The 100 Greatest Rock & Roll Songs Ever*


*These, in my opinion, are the 100 greatest ROCK & ROLL songs of all time. This meaning - no jazz, no disco and no straight R&B. So, as much as i like Superstition by Stevie Wonder, or What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, I didn't add them to the list because I don't consider them rock & roll. I will also admit that I am incredibly biased towards bands I like (i.e. The Who & Jethro Tull) and towards classic rock (i.e. few songs from '80s or '90s).

The idea for this first topic came about when, while watching VH1's list of the greatest rock & roll songs of all time, my friend Shane suggested that i make a similar list. So i copied down the VH1 list and a list i found on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame webpage, and i sifted through my CD collection and came up with a list of about 350 songs. I then rated the songs on their importance and influence, their musical quality, their popularity and most importantly of all - how much i like the song. Then, using a highly scientific formula, i came up with this list - "THE" List. Of course, i refrained from putting any TERRY's KID songs on the list, so as not to be biased in that way. Because, as you well know, the top 100 songs of all-time are the top 100 TERRY's KID songs of all-time.
So, without further ado, here is my list of the 100 Greatest Rock & Roll Songs Ever:

-cpb 2/1/00


n.b. - I am currently working on an update of this list. Looking back at this list now i see that it really sucks. Too much of what i like. And screw the whole "no R&B & what-have-you" nonsense. I'm working on an actual "greatest" list, one that doesn't take into account my personal preferences. Be patient... it could be a while.
-cpb 4/20/03




  1. Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry
  2. The Who - How Many Friends
  3. The Beatles - A Day In The Life
  4. Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil
  5. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale
  6. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
  7. Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
  8. Steely Dan - Dirty Work
  9. Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight
  10. Deep Purple - Hush
  11. Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
  12. Traffic - Dear Mr. Fantasy
  13. Led Zeppelin - Kashmir
  14. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
  15. Pete Townshend - I Am An Animal
  16. The Who - Blue, Red And Grey
  17. The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post
  18. The Who - We're Not Gonna Take It
  19. The Clash - Train In Vain
  20. Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever
  21. The Band - The Weight
  22. Cream - Sunshine Of Your Love
  23. The Who - A Quick One, While He's Away
  24. Cream - White Room
  25. Jethro Tull - Baker St. Muse
  26. Derek & The Dominos - Layla
  27. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
  28. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
  29. The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again
  30. The Allman Brothers Band - Melissa
  31. Jethro Tull - Teacher
  32. Don McLean - American Pie
  33. The Dave Mathews Band - Lover Lay Down
  34. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man
  35. The Kinks - Lola
  36. Neil Young - Old Man
  37. Jethro Tull - Cross-Eyed Mary
  38. Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side
  39. The Doors - Five To One
  40. Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London
  41. Jethro Tull - Wond'ring Again
  42. John Lennon - Imagine
  43. The Beatles - The Fool On The Hill
  44. The Doors - The End
  45. Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven
  46. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
  47. Jethro Tull - One White Duck/�� = Nothing At All
  48. Queen - We Are The Champions
  49. The Eagles - Hotel California
  50. Billy Joel - Piano Man
  51. The Dave Mathews Band - Pay For What You Get
  52. Pete Townshend - I Am Afraid
  53. Aerosmith - Dream On
  54. The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider
  55. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man
  56. The Who - My Generation
  57. Jethro Tull - Minstrel In The Gallery
  58. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird
  59. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
  60. The Beatles - Golden Slumbers
  61. Rolling Stones - Paint It Black
  62. Neil Young - Heart Of Gold
  63. Simon & Garfunkel - Boxer
  64. The Who - Baba O'Riley
  65. Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
  66. America - A Horse With No Name
  67. Steely Dan - Charlie Freak
  68. Squeeze - Tempted
  69. The Clash - London Calling
  70. Supertramp - Crime Of The Century
  71. The Beatles - Come Together
  72. Supertramp - If Everyone Was Listening
  73. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower
  74. Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door
  75. Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman
  76. Electric Light Orchestra - Can't Get It Out Of My Head
  77. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)
  78. Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
  79. The Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City
  80. Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like We Do
  81. Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing
  82. Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The U.K.
  83. Steve Miller Band - The Joker
  84. Traffic - Empty Pages
  85. Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
  86. Van Morrison - Moondance
  87. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Red House
  88. George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Who Do You Love
  89. Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends
  90. The Police - Driven To Tears
  91. Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild
  92. Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Oh Boy!
  93. Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit
  94. The Doors - Break On Through (To The Other Side)
  95. The Guess Who - American Woman
  96. Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
  97. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
  98. Free - All Right Now
  99. Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around The Clock
  100. The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin



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