Top 10 60's Bands You Forgot Were Awesome

#10: The Moody Blues

While their name might suggest melancholy, The Moody Blues were anything but one-note. Breaking out in the late ‘60s, they fused rock with sweeping orchestral arrangements, becoming trailblazers of the genre that would later be dubbed progressive rock. Their landmark 1967 album “Days of Future Passed” didn’t just give us the immortal “Nights in White Satin” — it showed how rock could be cinematic, layered, and ambitious without losing its soul. Unlike many of their peers, The Moody Blues weren’t chasing trends: they were setting them, blending classical instrumentation with psychedelic textures before prog became a movement. Too often overshadowed by flashier acts of the era, they quietly reshaped what rock music could aspire to be.

#9: The Box Tops

If you know them at all, it’s probably for the two-minute blast of blue-eyed soul that is “The Letter.” Fronted by a teenage Alex Chilton, whose gritty, world-weary voice sounded decades older, the Memphis group churned out a string of soulful rock hits in the late ‘60s, blending pop hooks with Stax-style grit. Tracks like “Cry Like a Baby” and “Soul Deep” proved they had staying power, even if they never garnered the long-term recognition of their peers. And Chilton himself would go on to achieve cult status with power-pop legends Big Star. The Box Tops may have been short-lived, but for a moment, they bottled lightning and left behind songs that still punch way above their weight.

#8: The Left Banke

You might not recognize their name, but you’ve almost certainly heard their influence… or their hits. The Left Banke were originators of what critics eventually dubbed “baroque pop,” a lush blend of rock, classical instrumentation, and intricate vocal harmonies. Their 1966 hit “Walk Away Renée” is the crown jewel: strings and harpsichord wrapped around a heartbreak ballad sung with aching sincerity. They followed it with “Pretty Ballerina” and “She May Call You Up Tonight,” cementing their role as early visionaries of orchestral pop. Their approach to rock set the foundation for later acts like the Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear. The Left Banke might not be a household name, but their fingerprints cover the sound of sophisticated pop to come.

#7: The Rascals

They broke through as The Young Rascals; by ’68 the “Young” was gone, but the muscle stayed. From the garage-soul jolt of “Good Lovin’” to the breezy chart-topper “Groovin’” and the idealism of “People Got to Be Free,” they folded Memphis and Motown grit into East Coast rock with an uncanny feel. Organ-driven hooks, blue-eyed soul vocals, and a tight rhythm section made them radio-proof, and they walked the talk onstage, refusing segregated bills at their peak. They’re too often dismissed as oldies wallpaper, but the catalog undeniably runs deep. “A Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure,” and the psych-pop ambition of “Once Upon a Dream” still shine.

#6: Procol Harum

One song made them immortal, but Procol Harum were never one-trick ponies. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” became a worldwide sensation in 1967, marrying surreal lyrics with a Bach-inspired organ line that still chills. But the group didn’t stop there: they expanded the very idea of rock with ambitious, classically influenced albums, such as 1968’s “Shine On Brightly” and the following year’s “A Salty Dog.” Procol Harum sketched the blueprints of progressive rock, blending symphonic grandeur with bluesy heft. While history tends to reduce them to “A Whiter Shade,” Procol Harum quietly asserted that rock could be as expansive and experimental as any art form, and still move considerable units.

#5: The Animals

The Animals were far more than a one-hit folk-rock curiosity. Bursting out of Newcastle with Eric Burdon’s gravelly voice front and center, they injected raw grit into the British Invasion, leaning heavier on R&B and blues than many of their poppier peers. Hits like “It’s My Life,” “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” gave working-class frustration a soundtrack, striking a chord on both sides of the Atlantic. While the Beatles and Rolling Stones dominated the era’s mythology, The Animals brought an intensity and edge that helped set the stage for harder rock to come. They may not be name-checked as often, but their influence still snarls through the decades.

#4: The Yardbirds

These rockers blazed through the mid-1960s with a fierce mix of R&B, blues, and psychedelia, pushing the electric guitar to new heights — and seemingly its limits. However, their legacy rests on the musicians who cut their teeth in the Yardbirds’ ranks: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Three of the most influential guitarists of all time, all passing through the same group within a few short years. While the band itself never quite reached the mythic status of their best-known alumni, their experimentation with distortion, feedback, and improvisation laid the groundwork for hard rock and heavy metal. The Yardbirds might just be the best résumé-builder in rock history.

#3: The Hollies

Known for their airtight vocal harmonies and chiming guitars, the Hollies quietly cranked out some of the catchiest pop songs of their time. “Bus Stop,” “Carrie Anne,” and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” boast a polish that still shines, decades later. Their knack for hooks and harmonies rivaled their more celebrated peers, and for a while they were one of the few British Invasion acts that could reliably keep pace on the charts. Oh, and let’s not forget: they also launched Graham Nash, who’d go on to even bigger fame with Crosby, Stills & Nash. Unlike most of their British Invasion peers, The Hollies continued to perform music years — and we mean years — after their contemporaries disbanded.

#2: Love

Love were every bit as visionary as their L.A. contemporaries The Doors, even if they never cracked the mainstream. Led by the brilliant but mercurial Arthur Lee, the band fused folk, garage rock, and psychedelia into something hauntingly unique. Their 1967 masterpiece “Forever Changes” is often hailed as one of the greatest albums of the decade, an orchestral, paranoid fever dream that captured both the beauty and the unease of the Summer of Love. Internal conflicts and Lee’s unpredictable nature kept them from wider fame, but for those in the know, Love weren’t merely another ‘60s curiosity: they were the cult heroes who proved that the counterculture had a darker, stranger, and more brilliant edge.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Paul Revere & The Raiders

Spirit

The Incredible String Band

The Troggs

Vanilla Fudge

#1: The Zombies

They arrived in the British Invasion with hits like “She’s Not There” and “Tell Her No,” but it was their swan song that sealed their legend. In 1968, The Zombies released “Odessey & Oracle,” a psychedelic pop masterwork packed with lush harmonies, baroque arrangements, and “Time of the Season,” one of the era’s grooviest and most enduring singles. By then, the band had already split, meaning their masterpiece wasn’t properly celebrated until years later, when critics and crate-diggers hailed it as one of the defining albums of the decade. While they never grabbed the cultural dominance of their peers, The Zombies left behind a body of work that rewards rediscovery. Who ever said there’s anything wrong with resurrecting the past?

Which 1960s band on our list is your favorite? Are there any hidden gems we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!