In the mood for some feel-good rock songs from the 1960s? So much warm, fuzzy, sunshine-y music came out that decade, both in and out of the psychedelia movement. If you were young in the 1960s, you probably know the following pleasant jams by heart. Let’s take a look!
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
This 1966 baroque rock song is my favorite Beach Boys tune, and I know a lot of people out there probably agree with me. The harmonies, the songwriting, the overall instrumentation… this is one of Brian Wilson’s finest works. The whole of Pet Sounds is a masterpiece, but it’s hard not to smile when this particular song comes on.
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“Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful
How about a bit of folk rock with a touch of pop? “Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful fits that bill with a feel-good vibe. Released in 1965, this song was the title track of the band’s sophomore album, and it remains one of the best songs on that very record. Apparently, this song was so influential at the time that even The Beatles wrote a song inspired by it, titled “Good Day Sunshine”.
“All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles
Speaking of The Beatles, “All You Need Is Love” might just be their most feel-good song. This psychedelic pop-rock gem from the Fab Four remains one of their most beloved tunes. “All You Need Is Love” is a standout track that remains closely associated with the Summer of Love in 1967.
Fun fact: This song was actually Britain’s contribution to Our World, a live multi-national television broadcast that was the first of its kind in 1967.
“Somebody To Love” by Jefferson Airplane
Another Summer of Love classic, “Somebody To Love” by Jefferson Airplane, is one of the trippiest feel-good rock songs of the 1960s. Written by Darby Slick, this 1966 jam was originally released the year prior to the Summer of Love by The Great Society, but has become associated with that movement because of Jefferson Airplane’s rendition. It’s one of the greatest works of the 1960s, and when I think of psychedelic rock, I think of this very tune.
Photo by Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images
More The List
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CIRCA 1966: Singer Mick Jagger of the rock and roll band "The Rolling Stones" performs onstage in circa 1966. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Aerosmith Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Vorst-Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium, 31st October 1993. (Photo by Goedefroit Music/Getty Images) -
UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: John LENNON between 1970 and 1973. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) -
1972: (L-R) Jim Hodder, David Palmer, Denny Dias, Donald Fagen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Walter Becker of the rock band "Steely Dan" pose for a portrait in 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". – Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". (Photo by Olle LINDEBORG / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo credit should read OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP via Getty Images)
