The Beatles, of course, are number 1, with the prolific and groundbreaking albums that set the standard for the rest of the rock community.

Rolling Stones. The Stones are number 3. The best R&B band of them all not even reaching their peak when the 1960's ended.

Velvet Underground. Dark and moody band from New York City, and highly influentual bridging avant garde with pop sensibility.

Beach Boys. From surf pop to mid-1960's folk rock to late 1960's psychedelic pop. Few know about these second and third phases, but Pet Sounds ranks among the all-time great albums. No surf music there, so don't let the Beach Boys credit mislead you.

Love. An under-recognized psychedlic and folk band from Los Angeles that recorded the greatest album in rock history, Forever Changes.

The Who. Unfortunately for their placement on this list, the Who were just hitting their stride as the 1970's began, costing them a few notches on this list. But even by 1969 it was clear they were quite unique and capable of giving the Beatles and Rolling Stones a run for their money.

Cream. Power trio that came and went after 2.5 years and several groundbreaking albums that emphasized musianship, hard rock and Eric Clapton's guitar skills. Blues and psychedelic rock that foreshadowed the hard rock 1970's.

Led Zeppelin. Not really regarded as a 1960's band, having released just two albums at the end of the decade. But they're good enough for this list and both highly recommended.

Motown was a sound, not a band. Many artists worked for Motown records but they often used the same songwriters and musicians. Counting Motown as a single entity would place them in the top five.

Janis Joplin. Queen of the blues, she left us too soon.

The Band. Bob Dylan's backup band who could make great music all their own. American-style music and particularly non-psychedelic notwithstanding their home in Woodstock during the late 1960's.

Pink Floyd. Not regarded as a 1960's band since their greatest moments took place during the 1970's, but included here for their outstanding debut, Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

Moody Blues. English art-rockers whose debut, pictured here, was a smorgasbord of London Symphony Orchestra and rock and roll, presaging 1970's art rock. But no one did it better than this.

Simon and Garfunkel. Folk rockers from Queens, New York. "Sounds of Silence," "The Boxer" and "Scarborough Fair" are as good as anything during the 1960's.

Crosby, Stills and Nash. Only one album before the 1960's ended, this band was a spin-off from the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield. Their best was yet to come, in 1970 (Deja Vu).

The Animals. British R&B band that held its own against the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Leader Eric Burden turned the Animals into a psychedelic band in the late 1960's, creating seamless phase II for this outfit.

Nick Drake. Brilliant English folk singer whose three albums are each A+ efforts. Only one album, Five Leaves Left, was released in the 1960's, bringing him down the list.

Mamas and the Papas. Light and folky band from California. Excellent pop hits and swell harmonies.

Grateful Dead. These guys hit their stride in the 1970's and were just getting started in the 1960's. Psychedelic folk pop and jug band rhythm from San Francisco.

Crazy World of Arthur Brown. One shot band with great album and single (Fire). Wild English psychedelic rock with operatic overtones.