Quite a few folk rock songs from the 1960s onward have become important pieces of music history. And many fans would kill to hear their favorite folk rock song again for the very first time. While we can’t make that happen, we can celebrate a few of those deeply-loved folk rock songs from years past.
1. “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan
This 1965 classic from Highway 61 Revisited is one of Bob Dylan’s highest-charting songs. It makes sense why it was so successful. Few folk rock songs are quite as revolutionary as this particular track.
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Dylan pulled from so many different musical elements, from youthful vocals to ultra-direct lyrics to out-of-his-element songwriting. It blew minds when it was first released, and many folk rock fans would love to feel how they felt when it first graced their ears again.
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2. “Alone Again Or” by Love
This 1967 single from Love’s famed album Forever Changes leans more towards the psychedelic side of folk, rather than the rock side of the spectrum. Still, it deserves a spot on this list.
It’s a simple yet musically complex piece of work about Bryan MacLean’s longing for an old girlfriend. If it sounds familiar, you might be picking up on the melody’s proximity to Sergei Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije Suite.
3. “Carry Me Ohio” by Sun Kil Moon
This newer folk rock track is an iconic one from one of several folk rock revival movements since the 1960s. “Carry Me Ohio” comes from Sun Kil Moon’s 2003 record Ghosts Of The Great Highway. This is one of Sun Kil Moon’s best, and it even leans toward alternative country. There’s a haunting sort of nostalgia to this track that manipulates the heart, and it was most Sun Kil Moon fans’ first introduction to Mark Kozelek.
4. “The Sounds Of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel’s iconic song “The Sounds Of Silence” was a sleeper hit after it was released in 1964. For many, this song was what got them into folk music in general. The harmonization between Simon and Garfunkel is magical, and the song feels like a modernized version of an ancient hymn.
5. “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
Alright, this might be controversial. “Stairway To Heaven” is usually labeled as prog-rock or hard rock. But, one can’t deny the folk rock elements of this famous 1971 song by Led Zeppelin. It’s probably their most famous song to date, and it converted a lot of casual listeners into full-blown megafans back in the 70s.
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