THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT SONGS IN ROCK HISTORY

These are my ten most important and/or influential songs in the history of rock 'n' roll, and I do consider the roll, so be warned, hard rock junkies! Your suggestions are welcome in the comments.

THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT SONGS IN THE HISTORY OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
by Michael R. Burch

First, I will give my “short answer” then follow up with a more detailed analysis. My personal top 10 most important rock songs of all time are:

10. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (1991): grunge!
9. “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & Comets (1955): white rock.
8. “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan (1965): electric folk.
7. “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals (1964): roots of hard rock.
6. “In Dreams” by Roy Orbison (1963): operatic rock before Yes/Queen.
5. “Rocket 88” by Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm (1951): distortion.
4. “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley (1957): the first music video.
3. “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry (1958): early rock’s Shakespeare.
2. “Good Golly Miss Molly/Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard (1955): the Architect!
1. “Crossroads” by Delta bluesman Robert Johnson (1936) was the genesis of rock ’n’ roll, in my opinion.

It’s difficult to pick 10 discrete songs that influenced rock’n’roll the most, so in some categories I will mention multiple candidates. Also, I took an informal poll of music experts who expressed opinions about the most influential rock acts and rock songs, and I have reported the number of votes in square brackets like this: [#].

THE TOP 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL ROCK ACTS

According to the experts I polled, the most influential rock acts have been as follows. Where there are ties, I have used historical precedence as the tiebreaker. After the most influential rock acts, I will attempt to identify the top 10 most important and/or influential rock songs.

Some will quibble about some of my selections “not being rock.” But the question is about the history of rock, and rock has always had a softer side: nearly all the Beatles’ first 66 single releases (A&B), “Angie” and “Missing You” by the Stones, and top-tenners like “Stairway to Heaven” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Who knows more about what “rock” is, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Freddie Mercury and Brian May, or fans with tunnel vision?

There has always been “soft rock” and some of the greatest rock songs of all time are soft rock songs.

WHO THE EXPERTS PICKED: THE CONSENSUS BEST ARTISTS

1. Beatles [10]

2. Elvis Presley [6]

3. Rolling Stones [6]

4. Chuck Berry [6]
   
   Chuck Berry was the Shakespeare of early rock’n’roll, a great lyricist as well as a marvelous guitarist and showman.
   
   “Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news!” — What a great line!

5. Roy Orbison [6]
   
   When Roy Orbison opened for the Beatles, the audience demanded encore after encore and the Beatles had to drag the singer they called THE VOICE off the stage, in order to perform themselves. Elvis once told Orbison that he would never join him onstage and never record one of his songs. The King didn’t want to compete with THE VOICE either. When Elvis and the Beatles have trouble keeping up with you, that’s quite a compliment!

6. Nirvana [6]
   
   Because I don’t think grunge will be as influential in the long run as the other genres represented here, I suspect this ranking will slip a bit with time.

7. Bob Dylan [5]

8. Jimi Hendrix [5]

9. Led Zeppelin [5]

10. Queen [5]

HIGH HONORABLE MENTION: Little Richard [4], Cream/Eric Clapton [4], Beach Boys [4], Stevie Wonder [4], Pink Floyd [4] and Bruce Springsteen [4], The Animals, The Band, The Bee Gees, James Brown, Ray Charles, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and the Crickets

THE TOP 10 ROOTS OF ROCK

1. It’s “complicated” to identify the genesis of rock, which has its roots in folk music, country/“hillbilly” music, slave songs of the cotton fields, ragtime, jazz, the blues, etc. However, I will nominate Robert Johnson singing “Crossroads” or “Cross Road Blues” in the 1920s as the first proto-rock song. “Crossroads” was recorded in 1936. The main candidates for the genesis of rock, taking the opinions of various experts into account, with the number of votes in square brackets, include:

   1. In 1901, Charles Booth's performance of "Creole Blues" is recorded for the new Victor label. Jelly Roll Morton and Buddy Bolden claim to have invented jazz around this time. This is innovative music, and an obvious influence, but not rock, so let’s keep looking…

   2. In 1912, the "father of the blues," pianist W. C. Handy, publishes "Memphis Blues." Still not rock…

   3. In 1920, Mamie Smith records "Crazy Blues." The records sells "phenomenally" well and record companies are soon "beating the bushes for any black woman who can sing."

   4. In 1922, blues singer Trixie Smith records "My Man Rocks Me (with One Steady Roll)," the first song to feature the words “rock” and “roll” in a secular context. There is a section on the nautical and religious roots of the term “rock and roll” at the bottom of this page.

   5. In 1925, Ma Rainey has a hit with “See See Rider Blues” with Louis Armstrong playing cornet. However, the original version lacks a rock edge and vibe, so let’s continue our quest…

   6. In 1930, Jimmie Rodgers records “Blue Yodel No. 9” with an unbilled Louis Armstrong on trumpet and his wife Lil Hardin Armstrong on piano. This is an early example of a male singer hitting feminine high notes, a later staple of male rock singers. But this remains a far “cry” from rock, pardon the pun.

   7. In 1936, the legendary Delta bluesman Robert Johnson began his brief recording career. Johnson recorded 22 songs for ARC Records over a five-day period on November 23-27, 1936. This session included “Crossroads” which is my choice as the first rock song. It has the guitar licks and the “feel” and “attitude” of rock. It has a different flavor from earlier blues songs, which were sad but not as savage. And this song was so different it spawned the legend of a “deal with the Devil,” giving it a darker vibe and subtext. Yes, this feels like the first rock song to me.
      
      Sometime in the 1930s, Howlin’ Wolf began to perform “Smokestack Lightning” which may be seen as the genesis of hard rock. However, Howlin’ Wolf didn’t record the song until 1956, so I will give this tie to Robert Johnson.

   8. In 1945 Champion Jack Dupree records the rockin’ boogie-woogie hit “Let’s Have a Ball.”

   9. In 1946, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup records "That's All Right" which will be a bit hit for Elvis Presley in 1954. Rock historian Joseph Burns considers this the first rock song. But Robert Johnson doing what he did in the 1920s gets my vote.

   10. In 1948, Lead Belly records “The Midnight Special” which also dates back to the 1920s. Jump blues shouter Wynonie Harris reaches #1 on the US Rhythm & Blues (R&B) Chart with the song “Good Rockin’ Tonight.”

   11. In 1949, Goree Carter records “Rock Awhile.” Carter's over-driven guitar style has historians making the case for it as the first rock 'n' roll song. “Rock This Joint” by Jimmy Preston is another candidate. Bill Haley would cover the song and it seems like a clear influence on “Rock Around the Clock.” Another candidate is “Saturday Night Fish Fry” by Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five. Still another candidate is “The Fat Man” by Fats Domino. The Guardian cites this as a candidate for the first rock song due to “Fats's barrelling piano triplets, combined with a solid big beat.”

   12. In 1950, blues legend Muddy Waters records “Rollin' Stone” which will inspire “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan and the names of a famous rock band and magazine. “Rollin’ Stone” was Muddy Waters’ interpretation of the Delta Blues song "Catfish Blues" which dates back to 1920s Mississippi.

   13. In 1951, Ike Turner and his band the Kings of Rhythm record “Rocket 88.” This song with its distorted guitar sounds is considered a strong contender for the first rock 'n' roll record. And I find it interesting that “rock” appears in “rocket.” The vocals were provided by Jackie Brenston and the song was attributed to his Delta Cats.

   14. In 1952, Lloyd Price has a hit with “Lawdy Miss Clawdy.” The great Muddy Waters records “Mannish Boy,” “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “Got My Mojo Working.”

   15. In 1953, The Orioles have a doo-wop hit with “Cryin' in the Chapel.” Alabama blues shouter Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton enjoys seven weeks at #1 on the R&B charts with “Hound Dog,” the first song written and produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Elvis Presley would have hit covers of both songs. Should we give Big Mama Thornton credit for the first rock song? The rock gods may have left us a clue. Two of Elvis’s biggest hits were “Hound Dog,” and “That’s Alright (Mama).” The first was a cover of Big Mama’s song and the second sounds like an apology to her!

   16. In 1954, Bill Haley and the Comets have, according to some, the first rock song with “Rock Around the Clock.” Big Joe Turner has a big hit with “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” Elvis records his first commercial record, a cover of the Arthur Crudup song “That's All Right (Mama),” at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Elvis has been described as "electricity beyond comprehension."
       
       Any of these songs could be considered the first rock song, but I think Elvis and Bill Haley are a bit late for that distinction. There is no definitive answer, but I will go with “Crossroads” by Robert Johnson: recorded in 1936 but dating back to the 1920s. Everything seems to fit: the guitar licks, the vibe, the Devil…

2. “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard, recorded in 1955, is second in a virtual tie with “Tutti Frutti.” Little Richard called himself the Architect of rock’n’roll and that was no exaggeration. He was the prototype for Prince, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury and Boy George. He also taught the Beatles those high-pitched yips and screams when they toured together. [4]

3. “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry was a vastly influential song, recorded in 1958 with its signature beginning riff, but let’s not forget that Chuck Berry was the Shakespeare of early rock, with songs like “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “No Particular Place to Go” and “My Ding-a-Ling.” [5]

4. “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley, recorded in 1957, was not only influential as a song, but also had the first music video of note. And it would be a long time before anyone came up with anything to rival it. [4]
   
   “Elvis was the King of Cool
   and he made the ladies drool.”
   —Michael R. Burch

5. “In Dreams” by Roy Orbison, recorded in 1963, introduced operatic notes to rock and presaged artists to come like Robert Plant and Freddie Mercury. [4]

6. “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals, recorded in 1964, gets my vote as the first hard rock song. It had the dark edge and the attitude. [4]

7. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, recorded in 1975, was like nothing before and very little since. Maybe Dimash Kudaibergen comes close on “SOS.” [5]

8. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana was an important and influential song that put the grunge movement on the musical map. A valid question is how important grunge will be in the grand scheme of things, moving forward. [6]

9. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen put the Boss on the cover of TIME and made him a household name. That no doubt opened doors for similar husky-voiced singers like John Cougar Mellencamp and Bryan Adams. [3]

10. “Another Brick in the Wall” by Pink Floyd certified the band as a major influence on the rock world after the success of Dark Side of the Moon. When I was in college in the 1970s our dorm listened to Dark Side of the Moon more than any other album. [4]

Billy Haley and his Comets were a bit late to be the originators of rock’n’roll, in my opinion.

High Honorable Mentions

These are other influential songs that helped change the course of rock and popular music forever…

1. Bob Dylan: “Blowin' in the Wind” (like the voice of an ancient prophet calling for repentance), “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” (a powerful criticism of the Vietnam War that undoubtedly influenced “Who’ll Stop the Rain” by John Fogerty and other anti-war songs), “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (an early rap song that introduced the much-copied card-dropping sequence), “Hurricane” (a protest song that helped get Rubin “Hurricane” Carter released from prison), “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Highway 61 Revisited,” “Don't Think Twice, It's All Right” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’.”

2. Beach Boys: “Good Vibrations,” “Surfer Girl” (a deceptively simple pop tune), “In My Room” and “God Only Knows” (Paul McCartney called “God Only Knows” the “most beautiful pop song ever written.”) The Beach Boys, particularly Brian Wilson, pretty much invented what might be called “sunshine pop” and “dream pop.”

3. Beatles: “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (called “the big bang of British pop” and the band’s first No.1 hit in the US), “She Loves You” (“It broke all the rules for a pop rock song.”), “A Day in the Life” (a masterpiece), “Hey Jude,” “Revolution,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (written by George Harrison), “Revolution,” “Get Back,” “Come Together,” “Let It Be,” “Yesterday”

4. Led Zeppelin: “Whole Lotta Love” and “Stairway to Heaven”

MOST INFLUENTIAL ROCK ARTISTS IN THE ROCK 'N' ROLL TOP 500

This list was published by Western Michigan University. I discovered it several months after I published my page and was pleased (and a bit shocked) to learn that it identified the first influential rock song as Robert Johnson singing “Cross Road Blues” in the 1920s. And there were other correspondences…

7 SONGS: The Beatles (John Lennon has 3 more of his own)

I came up with 10 votes for the Beatles.

6 SONGS: Elvis Presley

I came up with 6 votes for Elvis.

5 SONGS: The Rolling Stones; Bob Dylan; The Beach Boys

I came up with 6 votes for the Stones and 4 each for Dylan and the Beach Boys.

4 SONGS: Stevie Wonder; Michael Jackson/Jackson 5; Muddy Waters; Led Zeppelin; Robert Johnson

I came up with 4 votes for Wonder, Waters and Johnson; 3 for Jackson; 5 for Led Zeppelin.

3 SONGS: The Band; Chuck Berry; David Bowie; James Brown; The Byrds; Ray Charles; Sam Cooke; Creedence Clearwater Revival; The Drifters; Aretha Franklin; Marvin Gaye; Woody Guthrie; Jimi Hendrix; Howlin' Wolf; The Kinks; John Lennon; The Miracles; Van Morrison; Pink Floyd; Otis Redding; Little Richard; Simon and Garfunkel; The Temptations; The Who; Neil Young

Nominations from the Comments to my Original Article

Andrew Francis mentioned the Sex Pistols, Joy Division and Bob Dylan.

Carmela nominated “Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum, one of my all-time favorite songs and a masterpiece in my opinion.

Robert Baldassano observed: “Not counting the white attempts like Shaboom, which some call the first Rock and Roll Song, for me it was the Penguins’ Earth Angel that got me listening to what would become Rock and Roll. There were so many black performers doing songs you would not hear on the top 40: Big Momma Thornton, Lavern Baker, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, the Platters, Fats Domino, etc. Yes we got the white bands: Rock Around the Clock, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, but there is where the music changed.

Edward Donahue observed: ”Louie, Louie” should get a push for “being” rock’s roll in addition to sounding it. The US government decided they were going to crush these hippie bastards once and for all and sicced the FBI on the Kingsmen to put ’em away for good for their subversive lyrics. The FBI got after them with fervor! Problem: after thousands of man hours and a good deal of money, “The Man” couldn’t bring a case. Hoover’s boys couldn’t even understand the lyrics, so they couldn’t say they were subversive! 😋

Influential Rock Songs Receiving Votes

Beatles [10]

[4] She Loves You — “A revolutionary chord structure, song structure and lyrical content. It broke all the rules for a pop rock song.”

[2] I Want To Hold Your Hand — “This song to me just has to be there because this was one of the first songs that put arguably the greatest rock ’n’ roll group of all-time into the map, which in turn will influence countless rock artists out there.”

[1] Strawberry Fields Forever — “Mellotron and weird chords and instruments. Backwards psychedelic stuff. Revolutionary.”

[1] Paperback Writer — Inspired by Paul McCartney’s aunt Lil, who begged him to write something other than a love song after the monotony of “Love Me Do,” “She Loves You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah),” “All You Need Is Love,” etc.

[1] Hey Jude

[1] Please, Please Me

Chuck Berry [6]

[5] Johnny B. Goode — “This was one of the first songs that started it all — the groovy riff, the highly wild and energetic guitar playing, the raw singing — if this is not rock ’n’ roll, I do not know what is!”

[1] Maybellene

Elvis Presley [6]

[4] Jailhouse Rock — “Elvis’s growl in this song sums it all up.”

[2] Heartbreak Hotel

[1] Return to Sender — the most cheerful song ever about a breakup!

Roy Orbison [6]

[4] In Dreams — “The song has no set structure, but driven by instrumentation and the voice it worked splendidly.”

[1] Pretty Woman

[1] Crying

Rolling Stones [6]

[5] (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction — “Not much to it. A riff. A couple of chords. Just pure rock!”

[1] Gimme Shelter

Nirvana [6]

[6] Smells Like Teen Spirit — “A very important song that put the Seattle grunge movement on the map and killed off hair metal in general. Although it did not last very long, it deserves to be included as a song that changed the course of rock ’n’ roll’s history.”

Led Zeppelin [5]

[2] Stairway to Heaven — “Nothing less than compositional, lyrical, instrumental and production mastery.”

[1] Rock And Roll — “Extremely self-explanatory through the title of the song itself, this was one of the rock anthems of the 1970s, as well as summing up Zep’s important influence towards future rock (and even heavy metal) bands to come.”

[1] Kashmir

[1] Whole Lotta Love

Jimi Hendrix [5]

[2] Purple Haze — “All those sounds that musicians and engineers and producers tried to eliminate like feedback? Jimi showed the world that they were music, too. Only rock music could take avant garde noise and make it into sonic mastery.”

[2] Voodoo Child (Slight Return) — “This is one of the first hard rock songs for me. The riffs are distorted and hard-hitting, and not to mention the guitar playing is really, really wild - you cannot talk about rock ’n’ roll without including Hendrix.”

[1] All Along the Watchtower

Queen [5]

[5] Bohemian Rhapsody

Bob Dylan [4]

[4] Like a Rolling Stone

Little Richard [4]

[4] Good Golly Miss Molly

Beach Boys [4]

[3] Good Vibrations — “It took ‘In Dreams’ in different movements and added modern instrumentation and production to create a sonic experience the likes of which nobody had ever heard before.”

[1] Surfin’ USA

Stevie Wonder [4]

[1] Uptight (Everything's Alright)

[1] Superstition

[1] Living for the City

[1] Overjoyed

Simon and Garfunkel [4]

[1] Mrs. Robinson

[1] The Sound of Silence

[1] Bridge Over Troubled Water

[1] Scarborough Fair

Bruce Springsteen [4]

[3] Born to Run

[1] Born in the USA

Pink Floyd [4]

[4] Another Brick in the Wall

Robert Johnson [4]

[1] Crossroads/Cross Road Blues

[1] Love in Vain

[1] Sweet Home Chicago — “You cannot talk about rock ’n’ roll without Robert Johnson. While what he was playing and singing did not sound heavy or remotely as loud compared to today’s standards, the haunting and gritty vibes present in Johnson’s delta blues offerings influenced a ton of rock musicians to come, ranging from the likes of Keith Richards and Mick Jagger to Eric Clapton.”

[1] Dust My Broom

Muddy Waters [4]

[2] Rollin and Tumblin

[1] Mannish Boy

[1] Got My Mojo Working

Cream/Eric Clapton [4]

[1] White Room

[1] Sunshine of Your Love

[1] Crossroads — A cover of the Robert Johnson blues/early rock classic.

[1] Layla — Eric Clapton with Derek and the Dominoes, a contender for the top 10 rock songs of all time in both its electric and acoustic versions.

Michael Jackson [3]

[1] I Want You Back — with the Jackson 5

[1] Beat It

[1] Billie Jean

The Band [3]

[1] The Weight

[1] The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down

[1] Up on Cripple Creek

Guns ’n’ Roses [3]

[2] Welcome to the Jungle

[1] Sweet Child O’ Mine

Others

[2] "That's All Right" — Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup — Rock historian Joseph Burns considers this 1936 classic to be the first rock song.

[2] Rock Around The Clock — Bill Haley & His Comets — “While it might sound quite ‘nice’ and not as edgy now, back then this was the rock ’n’ roll anthem of its time.”

[2] You Really Got Me — The Kinks — “Considered as the ultimate ‘proto-metal’/early metal song by critics.” Also, “Added power chords and distortion.”

[1] London Calling, The Clash

[1] Guns of Brixton, The Clash

[1] Eruption — Van Halen — “There was guitar before 1978 and there is guitar after. Folks heard this for the first time and thought, ‘What the hell is that?’”

[1] Jump — Van Halen

[2] Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits. “All that distortion and power and rawness that built through the punk, hard rock and metal playing through the 70s? Just a couple of months after ‘Eruption’ out came this song with Mark Knopfler, a strat and some compression playing clean and soulful in lick after tasty lick.”

[1] “Anarchy in the UK” by the Sex Pistols

[1] “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols

[1] Baba O’Riley by The Who. “Synthesizer, guitar, a bizarre fiddle solo. Introduced yet more sounds.”

[1] My Generation by The Who

[1] Hideaway — John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers feat. Eric Clapton — “You cannot talk about the development of rock ’n’ roll music without mentioning the name of Eric Clapton.”

[1] More Than a Feeling — Boston — “Tom Schulz completely and thoroughly changed the tonal possibilities of guitar. Production, too. Everybody wanted to get that sound.”

[1] Cowboys from Hell by Pantera

[1] What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye

[1] Respect by Aretha Franklin

[1] Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

[1] Imagine by John Lennon

[1] I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

[1] Tonight’s the Night by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

[1] Seven Nation Army, White Stripes

[1] The Velvet Underground - Heroin

[1] Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

[1] Bo Diddley - Hey, Bo Diddley

[1] Van Morrison - Into the Mystic

[1] La Bamba - Richie Valens

[1] The Twist - Chubby Checker

[1] Louie Louie - The Kingsmen

[1] Gloria - Them

[1] Good Lovin' - The Rascals

[1] Soul Sacrifice - Santana

[1] Magic Man - Heart

[1] Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

[1] Don't Stop Believing - Journey

[1] One Way Out - Allman Brothers

[1] Time Won’t Let Me - The Outsiders

[1] Dirty Water - The Standells

[1] Song 2 - Blur

THE BMI TOP SONGS OF THE 20TH CENTURY

These are the most-played songs of the 20th century on American radio and television. The BMI rankings include cover versions but still tell us a lot about the enduring popularity of certain songs.

[4] John Lennon: "Yesterday" (#3), "Michelle" (#42), "Let It Be" (#89), "Imagine" (#96)

[4] Simon and Garfunkel: "Mrs. Robinson" (#7), "The Sound of Silence" (#18), "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (#19), "Scarborough Fair" (#31)

[3] Paul McCartney: "Yesterday" (#3), "Michelle" (#42), "Let It Be" (#89)

[3] The Association: "Never My Love" (#2), "Cherish" (#22), "Windy" (#61)

[3] The Drifters: "On Broadway" (#45), "Save the Last Dance for Me" (#49), "Up On the Roof" (#92)

[3] Elton John: "Your Song" (#37), "Daniel" (#66), "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" (#76)

[3] Roy Orbison: "Oh Pretty Woman" (#26), "Crying" #74 and "Blue Bayou" #85).

[1] The Righteous Brothers: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (#1)

[1] Ben E. King: Stand By Me (#4)

THE TOP 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL ROCK SONGS

According to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as of January 2012, with corrections and additions made by Michael R. Burch. Songs added to the original top 500 appear in square brackets.

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ROCK ARTISTS IN THE ROCK 'N' ROLL TOP 500

7 SONGS: The Beatles (John Lennon also has 3 more of his own)
6 SONGS: Elvis Presley
5 SONGS: The Rolling Stones; Bob Dylan; The Beach Boys
4 SONGS: Stevie Wonder; Michael Jackson/Jackson 5; Muddy Waters; Led Zeppelin; Robert Johnson
3 SONGS: Chuck Berry; David Bowie; James Brown; The Byrds; Ray Charles; Sam Cooke; Creedence Clearwater Revival; The Drifters; Aretha Franklin; Marvin Gaye; Woody Guthrie; Jimi Hendrix; Howlin' Wolf; The Kinks; John Lennon; The Miracles; Van Morrison; Pink Floyd; Otis Redding; Little Richard; The Temptations; The Who; Neil Young

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL DECADE FOR THE ROCK 'N' ROLL TOP 500

The 1960s: 188 Songs (38%)

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL YEARS FOR THE ROCK 'N' ROLL TOP 500

1966: 33 songs
1965: 28 songs
1967: 26 songs
1969: 21 songs
1964 & 1957: 19 songs
1968 & 1956: 18 songs
1972, 1970, 1962 & 1958: 16 songs
1973: 15 songs

The 1900s
[Charles Booth: Creole Blues, 1901]

The 1910s
[W. C. Handy: Memphis Blues, 1912]

The 1920s (12 songs--3%)
[Mamie Smith: Crazy Blues, 1920]
[Trixie Smith: My Man Rocks Me with One Steady Roll, 1922]
Robert JOHNSON: Cross Road Blues (c. 1920s; recorded 1936)
Robert JOHNSON: Hellhound On My Trail (c. 1920s; recorded 1936))
Robert JOHNSON: Love in Vain (c. 1920s; recorded 1936)
Robert JOHNSON: Sweet Home Chicago (c. 1920s; recorded 1936)
LEADBELLY: The Midnight Special (c. 1920s; recorded 1948)
Ma RAINEY & Her Tub Jug Washboard Band: Prove It On Me (c. 1924-28)
Blind Lemon JEFFERSON: Matchbox Blues (c. 1925)
[Ma Rainey: See See Rider Blues w/ Louis Armstrong, 1925]
Louis ARMSTRONG: West End Blues (c. 1926-28)
Blind Willie JOHNSON: Motherless Children Have a Hard Time (c. 1927)
Blind Willie McTELL: Statesboro Blues (1927)
Mississippi John HURT: Stack O' Lee Blues (1928)
Bessie SMITH: Downhearted Blues (c. 1928)

The 1930s (9 songs--2%)
Jimmie RODGERS: Blue Yodel No. 9 w/Louis Armstrong (c. 1930)
Big Joe WILLIAMS: Baby Please Don't Go (c. 1935-41)
Roy ACUFF And The Smoky Mountain Boys: Wabash Cannonball (1938)
Sister Rosetta THARPE: This Train (c. 1938-41)
Charlie CHRISTIAN [& Benny Goodman Orchestra]: Solo Flight (c. 1939)
Woody GUTHRIE: Pastures Of Plenty (c. 1939)
Woody GUTHRIE: Pretty Boy Floyd (c. 1939)
Woody GUTHRIE: This Land Is Your Land (c. 1939)
Bill MONROE: Mule Skinner Blues (1939)

The 1940s (12 songs--3%)
The DIXIE HUMMINGBIRDS: I'll Live Again [Gospel] (c. 1940s)
Sonny Boy (John Lee) WILLIAMSON: Good Morning (Little) School Girl (c. 1940)
Bob WILLS and His Texas Playboys: Take Me Back To Tulsa (1940)
Jimmy YANCEY: Midnight Stomp (c. 1940)
GOLDEN GATE QUARTET: Rock My Soul [Gospel] (c. 1944)
Louis JORDAN And His Tympany Five: Caldonia (1945)
[Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup: That's All Right, 1946]
Charles BROWN: Driftin' Blues (1946)
Mahalia JACKSON: Move On Up A Little Higher (1946)
T-Bone WALKER: Call It Stormy Monday (c. 1947)
Louis JORDAN And His Tympany Five: Saturday Night Fish Fry (1949)
Dinah WASHINGTON: Am I Asking Too Much (c. 1949)
Muddy WATERS: Rollin' Stone (c. 1949)
[Goree Carter: Rock Awhile, 1949]
[Fats Domino: The Fat Man, 1949]
[Jimmy Preston: Rock This Joint, 1949]

The 1950s (102 songs--20%)

1950: (4 songs)
Wynonie HARRIS: Good Rockin' Tonight (c. 1950)
Billy RILEY & His Little Green Men: Red Hot (c. early 1950s)
The SOUL STIRRERS: By And By [Gospel] (1950)
The WEAVERS: Goodnight Irene (1950)

1951: (1 song)
Cecil GANT: We're Gonna Rock (c. 1951)
[Ike Turner & Kings of Rhythm: Rocket 88, 1951]

1952: (6 songs)
Les PAUL and Mary FORD: How High The Moon (c. 1952)
Lloyd PRICE: Lawdy Miss Clawdy (1952)
Little WALTER: Juke (1952)
Muddy WATERS: Got My Mojo Working (c. 1952)
Muddy WATERS: Hoochie Coochie Man (c. 1952)
Muddy WATERS: Mannish Boy (c. 1952)

1953: (10 songs)
Ruth BROWN: Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean (1953)
The CROWS: Gee (c. 1953)
The DOMINOES: Sixty Minute Man (c. 1953)
The DRIFTERS: Money Honey (1953)
Lowell FULSON: Reconsider Baby (1953)
Professor LONGHAIR: Tipitina (1953)
The ORIOLES: Crying In The Chapel (1953)
Pinetop PERKINS: Pinetop's Boogie Woogie (1953)
Willie Mae 'Big Mama' THORNTON: Ball 'N' Chain (c. 1953)
Willie Mae 'Big Mama' THORNTON: Hound Dog (1953)

1954: (2 songs)
Hank BALLARD And The Midnighters: Work With Me Annie (1954)
Big Joe TURNER: Shake, Rattle And Roll (1954)

1955: (13 songs)
Chuck BERRY: Maybellene (1955)
Johnny CASH: Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Ray CHARLES: I Got A Woman (1955)
Fats DOMINO: Ain't That a Shame (1955)
Bill HALEY & His Comets: (We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock (1955)
The MOONGLOWS: Sincerely (1955)
The PENGUINS: Earth Angel [Will You Be Mine] (1955)
The PLATTERS: The Great Pretender (1955)
Elvis PRESLEY: Mystery Train (1955)
Elvis PRESLEY: That's All Right (c. 1955)
Little RICHARD: Long Tall Sally (1955)
Guitar SLIM: The Things That I Used To Do (c. 1955)
Clara WARD & The Ward Singers: How I Got Over [Gospel] (c. 1955)

1956: (18 songs)
LaVern BAKER: Jim Dandy (1956)
Johnny CASH: I Walk the Line (1956)
[Eddie COCHRAN: Twenty Flight Rock (1956)]
Bill DOGGETT: Honky Tonk (1956)
Fats DOMINO: Blueberry Hill (1956)
Lonnie DONEGAN: Rock Island Line (1956)
The FIVE SATINS: In The Still Of The Nite (1956)
The INK SPOTS: If I Didn't Care (1956)
Little Willie JOHN: Fever (1956)
Frankie LYMON and The Teenagers: I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent (1956)
Frankie LYMON and The Teenagers: Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1956)
Carl PERKINS: Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Carl PERKINS: Matchbox (1956)
Elvis PRESLEY: Heartbreak Hotel (1956)
Elvis PRESLEY: Love Me Tender (1956)
Little RICHARD: Good Golly, Miss Molly (1956)
Little RICHARD: Tutti Frutti (1956)
Otis RUSH: I Can't Quit You Baby (1956)
Gene VINCENT & His Blue Caps: Be-Bop-A-Lula (1956)

1957: (19 songs)
Chuck BERRY: Rock & Roll Music (1957)
Sam COOKE: You Send Me (1957)
DANNY & THE JUNIORS: At The Hop (1957)
The DELL-VIKINGS: Come Go With Me (1957)
Bo DIDDLEY: Bo Diddley (1957)
The EVERLY BROTHERS: Bye Bye Love (1957)
Dale HAWKINS: Suzy-Q (1957)
Screamin' Jay HAWKINS: I Put a Spell On You (1957)
Buddy HOLLY And The Crickets: That'll Be the Day (1957)
Buddy HOLLY: Peggy Sue (1957)
JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO: The Train Kept A-Rollin' (1957)
Buddy KNOX: Party Doll (1957)
Jerry Lee LEWIS: Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Jerry Lee LEWIS: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On (1957)
Amos MILBURN: Let's Have A Party (1957)
Elvis PRESLEY: Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Huey 'Piano' SMITH & His Clowns: Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie-Woogie Flu ('57)
Larry WILLIAMS: Bony Maronie (1957)
Chuck WILLIS: C.C. Rider (1957)

1958: (16 songs)
Chuck BERRY: Johnny B. Goode (1958)
The BIG BOPPER: Chantilly Lace (1958)
The CHAMPS: Tequila (1958)
The COASTERS: Yakety Yak (1958)
The COASTERS: Young Blood (c. 1958)
Eddie COCHRAN: Summertime Blues (1958)
Bobby DARIN: Splish Splash (1958)
Duane EDDY: Rebel-'Rouser (1958)
The EVERLY BROTHERS: All I Have to Do Is Dream (1958)
John Lee HOOKER: Boom Boom (c. 1958)
The MONOTONES: Book Of Love (1958)
Johnny OTIS: Willie And The Hand Jive (1958)
Jimmy REED: Big Boss Man (c. 1958)
Jimmy REED: Bright Lights, Big City (c. 1958)
Cliff RICHARD And The Shadows: Move It (1958)
Link WRAY: Rumble (1958)

1959: (13 songs)
James BROWN: Please Please Please (1959)
Ray CHARLES: What'd I Say (1959)
The CLOVERS: Love Potion No. 9 (1959)
Eddie COCHRAN: C'mon Everybody (1959)
DION And The Belmonts: A Teenager In Love (1959)
The DRIFTERS: There Goes My Baby (1959)
The FLAMINGOS: I Only Have Eyes For You (1959)
The ISLEY BROTHERS: Shout: Pts. 1 & 2 (1959)
Wilbert HARRISON: Kansas City (1959)
Ritchie VALENS: La Bamba (1959)
Howlin' WOLF: The Red Rooster (1959)
Howlin' WOLF: Smokestack Lightnin' (1959)
Howlin' WOLF: Spoonful (1959)

The 1960s (188 songs--38%)

1960: (5 songs)
Ben E. KING: Spanish Harlem (1960)
The SHIRELLES: Will You Love Me Tomorrow (1960)
Barrett STRONG: Money [That's What I Want] (1960)
The VENTURES: Walk Don't Run (1960)
Marion WILLIAMS: Packing Up [Gospel] (c. 1960)

1961: (12 songs)
Gary U.S. BONDS: Quarter To Three (1961)
Chubby CHECKER: The Twist (1961)
Patsy CLINE: I Fall To Pieces (1961)
Slim HARPO: Rainin' In My Heart (1961)
Elmore JAMES: Dust My Broom (1961)
Elmore JAMES: Shake Your Moneymaker (1961)
Ben E. KING: Stand By Me (1961)
Freddy KING: Hide Away (1961)
The MARCELS: Blue Moon (1961)
Ricky NELSON: Hello Mary Lou (1961)
Del SHANNON: Runaway (1961)
The SHIRELLES: Dedicated To The One I Love (1961)

1962: (16 songs)
Bobby Blue BLAND: Turn On Your Love Light (1962)
BOOKER T. & THE MG'S: Green Onions (1962)
Solomon BURKE: Everybody Needs Somebody to Love (c.1962)
Gene CHANDLER: Duke Of Earl (1962)
Ray CHARLES: Hallelujah I Love Her So (c. 1962)
The CONTOURS: Do You Love Me (1962)
Sam COOKE: Bring It On Home to Me (1962)
The CRYSTALS: He's A Rebel (1962)
Dick DALE And The Del-Tones: Let's Go Trippin' (c. 1962)
The DRIFTERS: Up On The Roof (1962)
Little EVA: The Loco-Motion (1962)
The FOUR SEASONS: Big Girls Don't Cry (1962)
John Lee HOOKER: Boogie Chillun (1962)
The MIRACLES: You've Really Got A Hold On Me (1962)
PETER, PAUL and MARY: If I Had A Hammer (1962)
Pete SEEGER: Where Have All The Flowers Gone (recorded 1962)

1963: (10 songs)
The BEACH BOYS: Surfin' U.S.A. (1963)
The CHANTAYS: Pipeline (1963)
The CRYSTALS: Da Doo Ron Ron [When He Walked Me Home] (1963)
Bob DYLAN: Blowin' in the Wind (1963)
The FOUR SEASONS: Walk Like A Man (1963)
JAN & DEAN: Surf City (1963)
The KINGSMEN: Louie Louie (1963)
MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS: [Love Is Like a] Heat Wave (1963)
The RONETTES: Be My Baby (1963)
The SURFARIS: Wipe Out (1963)

1964: (19 songs)
The ANIMALS: The House Of The Rising Sun (1964)
The BEACH BOYS: Don't Worry Baby (1964)
The BEATLES: I Want to Hold Your Hand (1964)
Don COVEY: Mercy Mercy (c. 1964)
DAVE CLARK FIVE: Glad All Over (1964)
The DIXIE CUPS: Chapel Of Love (1964)
Bob DYLAN: The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964)
The FOUR TOPS: Baby I Need Your Loving (1964)
GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS: How Do You Do It? (1964)
The KINKS: You Really Got Me (1964)
MARTHA AND THE VANDELLAS: Dancing In The Street (1964)
Roy ORBISON: Oh, Pretty Woman (1964)
PETER AND GORDON: A World Without Love (1964)
The RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (1964) — BMI #1
The ROLLING STONES: Time Is On My Side (1964)
The SEARCHERS: Needles and Pins (1964)
The SHANGRI-LAS: Leader Of The Pack (1964)
SWINGING BLUE JEANS: Hippy Hippy Shake (1964)
Mary WELLS: My Guy (1964)

1965: (28 songs)
The ANIMALS: We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (1965)
The BEACH BOYS: California Girls (1965)
The BEATLES: HELP! (1965)
The BEATLES: Norwegian Wood (1965)
The BEATLES: Yesterday (1965)
The BEAU BRUMMELS: Laugh Laugh (1965)
James BROWN: I Got You [I Feel Good] (1965)
The BYRDS: Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)
Sam COOKE: A Change Is Gonna Come (1965)
COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH: Fish Cheer and I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag (1965)
Bob DYLAN: Like a Rolling Stone (1965)
Bob DYLAN: Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965)
The IMPRESSIONS: People Get Ready (1965)
The LOVIN' SPOONFUL: Do You Believe In Magic (1965)
Barry McGUIRE: Eve of Destruction (1965)
The MIRACLES: The Tracks Of My Tears (1965)
Phil OCHS: I Ain't Marchin' Anymore (1965)
Wilson PICKETT: In The Midnight Hour (1965)
Paul REVERE & The Raiders: Just Like Me (1965)
The ROLLING STONES: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (1965)
SAM THE SHAM AND THE PHAROAHS: Wooly Bully (1965)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL: The Sounds Of Silence (1965)
SIR DOUGLAS QUINTET: She's About A Mover (1965)
The SUPREMES: Stop! In The Name Of Love (1965)
The TEMPTATIONS: My Girl (1965)
The TURTLES: It Ain't Me Babe (1965)
Jr. WALKER and the All Stars: Shotgun (1965)
The WHO: My Generation (1965)

1966: (33 songs)
The BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows (1966)
The BEACH BOYS: Good Vibrations (1966)
[The BEATLES: Paperback Writer (1966)]
The BOBBY FULLER FOUR: I Fought The Law (1966)
The BYRDS: Eight Miles High (1966)
The COUNT FIVE: Psychotic Reaction (1966)
DONOVAN: Sunshine Superman (1966)
The FOUR TOPS: Reach Out I'll Be There (1966)
The HOLLIES: Bus Stop (1966)
Tommy JAMES And The Shondells: Hanky Panky (1966)
B.B. KING: Sweet Little Angel (c. 1966)
The KINKS: A Well Respected Man (1966)
The LEFT BANKE: Walk Away Renee (1966)
The MAMAS AND THE PAPAS: California Dreamin' (1966)
The MIRACLES: Going To A Go-Go (1966)
The MONKEES: I'm A Believer (1966)
The MONKEES: Last Train To Clarksville (1966)
Aaron NEVILLE: Tell It Like It Is (1966)
? AND THE MYSTERIANS: 96 Tears (1966)
Otis REDDING: Shake (1966)
Otis REDDING: Try A Little Tenderness (1966)
Mitch RYDER & Detroit Wheels: Devil With A Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly ('66)
The SHADOWS OF KNIGHT: Gloria (1966)
Percy SLEDGE: When A Man Loves A Woman (1966)
The STANDELLS: Dirty Water (1966)
The SUPREMES: You Can't Hurry Love (1966)
The TEMPTATIONS: Ain't Too Proud To Beg (1966)
TOOTS & THE MAYTALS: Pressure Drop (c. 1966)
The TROGGS: Wild Thing (1966)
IKE & TINA TURNER: River Deep, Mountain High (1966)
Jackie WILSON: [Your Love Keeps Lifting Me] Higher and Higher (1966)
Stevie WONDER: Uptight (Everything's Airight) (1966)
The YARDBIRDS: Shapes Of Things (1966)
The YOUNG RASCALS: Good Lovin' (1966)

1967: (26 songs)
The BEATLES: A Day in the Life (1967)
The BEATLES: Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)
The BOX TOPS: The Letter (1967)
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD: For What It's Worth [Stop, Hey What's That Sound] (1967)
The DOORS: Light My Fire (1967)
The DOORS: The End (1967)
Aretha FRANKLIN: Chain Of Fools (1967)
Aretha FRANKLIN: I Never Loved A Man [the Way I Love You] (1967)
Aretha FRANKLIN: Respect (1967)
Etta JAMES: Tell Mama (1967)
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: Somebody to Love (1967)
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE: White Rabbit (1967)
Albert KING: Born Under A Bad Sign (1967)
MOBY GRAPE: Omaha (c. 1967)
Van MORRISON: Brown Eyed Girl (1967)
The MOTHERS OF INVENTION: Brown Shoes Don't Make It (1967)
PINK FLOYD: See Emily Play (1967)
PROCOL HARUM: A Whiter Shade Of Pale (1967)
The MOODY BLUES: Nights In White Satin (1972)
SAM & DAVE: Soul Man (1967)
The SEEDS: Pushin' Too Hard (1967)
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Dance To The Music (1967)
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP: Gimme Some Lovin' (1967)
TRAFFIC: Dear Mr. Fantasy (1967)
VELVET UNDERGROUND: Heroin (1967)
VELVET UNDERGROUND: White Light / White Heat (1967)
The YOUNG RASCALS: Groovin' (1967)

1968: (18 songs)
The BAND: The Weight (1968)
The BEATLES: Hey Jude (1968)
Archie BELL & The Drells: Tighten Up (1968)
BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY: Piece Of My Heart (1968)
James BROWN: Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud (1968)
The BYRDS: Hickory Wind (1968)
Joe COCKER: With A Little Help From My Friends (1968)
CREAM: Sunshine of Your Love (1968)
Marvin GAYE: I Heard It Through The Grapevine (1968)
Jimi HENDRIX: All Along The Watchtower (1968)
Jimi HENDRIX: Purple Haze (1968)
Jimi HENDRIX: Voodoo Child [Slight Return] (1968)
IRON BUTTERFLY: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)
Van MORRISON: Madame George (1968)
Otis REDDING: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay (1968)
The ROLLING STONES: Jumpin' Jack Flash (1968)
The ROLLING STONES: Sympathy For The Devil (1968)
STEPPENWOLF: Born To Be Wild (1968)

1969: (22 songs)
The ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND: Whipping Post (1969)
The BAND: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (1969)
Jeff BECK Group: Plynth [Water Down The Drain] (1969)
David BOWIE: Space Oddity (1969)
CREAM: Crossroads (1969)
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: Fortunate Son (1969)
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: Green River (1969)
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: Proud Mary (1969)
CROSBY, STILLS & NASH: Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (1969)
The DELLS: Oh, What A Night (1969)
The GRATEFUL DEAD: Dark Star (1969)
IGGY AND THE STOOGES: Search And Destroy (1969)
The ISLEY BROTHERS: It's Your Thing (1969)
JACKSON 5: I Want You Back (1969)
LED ZEPPELIN: Dazed And Confused (1969)
LED ZEPPELIN: Whole Lotta Love (1969)
John LENNON: Give Peace A Chance (1969)
The ROLLING STONES: Honky Tonk Women (1969)
Elvis PRESLEY: Suspicious Minds (1969)
QUICKSILVER MESSENGER SERVICE: Who Do You Love (1969)
The WHO: Go To The Mirror Boy from Tommy (1969)
Neil YOUNG: Down By The River (1969)

The 1970s (113 songs--23%)

1970: (16 songs)
B.B. KING: The Thrill Is Gone (1970)
Eric CLAPTON: After Midnight (1970)
Jimmy CLIFF: Many Rivers to Cross (1970)
CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG: Ohio (1970)
FREE: All Right Now (1970)
The GRATEFUL DEAD: Uncle John's Band (1970)
JACKSON 5: ABC (1970)
Elton JOHN: Your Song (1970)
The KINKS: Lola (1970)
John LENNON: Instant Karma [We All Shine On] (1970)
Van MORRISON: Moondance (1970)
SANTANA: Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen (1970)
SIMON and GARFUNKEL: Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Thank You [Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin] (1970)
Edwin STARR: War (1970)
James TAYLOR: Fire And Rain (1970)

1971: (14 songs)
BLACK SABBATH: Iron Man (1971)
BLACK SABBATH: Paranoid (1971)
Alice COOPER: I'm Eighteen (1971)
The DELMORE BROTHERS: Hillbilly Boogie (1971)
The FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS: Sin City (1971)
Marvin GAYE: What's Going On (1971)
Al GREEN: Let's Stay Together (1971)
Carole KING: You've Got A Friend (1971)
LED ZEPPELIN: Rock And Roll (1971)
LED ZEPPELIN: Stairway To Heaven (1971)
John LENNON: Imagine (1971)
The STAPLE SINGERS: Respect Yourself (1971)
Rod STEWART: Maggie May (1971)
The WHO: Baba O'Riley (1971)

1972: (16 songs)
David BOWIE: Ziggy Stardust (1972)
DEEP PURPLE: Smoke On The Water (1972)
Gary GLITTER: Rock 'N' Roll Part 2 (1972)
Jimmy CLIFF: The Harder They Come (1972)
The EAGLES: Take It Easy (1972)
Curtis MAYFIELD: Superfly (1972)
Don McLEAN: American Pie (1972)
MOTT THE HOOPLE: All The Young Dudes (1972)
T. REX: Bang A Gong [Get It On] (1972)
The TEMPTATIONS: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (1972)
Jethro TULL: Aqualung (1972)
WAR: Slippin' Into Darkness (1972)
Stevie WONDER: Superstition (1972)
YES: Roundabout (1972)
Neil YOUNG: Heart Of Gold (1972)

1973: (15 songs)
AEROSMITH: Dream On (1973)
The ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND: Ramblin' Man (1973)
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD: We're An American Band (1973)
Dr. JOHN: Right Place Wrong Time (1973)
LITTLE FEAT: Dixie Chicken (1973)
Bob MARLEY and The Wailers: Get Up Stand Up (c. 1973)
Bob MARLEY and The Wailers: I Shot The Sheriff (c. 1973)
NEW YORK DOLLS: Personality Crisis (1973)
O'JAYS: Love Train (1973)
PINK FLOYD: Money (1973)
Lou REED: Walk On The Wild Side (1973)
Bruce SPRINGSTEEN: Rosalita (Come Out Tonight (1973)
STEELY DAN: Reelin' In The Years (1973)
The STOOGES: I Wanna Be Your Dog (1973)
Stevie WONDER: Living for the City (1973)

1974: (4 songs)
BIG STAR: September Gurls (1974)
Jackson BROWNE: Late For The Sky (1974)
Elton JOHN: Bennie And The Jets (1974)
Joni MITCHELL: Help Me (1974)

1975: (11 songs)
AEROSMITH: Toys in the Attic (1975)
David BOWIE: Fame (1975)
Bob DYLAN: Tangled Up In Blue (1975)
KISS: Rock And Roll All Nite (1975)
KRAFTWERK: Autobahn (1975)
LYNYRD SKYNYRD: Free Bird (1975)
Bob MARLEY And The Wailers: No Woman, No Cry (1975)
QUEEN: Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)
Patti SMITH: Gloria (1975)
Bruce SPRINGSTEEN: Born To Run (1975)
Donna SUMMER: Love To Love You Baby (1975)

1976: (4 songs)
PARLIAMENT: Give Up The Funk [Tear The Roof Off The Sucker] (1976)
Tom PETTY And The Heartbreakers: American Girl (1976)
ROXY MUSIC: Love Is The Drug (1976)
Peter TOSH: Legalize It [reggae] (1976)

1977: (14 songs)
The BEE GEES: Stayin' Alive (1977)
BOSTON: More Than A Feeling (1977)
The DAMNED: New Rose (1977)
The EAGLES: Hotel California (1977)
FLEETWOOD MAC: Go Your Own Way (1977)
Richard HELL & The Voidoids: (I Belong To The) Blank Generation (1977)
Billy JOEL: Just The Way You Are (1977)
Paul McCARTNEY: Maybe I'm Amazed (1977)
Steve MILLER Band: Fly Like An Eagle (1977)
Randy NEWMAN: Sail Away (1977)
RAMONES: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (c. 1977)
SEX PISTOLS: Anarchy In The U.K. (1977)
SEX PISTOLS: God Save The Queen (1977)
Bob SEGER & The Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves (1977)

1978: (8 songs)
CHIC: Le Freak (1978)
Elvis COSTELLO: Pump It Up (1978)
FUNKADELIC: One Nation Under a Groove (1978)
Bob MARLEY And The Wailers: Lively Up Yourself (1978)
The ROLLING STONES: Miss You (1978)
TELEVISION: Little Johnny Jewel (1978)
The TRAMMPS: Disco Inferno (1978)
Van HALEN: Runnin' With the Devil (1978)

1979: (10 songs)
AC/DC: Highway to Hell (1979)
The B-52's: Rock Lobster (1979)
BLONDIE: Heart Of Glass (1979)
The CLASH: London Calling (1979)
DIRE STRAITS: Sultans Of Swing (1979)
PINK FLOYD: Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2 (1979)
The POLICE: Roxanne (1979)
SISTER SLEDGE: We Are Family (1979)
TALKING HEADS: Life During Wartime (1979)
Neil YOUNG: My My Hey Hey [Out Of The Blue] (1979)

The 1980s (51 songs--10%)

1980: (12 songs)
AC/DC: Back In Black (1980)
Kurtis BLOW: The Breaks (1980)
DEREK AND THE DOMINOS: Layla (1980)
DEVO: Whip It (1980)
Peter GABRIEL: Biko (1980)
JOY DIVISION: Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
The PRETENDERS: Brass In Pocket (1980)
RUSH: The Spirit Of Radio (1980)
The SUGARHILL GANG: Rapper's Delight (1980)
TALKING HEADS: Once In A Lifetime (1980)
Stevie WONDER: Master Blaster [Jammin'] (1980)
X: Los Angeles (1980)

1981: (1 song)
Rick JAMES: Super Freak (1981)

1982: (7 songs)
Marvin GAYE: Sexual Healing (1982)
AFRIKA BAMBAATAA: Planet Rock (1994)
GO-GO'S: We Got The Beat (1982)
GRANDMASTER FLASH & The Furious Five: The Message (1982)
HUMAN LEAGUE: Don't You Want Me? (1982)
Joan JETT & The Blackhearts: I Love Rock 'N Roll (1982)
STRAY CATS: Rock This Town (1982)

1983: (8 songs)
DURAN DURAN: Hungry Like The Wolf (1983)
EURYTHMICS: Sweet Dreams [Are Made Of This] (1983)
Michael JACKSON: Beat It (1983)
Michael JACKSON: Billie Jean (1983)
The POLICE: Every Breath You Take (1983)
PRINCE: Little Red Corvette (1983)
U2: Sunday Bloody Sunday (1983)
Stevie Ray VAUGHAN: Pride And Joy (1983)

1984: (11 songs)
HUSKER DU: Turn On the News (1984)
Cyndi LAUPER: Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1984)
John Cougar MELLENCAMP: Authority Song (1984)
MADONNA: Like A Virgin (1984)
PRINCE: When Doves Cry (1984)
The REPLACEMENTS: I Will Dare (1984)
The SMITHS: Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now (1984)
Bruce SPRINGSTEEN: Dancing In The Dark (1984)
U2: Pride [In The Name Of Love] (1984)
Van HALEN: Jump (1984)
ZZ TOP: Legs (1984)

1985: (1 song)
U.T.F.O.: Roxanne, Roxanne (1985)

1986: (3 songs)
CULTURE CLUB: Time [Clock Of The Heart] (1986)
RUN-D.M.C.: Walk This Way (1986)
Paul SIMON: Graceland (1986)

1987: (2 songs)
The BEASTIE BOYS: (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right [to Party] (1987)
U2: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1987)

1988: (4 songs)
GUNS N' ROSES: Welcome To The Jungle (1988)
MIDNIGHT OIL: Beds Are Burning (1988)
R.E.M.: Radio Free Europe (1988)
SONIC YOUTH: Teenage Riot (1988)

1989: (2 songs)
DE LA SOUL: Me Myself And I (1989)
PUBLIC ENEMY: Fight the Power (1989)

The 1990s (12 songs--3%)

1990: (2 songs)
JANE'S ADDICTION: Been Caught Stealin' (1990)
MC HAMMER: U Can't Touch This (1990)

1991: (6 songs)
L.L. COOL J: Mama Said Knock You Out
METALLICA: Enter Sandman
NIRVANA: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Bonnie RAITT: Something To Talk About
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: Give It Away
R.E.M.: Losing My Religion

1992: (1 song)
PEARL JAM: Jeremy

1993: (2 songs)
DR. DRE: Nuthin' But A "G" Thang
QUEEN LATIFAH: Ladies First

1994: (1 song)
BECK: Loser

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME?

Rock historian Joseph Burns explains the origins of the term “rock and roll” in this abridged excerpt of an online article by Newswise:

Burns says the origin of the term “rock ‘n’ roll,” is pretty straightforward: “It started as a nautical phrase meaning the movement of the boat up and down and back and forth. Sometime in the late 1800s to early 1900s, gospel and jubilee music co-opted the term and used it to mean being rocked and rolled in the arms of the Lord. In fact, the first recorded use of the term in a song was ‘Camp Meeting Jubilee’ in 1916.”

Sometime between that recording and the early 20s, the term started to leave the church and began to be used in blues and vaudeville music as a euphemism for sex. Burns cites as examples Trixie Smith’s “My Man Rocks Me with One Steady Roll” in 1922, “Rock That Think” by Lil’ Johnson and “Rock Me Mama” by Banjo Ikey Robinson.

However, Burns explained that using the term alone isn’t enough to give a song the title of being the first rock ‘n’ roll record.

“Too often rock ‘n’ roll is described as the coming together of blues and country, but that’s too simplistic. Rock ‘n’ roll is a much more complex music that draws from six forms of music, three dominant and three sub-dominants.” Burns lists the dominant forms of music as blues for the basic chord progressions, country for stringed instruments becoming dominant and major melody lines, and what was then termed “white pop” and “tin pan alley” style music for the concept of dance and hit song writing. The sub-dominant forms of music, Burns said, are jazz for a boogie-woogie beat, gospel for the vocal influence and folk for the influence of social concern.

One additional technological element aided rock ‘n’ roll’s rise, and that was the 45-rpm record.

“RCA Victor put out the 45-record just as television was taking all the major networks’ attention away from radio; that made the radio business local rather than national network-fed. That forced the radio business to rely on records – mainly the 45 – for the music they played. The 45 was cheap and plentiful, and the music that was poised to break, just as the technology broke, was rock ‘n’ roll.”

So how did the term rock ‘n’ roll become associated with the music? Burns said it was probably the influence of radio, and one disc jockey in particular – Alan Freed.

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