Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Toby Creswell: Top 1001 Songs

Toby Creswell:

1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time

Toby Creswell is an Australian music journalist who was the editor of the Australian edition of Rolling Stone (1985-1992) and the founding editor of Juice. In 2005, he published the book 1001 Songs: The Great Songs of All Time. While the years covered by the book are impressive (1924-2004), the list suffers from the usual problem of focusing primarily on music from the latter half of the 20th century. There are only 26 songs from the pre-rock era (before 1954).

More maddening, however, is the construction of the book. There isn’t any. The songs are not in any kind of order – ranked, listed chronologically, or alphabetically by song title or act name. Creswell tries to justify the lack of any ranking by saying in the introduction: “There is no greatest song of all time…There is no #1. There is no canon. Some of the songs are better than others.” Oddly, that last comment supports the idea that there is, in fact, a greatest song of all time. It’s just that Creswell is either 1) too lazy to rank the songs, or 2) too afraid of the backlash that inevitably comes from those who disagree with the rankings.

Dave’s Music Database, which is built on rankings and ratings, has organized this list alphabetically by the names of the acts. It may not be a ranking, but at least there’s some semblance of order now.

Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.

A
1. Abba “Waterloo” (1974)
2. Abba “Dancing Queen” (1976)
3. ABC “Poison Arrow” (1982)
4. AC/DC “It’s a Long Way to the Top” (1975)
5. AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980)
6. Ryan Adams “La Cienega Just Smiled” (2001)
7. King Sunny Ade “The Message” (1982)
8. King Sunny Ade “365 Is My Number” (1982)
9. Aerosmith “Toys in the Attic” (1975)
10. Aerosmith “Janie’s Got a Gun” (1989)

11. Air “Sexy Boy” (1998)
12. Arthur Alexander “You Better Move On” (1961)
13. Mose Allison “Parchman Farm” (1957)
14. The Allman Brothers Band “Whipping Post” (1969)
15. The Allman Brothers Band “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” (1972)
16. The Allman Brothers Band “Ramblin’ Man” (1973)
17. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass “This Guy's in Love with You” (1968)
18. Tori Amos “Cornflake Girl” (1994)
19. Laurie Anderson “O Superman (For Massenet)” (1981)
20. The Animals “The House of the Rising Sun” (1964)

21. Fiona Apple “Sleep to Dream” (1996)
22. Louis Armstrong “West End Blues” (1928)
23. Arrested Development “Tennessee” (1992)
24. Artists United Against Apartheid “Sun City” (1985)
25. Australian Crawl “Reckless (Don't Be So)” (1983)
26. The Avalanches “Since I Left You” (2001)
27. Average White Band “Pick Up the Pieces” (1974)

B
28. The B-52's “Rock Lobster” (1979)
29. Badfinger “No Matter What” (1970)
30. Badly Drawn Boy “Stone on the Water” (2000)

31. Joan Baez “Silver Dagger” (1960)
32. Anita Baker “Caught Up in the Rapture” (1986)
33. Chet Baker “Let's Get Lost” (1943)
34. The Band “The Weight” (1968)
35. The Band “I Shall Be Released” (1968)
36. The Band “Long Black Veil” (1968)
37. The Band “Tears of Rage” (1968)
38. The Band “King Harvest Will Surely Come” (1969)
39. The Band “Rag Mama Rag” (1969)
40. The Band “Arcadian Driftwood” (1975)

41. Bangles “Manic Monday” (1986)
42. The Barracudas “I Wish It Could Be 1965 Again” (1981)
43. John Barry Seven & Orchestra “The James Bond Theme” (1962)
44. Basement Jaxx “Where's Your Head At?” (2001)
45. Count Basie “One O'Clock Jump” (1937)
46. The Beach Boys “Good Vibrations” (1966)
47. The Beach Boys “God Only Knows” (1966)
48. The Beach Boys “Surf’s Up” (1971)
49. Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party” (1986)
50. Beastie Boys “Hey Ladies” (1989)

51. The Beatles with Tony Sheridan “Cry for a Shadow” (1961)
52. The Beatles “Love Me Do” (1962)
53. The Beatles “Please Please Me” (1963)
54. The Beatles “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” (1963)
55. The Beatles “She Loves You” (1963)
56. The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963)
57. The Beatles “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964)
58. The Beatles “I Feel Fine” (1964)
59. The Beatles “In My Life” (1965)
60. The Beatles “Ticket to Ride” (1965)

61. The Beatles “Day Tripper” (1965)
62. The Beatles “Rain” (1966)
63. The Beatles “Taxman” (1966)
64. The Beatles “She Said She Said” (1966)
65. The Beatles “Got to Get You into My Life” (1966)
66. The Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” (1967)
67. The Beatles “A Day in the Life” (1967)
68. The Beatles “Within You Without You” (1967)
69. The Beatles “I Am the Walrus” (1967)
70. The Beatles “Hey Jude” (1968)

71. The Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (1968)
72. The Beatles “Helter Skelter” (1968)
73. The Beatles “It's All Too Much” (1967)
74. The Beatles “Come Together” (1969)
75. The Beatles “I Want You (She's So Heavy)” (1969)
76. The Beatles “The End” (1969)
77. The Beatles “Hey Bulldog” (1969)
78. The Beatles with Billy Preston “Get Back” (1969)
79. The Beatles “Across the Universe” (1970)
80. The Beatles “I Me Mine” (1970)

81. Beck “Loser” (1993)
82. Beck “Where It's At” (1996)
83. Jeff Beck “Beck's Bolero” (1968)
84. Bee Gees “Spicks and Specks” (1966)
85. Bee Gees “To Love Somebody” (1967)
86. Bee Gees “Jive Talkin'“ (1975)
87. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
88. Belle & Sebastian “It Could Have Been a Brilliant Career” (1998)
89. Chuck Berry “Maybellene” (1955)
90. Chuck Berry “Too Much Monkey Business” (1956)

91. Chuck Berry “Johnny B. Goode” (1958)
92. Beyoncé with Jay-Z “Crazy in Love” (2003)
93. Big Brother & the Holding Company “Ball and Chain” (1968)
94. Big Brother & the Holding Company “Summertime” (1968)
95. Big Country “In a Big Country” (1983)
96. Big Star “In the Street” (1972)
97. The Birthday Party “King Ink” (1981)
98. Björk “Big Time Sensuality” (1993)
99. Björk “It's Oh So Quiet (Blow a Fuse)” (1995)
100. Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake “Where Is the Love?” (2003)


101. Black Sabbath “Iron Man” (1970)
102. Blind Faith “Presence of the Lord” (1969)
103. Blondie “X-Offender” (1976)
104. Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1978)
105. Blondie “The Tide Is High” (1980)
106. Blood, Sweat & Tears “And When I Die” (1969)
107. Blur “Girls and Boys” (1994)
108. Blur “Song 2” (1997)
109. Bomb the Bass “Beat Dis” (1988)
110. Bono & Daniel Lanois “Falling at Your Feet” (2003)

111. The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band “Death Cab for Cutie” (1967)
112. Booker T. & the MG’s “Time Is Tight” (1969)
113. David Bowie “Space Oddity” (1969)
114. David Bowie “Changes” (1972)
115. David Bowie “Suffragette City” (1972)
116. David Bowie “Young Americans” (1975)
117. David Bowie “Heroes” (1977)
118. David Bowie “Sound and Vision” (1977)
119. David Bowie “Modern Love” (1983)
120. The Boys Next Door “Shivers” (1979)

121. Billy Bragg “Levi Stubbs' Tears” (1986)
122. Billy Bragg “Greetings to the New Brunette” (1986)
123. Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats “Rocket 88” (1951)
124. Brinsley Schwarz “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding” (1974)
125. David Bromberg “Statesboro Blues/Church Bell Blues” (1974)
126. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown “Fire” (1968)
127. Bobby Brown “My Prerogative” (1988)
128. James Brown “Please Please Please” (1956)
129. James Brown “Lost Someone” (1961)
130. James Brown “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” (1965)

131. Jackson Browne “Fountain of Sorrow” (1974)
132. Dave Brubeck Quartet “Take Five” (1959)
133. Jack Bruce “Theme from an Imaginary Western” (1969)
134. Jeff Buckley “Last Goodbye” (1994)
135. Tim Buckley “Song to the Siren” (1970)
136. Tim Buckley “Get on Top of Me Woman” (1972)
137. Buffalo Springfield “For What It’s Worth” (1967)
138. Buffalo Springfield “Mr. Soul” (1967)
139. Johnny Burnette & the Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio “Train Kept-a-Rollin’” (1956)
140. Burning Spear “Marcus Garvey” (1975)

141. Kate Bush “Wuthering Heights” (1978)
142. Kate Bush “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” (1985)
143. The Buzzcocks “Orgasm Addict” (1977)
144. The Buzzcocks “Ever Fallen in Love” (1978)
145. The Byrds “Mr. Tambourine Man” (1965)
146. The Byrds “Eight Miles High” (1966)

C
147. John Cage “4:33” (1952)
148. John Cage “Andalucia” (1973)
149. John Cale “Fear Is a Man’s Best Friend” (1974)
150. John Cale & Brian Eno “Lay My Love” (1990)

151. Glen Campbell “Wichita Lineman” (1968)
152. Canned Heat “Refried Boogie” (1968)
153. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band “Moonlight on Vermont” (1969)
154. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band “Making Love to a Vampire with a Monkey on My Knee” (1980)
155. Mary Chapin Carpenter “Passionate Kisses” (1992)
156. Carpenters “Superstar” (1971)
157. James Carr “The Dark End of the Street” (1967)
158. Jim Carroll Band “People Who Died” (1980)
159. Johnny Cash “Folsom Prison Blues” (1955)
160. Johnny Cash “I Walk the Line” (1956)

161. Johnny Cash “Ring of Fire” (1963)
162. Johnny Cash “What Is Truth?” (1970)
163. Johnny Cash “Drive On” (1994)
164. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “The Mercy Seat” (1988)
165. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds “Into My Arms” (1997)
166. Kasey Chambers “The Captain” (1999)
167. Ray Charles “Lonely Avenue” (1956)
168. Ray Charles “What’d I Say” (1959)
169. Cheap Trick “Surrender” (1978)
170. Cheap Trick “I Want You to Want Me (live)” (1979)

171. The Chemical Brothers with Noel Gallagher “The Setting Sun” (1996)
172. Neneh Cherry “Buffalo Stance” (1988)
173. Chic “Le Freak” (1978)
174. Chic “Good Times” (1979)
175. Alex Chilton “Bangkok” (1977)
176. The Clash “Police and Thieves” (1977)
177. The Clash “Stay Free” (1978)
178. The Clash “London Calling” (1979)
179. Jimmy Cliff “The Harder They Come” (1972)
180. Patsy Cline “Crazy” (1961)

181. Bruce Cockburn “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” (1984)
182. Leonard Cohen “Suzanne” (1967)
183. Leonard Cohen “Bird on a Wire” (1969)
184. Leonard Cohen “Chelsea Hotel #2” (1974)
185. Leonard Cohen “Tower of Song” (1988)
186. Cold Chisel “Goodbye Astrid Goodbye” (1978)
187. Coldplay “Yellow” (2000)
188. Coldplay “Clocks” (2002)
189. Judy Collins “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” (1964)
190. John Coltrane “My Favorite Things” (1960)

191. John Coltrane “Acknowledgement (A Love Supreme Part I)” (1965)
192. Ry Cooder “I Knew These People” (1970)
193. Ry Cooder “Hey Porter” (1972)
194. Sam Cooke “Bring It on Home to Me” (1962)
195. Coolio with L.V. “Gangsta’s Paradise” (1995)
196. Alice Cooper “I’m Eighteen” (1971)
197. Alice Cooper “Is It My Body?” (1971)
198. Chick Corea & Return to Forever “Return to Forever” (1972)
199. Elvis Costello “I’m Not Angry” (1977)
200. Elvis Costello & the Attractions “Radio Radio” (1978)


201. Elvis Costello “Psycho” (1979)
202. Elvis Costello “I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down” (1980)
203. Elvis Costello “Pills and Soap” (1983)
204. The Count Five “Psychotic Reaction” (1966)
205. Counting Crows “Mr. Jones” (1993)
206. The Cramps “The Mad Daddy” (1980)
207. Cream “Spoonful” (1966)
208. Cream “Sunshine of Your Love” (1967)
209. Cream “Tales of Brave Ulysses” (1967)
210. Creedence Clearwater Revival “Suzie Q” (1968)

211. Creedence Clearwater Revival “Fortunate Son” (1969)
212. Creedence Clearwater Revival “Up Around the Bend” (1970)
213. David Crosby “What Are Their Names?” (1971)
214. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young “Helpless” (1970)
215. Sheryl Crow “All I Wanna Do” (1993)
216. Crowded House “Don’t Dream It’s Over” (1987)
217. Crowded House “Weather with You” (1992)
218. The Cruel Sea “Better Get a Lawyer” (1984)
219. The Crystals “Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)” (1963)
220. The Cult “She Sells Sanctuary” (1985)

221. Culture “Two Sevens Clash” (1977)
222. Culture Club “Karma Chameleon” (1983)
223. Stephen Cummings “She Set Fire to the House” (1988)
224. Stephen Cummings “When Love Comes Back to Haunt You” (1989)
225. The Cure “Killing an Arab” (1978)
226. The Cure “Close to Me” (1985)

D
227. Daddy Cool “Eagle Rock” (1971)
228. The Damned “Neat Neat Neat” (1977)
229. Bobby Darin “Mack the Knife” (1959)
230. Bobby Darin “Beyond the Sea (La Mer)” (1960)

231. Miles Davis “So What” (1959)
232. Miles Davis “In a Silent Way” (1969)
233. Reverend Gary Davis “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” (1961)
234. Spencer Davis Group “Gimme Some Lovin’” (1966)
235. The DB's “Black and White” (1981)
236. De La Soul “Me, Myself and I” (1989)
237. Deee-Lite “Groove Is in the Heart” (1990)
238. Deep Purple “Smoke on the Water” (1973)
239. Desmond Dekker & The Aces “The Israelites” (1969)
240. Derek & the Dominos “Layla” (1971)

241. Devo “Mongoloid” (1977)
242. Devo “Whip It” (1980)
243. Bo Diddley “Bo Diddley” (1955)
244. Bo Diddley “Who Do You Love?” (1956)
245. Dido “White Flag” (2003)
246. Dion “Runaround Sue” (1961)
247. Dire Straits “Sultans of Swing” (1978)
248. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985)
249. The Dixie Hummingbirds “Christian's Automobile” (1957)
250. DJ Shadow “Building Steam with a Grain of Salt” (1996)

251. Do Re Mi “Man Overboard” (1982)
252. Donovan “Season of the Witch” (1966)
253. The Doors “Light My Fire” (1967)
254. The Doors “L.A. Woman” (1971)
255. Dr. Dre with Snoop Dogg “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” (1992)
256. Dr. Feelgood “She Does It Right” (1975)
257. Dr. John “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” (1968)
258. Dragon “April Sun in Cuba” (1977)
259. Nick Drake “Way to Blue” (1969)
260. Nick Drake “Hazey Jane II” (1971)

261. Dream Syndicate “Tell Me When It’s Over” (1982)
262. Dream Syndicate “John Coltrane Stereo Blues” (1984)
263. Duran Duran “Girls on Film” (1981)
264. Ian Dury & the Blockheads “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll” (1977)
265. Bob Dylan “Girl from the North Country” (1963)
266. Bob Dylan “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (1964)
267. Bob Dylan “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol” (1964)
268. Bob Dylan “Like a Rolling Stone” (1965)
269. Bob Dylan “Ballad of a Thin Man” (1965)
270. Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965)

271. Bob Dylan “Love Minus Zero/No Limit” (1965)
272. Bob Dylan “Highway 61 Revisited” (1965)
273. Bob Dylan “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” (1965)
274. Bob Dylan “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” (1966)
275. Bob Dylan “Visions of Johanna” (1966)
276. Bob Dylan “Just Like a Woman” (1966)
277. Bob Dylan & the Band “Bessie Smith” (1967)
278. Bob Dylan “All Along the Watchtower” (1967)
279. Bob Dylan “I Threw It All Away” (1969)
280. Bob Dylan “All the Tired Horses” (1970)

281. Bob Dylan “Copper Kettle” (1970)
282. Bob Dylan “Went to See the Gypsy” (1970)
283. Bob Dylan “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (1973)
284. Bob Dylan & the Band “Forever Young” (1974)
285. Bob Dylan & the Band “Dirge” (1974)
286. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” (1975)
287. Bob Dylan “Hurricane” (1975)
288. Bob Dylan “Idiot Wind” (1975)
289. Bob Dylan “Gotta Serve Somebody” (1979)
290. Bob Dylan “Blind Willie McTell” (1983)

291. Bob Dylan “Most of the Time” (1989)

E
292. Eagles “Hotel California” (1976)
293. Steve Earle “Copperhead Road” (1988)
294. Steve Earle “I Still Carry You Around” (1997)
295. Steve Earle “John Walker Blues” (2002)
296. The Easybeats “Friday on My Mind” (1966)
297. Eels “Novocaine for the Soul” (1996)
298. Eels “Grace Kelly Blues” (2000)
299. Duke Ellington “Take the ‘A’ Train” (1941)
300. Duke Ellington “Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue” (1956)

301. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott “Get Ur Freak On” (2001)
302. Joe Ely “Cornbread Moon” (1978)
303. Eminem “My Name Is...” (1998)
304. Eminem with Dido “Stan” (2000)
305. Brian Eno “Baby’s on Fire” (1974)
306. Brian Eno “1/1” (1978)
307. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983)
308. Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again” (1984)
309. Eurythmics “Would I Lie to You?” (1985)
310. The Everly Brothers “Bye Bye Love” (1957)

311. Everything But the Girl “I Don't Want to Talk about It” (1988)
312. Everything But the Girl “Before Today” (1996)

F
313. The Faces “Debris” (1971)
314. John Fahey “Poor Boys Long Way from Home” (1965)
315. Fairport Convention “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” (1969)
316. Fairport Convention “A Sailor’s Life” (1969)
317. Marianne Faithfull “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” (1979)
318. The Fall “Totally Wired” (1980)
319. Fatboy Slim “The Rockafeller Skank” (1998)
320. Bryan Ferry “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (1973)

321. Fine Young Cannibals “Good Thing” (1989)
322. Ella Fitzgerald “Night and Day” (1956)
323. Roberta Flack “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (1969)
324. Roberta Flack “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (1973)
325. The Flamin’ Groovies “Shake Some Action” (1976)
326. The Flaming Lips “Do You Realize?” (2002)
327. The Flatlanders “Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown” (1980)
328. Fleetwood Mac “Black Magic Woman” (1968)
329. Fleetwood Mac “Albatross” (1968)
330. Fleetwood Mac “Oh Well” (1969)

331. Fleetwood Mac “Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)” (1975)
332. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” (1976)
333. Fleetwood Mac “Tusk” (1979)
334. Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” (1983)
335. Aretha Franklin “Respect” (1967)
336. Aretha Franklin “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman” (1967)
337. Aretha Franklin “I Say a Little Prayer” (1968)
338. Free “All Right Now” (1970)
339. Freelance Hellraiser “Smells Like Booty” (2002)
340. Fugees “Fu-Gee-La” (1995)

341. The Fugs “Boobs a Lot” (1965)
342. Bobby Fuller Four “I Fought the Law” (1966)
343. Fun Lovin' Criminals “Love Unlimited” (1998)
344. Funkadelic “Maggot Brain” (1971)

G
345. Peter Gabriel “Solsbury Hill” (1977)
346. Peter Gabriel “Biko” (1980)
347. Peter Gabriel “Games without Frontiers” (1980)
348. Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986)
349. Gang of Four “Love Like Anthrax” (1978)
350. Gang Starr “Take It Personal” (1992)

351. Judy Garland “Over the Rainbow” (1939)
352. Marvin Gaye “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968)
353. Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” (1971)
354. Marvin Gaye “Let’s Get It On” (1973)
355. Genesis “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” (1974)
356. Bobbie Gentry “Ode to Billie Joe” (1967)
357. Thea Gilmore “Mainstream” (2003)
358. Philip Glass “Koyaanisqatsi” (1982)
359. Philip Glass “Forgetting” (1986)
360. The Go-Betweens “Cattle and Cane” (1983)

361. The Go-Betweens “Love Goes On” (1988)
362. The Go-Go's “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981)
363. Gorillaz “Clint Eastwood” (2001)
364. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message” (1982)
365. The Grateful Dead “Morning Dew” (1967)
366. The Grateful Dead “Uncle John’s Band” (1970)
367. The Grateful Dead “Box of Rain” (1970)
368. Macy Gray “I Try” (1999)
369. Green Day “American Idiot” (2004)
370. Al Green “I Can’t Get Next to You” (1970)

371. Al Green “Let’s Stay Together” (1971)
372. Al Green “Tired of Being Alone” (1971)
373. Al Green “Take Me to the River” (1974)
374. The Guess Who “Shakin’ All Over” (1965)
375. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987)
376. Woody Guthrie “This Land Is Your Land” (1944)

H
377. Merle Haggard “Mama Tried” (1968)
378. Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954)
379. Herbie Hancock “Watermelon Man” (1962)
380. Herbie Hancock “Chameleon” (1973)

381. Herbie Hancock “Rock-It” (1983)
382. Emmylou Harris “Sin City” (1975)
383. Emmylou Harris “Wrecking Ball” (1995)
384. George Harrison “Awaiting on You All” (1970)
385. PJ Harvey “Sheela-Na-Gig” (1992)
386. PJ Harvey “Rid of Me” (1993)
387. PJ Harvey “Down by the Water” (1995)
388. Donny Hathaway “The Ghetto” (1970)
389. Isaac Hayes “Theme from Shaft” (1971)
390. Richard Hell & the Voidoids “Blank Generation” (1976)

391. The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Hey Joe” (1966)
392. The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Purple Haze” (1967)
393. The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Little Wing” (1967)
394. The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)” (1968)
395. The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Crosstown Traffic” (1968)
396. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984)
397. Joe Henry “Trampoline” (1996)
398. Carolyn Hester “I'll Fly Away” (1962)
399. Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks “I Scare Myself” (1969)
400. Lauryn Hill “To Zion” (1998)


401. Hole “Doll Parts” (1994)
402. Billie Holiday “Strange Fruit” (1939)
403. Billie Holiday “Body and Soul” (1940)
404. The Hollies “Carrie-Anne” (1967)
405. Buddy Holly & the Crickets “Peggy Sue” (1957)
406. Buddy Holly & the Crickets “True Love Ways” (1958)
407. Hoodoo Gurus “Death Defying” (1985)
408. John Lee Hooker “Boogie Chillen’” (1949)
409. Hot Tuna “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” (1971)
410. Howlin’ Wolf “The Killing Floor” (1964)

411. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)
412. The Hummingbirds “If You Leave” (1989)
413. Hunters & Collectors “Throw Your Arms Around Me” (1984)
414. Hunters & Collectors “Say Goodbye” (1986)
415. Hüsker Dü “Pink Turns to Blue” (1984)

I
416. Ice-T “New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme)” (1991)
417. The Impressions “People Get Ready” (1965)
418. The Incredible String Band “A Very Cellular Song” (1968)
419. INXS “Need You Tonight” (1987)
420. Iron Butterfly “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (1968)
J
421. The Jackson 5 “I Want You Back” (1969)
422. Janet Jackson “Nasty” (1986)
423. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982)
424. Wanda Jackson “Let's Have a Party” (1960)
425. The Jam “In the City” (1977)
426. The Jam “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight “ (1978)
427. The Jam “That’s Entertainment” (1981)
428. Etta James “I’d Rather Go Blind” (1968)
429. Harry James Orchestra with Frank Sinatra “All or Nothing at All” (1939)
430. Rick James “Super Freak” (1981)

431. Tommy James & the Shondells “Hanky Panky” (1966)
432. Tommy James & the Shondells “Crimson and Clover” (1968)
433. Jan & Dean “Surf City” (1963)
434. Japan “Ghosts” (1981)
435. Jefferson Airplane “White Rabbit” (1967)
436. Jefferson Airplane “We Can Be Together” (1969)
437. Garland Jeffries “Wild in the Streets” (1977)
438. The Jesus & Mary Chain “Just Like Honey” (1985)
439. Jet “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” (2003)
440. Jethro Tull “Locomotive Breath” (1971)

441. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981)
442. Elton John “Your Song” (1970)
443. Elton John “Tiny Dancer” (1971)
444. Elton John “Bennie and the Jets” (1973)
445. Elton John “Philadelphia Freedom” (1975)
446. Blind Willie Johnson “John the Revelator” (1930)
447. Robert Johnson “Cross Road Blues (aka ‘Crossroads’)” (1936)
448. George Jones “She Thinks I Still Care” (1962)
449. George Jones “A Good Year for the Roses” (1970)
450. George Jones “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (1980)

451. Norah Jones “Come Away with Me” (2002)
452. Rickie Lee Jones “Chuck E.’s in Love” (1979)
453. Rickie Lee Jones “The Horses” (1989)
454. Janis Joplin “Little Girl Blue” (1969)
455. Janis Joplin “Cry Baby” (1971)
456. Louis Jordan “Caldonia Boogie” (1945)
457. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980)

K
458. Kelis “Caught Out There” (1999)
459. Paul Kelly “Leaps and Bounds” (1986)
460. Paul Kelly & the Messengers “From Little Things Big Things Grow” (1991)

461. Alicia Keys “A Woman’s Worth” (2001)
462. King Crimson “21st Century Schizoid Man” (1969)
463. Ben E. King “Stand by Me” (1961)
464. Carole King “I Feel the Earth Move” (1971)
465. The Kingsmen “Louie Louie” (1963)
466. The Kinks “You Really Got Me” (1964)
467. The Kinks “Waterloo Sunset” (1967)
468. The Kinks “Days” (1968)
469. The Kinks “Lola” (1970)
470. Kiss “Rock and Roll All Nite” (live, 1975)

471. Kiss “Beth” (1976)
472. The KLF “America: What Time Is Love?” (1992)
473. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979)
474. Gladys Knight & the Pips “Midnight Train to Georgia” (1973)
475. Kraftwerk “Autobahn” (1974)
476. Kraftwerk “Trans-Europe Express” (1977)
477. Lenny Kravitz “Are You Gonna Go My Way” (1993)
478. Ed Kuepper “Everything I’ve Got Belongs to You” (1990)
479. Fela Kuti “Original Sufferhead” (1980)
480. Kyuss “Freedom Run” (1992)

L
481. LaBelle “Lady Marmalade” (1974)
482. The La’s “There She Goes” (1988, remix: 1990)
483. The Last Poets “Wake Up, Niggers” (1970)
484. Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (1984)
485. Led Zeppelin “Dazed and Confused” (1969)
486. Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” (1969)
487. Led Zeppelin “Gallows Pole” (1970)
488. Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)
489. Led Zeppelin “When the Levee Breaks” (1971)
490. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter “Goodnight Irene” (1933)

491. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter “The Midnight Special” (1934)
492. Peggy Lee “Fever” (1957)
493. The Legendary Stardust Cowboy “Paralyzed” (1968)
494. The Lemonheads “My Drug Buddy” (1992)
495. John Lennon “Cold Turkey” (1969)
496. John Lennon “God” (1970)
497. John Lennon “Instant Karma (We All Shine On)” (1970)
498. John Lennon “Working Class Hero” (1970)
499. John Lennon “Imagine” (1971)
500. John Lennon “Jealous Guy” (1971)


501. John Lennon “How Do You Sleep?” (1971)
502. Jerry Lee Lewis “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” (1957)
503. Lipstick Killers “Hindu Gods of Love” (1989)
504. Little Eva “The Loco-Motion” (1962)
505. Little Feat “Easy to Slip” (1972)
506. Little Feat “Willin’” (1978)
507. Little Feat “Dixie Chicken” (1978)
508. Little Richard “Tutti Frutti” (1955)
509. LL Cool J “I Can’t Live without My Radio” (1985)
510. Julie London “Cry Me a River” (1955)

511. Los Lobos “Will the Wolf Survive?” (1984)
512. Love Me “Beautiful Lie” (2002)
513. The Loved Ones “The Loved One” (1966)
514. Lyle Lovett “If I Had a Boat” (1988)
515. The Lovin’ Spoonful “Summer in the City” (1966)
516. Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye” (1996)
517. Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” (1956)
518. Loretta Lynn “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (1970)

M
519. Kirsty MacColl “Walking Down Madison” (1991)
520. Kirsty MacColl “He’s on the Beach” (1998)

521. Madness “One Step Beyond” (1979)
522. Madonna “Holiday” (1983)
523. Madonna “Borderline” (1984)
524. Madonna “Like a Virgin” (1984)
525. Madonna “Into the Groove” (1985)
526. Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989)
527. Madonna “Ray of Light” (1998)
528. Madonna “Music” (2000)
529. Magazine “Shot by Both Sides” (1978)
530. Magic Dirt “Bodysnatcher” (1995)

531. The Magnetic Fields “I Don’t Believe in the Sun” (1999)
532. The Mahavishnu Orchestra “The Inner Mounting Flame” (1971)
533. Jesse Malin “Wendy” (2002)
534. Mama Cass “Dream a Little Dream of Me” (1968)
535. The Mamas & the Papas “California Dreamin’” (1966)
536. Henry Mancini “Peter Gunn” (1959)
537. Henry Mancini with Audrey Hepburn “Moon River” (1961)
538. Aimee Mann “I Could Hurt You Now” (1993)
539. Aimee Mann “Deathly” (1999)
540. Bob Marley & the Wailers “Stir It Up” (1973)

541. Bob Marley & the Wailers “I Shot the Sheriff” (1973)
542. Bob Marley & the Wailers “No Woman, No Cry” (1974)
543. M/A/R/R/S “Pump Up the Volume” (1987)
544. John Martyn “I’d Rather Be the Devil” (1973)
545. Hugh Masekela “Grazing in the Grass” (1968)
546. Massive Attack “Unfinished Sympathy” (1991)
547. Massive Attack “Karmacoma” (1994)
548. Massive Attack “Teardrop” (1998)
549. Masters Apprentices “Undecided” (1966)
550. Max Q “Way of the World” (1989)

551. Curtis Mayfield “Move on Up” (1970)
552. Curtis Mayfield “Freddie's Dead (Theme from ‘Superfly’)” (1972)
553. Mazzy Star “Fade into You” (1993)
554. The MC5 “Kick Out the Jams” (1969)
555. The MC5 “Shakin’ Street” (1970)
556. The MC5 “Sister Anne” (1971)
557. Paul McCartney & Wings “Band on the Run” (1973)
558. Kate & Anna McGarrigle “Heart Like a Wheel” (1976)
559. Moses McHunu “Qhwayilahle (Leave Him Alone)” (1985)
560. Grant McLennan “Over Stones for You” (1991)
561. John Cougar Mellencamp “Pink Houses” (1983)
562. The Melodians “Rivers of Babylon” (1970)
563. Memphis Jug Band “Stealin’ Stealin’” (1928)
564. Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 “Mas Que Nada” (1966)
565. Mental as Anything “The Nips Are Getting Bigger” (1979)
566. Mercury Rev “Opus 40” (1998)
567. Ethel Merman “I Got Rhythm” (1930)
568. Metallica “Jump in the Fire” (1983)
569. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991)
570. Metallica “Nothing Else Matters” (1991)

571. George Michael “I Want Your Sex” (1987)
572. Midnight Oil “The Power and the Passion” (1982)
573. Midnight Oil “Beds Are Burning” (1988)
574. Midnight Oil “Blue Sky Mine” (1990)
575. Roger Miller “King of the Road” (1965)
576. Liza Minnelli “Cabaret” (1972)
577. Kylie Minogue “I Should Be So Lucky” (1988)
578. The Miracles “The Tracks of My Tears” (1965)
579. The Missing Links “You’re Driving Me Insane” (1965)
580. Joni Mitchell “Big Yellow Taxi” (1970)

581. Joni Mitchell “Circle Game” (1970)
582. Joni Mitchell “A Case of You” (1971)
583. Joni Mitchell “The Last Time I Saw Richard” (1971)
584. Joni Mitchell “Free Man in Paris” (1974)
585. Joni Mitchell “Hissing of Summer Lawns” (1975)
586. Moby “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” (1999)
587. The Modern Lovers “Roadrunner” (1975)
588. Thelonious Monk “Round Midnight” (aka “Round About Midnight”) (1947)
589. The Monkees “I’m a Believer” (1966)
590. The Monkees “Goin’ Down” (1967)

591. The Monkees “Porpoise Song” (1968)
592. Bill Monroe “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (1947)
593. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995)
594. Van Morrison “Madame George” (1968)
595. Van Morrison “Cyprus Avenue” (1968)
596. Van Morrison “Listen to the Lion” (1972)
597. Van Morrison “You Don’t Pull No Punches But You Don’t Push the River” (1974)
598. Van Morrison “Song of Being a Child” (1998)
599. Mott the Hoople “All the Young Dudes” (1972)
600. Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick” (1988)


601. Maria Muldaur “Midnight at the Oasis” (1974)
602. My Bloody Valentine “When You Sleep” (1991)
N
603. Fred Neill “The Other Side of This Life” (1965)
604. The Neville Brothers “Mona Lisa” (1981)
605. New Order “Blue Monday” (1983)
606. New Riders of the Purple Sage “Henry” (1971)
607. New York Dolls “Babylon” (1974)
608. Randy Newman “I Think It's Going to Rain Today” (1968)
609. Randy Newman “Sail Away” (1972)
610. Randy Newman “God’s Song (That’s Why I Love Mankind)” (1972)

611. Randy Newman “Political Science” (1972)
612. Nico “These Days” (1967)
613. Nico “Frozen Warnings” (1968)
614. Harry Nilsson “Everybody's Talkin’” (1968)
615. 1910 Fruitgum Company “One Two Three Red Light” (1968)
616. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
617. Nirvana “Lithium” (1991)
618. Nirvana “Aneurysm” (1991)
619. Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)
620. Nirvana “All Apologies” (1993)

621. Nirvana “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” (1993)
622. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)” (1972)
623. N.W.A. “Fuck tha Police” (1989)
624. Laura Nyro “Stoned Soul Picnic” (1968)

O
625. Oasis “Live Forever” (1994)
626. Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995)
627. Oasis “Morning Glory” (1995)
628. Phil Ochs “I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore” (1965)
629. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
630. The Offspring “Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated)” (1994)

631. The Only Ones “Another Girl, Another Planet” (1978)
632. Yoko Ono “Walking on Thin Ice” (1981)
633. Roy Orbison “Ooby Dooby” (1956)
634. Roy Orbison “Only the Lonely” (1960)
635. Roy Orbison “In Dreams” (1963)
636. Roy Orbison “(Oh) Pretty Woman” (1964)
637. Beth Orton “She Cries Your Name” (1997)
638. OutKast “Ms. Jackson” (2000)
639. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2003)

P
640. Robert Palmer “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley” (1974)

641. Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” (1986)
642. Graham Parker “White Honey” (1976)
643. Parliament “Flashlight” (1977)
644. The Passengers “Girlfriend’s Boyfriend” (1983)
645. Charley Patton “Pony Blues” (1929)
646. Pavement “Cut Your Hair” (1994)
647. Pearl Jam “Alive” (1991)
648. Pearl Jam “Daughter” (1993)
649. Pearl Jam “Spin the Black Circle” (1994)
650. Pearls Before Swine “Translucent Carriages” (1968)

651. Pentangle “Light Flight” (1969)
652. Pere Ubu “Caligari's Mirror” (1978)
653. Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes” (1956)
654. Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls” (1985)
655. Peter, Paul & Mary “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963)
656. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “American Girl” (1976)
657. Liz Phair “Fuck and Run” (1993)
658. Wilson Pickett “In the Midnight Hour” (1965)
659. Pink Floyd “Interstellar Overdrive” (1967)
660. Pink Floyd “Us and Them” (1973)

661. Pink Floyd “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” (1975)
662. Pink Floyd “Comfortably Numb” (1979)
663. Gene Pitney “Town without Pity” (1961)
664. Gene Pitney “Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa” (1963)
665. Pixies “Monkey Gone to Heaven” (1989)
666. Pixies “Debaser” (1989)
667. Plastic Bertrand “Ca Plane Pour Moi” (1978)
668. PM Dawn “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” (1991)
669. The Pogues “Dirty Old Town” (1985)
670. The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl “Fairytale of New York” (1987)

671. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
672. Iggy Pop “Lust for Life” (1977)
673. Portishead “Glory Box” (1995)
674. Powderfinger “Like a Dog” (2000)
675. Prefab Sprout “When Love Breaks Down” (1984)
676. Elvis Presley “Mystery Train” (1955)
677. Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956)
678. Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956)
679. Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (1956)
680. Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock” (1957)

681. Elvis Presley “All Shook Up“ (1957)
682. Elvis Presley “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (1960)
683. Elvis Presley “Viva Las Vegas” (1964)
684. Elvis Presley “Suspicious Minds” (1969)
685. Elvis Presley “In the Ghetto” (1969)
686. Pretenders “Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)” (1979)
687. The Pretty Things “Don’t Bring Me Down” (1964)
688. Primal Scream “Loaded” (1990)
689. Prince “When You Were Mine” (1980)
690. Prince “Little Red Corvette” (1982)

691. Prince “When Doves Cry” (1984)
692. Prince “Sign ‘O’ the Times” (1987)
693. Prince Buster “Al Capone” (1967)
694. John Prine “Sam Stone” (1971)
695. Procol Harum “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (1967)
696. The Prodigy “Firestarter” (1996)
697. Professor Longhair (Roy Byrd and His Blue Scholars) “Tipitina” (1953)
698. Psychedelic Furs “Love My Way” (1982)
699. Public Enemy “Bring the Noise” (1988)
700. Public Enemy “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” (1988)


701. Public Enemy “Welcome to the Terrordome” (1990)
702. Public Enemy “Nighttrain” (1991)
703. Public Image Ltd. “Poptones” (1979)
704. Pulp “Common People” (1995)
Q
705. Suzi Quatro “Can the Can” (1973)
706. Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
707. Queen “Another One Bites the Dust” (1980)
708. Queens of the Stone Age “Do It Again” (2002)
709. Quicksilver Messenger Service “Who Do You Love?” (1969)
R
710. Radio Birdman “I-94” (1976)

711. Radiohead “Creep” (1992)
712. Radiohead “Fake Plastic Trees” (1995)
713. Radiohead “No Surprises” (1997)
714. Rage Against the Machine “Killing in the Name” (1992)
715. Bonnie Raitt “I Thought I Was a Child” (1973)
716. Bonnie Raitt “I Can’t Make You Love Me” (1991)
717. Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (1976)
718. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1992)
719. Otis Redding “Try a Little Tenderness” (1966)
720. Otis Redding “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” (1968)

721. Helen Reddy “I Am Woman” (1972)
722. Lou Reed “Walk on the Wild Side” (1972)
723. Lou Reed “Metal Machine Music Part 1” (1975)
724. Lou Reed “Waves of Fear” (1982)
725. Lou Reed “There Is No Time” (1989)
726. The Reels “Quasimodo’s Dream” (1981)
727. R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987)
728. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991)
729. R.E.M. “Everybody Hurts” (1992)
730. R.E.M. “Crush with Eyeliner” (1994)

731. R.E.M. “E-Bow the Letter” (1996)
732. R.E.M. “Hope” (1998)
733. The Replacements “I Will Dare” (1984)
734. The Replacements “Can't Hardly Wait” (1987)
735. The Replacements “Merry Go Round” (1990)
736. Cliff Richard & the Drifters “Move It” (1958)
737. The Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (1965)
738. The Riptides “Tomorrow’s Tears” (1980)
739. Archie Roach “They Took the Children Away” (1990)
740. Max Roach “Driva Man” (1960)

741. Marty Robbins “El Paso” (1959)
742. Marty Robbins “Ghost Riders in the Sky” (1969)
743. Robbie Robertson with U2 “Sweet Fire of Love” (1988)
744. Rodriguez “Sugar Man” (1970)
745. The Rolling Stones “Come On” (1963)
746. The Rolling Stones “It’s All Over Now” (1964)
747. The Rolling Stones “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” (1964)
748. The Rolling Stones “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965)
749. The Rolling Stones “Sympathy for the Devil” (1968)
750. The Rolling Stones “Street Fighting Man” (1968)

751. The Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter” (1969)
752. The Rolling Stones “Love in Vain” (1969)
753. The Rolling Stones “Sister Morphine” (1971)
754. The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (1971)
755. The Rolling Stones “Moonlight Mile” (1971)
756. The Rolling Stones “Happy” (1972)
757. The Rolling Stones “Angie” (1973)
758. The Rolling Stones “Coming Down Again” (1973)
759. The Rolling Stones “It’s Only Rock and Roll But I Like It” (1974)
760. The Rolling Stones “Memory Motel” (1976)

761. The Rolling Stones “Miss You” (1978)
762. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981)
763. The Ronettes “Be My Baby” (1963)
764. Linda Ronstadt “You’re No Good” (1974)
765. The Roots with Coby Chesnutt “The Seed 2.0” (2003)
766. Roxy Music “Do the Strand” (1973)
767. Roxy Music “A Song for Europe” (1973)
768. Roxy Music “More Than This” (1982)
769. Rufus & Chaka Khan “Sweet Thing” (1975)
770. The Runaways “Cherry Bomb” (1976)

771. Run-D.M.C. “It’s Like That” (1983)
772. Todd Rundgren “Hello It’s Me” (1972)
773. Leon Russell “Beware of Darkness” (1971)

S
774. Sade “Your Love Is King” (1984)
775. The Saints “I’m Stranded” (1976)
776. Santana “Oye Como Va” (1971)
777. Boz Scaggs “Loan Me a Dime” (1969)
778. Boz Scaggs “Lowdown” (1976)
779. Jill Scott “Love Rain (Suite)” (2001)
780. Gil Scott-Heron “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” (1970)

781. Sex Pistols “Anarchy in the U.K.” (1976)
782. The Shangri-La's “Remember Walking in the Sand” (1964)
783. Del Shannon “Runaway” (1961)
784. The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1960)
785. Silver Apples “Oscillations” (1968)
786. Simon & Garfunkel “The Sound of Silence” (aka “The Sounds of Silence”) (1965)
787. Simon & Garfunkel “Mrs. Robinson” (1968)
788. Simon & Garfunkel “America” (1968)
789. Simon & Garfunkel “The Boxer” (1969)
790. Simon & Garfunkel “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970)

791. Paul Simon “Graceland” (1986)
792. Paul Simon “You Can Call Me Al” (1986)
793. Nina Simone “Mississippi Goddam” (1964)
794. Nina Simone “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black” (1969)
795. Simple Minds “Promised You a Miracle” (1982)
796. Frank Sinatra “My Funny Valentine” (1954)
797. Frank Sinatra “I Cover the Waterfront” (1957)
798. Frank Sinatra “My Way” (1969)
799. Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood “Some Velvet Morning” (1968)
800. Siouxsie & the Banshees “Christine” (1980)


801. Slade “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” (1972)
802. Sly & the Family Stone “Everyday People” (1968)
803. Sly & the Family Stone “Dance to the Music” (1968)
804. Sly & the Family Stone “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin” (1969)
805. Sly & the Family Stone “Family Affair” (1971)
806. The Small Faces “Lazy Sunday” (1968)
807. Millie Small “My Boy Lollipop” (1964)
808. Smashing Pumpkins “Disarm” (1993)
809. Smashing Pumpkins “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” (1995)
810. Elliott Smith “Miss Misery” (1997)

811. Patti Smith “Piss Factory” (1974)
812. Patti Smith “Land: Horses/Land of a Thousand Dances/La Mer” (1975)
813. Patti Smith “Gloria (in Excelsis Deo)” (1976)
814. Patti Smith “Dancing Barefoot” (1979)
815. Patti Smith “The Jackson Song” (1988)
816. Sammi Smith “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (1971)
817. The Smiths “This Charming Man “ (1983)
818. Smudge “The Outdoor Type” (1997)
819. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981)
820. Soft Machine “Why Are We Sleeping?” (1968)

821. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” (1988)
822. Sonic Youth “Kool Thing” (1990)
823. The Sonics “Strychnine” (1965)
824. The S.O.S. Band “Just Be Good to Me” (1983)
825. Soul II Soul “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” (1989)
826. Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (1998)
827. The Specials with Rico “A Message to You Rudy” (1979)
828. The Specials “Ghost Town” (1981)
829. Split Enz “I Got You” (1980)
830. Dusty Springfield “You Don't Have to Say You Love Me” (1966)

831. Dusty Springfield “Just a Little Lovin’” (1969)
832. Bruce Springsteen “Thunder Road” (1975)
833. Bruce Springsteen “The River” (1980)
834. Bruce Springsteen “Stolen Car” (1980)
835. Bruce Springsteen “Highway Patrolman” (1982)
836. Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
837. Bruce Springsteen “Brilliant Disguise” (1987)
838. Squeeze “Goodbye Girl” (1978)
839. The Staple Singers “Respect Yourself” (1971)
840. Steely Dan “Rikki Don’t Lost That Number” (1974)

841. Steppenwolf “Born to Be Wild” (1968)
842. Rod Stewart “Maggie May” (1971)
843. Sting “They Dance Alone” (1987)
844. The Stone Roses “Fools Gold” (1989)
845. The Stooges “1969” (1969)
846. The Stooges “L.A. Blues” (1970)
847. The Stooges “Search and Destroy” (1973)
848. The Streets “Has It Come to This “ (2001)
849. The Strokes “Is This It” (2001)
850. The Style Council “My Ever Changing Moods” (1984)

851. Suicide “Frankie Teardrop” (1977)
852. Suicide “Dream Baby Dream” (1980)
853. Yma Súmac “Bo Mambo” (1954)
854. Donna Summer “Love to Love You Baby” (1975)
855. The Sunnyboys “Happy Man” (1981)
856. Supertramp “Bloody Well Right” (1975)
857. The Supremes “Stop! In the Name of Love” (1965)
858. Matthew Sweet “Winona” (1991)

T
859. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” (1977)
860. Talking Heads “The Big Country” (1978)

861. Talking Heads “Life During Wartime” (1979)
862. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1981)
863. Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers “Let's Get Funky” (1974)
864. Tears for Fears “Mad World” (1982)
865. Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985)
866. Television “Marquee Moon” (1977)
867. 10cc “I’m Not in Love” (1975)
868. Them “Gloria” (1964)
869. Thin Lizzy “The Boys Are Back in Town” (1976)
870. The 13th Floor Elevators “You're Gonna Miss Me” (1966)
871. Irma Thomas “Ruler of My Heart” (1963)
872. Richard & Linda Thompson “When I Get to the Border” (1974)
873. Richard & Linda Thompson “Don’t Renege on Our Love” (1982)
874. Throbbing Gristle “Beachy Head” (1979)
875. Johnny Thunders “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” (1978)
876. Justin Timberlake “Senorita” (2002)
877. TLC “Waterfalls” (1995)
878. Tom Tom Club “Genius of Love” (1982)
879. Tone Loc “Wild Thing” (1988)
880. Toots & the Maytals “Pressure Drop” (1970)

881. Tortoise “DJ’ed” (1996)
882. Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder “Bonde” (1994)
883. Traffic “Dear Mr. Fantasy” (1967)
884. Traffic “Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” (1971)
885. The Trashmen “Surfin’ Bird” (1963)
886. T-Rex “Get It On (Bang a Gong)” (1971)
887. T-Rex “Children of the Revolution” (1972)
888. A Tribe Called Quest “Excursion” (1991)
889. Tricky “Overcome” (1995)
890. The Triffids “St. James Infirmary” (1984)

891. The Triffids “Wide Open Road” (1986)
892. The Troggs “Wild Thing” (1966)
893. The Troggs “Love Is All Around” (1968)
894. Ike & Tina Turner “River Deep, Mountain High” (1966)

U
895. U2 “I Will Follow” (1980)
896. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983)
897. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984)
898. U2 “With Or Without You” (1987)
899. U2 “God Part II” (1988)
900. U2 “One” (1991)

901. U2 “Zoo Station” (1991)
902. U2 “Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of” (2000)
903. U2 “Kite” (2000)
904. UB40 “Red Red Wine” (1983)
905. Underworld “Born Slippy” (1995)
906. Unkle “Rabbit in Your Headlights” (1998)
V
907. Ritchie Valens “La Bamba” (1958)
908. Van Halen “Jump” (1983)
909. Townes Van Zandt “Tecumseh Valley” (1968)
910. Townes Van Zandt “Pancho and Lefty” (1972)

911. Vanilla Fudge “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (1967)
912. Suzanne Vega “Luka” (1987)
913. The Velvet Underground “Heroin” (1967)
914. The Velvet Underground “I'm Waiting for the Man” (1967)
915. The Velvet Underground “All Tomorrow’s Parties” (1967)
916. The Velvet Underground “European Son” (1967)
917. The Velvet Underground “Sister Ray” (1968)
918. The Velvet Underground “Pale Blue Eyes” (1969)
919. The Velvet Underground “Sweet Jane” (1970)
920. The Velvet Underground “Rock and Roll” (1970)

921. The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1997)
922. Village People “Y.M.C.A.” (1978)
923. Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (1956)
924. Violent Femmes “Blister in the Sun” (1983)

W
925. Loudon Wainwright III “Rufus Is a Tit Man” (1975)
926. Loudon Wainwright III “Motel Blues” (1979)
927. Rufus Wainwright “Hallelujah” (2001)
928. Rufus Wainwright “Want” (2003)
929. Tom Waits “Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night” (1974)
930. Tom Waits “Tom Traubert’s Blues (Four Sheets to the Wind in Copenhagen)” (1976)

931. Tom Waits “16 Shells from a Thirty-Ought Six” (1983)
932. Tom Waits “Time” (1985)
933. Tom Waits “Innocence When You Dream” (1987)
934. Tom Waits “Cold Water” (1999)
935. War with Eric Burdon “Spill the Wine” (1970)
936. Dionne Warwick “Walk on By” (1964)
937. Dionne Warwick “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” (1968)
938. Muddy Waters “Rollin’ Stone” (1950)
939. Muddy Waters “I Just Want to Make Love to You” (1954)
940. Muddy Waters “Got My Mojo Working” (1957)

941. Doc Watson “Deep River Blues” (1964)
942. Gillian Welch “Tear My Stillhouse Down” (1996)
943. The White Stripes “Fell in Love with a Girl” (2001)
944. The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” (2003)
945. Paul Whiteman with George Gershwin “Rhapsody in Blue” (1924)
946. The Who “My Generation” (1965)
947. The Who “I Can’t Explain” (1965)
948. The Who “I Can See for Miles” (1967)
949. The Who “Pinball Wizard” (1969)
950. The Who “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (1971)

951. The Who “Baba O’Riley” (1971)
952. Wilco with Billy Bragg “Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key” (1998)
953. Wilco “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” (2001)
954. Hank Williams “Cold, Cold Heart” (1951)
955. Hank Williams “Your Cheatin’ Heart” (1953)
956. Lucinda Williams “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” (1998)
957. Lucinda Williams “Essence” (2001)
958. Cassandra Wilson “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (1996)
959. Dennis Wilson “River Song” (1977)
960. Jackie Wilson “Lonely Teardrops” (1958)

961. Jackie Wilson “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher” (1967)
962. Bobby Womack “Woman’s Gotta Have It” (1972)
963. Bobby Womack “Across 110th Street” (1973)
964. Stevie Wonder “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (1965)
965. Stevie Wonder “Higher Ground” (1973)
966. Ron Wood “I Can Feel the Fire” (1974)
967. Wreckless Eric “Whole Wide World” (1977)
968. Tammy Wynette “Stand by Your Man” (1968)
969. Tammy Wynette “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” (1968)

X
970. X “Lipstick” (1979)

971. X-Ray Spex “Oh Bondage Up Yours” (1977)
972. XTC “This Is Pop?” (1978)

Y
973. Yes “I’ve Seen All Good People” (1971)
974. You Am I “Berlin Chair” (1993)
975. Young MC “Bust a Move” (1989)
976. The Young Rascals “Good Lovin’” (1966)
977. John Paul Young “Love Is in the Air” (1978)
978. Neil Young “Cinnamon Girl” (1969)
979. Neil Young “Cowgirl in the Sand” (1969)
980. Neil Young “Down by the River” (1969)

981. Neil Young “After the Gold Rush” (1970)
982. Neil Young “Southern Man” (1970)
983. Neil Young “The Needle and the Damage Done” (1972)
984. Neil Young “A Man Needs a Maid” (1972)
985. Neil Young “Borrowed Tune” (1973)
986. Neil Young “Tonight’s the Night” (1973)
987. Neil Young “Ambulance Blues” (1974)
988. Neil Young “Cortez the Killer” (1975)
989. Neil Young “Like a Hurricane” (1977)
990. Neil Young “Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)” (1979)

991. Neil Young “Sample and Hold” (1982)
992. Neil Young “When Your Lonely Heart Breaks” (1987)
993. Neil Young “Sleeps with Angels” (1994)

Z
994. Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention “Trouble Every Day” (1967)
995. Frank Zappa “Willie the Pimp” (1969)
996. Warren Zevon “Werewolves of London” (1978)
997. Warren Zevon “Lawyers, Guns and Money” (1978)
998. Warren Zevon “My Ride’s Here” (2002)
999. ZZ Top “La Grange” (1973)
1000. ZZ Top “Sharp Dressed Man” (1983)

Resources/Related Links:


First posted 3/18/2021; last updated 4/18/2023.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

50 years ago: Little Richard charted with “Tutti Frutti”

Tutti Frutti

Little Richard

Writer(s): Little Richard, Dorothy LaBostrie (see lyrics here)


Released: October 1955


First Charted: November 26, 1955


Peak: 17 US, 10 CB, 2 RB, 29 UK, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.)


Sales (in millions): 0.5 US


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 31.53 video, 98.65 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

The 22-year-old Richard Penniman, aka “Little Richard,” was looking for a breakthrough in 1955 when he went into a New Orleans recording studio to lay down his first tracks for Specialty Records. After running through five songs without producing any gems, SS the “bizarrely pompadoured singer-pianist” TB “started extemporizing verses of ‘Tutti Frutti,’ a risque feature of his club sets” NRR that dated back to 1953. SS He said, “I’d been singing ‘Tutti-Frutti’ for years, but it never struck me as a song you’d record.” RS500

Bob Dylan said “Little Richard is the master of the double entendre.” BD He “took speaking in tongues right out of the sweat canvas tent and put it on the mainstream radio.” BD Lyrics like “Tutti frutti, loose booty/ If it don’t fit, don’t force it/ You can grease it, make it easy” were deemed too raunchy, so producer, Bumps Blackwell, tapped local songwriter Dorothy La Bostrie to clean up the lyrics. TB She gave Richard a gal named Sue (“She knows just what to do”) and another named Daisy (“She almost drive me crazy”). TM The results made the song “barely eligible for radio airplay.” DM Even then, “an inspid cover version” by “clean-cut teen crooner Pat Boone” TB was the more successful version on the Billboard pop charts, reaching #12.

“Kids scrambled to decipher the meaning of the sounds emitted by the pompadoured piano dervish…but really, the words weren’t nearly as important as the remorselessly frenetic beat, the propulsive piano work and the primal, screaming vocal.” TM Jimi Hendrix, who worked as a sideman for Richard in 1964, said, “I want to do with my guitar what Little Richard does with his voice.” TM

Little Richard “fused a unique falsetto and gospel scream that simultaneously oozed sexuality and spirituality. His performances and wardrobe were wild and outlandish. His androgynous stage persona would be reflected by Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince. FR The man who’d grown up in the South “black, gay, and outrageous…was so far out he was in.” SA His first chart single became a “one of the handful of seminal records that created rock and roll as we know it.” SS


Resources:


Related Links:


First posted 3/6/2021; last updated 3/31/2023.

50 years ago: Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” hit #1 on the pop charts

Sixteen Tons

Tennessee Ernie Ford

Writer(s): Merle Travis (see lyrics here)


Released: October 17, 1955


First Charted: October 24, 1955


Peak: 18 US, 15HP, 17 CB, 17 HR, 110 CW, 14 UK, 16 AU, 6 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.)


Sales (in millions): 2.0 US


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 12.8 video, 45.0 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Merle Travis was born in Rosewood, Kentucky, as the son of a mine worker in coal country. He was able to get out of that life by forming a band and playing music, even while serving in the marines. By 1946, he was recording for Capitol Records. His biggest hit was “Divorce Me C.O.D.,” which spent 14 weeks atop the country charts.

A&R man Cliffie Stone thought Travis had pop potential and encouraged him to write original folk ballads instead of modern versions of old folk songs. Travis wrote several “working-type songs” AC but told Stone “these songs are nothing more than a lot of junk.” AC

In 1949, Stone signed “Tennessee” Ernie Ford to a record deal. He achieved major crossover success with “Sixteen Tons,” a song about a Kentucky coal miner which came Merle’s “junk” pool. The chorus was based on a letter from his brother John, a coal miner, who wrote, “You load 16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt.” SS Merle also remembered his father, Rob, saying, “I can’t afford to die. I owe my soul to the company store.” SS The lines made it into the song, which Travis said “wasn’t really written to be serious,” noting “no man could load a ton of coal in a day” and mocking his own line, “Who could pick up a shovel the day they were born?” AC

However, while millions of listeners had never been anywhere close to a coal mine, they could feel “ a miner’s pain and frustrations.” AC The song “also began to reveal the power of country music to effect social change.” AC The song also brought attention to how coal companies had taken advantage of their workers and brought light to issues such as black lung disease and unsafe working conditions.


Resources:

  • DMDB encyclopedia entry for Tennessee Ernie Ford
  • AC Ace Collins (1996). The Stories Behind Country Music’s All-Time Greatest 100 Songs. New York, NY; The Berkley Publishing Group. Pages 91-3.
  • SS Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings (Volumes I & II). Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland. Pages 78-80.
  • WK Wikipedia


First posted 8/26/2022.