Iconic musical events like the British Invasion, Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock and the Altamont Free Concert evoke memories of the rock genre coming into full maturity during the tumultuous ’60s. The 1960s produced some of the greatest rock bands of all-time, including: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, The Doors, Cream and Led Zeppelin, to name a few. The decade also produced some of the greatest singer/songwriters and performers like Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. In order of release date, the following is a tribute to the greatest rock songs of the ’60s.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Help!” by the Beatles (1965)
The title song of The Beatles’ 1965 film and soundtrack, “Help!” was No. 1 for three weeks on both the US and UK charts.
Written by John Lennon, the song is about Lennon losing his internal locus of control during the Beatles’ meteoric rise to fame.
The song is ranked No. 29 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, “Satisfaction” was the Rolling Stones’ first No. 1 hit in the United States.
One of the most iconic songs in rock history, “Satisfaction” expresses the band’s frustration with everything from commercialism to the trappings of their own success.
The song is ranked No. 2 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan (1965)
Ranked No. 1 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the song tells the story of a privileged young woman who is humbled when she becomes homeless and has to live among those for whom she has contempt.
Due to its length, this 6:09 track received little radio play at first; however, the song gained favor with several influential DJs and rose to No. 2 on the US charts.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “My Generation” by The Who (1965)
An undulating anthem for the ever-growing, rebellious youth of the era, this song about generational angst is No. 11 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and is inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The song reached No. 2 on the UK charts and No. 74 on the US charts.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles (1966)
A record-setting sixth No. 1 single in a row, this Lennon-McCartney collaboration about stubbornness in a strained relationship was preceded by chart toppers: “I Feel Fine,” “Eight Days a Week,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Help!” and “Yesterday.”
The song reached the top spot on both the US and UK charts.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum
Part psychedelic rock and part baroque pop, this metaphorical “girl leaves boy” song reached No. 1 on the UK charts and stayed there for six weeks; it also reached No. 5 on the US charts with only nominal promotion.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Brown-Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison
This familiar and nostalgic song about youthful rights of passage is Van Morrison’s signature song. It climbed to No. 10 on the US charts and is one of the most enduring songs of all-time, eclipsing 8 million radio plays in 2007.
It is ranked No. 109 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield (1967)
Known not so much by its title, but rather by the first line of the song’s chorus: “Stop, children, what’s that sound? Everybody look what’s going down,” there are few songs more redolent of the 1960s.
This song about war and unrest peaked at No. 7 in the US and is ranked No. 67 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Light My Fire” by The Doors (1967)
Ranked No. 7 in VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of All-Time, this song of thinly-veiled metaphors and innuendo spent three weeks at No. 1 on the US charts. The song caused much controversy when front-man Jim Morrison used the word “higher” after promising to modify the lyrics during the band’s TV appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
The song is ranked No. 35 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix (1967)
This song was part of the encore that ended Woodstock and is widely considered to be Jimi Hendrix’s signature song. The song’s metaphorical references to debauchery along with the coda, “can’t go on like this,” presage Hendrix’s death.
Q magazine ranks it No. 1 among the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. The song is ranked No. 17 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Somebody to Love” by Jefferson Airplane (1967)
The quintessential psychedelic rock song, this song of yearning reached No. 5 on the US charts and is No. 274 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The band is fronted by Grace Slick, the first woman to sing lead in a major rock band.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Sunshine of Your Love” (1967)
Replete with metaphors and innuendo, this immediately recognizable song by Eric Clapton and company is arguably the first of the hard rock sub genre. The song has appeared in numerous movies, including Goodfellas and School of Rock.
The song reached No. 5 on the US charts. Q magazine ranks it No. 19 among the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was named the 44th best hard rock song of all time by VH1. The song is also ranked No. 65 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix (1968)
Said to be inspired by the Book of Isaiah, this cover of the Bob Dylan original has been ranked the best cover of all time by Total Guitar magazine. It reached No. 5 on the UK charts and No. 20 on the US charts.
The song is ranked No. 5 on Guitar World’s 100 Greatest Guitar Solos and No. 48 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Bob Dylan has been quoted as saying: “I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way…. Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.”
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf (1968)
The theme song of the movie Easy Rider (1969), the song reached No. 2 on the US charts and is among one of the most recognizable songs in rock history.
This bikers’ anthem is ranked No. 129 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. VH1 ranks it No. 53 among the best hard rock songs ever.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly
Credited with transitioning psychedelic rock to heavy metal, this 17 minute rock epic managed to reach No. 30 on the US charts despite its unprecedented length.
Originally titled “In the Garden of Eden,” this song has been covered, sampled and appeared in TV programs on many occasions.
VH1 has named the song the 24th greatest hard rock song ever recorded.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Jumpin Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones (1968)
One of the Rolling Stones’ most recognizable songs, it reached the top of the UK charts and No. 3 on the US charts.
The meaning of the song’s lyrics yield many different views, but regardless of the lyrics, Q magazine ranks it No. 2 among the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. The song is also ranked No. 124 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf (1968)
Peaking at No. 3 on the US charts, this song’s lyrics were inspired by lead singer Jon Kay’s daydreaming while listening to his first hi-fi stereo. It is the band’s second biggest hit after “Born to Be Wild.”
The song has appeared in popular culture many times, including in movies, on TV, and in video games. It is known for its fusion of psychedelic rock and heavy metal.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin (1968)
The most iconic female rock song in history, the song reached No. 12 on the US charts. Joplin famously performed the song at Woodstock.
The song is ranked No. 344 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is also included among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “White Room” by Cream (1968)
Peaking at No. 6 in the US and No. 28 in the UK, the song showcases Eric Clapton’s innovative guitar playing both in the bridge and during the song’s extended solo.
The song has been covered by over 30 musicians and featured in several TV programs including HBO’s Entourage.
The song is ranked No. 367 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “With a Little Help From My Friends” by Joe Cocker (1968)
One of the more memorable performances at Woodstock, this cover of The Beatles’ original is ranked No. 2 in UpVenue’s top 10 best covers of all time.
Used as the opening theme song of the television series The Wonder Years, the song is also featured in the Woodstock documentary film, 3 Days of Peace and Music.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Fortunate Son” by Credence Clearwater Revival (1969)
This Vietnam War-inspired song peaked at No. 14 on the US charts and was awarded a R.I.A.A. Gold Disc award.
The song has been covered many times and appears in numerous Vietnam War movies and television programs.
The song is ranked No. 99 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Gimmie Shelter” by the Rolling Stones (1969)
Perhaps the most well-known Vietnam War-inspired song, it is described by Mick Jagger as “… a kind of end-of-the-world song, really. It’s apocalypse; the whole record’s like that.”
It is easily one of the most covered songs in rock history and has appeared on many compilation albums.
The song is ranked No. 38 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Honky Tonk Women” by the Rolling Stones (1969)
This unambiguous song about the often lecherous life of rock stars spent four weeks at No. 1 on both the US and UK charts.
The song is ranked No. 116 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Proud Mary” by Credence Clearwater Revival (1969)
CCR’s first big hit and gold record, this song reached No. 2 on the US charts and No. 8 on the UK charts.
A mixture of rock, blues, gospel and soul, the song is No. 155 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the
500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Greatest Rock Songs of the ’60s: “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin (1969)
An epic rock song with several memorable guitar riffs by legendary guitarist Jimmy Page, this song was the group’s first hit and was certified gold.
Q magazine places it No. 3 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. VH1 ranks it No. 3 among the greatest hard rock songs ever. The song is ranked No. 75 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Source(s):
Embedded Links
“The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” Rolling Stone
Wikipedia (various)
