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Music Styles, Bands And Artists during the 1960's

The 1960's were a time of upheaval in society, fashion, attitudes and especially music. Before 1963, the music of the sixties still reflected the sound, style and beliefs of the previous decade and many of the hit records were by artists who had found mainstream success in the 1950s, like Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Dion, and The Everly Brothers. In 1963 and the years to follow, a number of social influences changed what popular music was and gave birth to the diversity that we experience with music today. The assassination of President Kennedy, the escalation of the war in Vietnam and the forward-progress of the Civil Rights Movement all greatly impacted the mood of American culture and the music began to reflect that change. The "British Invasion" also began around 1963 with the arrival of The Beatles on the music scene and the type of rabid fandom that followed them would change the way people would view and interact with music and musicians forever. In this section we will cover the history of the "British Invasion", Motown and R&B, Folk and Protest music, and the large amount of variation that emerged in Rock music throughout the sixties.

Popular Music Genres of the 1960's

British Invasion

The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Yardbirds, Donovan, Manfred Mann, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, The Animals

Motown/R&B

The Marvelettes, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Drifters, The Temptations, The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, Aretha Franklin, Canned Heat

Surf Rock and Psychedelic Rock

The Beach Boys, The Ventures, The Champs, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jefferson Airplane, Jan and Dean, The Kingsmen, The Trashmen

Roots Rock and Hard Rock

Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steppenwolf, Roy Orbison, Procol Harum, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Animals, The Band, The Troggs

Folk Rock and Protest Music

Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas & the Papas, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Byrds, The Turtles, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter, Paul and Mary

Acappella

The Persuasions & The Heartaches & The Concepts & The Five Jades & The Notations & The Chessmen & The Five Sharks & The Royal Counts & The Zircons & The Five Fashions & The Del Capris & The Shells

British Invasion

The "British Invasion" is the name given to the period of time in the early to mid-1960's, during which many British rock bands and pop artists found mainstream success in the United States and worldwide. Many of these bands first started by covering American songs and showcasing an American Rock 'n' Roll and R&B influence in their sounds. As these bands gained popularity, many of them ventured into new music territory and created their own unique styles. The one band that comes to mind when speaking of the British Invasion is The Beatles, who first broke into the US music scene in 1963, but really became popular in 1964 after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles dominated worldwide charts from that point in time until they broke up in 1970. The phenomenon that surrounded them was known as Beatlemania and many up and coming music acts emulated their "Liverpool Sound". The band holds many musical records to this day reflecting album sales and number one singles and they're music remains some of the most popular of all time. They can be easily described as the most influential group of the 1960's. Some other notable British Invasion acts include The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who, Herman's Hermits, Tom Jones, and Donovan, some of whom reached comparable success levels to the Beatles but had different influences on music all together.

Motown and R&B

The "Motown Sound" and popular R&B music had a major significance in terms of the Civil Rights movement and integration in American society during the sixties. Motown started as a Detroit-based record label in the late fifties and early sixties, but it quickly turned into much more as the acts gained popularity worldwide. Motown records consisted mainly of African-American groups, singers, songwriters and management and their musical and business success proved in breaking down the barriers of segregation and granted African-American performers and musicians a chances to reappropriate much of the success that had been credited to white rock 'n' rollers and pop artists who had success in singing "black music" during the previous decade. Two of the most influential groups to come out of the Motown sound were Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and Diana Ross and the Supremes, both of which had as much chart success as any of the rock groups that dominated the airwaves during the sixties. The success of Motown also paved the way for R&B singers and groups who were not necessarily a part of the movement to also enjoy mainstream success. Some other popular Motown and 60's R&B artists include The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and the Jackson Five.

Rock and its Subgenres

While rock 'n' roll music entered the popular music spectrum in the 1950s, rock music really came into its own in the 1960s. Rock music dominated the popular music scene during the decade and as the genre grew and changed, many diverse and new subgenres emerged, all tied to original rock but each with their own unique style and purpose. These specific subgenres also had varying levels of popularity throughout the decade and many are still popular today. Quite a few rock bands and musicians oscillated between these genres depending on what was popular at the time and used it as a way to experiment with finding their own true sound. Some of the rock subgenres that we will touch upon are surf, psychedelic, roots, and hard rock. It is important to remember that the specific artists we discuss in these various sections often fall into more than one category and it is up for debate amongst their fans what genre they best represent. We have tried our best to categorize these artists and realize there was much cross-over during the decade.

Surf Rock and Psychedelic Rock

Surf rock began in Southern California as a type of dance music that was mostly instrumental and it became quite popular in the early to mid sixties, until the British Invasion took over the music scene. The subject matter for surf rock was quite literally surfing, however, that expanded as the genre grew in popularity to songs about girls, cars and general teenage antics. The most influential and popular group to come out of the genre were The Beach Boys, whose vocal harmonies and well-crafted compositions came to define the genre. The Beach Boys were one of the only bands to come out of the genre and sustain their success. Some other important surf rock acts include Jan and Dean, The Ventures and The Champs.

Psychedelic rock was popular during the latter half of the 1960s and reached its peak at the end of the decade. Psychedelic music was associated with the hippie counter-culture and hallucinogenic drug use and it was created with the intention of "enhancing" the experience of listeners who were using LSD or other mind-altering substances. The lyrics were often strange and made reference to drugs and bands would often use instruments that were not usual, like the sitar, tabla, harpsichord and organ. There was much experimentation in the sound and much of it was influenced by Eastern and Indian music. Psychedelic rock along with Folk rock became two of the most recognizable sounds associated with 1967's "Summer of Love" phenomenon. Many popular rock bands experimented with this genre, including The Beatles, The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, Pink Floyd, and The Yardbirds.

Roots Rock and Hard Rock

Roots rock emerged in the mid to late 1960s as a combination of several genres and subgenres of rock music that were popular at the time. Roots rock combined elements of folk music, blues, country and rock 'n' roll. And, the genre was exemplified by its "back to basics" sound. Bob Dylan is thought to have pioneered the genre with the release of his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde that demonstrated what roots rock was to become. Many of the most popular bands of the time joined the "roots revival" and crafted albums of their own that featured and experimented with a roots sound. Some of the bands that created music in the style of this broad genre included The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Beatles, The Band, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Hard rock took the elements of rock 'n' roll and made them heavier as the genre formed in the middle of the decade. The sound is characterized by more aggressive tones and delivery. Hard rock vocalists are identified by their higher range and distinct and often raspy voices. The music was influenced heavily by blues rock, garage rock, and rhythm and blues. This style became associated with rebellious youth and an anti-authority demeanor, with a few acts even destroying their own instruments on stage (like The Who). Due to their hard-partying lifestyles, many musicians that were a part of the hard rock scene developed drug and alcohol problems. As a result of these problems, quite a few influential musicians died at a young age from substance abuse or accidents related to substance abuse like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Notable hard rock bands form the 1960s include The Who, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and Steppenwolf.

Folk Rock and Protest Music

Folk rock came onto the scene as a popular genre in the mid-sixties and much of it grew out of the protest movements that were active during those turbulent times. Much of the folk rock and protest movement was born out of the emerging group of singer-songwriters that were influenced by the folk musicians of the 1930s. Bob Dylan became one of the most prominent songwriters of the decade with many popular groups such as The Byrds and Peter, Paul and Mary covering his songs successfully. Dylan even saw success as a solo performer and was recognized by his unusual voice. This genre was characterized by its melodic sound and did not necessarily have to connect to the protest movements at the time, although lyrically a lot of the folk rock contained protest messages.

Protest music was distinctly different in that it always had a message and was not confined to the sound and style of folk rock. This music was often a reaction to social injustice, cultural changes, and news events. And, in many cases, it brought awareness to the younger generation who would then join the protest, therefore growing the movements. This genre was not necessarily specific to certain artists either, as many mainstream musicians decided to contribute to the cannon with their own feelings. For example, R&B and Soul singer Same Cooke wrote and recorded "A Change Is Gonna Come" in 1963, a song that became an anthem for the Civil Rights movement in America, along with others like Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and James Brown's "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" from 1963 and 1968 respectively. Another issue that protest music was used to address was the war in Vietnam and its escalation during the decade. As more and more American troops were being sent to Vietnam with virtually no progress being made, an anti-war movement began to gain steam in the mid-sixties and protest music accompanied it. Some examples of anti-Vietnam songs were Pete Seeger's "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy from 1967, The Door's "The Unknown Soldier" from 1968, and Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" from 1963. Both folk music and protest music were connected to the "hippie" movement at the time and greatly influenced and were influenced by the feelings of freedom, love and peace that characterized the hippies. Some examples of folk rock and protest musicians from the 1960s include Peter, Paul and Mary, Cat Stevens, Buffalo Springfield, Simon and Garfunkel, and Pete Seeger.

Music Festivals and Their Influence

The sixties was a decade in which music festivals flourished, especially at the end of the decade. The Monterey Pop Festival took place in 1967, and featured some of the most popular rock musicians of the time and was one of the first heavily attended rock festivals. Many of the most popular acts of the decade had their first major American appearance at this festival like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair of 1969 represents one of the most iconic events of the sixties and is thought of as the culmination of the social revolution that took place during those times. It was a free concert that lasted for three days and showcased some of the most iconic musicians of the time. It is thought to have exemplified the popularity of the hippie counter-culture with an estimated 500,000 attendees reveling in free love, peace and rock music.

Popular Songs Each Year in the 60's

Popular songs from the Sixties Decade, arranged by year but in no particular order. Do you remember listening to these songs on the radio?

Some hits from the 60's I still listen to now more than 50 years later

Apache The Shadows 1960
The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Tokens 1961
Please Mr. Postman The Marvelettes 1961
Return To Sender Elvis Presley 1962
She Loves You The Beatles 1963
I Want To Hold Your Hand The Beatles 1963
Baby Love - The Supremes 1964
The House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals 1964
I'm Into Something Good - Herman's Hermits 1964
I Got You Babe Sonny & Cher 1965
Wild Thing The Troggs 1966.
Good Vibrations The Beach Boys 1966
These Boots Are Made For Walkin Nancy Sinatra 1966
A Whiter Shade Of Pale Procol Harum 1967
Lily The Pink Scaffold 1968
I Heard It Through The Grapevine Marvin Gaye 1969
Honky Tonk Women The Rolling Stones 1969
Something In The Air Thunderclap Newman 1969
In The Year 2525 Zager & Evans 1969
Bad Moon Rising Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969

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1960s Music History including Sixties Styles, Bands And Artists

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Music Styles, Bands And Artists during the 1960's The 1960's were a time of upheaval in society, fashion, attitudes and especially music. Before 1963, the music of the sixties still reflected the sound, style and beliefs of the previous decade and many of the hit records were by artists who had found mainstream success in the 1950s, like Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Dion, and The Everly Brothers.

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Favorite Sitcoms from the 50's & 60's that I Grew Up With

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Favorite Sitcoms from the 50's & 60's that I Grew Up With

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After World War II drew to a close in the mid-20th century, a new conflict began. Known as the Cold War, this battle pitted the world's two great powers-the democratic, capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union-against each other. Beginning in the late 1950s, space would become another dramatic arena for this competition, as each side sought to prove the superiority of its technology, its military firepower and-by extension-its political-economic system.

Causes of the Space Race

By the mid-1950s, the U.S.-Soviet Cold War had worked its way into the fabric of everyday life in both countries, fueled by the arms race and the growing threat of nuclear weapons, wide-ranging espionage and counter-espionage between the two countries, war in Korea and a clash of words and ideas carried out in the media. These tensions would continue throughout the space race, exacerbated by such events as the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 and the outbreak of war in Southeast Asia.

Did you know? After Apollo 11 landed on the moon's surface in July 1969, six more Apollo missions followed by the end of 1972. Arguably the most famous was Apollo 13, whose crew managed to survive an explosion of the oxygen tank in their spacecraft's service module on the way to the moon.

Space exploration served as another dramatic arena for Cold War competition. On October 4, 1957, a Soviet R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile launched Sputnik (Russian for "traveler"), the world's first artificial satellite and the first man-made object to be placed into the Earth's orbit. Sputnik's launch came as a surprise, and not a pleasant one, to most Americans. In the United States, space was seen as the next frontier, a logical extension of the grand American tradition of exploration, and it was crucial not to lose too much ground to the Soviets. In addition, this demonstration of the overwhelming power of the R-7 missile-seemingly capable of delivering a nuclear warhead into U.S. air space-made gathering intelligence about Soviet military activities particularly urgent.

NASA Is Created

In 1958, the U.S. launched its own satellite, Explorer I, designed by the U.S. Army under the direction of rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. That same year, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a public order creating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA), a federal agency dedicated to space exploration.

Eisenhower also created two national security-oriented space programs that would operate simultaneously with NASA's program. The first, spearheaded by the U.S. Air Force, dedicated itself to exploiting the military potential of space. The second, led by the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA), the Air Force and a new organization called the National Reconnaissance Office (the existence of which was kept classified until the early 1990s) was code-named Corona; it would use orbiting satellites to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union and its allies.

Space Race Heats Up: Men (And Chimps) Orbit Earth

In 1959, the Soviet space program took another step forward with the launch of Luna 2, the first space probe to hit the moon. In April 1961, the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit Earth, traveling in the capsule-like spacecraft Vostok 1. For the U.S. effort to send a man into space, dubbed Project Mercury, NASA engineers designed a smaller, cone-shaped capsule far lighter than Vostok; they tested the craft with chimpanzees, and held a final test flight in March 1961 before the Soviets were able to pull ahead with Gagarin's launch. On May 5, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space (though not in orbit).

Later that May, President John F. Kennedy made the bold, public claim that the U.S. would land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. In February 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, and by the end of that year, the foundations of NASA's lunar landing program-dubbed Project Apollo -were in place.

Achievements of Apollo

From 1961 to 1964, NASA's budget was increased almost 500 percent, and the lunar landing program eventually involved some 34,000 NASA employees and 375,000 employees of industrial and university contractors. Apollo suffered a setback in January 1967, when three astronauts were killed after their spacecraft caught fire during a launch simulation. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union's lunar landing program proceeded tentatively, partly due to internal debate over its necessity and to the untimely death (in January 1966) of Sergey Korolyov, chief engineer of the Soviet space program.

December 1968 saw the launch of Apollo 8, the first manned space mission to orbit the moon, from NASA's massive launch facility on Merritt Island, near Cape Canaveral, Florida. On July 16, 1969, U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins set off on the Apollo 11 space mission, the first lunar landing attempt. After landing successfully on July 20, Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon's surface; he famously called the moment "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Who Won the Space Race?

By landing on the moon, the United States effectively "won" the space race that had begun with Sputnik's launch in 1957. For their part, the Soviets made four failed attempts to launch a lunar landing craft between 1969 and 1972, including a spectacular launch-pad explosion in July 1969. From beginning to end, the American public's attention was captivated by the space race, and the various developments by the Soviet and U.S. space programs were heavily covered in the national media. This frenzy of interest was further encouraged by the new medium of television. Astronauts came to be seen as the ultimate American heroes, and earth-bound men and women seemed to enjoy living vicariously through them. Soviets, in turn, were pictured as the ultimate villains, with their massive, relentless efforts to surpass America and prove the power of the communist system.

With the conclusion of the space race, U.S. government interest in lunar missions waned after the early 1970s. In 1975, the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission sent three U.S. astronauts into space aboard an Apollo spacecraft that docked in orbit with a Soviet-made Soyuz vehicle. When the commanders of the two crafts officially greeted each other, their " handshake in space " served to symbolize the gradual improvement of U.S.-Soviet relations in the late Cold War-era.

PHOTO GALLERIES

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After World War II drew to a close in the mid-20th century, a new conflict began. Known as the Cold War, this battle pitted the world's two great powers-the democratic, capitalist United States and the communist Soviet Union-against each other.

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The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States.

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1964 Pontiac GTO

In many ways, the 1964 Pontiac GTO was regarded as one of the pioneer muscle cars during the golden age of the 60s and 70s if only because of the simple premise behind the build of the car. The idea was to find the largest engine and put it on the lightest body you can build. The brainchild of Russell Gee, Bill Collins, and John DeLorean, the GTO was born because of a decision to put emphasis on a car's street performance after General Motors, at that time, issued a ban on factory-sponsored racing.

All together, the three visionaries built the GTO as a muscle car that featured a 389 cu in (6.4-liter) V8 engine with an output of 325 horsepower at 4,800 rpm with an optional "Tri-Power" carburetion that produced an increased output of 348 horsepower. Road tests done on the GTO at that time included a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds, a standing quarter-mile of 14.8 seconds, and a quarter mile trap speed of 99 mph.

Incidentally, the name of the Pontiac GTO was the idea of John DeLorean who took the name from the Ferrari 250 GTO, one of the most iconic race cars in history, with the "GTO" standing as an Italian abbreviation for Gran Turismo Omologato. Through much controversy surrounding the name of the car and the general apprehension in how it was going to do in the box office, the GTO surprised a lot of people by becoming one of the most legendary muscle cars of all time.

1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake

Despite it's streamlined, sports-car looks, the 1967 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake had the pulse of American muscle coursing through its veins. And judging by the limited number of cars built for this particular model, it shouldn't be surprising that the most powerful Shelby to ever be built still carries the title of being one of the rarest American muscle cars in history.

Carroll Shelby always wanted to have the fastest and meanest car on the road, and he set about doing it by introducing the Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake back in 1967. Limited to only two units - yep! two! - the Cobra 427 Super Snake was essentially a race car that was modified for use on the street and still holds acclaim as the most awesome of all the Cobras ever to be built. Not only was it powered by the Cobra's top-of-the-line 427 cu. in. V8 Shelby engine, but to give it some extra juice, Shelby decided to add in a pair of Paxton superchargers to the mix, effectively doubling the output of the 427 Cobra to a mind-boggling 800 horsepower.

An American muscle car from the 60s that produces 800 horsepower. Really, that's all you need to know about the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake.

1968 Dodge Charger R/T

The 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is one of those muscle cars that have definitely withstood the test of time. How else do you explain the car's popularity these days, more than 40 years after the car first made waves in the late 60s?

The answer, as Vin Diesel's character in Fast and the Furious will tell you, is pretty simple: the '68 Charger R/T was, and still is, a true man's car. It's the type of muscle car that imposes an image of fear and star quality wrapped in one awesome package. With an unmistakable design that features the now famous hidden headlight grille, the overall curvy body, the refined tail, and the prevalent use of chrome on the car, the '68 Charger R/T was in a class of its own back then.

More than the impressive aesthetics and timeless design, the Charger R/T also boasted of a powertrain that featured a 440 cu. in. four-barrel Magnum V8 engine that produced 375 horsepower with an engine option in the form of the 426 Hemi engine that came with 425 horsepower.

While other muscle cars at the time came out either with a more dynamic profile or a more powerful engine, nothing could compete with the Charger R/T when it came to the whole package.

1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi

It may have had a name that's inspired from the Looney Tunes character, but make no mistake about it, the Plymouth Road Runner Hemi was all business, all the time. Coming with a standard powertrain that featured a 383-cid, four-barrel V8 engine with 335 horsepower or a more powerful 426-cid Hemi engine with 425 horsepower, the Road Runner Hemi became a popular choice for a muscle car in the late 60s because it offered customers a back-to-basics package that underscored everything people wanted in a muscle car without the frills attached.

In building the Road Runner Hemi, Plymouth pretty much put emphasis on the car's performance, leaving all the styling intricacies behind. Nothing about the car's looks screamed incredible because everything that wasn't essential in improving the car's performance was left out, including the interior where "added options" became a foreign concept. But despite its pedestrian looks, the Road Runner Hemi's impressive powertrain certainly made up for all of it.

As a side note, Plymouth actually paid Warner Brothers $50,000 for the rights to use the name and likeness of the Road Runner and another $10,000 to develop the "beep, beep" horn. Just goes to show that despite being a simple-as-can-be muscle car, the Plymouth Road Runner Hemi still offered plenty of character.

1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 holds the distinction for being one of the fastest and most powerful American muscle cars of its time. It was conceived by drag racer Dick Harrell specifically for drag racing and came with a 427 cu in big-block V8 engine called the ZL1. This particular powertrain gave the Camaro all the performance output it needed - 500 horsepower worth - to be considered as one of the foremost American beasts of its time, capable even of hitting 0-60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.

All told, only 69 ZL1 Camaros were ever built, making this model one of the rarest and most important American muscle cars of its time.

1969 Ford Mustang 428 Cobra Jet

The Ford Mustang has produced its fair share of doozy pony cars in the past, but nothing draws "oohs and ahhs" more than the 1968 Mustang 428 Cobra Jet. Regarded as the model that took the fight to the big-block Camaros and Firebirds of the time, the Mustang Cobra Jet was a more powerful version of the Mustang and came with a powertrain worthy of its stature.

Powering the Mustang Cobra Jet was a 428-cid V8 engine that featured larger valve heads than the standard Mustang, a ram-air induction, and a functional hood scoop, while also carrying the same intake manifold as that of its less powerful brethren. While Ford rated the Mustang Cobra Jet as having "only" 335 horsepower, the truth was its output hit closer to 410 horsepower.

This figure was notable because it ushered in a new wave of interest for the Ford Mustang, which had been lagging behind the Chevrolet Camaro, the Pontiac Firebird, and the Plymouth Barracuda. With the release of the Mustang 428 Cobra Jet, the tables were finally turned and everyone started looking up to the legendary Mustang.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

A lot of people today are quick to label the Camaro as Chevrolet's muscle car and while that, to an extent, is accurate, not a lot of people know that before the Camaro became Chevy's go-to-muscle car, that title belonged to the Chevrolet Chevelle SS.

After being introduced in 1964 to signal Chevrolet's entry into the world of muscle cars, the Chevelle trudged along for a number of years, registering enough to make a name for itself, but not enough to make its rivals worry. It wasn't until 1970 when the Chevelle SS finally broke out, thanks in large part to a 454 cu. in. big-block V8 engine that produced 450 horsepower and 500 lb/ft of torque with a 0-62 mph time of six seconds.

Understated because of its more famous successor, the Chevelle was once Chevrolet's official muscle car, something not lost to those who had the pleasure of owning this spectacular machine back in the day.

1971 Plymouth Hemi'Cuda Convertible

One of the rarest and most important muscle cars of the 70s is the 1971 Plymouth Hemi'Cuda Convertible, a car that, to this day, remains as one of the most sought-after muscle cars in history. The Hemi'Cuda, a direct descendant of the Plymouth Barracuda, became a rare gem, not only because it came with a 425 cu. in. V8 engine that produced 425 horsepower, but because it served as Plymouth's answer to the established names of that time, particularly the Camaro and the Mustang.

But of all the Barracudas that ever came out, the 1971 Hemi'Cuda Convertible remains the crown jewel of them all. Limited to only 11 units, the Hemi'Cuda Convertible is about as rare as any muscle car you'll ever find. It certainly helped its cause for being an aesthetically attractive car, one that came with a combination of imposing good looks and top-of-the-line performance credentials.

Just to give a perspective as to how rare and sought-after this muscle car is these days, one model was auctioned off at Barrett Jackson for a whopping $4 million.

1973 De Tomaso Pantera

The De Tomaso Pantera may not have the first-name recall of some of the other muscle cars on this list, but rest assured, it's got an impressive pedigree that dates back to the 70s. The car was born from the mind of Alejandro De Tomaso, an Argentinian racing driver who sought to combine Italian engineering with American muscle. Together with the help of Tom Tjarda - the man responsible for the styling of the car - and Giampaolo Dallara - the man tasked to build the structural design of the Pantera and coincidentally, also aided in the development of the Lamborghini Miura. De Tomaso quickly went about and sought a way to infuse both ideologies into one powerful muscle car. Thus, the Pantera was born.

Powering the Pantera was a 351 cubic-inch 'Cleveland' V8 engine with 330 horsepower and mated to a ZF five-speed manual gearbox with a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 miles per hour.

First introduced at the New York Auto Show in 1970, the Pantera quickly gained popularity in the 70s, thanks to a combination of its eye-catching yet simple design and powerful engine. It became so popular that the Pantera became one of the most sought after celebrity muscle cars of its time, including one that was owned by no less than the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley.

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The Top Muscle Cars Of The 60s And 70s News @ Top Speed

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In many ways, the 1964 Pontiac GTO was regarded as one of the pioneer muscle cars during the golden age of the 60s and 70s if only because of the simple premise behind the build of the car. The idea was to find the largest engine and put it on the lightest body you can build.

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1960s Fashion: Clothing Styles, Trends, Pictures & History

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Early 1960s fashion was more conservative. Late ’60s clothes were the exact opposite. Greaser, mod or hippie? Year-by-year timeline with over 50 pics.