We’ve been tracking the evolution of popular music, dropping in to the first year of each decade since the 40s. In 1961, the first wave of rock & roll was gone, seemingly without a trace. Many of its pioneers were still on the scene, doing smoother stuff. Teenage stars were popular that year, as were guitar instrumentals, particularly the surfing kind.
There were great songs on the airwaves in 1961. Real rock was rare, but it would make a huge comeback in the following years.
Listen to the songs of 1961
