The Best Acoustic Psychedelic Rock Bands

The best acoustic psychedelic rock bands have been making music for years and continue to produce excellent albums that fans can enjoy.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. Their popularity grew with their incorporation of elements of classical music and traditional pop in their own compositions, sometimes utilizing innovative recording techniques such as multitracking.

Formed in 1960 in Liverpool, England

The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’s music grew in sophistication following their return from Hamburg, Germany, apart from during their acrimonious break-up in 1970, they produced what many critics consider to be some of their finest material, including the innovative and widely imitated album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967),[1][2] Abbey Road (1969) and Let It Be (1970).

Members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later utilised several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’s music grew in sophistication following their debut album release, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, the band were integral to pop music’s evolution into an art form and to the development of the counterculture of the 1960s.

During their years of active recording, from 1962 to 1970, they produced what many critics consider to be some of the greatest albums of all time.[1][2][3][4] In 1968, they founded Apple Corps, a multi-armed multimedia corporation that continues to produce material by previously associated acts today. After the group’s dissolution in 1970 amid creative differences and personal turmoil,[5] Lennon was shot dead by an unstable fan two years later; Starr remains a member of the group’s best-known line-up.[6] Harrison died of lung cancer in November 2001.

Albums: Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Beatles for Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles, Abbey Road, and Let It Be

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band in history. With a line-up comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they are frequently regarded as the greatest and most influential band of all time. Their songs have been covered by many artists, have been featured in films and have been adapted for television.

The Beatles’ first album Please Please Me was released in 1963. It includes the singles “Please Please Me” and “Love Me Do”. With the Beatles was released in 1963 and includes the singles “From Me to You” and “She Loves You”. A Hard Day’s Night was released in 1964 and features the title track which was used as the theme tune for the film of the same name. Beatles for Sale was released in 1964 and features the single “Eight Days a Week”. Help! was released in 1965 and features the title track which was used as the theme tune for the film of the same name. Rubber Soul was released in 1965 and includes the singles “Drive My Car” and “Michelle”. Revolver was released in 1966 and features the singles “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yellow Submarine”. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in 1967 and is considered by many to be one of The Beatles’ best albums. It includes the singles “With a Little Help from My Friends”

The Beatles (also known as The White Album) was released in 1968 and is a double album which includes the singles “Hey Jude” and “Revolution”. Abbey Road was released in 1969

Let It Be is The Beatles’ final album, though it was actually recorded before Abbey Road. It includes the single “Get Back”

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are one of the most popular and influential American rock bands of all time. They formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California, and their sound was defined by the unique vocal harmonies of the Wilson brothers:Brian, Carl, and Dennis. The Beach Boys’ first hit, “Surfin’ Safari,” was released in 1962, and they went on to score dozens of chart-topping singles over the next two decades. The Beach Boys are widely regarded as pioneersof the psychedelic sound in rock music, thanks to their innovative use of studio effects and inventive songwriting. Today, the band’s music is still enjoyed by fans all over the world.

Formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California

The Beach Boys are one of the most iconic American rock bands of all time. Formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California, the group originally consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. The Beach Boys began as a surf rock band, scoring their first big hit with “Surfin’ Safari” in 1962. They would go on to have even bigger hits with songs like “Surfin’ USA,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” and “I Get Around.” In 1965, the Beach Boys released their album Pet Sounds, which is often considered one of the best albums of all time. The album featured the smash hit “God Only Knows.” The Beach Boys continued to release successful albums and singles throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s before internal tensions within the band led to a decline in popularity. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Members: Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, David Marks

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group’s original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmonies and early surf songs, they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era. The band drew on the music of older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and black R&B to create their unique sound.

The Beach Boys began as a garage band led by Brian Wilson with Carl on drums. The Wilsons’ mother Auditore da Firenze encouraged the boys to sing. Consulted veterinarian Murry Wilson served as the boys’ manager although he was often critical of their musical abilities. Brian struggled to find a focus for the band’s recordings and was uncomfortable dealing with live performances; he gradually ceded control to Dennis, who focused on running the band’s business affairs, and Jardine, who handled onstage performance duties. Love provided a lighthearted counterpoint to Brian’s shades-wearing withdrawn nature; his humorous songs helped offset the group’s often-serious material.

In early 1963 Surf Fever became The Beach Boys’ first album to reach Billboard magazine’s Top Album charts; it peaked at number 32 later that year. Soon after its release, however, Bruce Johnston joined The Beach Boys on bass guitar and keyboard after friend Chuck Girard left for a solo career; Johnston contributed considerably to the arrangements for subsequent albums starting with Surfin’ U.S.A.. With Dennis becoming increasingly overshadowed by his brothers as a songwriter and creative force within the group (and dogged by health problems), Jardine shifted his allegiance from Brian to Dennis; this facilitated Jardine’s ejection from the band in 1998 amid simmering disagreements about musical direction—the so-called “Holy War” between “the old guard” (Love/Jardine) versus “the younger set” (Wilson/Johnston).

Albums: Surfin’ Safari, Surfin’ U.S.A., Shut Down Volume 2, Little Deuce Coupe, All Summer Long, Beach Boys’ Party!, Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, Friends, 20/20, and Sunflower

Formed in 1961, The Beach Boys are an American band that specializes in surf music. Headed by brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, the group’s original lineup also included their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. The Beach Boys rose to prominence with their debut album, Surfin’ Safari, which was released in 1962. Soon after, the group released their second album, Surfin’ U.S.A., which featured the hit single “Be True to Your School.”

The Beach Boys continued to enjoy success throughout the early 1960s with songs like “I Get Around,” “Fun Fun Fun,” and “Help Me Rhonda.” But it was their 1966 album, Pet Sounds, that cemented the band’s legacy as one of the most influential groups of all time. Pet Sounds featured such classics as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows.” The album is widely considered to be one of the greatest records ever made.

In 1967, The Beach Boys released their most successful single, “Good Vibrations.” The song topped charts around the world and cemented the band’s place as one of the most popular groups of all time. The Beach Boys continued to make music throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but they never again achieved the same level of mainstream success as they did in their early years. Nevertheless, the group remains active to this day and continues to tour regularly.

The Byrds

The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. The Byrds are credited with helping to pioneer the genre of folk rock, and their signature sound blended elements of folk, pop, country, and blues.

Formed in 1964 in Los Angeles, California

The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the sole consistent member. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial success of contemporaries like the Beach Boys and the Mamas & the Papas for a short period in the mid-60s, The Byrds are today considered by critics to be nearly as influential as The Beatles and Rolling Stones, for their musical developments and contributions to the genre.

The original five-piece lineup of The Byrds consisted of Jim (later Roger) McGuinn (lead guitar,vocals), Gene Clark (tambourine, vocals), David Crosby (rhythm guitar, vocals), Chris Hillman (bass guitar, vocals), and Michael Clarke (drums). However, this version of the band was relatively short-lived and by early 1966, Clark had quit due to his fear of flying and was soon followed out the door by Crosby.

Members: Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Michael Clarke

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 (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the sole consistent member. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial success of contemporaries like the Beach Boys, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones for a couple of years, the Byrds are today considered by critics to be nearly as influential as those bands. Their signature blend of clear harmony singing and McGuinn’s jangly twelve-string Rickenbacker guitar was “more often imitated than equalled.”

The band pioneered the musical genre of folk rock, melding the influence of the Beatles and other British Invasion bands with contemporary and traditional folk music. Using electric instruments and drums, they created their own interpretations of Bob Dylan’s songs Mr. Tambourine Man and Turn! Turn! Turn!, which became Top 10 hits in 1965 and 1966 respectively. The Byrds also recorded two further Dylan compositions: My Back Pages (1964) and All I Really Want to Do (1965), both of which were later released on the album Younger Than Yesterday (1967). On Mr. Tambourine Man and Turn!
Turn! Turn!, five members played acoustic guitar simultaneously, creating what former Beatle George Harrison described as “the first effective use of feedback.”

The Byrds’ version of Mr. Tambourine Man was released as their debut single in early April 1965, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Cashbox Top 100 chart that June. Their debut album Mr. Tambourine Man was also released in mid-1965 to critical acclaim; it reached number 6 on Billboard’s pop album chart later that year—and has been ranked by critics as one of the greatest debuts in rock music history—while Bob Dylan’s original version peaked at number 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart that July.

Albums: Mr. Tambourine Man, Turn! Turn! Turn!, Fifth Dimension, Younger Than Yesterday, The Notorious Byrd Brothers, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde, Ballad of Easy Rider, and Untitled

The Byrds were an American rock bandformed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known by the stage name “Jim McGuinn” until mid-1967), being the sole consistent member. Initially, they pioneered the musical genre of folk rock, melding the influence of The Beatles and other British Invasion bandswith contemporary and traditional folk music. As the 1960s progressed, the band was also influential in originating psychedelic rock, raga rock, and country rock.

The Byrds achieved commercial success with songs such as “Mr. Tambourine Man”, “Turn! Turn! Turn!”, “Eight Miles High”, “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star”, and “Ballad of Easy Rider”. They are one of the few American pop groups of the 1960s that have exerted a sustained influence on subsequent generations of popular music, Roots magazine writing in 2007 that: “…the Byrds began forging their own highly original sound…gaining them a place beside contemporaries like The Beach Boys and The Beatles as one of the most influential bands of their era.”

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

One of the most influential bands of the 60s, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young changed the face of rock music. With their unique blend of folk, rock and country, they created a sound that was both familiar and new.Their harmonies were unlike anything that had been heard before, and their songs were filled with social and political commentary. They were also one of the first bands to really embrace the power of the live show.

Formed in 1968 in Los Angeles, California

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was a supergroup that comprised singers David Crosby and Graham Nash of the Hollies, singer-songwriter Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield, and singer-songwriter Neil Young of Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash. They were known for their folk rock, country rock, and protest songs.

The group’s self-titled debut album was released in May 1969 and peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200. The album included the hits “Marrakesh Express” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” Their second album, Déjà Vu, was released in March 1970 and peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200. The album included the hits “Teach Your Children” and “Our House.”

Members: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Neil Young

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY) is an American folk rock supergroup made up of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, and Neil Young. They are noted for their intricate vocal harmonies, often tumultuous interpersonal relationships, political activism, and lasting influence on music and culture.

The group formed in 1968 with Crosby, Stills & Nash releasing their self-titled debut album in May of the following year. Young joined CSNY for their second concert tour and the quartet released their second album, Déjà Vu, in March 1970. They achieved worldwide fame with the release of their third album, After the Gold Rush, in September 1970.

By 1974 internal tensions had reached a breaking point and CSNY disbanded. Crosby & Nash continued to tour and release albums as a duo until 2016 when they were joined by Stills for several reunion tours and album releases. Young has also continued to pursue his solo career while occasionally reuniting with CSNY for live performances.

Albums: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Deja Vu, 4 Way Street, and CSNY 1974

Crosby, Stills & Nash is the first album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, released in May 1969 on the Atlantic Records label. It spawned two Top 40 hit singles, “Marrakesh Express” and “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”, which peaked respectively at #28 the week of August 23, 1969, and at #21 the week of December 6, 1969, on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The album itself peaked at #6 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.

Deja Vu is the second album by Crosby, Stills & Nash, released in March 1970 on Atlantic Records. It topped the pop album chart for one week and generated three Top 40 singles: “Wooden Ships”, “Teach Your Children”, and “Our House”.

4 Way Street is a live album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young that was released in 1971 as a double LP. It peaked at #2 on both the Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart; it was certified 4× platinum by RIAA and platinum by CRIA. The original LP issue included a 16-page booklet with pictures taken during their 1970 tour. A outtake from these sessions appears on CSNY 1974; it is an alternate version of Young’s song “Goodbye Dick”. The double CD reissue features four additional tracks recorded at various concerts during the tour.

CSNY 1974 is a live box set by Crosby, Stills & Nash and Neil Young. Released on July 8, 2014 by Rhino Records as a part of Young’s ongoing archival release series., this set includes four CDs with material recorded during various dates of CSNY’s 1974 reunion tour., as well as a Blu-ray audio disc containing high-resolution mixes of all four CDs., as well as an 84-page book with photographs from the tour.,,,,,