Best Songs of the 1960s
A lot of great songs were written during the 1960's. Rock, R&B, funk, soul, country, you name it. Any song that was released between 1960 and 1970 is good for this list. Don't agree with the list? Place your vote or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on.
1)
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) - Scott McKenzie
“Greatest 60’s song ever.”
“I remember this song as though it were just yesterday. Great song of the 60’s.”
listen to sample of San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) - Scott McKenzie
2)
Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
“I wanna see it painted, painted black...
”
“love this song”
“best song ever!
”
listen to sample of Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
read more comments on Paint it Black - The Rolling Stones
“At Last, my love has come along. My lonely days, are over”
listen to sample of At Last - Etta James
4)
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
“OOhhh, my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for, your touch, a long, lonely time...”
listen to sample of Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
5)
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum
“A great and very haunting song.”
“I like the melody
”
“nothing like it ever...
a stand along classic with no rival”
listen to sample of A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum
6)
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
“Dylan at his best”
“BEST SONG EVER not just best song of the 60s, BEST SONG EVER!”
“This song changed music forever”
listen to sample of Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
“Jim Morrison kicks ass”
“Its a kick ass song”
listen to sample of Light My Fire - The Doors
9)
Sounds of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel
“Hello Darkness, my old friend...”
listen to sample of Sounds of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel
10)
To Love Somebody - The Bee Gees
11)
House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals
listen to sample of House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals
12)
California Girls - The Beach Boys
“The Beach boys had a great sound which is exemplified by this song”
listen to sample of California Girls - The Beach Boys
13)
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight
“Yes! I heard it - sing it Gladys!”
listen to sample of I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight
14)
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkle
listen to sample of Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkle
“When the night, has come..
”
listen to sample of Stand By Me - Ben E. King
16)
Sympathy For the Devil - The Rolling Stones
“Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth, and taste. Been around for a long long year......”
listen to sample of Sympathy For the Devil - The Rolling Stones
17)
Daydream Believer - Monkees
“Cheer up Sleepy Gene!”
listen to sample of Daydream Believer - Monkees
18)
Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
“got to be the best ever love song in history”
listen to sample of Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
19)
Tuesday Afternoon - The Moody Blues
listen to sample of Tuesday Afternoon - The Moody Blues
20)
Happy Together - The Turtles
listen to sample of Happy Together - The Turtles
21)
Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
listen to sample of Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin
22)
Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
“happy, pick me up song”
23)
The Rain, Park And Other Things - The Cowsills
listen to sample of The Rain, Park And Other Things - The Cowsills
24)
Crimson And Clover - Tommy James And The Shondells
“GREAT, GREAT SONG”
listen to sample of Crimson And Clover - Tommy James And The Shondells
25)
These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra
“These boots are made for walking, and thats just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!”
“it refreshes the memories of the army infantry when on long marches”
listen to sample of These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra
26)
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
“the best song from the 60’s... and I am not even from that decade!”
listen to sample of Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
27)
People Got to Be Free - The Rascals
listen to sample of People Got to Be Free - The Rascals
“This Mardi Gras song as a hit!”
listen to sample of Iko Iko - The Dixie Cups
29)
Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees
listen to sample of Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees
30)
Woodstock - Crosby Stills Nash And Young
“It takes me back to wonderful
times of my life.”
listen to sample of Woodstock - Crosby Stills Nash And Young
31)
Space Oddity - David Bowie
“Ground Control to Major Tom...”
listen to sample of Space Oddity - David Bowie
32)
I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles
“Why wouldn’t you want to hold your lover’s hand...”
34)
When a Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
listen to sample of When a Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
35)
Come See About Me - The Supremes
listen to sample of Come See About Me - The Supremes
36)
I'll Be There - The Jackson Five
listen to sample of I'll Be There - The Jackson Five
38)
Penny Lane - The Beatles
“it a good song if you listen to it and take the time to listen to the words it sounds really good”
“the beatles will always be the best!”
40)
Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire
listen to sample of Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire
41)
Needles And Pins - The Searchers
listen to sample of Needles And Pins - The Searchers
42)
Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
listen to sample of Tell It Like It Is - Aaron Neville
43)
Wouldn't It Be Nice - The Beach Boys
listen to sample of Wouldn't It Be Nice - The Beach Boys
44)
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
“It is the quintessential summary of everything 60’s.”
listen to sample of White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
45)
Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy - The Tams
listen to sample of Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy - The Tams
listen to sample of Respect - Aretha Franklin
47)
For Your Love - The Yardbirds
listen to sample of For Your Love - The Yardbirds
48)
Both Sides Now - Judy Collins
listen to sample of Both Sides Now - Judy Collins
49)
Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
listen to sample of Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
50)
Piece of My Heart - Big Brother
listen to sample of Piece of My Heart - Big Brother
“Summarized the psychedelic feeling of the Summer of Love. The Monterey Pop Festival was both the end and beginning of the mid-60’s. It officially ended the Surf Music mindset, and ushered in the late 60’s psychedelic Nirvana years.”
listen to sample of Monterey - The Animals
52)
listen to sample of Massachusetts - Bee Gees
listen to sample of Bus Stop - The Hollies
54)
Mr. Tambourine Man - The Byrds
listen to sample of Mr. Tambourine Man - The Byrds
55)
When You Walk in the Room - The Searchers
listen to sample of When You Walk in the Room - The Searchers
56)
listen to sample of Oh, Boy! - Buddy Holly
57)
Pictures of Matchstick Men - Status Quo
listen to sample of Pictures of Matchstick Men - Status Quo
58)
Positively 4th Street - Bob Dylan
listen to sample of Positively 4th Street - Bob Dylan
59)
Where Were You When I Needed You - Grassroots
listen to sample of Where Were You When I Needed You - Grassroots
60)
Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
listen to sample of Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
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