On July 9, “Rock Around the Clock” celebrated its 56th anniversary of topping the Billboard singles chart. While many songs before it can lay a claim to shaping rock and roll or even being the first rock song, “Clock” is generally considered the placekeeper to divide the rock era from the pre-rock era.
Meanwhile July 10, 1965, marks the Rolling Stones’ arrival at #1 on the U.S. charts with “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”. Personally, I consider it the best rock song ever made.
In celebration of these two songs, Dave’s Music Database presents this list as it appears in the book The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999. The concept behind the book was to come up with a definitive list by consolidating hundreds of other best-of lists along with chart stats, sales figures, and awards. Read more about how the book was created here.
Some acts link to their entries in the DMDB music maker encyclopedia. A few songs have links which are either reposts or scans of the content from the Rock Era book.
1. Hey Jude...The Beatles (1968)
2. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction...The Rolling Stones (1965)
3. Every Breath You Take...The Police (1983)
4. (We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock...Bill Haley & the Comets (1954)
5. I Heard It Through the Grapevine...Marvin Gaye (1968)
6. Imagine...John Lennon (1971)
7. I Will Always Love You...Whitney Houston (1992)
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water...Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
9. Hotel California...The Eagles (1976)
10. Smells Like Teen Spirit...Nirvana (1991)
11. Good Vibrations...The Beach Boys (1966)
12. (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay...Otis Redding (1968)
13. Respect...Aretha Franklin (1967)
14. Yesterday...The Beatles (1965)
15. Billie Jean...Michael Jackson (1983)
16. I Want to Hold Your Hand...The Beatles (1963)
17. Bohemian Rhapsody...Queen (1975)
18. Candle in the Wind 1997...Elton John (1997)
19. Oh, Pretty Woman...Roy Orbison (1964)
20. Don’t Be Cruel...Elvis Presley (1956)
21. American Pie...Don McLean (1971)
22. Layla...Derek & the Dominos (1970)
23. Like a Rolling Stone...Bob Dylan (1965)
24. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’...The Righteous Brothers (1964)
25. Hound Dog...Elvis Presley (1956)
26. Stairway to Heaven...Led Zeppelin (1971)
27. Let It Be...The Beatles (1970)
28. The House of the Rising Sun...The Animals (1964)
29. Stand by Me...Ben E. King (1961)
30. Louie Louie...The Kingsmen (1963)
31. A Whiter Shade of Pale...Procol Harum (1967)
32. Mack the Knife...Bobby Darin (1959)
33. Losing My Religion...R.E.M. (1991)
34. My Heart Will Go On...Celine Dion (1997)
35. Light My Fire...The Doors (1967)
36. Heartbreak Hotel...Elvis Presley (1956)
37. When a Man Loves a Woman...Percy Sledge (1966)
38. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You...Bryan Adams (1991)
39. Brown-Eyed Girl...Van Morrison (1967)
40. Unchained Melody...The Righteous Brothers (1965)
41. What’s Going On...Marvin Gaye (1971)
42. Johnny B. Goode...Chuck Berry (1958)
43. Stayin’ Alive...The Bee Gees (1977)
44. My Girl...The Temptations (1965)
45. Sweet Child O’ Mine...Guns N’ Roses (1988)
46. When Doves Cry...Prince (1984)
47. Superstition...Stevie Wonder (1972)
48. We Are the World...U.S.A. for Africa (1985)
49. You Really Got Me...The Kinks (1964)
50. I Love Rock and Roll...Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (1981)
51. Jailhouse Rock...Elvis Presley (1957)
52. Born to Run...Bruce Springsteen (1975)
53. Maggie May...Rod Stewart (1971)
54. Proud Mary...Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
55. The Twist...Chubby Checker (1960)
56. Reach Out (I’ll Be There)...The Four Tops (1966)
57. Nothing Compares 2 U...Sinéad O’Connor (1990)
58. Killing Me Softly with His Song...Roberta Flack (1973)
59. Dancing Queen...Abba (1976)
60. All Along the Watchtower...The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
61. Honky Tonk Women...The Rolling Stones (1969)
62. Your Song...Elton John (1970)
63. I Can’t Stop Loving You...Ray Charles (1962)
64. My Generation...The Who (1965)
65. Born to Be Wild...Steppenwolf (1968)
66. With or Without You...U2 (1987)
67. Beat It…Michael Jackson (1982)
68. Let’s Stay Together...Al Green (1971)
69. Mrs. Robinson…Simon & Garfunkel (1968)
70. Crazy...Patsy Cline (1961)
71. Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)...Pink Floyd (1979)
72. I Will Survive...Gloria Gaynor (1978)
73. Endless Love...Lionel Richie & Diana Ross (1981)
74. Strawberry Fields Forever…The Beatles (1967)
75. Dancing in the Street...Martha & the Vandellas (1964)
76. Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)…The Penguins (1954)
77. Suspicious Minds...Elvis Presley (1969)
78. Always on My Mind...Willie Nelson (1982)
79. She Loves You...The Beatles (1963)
80. Be My Baby...The Ronettes (1963)
81. Bette Davis Eyes...Kim Carnes (1981)
82. Runaway...Del Shannon (1961)
83. California Dreamin’...The Mamas & the Papas (1966)
84. That’ll Be the Day...Buddy Holly & the Crickets (1957)
85. Blue Suede Shoes...Carl Perkins (1956)
86. Blueberry Hill...Fats Domino (1956)
87. Georgia on My Mind...Ray Charles (1960)
88. It’s Now or Never...Elvis Presley (1960)
89. Love Will Tear Us Apart...Joy Division (1980)
90. What a Wonderful World...Louis Armstrong (1967)
91. All I Have to Do Is Dream...The Everly Brothers (1958)
92. Nights in White Satin...The Moody Blues (1967)
93. Why Do Fools Fall in Love?...Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (1956)
94. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On...Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
95. I’m a Believer...The Monkees (1966)
96. Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In...The Fifth Dimension (1969)
97. Don’t You Want Me?...The Human League (1981)
98. The Way We Were...Barbra Streisand (1973)
99. My Sweet Lord...George Harrison (1970)
100. Great Balls of Fire...Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
Resources and Related Links:
- The Top 100 Songs of the Rock Era, 1954-1999 web site
- Buy the book here
- DMDB music maker encyclopedia
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