The Best of 1960s Folk Music

The 1960s were a golden era for folk music. Many of the best-known and most influential folk musicians emerged during this decade, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Pete Seeger. If you’re a fan of folk music, this blog is for you. We’ll be exploring the best of 1960s folk music, from the well-known hits to the lesser-known gems.

The Best of 1960s Folk Music

The 1960s were a tumultuous decade defined by counterculture and protest. Folk music was no exception. Political events such as the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement served as inspiration for many folk musicians of the time, who used their music as a way to voice their dissent and promote change.

Some of the most iconic folk songs of the 1960s were written in protest of the Vietnam War, including Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’”, Joan Baez’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio”. The genre was also used to promote the Civil Rights Movement, with songs like Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam” becoming anthems of the movement.

The popularity of folk music in the 1960s led to a surge in demand for live folk music performances. This led to the rise of many iconic folk venues, such as New York City’s The Bitter End and Club 47 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These venues provided a space for folk musicians to perform and helped to incubate the talent of many up-and-coming artists, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen.

While the 1960s were a golden age for folk music, the genre has continued to be popular in subsequent decades with artists like Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Suzanne Vega, and Ani DiFranco keeping the tradition alive.

The Best Folk Songs of the 1960s

The 1960s was a decade of great change, and that is reflected in the folk music of the time. The best folk songs of the 1960s capture the spirit of the decade, with its hopes and dreams, its protests and its love.

“The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s song “The Times They Are A-Changin'” is one of the most famous and influential folk songs of the 1960s. Dylan wrote the song in 1963, in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement and growing social tensions in the United States. The song is a call to social change, urging listeners to “be prepared” for a time when “the order they are used to will be overturned.” Dylan’s lyrics were seen as revolutionary at the time, and the song has since become an anthem for social justice movements around the world.

“Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan

“Blowin’ in the Wind” is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released as a single by Peter, Paul & Mary in 1963. The song became a folk rock standard and an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. It has been recorded by more than 600 artists.

“The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals

The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song, sometimes called Rising Sun Blues. It tells the story of a life gone wrong in New Orleans; many versions also mention frequenting a gambling house or brothel. The most successful commercial version, recorded in 1964 by the British rock group The Animals, was a number-one hit in both the UK and US.

The song is thought to be about a house of ill-repute on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans’ Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. Many versions also mention going down to New Orleans, which supports this theory. The earliest known version of the song was recorded by folk singer Dave Van Ronk in 1962.

“Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” by The Byrds

“Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” is a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s. The Byrds recorded the song in 1965 and it becameThe Byrds’ biggest hit single, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1965 and remaining there for three weeks. It was also a number one hit in Canada and Australia. The song’s title and lyrics are derived from the Book of Ecclesiastes, specifically the part that reads, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”

“I’m a Believer” by The Monkees

“I’m a Believer” is a song composed by Neil Diamond and recorded by the American pop rock band the Monkees in 1966. The song, released as a single in November 1966, reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1967 and the UK Singles Chart in February 1967.

The song was included on the Monkees’ self-titled album, which was released in December 1966 and was also their first number one album on both the Billboard 200 chart and the UK Albums Chart. The album was certified platinum in both countries.

In 2001, “I’m a Believer” was ranked No. 59 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

“Puff, the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul & Mary

The song “Puff, the Magic Dragon” is a popular folk song from the 1960s. The song was written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow, and was first recorded by Peter, Paul & Mary in 1963. The song is about a young boy named Jackie Paper who loses interest in his imaginary dragon friend Puff, and goes off to play with other children.

“Puff, the Magic Dragon” became a popular anthem for the anti-war movement during the 1960s, due to its references to loss of innocence and change. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Stevie Wonder.

“Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul & Mary

“Leaving on a Jet Plane” is a song written by John Denver in 1966 and made popular by the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary. The song is about a(n)
the sadness of leaving someone you love for an extended period of time, even though you’ll be returning to them eventually.
The lyrics express both the excitement of travel and the pain of saying goodbye, making it the perfect song for anyone who’s ever had to leave someone they love behind.

The Best Folk Albums of the 1960s

The 1960s was a decade of great change, and that is reflected in the folk music of the time. The best folk albums of the 1960s captured the spirit of the decade and the changes that were taking place. From protest songs to love songs, these albums had it all.

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan is one of the best folk albums of the 1960s. Released in 1963, it featured Dylan’s first foray into political songwriting with “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.” Other standout tracks include “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and “Bob Dylan’s Dream.” The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is an essential album for any fan of folk music.

Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan

Dylan’s folkie phase culminated with the release of three albums in 1965 and 1966, Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde. The Byrds also cut their adventurous countrified version of Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” in 1965, which set the standard for subsequent interpretations, and Joan Baez reached the Top Ten with her Dylan-penned “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” Even though Dylan himself would soon plug in his guitar and join the band on Highway 61 Revisited (1965), he was still widely regarded as a folk artist at this point in his career.

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan

Highway 61 Revisited is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on August 30, 1965 by Columbia Records. The album is one of Dylan’s most famous and acclaimed works, having gradually acquired status as one of the greatest albums of all time.

Due in part to itsardy folk music scene and the rediscoveries of Sleepy John Estes and Son House, Highway 61 Revisited captured Dylan in transition from acoustic to electric music. Highway 61 Revisited topped the Billboard 200 album chart for one week and reached number four in the UK. It was ranked number four on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003 and number 33 on Pitchfork Media’s Top 100 Albums of the 1960s.

Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan

Even if you’re not a folk fan, there’s no denying the immense impact that Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde had on popular music. Released in 1966, the double album cemented Dylan’s reputation as one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation, and its influence can still be felt today. With its mix of traditional folk music and country-rock, Blonde on Blonde helped to pave the way for the emergence of alternative country and Americana in the years to come.

The Byrds by The Byrds

The Byrds were one of the most influential bands of the 1960s, and their debut album is a perfect example of why. The Byrds combined elements of folk, country, and rock to create a sound that was both fresh and familiar, and their harmonies were simply heavenly. The Byrds is essential listening for any fan of 1960s folk music.

The Times They Are A-Changin’ by Bob Dylan

This is the third album by Bob Dylan, released in 1964. It features his most famous song, “The Times They Are A-Changin'”, and is one of the defining works of the 1960s folk music scene.

Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds

The Byrds’ second album was also their first foray into folk-rock, and it’s a stone classic. Roger McGuinn’s jangly 12-string Rickenbacker guitar provides the perfect accompaniment to the band’s beautiful harmonies, while their renditions of Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” are both definitive.