🎵 1960 Rock & Pop-Rock Wedding Songs

Essential 1960s Rock Hits to Thrill Every Generation of Wedding Guests.

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Welcome to a new 1960s Wedding series #3:

1. 1960s Soul & R&B

2. 1960s Pop

3. 1960s Rock & Pop-Rock

4. 1960s Doo-Wop

5. 1960s Folk & Country

6. 1960s Jazz & Easy Listening

This week, I’m diving into the decade that gave us the ultimate party soundtrack: 1960s Rock & Pop-Rock.

From the irresistible energy of the British Invasion (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones) to the driving anthems of Surf Rock (The Beach Boys) and Garage Rock (CCR, Steppenwolf), these tracks are timeless.

Table of Contents

• Sweet & Sentimental Rock – 6 songs

• Feel-Good Sing-Alongs – 12 songs

• Dance-Floor Igniters – 30 songs

• Spotify Playlist – 48 songs

1960s Rock & Pop-Rock Wedding Playlist

Sweet & Sentimental Rock

(First Dances, Cake Cutting, Spotlight Moments)

Romantic rock tracks with heart, great for couples who love the ’60s but want something timeless.

And I Love Her – The Beatles

1964 - Paul McCartney has said this was the first time he felt he’d written a truly great love song, one with emotional depth rather than a simple pop formula. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

God Only Knows – The Beach Boys

1966 - Using “God” in a pop song title was controversial. Some radio stations refused to play it at first. Rolling Stone consistently ranks it in the Top 10 songs of all time. It only went to #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 but #2 on the UK Record Retailer chart.

I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher

1965 - Sonny Bono wrote the song in a single night after being told by producer Phil Spector that he “wasn’t good enough” as a songwriter. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. UB40 & Chrissie Hynde famously covered the track. Even Beavis & Butt-Head did a comedic version in the 1990s.

I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles

1963 - This was the track that broke the Beatles in America. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and triggered Beatlemania just before their legendary Ed Sullivan performance. It knocked “She Loves You” out of the top spot, making the Beatles one of the few to ever replace themselves at #1.

In My Life – The Beatles

1965 - The song reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. From Johnny Cash to Bette Midler to Ozzy Osbourne covers, the song’s universal appeal transcends genre and generation.

Something – The Beatles

1969 - “‘Something” became George’s first true chart-topping hit with the band. It was the first Beatles A-side not written by Lennon-McCartney since 1962. Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall, James Brown, Joe Cocker, and Sheryl Crow all recorded their own versions.

Feel-Good Sing-Alongs

(Dinner, Early Dancing, Group Moments)

Perfect for warming the room, building energy, and giving guests something to belt out.

All You Need Is Love – The Beatles

1967 - The song was commissioned for “Our World”, the first live global satellite TV broadcast. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and other British celebrities contributed background vocals. It reached #1 in the U.S., UK, and many other countries.

California Girls – The Beach Boys

1965 - The song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Artists from David Lee Roth to Katy Perry have covered the song. The intro features rich vocal harmonies and unexpected chord progressions, showcasing Brian Wilson’s genius for complex pop arrangements.

Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Manfred Mann

1964 - The song was first recorded by The Exciters in 1963. Manfred Mann’s version hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #1 in the UK. The song helped cement the popularity of UK bands in the U.S. (British Invasion).

Do You Believe in Magic – Lovin’ Spoonful

1965 - The single peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the band’s first big hit. It has appeared in movies like American Graffiti and My Girl 2. Bananarama, Aly & AJ, and even Jackson 5 have covered the song.

Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles

1969 - The song remains a popular processional song. Interestingly, George Harrison composed the song at Eric Clapton’s house. The single is one of the first uses of the Moog on a Beatles track.

I’m a Believer – The Monkees

1966 - The song was written by Neil Diamond. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, making it their longest-running chart-topper. The track gained a new generation of fans when Smash Mouth covered it for the opening of Shrek (2001),

Limbo Rock – Chubby Checker

1962 - Inspired by Caribbean limbo dancing, the song introduced the limbo, bending backward under a stick, to mainstream American audiences, turning it into a playful party activity. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - The Beatles

1968 - Paul McCartney wrote the song inspired by his love of ska and upbeat Caribbean-style music. He borrowed the phrase from a Nigerian musician named Jimmy Scott-Emuakpor.

Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison

1964 - Roy Orbison and Bill Dees created one of the most famous love-at-first-sight songs in music history. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. From Van Halen to The Rolling Stones, the song has been covered countless times.

Piece of My Heart – Janis Joplin

1967 - The song was originally recorded by Erma Franklin. Joplin’s cover peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Faith Hill, Melissa Etheridge, and LeAnn Rimes are among the other artists who have recorded their own versions.

Somebody to Love – Jefferson Airplane

1967 - The song was originally recorded as “Someone to Love” by The Great Society, which was the previous band of vocalist Grace Slick. It hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Slick also brought the hit “White Rabbit”.

Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys

1966 - The song uses a musical device rarely heard in pop music: a ritardando. It was released as a single with another iconic track on the B-side: “God Only Knows”. The track peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Interestingly, it is the band’s most-streamed song on Spotify.