An American Songwriter feature highlights three rock songs from 1968 that it argues remain instantly familiar to people who grew up in the 1960s. The piece frames the year as a high point for rock music, spotlighting hits by Steppenwolf, The Bee Gees and The Rolling Stones that have endured in popular memory decades on.

The three tracks are "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf, the band's second US No. 1 following "Born to Be Wild"; "I've Gotta Get a Message to You" by The Bee Gees, written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb for their album Idea (Barry Gibb later re-recorded it as a duet with Keith Urban on his 2021 album Greenfields); and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, which was released as a standalone single rather than on an album.