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1960s Music: Answer Songs, Parodies, and Death Tunes

© Patricia Jacobs

The early to mid-1960s was probably the heyday of answer or response songs, those tunes that referred directly or indirectly to another song, or is meant as a reply to another song. The reason? It was believed this was to try to "cash in" on a huge hit, ride the momentum, so to speak.

Most of these were rather forgettable, but there were a few gems in the mix. parodies were humorous or satirical imitations, but could also be an answer song.

And death tunes were simply that, in which an untimely demise was the focus of,and befell the main character, or two or more. For some inexplicable reason, these "disaster blasters" were very popular for a brief time. Before the rock-and-roll era,.

"This Land Is Your Land" was Woody Guthrie's socialist response to "God Bless America" by Irving Berlin

The following was actually from the 1950s,  "Bark, Battle, And Brawl"& by The Platters was the response to Shake, Rattle, And Roll", the HUGE Bill Haley and The Comets hit.

Daddy's Home" by Shep and The Limelites (1961) was the answer song to " A Thousand Miles Away by The Heartbeats (1956). James "Shep" Sheppard was the lead singer on both songs.

" Dawn Of Correction" by The Spokesmen was the response to Barry McQuire's "Eve Of Destruction." (1965).

Spokesmen member David White was a member of Danny and The Juniors.. "I'll Bring It Home To You" was the response of Carla Thomas to Sam Cooke"s "Bring It On Home To Me" (1962) . Both were written by Cooke.

"Fourth Time Around" by Bob Dylan answered The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" (late '65-early '66?)

Percy Sledge had the big 1966 hit "When A Man Loves A Woman". Ketty Lester responded with "When A Woman Loves A Man".

The Chantels hit no. 20 with " Well, I Told You," a response to Ray Charles' "Hit The Road, Jack", both from 1961.

Jim Reeves' He'll Have To Go" got singer Jeannie Black to declare that "He'll Have To Stay." (1960) The latter was a no. 4 smash.

Gene Chandler's follow-up and answer to "Duke Of Earl" was "Walk On With The Duke".

Chris Kenner had a big hit with "I Like It Like That." The Bobbettes responded with "I Don't Like It Like That."

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