Reach Out (I’ll Be There) – The Four Tops
The Four Tops recorded the soulful and classic ballad “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)”. The song, released in 1966, became a hallmark success for the quartet and a Motown …
Best 1960s Songs
The Drifters – Stand By Me
“Stand By Me” is a famous soul and R&B song that The Drifters released in 1960. Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller wrote the song, which has …
I Can’t Help Myself – The Four Tops
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) of The Four Tops was released in 1965. It became a hallmark success for the group after being written by the …
The Mamas & The Papas – Monday Monday
“Monday Monday” is a hit song by The Mamas & The Papas, published in 1966. It became one of their most successful songs and a hallmark of the 1960s …
The Mamas & The Papas – California Dreamin
The Mamas & The Papas‘ 1965 song “California Dreamin'” is a fan favorite. It reflects the spirit of longing and escapism, portraying the desire to abandon the bitter winter …
Brenda Lee – I’m Sorry
Brenda Lee‘s popular song “I’m Sorry” was published in 1960. Ronnie Self, a country music singer-songwriter, wrote the song, which Owen Bradley produced. The song became one of Brenda …
The Animals – We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place
The Animals recorded the iconic rock song “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place” in 1965. The song, written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, was popular among disillusioned …
The Tokens – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The Tokens, an American vocal group, recorded the iconic song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. It was published in 1961 and became one of their most popular and profitable songs. …
The Turtles – Happy Together
The Turtles, an American rock band, recorded the hit song “Happy Together”. It was released in 1967 and quickly became one of the band’s biggest hits. It is still …
Petula Clark – Downtown
“Petula Clark – Downtown” is a classic song by British singer Petula Clark, released in 1964. It was written by Tony Hatch and became one of Clark’s hallmark songs, …
Best 1960s Songs ! The 1960s were a decade that began with Percy Faith’s gorgeous orchestral instrumental “The Theme From ‘A Summer Place'” topping the charts for nine weeks in 1960 and ended with The 5th Dimension’s “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” staying at #1 for six weeks in 1969.
During this time, music featured popular singles from adolescent idols, girl groups, and R&B harmony groups.Mixed with folk and folk rock.Dance, surf, drag, and the British Invasion…Music genres include Motown, Southern, and blue-eyed soul…Music genres include garage rock, bubblegum, psychedelic, progressive rock, blues rock, and jazz rock.
Lyrically, pop shifted from classic boy/girl romance songs to the complex rhythms and rhymes of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and its subject matter extended to encompass social criticism and political protest.
It was a decade unlike any other in recorded music history, with new and thrilling sounds emerging every week that are still popular now, 50 years later.
The decade ended with hip-hop reaching platinum sales levels and the beginning of the boy band mania.
1960
Everly Brothers – All I Have To Do Is Dream
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini – Brian Hyland
1962
Do You Love Me – The Contours
Green Onions – Booker T. & The MG’s
Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
The Loco-Motion – Little Eva
Twist And Shout – The Isley Brothers
1964
Dancing In The Street – Martha & The Vandellas
Dead Man’s Curve – Jan & Dean
Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys
Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann
Fun, Fun, Fun – The Beach Boys
Hello Dolly – Louis Armstrong
My Guy – Mary Wells
Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison And The Candy Men
Surfin’ Bird – The Trashmen
You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You – Dean Martin
1966
B-A-B-Y – Carla Thomas
California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas
Good Lovin’ – The Young Rascals
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Hanky Panky – Tommy James And The Shondells
I’m A Believer – The Monkees
In The Arms Of Love – Andy Williams
Last Train To Clarksville – The Monkees
Monday, Monday – The Mamas & The Papas
Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
Satisfaction – Otis Redding
They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV
Time Won’t Let Me – The Outsiders
Wild Thing – The Troggs
When A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge
Warm And Tender Love – Percy Sledge
1967
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like) – Aretha Franklin
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Daydream Believer – The Monkees
Dedicated To The One I Love – The Mamas & Papas
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love – Wilson Pickett
Gimme Some Lovin’ – Spencer Davis Group
Groovin’ – The Young Rascals
Happy Together – Turtles
I’m A Man – Spencer Davis Group
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) – Aretha Franklin
Incense And Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock
I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
I Think We’re Alone Now – Tommy James And The Shondells
Kind Of A Drag – The Buckinghams
Let’s Live For Today – The Grass Roots
Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
Never My Love – The Association
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Soul Man – Sam & Dave
The Beat Goes On – Sonny & Cher
The Letter – The Box Tops
To Sir With Love – Lulu
The Rain, The Park & Other Things – The Cowsills
Try A Little Tenderness – Otis Redding
White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane
Windy – The Association
Your Precious Love – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
1961
Blue Moon – The Ventures
Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes) – Carla Thomas
Shop Around – The Miracles (Featuring Bill “Smokey” Robinson)
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
1963
18 Yellow Roses – Bobby Darin
Catch A Wave – The Beach Boys
Heat Wave – Martha & The Vandellas
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! (A Letter From Camp) – Allan Sherman
Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
Moon River – Andy Williams
Pipeline – The Chantay’s
Surf City – Jan & Dean
Surfin’ U.S.A. – The Beach Boys
Wipe Out – The Surfaris
1965
Do You Believe In Magic – The Lovin’ Spoonful
Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) – Tony Bennett
Hang On Sloopy – The McCoys
Help Me, Rhonda – The Beach Boys
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You – Marvin Gaye
I Can’t Help Myself – Four Tops
It’s The Same Old Song – Four Tops
I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) – Otis Redding
In The Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
Mr. Tambourine Man – The Byrds
My Girl – The Temptations
Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) – Kim Weston
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – The Byrds
Wooly Bully – Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs
1968
A Beautiful Morning – The Rascals
Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Both Sides Now – Judy Collins
Chain Of Fools – Aretha Franklin
Eleanore – The Turtles
Hard To Handle – Otis Redding
Honey – Bobby Goldsboro
I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
I Thank You – Sam & Dave
Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes
Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Mony Mony – Tommy James And The Shondells
Sissy Strut – The Meters
(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay – Otis Redding
Slip Away – Clarence Carter
Spooky – Classics IV
Stormy – Classics IV Featuring Dennis Yost
The Love Of My Woman – Darrell Banks
You Keep Me Hangin’ On – Vanilla Fudge
1969
A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
Crossroads – Cream
Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James And The Shondells
Everybody’s Talkin’ – Nilsson
Hawaii Five-O – The Ventures
I Can’t Get Next To You – The Temptations
My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
One – Three Dog Night
Snatching It Back – Clarence Carter
Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross And The Supremes
Son-Of-A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
The Windmills Of Your Mind – Dusty Springfield