Best Songs of the 1960s

The decade rock, soul and pop grew up — twelve songs that still define the era, each from an album worth owning.

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1

BE

A Day in the Life

The Beatles · from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

The orchestral climax of the album that reinvented the LP.

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2

BD

Like a Rolling Stone

Bob Dylan · from Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

Six minutes that rewrote what a single could be.

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3

BB

God Only Knows

The Beach Boys · from Pet Sounds (1966)

Brian Wilson's most perfect, fragile arrangement.

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4

RS

Gimme Shelter

The Rolling Stones · from Let It Bleed (1969)

The Stones at their most ominous and electric.

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5

JH

All Along the Watchtower

The Jimi Hendrix Experience · from Electric Ladyland (1968)

The definitive reading of a Dylan song.

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6

VU

I'll Be Your Mirror

The Velvet Underground · from The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

Nico's tender counterpoint to the album's darkness.

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7

AF

Respect

Aretha Franklin · from I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)

The song that crowned the Queen of Soul.

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8

DO

Light My Fire

The Doors · from The Doors (1967)

The organ-driven breakthrough that made them stars.

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9

OR

I've Been Loving You Too Long

Otis Redding · from Otis Blue (1965)

Southern soul at its most aching.

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10

JC

Folsom Prison Blues

Johnny Cash · from At Folsom Prison (1968)

Recorded live to a roar of inmates.

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11

WH

My Generation

The Who · from My Generation (1965)

The stuttering anthem of mod youth.

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12

S&

The Sound of Silence

Simon & Garfunkel · from Sounds of Silence (1966)

The hushed folk landmark that launched them.

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