100 Greatest Folk Rock Songs
Criteria: This list highlights the best examples of songs that exemplify the original Folk Rock sound, emphasizing influence, impact, plus intitial & lasting popularity.
Definition: Folk Rock is most simply defined as "folk" style songs backed with "rock" instruments. One great example is the Byrds electric cover of Bob Dylans' acoustic "Mr. Tambourine Man". Other attributes of Folk rock are distortion-free instruments and tight vocal harmonies. Originating in the mid '60s as the growing popularity of socially-conscious folk music encountered the newly popular pop/rock sounds, sparked by the British Invasion and stirred in with '60s counter-culture ideals and concerns, the genre later grew to include 'acoustically' played songs performed by rock artists, as long as other elements of Folk Rock were present. Folk Rock as a genre has very blurred and overlapping edges into pure folk, rock, and 'singer-songwriter' styles.
Definition: Folk Rock is most simply defined as "folk" style songs backed with "rock" instruments. One great example is the Byrds electric cover of Bob Dylans' acoustic "Mr. Tambourine Man". Other attributes of Folk rock are distortion-free instruments and tight vocal harmonies. Originating in the mid '60s as the growing popularity of socially-conscious folk music encountered the newly popular pop/rock sounds, sparked by the British Invasion and stirred in with '60s counter-culture ideals and concerns, the genre later grew to include 'acoustically' played songs performed by rock artists, as long as other elements of Folk Rock were present. Folk Rock as a genre has very blurred and overlapping edges into pure folk, rock, and 'singer-songwriter' styles.
Folk Rock Songs
1. Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
2. Like a Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan
3. Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Byrds
4. California Dreamin'
The Mamas & the Papas
5. The Sounds Of Silence
Simon & Garfunkel
6. Do You Believe In Magic
The Lovin' Spoonful
7. Subterranean Homesick Blues
Bob Dylan
8. Norwegian Wood
The Beatles
9. Sunshine Superman
Donovan
10. Positively 4th Street
Bob Dylan
The Byrds
2. Like a Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan
3. Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Byrds
4. California Dreamin'
The Mamas & the Papas
5. The Sounds Of Silence
Simon & Garfunkel
6. Do You Believe In Magic
The Lovin' Spoonful
7. Subterranean Homesick Blues
Bob Dylan
8. Norwegian Wood
The Beatles
9. Sunshine Superman
Donovan
10. Positively 4th Street
Bob Dylan
11. Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
12. I Got You Babe
Sonny & Cher
13. For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield
14. Monday, Monday
The Mamas & the Papas
15. Happy Together
The Turtles
16. Mrs. Robinson
Simon & Garfunkel
17. Summer in the City
The Lovin' Spoonful
18. Just Like a Woman
Bob Dylan
19. In My Life
The Beatles
20. Laugh Laugh
The Beau Brummels
21. Both Sides Now
Judy Collins
22. San Francisco
Scott McKenzie
23. My Back Pages
The Byrds
24. Get Together
The Youngbloods
25. Eve of Destruction
Barry McGuire
26. Creeque Alley
The Mamas & the Papas
27. Mellow Yellow
Donovan
28. Daydream
The Lovin' Spoonful
29. Needles and Pins
The Searchers
30. Scarborough Fair
Simon & Garfunkel
31. Maggie May
Rod Stewart
32. You Were on My Mind
We Five
33. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Crosby, Stills & Nash
34. So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star
The Byrds
35. I Want You
Bob Dylan
36. Baby Don't Go
Sonny & Cher
37. The Boxer
Simon & Garfunkel
38. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag
Country Joe & the Fish
39. Everybody's Talkin'
Fred Neil
40. Hey Joe
The Leaves
41. Twelve Thirty
The Mamas & the Papas
42. It Ain't Me Babe
The Turtles
43. Tangled Up In Blue
Bob Dylan
44. Let's Live For Today
Grass Roots
45. Along Comes Mary
Association
46. I Saw Her Again
The Mamas & the Papas
47. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Bob Dylan
48. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Richard & Linda Thompson
49. You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
The Lovin' Spoonful
50. Homeward Bound
Simon & Garfunkel
51. Marrakesh Express
Crosby, Stills & Nash
52. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
The Byrds
53. You Showed Me
The Turtles
54. The Pied Piper
Crispian St. Peters
55. A Sailor's Life
Fairport Convention
56. Darling Be Home Soon
The Lovin' Spoonful
57. Woodstock
Matthews Southern Comfort
58. Come All Ye
Fairport Convention
59. John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
60. Where Were You When I Needed You
Grass Roots
61. We Can Work It Out
The Beatles
62. Travellin' Song
Pentangle
63. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
The Beatles
64. Expecing To Fly
Buffalo Springfield
65. Just a Little
The Beau Brummels
66. Wooden Ships
Crosby, Stills & Nash
67. Early Morning Rain
We Five
68. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
Fairport Convention
69. When You Walk in the Room
The Searchers
70. Closer to Fine
Indigo Girls
71. Message To Pretty
Love
72. Listen, Listen
Sandy Denny
73. Gold
John Stewart
74. Time Has Told Me
Nick Drake
75. Once I Had A Sweetheart
Pentangle
76. Yesterday's Rain
Spanky & Our Gang
77. Black Jack Davy
Steeleye Span
78. Motherless Child
Sweetwater
79. Live and Let Live
Love
80. Lady Eleanor
Lindisfarne
81. All Things Are Quite Silent
Steeleye Span
82. The Thoughts of Mary Jane
Nick Drake
83. All Around My Hat
Steeleye Span
84. Meet On The Ledge
Fairport Convention
85. Ballad Of Easy Rider
The Byrds
86. Lay Down
The Strawbs
87. Southbound Train
Crosby & Nash
88. Today
Jefferson Airplane
89. Alone Again Or
Love
90. Goin' Back
The Byrds
91. Echoes
Gene Clark
92. Light Flight
Pentangle
93. Solo
Sandy Denny
94. Nevertheless
Eclection
95. Here Without You
The Byrds
96. Hammer and a Nail
Indigo Girls
97. My Best Friend
Jefferson Airplane
98. Dearg Doom
Horslips
99. 8:05
Moby Grape
100. Run For Home
Lindisfarne
Simon & Garfunkel
12. I Got You Babe
Sonny & Cher
13. For What It's Worth
Buffalo Springfield
14. Monday, Monday
The Mamas & the Papas
15. Happy Together
The Turtles
16. Mrs. Robinson
Simon & Garfunkel
17. Summer in the City
The Lovin' Spoonful
18. Just Like a Woman
Bob Dylan
19. In My Life
The Beatles
20. Laugh Laugh
The Beau Brummels
21. Both Sides Now
Judy Collins
22. San Francisco
Scott McKenzie
23. My Back Pages
The Byrds
24. Get Together
The Youngbloods
25. Eve of Destruction
Barry McGuire
26. Creeque Alley
The Mamas & the Papas
27. Mellow Yellow
Donovan
28. Daydream
The Lovin' Spoonful
29. Needles and Pins
The Searchers
30. Scarborough Fair
Simon & Garfunkel
31. Maggie May
Rod Stewart
32. You Were on My Mind
We Five
33. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Crosby, Stills & Nash
34. So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star
The Byrds
35. I Want You
Bob Dylan
36. Baby Don't Go
Sonny & Cher
37. The Boxer
Simon & Garfunkel
38. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag
Country Joe & the Fish
39. Everybody's Talkin'
Fred Neil
40. Hey Joe
The Leaves
41. Twelve Thirty
The Mamas & the Papas
42. It Ain't Me Babe
The Turtles
43. Tangled Up In Blue
Bob Dylan
44. Let's Live For Today
Grass Roots
45. Along Comes Mary
Association
46. I Saw Her Again
The Mamas & the Papas
47. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Bob Dylan
48. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Richard & Linda Thompson
49. You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
The Lovin' Spoonful
50. Homeward Bound
Simon & Garfunkel
51. Marrakesh Express
Crosby, Stills & Nash
52. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
The Byrds
53. You Showed Me
The Turtles
54. The Pied Piper
Crispian St. Peters
55. A Sailor's Life
Fairport Convention
56. Darling Be Home Soon
The Lovin' Spoonful
57. Woodstock
Matthews Southern Comfort
58. Come All Ye
Fairport Convention
59. John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
60. Where Were You When I Needed You
Grass Roots
61. We Can Work It Out
The Beatles
62. Travellin' Song
Pentangle
63. You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
The Beatles
64. Expecing To Fly
Buffalo Springfield
65. Just a Little
The Beau Brummels
66. Wooden Ships
Crosby, Stills & Nash
67. Early Morning Rain
We Five
68. Who Knows Where The Time Goes
Fairport Convention
69. When You Walk in the Room
The Searchers
70. Closer to Fine
Indigo Girls
71. Message To Pretty
Love
72. Listen, Listen
Sandy Denny
73. Gold
John Stewart
74. Time Has Told Me
Nick Drake
75. Once I Had A Sweetheart
Pentangle
76. Yesterday's Rain
Spanky & Our Gang
77. Black Jack Davy
Steeleye Span
78. Motherless Child
Sweetwater
79. Live and Let Live
Love
80. Lady Eleanor
Lindisfarne
81. All Things Are Quite Silent
Steeleye Span
82. The Thoughts of Mary Jane
Nick Drake
83. All Around My Hat
Steeleye Span
84. Meet On The Ledge
Fairport Convention
85. Ballad Of Easy Rider
The Byrds
86. Lay Down
The Strawbs
87. Southbound Train
Crosby & Nash
88. Today
Jefferson Airplane
89. Alone Again Or
Love
90. Goin' Back
The Byrds
91. Echoes
Gene Clark
92. Light Flight
Pentangle
93. Solo
Sandy Denny
94. Nevertheless
Eclection
95. Here Without You
The Byrds
96. Hammer and a Nail
Indigo Girls
97. My Best Friend
Jefferson Airplane
98. Dearg Doom
Horslips
99. 8:05
Moby Grape
100. Run For Home
Lindisfarne
|
The Byrds Bob Dylan |
|
The Mamas and the Papas The Lovin' Spoonful |
|
Donovan Buffalo Springfield |
Folk Song renditions & originals by artists not geneally regarded as "Folk Rock" artists.
House of the Rising Sun
The Animals / Shawn Mullins
All Along the Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix / Dave Mason
Whiskey in the Jar
Thin Lizzy / Metallica / U2
Sloop John B
Beach Boys
The Mighty Quinn
Manfred Mann
Lady Jane
Rolling Stones
As Tears Go By
Rolling Stones
Minstrel in the Gallery
Jethro Tull
Mother Goose
Jethro Tull
One Toke Over The Line
Brewer & Shipley
Rise Up (Easy Rider)
Brewer & Shipley
For What It's Worth
The Staple Singers
Long Walk To D.C.
The Staple Singers
Western Union
The Five Americans
I Know They Lie
The Five Americans
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Van Morrison
And the Children Laughing
Bee Gees
Dock Of The Bay
Otis Redding
Diamonds & Rust
Joan Baez
Splash 1
The 13th Floor Elevators
Black Sheep
Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
London Town
The Pretty Things
The Universal Soldier
Glen Campbell
Greensleeves
Blackmore's Night
I'll Keep Searching
The Ides of March
Coo Coo
Big Brother & the Holding Company
La Bamba
Ritchie Valens
Catch the Wind
The Blues Project
Dino's Song
Quicksilver Messenger Service
The Animals / Shawn Mullins
All Along the Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix / Dave Mason
Whiskey in the Jar
Thin Lizzy / Metallica / U2
Sloop John B
Beach Boys
The Mighty Quinn
Manfred Mann
Lady Jane
Rolling Stones
As Tears Go By
Rolling Stones
Minstrel in the Gallery
Jethro Tull
Mother Goose
Jethro Tull
One Toke Over The Line
Brewer & Shipley
Rise Up (Easy Rider)
Brewer & Shipley
For What It's Worth
The Staple Singers
Long Walk To D.C.
The Staple Singers
Western Union
The Five Americans
I Know They Lie
The Five Americans
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Van Morrison
And the Children Laughing
Bee Gees
Dock Of The Bay
Otis Redding
Diamonds & Rust
Joan Baez
Splash 1
The 13th Floor Elevators
Black Sheep
Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
London Town
The Pretty Things
The Universal Soldier
Glen Campbell
Greensleeves
Blackmore's Night
I'll Keep Searching
The Ides of March
Coo Coo
Big Brother & the Holding Company
La Bamba
Ritchie Valens
Catch the Wind
The Blues Project
Dino's Song
Quicksilver Messenger Service
A Few Rare Gems (Recommendations)
May The Road Rise To Meet You
Roger McGuinn
Full Circle
Gene Clark
Laughing
David Crosby
And Me
Matthews Southern Comfort
You Can All Join In
Traffic
In Her Mind
Eclection
The Rocks Remain
Horslips
Roger McGuinn
Full Circle
Gene Clark
Laughing
David Crosby
And Me
Matthews Southern Comfort
You Can All Join In
Traffic
In Her Mind
Eclection
The Rocks Remain
Horslips
"Singer-Songwriters" of the '60s & '70s (and a song in the folk style)
Bob Dylan
(Blowin' in the Wind)
Paul Simon
(American Tune)
Joni Mitchell
(Big Yellow Taxi)
James Taylor
(Fire and Rain)
Leonard Cohen
(Suzanne)
Gordon Lightfoot
(If You Could Read My Mind)
Arlo Guthrie
(City of New Orleans)
Neil Young
(Heart of Gold)
Donovan
(Catch The Wind)
Cat Stevens
(Peace Train)
Jim Croce
(Operator)
Tim Buckley
(Wings)
Jackson Browne
(Rock Me On The Water)
Harry Chapin
(Cat's In The Cradle)
Nick Drake
(Pink Moon)
Bruce Cockburn
(Wondering Where the Lions Are)
Dan Fogelberg
(Souvenirs)
(Blowin' in the Wind)
Paul Simon
(American Tune)
Joni Mitchell
(Big Yellow Taxi)
James Taylor
(Fire and Rain)
Leonard Cohen
(Suzanne)
Gordon Lightfoot
(If You Could Read My Mind)
Arlo Guthrie
(City of New Orleans)
Neil Young
(Heart of Gold)
Donovan
(Catch The Wind)
Cat Stevens
(Peace Train)
Jim Croce
(Operator)
Tim Buckley
(Wings)
Jackson Browne
(Rock Me On The Water)
Harry Chapin
(Cat's In The Cradle)
Nick Drake
(Pink Moon)
Bruce Cockburn
(Wondering Where the Lions Are)
Dan Fogelberg
(Souvenirs)
Gordon Lightfoot
Edited By: Lew
List Begun: 2008-10-13