The 21 Best Songs of 1965 - Music Industry (2023)

The 1960s were a time of great changes. In 1965, the need for more civil liberties and environmentalism became more overt.

It was also a time of experimentation. That was reflected in the music of the decade, and when it comes to great music from 1965, the choice can be varied and eclectic. These are some of the best songs of 1965.

1 Help!" by the Beatles

It's impossible to talk about good music in 1965 without talking about the Beatles.

The song was one of many successful collaborations between McCartney and Lennon. Discussing the title in an interview, McCartney said it was because the band was overwhelmed by their sudden resounding success.

They started the music as a joke and eventually became the sensation of the decade. There was a lot to process as we continued to produce music, and some of that confusion inspired "Help!"

2. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" van The Rolling Stones

I Can't Get No Satisfaction is a collaboration between Rolling Stones band members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

The lyrics explore the speaker's sexual frustration and reflect the increasingly relaxed attitudes of 1960s youth toward sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

It was an instant hit with the Stones' contemporaries, but its sexualized content horrified radio stations. Many stations tried to censor the song; Listeners who wanted to hear the song first had to turn to pirate radio stations.

3. "Downtown" by Petula Clark

Today, most younger listeners will recognize Petula Clark's "Downtown" because he appeared on the hit TV show Lost.

But before that it was one of the best songs of 1965.

Tony Hatch wrote the song after a visit to New York City. He gave it to Clark, who recorded it and released it in 1964. The combination of an upbeat groove, driving rhythm and lyrics that everyone could understand led it to the top of the charts in 1965.

4. "Crying in the Chapel" by Elvis Presley

When Elvis Presley recorded "Crying in the Chapel", several versions existed.

Artie Glenn wrote the song in 1953 and his son Darrell Glenn made it a hit. Other notable covers included performances by:

• the oriole
• Junio ​​Valli

But in 1965 Presley decided he would do his own version.

people loved it. Presley's interpretation surpassed Darrell Glenn's original version. At its peak, it was number three on the US Top Hundred chart. It fared even better in the UK, reaching number one. So when we talk about great music from 1965, Presley's version should be mentioned.

5. "Who is Doretto's beautiful dream" by Leontyne Price

Not all of the great music of 1965 was doo-wop, folk or something modern.

Classical music also changed. In 1965, one of the most notable names was African-American soprano Leontyne Price.

Most viewers will recognize it as the opening aria of the 1980s adaptation of "A Room With a View."

Here, Price makes it sound like liquid gold as he floats his treble, giving the music a warm, sparkling quality.

6. "Mi chica" uit The Temptations

Another staple of 1965's great music is The Temptation's upbeat "My Girl."

It is the first Temptations song with David Ruffin on vocals. Previously, the band had used Kendricks and Williams for their vocal lines. But the warm, soft tone Ruffin produced was perfect for "My Girl."

Cheerful and flamboyant, it was originally intended for The Miracles. When The Temptations got the recording, they got to create their background harmony because their technique was notoriously good.

It was a vote of confidence that paid off, as The Temptations turned "My Girl" into a family hit almost overnight.

7. "Stop! In the Name of Love" by The Supremes

"Stop! In the Name of Love" combines two staples of the 1960s: Motown and love themes.

The free love movement got everyone talking and singing about love, so it was the natural theme of this Supremes song.

Motown, a type of rhythm and blues music that relaxed singers' vocal technique and was popular with girl groups and solo artists, also became more common.

is characteristic ofpop musicbecause it retains the musical "splendor" of more serious styles of music, but without the emphasis on clarity of tone and diction heard in classically trained singers.

8. "The Name Game" by Shirley Ellis

When it comes to good music from 1965, Shirley Ellis' "The Name Game" is an excellent counterpoint to Motown.

Stylistically it is closer to R&B with its almost verbal patterns. But it has a similar musicality to Motown music.

9. "Mr. The Man with the Tambourine" by The Byrds

Another important genre when it comes to good music from 1965 is folk. One of the greatest contributors to the American Folk Revival was artist Bob Dylan, who became "Mr. Man of the Tambourine".

But the version The Byrds recorded in 1965 turned it into a song for the story.

Many of the popular songs of the 1960s that people remember championed a specific cause. Tambourine Man breaks this pattern. Instead, it's filled with surreal imagery that foreshadows some of the Beatles' most experimental songs while remaining lyrical.

10. "A Love Supreme" van John Coltrane

Another developing but good source of music from 1965 onwards was jazz.

Tenor saxophonist John Coltrane recorded this song in one session. It is a jazz suite, so it uses classical musical conventions within the confines of the more musically fluid jazz genre.

Considered by many to be a model of genius, this jazz suite showcases Coltrane's artistic talent for exploring the power of music.

11. "Do you believe in magic?" by The Lovin' Spoonful

As the lyrics of Do You Believe in Magic emphasize, the magic of the title does not lie in the variety of spells and chants. It's about our ability to spread happiness.

That ties it to some of the themes that permeated the music of the 1960s.

It was also an instant hit. When The Lovin' Spoonful released it on an album of the same name, it skyrocketed to number 9 on the US charts, making it not only one of the best songs of 1965, but also one of the top ten.

12. "I'll never find another you" von The Seekers

Sometimes The Seekers get lost in the crowd talking about great music from 1965, but when they released 'I'll Never Find Another You' it became their first UK hit.

It was just as successful in the United States. It's a smooth, sentimental song with a cadence that almost anyone can sing.

13. "Ferry Across The Mersey" de Gerry and the Pacemakers

"Ferry Across the Mersey" is an unlikely hit when it comes to good music from 1965. The song debuted in a movie of the same name and was a transatlantic hit.

Gerry Marsden wrote it and the group Gerry and the Pacemakers sang it. It remains the song ferries play when tourists cross the Mersey and features prominently in several charity fundraising events.

14. "Maid Voyage" door Herbie Hancock

Here's a completely different example of how a jazz composition became one of the best songs of 1965.

Herbie HancockHe was always experimenting with music. "Maiden Voyage" is an example of modal jazz. This means that instead of the diatonic scale, it is based on musical modes associated with Gregorian chant.

15. "California Girls" van The Beach Boys

Another song that deserves a mention when it comes to great music from 1965 is the Beach Boys' hit "California Girls."

It is heavily chromatic, full of dissonant tones and harmonies.

As is well known, Brian Wilson came up with the idea for the song through the strange combination of drugs and watching western movie soundtracks. Whatever it inspired, it touched something. The singular musical alchemy of "California Girls" made it one of the best songs of 1965.

16. "Love Potion #9" by The Searchers

"Love Potion No. 9" has always been a popular song and was originally sung by The Clovers. In his hands, it landed at number 23 in the top 50 songs on the US music chart.

In 1964 The Searchers did a cover. His portrayal of a man desperate for love appeals to the sensibilities of many listeners. When The Searchers released the song in 1965, it became even more popular than before, reaching number three on the same charts.

17. "We've got to get out of here" by The Animals

"We Gotta Get Out of This Place," sung by The Animals, is another noteworthy song when it comes to great 1965 music.

The song resonated with many people. This was especially true for Vietnam War veterans who were frustrated by their experiences abroad.

18. "I Want Candy" van The Strangeloves

"I Want Candy" is another unlikely example of great music from 1965. The Strangleoves, who first performed it, were a group of music producers turned singers. But they claimed to be wealthy sheep farmers from Australia.

Bert Berns of 'Twist and Shout' helped compose an original composition for the band and "I Want Candy" was the result.

19. "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat?" by Hermann Einsiedler

Another of 1965's best songs is "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat?" Herman's Hermits has had several hits, but this is perhaps the most catchy.

In the UK, the song was released alongside the band's other 1965 hit, "Silhouettes". It stayed at the top of the charts until the Supremes released "¡Stop! In the Name of Love."

20. "The Eve of Destruction" directed by Barry McGuire

Barry McGuirereleased Eve of Destruct in 1965. Like many songs of the era, it commented on the rapidly changing attitudes of Americans.

It is more clearly a scathing indictment of the nuclear arms race. But people also saw it as a commentary on the Vietnam War and an anthem for the civil rights campaign. His association with disaffected youth was an unintentional irony.

21. "All I really want to do" by Cher

Finally, Cher's "All I Really Want to Do" is our latest example of good music from 1965. It's a rare example of a Bob Dylan song that isn't current.

Dylan released the song in 1964, but in 1965 Cher and several artists were doing covers, and those covers were just as popular. That it remains popular with listeners to this day is a testament to its timelessness.

The Best Songs of 1965, Final Thoughts

Good music from 1965 varies greatly. A lot of it is Motown or doo-wop. But there is also a lot of rock, jazz and even classical music that was released in 1965 and is still popular today.

The 1960s were a time of great change for Americans, and that is reflected not only in their music, but in what they consider to be the best songs of 1965.

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