Back to those nostalgic days… Classic and hit Western songs of the 1960s

While the Vietnam War descended into a quagmire in the United States and anti-war movements surged among young people, Japan entered an unprecedented period of rapid economic growth.

Ben E.

King, the Jackson 5, Herbie Hancock, the Yardbirds, The Who…

From the many iconic songs that defined the ’60s, we researched popularity based on reliable feedback from music fans who visit our site.

Among them, we’ve carefully selected especially recommended, highly regarded nostalgic ’60s Western hit songs.

Some of you may find these wonderfully nostalgic.

Please take a look.

Playlist

Back to those nostalgic days… Classic and hit Western songs of the 1960s
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Suspicious MindsElvis Presley		Elvis’s signature work, a ballad of love and suspicion
2	Stand By MeBen E. King		Ben E. King’s beloved signature song
3	Strawberry Fields ForeverThe Beatles		The Beatles’ masterpiece, a fantastical sonic world
4	All Along The WatchtowerThe Jimi Hendrix Experience		A masterpiece in which Hendrix reinterprets a Dylan classic
5	Next Door to an AngelNeil Sedaka		A love song yearning for the angel next door
6	(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The BayOtis Redding		A masterpiece that sings of loneliness and despair
7	Dazed and ConfusedLed Zeppelin		Composed by Jake Holmes, covered by Led Zeppelin
8	Monday MondayThe Mamas & The Papas		The Mamas & the Papas’ Monday breakup classic
9	Good VibrationsThe Beach Boys		The Beach Boys’ originality and beautiful harmonies
10	Get ReadyThe Temptations		The Temptations’ romantic soul number
11	Feeling GoodNina Simone		An iconic blues-jazz fusion piece symbolizing hope
12	You Really Got MeThe Kinks		The Kinks’ innovative guitar sound
13	Won’t Get Fooled AgainThe Who		The Who’s revolutionary rock number
14	Heard It Through The GrapevineMarvin Gaye		Signature song by Marvin Gaye.
15	Don’t Let Me Be MisunderstoodThe Animals		The Animals’ classic blues rock song
16	Break On Through (To The Other Side)The Doors		The Doors’ innovative psychedelic rock
17	Unchained MelodyThe Righteous Brothers		A classic ballad by the Righteous Brothers that sings of love
18	My GirlThe Temptations		The Temptations’ classic song “My Girl”
19	Reach Out (I’ll Be There)Four Tops		The Four Tops’ classic Motown sound
20	Uptight (Everything’s Alright)Stevie Wonder		Stevie Wonder’s smash hit song
21	God Only KnowsThe Beach Boys		The Beach Boys’ classic that resonates with the heart.
22	When a Man Loves a WomanPercy Sledge		Percy Sledge’s love song is loved around the world
23	Summer In The CityThe Lovin’ Spoonful		A 1966 hit song set in New York
24	California Dreamin’ (Single)The Mamas & The Papas		California Dreamin' classic song
25	You Can’t Hurry LoveThe Supremes		The Legends and Hit Songs of The Supremes
26	What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong		Louis Armstrong's peace anthem
27	Alice In WonderlandBill Evans		A live recording of Disney songs arranged in jazz
28	House of the Rising SunThe Animals		A legendary folk song depicting the tragedy of New Orleans
29	Be My BabyThe Ronettes		The Ronettes' sweet melodies are wildly popular
30	The Sound of SilenceSimon&Garfunkel		Signature songs of Simon & Garfunkel
31	RespectAretha Franklin		Aretha Franklin, legendary soul singer
32	Wild ThingThe Troggs		A famous piece of music characterized by the ocarina flute.
33	My Special PrayerPercy Sledge		Percy Sledge’s heartbreak ballad
34	Purple HazeThe Jimi Hendrix Experience		The untold story behind the birth of Jimi Hendrix’s signature song
35	My GuyMary Wells		A 1964 hit love song with female vocals
36	HeroinThe Velvet Underground		Songs composed by Lou Reed that were used in films
37	Can’t Help Falling in LoveElvis Presley		Elvis’s classic love ballad
38	Hold On, I’m ComingSam & Dave		Sam & Dave's uplifting soul hit
39	YesterdayThe Beatles		The Beatles’ gentle string quartet
40	Harlem ShuffleBob & Earl		A dance tune fusing soul and R&B
41	RunawayDel Shannon		Del Shannon's song about a broken relationship
42	Matty GrovesFairport Convention		Arranging old folk songs in folk rock
43	My GenerationThe Who		An iconic song by The Who and a significant track in the history of British rock
44	Waterloo SunsetThe Kinks		A lyrical song written by Rei
45	Bus StopThe Hollies		A song about a couple who met at a bus stop
46	Papa’s Got A Brand New BagJames Brown		James Brown's signature song Funk
47	Dancing In The StreetMartha Reeves & The Vandellas		Signature songs of Martha & The Vandellas
48	The Look of LoveDusty Springfield		An iconic love song from the ’60s
49	One Nation Under A GrooveFunkadelic		A 60s band, a song influenced by Hendrix
50	Daydream BelieverThe Monkees		The Monkees' classic hits are popular in Japan as well.
51	Help!The Beatles		A popular Beatles song that is still loved today
52	The Last WaltzEngelbert Humperdinck		Humperdinck’s classic love song
53	I Want You BackThe Jackson 5		The debut single of the Jackson 5
54	(I Can’t Get No) SatisfactionThe Rolling Stones		The Rolling Stones' signature song(s)
55	Born to Be WildSteppenwolf		The custom of giving Western songs Japanese titles
56	Oh, Pretty WomanRoy Orbison		The famous theme song from Pretty Woman
57	My WayFrank Sinatra		A belief in life without regrets
58	Hello, GoodbyeThe Beatles		A representative Beatles song; the lyrics are heartrending.
59	Happy TogetherThe Turtles		A refreshing love song, a timeless classic across generations
60	Sunshine of your loveCream		A classic hit by Cream, a love song eagerly awaiting a reunion with a beloved
61	Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond		Neil Diamond's signature songs and musical career
62	Mas que nadaSergio Mendes		A bossa nova classic that shines across generations
63	People Get ReadyThe Impressions		Curtis Mayfield’s civil rights struggle songs
64	She’s Not ThereThe Zombies		Won a talent contest and recorded a song
65	A Whiter Shade Of PaleProcol Harum		Procol Harum’s innovative rock masterpiece
66	Sunday MorningVelvet Underground		Signature songs of The Velvet Underground
67	Ring of FireJohnny Cash		June and Johnny's Wedding Song
68	The Girl From IpanemaAstrud Gilberto & Stan Getz		A famous bossa nova song that has been covered around the world
69	Cinnamon GirlNeil Young		A masterpiece by Neil Young open to free interpretation
70	We Gotta Get Out Of This PlaceThe Animals		Composed by the husband-and-wife duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
71	I Got You BabeSony and Cher		The achievements and music of Sonny & Cher
72	Dancing In The StreetsMartha & The Vandellas		The Birth of the Hit Song by Martha & Banderas
73	Space OddityDavid Bowie		A classic song of Space Oddity
74	Twist and ShoutIsley Brothers		A song that the Beatles also covered
75	When A Man Loves A WomanPercy Sledge		Percy Sledge's classic love song
76	Mr. Tambourine ManThe Byrds		An innovative song by the Byrds that fused folk and rock
77	Stop In The Name Of LoveThe Supremes		Grammy-winning Motown songs
78	PipelineThe Ventures		The Ventures’ electric guitar song
79	Fortunate SonCreedence Clearwater Revival		A representative anti-war song criticizing the Vietnam War
80	A Change Is Gonna ComeSam Cooke		From a son's death to a civil rights movement song
81	Dance To The MusicSly & The Family Stone		A major influence on 1970s soul music
82	Save the Last Dance for MeThe Drifters		A classic song that expresses love for a romantic partner
83	Crimson and CloverTommy James & The Shondells		Title it based on Tommy’s favorite color and flower
84	So Long, MarianneLeonard Cohen		Cohen, feelings for an ex-lover
85	Nothing But A HeartacheThe Flirtations		A Motown-style hit song by a South American female trio
86	Nights In White SatinThe Moody Blues		The Moody Blues’ classic love song
87	Son of a Preacher ManDusty Springfield		Signature songs of Dusty Springfield
88	Maiden VoyageHerbie Hancock		Maiden Voyage, a masterpiece themed around the sea
89	I Can’t ExplainThe Who		An early original song by The Who, composed by Pete.
90	Pinball WizzadThe Who		The Who are pioneers of punk music
91	Land of a 1000 DancesWilson Pickett		Dance Heaven is a famous phrase
92	Wouldn’t It Be NiceThe Beach Boys		A classic song that sings of the pure love of youth
93	Gimme Some Lovin’The Spencer Davis Group		The Spencer Davis Group’s classic song
94	RivermanNick Drake		A 1969 song with strong string instruments
95	Blowin’ in the WindPeter, Paul & Mary		Peter, Paul and Mary’s classic peace song
96	Georgia On My MindRay Charles		A Ray Charles classic that evokes nostalgia
97	Light My FireAl Green		Al Green’s neo-soul prototype
98	Moon RiverAudrey Hepburn		The famous song from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
99	HushDeep Purple		Deep Purple’s early masterpiece of psychedelic rock
100	A Little Less ConversationElvis Presley		One of Elvis’s signature songs that helped establish rock and roll
101	River Deep Mountain HighIke & Tina Turner		Successful songs of the '60s by three composers
102	Homeward BoundSimon&Garfunkel		A classic ballad by Simon & Garfunkel
103	Eight Miles HighThe Byrds		Inspired by an in-flight conversation
104	For Your LoveThe Yardbirds		The Yardbirds’ 1965 release song
105	Train Kept A Rollin’The Yardbirds		The Yardbirds’ captivating sound
106	Bad Moon RisingCreedence Clearwater Revival		Apocalypse-themed song inspired by a movie
107	Tin SoldierSmall Faces		Small Faces 1967 release song
108	Jumpin’ Jack FlashThe Rolling Stones		It was one of the Stones’ signature songs and was used as a theme song for films and TV dramas.
109	Wooden ShipsCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young		Production and recording of anti-war songs
110	One BoyJoanie Sommers		Ballad song by Joni Summers
111	Whole Lotta LoveRed Zeppelin		Led Zeppelin's influential signature songs
112	Street Fighting ManThe Rolling Stones		A banned song that calls for the necessity of revolution
113	Scarborough FairSimon&Garfunkel		Arrange a traditional British ballad with herb-themed lyrics
114	White RoomCream		Interpretation of Cream's signature songs
115	It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s WorldJames Brown		James Brown's Masterpieces