sweat & Tears - I Can't Quit Her
  • 20 - Electric Flag - Groovin' Is Easy
  • 21 - Van Morrison - Caravan
  • 22 - Blind Faith - Presence of the Lord

Rock Renaissance IV

  • 1 - I’m So Glad - Cream 3:57
  • 2 - Alone Again Or - Love 3:14
  • 3 - When I Was Young - Eric Burdon and the Animals 2:59
  • 4 - Season of the Witch - Donovan 4:55
  • 5 - Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon) - The Moody Blues 4:50
  • 6 - Jesus is Just Alright - The Byrds 2:10
  • 7 - Open My Eyes - Nazz 2:39
  • 8 - Are You Gonna Be There (At the Love In) - The Chocolate Watchband 2:25
  • 9 - Blackberry Way - The Move 3:35
  • 10 - Flying High - Country Joe and the Fish 2:38
  • 11 - Darkness, Darkness - The Youngbloods 3:49
  • 12 - Shakin’ Street - MC5 2:21
  • 13 - Whiskey Train - Procol Harum 4:30
  • 14 - Second Generation Woman - Family 3:15
  • 15 - Meet on the Ledge - Fairport Convention 2:51
  • 16 - Fresh Air - Quicksilver Messenger 5:20
  • 17 - Space Cowboy - The Steve Miller Band 4:57
  • 18 - San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native) - Fever Tree 3:57
  • 19 - Buy for Me the Rain - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 2:24
  • 20 - Abba Zaba - Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band 2:42
  • 21 - Venus in Furs - The Velet Underground and Nico 5:06
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