While 1962 continued the trend in global politics towards civil war, skirmishes and upheaval, it also marked a time where vassal nations were achieving their independence. America felt the world getting just a little bit smaller with the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis yet still managed to look to the stars with their nascent space programme and the launch of the first commercial communications satellite able to transmit a Trans-Atlantic television signal.  Youth were also starting to expand their horizons with Andy Warhol exhibiting the now infamous Campbell’s Soup Can, 007 getting a hit film with Dr. No and the Beatles recording Love Me Do –  3 convicts figured they could ride the tide of firsts and successfully escaped from Alcatraz.  Many of the ideas and trends put forward in that year have become embedded in our reservoir of cultural consciousness – 50 years later, Booker T. & the M.G.’s crossover hit single shows us exactly how relevant they still are…

For more on 1962 visit:

Green Onions
Booker T. & the M.G.’s
Booker T
Andy Warhol
1962
1962 JukeBox

Tensions at home and abroad seemed to be the order of the year as the Cold War continued throughout 1961 – turmoil in Africa, South Korea and the Middle East left no doubt that a new world order was in its infancy.  While Freedom Riders rode the bus to racial awareness in the US and the European Social Charter forged a guarantee of positive civil and political rights,  Etta James crossed the barrier to bring lovers together in one fluid slow dance.

For more on 1961 visit:

Etta James
Etta James – sound bytes
Cyndi Lauper’s At Last
1961
1961 JukeBox