STUPENDOUS SNUBS: These are my MAJOR disagreements with Rolling Stone.

These are my biggest beefs with Rolling Stone's alleged "Top 500 Songs of All Time." Artists they snubbed completely include Cream, CCR, ELO, Evanescence, K.D. Lang, Moody Blues, Styx and Supertramp.

May 19, 2025

10 Best Songs With Rock'n'Roll In The Title

ROLLING STONED: ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
by Michael R. Burch

My disagreements with Rolling Stoned begin with my top ten and get progressively worse from there.

It bears noting that artists completely missing from and snubbed by the Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs (RS500) include Jackson Browne, Cream, CCR, Deep Purple, Dido, Ronnie James Dio, ELO, Neil Diamond, Dire Straits, Evanescence, Dan Fogelberg, Foreigner, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (both individually and collectively), the Hollies, K. D. Lang, Annie Lennox, Gordon Lightfoot, Meatloaf, Don McClean, John Mellencamp, the Moody Blues, Nazareth, Simply Red, Styx and Supertramp.

I can feel your sense of outrage building.

Almost as incomprehensible are the artists with just one song in the ranking: Elvis Costello, Etta James, Billy Joel, George Michael, Steve Perry and Journey (both individually and collectively), Bruno Mars, Roy Orbison, Pearl Jam, Santana, Nina Simone and Cat Stevens.

Then consider the all-time great songs that were left out of this alleged “top 500”:

Roxanne by the Police
White Room and Sunshine of Your Love by Cream
I’m Not in Love by 10cc
My Immortal by Evanescence
Black Dog and Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
and many other masterpieces!

In my list of exceptions I have noted where Rolling Stone ranked songs in its Top 500 like this: (RS#). When Rolling Stone didn’t rank a song, I have used (RS-ZZZ), which can be interpreted as “Rolling Stoned asleep at the wheel.”

I will begin with my top ten, then work my way down through the Rolling Stone’s copious errors. Admittedly, I have a few ties in my top ten, but that can’t account for these masterpieces being ranked so insanely low by Rolling Stoned.

Piece of My Heart (RS#344) by Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company makes my top ten, but according to Rolling Stone it’s just the 344th greatest song. Madness!
Blowin' in the Wind (RS#100) by Bob Dylan. This is a ridiculously low ranking by Rolling Stoned, especially considering a number of inferior songs they ranked high above it.
Loves Lies Bleeding/Funeral for a Friend (RS-ZZZ) by Sir Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin is my #6 greatest song of all time, but it was unranked by Rolling Stoned.
Fever (RS-ZZZ) by Elvis Presley was in a tie for #5 with his cover of "Blue Moon" in my top ten. Rolling Stone ranked "Fever" #78 on their 2004 ranking but it didn’t make the 2021 update at all. Apparently it went from a masterpiece to trash in the interim.
Blue Moon (RS-ZZZ) didn’t make the RS500.
Without You (RS#497) written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger; as performed by Harry Nilsson. How can anyone with ears rank this masterpiece 497th? I have it at #4 and I believe Sir Paul McCartney, who knows a thing or two about songwriting, called it the great rock song ever written. When John Lennon and McCartney held a press conference in 1968 to announce the formation of the Apple label, John was asked to name his favorite American artist. He replied, "Nilsson." Paul was then asked to name his favorite American group. He also replied, "Nilsson."
Hallelujah (RS#74) written by Leonard Cohen; as performed by Cohen and many other artists (my favorite performers of the song include Jeff Buckley, Alexandra Burke and K. D. Lang). This ranking is absurdly low; I have “Hallelujah” in a tie for #4 with “Without You.”
Unchained Melody (RS#269) with music by Alex North; lyrics by Hy Zaret; as performed by the Righteous Brothers (vocals by Bobby Hatfield). This is another absurdly low Rolling Stoned ranking

"Unchained Melody" is one of the most popular songs of all time, having been recorded by many different artists in various languages. If you haven't heard the Righteous Brothers version, please be sure to check out Bobby Hatfield's stunning, soaring vocals. His cover remains the all-time best. BTW, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ was the most-played song of the 20th century according to BMI, but it didn’t make the oh-so-exclusive RS500.
Bridge Over Troubled Water (RS#66) written by Paul Simon; performed by Simon & Garfunkel (vocals by Art Garfunkel). Once again Rolling Stone has lost its collective mind here, if it ever had one to begin with. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is an enduring classic. Paul Simon wrote the song specifically for Art Garfunkel, shortly before the breakup of Simon & Garfunkel. Garfunkel's vocals make the original recording one of the best of all time.
Bohemian Rhapsody (RS#17) by Queen. I have a major disagreement with Rolling Stone here. Are “Get Ur Freak On,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Waterloo Sunset” better than this masterpiece, really? In what dimension?

Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
no escape from reality ...

The lyrics above were obviously written prophetically by Freddie Mercury about Rolling Stoned’s absurd ranking of his outlandishly marvelous song.

Queen brought opera to rock, and vice versa. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is one of the few progressive rock songs of the 1970s to cross over, top the charts and appeal to mainstream audiences. Also, Garth and Wayne cannot be wrong!

Stairway to Heaven (RS#61) by Led Zeppelin. Okay, Rolling Stoned has lost its mind, completely! This rock masterpiece has to be top 10, and I’ve seen it numero uno in more than one ranking. “Stairway to Heaven” became the most-requested song on FM radio stations in the United States despite never having been commercially released as a single there. When I was in high school in the mid 1970s, this was the most played, most discussed and most revered song.
One by U2 is only #62 according to Rolling Stone.

Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head?

"One" was ranked fourth on Blender's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" in 2005.
Q Magazine readers voted "One" the fifth-greatest song in history in 2006.
"One" is sixth in Ranker's public poll of the best rock songs. So the public loves "One."

Apart from my top ten, these are my other disagreements with Rolling Stoned…

All Along the Watchtower (RS#40) written by Bob Dylan, as performed by Jimi Hendrix and the Experience. I have a major beef with Rolling Stone here, because #40 is way too low for arguably the greatest collaboration of dissimilar geniuses in music history.
Roxanne by the Police didn’t make the incomprehensible cut. On what planet is it not a top 500 song?
It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World by James Brown is missing?
Sinnerman, Feeling Good, Don’t Let Me Be Understood, I Loves You Porgy, Four Women, Mr. Bojangles and I Put a Spell on You by Nina Simone, who did have one top 500 song with Mississippi Goddam. But in her case, one is not enough!
I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner is not top 500?
I'm Not in Love by 10CC is not top 500?
Tainted Love by Soft Cell missed the cut?
At Last (RS#115) by Etta James, nicknamed "The Matriarch of R&B" and an obvious influence on many modern divas. Rolling Stone ranked her #22 on its list of the Greatest Singers of All Time, so how did this masterpiece end up out of the top 100?
White Room and Sunshine of Your Love by Cream didn’t make the RS500 and the first supergroup is MIA.
When a Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge has to be in any top 500.
Mr. Blue Sky, Telephone Line, Evil Woman, Strange Magic, Turn to Stone, Livin’ Thing, Don’t Bring Me Down and Roll Over Beethoven by ELO are all conspicuously absent. Not even one ELO song, Rolling Stoned?
Who’ll Stop the Rain, Have You Ever Seen the Rain and Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival were great Vietnam War protest songs written by John Fogerty. Also Proud Mary, Someday Never Comes, Green River, Run Through the Jungle and Lodi. None made the RS500. Unconscionable!
I Am I Said, Sweet Caroline, Red Red Wine, Holly Holy, Cracklin' Rosie, Solitary Man and I'm a Believer by Neil Diamond are all MIA and he has no top 500 songs.
Sherry, Rag Doll, Walk Like a Man and Big Girls Don’t Cry by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons are all MIA and the group has no songs in the RS500. Nor did Valli have a solo song that made the incomprehensible cut.
In the Pines (Where Did You Sleep Last Night) by Lead Belly was superseded by pale imitators.
My Immortal and Bring Me to Life by Evanescence didn’t make the cut. How?
Un-Break My Heart by Toni Braxton is the #12 best-selling song of all time according to Billboard, and a tour de force vocal performance of a great song, but still not top 500? Egad, ye cads!
Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars is the #5 best-selling song of all time, according to Billboard, but just #417 per Rolling Stoned. And the multitalented Mars has no other top 500 songs. MIA are When I Was Your Man, Just the Way You Are, Locked Out of Heaven, That’s What I Like, Grenade and 24K Magic.
Nights in White Satin by the Moody Blues, one of the most beautiful, haunting songs of all time, is MIA, and the group has no songs in the RS500.

Nights in white satin, never reaching the end.
Letters I've written, never meaning to send.
Beauty I'd always missed, with these eyes before.
Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore…
Love Hurts by Nazareth is one of the all-time great covers, of a song first recorded by the Everly Brothers. It was written by Boudleaux Bryant. The great Roy Orbison also covered the song before Nazareth. Incomprehensibly, it didn’t make the RS500. “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo did, however.
All I Have to Do Is Dream (RS#323), Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Suzie, Cathy’s Clown and Love Hurts by the Everly Brothers.
Tutti Frutti (RS#35) and Good Golly Miss Molly (RS#92) by Little Richard are top 100, but Long Tall Sally is missing.

Little Richard called himself the “Architect” of rock’n’roll, and he wasn’t exaggerating. Without Little Richard there would be no James Brown, Michael Jackson or Prince, and the Beatles wouldn’t have all those growls and yips in their songs.
American Pie and Vincent by Don McLean are not in the RS500.

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul …

Don McLean's "Vincent" gets my vote as the best rock poem of all time, based strictly on lyrics, because it tells a moving story and also carries us somewhere "beyond" by making us feel a strong kinship with the troubled Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh. The best poems and songs create a sort of spiritual "communion" between writer, subject and audience ...
Holy Diver and Rainbow in the Dark by Ronnie James Dio are MIA, and he has no songs in the RS500.
Leah and Crying (RS#461) by Roy Orbison. Another insane Rolling Stone ranking. The great Roy Orbison has only one song in the RS500 and “Crying” barely squeaked in. Other noteworthy songs by Orbison include "Pretty Woman," "Only the Lonely," "In Dreams," "It's Over," "Running Scared," "Blue Bayou," "You Got It," "Sweet Dreams Baby" and "I Drove All Night."
I Drove All Night written by Roy Orbison, as performed by Orbison, Celine Dion and Cyndi Lauper. As great as Orbison was, and as fantastically as Lauper sang this song, I have to give the gold star to Dion for what may have been the greatest female vocal performance of all time. It’s hard to imagine anything better. One of the greatest songs and arguably THE greatest vocal performance are not in the RS500?
Time After Time (RS#494) by Cyndi Lauper is vastly underrated. And that’s her only top 500 song? Where are Girls Just Want to Have Fun, (Waiting for Your) Change of Heart, Money Changes Everything, All Through the Night, and I Drove All Night?
Wheel In The Sky, Open Arms, Lights, Send Her My Love, Separate Ways, Escape, Stone In Love, Still They Ride, Just The Same Way, Faithfully and Only The Young by Journey are all MIA. The group’s only RS500 song is Don’t Stop Believin’ (RS#133).
Foolish Heart and Oh Sherrie by Steve Perry are also MIA. Arguably the greatest male vocalist of all time has one song in the RS500.
Rock Me on the Water, The Pretender, Doctor My Eyes and The Load Out/Stay by Jackson Browne are missing and he has no songs in the RS500.
Candle in the Wind with music by Elton John and lyrics by Bernie Taupin is the the #2 best-selling song of all time, but not top 500 per Rolling Stoned. Also conspicuously absent is Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Ghosts, The Reach, The Sand and the Foam and The Lion’s Share are great neglected masterpieces of songwriting by Dan Fogelberg. True to form, Rolling Stoned went with lesser songs.
Holding Back the Years and If You Don’t Know Me By Now by Simply Red didn’t make the cut.
The Logical Song, Dreamer, Take The Long Way Home, Breakfast in America, Bloody Well Right, Even in the Quietest Moments, Hide In Your Shell and Give A Little Bit by Supertramp didn’t make the RS500.
You Really Got Me by the Kinks was nominated Tom Brown, then by Greg Scotland with these observations: “There’s no Gimme Shelter, Satisfaction, Revolution, I Can’t Explain, Whole Lotta Love, Comfortably Numb, Purple Haze, Eruption, Paranoid, American Woman, Enter Sandman, Smoke on the Water, etc. without Dave Davies slashing his speaker cone with a razor blade and popularizing rock and roll distortion/fuzz in the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” (August 1964). That song is partially responsible for more than ten rock and roll genres. It must be on the list.” But not according to Rolling Stoned, which did rank Lola (RS#386, way too low) and Waterloo Sunset (RS#14, way too high).
Spanish Harlem by Ben E. King and Aretha Franklin didn’t make the top 500?

How?

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem.
It is the special one.
It never sees the sun.
It only comes out when the moon is on the run…

The original version of Spanish Harlem had a lovely, poetic, but fairly simple lyric about a man who had discovered a beguiling female rose he intended to pluck for his "garden" (however one interprets that). However, when Aretha Franklin recorded the song she made it more current and "blacker" with lyric changes. For instance, she changed the chorus to: “There is a rose in Black and Spanish Harlem.” And because the song was about a man who desired a young girl, she changed the third stanza to be in the third person, with her explaining the man’s intentions. Also Respect (RS#1), Natural Woman (RS#90), Think and Chain of Fools (RS#306).
Oh Very Young, Wild World, Moonshadow and Peace Train by Cat Stevens didn’t make the RS500, although Father and Son (RS#408) squeaked in.
Captain Jack, Piano Man, Vienna, Goodnight Saigon, Only the Good Die Young, Shameless and Until the Night by Billy Joel missed the cut. The latter is one of the most underrated great songs of all time, in my opinion. Joel has only one song in the RS500 with Scenes from an Italian Restaurant (RS#324).
When Doves Cry (RS#37) by Prince and the Revolution. I have a major disagreement with Rolling Stone here, because #37 is way too low for this great, great song.
What'd I Say (RS#80) by the marvelous Ray Charles is way too low.
Stand!, Dance to the Music and Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) by Sly and the Family Stone didn’t make the RS500. Sly Stone was a musical genius.
Black Magic Woman, Maria Maria and Oye Como Va (RS#479) by Santana. Only one song in the top 500, and that one so low?
Angie by the Rolling Stones. Not in the RS500? The Rolling Stones have many great songs but "Angie" is my favorite song of theirs, a haunting song of love and loss.
Sympathy for the Devil (RS#106) by the Rolling Stones has to be top 100.

I shouted out,
"Who killed the Kennedys?"
When after all
It was you and me…
A Day in the Life (RS#24) and Eleanor Rigby (RS#243) by the Beatles are masterpieces of songwriting by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The second ranking is insanely, absurdly low.

Eleanor Rigby
Died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie
Wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved

Lennon originally wrote A Day in the Life, while McCartney originally wrote Eleanor Rigby. The Beatles have other songs in the RS500, but none greater than these two, in my opinion.
Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong from Porgy and Bess.
Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio.
Big Yellow Taxi and Woodstock by Joni Mitchell are missing.
That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be, You’re So Vain (RS#496) and Anticipation by Carly Simon. The first song is a masterpiece and the other two iconic.
I Walk the Line (RS#76) by Johnny Cash. This seems low to me for Johnny Cash’s best-known song.

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line.

Johnny Cash wrote "I Walk the Line" in 1956, when he was newly married, and presumably faithful. Years later he recorded Ring of Fire, a song about the torrid love affair that caused him to leave his wife for June Carter. June Carter wrote "Ring of Fire" with Merle Kilgore. Johnny Cash had a dream in which he was singing the song with mariachi horns in the background, which was how it was recorded. Also, Folsom Prison Blues.
You're the Voice by John Farnham, an outstanding Australian vocalist who flew under the rock world’s radar for decades. This may be the most inspirational song of all time, when Farnham performs it live. And it’s not a bit sappy. Not to be in the top 500 is unconscionable.
Flying in Winchester Cathedral, Find the Cost of Freedom, Helplessly Hoping, Ohio, Wooden Ships, and Woodstock by Crosby, Stills, Nash and (sometimes) Young. All missing from the RS500.
House of the Rising Sun (RS#471) by the Animals. This is another insanely low ranking by Rolling Stone.

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one ...
Go Rest High on that Mountain by Vince Gill, a song he wrote for the brother he lost.

I’m not normally a country music fan, but this song, a modern hymn, is wonderfully moving and exquisitely sung by Vince Gill, a former lead singer of Pure Prairie League. Gill wrote the song originally for Keith Whitley, a fellow country music singer who died in 1989, but didn't finish it until after the death of his brother Bob in 1993. Ricky Skaggs and Patty Loveless sang the background vocals on a song that is sure to be an enduring classic.
Dog and Butterfly, Never, These Dreams, Crazy on You, Magic Man and Barracuda by Heart. Also, Alone if you’re into stalker songs. Heart has zero songs in the RS500.
Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson, arguably his best and most meaningful song, is missing.
Time of the Season (RS#349) and She’s Not There by the Zombies. More madness!
Ferry 'Cross the Mersey and You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers. MIA.
We Are The World by USA for Africa is the #8 best-selling song of all time, but a no-show.
Mad World as performed by Adam Lambert (originally performed by Tears for Fears). Missing.

If any contemporary male singer can rival the young Elvis Presley, it may be Adam Lambert. His cover of "Mad World" by Tears for Fears is scary-good. Brian May of Queen said that Lambert is the only male singer who can hit those crazy high notes that Freddie Mercury was famous for. But "Mad World" is more of a sad lament, beautifully and tenderly sung by an amazing vocalist.
Taxi by Harry Chapin, who has no songs in the RS500.

Oh, I've got something inside me
To drive a princess blind ...
There's a wild-man wizard
He's hiding in me, illuminating my mind

Harry Chapin's "Taxi" is a ghost story in which both ghosts are still partially alive. I saw Chapin in concert, and he was a wonderful storyteller: both in his songs and in his interactions with the audience. Other songs by Harry Chapin include "Cat's in the Cradle," "The Dance Band on the Titanic," "The Mayor of Candor Lied" and "W.O.L.D."
Born to Run (RS#27) by Bruce Springsteen. No quibbles here. But there are questions about the Boss’s other best songs: Thunder Road (RS#111), Jungleland (RS#298), Rosalita (RS#446), 10th Avenue Freeze Out, Badlands, Sandy, The River, I’m on Fire, Born in the USA, Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark.
Comfortably Numb (RS#179) and Wish You Were Here (RS#302) by Pink Floyd are the group’s only songs in the RS500. Both are laughably low, and what about Shine On You Crazy Diamond and The Great Gig in the Sky. Other notable Pink Floyd songs include "Time," "Echoes," "Hey You," "Learning to Fly," "Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two" "Brain Damage," "Money" and "Dark Side of the Moon."
Because The Night (RS#358) was written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith, and performed by the Patti Smith Group. "Because the Night" is one of the songs (if not the song) that made Patti Smith the "godmother of punk."
Knockin' on Heaven's Door was written by Bob Dylan and performed by Dylan, Eric Clapton, Bob Marley, The Grateful Dead, Guns 'n' Roses, U2 and many other artists. A great song became even greater when Guns 'n' Roses covered it in 1987. The song was originally written by Dylan for the movie Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. It was later covered in reggae versions by Eric Clapton and Bob Marley. It must surely be the only song to have been recorded by the Boss, Boy George, The Grateful Dead, The Sisters of Mercy, Warren Zevon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Dolly Parton! None of them made the RS500.
Who Wants to Live Forever and The Show Must Go On by Queen are both MIA.

There's no time for us
There's no place for us ...
Who wants to live forever?

Other Queen songs missing from the RS500 include "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," "Somebody to Love," "Killer Queen," "We are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You."
Nothing Compares 2 U (RS#184) by written by Prince; performed by Sinead O'Connor. This is way too low. "Nothing Compares 2 U" is a wonderfully tender, poignant song, sung exquisitely by Sinead O'Connor. The tear she shed in her video was real, and unscripted. She had shaved her head when she started singing because she wanted to be known for her music, not her looks (but she looked better without hair than most women with flowing manes). When the head of her record label heard the song the first time, he cried. When O'Connor heard that he had cried, she asked: "Was it that bad?" No, silly, it was that magnificent!
The Freshmen written by Brian Vander Ark; performed by The Verve Pipe.

I can't be held responsible
'cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible
she fell in love in the first place ...
For the life of me, I cannot remember
what made us think that we were wise and we'd never compromise
for the life of me, I cannot believe we'd ever die for these sins
we were merely freshmen …

When the Verve Pipe released "The Freshmen" there were debates on the Internet about what they meant by lines like "stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice." While "stop a baby's breath" might refer to an abortion, "shoe full of rice" might refer to a wedding, in which case "baby's breath" might be a sprig of flowers. Song lyrics, like all forms of poetry, are open to interpretation. What is certain about this song is that it will rip your heart out, if you have one.
Whole Lotta Love (RS#128) by Led Zeppelin is too low. Conspicuously absent are Black Dog and Immigrant Song.
River Deep, Mountain High (RS#121) by Ike & Tina Turner.
Private Dancer, We Don’t Need Another Hero and What’s Love Got to Do with It? (RS#134) by Tina Turner. Are there 500 better songs, really?
Crossroads aka Cross Road Blues (RS#481) by the great blues guitarist Robert Johnson is my choice as the first rock song. Eric Clapton might agree, since he covered it with Cream. The song was originally recorded in 1936 but dates back to the 1920s. It’s the first blues song, for me, that has a rock edge and vibe. And then there’s the infamous “deal with the Devil”… rock was later called “the Devil’s music” by alarmed moralists.
Mannish Boy (RS#425) and Got My Mojo Workin’ by Muddy Waters.
Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry is MIA. I have called Chuck Berry the Shakespeare of early rock ’n’ roll. His other hits include Johnny B. Goode (RS#33), Maybellene (RS#102), Promised Land (RS#342), My Ding-a-Ling and No Particular Place to Go.
The Weight (RS#58) and The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down by The Band.
Blinding Lights by The Weeknd is the #1 best-selling song of all time, according to Billboard, and the #1 streaming song on Spotify. Also MIA are Cry for Me, I Can’t Feel My Face, Call Out My Name, The Hills, Save Your Tears, Die for You and Starboy (#4 on Spotify).
Louie, Louie (RS#156) by the Kingsmen was nominated by Paul Hippensteel. The FBI investigated this song for sub-verse-ive lyrics, pardon the pun, but had to close the case “unsolved” because no one could make out the words!
Riders on the Storm by the Doors is MIA. The Doors have only one song in the RS500, with (predictably) Light My Fire (RS#310).

There's a killer on the road
His brain is squirmin' like a toad
... Riders on the storm

"Riders on the Storm" is one of the darkest songs ever. It was the last song recorded by the Doors before Jim Morrison died.
I Am a Rock written by Paul Simon; performed by Simon & Garfunkel.
Enter Sandman (RS#390), Master of Puppets (RS#256), Nothing Else Matters, One and For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica.
Lately, Sir Duke and Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder are MIA although Higher Ground (RS#113) and Superstition (RS#12) made the RS500.
You Shook Me All Night Long (RS#287), T.N.T., Thunderstruck, Back in Black and Highway to Hell by AC/DC give the group a lone song in the bottom half of the RS500.
Roundabout, Awaken, I’ve Seen All Good People and Starship Trooper by Yes are all MIA.
Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler is missing.
All By Myself, written by Eric Carmen, as performed by Eric Carmen, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. I like Eric Carmen’s original the best, despite the stratospheric vocals of the great divas. But no version of this great, great song made the cut.
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Words, Stayin’ Alive (RS#99), Tragedy and Night Fever by the Bee Gees gave them one song in the RS500. How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees is the #22 best-selling song of all time according to Billboard, but it’s not top 500?
Stony End, Woman in Love, Guilty, People, Evergreen, Memories and The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand? None made the cut.
Been to Canaan and So Far Away by Carole King didn’t make the cut, giving her one song in the top 500 with It’s Too Late (RS#345).
The Chain, Gold Dust Woman and Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac failed to make the cut.
Suffragette City by David Bowie is missing.
Fire and Rain (RS#146) by James Taylor is too low, in my opinion.
Take Me to Church by Hozier is MIA.
Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. didn’t make the cut.
Stand By Me (RS#133) by Ben E. King is too low.
I’ll Stand by You and Brass in Pocket (RS#389) by the Pretenders.
War Pigs by Black Sabbath didn’t make the cut, although Paranoid and Iron Man did.
Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne is missing.
Breaking the Law by Judas Priest is MIA.
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and All Shook Up by Jerry Lee Lewis are MIA.
For What It's Worth written by Stephen Stills and performed by Buffalo Springfield didn’t make the cut, although Buffalo Stance did.
A Pirate Looks at Forty by Jimmy Buffet is another underrated great song, but he has no top 500 songs.
Shameless and The Thunder Rolls by Garth Brooks are missing and he has no songs in the top 500.
Poker Face, Bad Romance (RS#482) and Abracadabra by Lady Gaga let her barely squeak into the top 500 with a single song. Shallow with Bradley Cooper also didn’t make the cut.
Fight the Power (RS#2) and Bring the Noise (#RS#397) by Public Enemy. “Fight the Power” is commendable, but a real streeetch at #2 in my opinion.
Dear Mama, California Love (RS#320) and Changes by 2Pac aka Tupac Shakur give him one song in the RS500.
Free Bird (RS#407), Whipping Post and Ramblin' Man by the Allman Brothers Band give them one top 500 song.
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd didn't make the cut but Free Bird (RS#407) did.
Like a Virgin, Material Girl, Papa Don't Preach, Borderline and Ray of Light by Madonna didn’t make the cut, but she had three songs that did.
Just Give Me A Reason and Try by P!nk are MIA.
Hello, Skyfall, Someone Like You, Set Fire to the Rain, When We Were Young, Send My Love, Easy on Me and Rolling in the Deep (RS#82) by Adele give her just one song in the RS500.
No One, If I Ain’t Got You (RS#440) and Fallin’ by Alicia Keys give her one top 500 song.
Wake Me Up by Avicii is absent.
More Than a Feeling (RS#212) by Boston seems low to me.
Livin’ on a Prayer (#407) by Bon Jovi is their only top 500 song.
Sign of the Times (RS#428), Adore, Watermelon Sugar and As It Was by Harry Styles gives him one song in the RS500.
She Talks to Angels by the Black Crowes is such a great song, but MIA.
Centerfold by the J. Geils Band is MIA.
The Cover of the Rolling Stone and Sylvia’s Mother by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show are MIA.
The Great Pretender, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and My Prayer by the Platters are all MIA.
Hotel California (RS#311), Desperado and Best of My Love by the Eagles give them one top 500 song, in the bottom half.
Get Ur Freak On (RS#8) by Missy Elliott and Work It (RS#56) with Timbaland. While I like the songs okay, I am not nearly as enamored with them as Rolling Stone.
I Can’t Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar is absent.
Havana by Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug. So rhythmic, so good! But not top 500.
Stay with Me, Lay Me Down, Latch and I’m Not the Only One by Sam Smith, the most evocative younger male singer in my opinion. But none made the cut.
I Will Always Love You (RS#94), written by Dolly Parton and sung by Whitney Houston, spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts and is the #6 best-selling song of all time.
We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris is the #24 best-selling song of all time according to Billboard. But it’s not top 500.
Diamonds and Umbrella (RS#332) by Rihanna.
Somebody that I Used to Know by Gotye ft. Kimbra is the #29 best-selling song of all time according to Billboard, but not top 500.
One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men was #1 for 16 weeks in 1995. But not top 500.
All I Want for Christmas Is You and Fantasy (RS#419) by Mariah Carey give her one top 500 song.
Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez, a song she wrote about her relationship with Bob Dylan, didn’t make the cut.

Your eyes were bluer than robin's eggs.
My poetry was lousy, you said.
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the Midwest…
Never My Love, Cherish and Windy by the Association were three of the hundred most-played songs of the 20th century, according to BMI, yet not top 500.
California Dreamin’ (RS#420) by The Mamas & The Papas is one of the most-streamed songs of the 1960s. But barely top 500. Also Monday Monday and (This is) Dedicated to the One I Love.
Only Time, Orinoco Flow, O Come O Come Emmanuel and Sail Away by Enya missed the cut, giving her no top 500 songs.
Twenty Flight Rock and Summertime Blues (RS#432) by Eddie Cochran.
Red Red Wine by Neal Diamond and in a reggae version by UB40.
Israelites by Desmond Dekker & the Aces.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens.
Little Darlin’ by the Diamonds.
Stay by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs, and as covered admirably by Jackson Browne as Stay/The Load Out. Neither made the cut.
La Bamba by Ritchie Valens and Los Lobos.
Ho Hey by the Lumineers.
Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence (RS#415) by Depeche Mode
The Needle and the Damage Done, Revolution Blues, Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River and Old Man by Neil Young, who does have three songs in the RS500.
Expressway (To Your Heart) by the Soul Survivors.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack.
Feel It Still by Portugal the Man.
Child in Time and Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple, who are not in the top 500.
(I Would Walk) 500 Miles by the Proclaimers.
Back to December, Blank Space, All Too Well (RS#69), Cruel Summer (RS#400), and Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift.
Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve.
All I Know by Art Garfunkel.
Only the Heart May Know by Dan Fogelberg and EmmyLou Harris, so beautiful! But neither made the top 500.
Seven Year Ache by Rosanne Cash, the daughter of Johnny Cash.
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, written by Joe South and performed by Lynn Anderson.
Jolene (RS#63), Eagle When She Flies, 9 to 5 and Coat of Many Colors (RS#263) by Dolly Parton.
Mandy by Barry Manilow is a good song, but please give us a break because Manilow did not write his biggest hit, the cheesy I Write the Songs!
Sweet Child o' Mine (RS#88), Welcome to the Jungle (RS#491), November Rain, Paradise City, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door and Patience by Guns 'n Roses.
Hallowed Be Thy Name and The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden.
I Can’t Make You Love Me (RS#372), Love Has No Pride, Angel of Montgomery, Nick of Time and Have a Heart by the great Bonnie Raitt.
Rapper’s Delight (RS#427) by the Sugarhill Gang.
Waterloo, Dancing Queen (RS#286) and Fernando by ABBA, giving them one song in the top 500.
Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down (RS#476), For the Good Times, Help Me Make It Through the Night, Loving Her Was Easier, Why Me and Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson.
Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Rainy Day People, Carefree Highway and Early Morning Rain by Gordon Lightfoot, the great Canadian singer-songwriter and storyteller.
Blinded by the Light by Bruce Springsteen and Manfred Mann & the Earth Band.
Lovely, Bad Guy (RS#178), Wildflower and Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish.
Never Been to Spain, One (Is the Loneliest Number), Easy to Be Hard, Eli’s Coming and Mama Told Me Not to Come by Three Dog Night, who are missing entirely.
Helpless, Constant Craving, Hallelujah and Crying by K. D. Lang. So good! One of the great vocalists and interpreters. But not top 500.
Zombies by the Cranberries.
Apologize and Counting Stars by OneRepublic.
Mockingbird, Without Me, The Real Slim Shady, My Name Is and Till I Collapse by Eminem, who does have two top 500 songs.
White Flag, Thank You and Here with Me by Dido, one of my favorite younger singer-songwriters. But she was shut out.
Ironic, Uninvited and You Ought to Know (RS#103) by Alanis Morissette.
Faith, Freedom ’90 (RS#126) and Father Figure by George Michael, who has one top 500 song.
Brown-Eyed Girl, Moondance, Domino, Tupelo Honey and Into the Mystic (RS#462) by Van Morrison.
Alison (RS#396), Veronica, Radio Radio and Watching the Detectives by Elvis Costello.
White Rabbit (RS#455) and Somebody to Love by Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day, who do have one song in RS500.
Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls.
Harder to Breathe, Maps, Payphone, Animals, Memories and She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5, who were shut out.
Hound Dog (RS#318) by Big Mama Thornton.
Mama Tried (RS#376) by Merle Haggard.
Black Water and What a Fool Believes (RS#343) by the Doobie Brothers.
Hallelujah and Grace (RS#394) by Jeff Buckley.
Heart of Glass (RS#138), Rapture, The Tide Is High, Dreaming (RS#414) and Call Me by Blondie.
Bo Diddley by Ronny Hawkins and the Hawks.
Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil.
Rehab and Back to Black (RS#79) by Amy Winehouse.
Walking on Broken Glass by Annie Lennox.
He Stopped Loving Her Today (RS#142) by George Jones is too low for arguably the greatest country song of all time.
She's Gone (RS#336), Maneater and Rich Girl by Hall and Oates.
Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) and Brand New Key by Melanie.
Love And Affection by Joan Armatrading.
Sultans of Swing and Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits.
Jack & Diane and Pink Houses by John Mellencamp.
Tennessee by Arrested Development.
Runaway by Del Shannon.
Lightning Strikes and Two Faces Have I by Lou Christie.
Boom Boom (RS#463) by John Lee Hooker should be higher.
London Calling (RS#143) and Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash.
In Your Eyes and Solsbury Hill (RS#472) by Peter Gabriel.
Come on Eileen by Dexy's Midnight Runners is easily a top 500 song.
Rave On and That'll Be the Day (RS#124) by Buddy Holly.
Bat out of Hell by Meatloaf.
Jeremy, Alive (RS#416) and Black by Pearl Jam.
Metal Health by Quiet Riot.
Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross.
Where It’s At by Beck.
Take on Me by A-ha has to be top 500 song.
Last Christmas by Wham!
Apologize by Timbaland.
Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes.
Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler.
Dust in the Wind by Kansas.
Lady, Babe and Come Sail Away by Styx.
Kathy's Song and America by Simon and Garfunkel.
Die with a Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga.
The Air that I Breathe by the Hollies.
Smooth Operator by Sade.
Someone You Loved (#4 on Spotify) and Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi.
Miss Independent and Since U Been Gone (RS#93) by Kelly Clarkson.
Chandelier by Sia.
Yellow, Clocks, Viva la Vida, Fix You (RS#392) and The Scientist by Coldplay.
Running Up that Hill (RS#60) and Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush.
Africa (RS#452), Rosanna and Hold the Line by Toto.
Back for Good by Gary Barlow and Take That.
Angels by Robbie Williams.
All of Me by John Legend.
Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys by Traffic.
All the Young Dudes by Mott the Hoople.
How to Save a Life by the Fray.
It Was a Good Day (RS#352) by Ice Cube.
Doo Wop (That Thing) (RS#48) by Lauryn Hill.
C.R.E.A.M. (RS#107) by Wu-Tang Clan.
Juicy (RS#32) by the Notorious B.I.G.
Believer, Thunder, Demons and Radioactive by Imagine Dragons.
Walk this Way by Run-DMC and Aerosmith.
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith.
God’s Plan and One Dance by Drake.
In Da Club (RS#444) by 50 Cent.
Blitzkrieg Bop (RS#64) and I Wanna Be Sedated by the Ramones.
Fast Car (RS#71) by Tracy Chapman.
Wind of Change by the Scorpions.
Numb and In the End by Linkin Park.
N.Y. State of Mind by Nas.
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People.
Get Lucky by (RS#465) Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams.
Runaway (RS#25) by Kanye West.
A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton.
Let Her Go by Passenger.
Thank U, Next (RS#137) and 7 Rings by Ariana Grande.
Buddy Holly (RS#484) by Weezer.
Bang a Gong and Cosmic Dancer (RS#445) by T. Rex.
Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins.

MY FURTHER DISAGREEMENTS WITH ROLLING STONE

Are these songs top 50, really? Really? I mean, REALLY?

Get Ur Freak On (RS#8) by Missy Elliott.

Waterloo Sunset (RS#14) by the Kinks is a good song, but not the 14th greatest song of all time, not even close.

Crazy In Love (RS#16) by Beyoncé ft. JAY Z is not the 16th greatest song of all time, sorry.

Dancing On My Own (RS#20) by Robyn is a nice enough song, but consider the masterpieces far below it!

Love Will Tear Us Apart (RS#41) by Joy Division. Really?

Alright (RS#45) by Kendrick Lamar.

Paper Planes (RS#46) by M.I.A.

Idioteque (RS#48) by Radiohead is a painful song to listen to, much less top 50. Is this music? Is this singing?

Gasolina (RS#50) by Daddy Yankee.

Roadrunner (RS#77) by the Modern Lovers.

Toxic (RS#115) by Britney Spears is not a bad song, but consider the songs way below it.

Wonderwall (RS#95) by Oasis might be retitled “Caterwaul.”

Anarchy in the U.K. (RS#125) by the Sex Pistols.

Sorry, Rolling Stone, but I can think of many better songs than “all the above,” including Stairway to Heaven (#61), Bridge Over Troubled Water (#66), Hallelujah (#74), Hey Jude (#89), Good Golly Miss Molly (#92), Blowin’ in the Wind (#100), Maybellene (#102), Sympathy for the Devil (#106), Thunder Road (#111), Losing My Religion (#112), I Heard It Through the Grapevine (#119), Let it Be (#121), Whole Lotta Love (#128), Stand By Me (#133), Kashmir (#148), Rocket Man (#149), Comfortably Numb (#179), California Dreamin’ (#420), Mannish Boy (#425), Summertime Blues (#432), House of the Rising Sun (#471), Solsbury Hill (#472), Time After Time (#495), You’re So Vain (#496) and Without You (#497). Need I go on? No, I can see that you’re already hanging your head in shame. As well you should!