The Best Psychedelic Classic Rock Songs

A list of the best psychedelic classic rock songs of all time, including tracks by The Beatles, The Doors, and Pink Floyd.

The Doors- “Riders on the Storm”

The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm” is a perfect example of a psychedelic classic rock song. The lyrics take the listener on a journey through the mind of a madman, while the music creates a sense of unease and foreboding. The result is a song that is both chilling and strangely beautiful.

The Grateful Dead- “Dark Star”

“Dark Star” is a song by the Grateful Dead, released on their second album, Aoxomoxoa. It was written by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia and is regarded as a psychedelic classic. The song was performed live frequently and is one of their most well-known jams.

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, “All Along the Watchtower” has been one of Dylan’s most popular songs, with multiple cover versions by some of the most notable performers in different genres.

The song can be seen as a statement on society at the time, as well as a more personal comment. The lyrics have also been seen as a simple example of Dylan’s ability to create an entire world in a few short lines.

Led Zeppelin- “Kashmir”

“Kashmir” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was composed by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, and produced by Jimmy Page. The song was included on Led Zeppelin’s sixth studio album, Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. “Kashmir” is one of Led Zeppelin’s longest songs, and is also one of their most popular recordings.

The original version of “Kashmir” was over eight minutes long and featured a lengthy coda which was edited down for the single release. The song has been described as having a “majestic feel”, with “exotic-sounding” Middle Eastern-influenced instrumentation. It has been voted by many critics and fans as one of Led Zeppelin’s best songs, and is often included on lists of the greatest rock songs of all time.

Pink Floyd- “Echoes”

“Echoes” is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on their 1971 album Meddle. The 27-minute composition is one of Pink Floyd’s best known and most ambitious pieces. It was conceived as a continuous piece of music, without section breaks, and it containsFootnotes
several progressive passages of Mountian jamming.

The song is in three distinct sections, with the first and longest section being an extended jam based on David Gilmour’s finances solo from ” Atom Heart Mother”. The middle section features a series ofsolos by different band members, as well as sound effects such as seagull cries, which were recorded on location during the band’s stay in Monte Carlo. The final section consists of an extended coda which fades out.

The song was popularised by its extensive radio airplay, and it remains one of Pink Floyd’s most beloved tracks.