Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 500 (+) Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll

In 2004, James Henke, chief curator for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the help of music writers and critics, selected 500 songs (not only rock songs) that they believe have been most influential in shaping rock and roll. The list is alphabetical by artist. Several sources indicate that the original list from 2004 was expanded at some point to 660 songs, but none of those sources seem to indicate exactly when this was done. The revised list added songs up through 2006. Surprisingly, a search on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame doesn’t even turn up the original list. However, a list of the original 500 and the 160 added songs can be found here. Those songs which were added later are marked with an asterisk (*). At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on April 14, 2018, six songs were recognized as singles which shaped rock and roll but are not recorded by artists currently in the Hall. It was reported by Billboard magazine as a new induction category, but there is no mention of it on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website and no indication that it was done again in 2019. The six songs are “Rocket 88” by Jackie Breston and his Delta Cats (1951), “Rumble” by Link Wray and his Ray Men’s (1958), “The Twist” by Chubby Checker (1960), “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen (1963), “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procolu Harum (1967), and “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf (1968). They are noted below with a carat (^). Click here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations. A AC/DC “Highway to Hell” (1979) AC/DC “Back in Black” (1980) Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys “Wabash Cannonball” (1938) Aerosmith “Dream On” (1973) Aerosmith “Toys in the Attic” (1975) The Allman Brothers Band “Ramblin’ Man” (1973) The Allman Brothers Band “Whipping Post” (1969) The Animals “The House of the Rising Sun” (1964) The Animals “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” (1965) Louis Armstrong “West End Blues” (1928) Arrested Development “Tennessee” (1992) Average White Band “Pick Up the Pieces” (1974) * B LaVern Baker “Jim Dandy” (1956) Afrika Bambaataa “Planet Rock” (1982) The Band “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” (1969) The Band “The Weight” (1968) Bauhaus “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (1979) * Beach Boys “California Girls” (1965) Beach Boys “Don't Worry Baby” (1964) Beach Boys “God Only Knows” (1966) Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” (1966) Beach Boys “Surfin’ U.S.A.” (1963) The Beastie Boys “Hey Ladies” (1989) * The Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party” (1986) The Beatles “A Day in the Life” (1967) The Beatles “Help!” (1965) The Beatles “Hey Jude” (1968) The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963) The Beatles “In My Life” (1965) * The Beatles “Norwegian Wood” (1965) The Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” (1967) The Beatles “Yesterday” (1965) The Beau Brummels “Laugh Laugh” (1965) Beck “Loser” (1993) Jeff Beck Group “Plynth (Water Down the Drain)” (1969) The Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977) Archie Bell & the Drells “Tighten Up” (1968) Chuck Berry “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man” (1956) * Chuck Berry “Johnny B. Goode” (1958) Chuck Berry “Maybellene” (1955) Chuck Berry “Rock and Roll Music” (1957) Chuck Berry “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956) * The B-52's “Rock Lobster” (1979) The Big Bopper “Chantilly Lace” (1958) Big Brother and the Holding Company “Piece of My Heart” (1968) Big Star “September Gurls” (1974) Black Flag “T.V. Party” (1982) * Black Sabbath “Iron Man” (1970) Black Sabbath “Paranoid” (1970) Bobby Blue Bland “Turn On Your Love Light” (1961) Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1978) Kurtis Blow “The Breaks” (1980) Gary U.S. Bonds “Quarter to Three” (1961) Booker T. & the M.G.'s “Green Onions” (1962) Boston “More Than a Feeling” (1976) David Bowie “Changes” (1972) * David Bowie “Fame” (1975) David Bowie “Space Oddity” (1969) David Bowie “Ziggy Stardust” (1972) The Box Tops “The Letter” (1967) Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats “Rocket 88” (1951) *^ Charles Brown “Driftin’ Blues” (1945) James Brown “Get Up, I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine” (1970) * James Brown “I Got You (I Feel Good)” (1965) James Brown “Please, Please, Please” (1956) James Brown “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud” (1968) Ruth Brown “Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean” (1953) Jackson Browne “Late for the Sky” (1974) Buffalo Springfield “For What It’s Worth” (1967) Solomon Burke “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” (1964) Johnny Burnette & the Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio “Train Kept a-Rollin'“ (1956) Buzzcocks “Ever Fallen in Love” (1978) * The Byrds “Eight Miles High” (1966) The Byrds “Hickory Wind” (1968) The Byrds “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965) C Leroy Carr “How Long How Long Blues” (1928) * The Carter Family “Keep On the Sunny Side” (1928) * Johnny Cash “Folsom Prison Blues” (1955) Johnny Cash “I Walk the Line” (1956) The Champs “Tequila” (1958) Gene Chandler “Duke of Earl” (1962) The Chantays “Pipeline” (1963) The Chantels “Maybe” (1958) * Ray Charles “Hallelujah I Love Her So” (1956) Ray Charles “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (1962) * Ray Charles “I Gotta Woman” (1955) Ray Charles “What’d I Say” (1959) Chubby Checker “The Twist” (1960) ^ Chic “Le Freak” (1978) Chic “Good Times” (1979) * The Chi-Lites “Have You Seen Her” (1971) * The Chords “Sh-Boom” (1954) * Eric Clapton “After Midnight” (1970) Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (1992) * Dave Clark Five “Glad All Over” (1964) The Clash “London Calling” (1979) The Clash “White Man in Hammersmith Palais” (1978) * Jimmy Cliff “Many Rivers to Cross” (1972) Jimmy Cliff “The Harder They Come” (1969) Patsy Cline “I Fall to Pieces” (1961) Patsy Cline “Walkin’ after Midnight” (1957) * George Clinton “Atomic Dog” (1983) * The Clovers “Love Potion No. 9” (1959) The Coasters “Yakety Yak” (1958) The Coasters “Young Blood” (1957) Eddie Cochran “C'mon Everybody” (1958) Eddie Cochran “Summertime Blues” (1958) Joe Cocker “With a Little Help from My Friends” (1968) Cocteau Twins “Ivo” (1984) * Leonard Cohen “Suzanne” (1967) * Coldplay “Yellow” (2000) * Nat “King” Cole “Straighten Up and Fly Right” (1944) * Lyn Collins “Think About It” (1972) * The Contours “Do You Love Me?” (1962) Sam Cooke “Bring It on Home to Me” (1962) Sam Cooke “A Change Is Gonna Come” (1965) Sam Cooke “You Send Me” (1957) Alice Cooper “I'm Eighteen” (1971) Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” (1978) Elvis Costello “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding” (1978) * The Count Five “Psychotic Reaction” (1966) Country Joe and the Fish “The Fish Cheer and I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag” (1967) Don Covay “Mercy Mercy” (1964) Cream “Crossroads” (1969) Cream “Sunshine of Your Love” (1967) Creedence Clearwater Revival “Fortunate Son” (1969) Creedence Clearwater Revival “Green River” (1969) Creedence Clearwater Revival “Proud Mary” (1969) Crosby, Stills and Nash “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (1969) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young “Ohio” (1970) The Crows “Gee” (1953) The Crystals “Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)” (1963) The Crystals “He’s a Rebel” (1962) Culture Club “Time (Clock of the Heart)” (1982) The Cure “In Between Days” (1985) * D Dick Dale and the Del-Tones “Let's Go Trippin’” (1961) The Damned “New Rose” (1976) Danny & the Juniors “At the Hop” (1957) Bobby Darin “Mack the Knife” (1959) * Bobby Darin “Splish Splash” (1958) Spencer Davis Group “Gimme Some Lovin’” (1966) De La Soul “Me Myself and I” (1989) The Dead Boys “Sonic Reducer” (1977) * The Dead Kennedys “Holiday in Cambodia” (1980) * Deep Purple “Smoke on the Water” (1973) Desmond Dekker & the Aces “Israelites” (1969) * The Dells “Oh, What a Night” (1956) The Delmore Brothers “Hillbilly Boogie” (1946) The Del-Vikings “Come Go With Me” (1957) Depeche Mode “People Are People” (1984) * Derek and the Dominos “Layla” (1970) Devo “Whip It” (1980) Bo Diddley “Bo Diddley” (1955) Bo Diddley “Say Man” (1959) * Dion “Runaround Sue” (1961) * Dion and the Belmonts “A Teenager in Love” (1959) Dire Straits “Sultans of Swing” (1978) The Dixie Cups “Chapel of Love” (1964) The Dixie Hummingbirds “I'll Live Again” (1952) Bill Doggett “Honky Tonk” (1956) Fats Domino “Ain't That a Shame” (1955) Fats Domino “Blueberry Hill” (1956) The Dominoes “Sixty Minute Man” (1951) Lonnie Donegan “Rock Island Line” (1956) Donovan “Sunshine Superman” (1966) The Doobie Brothers “What a Fool Believes” (1978) * The Doors “The End” (1967) The Doors “Light My Fire” (1967) Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” (1992) Dr. John “Right Place Wrong Time” (1973) The Drifters “Money Honey” (1953) The Drifters “On Broadway” (1963) * The Drifters “There Goes My Baby” (1959) The Drifters “Up on the Roof” (1962) Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982) Bob Dylan “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963) Bob Dylan “Like a Rolling Stone” (1965) Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965) Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” (1975) Bob Dylan “The Times They Are a-Changin’” (1964) E The Eagles “Hotel California” (1976) The Eagles “Take It Easy” (1972) Earth Wind and Fire “Shining Star” (1975) * Duane Eddy “Rebel Rouser” (1958) Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott “Get Ur Freak On” (2001) * Eminem with Dido “Stan” (2000) * The English Beat “Mirror in the Bathroom” (1980) * Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983) The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (1958) The Everly Brothers “Bye Bye Love” (1957) F Fatboy Slim “Rockafeller Skank” (1998) * The Five Royales “Think” (1957) * The Five Satins “In the Still of the Nite (I’ll Remember)” (1956) The Flamingos “I Only Have Eyes for You” (1959) Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” (1977) The Flying Burrito Brothers “Sin City” (1969) The Four Seasons “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (1962) The Four Seasons “Walk Like a Man” (1963) The Four Tops “Baby I Need Your Loving” (1964) The Four Tops “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” (1966) Aretha Franklin “Chain of Fools” (1967) Aretha Franklin “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” (1967) Aretha Franklin “Respect” (1967) Aretha Franklin “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman” (1967) * Free “All Right Now” (1970) The Fugees “Ready or Not” (1996) * The Bobby Fuller Four “I Fought the Law” (1966) Lowell Fulson “Reconsider Baby” (1954) Funkadelic “One Nation Under a Groove” (1978) G Peter Gabriel “Biko” (1980) Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes” (1986) * Gang of Four “What We All Want” (1981) * Pvt. Cecil Gant “We're Gonna Rock” (1950) Marvin Gaye “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968) Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” (1982) Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” (1971) Genesis “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” (1974) * Gerry & the Pacemakers “How Do You Do It?” (1963) Geto Boys “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” (1991) * Gary Glitter “Rock and Roll Part 2” (1972) Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” (2006) * Go-Go's “We Got the Beat” (1982) Golden Gate Quartet “Rock My Soul” (1938) The Benny Goodman Orchestra featuring Charlie Christian “Solo Flight” (1938) Grand Funk Railroad “We're an American Band” (1973) Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five “The Message” (1982) The Grateful Dead “Dark Star” (1968) The Grateful Dead “Uncle John's Band” (1970) Al Green “Let’s Stay Together” (1971) Green Day “Basket Case” (1994) * Guitar Slim “The Things That I Used to Do” (1952) Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987) Woody Guthrie “Pastures of Plenty” (1941) Woody Guthrie “Pretty Boy Floyd” (1943) Woody Guthrie “This Land Is Your Land” (1944) H Bill Haley and His Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954) Daryl Hall & John Oates “She’s Gone” (1976) * Lionel Hampton “Flying Home” (1940) * Slim Harpo “Rainin’ in My Heart” (1961) Wynonie Harris “Good Rockin’ Tonight” (1948) Wilbert Harrison “Kansas City” (1959) P.J. Harvey “Dress” (1991) * Dale Hawkins “Suzy-Q” (1957) Screamin’ Jay Hawkins “I Put a Spell on You” (1956) Isaac Hayes “Theme from Shaft” (1971) * Heart “Barracuda” (1977) * Richard Hell & the Voidoids “(I Belong to the) Blank Generation” (1976) The Jimi Hendrix Experience “All Along the Watchtower” (1968) The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Purple Haze” (1967) The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Little Wing” (1967) * The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” (1968) Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit” (1939) * The Hollies “Bus Stop” (1966) Buddy Holly & the Crickets “Peggy Sue” (1957) Buddy Holly and The Crickets “That’ll Be the Day” (1957) John Lee Hooker “Boogie Chillen” (1949) John Lee Hooker “Boom Boom” (1962) Howlin’ Wolf “The Little Red Rooster” (1961) Howlin’ Wolf “Smokestack Lightning” (1956) Howlin’ Wolf “Spoonful” (1960) Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981) Mississippi John Hurt “Stack O’ Lee Blues” (1928) Hüsker Dü “Turn on the News” (1984) I The Impressions featuring Jerry Butler “For Your Precious Love” (1958) * The Impressions “People Get Ready” (1965) The Ink Spots “If I Didn't Care” (1939) Iron Butterfly “In-a-Gadda-da-Vida” (1968) The Isley Brothers “It's Your Thing” (1969) The Isley Brothers “Shout” (1959) J The Jackson 5 “I Want You Back” (1969) The Jackson 5 “ABC” (1970) Janet Jackson “Control” (1986) * Mahalia Jackson “Move on Up a Little Higher” (1948) Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1982) Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982) Little Walter Jacobs & His Night Cats “Juke” (1952) The Jam “In the City” (1977) * Elmore James “Dust My Broom” (1952) Elmore James “Shake Your Moneymaker” (1961) Etta James “At Last” (1960) * Etta James “Tell Mama” (1967) Etta James & the Peaches “The Wallflower (Roll with Me Henry)” (1955) * Rick James “Super Freak” (1981) Tommy James & the Shondells “Crimson & Clover” (1968) * Tommy James & the Shondells “Hanky Panky” (1966) Jan & Dean “Surf City” (1963) Jane's Addiction “Been Caught Stealin'“ (1990) Jay-Z “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” (1998) * Jefferson Airplane “Somebody to Love” (1967) Jefferson Airplane “White Rabbit” (1967) Blind Lemon Jefferson “Matchbox Blues” (1927) Jethro Tull “Aqualung” (1971) Joan Jett and the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981) Billy Joel “Just the Way You Are” (1977) Billy Joel “Piano Man” (1974) * Elton John “Bennie and the Jets” (1973) Elton John “Your Song” (1970) Little Willie John “Fever” (1956) Blind Willie Johnson “Motherless Children” (1927) Robert Johnson “Cross Road Blues (aka ‘Crossroads’)” (1936) Robert Johnson “Hell Hound on My Trail” (1937) Robert Johnson “Love in Vain” (1937) Robert Johnson “Sweet Home Chicago” (1936) Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five “Caldonia” (1945) Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five “Saturday Night Fish Fry” (1949) Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980) Judas Priest “Breaking the Law” (1980) * K Albert King “Born Under a Bad Sign” (1967) B.B. King “Sweet Little Angel” (1956) B.B. King “Three O’Clock Blues” (1951) * B.B. King “The Thrill Is Gone” (1969) Ben E. King “Spanish Harlem” (1960) Ben E. King “Stand by Me” (1961) Carole King “You’ve Got a Friend” (1971) Freddy King “Hide Away” (1961) Saunders King “S.K. Blues” (1942) * King Crimson “In the Court of the Crimson King” (1969) * The Kingsmen “Louie Louie” (1963) ^ The Kinks “Lola” (1970) The Kinks “Waterloo Sunset” (1967) * The Kinks “A Well Respected Man” (1965) The Kinks “You Really Got Me” (1964) Kiss “Rock and Roll All Nite” (live, 1975) Buddy Knox “Party Doll” (1957) Korn “Freak on a Leash” (1998) * Kraftwerk “Autobahn” (1974) L The La’s “There She Goes” (1988) * Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1983) Led Zeppelin “Dazed and Confused” (1969) Led Zeppelin “Kashmir” (1975) * Led Zeppelin “Rock and Roll” (1972) Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (1971) Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” (1969) Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter “The Midnight Special” (1940) The Left Banke “Walk Away Renee” (1966) John Lennon “Give Peace a Chance” (1969) John Lennon “Imagine” (1971) John Lennon “Instant Karma (We All Shine On)” (1970) Jerry Lee Lewis “Great Balls of Fire” (1957) Jerry Lee Lewis “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” (1957) Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers “The Honeydripper” (1945) * Little Eva “The Loco-Motion” (1962) Little Feat “Dixie Chicken” (1978) Little Richard “Good Golly, Miss Molly” (1958) Little Richard “Long Tall Sally” (1956) Little Richard “Tutti Frutti” (1955) LL Cool J “Mama Said Knock You Out” (1991) Lene Lovich “Lucky Number” (1978) * The Lovin’ Spoonful “Do You Believe in Magic” (1965) Nick Lowe “Heart of the City” (1978) * Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers “I'm Not a Juvenile Delinquent” (1956) Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (1956) Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird” (1973) Lynyrd Skynyrd “Sweet Home Alabama” (1974) * M Madonna “Like a Virgin” (1984) Madonna “Vogue” (1990) * The Mamas & the Papas “California Dreamin’” (1966) The Marcels “Blue Moon” (1961) Bob Marley & the Wailers “Get Up Stand Up” (1973) Bob Marley & the Wailers “I Shot the Sheriff” (1973) Bob Marley & the Wailers “Lively Up Yourself” (1975) Bob Marley & the Wailers “No Woman, No Cry” (1974) Bob Marley & the Wailers “Redemption Song” (1980) * Bob Marley & the Wailers “Three Little Birds” (1980) * Dave Matthews Band “Ants Marching” (1993) * Curtis Mayfield “Superfly” (1972) M.C. Hammer “U Can’t Touch This” (1990) Paul McCartney “Maybe I'm Amazed” (1970) Stick McGhee “Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee” (1949) * Barry McGuire “Eve of Destruction” (1965) Don McLean “American Pie” (1971) Blind Willie McTell “Statesboro Blues” (1928) John Cougar Mellencamp “Pink Houses” (1983) * John Cougar Mellencamp “Authority Song” (1983) Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991) Miami Sound Machine “Conga” (1985) * Midnight Oil “Beds Are Burning” (1988) The Midnighters “Work With Me Annie” (1954) Amos Milburn “Chicken Shack Boogie” (1948) * Amos Milburn “Let's Have a Party” (1957) Steve Miller Band “Fly Like an Eagle” (1976) Lucky Millinder “Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well” (1945) * Ministry “Stigmata” (1988) * The Miracles “Going to a Go-Go” (1965) The Miracles “Shop Around” (1960) * The Miracles “The Tracks of My Tears” (1965) The Miracles “You've Really Got a Hold on Me” (1962) Joni Mitchell “Help Me” (1974) Moby “Porcelain” (2000) * Moby Grape “Omaha” (1967) The Monkees “I’m a Believer” (1966) The Monkees “Last Train to Clarksville” (1966) The Monotones “Book of Love” (1958) Bill Monroe “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (1947) * Bill Monroe “Mule Skinner Blues” (1940) The Moody Blues “Nights in White Satin” (1967) The Moonglows “Sincerely” (1955) Wild Bill Moore “Rock and Roll” (1948) * Alanis Morrisette “You Oughta Know” (1995) * Van Morrison “Brown-Eyed Girl” (1967) Van Morrison “Madame George” (1968) Van Morrison “Moondance” (1970) Mott the Hoople “All the Young Dudes” (1972) My Chemical Romance “Welcome to the Black Parade” (2006) * N Naughty by Nature “O.P.P.” (1991) * Ricky Nelson “Hello Mary Lou” (1961) Aaron Neville “Tell It Like It Is” (1966) New Order “Blue Monday” (1983) * New York Dolls “Personality Crisis” (1973) Randy Newman “Sail Away” (1972) Nine Inch Nails “Head Like a Hole” (1990) * Nirvana “All Apologies” (1993) * Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) N.W.A. “Fuck tha Police” (1989) * O Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995) * Phil Ochs “I Ain't Marchin’ Anymore” (1965) O’Jays “Love Train” (1973) Roy Orbison “(Oh) Pretty Woman” (1964) Roy Orbison “Only the Lonely” (1960) * The Orioles “Crying in the Chapel” (1953) Ozzy Osborne “Crazy Train” (1980) * Johnny Otis “Willie and the Hand Jive” (1958) OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2003) * P Parliament “Tear the Roof off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)” (1976) Les Paul and Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (1951) Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1991) The Penguins “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)” (1954) Pere Ubu “Final Solution” (1976) * Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes” (1956) Carl Perkins “Matchbox” (1957) Peter & Gordon “A World Without Love” (1964) Peter, Paul and Mary “If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)” (1962) Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “American Girl” (1976) Phish “Chalk Dust Torture” (1992) * Wilson Pickett “In the Midnight Hour” (1965) Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” (1979) Pink Floyd “Money” (1973) Pink Floyd “See Emily Play” (1967) The Pixies “Where Is My Mind?” (1988) * The Platters “The Great Pretender” (1955) The Police “< a href="http://davesmusicdatabase.blogspot.com/2012/07/police-hit-1-with-every-breath-you-take.html">Every Breath You Take” (1983) The Police “Roxanne” (1978) Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956) Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (1956) * Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock” (1957) Elvis Presley “Love Me Tender” (1956) Elvis Presley “Mystery Train” (1955) Elvis Presley “Suspicious Minds” (1969) Elvis Presley “That’s All Right, Mama” (1954) Jimmy Preston “Rock this Joint” (1949) * The Pretenders “Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)” (1979) Lloyd Price “Lawdy Miss Clawdy” (1952) Prince “Little Red Corvette” (1982) Prince & the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984) * Prince “Sign o’ the Times” (1987) * Prince “When Doves Cry” (1984) Procol Harum “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (1967) ^ Professor Longhair & His Shuffling Hungarians “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” (1949) * Professor Longhair (Roy Byrd & His Scholars) “Tipitina” (1953) Public Enemy “Fight the Power” (1989) Q Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) Queen “We Will Rock You” (1977) * Queen Latifah & Monie Love “Ladies First” (1990) Question Mark & the Mysterians “96 Tears” (1966) Quicksilver Messenger Service “Who Do You Love?” (1969) R Radiohead “Karma Police” (1997) * Ma Rainey & Her Tub Jug Washboard Band “Prove It on Me Blues” (1928) Bonnie Raitt “Something to Talk About” (1991) Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (1976) * Ramones “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” (1977) The (Young) Rascals “Groovin’” (1967) The (Young) Rascals “Good Lovin’” (1966) Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (1951) * Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give It Away” (1991) Otis Redding “Shake” (1965) Otis Redding “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” (1968) Otis Redding “Try a Little Tenderness” (1966) Jimmy Reed “Big Boss Man” (1961) Jimmy Reed “Bright Lights, Big City” (1961) Lou Reed “Walk on the Wild Side” (1972) Martha Reeves & the Vandellas “Dancing in the Street” (1964) Martha Reeves & the Vandellas “Heat Wave” (1963) R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991) R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe” (1983) The Replacements “Here Comes a Regular” (1985) * The Replacements “I Will Dare” (1984) Paul Revere and The Raiders “Just Like Me” (1965) Cliff Richard and the Drifters “Move It” (1958) The Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (1964) Billy Riley & His Little Green Men “Red Hot” (1957) Jimmie Rodgers “Blue Yodel No. 9 (Standing on the Corner)” (1928) The Rolling Stones “Honky Tonk Women” (1969) The Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965) The Rolling Stones “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (1968) The Rolling Stones “Miss You” (1978) The Rolling Stones “Paint It Black” (1966) * The Rolling Stones “Sympathy for the Devil” (1968) The Rolling Stones “Time Is on My Side” (1964) The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (1971) * The Ronettes “Be My Baby” (1963) Roxy Music “Love Is the Drug” (1975) The Runaways “Cherry Bomb” (1976) * Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” (1986) Rush “The Spirit of Radio” (1980) Otis Rush “I Can't Quit You Baby” (1956) Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels “Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly” (1966) S Salt-n-Pepa “Let's Talk About Sex” (1990) * Sam & Dave “Soul Man” (1967) Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs “Wooly Bully” (1965) Santana “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen” (1970) The Searchers “Needles and Pins” (1964) The Seeds “Pushin’ Too Hard” (1966) Pete Seeger “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” (1964) Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band “Night Moves” (1976) Sex Pistols “Anarchy in the U.K.” (1976) Sex Pistols “God Save the Queen” (1977) The Shadows of Knight “Gloria” (1966) Tupac (2pac) Shakur & Dr. Dre with Roger Troutman “California Love” (1996) * Tupac (2pac) Shakur “Me Against the World (or Keep Ya Head Up)” (1995) * The Shangri-Las “Leader of the Pack” (1964) Del Shannon “Runaway” (1961) Arkie Shibley “Hot Rod Race” (1950) * Shirelles “Dedicated to the One I Love” (1959) Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1960) Paul Simon “Graceland” (1986) Simon and Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970) Simon and Garfunkel “The Sounds of Silence” (1965) Siouxie and the Banshees “Cities in Dust” (1986) * Sir Douglas Quintet “She's About a Mover” (1965) Sister Sledge “We Are Family” (1979) The Skatalites “Guns of Navarrone” (1967) * Percy Sledge “When a Man Loves a Woman” (1966) Sly & the Family Stone “Dance to the Music” (1968) Sly & the Family Stone “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (1969) Little Millie Small “My Boy Lollipop” (1964) * Arthur Smith “Guitar Boogie” (1945) * Bessie Smith “Down Hearted Blues” (1923) Clarence “Pine Top” Smith “Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie” (1929) Huey “Piano” Smith & His Clowns “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie Flu” (1957) Mamie Smith “Crazy Blues” (1920) * Patti Smith Group “Dancing Barefoot” (1979) * Patti Smith “Gloria (in Excelsis Deo)” (1976) Trixie Smith “My Man Rocks Me with One Steady Roll” (1922) * The Smiths “Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now” (1984) The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” (1984) * Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” (1988) The Soul Stirrers “By and By” (1959) The Specials “Ghost Town” (1981) * Dusty Springfield “Wishin’ and Hopin’” (1964) * Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984) * Bruce Springsteen “Born to Run” (1975) Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” (1984) Bruce Springsteen “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” (1973) Bruce Springsteen “Streets of Philadelphia” (1994) * The Standells “Dirty Water” (1966) The Staple Singers “I’ll Take You There” (1972) * The Staple Singers “Respect Yourself” (1971) Edwin Starr “War” (1970) Steely Dan “Reeling in the Years” (1973) Steppenwolf “Born to Be Wild” (1968) ^ Rod Stewart “Maggie May” (1971) The Stooges “Search and Destroy” (1973) The Stooges “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (1969) Strafe “Set It Off” (1984) * Stray Cats “Rock This Town” (1982) Barrett Strong “Money (That's What I Want)” (1960) The Sugarhill Gang “Rapper’s Delight” (1979) Donna Summer “Love to Love You Baby” (1975) The Supremes “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1965) The Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love” (1966) The Surfaris “Wipe Out” (1963) Swinging Blue Jeans “Hippy Hippy Shake” (1963) T T. Rex “Get It On (Bang a Gong)” (1971) Talking Heads “Life During Wartime” (1979) Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1980) Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” (1978) * Tampa Red “It’s Tight Like That” (1928) * James Taylor “Fire and Rain” (1970) Television “Little Johnny Jewel” (1975) The Temptations “Ain't Too Proud to Beg” (1966) The Temptations “My Girl” (1964) The Temptations “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (1972) Sister Rosetta Tharpe “This Train” (1922) Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton “Ball ‘N’ Chain” (1968) Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton “Hound Dog” (1953) Toots & the Maytals “Pressure Drop” (1970) Peter Tosh “Legalize It” (1976) Traffic “Dear Mr. Fantasy” (1967) The Trammps “Disco Inferno” (1977) The Troggs “Wild Thing” (1966) Big Joe Turner & Pete Johnson “Roll ‘Em Pete” (1938) * Big Joe Turner “Shake, Rattle and Roll” (1954) Ike and Tina Turner “River Deep, Mountain High” (1966) Tina Turner “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” (1984) * The Turtles “Happy Together” (1967) * The Turtles “It Ain't Me Babe” (1965) U The Undertones “Teenage Kicks” (1978) * U.T.F.O. “Roxanne, Roxanne” (1985) U2 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (1987) U2 “One” (1991) * U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984) U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983) V Ritchie Valens “La Bamba” (1958) Van Halen “Jump” (1984) Van Halen “Runnin’ with the Devil” (1978) Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble “Pride and Joy” (1983) Velvet Underground “Heroin” (1965) Velvet Underground “White Light/White Heat” (1968) Velvet Underground “Sweet Jane” (1969) * The Ventures “Walk Don't Run” (1960) Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (1956) W Tom Waits “Hang on St. Christopher” (1987) * Junior Walker & the All Stars “Shotgun” (1965) T-Bone Walker “Call It Stormy Monday” (1948) War “Low Rider” (1975) * War “Slippin’ into Darkness” (1971) Clara Ward & the Ward Singers “How I Got Over” (1950) Dionne Warwick “Walk on By” (1964) * Dinah Washington “Am I Asking Too Much” (1948) Muddy Waters “Got My Mojo Working” (1957) Muddy Waters “Hoochie Coochie Man” (1954) Muddy Waters “Mannish Boy” (1955) Muddy Waters “Rollin’ Stone” (1950) The Weavers “Goodnight Irene” (1950) Weezer “Undone (The Sweater Song)” (1994) * Mary Wells “My Guy” (1964) The Who “Baba O’Riley” (1971) The Who “Go to the Mirror Boy” (1969) The Who “I Can See for Miles” (1967) * The Who “My Generation” (1965) Big Joe Williams “Baby Please Don't Go” (1941) Hank Williams “Lovesick Blues” (1949) * Hank Williams “Move It on Over” (1947) * Larry Williams “Bony Maronie” (1957) Marion Williams “Packing Up” (1958) Sonny Boy (John Lee) Williamson “Good Morning Little School Girl” (1937) Chuck Willis “C. C. Rider” (1957) Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys “Ida Red” (1951) * Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys “Take Me Back to Tulsa” (1941) Jackie Wilson “Lonely Teardrops” (1958) * Jackie Wilson “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher” (1967) Little Stevie Wonder “Fingertips (Part 2)” (1963) * Stevie Wonder “Living for the City” (1973) Stevie Wonder “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” (1980) Stevie Wonder “Superstition” (1972) Stevie Wonder “Uptight (Everything's Alright)” (1965) Link Wray “Rumble” (1958) ^ X X “Los Angeles” (1980) Y Jimmy Yancey “Midnight Stomp” (1954) The Yardbirds “Shapes of Things” (1966) Yes “Roundabout” (1972) Neil Young “Down by the River” (1969) Neil Young “Heart of Gold” (1972) Neil Young “My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)” (1979) Z Frank Zappa “Montana” (1973) * Frank Zappa (The Mothers of Invention) “Brown Shoes Don't Make It” (1967) The Zombies “Time of the Season” (1968) * ZZ Top “La Grange” (1973) * ZZ Top “Legs” (1984) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Lists from other publications and/or organizations” Billboard (2018 song inductees) Infoplease (listed alphabetically by act) RockListMusic.co.uk (includes the additional 160 songs) wmich.edu (listed chronologically) First posted 11/9/2004; last updated 11/12/2023.