Best Songs of 1965
For these year-end lists, I like to undertake the seemingly impossibly task of creating an hours-long mix. The order you see below represents that effort, which you can listen to via Spotify or Apple Music. Sadly all 100 tracks aren’t available, but you get the general idea. Track notes to come eventually or maybe never.
-
For Another Man
The Motions
Introduction to the Motions
Havoc
via Nuggets II library: 12/27/2012 -
An Invitation to Cry
The Magicians
An Invitation to Cry 7"
Columbia
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
Midnight to Six Man
The Pretty Things
Midnight to Six Man 7"
Fontana
via Nuggets II library: 12/27/2012 -
The Game of Love
Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
The Game of Love
Fontana
via TK library: 1/29/2012 -
Boy From New York City
The Ad Libs
Boy From New York City 7"
Blue Cat
via TK library: 11/23/2011 -
Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
The Staple Singers
This Little Light
Riverside
via Pitchfork’s Complete Unknown review library: 1/15/2025 -
Baby, I’m in the Mood for You
Odetta
Odetta Sings Dylan
RCA
via 1965 research library: 1/22/2025 -
Early in the Morning
Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated
Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated
Decca
via Baby Driver library: 10/21/2017 -
Bumpin’
Wes Montgomery
Bumpin’
Verve
via past experience / 2025 research library 1/16/2025 -
The Water Is Wide
Fred Neil
Bleecker & MacDougal
Elektra
via past experience / 2025 research< library 1/16/2025 -
Catch the Wind
Donovan
What’s Bin Did and What’s Bin Hid
Pye
via the ether library: 11/11/2011 -
Running From Home
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Transatlantic
via past experience / 2025 research library: 1/16/2025 -
Blues Run the Game
Jackson C. Frank
Jackson C. Frank
Columbia
via Martha Marcy May Marlene library: 7/9/2015 -
Tell Her to Come Back Home
John Fahey
The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death
Riverboat
via past experience / 2025 research library: 2/17/25 -
Farewell, Angelina
Joan Baez
Farewell, Angelina
TK
via 2025 research library: 1/14/25 -
Mr. Tambourine Man
Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home
Columbia
via the ether library: 8/22/2008 -
I Ain’t Marching Anymore
Phil Ochs
I Ain’t Marching Anymore
Elektra
via 2025 research library: 1/24/2025 -
People Get Ready
The Impressions
People Get Ready
TK
via Pitchfork Top 200 of the 60s or Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs? library: 2/16/2009 -
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
Otis Redding
Otis Blue
Volt
via past experience library: 5/10/2010 -
Goodnight Baby
Sam & Dave
Goodnight Baby 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Blue Groove
Sir Isaac & The Do-Dads
Blue Groove 7"
Volt
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
E.S.P.
The Miles Davis Quintet
E.S.P.
TK
via past experience / 2024 research library: 12/22/2024 -
Let’s Get Away From It All
Dave Brubeck Quartet
Angel Eyes
Columbia
via past experience / 2025 research library: 2/6/2025 -
Linus and Lucy
Vince Guaraldi
A Charlie Brown Christmas
TK
via my parents / the TV special library: 12/1/2004 -
Acknowledgment
John Coltrane Quartet
A Love Supreme
Impulse
via the ether library: 12/22/2024 -
Água de Beber
Astrud Gilberto
The Astrud Gilberto Album
Verve
via 2025 research library: 2/17/2025 -
Sinnerman
Nina Simone
Pastel Blues
TK
via The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) library: 7/14/2009 -
L-O-V-E
Nat King Cole
L-O-V-E
Capitol
via the ether library: 1/18/2025 -
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
James Brown
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
King
via the ether library: 8/22/2008 -
In the Midnight Hour
Wilson Pickett
In the Midnight Hour
Atlantic
via the ether library: 9/9/2007 -
1-2-3
Len Barry
1-2-3
Decca
via TK library: 1/29/2012 -
I Want Candy
The Strangeloves
I Want Candy 7"
Bang
via the Bow Wow Wow cover library: 3/9/2013 -
Candy
The Astors
Candy 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Banana Juice
The Mar-Keys
Banana Juice 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Got You on My Mind
The Admirals
Got You on My Mind 7"
Volt
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Nowhere to Run
Martha and The Vandellas
Dance Party
Gordy
via the ether library: 3/23/2009 -
Stop! In the Name of Love
The Supremes
More Hits by The Supremes
Motown
via the ether library: 2/8/2024 -
I’ll Keep Holding On
The Marvelettes
I’ll Keep Holding On 7"
Tamla
via TK library: 2/16/2009 -
It’s the Same Old Song
The Four Tops
Four Tops Second Album
Motown
via the ether library: 4/20/2008 -
Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
Stevie Wonder
Uptight 7"
Tamla
via the ether library: 1/8/2011 -
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones
Out of Our Heads
ABKCO
via the ether library: 11/18/2003 (6/23/1995) -
Keep on Running
The Spencer Davis Group
The Second Album
Fontana
via the ether library: 9/28/2014 -
Gloria
Them
The Angry Young Them
Decca
via the ether library: 4/12/2008 -
You Ain’t Tuff
The Uniques
You Ain’t Tuff 7"
Paula
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
Born in Chicago
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Elektra
via 2025 research library: 1/22/2025 -
L.S.D.
Manfred Mann
Mann Made
HMV
via 2025 research / Greg Vandy on The Roadhouse library: 2/17/2025 -
Dirty Water
The Standells
Dirty Water 7"
Tower
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
But You’ll Never Do It Babe
The Boots
Here Are The Boots
Telefunken
via Nuggets II library: 12/27/2012 -
Can’t Seem to Make You Mine
The Seeds
Can’t Seem to Make You Mine 7"
GNP Crescendo
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
I Love You
The Zombies
Early Days
London
via past experience library: 7/8/2008 -
Lies
The Knickerbockers
Lies 7"
Challenge
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
For Your Love
The Yardbirds
For Your Love
TK
via past experience library: 11/15/03 (1/24/1998) -
My Generation
The Who
The Who Sings My Generation
TK
via the ether library: 9/15/2010 -
Too Many People
The Leaves
Too Many People 7"
Mira
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
Just Like Me
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Just Like Me 7"
Columbia
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
Wooly Bully
Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs
Wooly Bully
MGM
via oldies radio, as a kid library: 1/29/2012 -
Willy Nilly
Rufus Thomas
Willy Nilly 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Tainted Love
Gloria Jones
My Bad Boy’s Coming Home / Tainted Love 7"
Champion
via the Soft Cell cover library: 1/22/2025 -
Sometimes I Wonder
Major Lance
Sometimes I Wonder 7"
Okeh / Epic
via TK library: 2/7/2014 -
My Girl
The Temptations
The Temptations Sing Smokey
TK
via the ether library: 2/16/2009 -
Temptation ’Bout to Get Me
The Knight Brothers
Temptation ’Bout to Get Me 7"
Checker
via TK library: 4/20/2008 -
The Tracks of My Tears
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Going to a Go-Go
Tamla
via the ether library: 12/28/2010 -
Crying All By Myself
William Bell
Don’t Stop Now / Crying All By Myself 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
How Do You Quit (Someone You Love)
Carla Thomas
How Do You Quit (Someone You Love) 7"
Atlantic
via Atlantic R&B 1947–1974 TK??? library: 3/15/2013 -
Biggest Fool in Town
Gorgeous George
Biggest Fool in Town 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Got to Get You Off My Mind
Solomon Burke
Got to Get You Off My Mind 7"
Atlantic
via Atlantic R&B 1947–1974 library: 1/10/2013 -
Out in the Streets
The Shangri-Las
Shangri-Las-65!
Red Bird
via the ether library: 8/28/2010 -
I Got You Babe
Sonny & Cher
I Got You Babe 7"
Alco
via TK library: 6/18/2011 -
California Girls
The Beach Boys
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
Capitol
via the ether library: 2/27/2010 -
Do You Believe in Magic?
The Lovin’ Spoonful
Do You Believe in Magic
Kama Sutra
via the ether library: 1/10/2011 -
The Little Black Egg
The Nightcrawlers
The Little Black Egg 7"
Lee
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
Tired of Waiting for You
The Kinks
Kinda Kinks
Pye
via past experience library: 11/11/2006 -
No Good Without You
The Birds
No Good Without You 7"
Decca
via Nuggets II library: 12/27/2012 -
Hold Me Now
The Rumors
Hold Me Now 7"
Gemcor
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
Out of Our Tree
The Wailers
Out of Our Tree
Etiquette
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
The Witch
The Sonics
Here Are The Sonics
Etiquette
via Wild and Wooly: The Northwest Rock Collection library: 2/12/2008 -
You’re Drivin’ Me Insane
The Missing Links
You’re Drivin’ Me Insane 7"
Philips
via Nuggets II library: 12/27/2012 -
We Gotta Get Out of This Place
The Animals
The Most of The Animals
MGM
via Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs library: 11/3/2011 -
Boot-Leg
Booker T. & The MG’s
Boot-Leg / Outrage 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Make It Me
The Premiers
Make It Me 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Concrete & Clay
Unit 4 + 2
1st Album
Decca
via Rushmore library: 1/11/2005 -
Orange Blossom Special
Johnny Cash
Orange Blossom Special
Columbia
via past experience / 2025 research library: 1/21/2025 -
I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
Buck Owens
I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail
Capitol
via 2025 research library: 1/21/2025 -
King of the Road
Roger Miller
The Return of Roger Miller
TK
via the ether library: 2/25/2007 -
Blue Kentucky Girl
Loretta Lynn
Blue Kentucky Girl
MCA
via past experience / 2025 research library: 1/16/2025 -
California Dreamin’
The Mamas & The Papas
California Dreamin’
Dunhill
via the ether library: 12/4/2010 -
Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Byrds
Turn! Turn! Turn!
Columbia
via the ether library: 6/24/2008 -
Look Through Any Window
The Hollies
Hear! Here!
Imperial
via past experience / The Hollies: Classic Masters library: 7/1/2010 -
What Am I Going to Do?
The Dovers
She’s Gone / What Am I Going to Do? 7"
Miramar
via Nuggets library: 3/9/2013 -
A Groovy Kind of Love
The Mindbenders
A Groovy Kind of Love 7"
Fontana
via the Phil Collins cover library: 1/29/2012 -
Don’t Have to Shop Around
The Mad Lads
Don’t Have to Shop Around
Volt
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Unchained Melody
The Righteous Brothers
Just Once in My Life
Philles
via the ether, but most likely Ghost, in 1990 library: 1/8/2011 -
It Was a Very Good Year
Frank Sinatra
September of My Years
Reprise
via the ether / The Sopranos soundtrack library: 11/11/2003 (1/13/2000) -
In My Life
The Beatles
Rubber Soul
Capitol
via the ether library: 1/24/2006 -
Can’t See You When I Want To
David Porter
Can’t See You When I Want To
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Seesaw
Don Covay
Seesaw 7"
Atlantic
via Atlantic R&B 1947–1974 library: 1/10/2013 -
Give You What I Got
Wendy Rene
Give You What I Got 7"
Stax
via Complete Stax/Volt Singles library: 3/15/2013 -
Deep Soul Pt. 1
Ron Buford
Deep Soul 7"
Camelot
via Wheedle’s Groove library: 7/16/2013 -
Messin’ With the Kid
Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters
Monkey Man / Messin’ With the Kid 7"
Satellite
via TK library: 2/7/2014 -
We’re Gonna Make It
Little Milton
We’re Gonna Make It
Checker
via Mojo: Southern Soul library: 4/20/2008