Top 10 Songs From 1965 to 1975

Unforgettable Gems

Between 1965 and 1975, rock ‘n roll burst into the mainstream scene in all its wicked glory. The sound was perfected and in the early ’70s, it branched out into several subgenres. The ’60s was an impeccable time in rock but when it bled into the next decade, the songs became more exquisite, creative, innovative, and revolutionary. Bands were more aggressive in taking risks that could make or break them.

And so here we have ten of the greatest from the mid-60s to the mid-70s.

10. Neil Young – “Old Man” (1972)

There’s a reason why this never gets old. It didn’t crack the top 10 but it’s an absolute gold.

9. Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” (1970)

Written as an afterthought, this became a pivotal moment in heavy metal. Black Sabbath were trailblazers and look no further than this epic track to understand why.

8. America – “A Horse With No Name” (1971)

This masterpiece had its share of controversies – from being accused of referring to drug use and sounding a lot like Neil Young’s work to well, the seemingly nonsensical lyrics. Nevertheless, it dominated the charts in US and Canada. And it became an instant classic too.

7. Pink Floyd – “Wish You Were Here” (1975)

In a rare instance when both David Gilmour and Roger Waters were in complete agreement with each other, they often referred to this as one of Pink Floyd’s best songs. They were at their creative peak and it showed.

6. The Doors – “Light My Fire” (1967)

When The Doors released their debut album, they were one of the few bands who hit the ground running and found their sound from the get-go. Because it came to define them as musicians, this became their signature song.

5. Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze” (1967)

Jimi Hendrix’s guitar heroics and musical brilliance came through when he wrote this track.

4. The Rolling Stones – “Brown Sugar” (1971)

It may sound fun and groovy but looking closely at the lyrics, the song actually deals with some serious stuff like slavery. Some also speculated that it was about drugs more specifically heroin. The sound is raw and straight-up rock ‘n roll but the words, let’s just say we’re not too crazy about them.

3. Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir” (1975)

Glorious sound! From Bonzo’s drumming to Jimmy Page’s riffs – it’s magical and magnificent from beginning to end.

2. Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)

The mid-70s was such an exemplary time in rock ‘n roll. Bands were coming up with songs that, in their own way, changed rock as we know it. One such group is Queen. This needs no introduction or explanation. “Bohemian Rhapsody”, while not exactly their ultimate best, was a real standout of the decade.

1. The Beatles – “Hey Jude” (1968)

Between 1965 and 1975, The Beatles spawned one classic after another. It wasn’t easy trying to pick only one song from the group. “Hey Jude” was written for John Lennon’s son, Julian. And the song resonated with the fans.

“I started with the idea “Hey Jules,” which was Julian, don’t make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Hey, try and deal with this terrible thing. I knew it was not going to be easy for him. I always feel sorry for kids in divorces.” – Paul McCartney