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Folk and Singer-Songwriter · 1960s

Best 1960s Folk and Singer-Songwriter Songs

The best folk songs of the 1960s (60s), ranked — each one links to the album it came from, on vinyl, CD or Amazon Music.

Reviewed by Callum Ashworth, 247 Album Verdict · Last updated · How we rank

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  1. 1
    S&

    The Sound of Silence

    Simon & Garfunkel · from Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964) · Album scores 80/99

    A poem and a melody that refused to be forgotten.

  2. 2
    S&

    The Sound of Silence

    Simon & Garfunkel · from Sounds of Silence (1966) · Album scores 90/99

    Revisited: the electric version that nobody asked for and everyone needed.

  3. 3
    LC

    Suzanne

    Leonard Cohen · from Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) · Album scores 88/99

    Poetic, image-rich folk that opened his career.

  4. 4
    JC

    Folsom Prison Blues

    Johnny Cash · from At Folsom Prison (1968) · Album scores 85/99

    Recorded live to a roar of inmates.

  5. 5
    ND

    River Man

    Nick Drake · from Five Leaves Left (1969) · Album scores 88/99

    Harry Robinson's string arrangement around Drake's guitar — devastating.

  6. 6
    FC

    Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

    Fairport Convention · from Unhalfbricking (1969) · Album scores 87/99

    Sandy Denny's voice against Richard Thompson's guitar: the whole of English folk.

  7. 7
    FC

    Matty Groves

    Fairport Convention · from Liege & Lief (1969) · Album scores 89/99

    Electric folk as it had never been heard before.

Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title or "Album" opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.