The Best Psychedelic Rock Songs of the 60s
Contents
- The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”
- The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black”
- The Doors – “Light My Fire”
- Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze”
- Jefferson Airplane – “Somebody to Love”
- The Grateful Dead – “Dark Star”
- Cream – “Crossroads”
- The Byrds – “Eight Miles High”
- Pink Floyd – “Interstellar Overdrive”
- The Velvet Underground – “I’m Waiting for the Man”
The 60s was a decade that saw the rise of many great bands who would go on to influence the course of rock music for years to come. One of the most enduring genres to come out of the 60s was psychedelic rock. Here are some of the best psychedelic rock songs of the 60s.
The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”
Few songs better exemplify the mind-bending, genre- smashing spirit of psychedelia than “A Day in the Life.” The final track on the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, it was a fitting conclusion to an album that had redefined what pop music could be. “A Day in the Life” is a song in two parts, each seemingly unrelated to the other. The first is a series of snippets from disparate news stories, set to a jaunty piano melody (said to be inspired by Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire”). The second is a slow, ethereal coda, with Lennon and Paul McCartney doublesidedly singing one of the most beautiful phrases in popular music: “I read the news today, oh boy…”
The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black”
The Rolling Stones – “Paint It, Black”
The Who – “I Can See for Miles”
The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”
Jimi Hendrix – “All Along the Watchtower”
The Doors – “Light My Fire”
Jefferson Airplane – “Somebody to Love”
The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations”
Sly and the Family Stone – “Everyday People”
The Doors – “Light My Fire”
Considered one of the best rock songs of all time, “Light My Fire” was released as the debut single from The Doors in 1967. The song, which was written by guitarist Robby Krieger, quickly rose to the top of the charts and became one of the band’s signature songs. With its unforgettable opening line (“Come on, baby, light my fire”), catchy melodies, and intoxicating guitar solo, “Light My Fire” is a perfect example of psychedelia at its best.
Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze”
As the 60s came to a close, Hendrix released what would become one of the most iconic rock songs of all time. “Purple Haze” is a perfect example of Hendrix’s mastery of the psychedelic genre, with its ethereal lyrics and mind-bending guitar work. The song has been covered by countless artists over the years, but Hendrix’s version remains the definitive take on this classic track.
Jefferson Airplane – “Somebody to Love”
1967 was a banner year for psychedelic rock, and Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love” is one of the genre’s undisputed classics. The song is built around a simple, catchy hook and Grace Slick’s powerful vocal performance, but it’s the psychedelic flourishes that really make it soar. The ethereal background vocals, the trippy sound effects, and the soaring guitar solo all combine to create a track that is both timeless and unique.
The Grateful Dead – “Dark Star”
“Dark Star” is the archetypal psychedelic Dead song, a meandering, open-ended jam built around an eerie main theme that gradually winds its way through various iterations and emotions. Garcia’s guitar work is particularly inspired, as he opens up his playing to incorporate feedback and other Brian May/Jimi Hendrix-inspired sounds. The result is a gorgeous, mind-expanding 20 minutes that feels like much longer in the best way possible.
Cream – “Crossroads”
Many of the best psychedelic rock songs of the 60s were released by British bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. But there were plenty of excellent American psychedelic bands as well, including The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and The Doors.
Cream was a British-American supergroup that featured bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker. They only released four studio albums in their brief career, but they made a huge impact on the development of psychedelic rock. “Crossroads” is one of their most popular songs, and it’s often cited as one of the best examples of the genre.
The Byrds – “Eight Miles High”
The Byrds – “Eight Miles High”
Psychedelic rock was still in its infancy in 1966 when The Byrds released “Eight Miles High.” It would go on to become one of the most influential and enduring songs of the genre. The polyrhythmic drumming, jangly 12-string guitars, and soaring harmonies are representative of the best that psychedelic rock has to offer.
Pink Floyd – “Interstellar Overdrive”
Interstellar Overdrive is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd. It was written in 1966 by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, and Nick Mason, and recorded in 1967. The song appeared on their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.
The song is noted for its unusual structure and length. It is mostly improvised, and does not follow a conventional verse-chorus form. The length of the song allows Pink Floyd to experiment with extended improvisation and sound effects.
Interstellar Overdrive is considered one of Pink Floyd’s most important early songs. It was a regular part of their live set from 1967 to 1968, and was often used as an encore. In 1968, it was included in the BBC television film Music Now!, which featured Pink Floyd performing live in the studio.
The Velvet Underground – “I’m Waiting for the Man”
The Velvet Underground – “I’m Waiting for the Man”
This song is a perfect example of the strange and dark world of the Velvet Underground. It’s about a drug dealer and the narrator’s desperate attempt to buy drugs from him. The band brings an intense energy to the song that makes it one of the best psychedelic rock songs of the 60s.
