Psychedelic Rock: The Ultimate Playlist
Contents
Looking for the perfect psychedelic rock playlist? Look no further! This ultimate playlist features all the best psychedelic rock hits from the 60s and 70s.
Introduction to Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also called acid rock, is a type of rock music that arose out of the psychedelic subculture of the 1960s. This genre is marked by its use of feedback, distorted guitars, and heavy use of effects such as delay and reverb. Psychedelic rock reached its peak of popularity in the late 1960s, but has since undergone a number of revivals.
What is Psychedelic Rock?
Psychedelic rock, sometimes called garage rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is characterized by a distorted, distorted sound and lyrics about drug use and mind-altering experiences. Psychedelic rock began to decline in popularity in the late 1960s, but it has had a significant impact on subsequent genres, such as punk rock, metal and jam bands.
The Origins of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also called acid rock or psychedelic pop, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The genre is notable for its heavy use of feedback, distortion, and reverb; as well as for its experimental and often unusual song structures, extended instrumental passages, and vast array of sounds.
Psychedelic rock reached its peak popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with groups such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix Experience leading the way. The genre would go on to have a significant influence on subsequent musical movements such as punk rock and heavy metal.
The Best Psychedelic Rock Songs
Psychedelic rock is a genre of music that is known for its trippy, mind-bending sound. The genre developed in the 1960s and was influenced by psychoactive drugs such as LSD and cannabis. Psychedelic rock songs often explore themes of social injustice, mental illness, and political corruption. If you’re looking for some good psychedelic rock to listen to, look no further! Here is a list of the best psychedelic rock songs.
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” is a song by the British rock band Procol Harum, released 12 May 1967. The single reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 1967 and stayed there for six weeks. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, Canada, and several other countries.
The song is credited with originating the musical subgenre of psychedelic rock and is one of the most enduring hits of the 1960s. In 2004, Rolling Stone placed it at number 57 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. It remains popular to this day and has been covered by many artists.
“I Can See for Miles” by The Who
“I Can See for Miles” is a song by the English rock band The Who, written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in October 1967, reaching the top ten in several countries. In 1968, it was included as the opening track on the US version of the band’s album The Who Sell Out.
“Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones
“Paint It, Black” is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released as a single in May 1966. It was identified as an early psychedelic rock song and was praised by music critics. The single reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.
The song’s lyrics are written in the first person from the perspective of a young man who is grieving over the death of his girlfriend. He paints everything black in an attempt to forget his sorrows. Although it is one of the band’s most popular songs, its dark subject matter and references to sadness and death made it somewhat controversial at the time of its release.
“Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix
“Purple Haze” is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and released as the second single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17, 1967. The song was one of the first mainstream pop songs to reference drug culture and 1960s counterculture, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
The song begins with a now- iconic guitar riff played by Hendrix, which is often cited as one of the most influential guitar riffs of all time. The lyrics describe the experience of taking LSD, and include various references to colors and hallucinations. “Purple Haze” was a huge hit when it was released, reaching number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the UK Singles Chart. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it number 51 on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles
This song was released as a single in 1967 and became an instant classic. It is one of the most popular psychedelic rock songs of all time. The lyrics are written by John Lennon and are about a young girl’s imaginary journey through space. The song was inspired by a drawing that Lennon’s son, Julian, had made of a kindergarten classmate named Lucy O’Donnell.
The Legacy of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is characterized by distorted guitars, soulful melodies, and mind-bending lyrics that explore the dark side of the human experience. The genre was born out of the countercultural movement of the 1960s and quickly became the soundtrack of a generation.
The Influence of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, often referred to simply as psychedelia, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s and reached its peak in the late 1960s. The genre is generally characterized by a heavy use of electronic effects, particularly reverb and feedback, and by a distorted or modulated guitar sound. Psychedelic rock is often loosely defined as rock music that contains elements of psychedelia, or that is inspired by or visually evocative of the psychedelic experience.
Psychedelic rock was most popular in the late 1960s, when it was used by artists such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd to enhance their performances and create new sonic textures. The genre began to decline in popularity in the early 1970s, but has remained influential on subsequent generations of musicians.
The End of Psychedelic Rock
The mid-1970s were not kind to thePsychedelic Furs. America had all but forgotten about the British band, the members were practically destitute, and their label was threatening to drop them.
It would have been easy for the Psychedelic Furs to give up at this point. But instead, they hunkered down and channeled all of their frustration and anger into writing some of their most intense and darkly brilliant music. The result was 1977’s “The University.”
“The University” is a searing indictment of the British education system, wrapped up in a wall of searing guitars and driving rhythms. It’s one of the best albums of the 1970s, and it’s also one of the last great psychedelic rock albums.
After “The University,” Psychedelic Furs retreated from the spotlight for a few years, resurfacing in 1981 with a more pop-oriented sound. They would go on to have a few hits in the 1980s, but they would never again reach the heights they achieved with “The University.”
Psychedelic rock faded away shortly after “The University” was released. The genre had simply run its course, and there was nothing left to say. Psychedelic rock died with a whimper, not a bang.
But the legacy of psychedelic rock lives on. The genre left an indelible mark on popular music, and its influence can still be heard in today’s music.
