Note from the underground: Psychedelic Sight revolves around two works in progress: A list of the 100 greatest psychedelic songs (this page) and one of the top 50 psychedelic albums.
So where are the other songs? True to the spirit, the list will be filled in randomly — whenever the muse turns up.
Click on the titles to read an in-depth appreciation of each song and learn why it has been immortalized in the Psychedelic Sight Top 100.
> Nominate a psychedelic song (or album).
The top 100 psychedelic songs
6. “White Room” by Cream, from “Wheels of Fire” (1968)
9. “Eight Miles High” by the Byrds, from “Fifth Dimension” (1966)
10. “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” by the Yardbirds, single (1966)
12. “Fire” by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown from “The Crazy World of Arthur Brown” (1968)
13. “Time Has Come Today” by the Chambers Brothers, from “The Time Has Come” (1967)
15. “Season of the Witch” by Donovan, from “Sunshine Superman” (1966)
16. “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” by Dr. John the Night Tripper, from “Gris-Gris” (1968)
9. “Eight Miles High” by the Byrds, from “Fifth Dimension” (1966)
10. “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” by the Yardbirds, single (1966)
12. “Fire” by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown from “The Crazy World of Arthur Brown” (1968)
13. “Time Has Come Today” by the Chambers Brothers, from “The Time Has Come” (1967)
15. “Season of the Witch” by Donovan, from “Sunshine Superman” (1966)
16. “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” by Dr. John the Night Tripper, from “Gris-Gris” (1968)
19. “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” by Pink Floyd, from “A Saucerful of Secrets” (1968)
20. “My White Bicycle” by Tomorrow (single, 1967)
22. “East-West” by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, from “East-West” (1966)
20. “My White Bicycle” by Tomorrow (single, 1967)
22. “East-West” by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, from “East-West” (1966)
24. “Bass Strings” by Country Joe and the Fish, from “Electric Music for the Mind and Body” (1967)
26. “Sky Pilot” by Eric Burdon & the Animals, from “The Twain Shall Meet” (1968)
28. “Help, I’m a Rock” by the Mothers of Invention, from “Freak Out!” (1966)
30. “Iron Butterfly Theme” by Iron Butterfly, from “Heavy” (1968)
33. “Eskimo Blue Day” by Jefferson Airplane, from “Volunteers” (1969)
34. “Mechanical World” by Spirit, from the debut album (1968)
26. “Sky Pilot” by Eric Burdon & the Animals, from “The Twain Shall Meet” (1968)
28. “Help, I’m a Rock” by the Mothers of Invention, from “Freak Out!” (1966)
30. “Iron Butterfly Theme” by Iron Butterfly, from “Heavy” (1968)
33. “Eskimo Blue Day” by Jefferson Airplane, from “Volunteers” (1969)
34. “Mechanical World” by Spirit, from the debut album (1968)
35. “Dazed and Confused” by the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin. (1968/1969)
39. “Song for a Dreamer” by Procol Harum (Robin Trower), from “Broken Barricades” (1971).
40. “Song for Our Ancestors” by the Steve Miller Band, from “Sailor” (1968).
41. “Exp” / “Up From the Skies” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, from “Axis: Bold as Love” (1967)
44. “Maggot Brain” by Funkadelic, from “Maggot Brain” (1971)
45. “Machine Gun” by Band of Gypsys (1970)
46. “Psychotic Reaction” by Count Five, single (1966)
47. “My Crystal Spider” by Sweetwater, from “Sweetwater” (1968)
39. “Song for a Dreamer” by Procol Harum (Robin Trower), from “Broken Barricades” (1971).
40. “Song for Our Ancestors” by the Steve Miller Band, from “Sailor” (1968).
41. “Exp” / “Up From the Skies” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, from “Axis: Bold as Love” (1967)
44. “Maggot Brain” by Funkadelic, from “Maggot Brain” (1971)
45. “Machine Gun” by Band of Gypsys (1970)
46. “Psychotic Reaction” by Count Five, single (1966)
47. “My Crystal Spider” by Sweetwater, from “Sweetwater” (1968)
48. “Blue Jay Way” by the Beatles, from “Magical Mystery Tour” (1967)
50. “Atom Heart Mother” suite by Pink Floyd, from “Atom Heart Mother” (1970)
50. “Atom Heart Mother” suite by Pink Floyd, from “Atom Heart Mother” (1970)
51. “Armenia City in the Sky” by the Who, from “The Who Sell Out” (1967)
52. “Journey to the Center of the Mind” by the Amboy Dukes, from the second album (1968).
53. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, from “Southern Accents” (1985)
53. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, from “Southern Accents” (1985)
57. “Another Country” by the Electric Flag, from “Long Time Comin'” (1968)
58. “Kites” by Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, single (1967)
58. “Kites” by Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, single (1967)
59. “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” by the Beatles. From “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967).
61. “Hypnotized” by Fleetwood Mac, from “Mystery to Me” (1973)
66. “Hey Joe” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, single (1966)
69. “Rocket Number Nine” by Sun Ra (recorded 1960)
70. “Lemmon Princess” by the Leaves, from “All the Good That’s Happening” (1966)
61. “Hypnotized” by Fleetwood Mac, from “Mystery to Me” (1973)
66. “Hey Joe” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, single (1966)
69. “Rocket Number Nine” by Sun Ra (recorded 1960)
70. “Lemmon Princess” by the Leaves, from “All the Good That’s Happening” (1966)
74. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by Vanilla Fudge, from “Vanilla Fudge” (1967).
77. “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” by the Temptations, single (1968)
79. “San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)” by Fever Tree, from “Fever Tree” (1968)
80. “25 O’Clock” by the Dukes of Stratosphear, from the “25 O’Clock” EP (1985)
81. “Dark Magic” by Moby Grape (1966)
82. “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You” by the Bee Gees, from “Bee Gees’ 1st” (1967)
87. “They’re Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!” by Napolean XIV (1966)
90. “She (Will-O-the-Wind)” by the Collectors (1968)
77. “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” by the Temptations, single (1968)
79. “San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)” by Fever Tree, from “Fever Tree” (1968)
80. “25 O’Clock” by the Dukes of Stratosphear, from the “25 O’Clock” EP (1985)
81. “Dark Magic” by Moby Grape (1966)
82. “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You” by the Bee Gees, from “Bee Gees’ 1st” (1967)
87. “They’re Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!” by Napolean XIV (1966)
90. “She (Will-O-the-Wind)” by the Collectors (1968)
91. “I Scare Myself” by Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks (1972)
100. “Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In)” by the First Edition (1968)
100. “Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Was In)” by the First Edition (1968)
LET’S RAP: Want to nominate a song and its position on this list of the best psychedelic songs? By all means:
> Nominate your psychedelic songs (or albums).
Your comments also are welcome on the reviews of individual songs (all linked above)
I think “Look at me Í´m you” from the Blossom Toes (1967), it has more than enough merits to be among the top 100
I must still be in that ’67 time warp. When I spotted that bidet ad on the right my first thought was “who’s gonna be the flusher tonight?” You know, I kinda miss that outlaw feeling that came with every light-up back then. By the way, my birthday’s coming up again – 420. Please keep this site open till I die.
A few lesser known, Psychotic Reaction, Count 5, Hot Smoke & Sassafrass, Bubble Puppy & You I, The Rugbys
I think the “I had too much to Dream” (last night) by the Electric Prunes from 1966 definitely belongs in the list. As did Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play” in 1967.
Christian You know what acid was all about. That song still sounds otherworldly today. FIRE by Arthur Brown may be #2 and White Rabbit 3 one the pop side.
Great insights! I wish the list were updated more often though…
I agree, I Had To Much To Dream Last Night, by The Electric Prunes should make the list, along with The White Ship, by HP Lovecraft, and The Fool, by Quicksilver Messenger Service. Thank you for your consideration, love and peace from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
How can the list not include “Mind Flowers” by Ultimate Spinach, “Legend of a Mind” and “Higher and Higher” by The Moody Blues, “A Song for Me” by Family, “Whaling Stories” and “In Held ‘Twas in I” by Procol Harum,” and “Echoes” by Pink Floyd?
– Dark Star by Grateful Dead (Live/Dead version)
– 1983… (A Merman I Should Turn to Be) by Jimi Hendrix Experience
– Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix Experience
– Third Stone From the Sun by Jimi Hendrix Experience