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Top 10 Songs of the 1960s

T

TheSkullPrince

Member
What are your top 10 favorite songs of the 1960s; here are mine:

1. God Only Knows-The Beach Boys
-It's the best song off of not only their best album, but arguably the best album of all time. And the refrain rivals any religious hymn in terms of spiritual beauty.

2. Here Comes the Sun-The Beatles
-If I could only use one word to describe my favorite Beatles song; beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. The music, the lyrics, Lennon and McCartney never penned anything as beautiful as George's magnum opus.

3. When a Man Loves a Woman-Percy Sledge
-A lot of us have been there; where we'd do anything, even against our better judgment, to make our partners happy, and often times be burned for it.

4. Fortunate Son-Creedence Clearwater Revival
-This song has been used to death in any media that takes place during the Vietnam War; but we have to remember-this was punk rock before punk rock. The anti-establishment lyrics, Fogerty's ferocity, the jangle and rumble of the instruments; it's a powerful song, despite it being a cliche.

5. Build Me Up Buttercup-The Foundations
-"WHHHHHHY DO YOU"; need I say more? Pure pop perfection.

6. Light My Fire-The Doors
-The sexiest song on my list. Morrison's voice, the organ, the drums, the guitars-pure fucking ecstasy.

7. Wouldn't It Be Nice-The Beach Boys
-Such a sweet song about being young, naive, and in love

8. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction-The Rolling Stones
-Could have put Sympathy for the Devil or Gimme Shelter on here if I'm being honest.

9. I Ain't Marching Anymore-Phil Ochs
-One of the best protest songs ever.

10. I Want You Back-The Jackson 5
-MJ at his early best.

I would also like to other top 10s for other decades as well.
 
DiscoJer

DiscoJer

Member
The Who - Underture from Tommy. Nearly 10 minute instrumental I just love Keith Moon's drumming on it.

Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride

While only remembered for two songs, they were a pretty big band back in the day. I can never get enough of this song.

Cream - Crossroads

Their reworking of a 1920s song features some of the most amazing bass and guitar playing ever in a song.

Jimi Hendrix - Manic Depression

Almost everything he produced is great, but this just seems so honest

Led Zeppelin - Heartbreaker

Like Hendrix, they didn't make much bad, but this still makes me say wow despite hearing it all my life.

Mason Profit - Two Hangmen

This is a pretty obscure protest song but a local radio station played it and I've always loved it.

Procul Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale

This is always a neat song and while I thought it was about the Canterbury tales, apparently it's about a ship sinking, I think. There are two extra verses not in the album version that clarify things more.

Pink Floyd - Astronomy Domine

Perhaps the first Pink Floyd song that sounded like Pink Floyd as we know it, it was still very much weirder and chaotic than later efforts sans Barrett. But it's just a neat song.

The Moody Blues - Ride My See Saw

They pretty much mastered symphonic rock staring with Days of Future Passed, but this song was almost pure rock.

The Sparkles - Hipsville 29 B.C.

Probably the best garage rock song ever.

The Avengers VI - Time Bomb

I love surf rock and this is the best example of it. I just wish it wasn't so damn short.

Arthur Alexander - Anna (Go To Him)

Al Bundy searched hard for this song and with good reason. One of the best early 60s rock & roll tunes.

The Doors - When the Music's Over

Dance on fire as it intends, music is your only friend
 
K

Kill3r7

Member
I do not even know where to begin. There are so many great songs I can't even cut the list down to 20 let alone 10.
 
A

AlternativeUlster

Absolutely pathetic part deux
10. Wouldn't It Be Nice - The Beach Boys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZBKFoeDKJo
9. Black Monk Time - The Monks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOLS8NeGL4U
8. Please Don't Let Me Be MIsunderstood - Nina Simone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpYGJWk7Wrw
7. The Ronettes - Be my Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g_FD_sYazk
6. California Dreamin' - The Mamas and the Papas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhZULM69DIw
5. Stand by Me - Ben E. King (objectively, I can't see another song from the 60s really being higher then this)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZNL7QVJjE
4.I Have Known Love - Silver Apples
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYRE-kXPoXg
3.Alone Again Or - Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X3HKEC68EM
2. So Long, Marianne - Leonard Cohen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XzAjfwQtvM
1. Machine Gun - Peter Brotzmann
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxTZ2qA4brE
 
MrS

MrS

Banned
I've limited mine to one song per artist and they're in no order:

Sloop John B - The Beach Boys
Where Do You Go To My Lovely - Peter Sarstedt
Cathy's Clown - The Everly Brothers
Norwegian Wood - The Beatles
Restless Farewell - Bob Dylan
Today - Jefferson Airplane
Communication Breakdown - Led Zeppelin
Dreaming - Cream
You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry & The Pacemakers
America - Simon & Garfunkel
 
P

ponpo

( ≖‿≖)
Where is California Dreamin'

Where is The Cyrkle - The Visit (she was here)

where is The Incredible String Band – Koeeoaddi There
 
M

megalowho

Member
No real order, could easily pick alternates from these artists or other heavyweights

Aretha Franklin - Baby, Baby, Baby - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n99NQ02Y7BE
The Beach Boys - Busy Doin' Nothing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saQBsEROkFM
The Band - Tears Of Rage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMqJ2V6zOd0
The Impressions - I've Been Trying - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRcSX1ebyFo
Motherlode - When I Die - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA3ATKjRS1Y
The Beatles - I'm Only Sleeping
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl
The Impressions - My Deceiving Heart
Stevie Wonder - I Was Made To Love Her
 
B

Bronx-Man

Banned
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix
Hey Jude - The Beatles
21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson
We Gotta Get out of This Place - The Animals
Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
Come a Little Bit Closer - Jay and the Americans
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
The Devastator - Stormy
 
A

Adam_Vania

Banned
96 Tears
Let's Spend the Night Together
River Deep Mountain High
Sunday Morning
Strange Days
Mony Mony
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
A Day in the Life
Gloria
See Emily Play
 
Machine

Machine

Member
Only 10? This is an impossible task. I'd definitely want to throw a Stones song (Paint it Black) on the list along with something by the Beach Boys (Surfer Girl), Beatles (Eleanor Rigby), Kinks (maybe Well Respected Man), Who (My Generation), and Doors (Light My Fire). Then I'd want to throw in one or two Motown songs (My Girl, I Hear a Symphony) and maybe something by the Zombies (Time of the Season). That's nearly 10 right there and I still haven't considered Simon & Garfunkel, the Animals, the Rascals or several other bands I like. Recently I've been listening to a lot of Nancy Sinatra, Herman's Hermits, and Paul Revere & the Raiders which might sway me to insert some of their stuff too. Also, the Monkees were the best boy band ever and I might want to include one of their songs.
 
T

TheSkullPrince

Member
Vital Tundra said:
Love the Beach Boys but don't feel they ever reached the height of The Beatles best in any of their songs.

Great list, though.
Click to expand...

Album for album, The Beatles are better overall, but song for song, The Beach Boys give them a run for their money, especially all the songs off of Pet Sounds.
 
R

RespectThySole

Member
God Only Knows
Voodoo Child
Something
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Sister Ray
Gimme Shelter
In My Life
My Girl
Manic Depression
21st Century Schzoid Man
 
T

thenewjeva

Member
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
You Keep Me Hanging On - The Supremes/Vanilla Fudge
Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
I Feel Free - Cream
No Time - The Guess Who (Canned Wheat Version)
Heroin - The Velvet Underground
She's Not There - The Zombies
Nights In White Satin - The Moody Blues
All Along The Watchtower - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan

And there's tons more to choose from. One of my favorite eras of music.
 
E

ElectronicOldMen

Banned
Roughly, going for one per artist otherwise it'd basically all be Dylan and Cohen songs I think:

Bob Dylan - Ballad of a Thin Man
Leonard Cohen - Suzanne
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
Townes Van Zandt - Waiting Around to Die
King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man
The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Animals - House of the Rising Sun
The Velvet Underground & Nico - Venus in Furs
Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind

So much great soul and motown and folk and jazz and stuff missing from that list though, 10 aint enough songs.
 
P

PHOENIXZERO

Member
Parmadillo Marshmallow said:
Jimi is the king of the 60's IMO, so basically most of his hits would be in my top 10.
Click to expand...
What do you classify as hits? Are you in the UK where he had a several top tens? Jimi's singles didn't really do that well in the U.S. At least not when he was alive, All Along the Watchtower was pretty much the peak at 20 and others didn't come close. His albums did much better however.
 
R

rbenchley

Member
In no particular order, and with no more than one song per artist:

MC5 - Kick Out the Jams
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl
The Zombies - Time of the Season
Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
The Rolling Stones - Paint it Black
The Mamas and Papas - California Dreamin'
The Velvet Underground - All Tomorrow's Parties
David Bowie- Space Oddity
Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe
 
M

mariachi507

Member
Surf's Up counts, right?

I'd have to really think hard for a top ten but I've got to include the most underrated of Brian Wilson compositions, even if it didn't see official release in the sixty's.

The rest of my top ten is most likely filled out with more Beach Boys, Beatles, and Phil Spector productions.
 
N

Norris1020

Member
Frankie Valli and the 4 Season - Can't take my eyes off of you
The Tremoloes - Here comes my baby
The Left Banke - Walk away Renee
Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby
Beach Boys - Wouldn't it be nice
The Drifters - Save the last dance for me
The Beatles - Help
The Beatles - She loves you
Scott McKenzie - San Francisco
Roy Orbison - Crying

No particular order and so, so many more.
 
T

TheSkullPrince

Member
mariachi507 said:
Surf's Up counts, right?

I'd have to really think hard for a top ten but I've got to include the most underrated of Brian Wilson compositions, even if it didn't see official release in the sixty's.

The rest of my top ten is most likely filled out with more Beach Boys, Beatles, and Phil Spector productions.
Click to expand...

When I, or someone else, makes the 1970s thread, I'll be putting songs from Sunflower and Surf's Up on there; it's a damn shame how underrated those two albums are.

I feel like Brian Wilson doesn't get the credit he deserves, and to me at least, he's the greatest musician of the 20th Century.
 
J

JTripper

Member
For the sake of variety, I'll just fill my 1-3 choices with some of my favorites from my favorite artists of that time, since there are way too many to choose between there.

1. Good Vibrations - God Only Knows - Wouldn't It Be Nice - Surf's Up "Smile Version" (The Beach Boys)

2. Don't Let Me Down - Please Please Me - I Want To Hold Your Hand (The Beatles)

3. The Way I Feel Inside - Time of The Season - She's Not There - Care of Cell 44 - This Will Be Our Year - Summertime - Tell Her No (The Zombies)

4. House of the Rising Sun (The Animals)

5. Never My Love (The Association)

6. Go Now (The Moody Blues)

7. The Weight (The Band)

8. Girl from the North Country (Bob Dylan)

9. How Can I Be Sure (The Rascals)

10. Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
 
A

autumnleaf

Member
Pretty sure I Say A Little Prayer was first released in the 60s, the Dionne Warwick & Aretha Franklin versions and that's a great record.
 
D

DieNgamers

Member
Just a list thread, eh? I'm not falling for that, nobody's gonna read mine anyway. I'll say that some standout tracks for me are King Crimson - Epitaph, David Bowie - Space Oddity, The Who - We're Not Gonna Take It (Live versions) and Jimi Hendrix - Spanish Castle Magic.
 
M

Manzanas

Neo Member
The Beatles:
Girl
Yesterday
Oh! Darling
Here, There and Everywhere
She's Leaving Home
Bob Dylan:
Sad Eyed Lady of the Low Lands
Like a Rolling Stone
Just like a Woman
Queen Jane Approximately
I Want You
 
C

ClivePwned

Member
My 60s list would basically be The Beatles or Tom Jones

1. What's New Pussycat Tom Jones
2. Hard Day's Night- The Beatles
3. Good Vibrations- Pet Shop Boys
4- Help- The Beatles
5- Get Back- The Beatles
6- Nights in White Satin- The Moody Blues
7- The Real Thing- Russell Morris
8- Goldfinger- Shirley Bassey
9- Wild Thing- The Troggs
10- Everybody's Talking At Me- Harry Nilsson
cause I only remembered it after I did 10
11- Venus Shocking Blue

honourable mentions:
Its Not Unusual, Green Grass of Home and Delilah by Tom Jones
Yellow Submarine, Ob la Di, Twist and Shout, Hey Jude, Revolution, Back in the USSR -The Beatles
My Generation- The Who
You only Live Twice, Nancy Sinatara, We Have all in the Time in the World Louis Armstrong
Space Oddity by David Bowie Its a different version from the one everyone knows
 
A

Avalanche

Member
1. The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
2. The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
3. Otis Redding - These Arms Of Mine
4. Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come
5. Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
6. The Beatles - In My Life
7. Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
8. The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On
9. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
10. Desmond Dekker - Israelites

The top 3 are also probably in my top 10 of all time.
 
M

megashock5

Member
Limiting myself to one per artist, and in no particular order:

Beach Boys - God Only Knows
Beatles - We Can Work It Out
Led Zeppelin - Good Times Bad Times
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tracks Of My Tears
Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life
Jackie Wilson - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
The Kinks - You Really Got Me
 
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