60s Guitar Gems and One-Hit Wonders to Learn on Guitar

On this page, you’ll find a collection of underappreciated guitar songs from the 60s by artists like Adam Faith, Barry McGuire, Billy Roberts, Joe South, Cilla Black, and others.

Whether you're after protest anthems, heart-tugging ballads, or groovy folk-rock tracks, each lesson offers a unique chance to explore the diverse guitar styles of the era.

Poor Me is a classic British pop single released in January 1960 as the follow-up to his breakthrough hit "What Do You Want."

Written by Les Vandyke (under the pseudonym Johnny Worth) and produced by John Burgess with orchestration by the renowned John Barry, the song showcases Faith’s distinctive hiccup-style vocals and an upbeat, rock-and-roll-inspired arrangement.

"Poor Me" became a major hit, reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and cementing Adam Faith’s status as one of Britain’s leading teen idols of the pre-Beatles era.

Its catchy rhythm, polished production, and youthful energy helped define early 1960s British pop, making it a standout track in Faith’s catalog and a memorable piece of pop history.

Eve Of Destruction was originally released as a single in 1965 and later appeared on Barry McGuire's album titled "Eve of Destruction." The song was written by P.F. Sloan.

The chart performance was a single and achieved significant commercial success. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.

The meaning of this song is a protest song that addresses various social and political issues of its time, including the Vietnam War, civil rights, and nuclear weapons. It reflects the anxieties and concerns of the 1960s counterculture.

As the song was released in 1965, during a time when music videos were not as prevalent as they are today, there was no official music video produced for "Eve of Destruction."

Hey Joe, while written and copyrighted by Billy Roberts in 1962, did not appear on a major album by Roberts himself during the 1960s. The song was also popularized by the late Jimi Hendrix.

The song first found its way onto an LP with The Leaves' 1966 release titled Hey Joe. Released as a single by The Leaves, it became the only version to crack the Billboard Top 40, peaking at number 31.

Fascinatingly, the song’s origins are often debated, with some claiming it was inspired by a song written by Roberts' ex-girlfriend, Niela Miller, titled "Baby, Please Don't Go to Town."

Blue On Blue served as the title track for Bobby Vinton's 1963 album and successfully climbed to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Written by the legendary duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song helped cement Vinton's sentimental "Blue" persona alongside his other hits like "Blue Velvet."

While Vinton owned the chart success, the song was later covered by artists like Paul Anka. The arrangement features a distinct, repetitive backing vocal chant that became a signature hook of early 60s pop radio, perfectly capturing the "Nashville Sound."

I Wonder What She's Doin Tonight climbed to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight was the biggest hit for the songwriting duo Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart.

Featured on their 1968 album of the same name, this track proved they could be stars in their own right, rather than just writing smashes for The Monkees.

The song features a catchy "alright" refrain that captures the upbeat bubblegum pop sound of the era. It famously saw a resurgence when it was included in the soundtrack for the film Grown Ups 2, introducing it to a modern audience.

A Summer Song was released in the summer of 1964 with low expectations that the song would have much impact. Even Ringo Starr judged the song as a flop. But the US market loved the song to put it a #7 and #2 on two different charts. The song also reached #7 in Canada and has appeared in several films over the years.

The song went on to be covered by different artists and even in different languages. The duo were on again and off again with several reunions and finally packed it in in 2016. In 2020, Chad Stewart passed away from pneumonia.

Anyone Who Had A Heart became a career-defining moment for Cilla Black, rocketing to #1 in the UK in 1964.

Although Dionne Warwick released the original version in the US (where it peaked at #8), Beatles producer George Martin produced Cilla's version, helping her outsell Warwick internationally.

This dramatic ballad was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It has since been covered by powerful vocalists like Luther Vandross and Linda Ronstadt, but Cilla’s version remains the gold standard in Britain, famously staying at #1 for three weeks.

You're My World secured Cilla Black's second consecutive #1 hit in the UK in 1964, though it only reached #26 in the US.

The song is actually an English adaptation of an Italian track called "Il Mio Mondo." The dramatic orchestral arrangement suited Cilla's powerful voice perfectly.

Interestingly, while Cilla conquered the UK with this number, Australian singer Helen Reddy recorded a cover version in 1977 that finally took the song to #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, fulfilling its American potential decades later.

Reach Out Of The Darkness was the signature smash for the folk-pop duo Friend & Lover, appearing on their 1968 debut album of the same name.

The track climbed to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing the group as a classic "one-hit wonder." The duo consisted of husband-and-wife team Jim and Cathy Post, and the song became a quintessential "flower power" anthem, famous for the lyric "I think it's so groovy now that people are finally getting together."

The track experienced a cultural resurgence when it was featured in a poignant episode of the TV series Mad Men.

Don't It Make You Want To Go Home made it onto three separate charts when it was released back in 1969 including Pop, Country and Adult Contemporary.

Joe South recorded this with his brother Tommy and sister-in-law Barbara as backup musicians know as The Believers. The song was a top 30 in the US and a top 15 in Canada and Australia.

Brook Benton, Bobby Bare and Glen Campbell are just a few artist who have covered the song through the years. The song can be found on the album of the same name.

Games People Play appeared on the 1968 album Introspect and reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This track is notable for its distinct use of an electric sitar, giving it a unique "swamp rock" sound.

Joe South won two Grammys for this composition, including Song of the Year.

The lyrics attack social hypocrisy and hatred. The song’s universal message has led to covers across a wild variety of genres, from a reggae version by Inner Circle to a hard rock rendition by the band Tesla.