Great Western rock classics and hit songs of the '60s
The era when the foundations of rock music were forged: the 1960s.
Today’s rock music includes many subgenres that blend a variety of musical styles.
Of course, every genre is rooted in rock, but if you trace many of them back to their origins, you end up in the 1960s.
This time, we’ve selected classic songs that had a tremendous impact on the rock scene of the 1960s.
Many famous artists and bands appear, so even if you’re not well-versed in rock, be sure to check them out!
- Explore the innovative sounds and iconic songs that shaped the history of 60s bands
- Back to those nostalgic days… Classic and hit Western songs of the 1960s
- [50s–60s] A Collection of Rock ’n’ Roll Classics
- The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classics and hit songs
- [Masterpiece Selection] A Compilation of Classic Western Rock Songs
- [A Collection of Classics] Nostalgic 70s Western Hit Songs
- Top Western Music Rankings Popular with People in Their 60s (By Generation)
- Timeless Western pop ballads that colored the 1960s—masterpieces whose brilliance never fades.
- [Revival among the youth?] Rockabilly classics and recommended popular songs
- Recommended Western music for women in their 60s: world classics and popular songs
- [Oldies] A collection of nostalgic hit songs from Western music of the 1950s
- A roundup of popular Western blues bands—also recommended for rock fans!
- A classic blues rock masterpiece. A highly recommended album you should listen to at least once.
Great Western Rock Classics and Hit Songs of the '60s (21–30)
You Really Got MeThe Kinks
Rock in the 1960s didn’t often have the intensity we associate with it today.
One band that had a major impact on 1960s rock was The Kinks.
Their gritty, distortion-heavy sound—unusual for the time—connects strongly to modern rock.
One of their classic songs is “You Really Got Me,” a memorable track marked by its distorted guitar and just-right level of intensity.
Be sure to give it a listen.
(I Can’t Get No) SatisfactionThe Rolling Stones
This is the song that can be said to have sparked The Rolling Stones’ worldwide popularity.
Frequently featured in TV commercials and other tie-ins, it’s especially memorable for its guitar riff in the intro—many people will likely recognize it as soon as they hear that guitar.
Great Western rock classics and hits of the ’60s (31–40)
Train Kept On RollinYardbirds
The Yardbirds are a rock band from England.
They were the group that became the foundation for Led Zeppelin, and they reunited in 1992.
Their musical style is very diverse, excelling in blues rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, and progressive rock.
One of their classic songs is Train Kept A-Rollin’.
It strongly reflects the characteristics of the blues, blending a lively rock sound with a gritty blues essence.
Don’t Let Me Be MisunderstoodThe Animals
A gem of blues rock from The Animals, a band emblematic of the golden age of British rock in the 1960s.
Hailing from Newcastle, England, they boldly transformed Nina Simone’s jazz number into a full-fledged rock piece.
Driven by Eric Burdon’s powerful vocals and a passionate performance, the track became an international hit after its 1965 release, reaching No.
3 in the UK and No.
15 in the US.
In 2003, the Santa Esmeralda version was featured in the climactic scene of the film Kill Bill Vol.
1, bringing it back into the spotlight.
Hailed as a milestone of blues rock said to have influenced Bruce Springsteen’s Badlands, this song’s forceful message and timeless themes make it a perfect pick for music fans seeking a moving classic.
You Keep Me Hanging OnVanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is a 1960s rock band said to be one of the roots of hard rock and heavy metal.
The performances by bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice—who would later form Beck, Bogert & Appice with Jeff Beck—can only be described as intense.
You can really feel the power in their playing.
Break On Through (To The Other Side)The Doors
The debut by The Doors, a psychedelic rock band emblematic of America, is a striking track where organ and guitar weave a dreamlike sound, paired with Jim Morrison’s charismatic vocals.
Its polished blues-rock rhythm and innovative drum beat—skillfully incorporating bossa nova elements—make it a performance that symbolizes the psychedelic movement of the ’60s.
Released in January 1967 as the opening track of their debut album The Doors, the song has continued to be loved across generations, later featuring in the film Forrest Gump.
Imbued with the band’s determination to open doors to new worlds through music, this track is highly recommended for all music fans seeking liberation of the heart.
Louie LouieThe Kingsmen
The legendary track left by the Portland, Oregon garage rock band The Kingsmen in 1963 was recorded in a single take on a budget of only a few hundred dollars.
The lead vocalist, singing indistinctly through dental braces, turned the song into such a social phenomenon that the FBI investigated it for two years.
Included on the album “The Kingsmen in Person,” the track reached No.
2 on the charts and held that position for six weeks.
It later ranked fifth on Rolling Stone’s “40 Songs That Changed the World,” and in 1999 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Its simple chord progression and rhythm, along with its raw yet energetic performance, left a major mark on music history as a foundation of punk rock and garage rock.
Brimming with youthful passion and energy, this is a must-hear for music fans who want to experience rock at its roots.