100 Greatest Psychedelic Songs

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

100 Greatest Psychedelic Songs

Criteria: With instrumental originality, sound exploration, studio effects and extended improvisation as the central elements of psychedelic music, these songs were chosen as the best examples that helped define the genre. Impact & lasting influence were factors with lyrical content considered to a lesser degree. Those artists known specifically as vocal groups were excluded. Editor's note: As with all lists, this is a subjective list & makes no claim of an official nature.

List updated as of 05/09/13
List Compiled by & Editor Rick Varner

1. Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles
2. The American Metaphysical Circus - The United States of America
3. Grace - Country Joe & The Fish
4. Interstellar Overdrive - Pink Floyd
5. Are You Experienced - Jimi Hendrix Experience
6. At The Mountains of Madness - H.P. Lovecraft
7. Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles
8. Dark Star - Grateful Dead
9. Bass Strings - Country Joe & The Fish
10. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - The Beatles
11. Spare Chaynge - Jefferson Airplane
12. Strange Days - The Doors
13. Other Side of The Sky - Gong
14. My White Bicycle - Tomorrow
15. Translucent Carriages - Pearls Before Swine
16. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
17. Beacon From Mars - Kaleidoscope
18. Season of The Witch - Donovan
19. Venus In Furs - The Velvet Underground
20. Magoo - Country Joe & The Fish
21. Comin' Back To Me - Jefferson Airplane
22. Astronomy Domine - Pink Floyd
23. Feel Flows - The Beach Boys
24. The Parable of Arable Land - The Red Crayola
25. I Am The Walrus - The Beatles
26. Shifting Sands - West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
27. Horse Latitudes - The Doors
28. Bracelets of Fingers - The Pretty Things
29. The Red Telephone - Love
30. Electrallentando - H.P. Lovecraft
31. Castle In The Clouds - Gong
32. Zig Zag Wanderer - Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
33. The Child Bride - Earth Opera
34. Section 43 - Country Joe & The Fish
35. Eight Miles High - The Byrds
36. I've Got Levitation - 13th Floor Elevators
37. Hallucinations - Tim Buckley
38. Still I'm Sad - The Yardbirds
39. Maiden of The Cancer Moon - Quicksilver Messenger Service
40. Dear Mr Fantasy - Traffic
41. 1906 - West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
42. The Ballad of Freddie & Harry - Clear Light
43. Itchycoo Park - Small Faces
44. Nightfall - The Incredible String Band
45. Keep Your Mind Open - Kaleidoscope
46. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando - Steve Hillage
47. Cloud Song - The United States of America
48. Sky Pilot - Eric Burdon & The Animals
49. Mind Gardens - The Byrds
50. Oxo - Bruce Palmer
51. Mechanical World - Spirit
52. Dancing Madly Backwards - Captain Beyond
53. Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun - Pink Floyd
54. Heaven Is In Your Mind - Traffic
55. And The Gods Made Love - Jimi Hendrix Experience
56. Orange & Red Beams - Eric Burdon & The Animals
57. Ether Ships - Steve Hillage
58. Leiyla - West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
59. Creation - The Incredible String Band
60. Rack My Mind - The Yardbirds
61. White Bird - It's a Beautiful Day
62. In My First Mind - Steve Miller Band
63. Splash, Now I'm Home - 13th Floor Elevators
64. Two Weeks Last Summer - Dave Cousins
65. See Emily Play - Pink Floyd
66. A Child's Smile - Clear Light
67. And I Wish I Were Stoned - Caravan
68. The Beauty of Time Is That It's Snowing - Steve Miller Band
69. Yoo Doo Right - Can
70. Now Your Time Has Come - Tomorrow
71. Joy of a Toy - Soft Machine
72. Images of April - Pearls Before Swine
73. Paper Sun - Traffic
74. Rosemary - Grateful Dead
75. I'm Five Years Ahead of My Time - Third Bardo
76. Ritual #1 - West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
77. Just The Thought - Eric Burdon & The Animals
78. Paranoia #2 - Hawkwind
79. Flashback - Moving Sidewalks
80. Death By Fire - Earth Opera
81. Magic Man - Caravan
82. Pat's Song - Country Joe & The Fish
83. Lather - Jefferson Airplane
84. You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators
85. Walking Thru My Dreams - The Pretty Things
86. Medication - The Chocolate Watch Band
87. Roller Coaster - 13th Floor Elevators
88. Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers
89. Armenia City in The Sky - The Who
90. Green of My Pants - The Red Crayola
91. Fantasy - Fifty Foot Hose
92. A Question of Temperature - The Balloon Farm
93. She Comes In Colors - Love
94. Iron Butterfly Theme - Iron Butterfly
95. Alice In Blunderland - Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
96. Piece For Piano & Electric Bass Guitar - The Red Crayola
97. 10,000 Words In a Cardboard Box - Aquarian Age
98. Upside Down - Hawkwind
99. Madman Running Through The Fields - Dantalian's Chariot
100 The Spiritual Death of Howard Greer - Touch
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Musicfan67 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:44 am **Posts:** 402

I"m curious why this song is number one on this list which is a great song The American Metaphysical Circus - The United States of America? In terms of impact or influence there are many songs there were more influential than this track right.

While I would call this song a proto-psychedelic song the one Beatles song I would add is the "The Word" it's basically the proto-type hippie song that would be on so many psychedelic records in the following years.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

Musicfan67 wrote:

I"m curious why this song is number one on this list which is a great song The American Metaphysical Circus - The United States of America? In terms of impact or influence there are many songs there were more influential than this track right.

When I heard this for the first time at U.C.L.A. in the early 60's everyone ( musicians ) agreed that no one was approaching anything like this. Take note that originalty and sound exploration are also criteria factors. While compiling this list, interview after interview with the musicians contacted........... this song and USA record was always mentioned as important to their common vision. The public's awareness of it's influence obviously didn't translate across the board but to those who defined this genre thru the music they created this record was huge. Thanks for asking.

beaverteeth92 · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09 pm **Posts:** 1163

Musicfan67 wrote:

I"m curious why this song is number one on this list which is a great song The American Metaphysical Circus - The United States of America? In terms of impact or influence there are many songs there were more influential than this track right.

Have you ever heard the track? Some of the overdubbing and vocoder effects are truly one-of-a-kind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE1DDR-oATM

Also this list lacks some Touch. They had one album even before the United States of America, and it has ridiculous instrumental exploration. I'll post a download link to it once I'm done Dropboxing it (EDIT: It's up, so I posted the link below), but even Hendrix went to check out their recording sessions. If I had to pick one track by them to add, I'd probably go with "The Spiritual Death of Howard Greer."

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8239226/Touch.zip

Musicfan67 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:44 am **Posts:** 402

Rick wrote:

Musicfan67 wrote:

I"m curious why this song is number one on this list which is a great song The American Metaphysical Circus - The United States of America? In terms of impact or influence there are many songs there were more influential than this track right.

When I heard this for the first time at U.C.L.A. in the early 60's everyone ( musicians ) agreed that no one was approaching anything like this. Take note that originalty and sound exploration are also criteria factors. While compiling this list, interview after interview with the musicians contacted........... this song and USA record was always mentioned as important to their common vision. The public's awareness of it's influence obviously didn't translate across the board but to those who defined this genre thru the music they created this record was huge. Thanks for asking.

I think it's a great list by the way. I would have "Strawberry Fields Forever" much higher because of the mellotron, the fade-out coda and the arrangment.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

Musicfan67 wrote:

I think it's a great list by the way. I would have "Strawberry Fields Forever" much higher because of the mellotron, the fade-out coda and the arrangment.

I'm not opposed to moving it up.......what were you thinking ?

Musicfan67 · **Joined:** Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:44 am **Posts:** 402

Rick wrote:

Musicfan67 wrote:

I think it's a great list by the way. I would have "Strawberry Fields Forever" much higher because of the mellotron, the fade-out coda and the arrangment.

I'm not opposed to moving it up.......what were you thinking ?

As a whole I like the list a lot and I actually explored a lot of the songs on this list.

I think for it's influence on Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix listen to the title track "Are You Experienced" backward parts and how it was influential on record producers at the time. The fact this radical sound for pop music was a top ten hit in the states is kind of amazing IMO. I think the sound textures on this track sound nothing like it before.

Brian Wilson first heard the song on his car radio whilst driving, and was so affected that he had to stop and listen to it all the way through. He then remarked to his passenger that The Beatles had already reached the sound the Beach Boys had wanted to achieve. Paul Revere & The Raiders were among the most successful US groups during 1966 and 1967, having their own Dick Clark-produced television show, Where the Action Is. Mark Lindsay (singer/saxophonist) heard the song on the radio, bought it, and then listened to it at home with his producer at the time, Terry Melcher. When the song ended Lindsay said, "Now what the fuck are we gonna do?" later saying, "With that single, The Beatles raised the ante as to what a pop record should be".

The Musical Influences of Syd Barrett

'Strawberry Fields Forever'
(single 17 February 1967)
*'Strawberry Fields Forever' marked the way for Barrett in its revolutionary use of poetic images and superb psychedelic arrangement. It was released just ten days before the sessions for 'Arnold Layne', which bears its influence.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

Musicfan67 wrote:

I think it's a great list by the way. I would have "Strawberry Fields Forever" much higher because of the mellotron, the fade-out coda and the arrangment.

Thanks for your opinion and info. I called several of my musician friends who contributed to this genre back in the day and also to this list and they agreed so I've made a few changes.

Bruce · **Posted:** Thu Dec 09, 2010 3:06 am

Rick wrote:

Musicfan67 wrote:

I"m curious why this song is number one on this list which is a great song The American Metaphysical Circus - The United States of America? In terms of impact or influence there are many songs there were more influential than this track right.

When I heard this for the first time at U.C.L.A. in the early 60's everyone ( musicians ) agreed that no one was approaching anything like this.

Nobody thought anything about this in the "early" 60s, as you say. The song was released in 1968. The "late" 60s.

http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/ ... f_america/

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

Bruce wrote:

Nobody thought anything about this in the "early" 60s, as you say. The song was released in 1968. The "late" 60s.

As you know….the release date of any song does not equate to the conceptual date of any piece of music in its beginning stages. I was a wide-eyed teenager when the first hint of the music that would become this record began to be heard in the early 60’s at U.C.L.A. where my sister was a student and in the homes of neighbors of my family, one of whom was Joe Byrd. Those friends and neighbors were musicians and artists who to this day remain in contact and still talk about the amazing music being created at a time more known for The Beatles.

Bruce · **Posted:** Thu Dec 09, 2010 12:24 pm

Rick wrote:

Bruce wrote:

Nobody thought anything about this in the "early" 60s, as you say. The song was released in 1968. The "late" 60s.

As you know….the release date of any song does not equate to the conceptual date of any piece of music in its beginning stages. I was a wide-eyed teenager when the first hint of the music that would become this record began to be heard in the early 60’s at U.C.L.A. where my sister was a student and in the homes of neighbors of my family, one of whom was Joe Byrd. Those friends and neighbors were musicians and artists who to this day remain in contact and still talk about the amazing music being created at a time more known for The Beatles.

So what year are you claiming to have first heard this type of music?

The time is more known for the Beatles for a reason. They made great music. Long lasting music. This week, 40 years after they broke up, the Beatles are the most listened to artist in the world.

Stuff like the US of A to me and to most 1960s listeners, was shit. It has somewhat of a cult following, but to the ears of most people, it's junk.

The criteria of this list is far too subjective. It's almost entirely based upon the personal taste of the editor. You may as well rename the list "Rick's Favorite Psychedelic Songs."

Who is to say whether the "instrumental originality, sound exploration & lyrical content" are good or not? Those things are all subjective calls.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

Bruce wrote:

Rick wrote:

Bruce wrote:

Nobody thought anything about this in the "early" 60s, as you say. The song was released in 1968. The "late" 60s.

As you know….the release date of any song does not equate to the conceptual date of any piece of music in its beginning stages. I was a wide-eyed teenager when the first hint of the music that would become this record began to be heard in the early 60’s at U.C.L.A. where my sister was a student and in the homes of neighbors of my family, one of whom was Joe Byrd. Those friends and neighbors were musicians and artists who to this day remain in contact and still talk about the amazing music being created at a time more known for The Beatles.

So what year are you claiming to have first heard this type of music?
Claiming ?

The time is more known for the Beatles for a reason. They made great music. Long lasting music. This week, 40 years after they broke up, the Beatles are the most listened to artist in the world.
Never said they weren't.

Stuff like the US of A to me and to most 1960s listeners, was shit. It has somewhat of a cult following, but to the ears of most people, it's junk.
Most 1960's listeners ? To most people, its junk ? Exactly which listeners and what people do you claim to speak for ?

The criteria of this list is far too subjective.
That is entirely your opinion, which you're entitled to voice.

Who is to say whether the "instrumental originality, sound exploration & lyrical content" are good or not? Those things are all subjective calls.
Since you've read the criteria then you must have also read that the list clearly states it is a subjective list. Just as all lists are subjective unless they are based on objective and documented facts such as record sales, gross concert dollars earned etc etc etc.

Bruce · **Posted:** Thu Dec 09, 2010 2:01 pm

Rick wrote:

Bruce wrote:

So what year are you claiming to have first heard this type of music?
Claiming ?

Is there an echo in here?

Yes, claiming.

When do you claim that you first heard the song that was released in 1968 and is # one on this list?

You say "early 60s."

In my mind it's....

Early 60s - 1960-1962
Mid 60s - 1963-1966
Late 60s - 1967-1969

Are you saying that you heard psychedelic music in 1962, or 1963? Even before The Beatles became popular in America?

Since you are questioning my use of the word "claiming" I assume that you can give us a precise point at which you heard this type of music?

Bruce · **Posted:** Thu Dec 09, 2010 2:21 pm

Rick wrote:

Bruce wrote:

Stuff like the US of A to me and to most 1960s listeners, was shit. It has somewhat of a cult following, but to the ears of most people, it's junk.
Most 1960's listeners ? To most people, its junk ? Exactly which listeners and what people do you claim to speak for ?

I speak for mainstream listeners of 60s music, where very few of us bought the United States Of America album, which is why it stalled at # 181 on the Billboard album chart. with none of their singles charting at all.

I've been in the record business now for almost 40 years and have never once had anybody ask for any music by the United States Of America. The album went out of print almost immediately after it was off the charts, as NOBODY wanted it for decades. I would assume that it eventually came back in print with the advent of CDs.

Currently on Amazon it is .....Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #20,848 in Music

The album has acquired an audience of younger people who were not around in the 60s, much like other dogshit by artists like the Velvet Underground, who were also unpopular in their day. These artists appeal mainly to younger people who did not grow up with 60s music.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:21 pm **Posts:** 455

Bruce wrote:

In my mind

After a detailed search of your posts on the site and the interaction between you and those who choose to attempt to converse with you on subjects of music and/or musicians it would be a leap of faith to expect any semblance of a true conversation.

As with all self described experts who puncuate their self absorbed point of view with profanity you will not find a welcome home on any of my threads which are reserved for thoughtful musical discussion.

Since you have already violated the registration agreement rules of conduct any such future posts will be deleted from these threads per the registration agreement which you agreed to when you first registered.

100 Greatest Psychedelic Songs

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