THE 200  MOST ESSENTIAL AMERICAN ROCK SONGS: #150-141. Continues tomorrow.

Caffé Latté celebrates…

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL

AMERICAN

ROCK SONGS

Country, folk and rhythm and blues begat rock ‘n’ roll. This musical form is the spawn of traditional American genres. Here are 200 of the most iconic and defining rock tracks from the United States.

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*150

FIGHT THE POWER

Public Enemy

Public Enemy's "Fight The Power" attracted outrage by attacking icons Elvis Presley and John Wayne. More importantly, the influential rap track expanded the nascent genre's audience. It was first heard in the 1989 Spike Lee film 'Do The Right Thing'.

 

*149

R.O.C.K. IN THE U.S.A.

John Cougar Mellencamp

Name-checking various music legends as James Brown, Martha Reeves, Jackie Wilson and The Shangri-Las; John Mellencamp celebrates the rock 'n' roll from his homeland on the track "R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A.". The single was lifted off his 1985 album 'Scarecrow'. 

*148

HARD TO HANDLE

Otis Redding

"Hard To Handle" was a posthumous release following Otis Redding's untimely death in December 1967. The track sees the influential performer apply his fusion of funk, R&B and rock.

*147

NEW KID IN TOWN

Eagles

"New Kid In Town" is a defining example of the Southern California sound. Written by Eagles members Glenn Frey and Don Henley with J.D. Souther, the chart-topping single was lifted off the 1976 album 'Hotel California'.

*146

PIECE OF MY HEART

Big Brother & The Holding Company

Fronted by the mighty vocalist Janis Joplin, Big Brother & The Holding Company served a mighty cover of Erma Franklin's "Piece Of My Heart". In 1968, the group's remake was included on 'Cheap Thrills'. The world suddenly took notice of the blues howl of lead singer Joplin.

*145

RUNAWAY

Del Shannon

In 1961, Del Shannon delivered one of that era's most enduring rock classics. "Runaway" reached #1 and is best remembered for the Clavioline solo.

*144

FREE BIRD

Lynyrd Skynyrd

The 1973 album version of "Free Bird" runs for just over 9 minutes. The Lynyrd Skynyrd song is part power ballad and part Southern rock. It's also an American rock staple.

*143

IT'S TOO LATE

Carole King

Carole King's 'Tapestry' album was a watershed for female singer/ songwriters. It contained the #1 single "It's Too Late". The success of the 1971 parent LP shifted the focus on King. She emerged from the shadows as an artist in her own right. In the process, she paved the way for countless others such as Laura Nyro, Kate Bush, Tori Amos and Colbie Caillat.

*142

I'M A BELIEVER

The Monkees

In 1966, Neil Diamond penned "I'm A Believer" for The Monkees. They turned his composition into one of the upbeat delights of the decade, reaching #1 in America.

*141

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

Simon & Garfunkel

Released just as America retreated from the turbulent 1960s and entered a new decade, Simon & Garfunkel's epic "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was soothing and comforting. As well as topping the US chart, the ballad reached #1 in many other countries.

Check out the playlist on spotify with new songs added for each update of the countdown.