The Turtles Songs Ranked
The Turtles are an American rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, later known as Flo & Eddie. The band had several Top 40 hits beginning in 1965 with their cover version of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe”. They scored their biggest and best-known hit in 1967 with the song “Happy Together”
1967 proved to be the Turtles’ most successful year on the music charts. “She’d Rather Be with Me” reached No. 3 on the US charts in late spring and actually out-charted “Happy Together” overseas, reaching No. 4 in the UK. Two successive Top 15 songs followed: “You Know What I Mean” and “She’s My Girl”. Both 45s signaled a certain shift in the band’s style. Golden Hits was released later that year, charting in the top 10. The similar album covers for The Turtles! Golden Hits and its follow up More Golden Hits were designed by Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean.
The band broke up in 1970. Kaylan and Volman later found long-lasting success as session musicians, billed as the comedic vocal duo “Flo & Eddie”. In 2010, a reconstituted version of the band, “the Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie”, began performing live shows again. Here are all of The Turtles’ songs ranked.
Don’t miss out on the classic music of The Turtles! Click and enjoy the familiar tunes that became part of the some great movies!
12. Love Minus Zero (It Ain’t Me Babe, 1965)
“Of the three Bob Dylan songs, one is obviously their (title track) hit single; another is a mercifully shortened ‘Like a Rolling Stone’; and the last is an almost cloyingly cute vocal-ed ‘Love Minus Zero’ which, for all its vocal grin inducement, would’ve also worked better with the last verse chopped.”
11. Like the Seasons (Happy Together, 1967)
“Like the Seasons, a bittersweet and melodious ballad from the pen of a teenaged Warren Zevon. It’s done straight, just rocked up for the times but doesn’t really work that well. Weakest of the Turtles.”
10. Think I’ll Run Away (Happy Together, 1967)
“Think I’ll Run Away” is just as good, a gorgeous, loping hymn to indolence, possibly inspired by the Young Rascals’ “Groovin”.
9. Let the Cold Winds Blow (It Ain’t Me Babe, 1965)
“Amazing! this is one of my favorites and it should be a higher ranking, the lyrics mean so much” This is my all time favourite song and it honestly deserves so much more recognition than it is getting.
8. Earth Anthem (The Battle of the Bands (Deluxe Version), 1968)
“I think that lyrics aren’t so impressive, but I love the music and the beat so much, it sounds so nice. And in my opinion voices and vocals are amazing”
7. I Get Out of Breath (Wooden Head (Deluxe Version), 1970)
“Spooky and beautiful. Sounds more like a ’90s band doing a ’60s baroque pop throwback than anything that actually came out in the ’60s.”
6. Goodbye Surprise (Turtle Soup (Deluxe Version), 1969)
“I think that lyrics aren’t so impressive, but I love the music and the beat so much, it sounds so nice. And in my opinion voices and vocals are amazing”
5. Sound Asleep (The Battle of the Bands (Deluxe Version), 1968)
“A typically catchy upbeat, if slightly offbeat single from the Turtles which after a brassy fanfare gets it going briefly nods to the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” before getting back to the vaguely “oom-pah-pah” chorus. It’s okay but a touch heavy-handed compared to the airy brilliance of “Happy Together” or “Elenore” which preceded it.”
4. You Showed Me (The Battle of the Bands (Deluxe Version), 1968)
“A cover of a Byrds song which possibly explains why, unlike other Turtles hits, this single doesn’t burst into a big, singalong chorus after the circumspect verses.”
See more: Love Albums Ranked
3. Lady O (Turtle Soup, 1969)
“A highly pleasant McCartney-esque ballad from the Turtles, basically comprising acoustic guitar and a string quartet and a pleasantly persuasive lead vocal.”
2. Elenore (24 Power Hits, 1967)
“I think the tune was just catchy and the harmony was about as good as anybody’s, including the Beatles. This was my favorite song by the ‘Turtles’, back in 1968. I still love it. Good song, good rendition, good sound.”
1. Happy Together (Happy Together, 1967)
“Every single person in the world knows this song, even if they don’t know the name of the band! Another blast from the past! The “young-love” lyrics are more poignant now with the passage of time. The “dream” of being in love and hoping someone else would love you is nice to remember.”
