RAG MusicRock
Lovely rock

Legendary Japanese rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 1960s

The Spiders, The Wild Ones, The Tigers, The Folk Crusaders, Swing West…

Here are studio staff–recommended classics and hit songs from standout rock artists of the 1960s.

A truly legendary playlist that supported the dawn of Japanese rock.

Playlist

Legendary Japanese rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 1960s
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1Legend of the EmeraldZa Tenputāzu
Legend of the EmeraldZa Tenputāzuplay_arrow
A poignant lakeside love story, a classic by Kenichi Hagiwara
2This Bad GirlThe Golden Cups
This Bad GirlThe Golden Cupsplay_arrow
A classic hit from the ’60s with a powerful message of love
3Walkin’ BluesZa Gōruden Kappusu
Walkin' BluesZa Gōruden Kappusu
A landmark of Japanese blues rock
4Flower Necklacetaigāsu
Flower Necklacetaigāsu
The Tigers’ classic of youth: Love and Hope
5The setting sun is crying.Za Supaidāsu
The setting sun is crying.Za Supaidāsuplay_arrow
Goodbye, Tears—an iconic song of bittersweet youth
6With the setting sunZa Wairudowanzu
With the setting sunZa Wairudowanzuplay_arrow
Refreshing Blue Sky Group Sounds Classic
7Ha-ha-haZa Rindo & Rindāzu
Ha-ha-haZa Rindo & Rindāzuplay_arrow
A bright pop tune by The Lind & Lindaers
8I love you, I love you, I love you.Za Kānabītsu
I love you, I love you, I love you.Za Kānabītsuplay_arrow
Hit songs by The Carnabeats
9Tunnel HeavenZa Dainamaitsu
Tunnel HeavenZa Dainamaitsuplay_arrow
A youthful rock song from the 1960s Group Sounds scene
10The Maiden with Flaxen HairVirejji Shingāzu
The Maiden with Flaxen HairVirejji Shingāzuplay_arrow
A 1968 smash hit that portrays youth and first love
11Swan’s Tearsokkusu
Swan's Tearsokkusuplay_arrow
A poignant, heart-touching song that captures the bittersweet pain and wistful melancholy of first love.
12Bang, bang, bangZa Supaidāsu
Bang, bang, bangZa Supaidāsuplay_arrow
The Group Sounds signature song “Ban Ban Ban”
13Love only for youZa Taigāsu
Love only for youZa Taigāsuplay_arrow
A classic hit by The Tigers, a song of pure love
14Blind BirdZa Moppusu
Blind BirdZa Moppusuplay_arrow
The Mops’ pioneering psychedelic debut
15On the way home in midwinterZa Ranchāzu
On the way home in midwinterZa Ranchāzuplay_arrow
A classic song that portrays a yearning love on a winter night
16blue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
blue eyesJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsuplay_arrow
A classic masterpiece from the dawn of the Group Sounds era depicting a bittersweet love in the northern country
17Let’s go, Shake!Terauchi Takeshi & Banīzu
Let's go, Shake!Terauchi Takeshi & Banīzuplay_arrow
Group Sounds, the representative works of Takeshi Terauchi and the Bunnys
18Legend of LoveZa Fingāzu
Legend of LoveZa Fingāzu
An innovative track of Group Sounds
19Please, God!Za Tenputāzu
Please, God!Za Tenputāzuplay_arrow
The Tempters’ famous song, Koigokoro and Inori
20I’ve had enough of love.Za Dainamaitsu
I've had enough of love.Za Dainamaitsuplay_arrow
The Dynamites’ classic: the bittersweet love of youth
21Tomorrow’s Childeipuriru fuuru
Tomorrow's Childeipuriru fuuruplay_arrow
The pioneering musical world of April Fools
22So sad I can’t bear itZa Fōku Kurusedāzu
So sad I can’t bear itZa Fōku Kurusedāzuplay_arrow
A melancholic masterpiece that expresses the pain of life
23Good Night BabyZa Kingutonzu
Good Night BabyZa Kingutonzuplay_arrow
A classic from the ’60s, a bittersweet love song
24Forever and everZa Sabeji
Forever and everZa Sabeji
A poignant love song with a memorable chorus
25Blue ChateauJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsu
Blue ChateauJakkī Yoshikawa to Burū Komettsuplay_arrow
A classic song that waits for love in a blue castle, representing the 1960s
26Itsuki LullabySuuingu Uesuto
Itsuki LullabySuuingu Uesutoplay_arrow
Sublimating traditional Japanese music through rock
27What you wantZa Hapuningusu Fo
What you wantZa Hapuningusu Foplay_arrow
An experimental masterpiece single of Group Sounds
28Empty worldJakkusu
Empty worldJakkusuplay_arrow
Yoshio Hayakawa’s profound lyrics and soul-stirring melodies
29Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-DaZa Kānabītsu
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-DaZa Kānabītsuplay_arrow
A classic of Japanese rock, across generations
30The lights of Sakhalin do not go outZa Jenoba
The lights of Sakhalin do not go outZa Jenoba
The debut song of The Genova, a Russian-folk-style ballad
31perpetual motionThe Mops
perpetual motionThe Mopsplay_arrow
A groundbreaking classic from the dawn of Japanese rock
32You were young back then.Za Supaidāsu
You were young back then.Za Supaidāsuplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of the bittersweetness of youth, The Spiders
33Let’s be friends.Za Autokyasuto
Let's be friends.Za Autokyasutoplay_arrow
A classic of 1960s Japanese rock that colors youth
34A world without youZa Bībāzu
A world without youZa Bībāzuplay_arrow
The Beavers’ heartbreak rock song
35I don’t want to let go.Za Yangāzu
I don't want to let go.Za Yangāzuplay_arrow
The Youngers’ signature coming-of-age love song from 1968
36White Coral Reefzū nī vū
White Coral Reefzū nī vūplay_arrow
A classic song that sings of beautiful tropical scenery
37No-No BoyZa Supaidāsu
No-No BoyZa Supaidāsu
Hiroshi Kamayatsu’s British beat-infused rock masterpiece
38The Song of KemekoZa Dātsu
The Song of KemekoZa Dātsu
A classic youth song depicting a first love for a chemistry girl
39The Rock of SufferingZa Burū InparusuA classic of youth that expresses the feelings of young people.
40Small snackPurple Shadows
Small snackPurple Shadowsplay_arrow
The Purple Shadows’ gemlike love song
41The sea is in love.Za Riganīzu
The sea is in love.Za Riganīzuplay_arrow
Seaside Love Song by The Riganies: A Page of Youth
42Beach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzu
Beach of MemoriesZa Wairudowanzuplay_arrow
A hit song that portrays the fleeting nature of youth by the summer seaside
43Distant ShoreShaapu Hōkusu
Distant ShoreShaapu Hōkusu
Passionate guitar, timeless youth anthem
44Black Sand BeachKayama Yūzō & Za Ranchāzu
Black Sand BeachKayama Yūzō & Za Ranchāzu
A classic of 60s surf rock, music that makes you feel the ocean
45I want to hug you.Tōkyō Bītoruzu
I want to hug you.Tōkyō Bītoruzuplay_arrow
A classic from the dawn of Japanese rock, a love song
46White Swingbiriibanban
White Swingbiriibanbanplay_arrow
A classic that wraps you in nostalgic memories