60’s Psychedelic Rock on YouTube

Looking for some groovy tunes from the 60’s? Check out our list of the best psychedelic rock songs on YouTube!

The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”

“A Day in the Life” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as the final track of their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was primarily written by John Lennon, with major contributions from Paul McCartney. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest songs of all time.

The song originated with an idea that Lennon had for a song about someone who has overdosed on drugs, but it evolved into something much more optimistic. The composition borrowed elements from several earlier Beatles songs, including “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” from Abbey Road and “Good Morning Good Morning” from Sgt. Pepper. The arrangement features orchestral strings, three pianos, two glockenspiels, and a slide whistle, among other instruments; McCartney remembered being particularly proud of the slide whistle part.

After work on the song was completed in early 1967, Lennon asked McCartney to write the middle eight section; McCartney composed it at his father’s house in Dartford, Kent. The middle eight originally referred to a specific section of the song but came to be used colloquially to refer to the entire song. “A Day in the Life” was released as a single in Britain on 5 July 1967 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it number 468 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations”

The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations” is a song composed by Brian Wilson with words by Mike Love for the Beach Boys, released as a single in October 1966. It was an immediate commercial success, reaching No. 1 in the United States Cash Box chart and No. 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Jimi Hendrix – “All Along the Watchtower”

“All Along the Watchtower” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding, and it has been included on most of Dylan’s subsequent greatest hits compilations. Since the late 1970s, he has performed it in concert more than any of his other songs. Different versions appear on four of Dylan’s live albums.

The song was ranked number 137 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. It was also included in the magazine’s 2010 update of the list. It remains one of Dylan’s most popular and most covered songs; many notable performers have recorded their own versions, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, U2 and The Grateful Dead.

In 1968, Hendrix released an influential cover version of Dylan’s song as part of the Experience’s second album, Electric Ladyland; this recording later topped charts in several countries.

The Doors – “Light My Fire”

“Light My Fire” is a song by The Doors, which was recorded in 1967 and released on their self-titled debut album. The song was written by guitarist Robby Krieger, and it became one of the band’s signature songs, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1967. In addition to being a commercial success, “Light My Fire” also helped to cement the Doors’ reputation as an incendiary live act, due in part to singer Jim Morrison’s habit of improvising lengthy spoken word passages during performances of the song.

Pink Floyd – “Another Brick in the Wall”

Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Their second album, A Saucerful of Secrets (1968), featured the first use of a synthesizer on a rock record, and is often referred to as one of the most important psychedelic albums ever made. In 1973, Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon, which became one of the best-selling albums of all time. The band continued to release critically acclaimed albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall (1979) and The Final Cut (1983). In 1985, they released A Momentary Lapse of Reason, which was their first album since 1979 without founding member Roger Waters. Pink Floyd returned to critical and commercial success with their final album, The Division Bell (1994).

The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black”

The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black” (Official Lyric Video)
published on Dec 3, 2015
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The song is also the opening track to the band’s 1966 album Aftermath. The album and its opener were both well received by music critics at the time; Billboard magazine praised Keith Richards’ work on the song in particular, while more recent reviews have highlighted Jagger and Brian Jones’ contributions to its dark sound and atmosphere. “Paint It, Black” reached number one in both the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and the UK Singles Chart. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it number 65 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time; it was ranked number 73 when that same magazine updated their list in 2010.

The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is a song by the English rock band The Who, written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in 1971, reaching No. 9 in the UK, and was included on their studio album Who’s Next, released that same year.

The song is known for its heavy use of synthesizers and its distinctive middle section, which features an extended keyboard solo by guest player Billy Reed. It has been described as “one of the most powerful anthems of all time” and “one of the most important singles ever released by a rock band”.

Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”

One of the most classic and well-known examples of psychedelic rock, “Stairway to Heaven” is a perfect example of the genre. Led Zeppelin infuses elements of folk, blues, and hard rock to create a truly unique and mind-bending sound. The result is a timeless classic that is sure to send you on a trip down memory lane.