2008 marks 50 years of British rock'n'roll. To celebrate we run through some of the greatest tracks to have emerged from these isles, decade-by-decade, one decade a day - and today it's the turn of...
The '60s
British pop hits its stride as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks change things forever.
For the full list of the best British tracks, and albums, 1958-2008, see the new issue of Q magazine, on sale now.
Apache
The Shadows
Columbia, 1960
Their first Number One without Cliff Richard, a twanging instrumental that, more than 20 years later, would have a second life as a rich source of samples for early hip hop records.
Telstar
The Tornadoes
Decca, 1962
Visionary producer Joe Meek's strange tribute to the space age made Number One in both the US and UK, capturing the spirit of the age. That's Muse frontman Matt Bellamy's dad George on rhythm guitar.
My Generation
The Who
Brunswick, 1965
Remains the most succinct statement of the era's sudden generation gap.
The Beatles
Tomorrow Never Knows
Parlophone, 1966
The Fabs' experiments in the studio and with LSD map new territory for pop. This version is the remix, taken from 2006's Love project, steered by Sir George Martin and his son Giles.
Paint It Black
The Rolling Stones
Decca, 1966
Their first true whiff of evil and the finest moment of the Brian Jones era.
Wild Thing
The Troggs
Fontana, 1966
The joys of primitivism, written by actor Jon Voight's brother and sung by a man who would later spend his life researching crop circles. This performance dates from 1973.
Waterloo Sunset
The Kinks
Pye, 1967
Waterloo Bridge at dusk, lovers called "Terry" and "Julie" - this remains the most quintessentially English of tracks.
It's also Damon Albarn's favourite tune - here he is duetting with Davies in 1995.
See Emily Play
Pink Floyd
EMI/Harvest, 1967
Syd Barrett's psychedelic traveller's channelled a very British strain of whimsy, reflected in this daft promo film from the period.
Itchycoo Park
Small Faces
Immediate, 1967
Once they were Mods, then psychedelia took hold and they began to see their native London through more kaleidoscopic eyes.
Sunshine Of Your Love
Cream
Polydor, 1968
The definitive track from the first British supergroup.
Tomorrow, the 1970s…
11:01 AM | 05/02/2008
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