The Greatest Rock & Roll Songs Ever
I started out intending to list the Top Ten, but I got carried away.
THE TOP TWENTY
1. BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN (THE SUPREMES);
2. BADLANDS (BRUCE SPRINSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND);
3. BORN TO BE WILD (STEPPENWOLF);
4. BORN TO RUN (BRUCE SPRINSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND);
5. BREATHLESS (THE CORRS);
6. DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS (MITCH RYDER AND THE DETROIT WHEELS);
7. GOOD LOVIN’ (THE RASCALS);
8. GIMMEE SOME LOVING (THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP);
9. HELP (THE BEATLES);
10. I’LL FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER (THE BYRDS);
11. I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND (THE BEATLES);
12. LIKE A ROLLING STONE (BOB DYLAN);
13. PROUD MARY (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL);
14. REACH OUT I’LL BE THERE (THE FOUR TOPS);
15. SATISFACTION (THE ROLLING STONES);
16. SHE LOVES YOU (THE BEATLES);
17. SOUL SACRIFICE (SANTANA – STUDIO OR LIVE AT WOODSTOCK);
18. STUCK INSIDE OF MOBILE WITH THE MEMPHIS BLUES AGAIN (BOB DYLAN)
19. TAKE IT EASY (THE EAGLES);
20. YOU MIGHT THINK I’M CRAZY (THE CARS).
HONORABLE MENTIONS
1. A SUMMER SONG (CHAD AND JEREMY);
2. AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG (THE TEMPTATIONS);
3. AMERICAN PIE (DON MCLEAN);
4. AND IT STONED ME (VAN MORRISON);
5. ANOTHER NIGHT (REAL MCCOY);
6. AUTHORITY SONG (JOHN MELLENCAMP);
7. BECAUSE THE NIGHT (PATTI SMITH GROUP);
8. BERNADETTE (THE FOUR TOPS);
9. BLUEBIRD (BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD);
10. BORN ON THE BAYOU (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL);
11. BOX OF RAIN (THE GRATEFUL DEAD);
12. BREAKAWAY (KELLY CLARKSON);
13. BRILLIANT DISGUISE (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND);
14. BUDDY MILES (THEM CHANGES);
15. BURNING LOVE (ELVIS PRESLEY);
16. BUT, BUT (ROBERT GORDON);
17. CALENDAR GIRL (NEIL SEDAKA);
18. CAN’T GET ENOUGH (BAD COMPANY);
19. (CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR) LOVE AND AFFECTION (NELSON);
20. CAROLINA ON MY MIND (JAMES TAYLOR);
21. CENTER FIELD (JOHN FOGERTY);
22. CHAIN OF FOOLS (ARETHA FRANKLIN);
23. COMBINATION OF THE TWO (BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY);
24. COME ON UP (THE RASCALS);
25. COME RUNNING (VAN MORRISON);
26. COMIN’ BACK TO ME (JEFFERSON AIRPLANE);
27. COUNTRY ROAD (JAMES TAYLOR);
28. COWGIRL IN THE SAND (NEIL YOUNG);
29. CRAZY TRAIN (OZZY OSBOURNE);
30. CROSSROADS (CREAM);
31. DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY (VAN HALEN);
32. DANCING IN THE DARK (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN);
33. DAY OF THE EAGLE (ROBIN TROWER);
34. DECISION/INDECISION (ATOMIC ROOSTER);
35. DENISE (RANDY & THE RAINBOWS);
36. DISCO INFERNO (THE TRAMMPS);
37. DIXIE FLYER (RANDY NEWMAN);
38. DO YOU LOVE ME (THE CONTOURS);
39. DO YOU REMEMBER ROCK ‘N’ ROLL? (THE RAMONES);
40. DON’T BRING ME DOWN (THE ANIMALS);
41. DOWN ON ME (BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY);
42. DRAG CITY (JAN & DEAN);
43. END OF THE LINE (THE TRAVELING WILBURYS);
44. ETERNAL FLAME (THE BANGLES);
45. FIRE AND RAIN (JAMES TAYLOR);
46. FLASHDANCE WHAT A FEELING (IRENE CARA);
47. FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH (BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD);
48. FOR YOU (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN/MANFRED MANN);
49. FOX ON THE RUN (SWEET);
50. FOXY LADY (JIMMY HENDRIX);
51. FRESH AIR (QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE);
52. FUNKY BROADWAY (WILSON PICKETT);
53. GET READY (THE TEMPTATIONS);
54. GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN (CYNDI LAUPER);
55. GO WEST (PET SHOP BOYS);
56. GO YOUR OWN WAY (FLEETWOOD MAC);
57. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (SEX PISTOLS);
58. GREEN RIVER (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL);
59. GROOVIN’ IS EASY (THE ELECTRIC FLAG);
60. HANDLE WITH CARE (THE TRAVELING WILBURYS);
61. HANG ON SLOOPY (THE MCCOYS);
62. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET SIXTEEN (NEIL SEDAKA);
63. HE’S A REBEL (THE CRYSTALS);
64. HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG (THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND);
65. HEART OF GOLD (NEIL YOUNG);
66. HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH (BELINDA CARLISLE);
67. HIGHWAY STAR (DEEP PURPLE);
68. HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT (PAT BENATAR);
69. HOLD ON (WILSON PHILLIPS);
70. HOT ROD LINCOLN (COMMANDER CODY);
71. HUSH (DEEP PURPLE);
72. I AIN’T GONNA EAT OUT MY HEART ANYMORE (THE RASCALS);
73. I AM A ROCK (SIMON & GARFUNKEL);
74. I DON’T WANT TO GO HOME (SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY & THE ASBURY JUKES);
75. I DROVE ALL NIGHT (ROY ORBISON/CYNDI LAUPER);
76. I FOUGHT THE LAW AND THE LAW WON (THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR);
77. I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM LAST NIGH (THE ELECTRIC PRUNES);
78. I KNEW THE BRIDE (NICK LOWE);
79. I NEED A LOVER (JOHN MELLENCAMP);
80. I ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU (DUSTY SPRINGFIELD/THE BAY CITY ROLLERS);
81. I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW (TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS);
82. I TOUCH MYSELF (THE DIVINYLS);
83. I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHITNEY HOUSTON);
84. I WANT YOU (BOB DYLAN);
85. I WANT YOU BACK (THE JACKSON FIVE);
86. I’M A MAN (SPENCER DAVIS GROUP/CHICAGO);
87. I’M GOING HOME (TEN YEARS AFTER - LIVE);
88. IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (WILSON PICKETT/THE RASCALS/THE COMMITMENTS);
89. INCENSE AND PEPPERMINTS (STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK);
90. INSIDE LOOKING OUT (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD);
91. INTO THE MYSTIC (VAN MORRISON);
92. IT CAME OUT OF THE SKY (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL);
93. IT’S MY LIFE (THE ANIMALS);
94. IT’S NO SECRET (JEFFERSON AIRPLANE);
95. IT’S THE SAME OLD SONG (THE FOUR TOPS);
96. JET AIRLINER (STEVE MILLER);
97. JOHNNY B. GOODE (CHUCK BERRY);
98. JOY TO THE WORLD (THREE DOG NIGHT);
99. KARN EVIL 9 1ST IMPRESSION (EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER);
100. KILLING FLOOR (THE ELECTRIC FLAG);
101. LAND OF 1,000 DANCES (WILSON PICKETT);
102. LET YOUR LOVE FLOW (BELLAMY BROTHERS);
103. LET’S TWIST AGAIN (CHUBBY CHECKER);
104. LIGHT MY FIRE (THE DOORS);
105. LIGHT OF DAY (JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS);
106. LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER (BON JOVI);
107. LOCOMOTIVE BREATH (JETHRO TULL);
108. LONELY TOO LONG (THE RASCALS);
109. LONG MAY YOU RUN (THE STILLS-YOUNG BAND);
110. LONG TIME COMING (CROSBY STILLS & NASH);
111. LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING (THE RASCALS);
112. LOVE IS ALL AROUND (THE TROGGS);
113. LOVE MINUS ZERO (BOB DYLAN/THE TURTLES);
114. LUCKY MAN (EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER);
115. LUKA (SUZANNE VEGA);
116. LYING EYES (THE EAGLES);
117. MAKE ME SMILE (CHICAGO);
118. MARRAKESH EXPRESS (CROSBY STILLS & NASH);
119. MAYBE I KNOW (LESLEY GORE);
120. MONY, MONY (TOMMY JAMES AND THE SHONDELLS);
121. MOONDANCE (VAN MORRISON);
122. MOVE OVER (JANIS JOPLIN);
123. MR. TAMBOURINE MAN (BOB DYLAN/THE BYRDS);
124. MY BACK PAGES (BOB DYLAN/THE BYRDS);
125. N.I.B. (BLACK SABBATH);
126. NO MILK TODAY (HERMAN’S HERMITS);
127. OPERATOR (THAT’S NOT THE WAY IT FEELS) (JIM CROCE);
128. PARANOID (BLACK SABBATH);
129. PEACEFUL EASY FEELING (THE EAGLES);
130. PIECE OF MY HEART (BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY);
131. PLEASE MR. POSTMAN (THE MARVELETTES/THE BEATLES/THE CARPENTERS);
132. POWDERFINGER (NEIL YOUNG);
133. PRIDE OF MAN (QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE);
134. PURPLE HAZE (JIMMY HENDRIX);
135. R.O.C.K. IN THE USA (JOHN MELLENCAMP);
136. ROADRUNNER (THE MODERN LOVERS);
137. ROCK ‘N ROLL IS KING (ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA);
138. ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL (THE RAMONES);
139. ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT (KISS);
140. ROCK AND ROLL HOOCHIE KOO (RICK DERRINGER);
141. ROCKAWAY BEACH (THE RAMONES);
142. ROMEO AND JULIET (DIRE STRAIGHTS);
143. ROUNDABOUT (YES);
144. SEE SAW (ARETHA FRANKLIN); PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE (RASCALS);
145. SHADES OF GRAY (THE MONKEES);
146. SHUT UP AND DANCE (WALK THE MOON);
147. SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE (RAINBOW);
148. SIX DAYS ON THE ROAD (DAVE DUDLEY);
149. SMALL TOWN (JOHN MELLENCAMP);
150. SMOKE ON THE WATER (DEEP PURPLE);
151. SOMEBODY TO LOVE (JEFFERSON AIRPLANE);
152. SOMEDAY, SOMEWAY (ROBERT GORDON);
153. SOUTHERN CROSS (CROSBY STILLS & NASH);
154. SPACE TRUCKIN’ (DEEP PURPLE);
155. START ME UP (THE ROLLING STONES);
156. STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE (THE SUPREMES);
157. SUITE: JUDY BLUE EYES (CROSBY STILLS & NASH);
158. SUMMER OF ‘69 (BRYAN ADAMS);
159. SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE (CREAM);
160. SURRENDER (CHEAP TRICK);
161. SUSPICIOUS MINDS (ELVIS PRESLEY);
162. SWEET BABY JAMES (JAMES TAYLOR);
163. TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT (EDDIE MONEY - NÉE “MAHONEY”);
164. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN (CROSBY STILLS NASH & YOUNG);
165. TEARS OF A CLOWN (THE MIRACLES);
166. THE FOOL AND ME (ROBIN TROWER);
167. THE MIGHTY QUINN (BOB DYLAN/MANFRED MANN);
168. THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE (SIMON & GARFUNKEL);
169. THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ (BOB DYLAN);
170. THE TWIST (CHUBBY CHECKER);
171. THE WIZARD (BLACK SABBATH);
172. THIS MEANS WAR (JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS);
173. THUNDER ROAD (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND);
174. TONIGHT SHE COMES (THE CARS);
175. TOO ROLLING STONED (ROBIN TROWER);
176. TRAIN IN VAIN (THE CLASH);
177. TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN’ (THE YARDBIRDS);
178. TWENTY-FIVE MILES FROM HOME (EDWIN STARR);
179. VOLUNTEERS (JEFFERSON AIRPLANE);
180. WAR (EDWIN STARR/BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND);
181. WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE (THE ANIMALS);
182. WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD);
183. WHITE RABBIT (JEFFERSON AIRPLANE);
184. WHO PUT THE BOMP (BARRY MANN);
185. WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN (CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL);
186. WHY CAN’T THIS BE LOVE (VAN HALEN);
187. WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (JOE COCKER LIVE AT WOODSTOCK);
188. WONDERFUL WORLD (SAM COOKE/HERMAN’S HERMITS);
189. WOODEN SHIPS (CROSBY STILLS & NASH);
190. YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET (BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE);
191. YOU AND ME AND A DOG NAMED BOO (LOBO);
192. YOU BETTER RUN (THE RASCALS/PAT BENATAR);
193. YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME (BON JOVI);
194. YOU GOT IT (ROY ORBISON);
195. YOU REALLY GOT ME (THE KINKS);
196. YOU’RE SO VAIN (CARLY SIMON).