The Best Folk Music of the 1960s

The 1960s was a great decade for folk music. Here are some of the best folk songs of the 1960s.

The Best Folk Music of the 1960s

The 1960s were a time of great change, and that was reflected in the music of the time. Folk music was no exception. While the genre had been around for centuries, it experienced a surge in popularity in the 1960s. This was due in part to the popularity of artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. But there were many other great folk musicians of the time. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best folk music of the 1960s.

Joan Baez

Joan Baez was one of the most prominent folk musicians of the 1960s. A prolific songwriter and performer, she was an important voice in the civil rights and anti-war movements. Her music helped to popularize folk music among young people, and she is still revered by many fans today.

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is widely considered one of the most influential folk musicians of the 20th century. His debut album, released in 1962, featured traditional folk songs and Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey. But it was his second album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, released in 1963, that put him on the map as a singer-songwriter. The album featured original songs like Blowin’ in the Wind and A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, both of which became anthems of the civil rights movement.

In 1965, Dylan went electric with the release of Highway 61 Revisited, an album that included some of his most famous songs like Like a Rolling Stone and Ballad of a Thin Man. Dylan’s shift to an electric sound divided the folk community and earned him criticism from purists who felt he was betraying the tradition. But there’s no denying that Dylan had a profound impact on music in the 1960s and beyond.

Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the single “Hey, Schoolgirl”. As Simon and Garfunkel, they released the albums Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. (1964), Sounds of Silence (1965), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966), Bookends (1968), and Bridge over Troubled Water (1970) before they split up in 1970.

Their biggest hits—including “The Sound of Silence”, “Mrs. Robinson”, “The Boxer”, and “Bridge over Troubled Water”—reached number one on singles charts worldwide. Their often rocky relationship led to artistic disagreements that resulted in their final breakup; they have not performed together since a reunion concert in New York City’s Central Park in 1981. Each member has subsequently released solo albums and toured both together and separately.

The Best Folk Music of the 1960s – Part 2

As the 1960s progressed, the folk music scene continued to evolve. More and more artists began to experiment with the genre, incorporating different influences and styles. This led to the creation of some of the best folk music of the decade. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best folk music of the 1960s.

Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell is one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 1960s. Her music is known for its confessional lyrics, jazz influences, and unique voice. She released her debut album, Song to a Seagull, in 1968. Over the next decade, she would release a string of critically acclaimed albums, including Clouds (1969), Ladies of the Canyon (1970), Blue (1971), and For the Roses (1972). Mitchell is also known for her paintings and artwork.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were a folk rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills, and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash. With the addition of Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young as a fourth member in 1969, they became known as one of the most influential groups of the 1960s. The group released four studio albums and a live album before disbanding in 1974.

The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas & the Papas were an American folk rock vocal group that recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968, reuniting briefly in 1971. The group released seventeen singles, six studio albums, and recorded numerous hits, including “California Dreamin'” and “Monday, Monday”. The Mamas & the Papas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 for their contributions to the music industry.