21 Best Songs From 1965

12. “I’ll Never Find Another You” by The Seekers

Sometimes The Seekers get lost in the shuffle when discussing good music from 1965. But when they released “I’ll Never Find Another You,” it became their first UK hit.

It was equally successful in America. It’s a sentimental, gentle song with a cadence that almost anyone can sing.

13. “Ferry Across the Mersey” by Gerry and the Pacemakers

“Ferry Across the Mersey” is an unlikely hit when discussing good music from 1965. The song debuted in a film of the same title and was a transatlantic success.

Gerry Marsden wrote it, and the group Gerry and the Pacemakers sang it. It continues to be the song ferries play as tourists cross the Mersey and have featured prominently at several charitable fundraisers.

14. “Maiden Voyage” by Herbie Hancock

Here’s an extremely different example of how a jazz composition became one of the best songs of 1965.

Herbie Hancock was always experimenting with music. “Maiden Voyage” is an example of modal jazz. That means instead of using the diatonic scale, it relies on musical modes associated with plainchant.

15. “California Girls” by The Beach Boys

Another song that deserves a mention when discussing good music from 1965 is The Beach Boys’ hit “California Girls.”

It’s heavily chromatic, full of dissonant tones and harmonies.

Famously, Brian Wilson got the idea for the song from the peculiar combination of drugs and contemplating western film scores. Whatever inspired him, he got something right. The peculiar musical alchemy of “California Girls” made it one of the best songs of 1965.

16. “Love Potion No. 9” by The Searchers

Always a popular song, “Love Potion No. 9” was originally sung by The Clovers. In their hands, it ranked 23 out of the top 50 songs on the US music charts.

In 1964, The Searchers did a version. Its description of a man desperately seeking love appealed to the sensibilities of many listeners. So, when The Searchers released the song in 1965, it gained even more popularity than before, ranking third on those same music charts.

17. “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” by The Animals

“We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” sung by The Animals is another notable song when discussing good music from 1965.

The song resonated with many people. That was especially true of Vietnam War veterans, who felt frustrated by their experiences overseas.

18. “I Want Candy” by The Strangeloves

“I Want Candy” is another unlikely example of good music from 1965. The Strangleoves, who first performed it, was a group of music producers turned singers. But they claimed to be wealthy sheep farmers from Australia.

Bert Berns of ‘Twist and Shout’ fame helped compose an original composition for the band, and “I Want Candy” was the result.

19. “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat?” by Herman’s Hermits

Another of the best songs of 1965 is “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat?” Herman’s Hermits had several hits, but this might be the most catchy.

In the UK, the song was released alongside the band’s other hit from 1965, “Silhouettes.” It stayed at the top of the charts until the Supremes displaced it with “Stop! In the Name of Love.”

20. “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire

Barry McGuire released “Eve of Destruction” in 1965. Like many songs of the time, it commented on the rapidly-changing attitudes of Americans.

It’s most obviously a damning indictment of the nuclear arms race. But people also considered it a comment on the Vietnam War and an anthem of the Civil Rights Campaign. That it became associated with disaffected youth was an unintended irony.

21. “All I Really Want to Do” by Cher

Finally, Cher’s “All I Really Want to Do” is our last example of good music from 1965. It’s a rare example of a Bob Dylan song that isn’t topical.

Dylan released the song in 1964, but by 1965 Cher and several artists were making covers, and those versions became just as popular. That it remains popular with listeners today is a testament to its timelessness.

Top Songs From 1965, Final Thoughts

Good music from 1965 varies wildly. Much of it is Motown or doo-wop. But there’s also lots of rock, jazz, and even classical music released in 1965 that remain popular today.

The sixties was a time of significant change for Americans, and you see that reflected not only in their music but in the songs they considered the best songs of 1965.