What do you believe are the greatest songs in (relatively recent) history? Rolling Stone Magazine created their list almost four years ago (December 2004), but I only recently wandered onto it (I should really get out more). These are not the greatest ROCK songs, mind you, just what Rolling Stone calls the greatest songs. I’m sure the decision for the top choice on the list (Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan) was influenced by the name of the magazine.
Random thought: I’m not sure why I’ve momentarily wandered from book lists… (I’m sure it’s temporary)
For those of you who commented (thank you) on the last song list I posted:
Daisyfae: Be My Baby is #22, Tears in Heaven didn’t make the top 100.
Stacybuckeye: Beatles hold 10 of the top 100 songs.
Leaving Evangeline: Nirvana is at #9 on this list, Pearl Jam still didn’t make the top 100, nor did Radiohead, Green Day, or Rage Against the Machine. Good news (dripping with sarcasm, or sarchasm on Sanity Found’s post) is that Michael Jackson is on this list too! But, we have The Clash at #15.
Beaverboosh: Still no Spinal Tap.
Mssc54: I hope you can remember some of these…
Literate Housewife: U2 is #36 and #93 (not quite reigning supreme, but still…)
Amber: No Pink Floyd.
Britinla: Sorry, none of yours here.
don’stuff: (Hey, that’s me) A Day In The Life by The Beatles is #26 (it’s a crime).
The List:
- Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
- Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
- Imagine, John Lennon
- What’s Going On, Marvin Gaye
- Respect, Aretha Franklin
- Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
- Johnny B. Goode, Chuck Berry
- Hey Jude, The Beatles
- Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
- What’d I Say, Ray Charles
- My Generation, The Who
- A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke
- Yesterday, The Beatles
- Blowin’ in the Wind, Bob Dylan
- London Calling, The Clash
- I Want to Hold Your Hand, The Beatles
- Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix
- Maybellene, Chuck Berry
- Hound Dog, Elvis Presley
- Let It Be, The Beatles
- Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
- Be My Baby, The Ronettes
- In My Life, The Beatles
- People Get Ready, The Impressions
- God Only Knows, The Beach Boys
- A Day in the Life, The Beatles
- Layla, Derek and the Dominos
- (Sittin on) the Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
- Help!, The Beatles
- I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash
- Stairway To Heaven, Led Zeppelin
- Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones
- River Deep – Mountain High, Ike and Tina Turner
- You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’, The Righteous Brothers
- Light My Fire, The Doors
- One, U2
- No Woman, No Cry, Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones
- That’ll Be the Day, Buddy Holly and the Crickets
- Dancing in the Street, Martha and the Vandellas
- The Weight, The Band
- Waterloo Sunset, The Kinks
- Tutti-Frutti, Little Richard
- Georgia on My Mind, Ray Charles
- Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley
- Heroes, David Bowie
- Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
- All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix
- Hotel California, The Eagles
- The Tracks of My Tears, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
- The Message, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
- When Doves Cry, Prince
- Anarchy in the U.K., The Sex Pistols
- When a Man Loves a Woman, Percy Sledge
- Louie Louie, The Kingsmen
- Long Tall Sally, Little Richard
- Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum
- Billie Jean, Michael Jackson
- The Times They Are A-Changin’, Bob Dylan
- Let’s Stay Together, Al Green
- Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On, Jerry Lee Lewis
- Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley
- For What It’s Worth, Buffalo Springfield
- She Loves You, The Beatles
- Sunshine of Your Love, Cream
- Redemption Song, Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley
- Tangled Up in Blue, Bob Dylan
- Crying, Roy Orbison
- Walk On By, Dionne Warwick
- California Girls, The Beach Boys
- Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, James Brown
- Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran
- Superstition, Stevie Wonder
- Whole Lotta Love, Led Zeppelin
- Strawberry Fields Forever,The Beatles
- Mystery Train, Elvis Presley
- I Got You (I Feel Good), James Brown
- Mr. Tambourine Man, The Byrds
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye
- Blueberry Hill, Fats Domino
- You Really Got Me, The Kinks
- Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), The Beatles
- Every Breath You Take, The Police
- Crazy, Patsy Cline
- Thunder Road, Bruce Springsteen
- Ring of Fire, Johnny Cash
- My Girl, The Temptations
- California Dreamin’, The Mamas and The Papas
- In the Still of the Nite, The Five Satins
- Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley
- Blitzkrieg Bop, Ramones
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, U2
- Good Golly, Miss Molly, Little Richard
- Blue Suede Shoes, Carl Perkins
- Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis
- Roll Over Beethoven, Chuck Berry
- Love and Happiness, Al Green
- Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival
- You Can’t Always Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones

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