Last Updated on 19 June 2025

I searched the Internet for lists of the best songs from the 1960s. Criteria included the songs being ranked, not just listed alphabetically or by genre, and generally created by groups, whether teams or committees or based on general public voting (like Ranker.com).

I was able to find 34 lists. I took the 34 lists and added all their content into a spreadsheet, noting the rank of every song. I ended up averaging the rankings each song got (there were 580 that were on at least 2 lists) and dividing that average by a factor of the number of lists that song was on. The lowest score meant a high ranking average on many lists. The complete spreadsheet is attached at the bottom.

The songs that were on the most lists (out of 34) were:

  • (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones – 23 lists
  • I Heard it Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye – 23 lists
  • (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding – 22 lists
  • Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys – 22 lists
  • Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan – 20 lists
  • Light My Fire – The Doors – 19 lists
  • Respect – Aretha Franklin – 19 lists
  • I’m a Believer – The Monkees – 19 lists
  • The House of the Rising Sun – The Animals – 19 lists

Here are links to the lists I used along with dates the lists were created:

Best Songs from the 1960sDownload

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