Best Songs of the 1960s

I found several lists of the best songs of the 1960s and combined them into a single meta-list, which is organized by rank (that is, with the songs on the most lists at the top).  The listing for each song includes the title, the performer, the year of the performance, the songwriter(s), the year the song was written, and whether the song was featured in any films.  In the case of multiple versions of the song by different artists (such as All Along the Watchtower, which was written and first performed by Bob Dylan and later covered by Jimi Hendrix), I have chosen the version that was the biggest hit.  Please note: these are not my personal opinions.

On 6 lists

  • Stand By Me – Ben E. King (1961). Wr: Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (1961).
  • Louie Louie – The Kingsmen (1963). Wr: Richard Berry (1955).
  • Ring of Fire – Johnny Cash (1963). Wr: June Carter Cash & Merle Kilgore (1963).
  • (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones (1965). Wr: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (1965).
  • Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys (1966). Wr: Brian Wilson & Mike Love (1966).
  • (Sitting On) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding (1968). Wr: Otis Redding & Steve Cropper (1967).
  • I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye (1968). Wr: Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong (1966).
  • I Want You Back – The Jackson 5 (1969). Wr: Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell & Deke Richards (1969).

On 5 lists

  • Crazy – Patsy Cline (1961). Wr: Willie Nelson (1961).
  • Be My Baby – The Ronettes (1963). Wr: Phil Spector, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich (1963).
  • I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles (1963). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1963).
  • A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke (1964). Wr: Sam Cooke (1963).
  • You Really Got Me – The Kinks (1964). Wr: Ray Davies (1964).
  • Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers (1965). Wr: Alex North & Hy Zaret, for the movie Unchained (1955).
  • Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan (1965). Wr: Bob Dylan (1965).
  • God Only Knows – The Beach Boys (1966). Wr: Brian Wilson & Tony Asher (1966).
  • I’m A Believer – The Monkees (1966). Wr: Neil Diamond (1966).
  • Respect – Aretha Franklin (1967). Wr: Otis Redding (1965).
  • (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson (1967). Wr: Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner & Carl Smith (1967).
  • What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong (1967). Wr: Bob Theile & George David Weiss (1967).
  • Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin (1969). Wr: John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant & Willie Dixon (1969).
  • Space Oddity – David Bowie (1969). Wr: David Bowie (1969).

On 4 lists

  • Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles (1960). Wr: Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell (1930).
  • At Last – Etta James (1960). Wr: Mack Gordon & Harry Warren, for the film Sun Valley Serenade (1941).
  • Will You Love Me Tomorrow – The Shirelles (1960). Wr: Gerry Goffin & Carole King (1960).
  • Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals (1963). Wr: Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry (1963).
  • My Girl – The Temptations (1964). Wr: Smokey Robinson & Ronald White (1964).
  • Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison (1964). Wr: Roy Orbison & Bill Dees (1964).
  • California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas (1965). Wr: John Philips & Michelle Philips (1963).
  • People Get Ready – The Impressions (1965). Wr: Curtis Mayfield (1964).
  • The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel (1965). Wr: Paul Simon (1964).
  • My Generation – The Who (1965) Wr: Pete Townshend (1965).
  • Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – James Brown (1965). Wr: James Brown (1965).
  • River Deep – Mountain High – Ike & Tina Turner (1966). Wr: Phil Spector, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich (1966).
  • For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield (1966). Wr: Stephen Stills (1966).
  • Light My Fire – The Doors (1967). Wr: Robbie Krieger & The Doors (1966).
  • A Day in the Life – The Beatles (1967). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1967).
  • Ode to Billie Joe – Bobbie Gentry (1967). Wr: Bobbie Gentry (1967).
  • Waterloo Sunset – The Kinks (1967). Wr: Ray Davies (1967).
  • All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix (1968). Wr: Bob Dylan (1967).
  • Everyday People – Sly and the Family Stone (1968). Wr: Sly Stone (1968).
  • Hey Jude – The Beatles (1968). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1968).
  • Crimson and Clover – Tommy James and the Shondells (1968). Wr: Tommy James & Peter Lucia (1968).
  • Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley (1969). Wr: Mark James (1968).
  • Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones (1969). Wr: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (1969).

On 3 lists

  • The Twist – Chubby Checker (1960). Wr: Hank Ballard (1958).
  • Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters (1960). Wr: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman (1960).
  • Runaway – Del Shannon (1961). Wr: Del Shannon & Max Crook (1961).
  • She Loves You – The Beatles (1963). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1963).
  • The House of the Rising Sun – The Animals (1964). Wr: Traditional, arr. by Alan Price.
  • Where Did Our Love Go – The Supremes (1964). Wr: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland (1964).
  • Dancing in the Street – Martha and the Vandellas (1964). Wr: Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson, & Ivy Jo Hunter (1964).
  • You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers (1964). Wr: Phil Spector, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (1964).
  • She’s Not There – The Zombies (1964). Wr: Rod Argent (1964).
  • Leader of the Pack – The Shangri-Las (1964). Wr: George “Shadow” Morton, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich (1964).
  • These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ – Nancy Sinatra (1965). Wr: Lee Hazelwood (1965).
  • In My Life – The Beatles (1965). Wr: John Lennon & Paul McCartney (1965).
  • I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher (1965). Wr: Sonny Bono (1965).
  • Stop! In the Name of Love – The Supremes (1965). Wr: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier & Eddie Holland (1965).
  • I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown (1965). Wr: James Brown (1965).
  • The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (1965). Wr: Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore & Marvin Tarplin (1965).
  • Wild Thing – The Troggs (1966). Wr: Chip Taylor (1965).
  • Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett (1966). Wr: Mack Rice (1965).
  • You’re Gonna Miss Me – The 13th Floor Elevators (1966). Wr: Roky Erickson (1966).
  • Bus Stop – The Hollies (1966). Wr: Graham Gouldman (1966).
  • Heroin – The Velvet Underground (1967). Wr: Lou Reed (1964).
  • I’m Waiting for the Man – The Velvet Underground (1967). Wr: Lou Reed (1965).
  • Alone Again Or – Love (1967). Wr: Bryan MacLean (1965).
  • White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane (1967). Wr: Grace Slick (1966).
  • So Long, Marianne – Leonard Cohen (1967). Wr: Leonard Cohen (1967).
  • Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison (1967). Wr: Van Morrison (1967).
  • Happy Together – The Turtles (1967). Wr: Alan Gordon & Garry Bonner (1967).
  • Son of a Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield (1968). Wr: John Hurley & Ronnie Wilkins (1967).
  • Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones (1968). Wr: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (1968).
  • Build Me Up Buttercup – The Foundations (1968). Wr: Mike d’Abo & Tony Macaulay (1968).
  • Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel (1968); an early version was featured in the film The Graduate (1967). Wr: Paul Simon (1968).
  • The Weight – The Band (1968). Wr: Robbie Robertson (1968).
  • Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf (1968), featured in the movie Easy Rider (1969). Wr: Mars Bonfire (1968).
  • Dazed and Confused – Led Zeppelin (1969). Wr: Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes (1967).
  • The Boxer – Simon and Garfunkel (1969). Wr: Paul Simon (1968).
  • Kick Out the Jams – MC5 (1969). Wr: Michael Davis, Wayne Kramer, Fred “Sonic” Smith, Dennis Thompson & Rob Tyner (1968).
  • Something – The Beatles (1969). Wr: George Harrison (1969).
  • Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969). Wr: John Fogarty (1969).
  • Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969). Wr: John Fogarty (1969).
  • Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond (1969). Wr: Neil Diamond (1969).
  • I Wanna Be Your Dog– The Stooges (1969). Wr: Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton & Iggy Pop (1969).