4 Songs That Marked the Birth of Folk Rock

Folk rock’s heyday in the mid-1960s marked a very important time in the history of American protest music. It’s not exactly easy to pinpoint exactly who wrote the folk rock songs that started the whole movement, but there are a few tracks from that era that have been credited with marking the very start of folk rock. Let’s take a look at just a few of those tracks!

1. “Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan

“Mr. Tambourine Man” is a song that was written by folk rock icon Bob Dylan and released back in 1965. This song has been recorded multiple times through the years, and it was famously covered by The Byrds, another major band in the folk rock revolution.

It’s really an incredible song; we understand why so many lists of the greatest rock songs of all time often include it in their entries. That diverse melody, the unique imagery, Dylan’s unconventional singing style. “Mr. Tambourine Man” is truly an impressive piece of work.

2. “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan

We don’t want to sacrifice diversity on our list of folk rock songs that started the movement, but Bob Dylan just had to make the list again. “Like A Rolling Stone” was the song that changed everything for Dylan, as well as listeners in 1965.

Originally, this track was meant to have more of a folk sound. However, Dylan struggled to write the song in ¾ time, and eventually tried it out with a rock music format instead. The result was one of the most recognizable songs of all time. It even hit no. 2 on the Billboard charts.

3. “Turn Turn Turn!” by Pete Seeger

Most know this song by The Byrds’ rendition, though the song itself was written in the late 1950s by Pete Seeger. Originally a folk tune, The Byrds transformed the song into something with a rock vibe to it in 1965. By the end of that year, it was a no. 1 hit and it has cemented itself as one of the most well-known pioneering folk rock songs in the genre.

4. “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & The Papas

No matter your age or where you’re from, you’ve probably heard (and enjoyed) “California Dreamin’”. This tune was originally written by Michelle and John Phillips back in 1963. It was also initially recorded by Barry McGuire. However, it was The Mamas & The Papas’ 1965 version that turned the song into a folk rock staple.

“California Dreamin’” is an anthem for the unique California sound of the 1960s. Some would say it marked the true beginning of the “counterculture” era in the Golden State, rather than the folk rock era alone.

Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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