Mod Music Playlist: The Sixties' Spirit

The sixties still sound like a progressive era, and it was. The civil rights movement marked the decade, and it was the first time that people started questioning the conservative views on how their life was supposed to be.

Experimenting with drugs, loud parties and the miniskirt - it all took place in the sixties. Sometimes, it’s hard to grasp that this decade was over sixty years ago and that an average original Mod is around 80 years old now.

The movie Quadrophenia from 1979 describes the mod culture in all its "glory", following the ups and downs of young & troubled Jimmy. The movie is a real time capsule, and a really good mod music soundtrack.

What Did the Mods Listen To?

60 years ago or not, Mod music is still excellent.

Listening to it, you can hardly imagine it was performed by someone that is already or almost 80 years old (like Mick Jagger).

Like every subculture in the 20th century, the Mods had a list of bands that were the part of the movement, musicians that sang the issues of the rebellious generation.

The early Mods from the end of the fifties listened to modern jazz and American rhythm and blues, and after embraced Jamaican ska. Bands like Skatalites and performers like Prince Buster and Derrick Morgan were played around London.

As the Mod movement grew, the young Brit bands emerged. The Kinks and The Yardbirds were one of the first, followed by definitely the most famous rock band – The Rolling Stones. That band is like a world wonder, and they are still active.
Even though The Stones are still alive & kicking the band that was probably the most popular was The Who.

The legendary parka the Mods wore as their trademark is still, today known as the Who Parka.

Mod Music Listening Time Capsule

For time travel, you don’t need much more than some headphones. Just play these songs: If you’re on Spotify, we prepared a Mod Playlist for you.

The Who - My Generation
The Kinks - All Day and All Of The Night
Sweet and Dandy - Monkey Man
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
Lulu - Shout
Them - Gloria
The High Numbers - Zoot Suit
Small Faces - Shake
The Creation - Making Time
The Troggs - Wild Thing
The Yardbirds - For Your Love
Marianne Faithfull - As Tears Go By
Judge Dread - Big Seven
Manfred Mann - 5-4-3-2-1
Bad Manners - Hey Little Girl
The Kinks - You Really Got Me
The Rolling Stones - Time Is on My Side
Solomon Burke - Everybody Needs Somebody
Prince Buster - Madness
Prince Buster - Black Head Chinaman
Roy Head and Traits - Treat Her Right
Marvin Gaye - Ain’t That Peculiar
Nina Simone - Don’t Let me be misunderstood
Prince Buster - Shanty Time
The Toys - Lovers Concerto
The Animals - We Gotta Get Out of this Place
Lou Johnson - Always Something There to Remind Me
Kim Weston - Helpless
Skatalites - Occupation
Skatalites - Eastern Standard Time
The Velvelettes - Needle in a Haystack
Desmond Decker and the Aces - 007
The Who - Run, Run, Run