The Best of 60s Folk Music
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A blog dedicated to the best of 60s folk music. Featuring news, reviews, and interviews with the biggest names in the genre.
The Best of 60s Folk Music
The best of 60s folk music was a decade of great change and upheaval. The best of 60s folk music saw the rise of the counterculture, the civil rights movement, and the Vietnam War. This decade also saw the rise of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the folk music scene. The best of 60s folk music was a time of great change and great music.
The Beatles
John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the undisputed songwriting geniuses of the Beatles. By crossing various genres including country and western, pop, blues, and folk, they created a unique sound that had a profound and long-lasting impact on the music industry. A large part of their appeal was their willingness to experiment with different styles and sounds. This led to some of their most iconic songs, such as “Yesterday,” “Norwegian Wood,” and “Here Comes the Sun.” Folk music was a particularly important influence on the Beatles, as evidenced by these three classic tracks.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He began his career in the early 1960s, when he was one of the leading figures of the folk music revival. His songs, such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” helped to make protest music an integral part of the American folk tradition. Dylan’s songwriting skills and his creative use of traditional folk melodies made him one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. In addition to his successful musical career, Dylan has also been a highly respected poet and painter.
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s and became counterculture icons of the decade. Their biggest hits—including “The Sound of Silence”, “Bridge over Troubled Water” and “Mrs. Robinson”—reached number one on singles charts worldwide.
The Best of 60s Folk Music
The 1960s folk music scene was a time of incredible creativity and innovation. Folk musicians were pushing the boundaries of what was possible with the genre, and the results were some of the most iconic and influential songs of the 20th century. In this article, we’ll be counting down the best of the best, the top 10 folk songs of the 1960s.
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group’s dissolution in 1973. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial success of their peers during the latter part of their career, The Byrds are today considered one of the most influential bands of their era. Their signature blend of clear harmony singing and McGuinn’s jangly twelve-string Rickenbacker guitar were both distinctive elements of the early 1960s “California Sound”.
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Defined by their close harmonies, cerebral lyrics, and layered guitar work, Crosby, Stills & Nash became the definitive American folk-rock band of the 1960s. The trio — David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash — were all established singer/songwriters and rock stars in their own right before forming CSN(Y) in 1968. By that time, each had already released multiple solo albums and played a pivotal role in two of the most influential bands of the ’60s: David Crosby was a founding member of both the Byrds and Jefferson Airplane; Stephen Stills was the leader of Buffalo Springfield; and Graham Nash was a member of the Hollies.
The Mamas & The Papas
The Mamas & The Papas were a folk rock group active in the 1960s. The group was composed of John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot, and Michelle Phillips. The group rose to prominence with their 1966 hit single “California Dreamin'”, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Mamas & The Papas were one of the most successful groups of the 60s, selling over 40 million records worldwide.
The Best of 60s Folk Music
The 1960s were a turbulent time, and the music reflected that. The best of 60s folk music captured the spirit of the decade with its mix of protest and love songs. Here are some of the best of 60s folk music.
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys, who formed in 1961 in Southern California, are one of the most influential bands of the 20th century. The Beach Boys were led by brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine. The Beach Boys were known for their close harmonies, catchy melodies and sunny California sound. The Beach Boys’ hits include “Surfin’ USA,” “I Get Around,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “California Girls,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Good Vibrations” and “Kokomo.”
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. The group consisted of keyboardist Ray Manzarek, singer Jim Morrison, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger. They were one of the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s. Morrison was known for his wild, poetic lyrics and his charismatic but erratic stage persona.
The Doors achieved national recognition after signing with Elektra Records in 1967. The band’s debut album, The Doors (1967), released by Elektra in January 1967, peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 album chart and produced the solid rock radio hits “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” and “Light My Fire”. The single “Hello, I Love You” reached number one on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart in August 1968. “Touch Me” was also a Top 40 hit in 1968.
Although they were one of the most successful rock bands of their era, the Doors’ popularity decreased rapidly after Morrison’s death in 1971 at age 27. Subsequent albums without Morrison did not sell as well as their earlier work. The band continued to tour throughout the 1970s but struggled to regain mainstream success; they finally disbanded in 1973.
The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band was known for their extended jams, which often featured unique and experimental guitar work, and for their live performances, which were a key part of their legend. The Dead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and they have sold more than 35 million records worldwide.
