Back To The '60s

The needle dropped, and something clicked - '60s music stirred something lasting. The songs carried a kind of urgency, a rhythm that pushed beyond their era. Even as formats and generations changed, these tracks continued to be rediscovered through car radios and playlists. Here are 20 such songs from the ‘60s that might be on your playlist, too. 

Twist And Shout--The Beatles (LP Mono 1963) by vinil, o melhor presente !

1. Hey Jude

Released in 1968, "Hey Jude" became the Beatles’ longest-charting No. 1 hit in the U.S., sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. The song’s tender lyrics and epic coda turned a personal moment into a global anthem of comfort and resilience.

BEATLES Hey Jude record Vinyl, Lp, playing songs by Tim Kora

2. Satisfaction

When Keith Richards dreamt up the riff in a Florida hotel room, he didn’t expect to rewrite rock’s blueprint. "Satisfaction" hit shelves in 1965 and marked the Rolling Stones’ U.S. breakthrough. The raw fuzz guitar was recorded using a Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone.

The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (1965) [Vinyl Video] by Gramophone

3. Good Vibrations

Some called it a “pocket symphony.” Brian Wilson spent months recording "Good Vibrations" across four studios, piecing it together with tape edits and orchestral experiments. Its 1966 release showcased the Beach Boys’ psychedelic turn and introduced the Electro-Theremin to pop culture. 

The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” 45 RPM “1966” by TonySmash

4. Respect

Aretha Franklin upgraded Otis Redding’s 1965 hit. By flipping the gender perspective and adding those iconic “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” chants and backup vocals, she created a soul powerhouse in 1967. It became both a civil rights anthem and a bold declaration of womanhood that still commands attention.

Aretha Franklin - Respect - Mono 45RPM by HitsTownUSA

5. A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Inspired by Bach and the surreal poetry of Keith Reid, this debut from Procol Harum was a slow-burning stunner. Its baroque-rock sound and cryptic lyrics made it a British invasion standout. The single ranked highest in the charts in multiple countries in 1967.

Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade of Pale (Vinyl) by Ernesto Vinyl

6. Like A Rolling Stone

Few opening lines carry such a sting: “Once upon a time, you dressed so fine…” Dylan’s 1965 classic shattered expectations of radio single lengths. The song fused folk and rock with biting lyricism. Rolling Stone ranked it No. 1 on their “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

''LIKE A ROLLING STONE'': BOB DYLAN (1965) by Michael Hill

7. I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Although Gladys Knight & the Pips first charted it, Marvin Gaye’s rendition became the definitive version. Recorded a year earlier but shelved by Motown, its haunting delivery and orchestration marked a more personal direction for Gaye. In 1968, this song became Motown’s biggest-selling single.

Marvin gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Lenny Rld

8. My Girl

David Ruffin’s lead vocal improved The Temptations’ status instantly. Published in late 1964 and climbing to No. 1 by March 1965, it was penned by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White. The track's bass line and string arrangement turned it into a soul-pop standard. Even young fans instantly recognize it.

The Temptations - My Girl - Mono 45RPM by HitsTownUSA

9. Fortunate Son

Released in 1969 amid growing Vietnam War tensions, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s "Fortunate Son" was a direct shot at class inequality in the draft system. John Fogerty’s gritty vocals and swamp-rock guitar gave the track a raw, blue-collar authenticity that still resonates in political movements.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son - 45 RPM Original Mono Mix by WABCRADIO77

10. Stand By Me

Ben E. King co-wrote and recorded "Stand By Me," and its impact grew steadily over the decade. Based on a gospel spiritual and Charles Albert Tindley’s 1905 hymn, it fused R&B and doo-wop. The 1986 resurgence through a film cemented its timeless relevance.

Ben E. King - Stand By Me - Vinyl - Vinilo - 4K - FLAC - WAV by Soundtrack of My Life

11. California Dreamin’

"California Dreamin'" wrapped longing in perfect harmony, capturing the cold of East Coast winters and the irresistible lure of the West Coast. Recorded by The Mamas & the Papas in late 1965, it climbed the charts in 1966. The iconic flute solo is a happy accident.

The Mamas And The Papas - California Dreamin' - Mono Vinyl by SpinDash Blue

12. Paint It Black

The Rolling Stones’ "Paint It Black" introduced the sitar to the rock mainstream, thanks to Brian Jones. Its dark themes and swirling sound marked a turn toward psychedelia. It also became the first No. 1 U.S. hit featuring a non-Western instrument prominently.

Vinyl Play: The Rolling Stones - Paint It Black (1966) by Cammyboy0434

13. The Sound Of Silence

Unexpectedly remixed into success, Simon & Garfunkel’s 1964 acoustic was electrified in 1965 by producer Tom Wilson without their knowledge. That electric version took off and topped the charts in early 1966. This one struck a generational nerve during an era of political unrest and disillusionment.

Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds Of Silence - Mono 45RPM by HotsTownUSA

14. Twist And Shout

Originally by the Top Notes and later by the Isley Brothers, this barnburner found new life in 1963 through the Beatles. Recorded at the end of a long studio session, Lennon’s shredded vocals captured untamed energy that turned it into an international crowd-pleaser.

The Beatles - Twist and Shout - Vinilo Vinyl by Marcokun Vinilo Honesto

15. House Of The Rising Sun

The Animals’ 1964 breakout took a folk ballad and made it a haunting blues-rock classic. Alan Price’s organ and Eric Burdon’s vocals brought a hypnotic intensity. Clocking in at over four minutes, it defied radio length limits but still earned heavy airplay throughout the States.

The Animals - The house of the rising sun / Boom Boom (Vinyl) by Ernesto Vinyl

16. I Want To Hold Your Hand

Released in late 1963 in the UK and early 1964 in the U.S., "I Want To Hold Your Hand" launched Beatlemania overnight. Catchy yet clean, it bridged early rock ‘n’ roll and pop with the kind of mass appeal that couldn’t be ignored.

The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand - 45 RPM - ORIGINAL MONO MIX by WABCRADIO77

17. Born To Be Wild

It may bring to mind roaring motorcycles and the film Easy Rider, but "Born To Be Wild" wasn’t written for the movie. Released by Steppenwolf in 1968, it’s also credited with one of the earliest uses of “heavy metal,” shaping the genre’s identity.

Steppenwolf - “Born To Be Wild” 1968 / Vinyl, Lp by Ernesto Vinyl

18. Son Of A Preacher Man

Dusty Springfield stepped out of her comfort zone with this Southern soul standout. Originally intended for Aretha Franklin, the track found its voice in Dusty’s smoky phrasing. The Muscle Shoals production gave it a new life decades later through Pulp Fiction in 1994.

Son-Of-A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield (45 rpm) by Phono Muse

19. All Along The Watchtower

Dylan wrote it, but Hendrix redefined it. The Jimi Hendrix Experience released their version in 1968. Dylan himself began performing the song Hendrix’s way after hearing it. The track’s cryptic lyrics and explosive solos made it one of the most transformative covers in rock.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower ~ 45rpm Vinyl by Zoey's Vinyl Shelf

20. Can’t Help Falling In Love

Based loosely on a classical melody by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini, Elvis Presley’s 1961 ballad became one of his most beloved recordings. Used in Blue Hawaii and later at nearly every one of his concerts, the gentle arrangement and heartfelt delivery kept it alive.

Elvis Presley – Can't Help Falling In Love - HQ Vinyl Limited Gold Coloured Edition by hifi records