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).

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Ultimate Playlist: Between the Boomers and Xers