(PART 4: #100 - No. 1)
Today, the final song was added to complete the Top 1001.
The previous 901 are in earlier posts.
The songs get more influential and fundamental to the evolution of pop/ rock the higher you climb. This list will be updated daily. We're now getting into the 100 most important recordings:
In these days of portable music on ipods and phones etc., if you want a comprehensive collection of the pop/ rock songs that mattered, here are the Caffe` Latte` Most Essential 1001 Recordings since the 1950s. The list includes some of the best sellers, seminal recordings, enduring favourites, influential singles and album tracks; spanning genres as diverse as country, folk, grunge, funk, hip hop, disco, Merseybeat, punk, Motown, new wave, rockabilly, Eurobeat, soul and rap to name just a few. They can also be the soundtrack to our own lives. Here are the 1001 most fundamental Pop/ Rock songs ever recorded- the popular, the influential and historic milestones since rock 'n roll made inroads in the Fifties. * The only songs excluded are seasonal & charity discs (so no We are the World" or "Do They Know It's Christmas?") . Some of the 1001 will be well known, while others may require exploring... enjoy!
THE 1001 MOST ESSENTIAL ROCK / POP SONGS (1950-2012)
Launched a career that has enjoyed longevity as well as consistent quality and helped usher in the singer/ songwriter era of the early 70s.
99 YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME Smokey Robinson & Miracles 1962 Smokey Robinson
Well crafted lyrics and one of the most covered songs by premier Motown composer Robinson.
98 NEVER, NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Barry White 1973 Barry White
This song helped lay the foundation for disco.
97 SPACE ODDITY David Bowie 1969 David Bowie
Helped Bowie embark on a career which has been musically as diverse as the personas he adopted
96 ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN Chuck Berry 1956 Chuck Berry
Announced the emergence of rock 'n roll as a powerful new genre for the mainstream.
95 YESTERDAY Beatles 1965 John Lennon; Paul McCartney
With more than 2000 remakes, it remains one of the most covered songs of all time.
94 THE GREAT PRETENDER Platters 1955 Buck Ram
Its massive chart success helped rhythm and blues crossover to a white mainstream audience.
93 PAINT IT, BLACK Rolling Stones 1966 Mick Jagger; Keith Richards
The Stones revealed their musically diverse and creative style with this global hit, featuring Brian Jones on sitar.
92 NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE Gloria Gaynor 1974 Clifton Davis
Gaynor's new interpretation of the Jackson 5 Motown hit officially marked the start of the Disco Era, becoming the first major hit for the genre.
91 OH! PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 1964 Roy Orbison; Bill Dees
With one of the most well - known riffs, this song remains one of rock music's best odes to the female of the species.
90 GOOD TIMES Chic 1979 Bernard Edwards; Nile Rodgers
Chic re-shaped funk with lots of disco attitude. This song has been sampled for new songs by artists as diverse as Queen, Wham, Sugarhill Gang, Daft Punk and Coolio.
89 ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC Chuck Berry 1957 Chuck Berry
An early rock 'n roll anthem that has been covered by other significant acts that include the Beatles, Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets.
88 PROUD MARY Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969 John Fogerty
One of the definitive examples of swamp rock by a key ingredient of the sound that came to be American rock dominating the radio airwaves in the 1970s.
87 WHEN DOVES CRY Prince 1984 Prince
Prince's magnum opus was one of the key R&B and pop recordings of the 1980s.
86 SUMMERTIME BLUES Eddie Cochran 1958
Eddie Cochran; Jerry Capehart
One of the first rock 'n roll anthems that cover the issues affecting the youth of that period and still pertinent to this day.
85 EVERYDAY PEOPLE Sly & the Family Stone 1968
Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart
A perfect song from the psychedelic and flower power generation, appropriate for Sly & the Family Stone as it was comprised of a fully integrated line-up of black and white men and women.
84 WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE?
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers 1956 Frankie Lymon; Morris Levy
Lead singer Lymon was just 13 at the time of this R&B hit. The group was the prototype for the Jackson 5 and later acts such as New Edition. This song made Lymon the first African- American teen star.
83 AT LAST Etta James 1960 Mack Gordon; Harry Warren
Chess was a label that brought so many exponents of 1950s R&B to the masses. On this classic track, James shows off her tender and romantic side, with a recording that still takes your breath away today. Her vocals influenced the likes of Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse and Beyonce to name but a few.
82 TAKE IT EASY Eagles 1972 Glenn Frey; Jackson Browne
A signature song for the West Coast sound that The Eagles came to dominate radio with in the 1970s and beyond. This song was their first to make a splash and it combined bluegrass, rock and glorious harmonies.
81 LIKE A ROLLING STONE Bob Dylan 1965 Bob Dylan
Dylan lightens up on this song from his "electric" period with his wit fully intact.
80 SMOKE ON THE WATER Deep Purple 1972 Deep Purple
One of the best known and enduring rock staples with its unmistakable guitar riff.
79 I NEVER LOVED A MAN (THE WAY I LOVE YOU) Aretha Franklin 1967 Ronnie Shannon
The Queen of Soul makes it look effortless, but only she could deliver vocals this way, wowing veteran session musicians in the Fame studios down in Muscle Shoals.
78 DON'T BE CRUEL Elvis Presley 1956 Otis Blackwell; Elvis Presley - credited, but did not help write
Rockabilly and country crossover pop hit became a multi million seller for Presley.
77 MR. TAMBOURINE MAN Byrds 1965 Bob Dylan
Helped establish Dylan as a songwriter of rock / pop songs. The guitar work on this helped usher in folk rock.
76 THE MESSAGE Grandmaster Flash & the Furious
Five 1982
Clifton & Jiggs Chase; John "Ecstasy" Fletcher; Melvin Glover; Grandmaster Flash; Sylvia Robinson
Early rap / hip hop hit song dealing with the ugly realities of life in the American inner city.
75 APACHE Shadows 1965 Jerry Lordan
With this instrumental, the Shadows went from being known as Cliff Richard's backing group to an outfit that influenced countless future guitarists, thanks largely to the talent of Hank Marvin.
74 LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY Donna Summer 1975
Pete Bellotte; Giorgio Moroder; Donna Summer
Few disco women were ever involved in the songwriting process the way Summer was on many of her recordings. This song brought a European and sensual approach to the emerging disco genre. The album version ran for a complete album side and this single helped pioneer the extended (aka disco) single record format.
73 ONLY THE LONELY Roy Orbison 1960 Roy Orbison; Joe Melson
Packing high drama and building up the excitement amongst the beautifully structured production, Orbison blends pop and hints of rockabilly with his distinctive operatic vocals as he glides through the lyrics dealing with heartbreak.
72 STAYIN' ALIVE Bee Gees 1977 Bee Gees
This single reversed the slump in disco's popular appeal. Its inclusion in the 'Saturday Night Fever' film and soundtrack propelled the genre to dizzying new heights and incredulous record sales.
71 LOVE POTION NO. 9 The Clovers 1959 Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller
Forming in the post-war years, the Clovers were one of the first R&B groups of significance. Their sound influenced key 50s vocal groups such as the Coasters and the Drifters and. later, the Temptations.
70 GOD SAVE THE QUEEN Sex Pistols 1977 Sex Pistols
Released at the time of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, the Sex Pistols crashed the airwaves with its stinging attack lyrics. It attracted controversy immediately, culminating in a BBC daytime ban and allegations of chart fixing to prevent it reaching #1 officially in the UK. The song altered music forever in spite of these efforts to undermine it.
69 CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE Elvis Presley 1961
Luigi Creatore; Hugo Peretti; George David Weiss
One of the early tie-ins of rock music with movies. This was a song from 'Blue Hawaii', an Elvis vehicle. The ballad has been covered many times, but there is something timeless about Presley's disciplined interpretation.
68 BLACK DOG Led Zeppelin 1971 Jimmy Page; John Paul Jones; Robert Plant
This recording firmly establishes Led Zep's place as the leading exponents of hard rock. "Black Dog" sets out the blueprint for that genre as well as for heavy metal.
67 EIGHT MILES HIGH Byrds 1966 David Crosby; Gene Clark; Roger McGuinn
Although misinterpreted as a song about drugs, this song finds the group at its most creative and experimental in terms of its lyrics and execution.
66 GET UP (I FEEL LIKE BEING A) SEX MACHINE
James Brown 1970 Bobby Byrd; James Brown; Ron Lenhoff
Another funky workout which went on to influence funk, disco, rap and hip hop.
65 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Jefferson Airplane 1967
Darby & Grace Slick
1967 San Francisco and psychedelia as rock's sexual revolution found a new anthem.
64 THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED
Gil Scott- Heron 1971 Gil Scott-Heron
This recording laid the groundwork of what would later evolve into rap and hip hop.
63 PURPLE HAZE Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967 Jimi Hendrix
One of the best examples of Hendrix's enduring legendary status as a guitar virtuoso.
62 BLUE SUEDE SHOES Carl Perkins 1956 Carl Perkins
The best selling rockabilly song from the early rock n' roll era. Covered later by the likes of Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran and Buddy Holly.
61 CRAZY Patsy Cline 1961 Willie Nelson
Cline's recording of this Willie Nelson song helped lift his status as a songwriter of significance. Her interpretahttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7097230085691261448#editor/target=post;postID=3637574680918705049tion showed countless aspiring country singers how to deliver, but to categorize this recording as only a country song, would be a disservice. It combines elements of jazz, pop along with a country attitude.
60 ROCKIT Herbie Hancock 1983 Bill Laswell; Herbie Hancock; Michael Beinhorn
The first high profile song to feature "scratching". Amazingly, this track was recorded live, fusing elements of jazz, industrial funk and the emerging genre of hip hop.
59 THE TWIST Chubby Checker 1960 Hank Ballard
A cover of an early R&B hit, in the hands of Checker, "The Twist" was one of rock 'n roll's earliest best sellers, having the unique honour of reaching #1 in the USA in 1960 and again two years later. It made the twist a global dance craze, with many imitations in its wake. Showed the money-making potential of rock music during its formative years.
58 MATCHBOX Carl Perkins 1957 Carl Perkins
Rockabilly and country come together on this early rock 'n roll classic, based loosely on a blues song entitled "Match Box Blues" by Blind Lemon Jefferson.
57 WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO (Diana Ross &) Supremes
1964 Brian & Eddie Holland; Lamont Dozier
The single that finally launched the definitive girl group: the Supremes. Diana Ross was now firmly ensconced as the trio's lead singer when this single became the first of their 12 US #1 songs. It helped make Motown, a black-owned record label, a household name with its own golden sound. Diana Ross went on to influence later talents including Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and Beyonce`.
56 AUTOBAHN Kraftwerk 1974 Kraftwerk
German band Kraftwerk were inspired by the sounds heard on the highway in a car and created an electronica classic, as creative as it is unique. Their sound went on to influence other innovative acts as diverse as: Devo, the Eurythmics, New Order, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode and the Pet Shop Boys.
55 THAT'S ALRIGHT Elvis Presley 1954 Arthur Crudup
The first commercial release from Elvis at the Sun studio. The youthful future king showed his vocal ability on this early recording.
54 HEART FULL OF SOUL Yardbirds 1965 Graham Gouldman
Starting with the distinctive guitar riff played by Jeff Beck, this song heralded an experimental approach to a pop/ rock song. The guitar sounds exotic, as if it was a sitar (the original idea). This group was bursting with guitar talent: along with Beck, it also comprised Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. The latter went on to be an integral member of Led Zeppelin.
53 GOT MY MOJO WORKING Muddy Waters 1956 Preston Foster
An influential blues / rock early recording from a legendary guitarist.
52 SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME Drifters 1960
Doc Pomus; Mort Shuman
One of the first global hits which helped expose more white music fans to the R&B sound of the time. This single helped soul crossover to a wider pop audience.
51 THEME FROM SHAFT Isaac Hayes 1971 Isaac Hayes
You don't need to see a scene from the film 'Shaft' to realize that the man was super-cool, proud and manly. Hayes tells us all of that in this definitive blaxploitation song which helped instill a black consciousness and confidence in the Seventies. Hayes was rewarded with the first Academy Award to an African-American musician. Its impact led to the emergence of black pride and the cool factor that will forever be welded to R&B and hip hop. This music also helped form the foundation for disco.
50 HEARTBREAK HOTEL Elvis Presley 1956
Tommy Durden; Mae Boren Axton
This rock and roll standard was a landmark for Elvis as he began his domination of the charts around the globe.
49 RAPPER'S DELIGHT Sugarhill Gang 1979
Bernard Edwards; Nile Rodgers
When this single emerged during the 70s, it was classified a disco hit. Few would have ever guessed that it was to usher in a new genre which would, in a little over a decade, entrench itself as a dominant style: rap. Its global acceptance took time, but this was the first high profile recording that led to the birth of hip hop.
48 I WALK THE LINE Johnny Cash 1956 Johnny Cash
With this single, the Man in Black was propelled to country legend status.
47 BILLIE JEAN Michael Jackson 1982 Michael Jackson
In 1983, Michael Jackson reached a brand new echelon with the tracks from his multi-million selling album, 'Thriller'. Billie Jean was the key track that went on to force MTV to play R&B videos. Coupled with his Moonwalk dance moves, the song proved irresistible.
46 JOHNNY B. GOODE Chuck Berry 1958 Chuck Berry
An early influence on rock guitarists and a crossover hit in the formative years of rock 'n roll.
45 SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT Nirvana 1991 Nirvana
The anthem for their generation, Nirvana introduced grunge to the masses with this recording. Its opening riff starts off tame, but when Dave Grohl's drums kick in, the song's anger and anguish is unleashed through Kurt Cobain's vocals.
44 LIGHT MY FIRE The Doors 1967 The Doors
Psychedelia and raw sex mesh to create a timeless recording featuring the sensual and electrically charged Jim Morrison on lead vocals. Ray Manzarek's organ work is integral to the cut's classic status.
43 I'M A MAN Bo Diddley 1955 Bo Diddley
The recording features one of the best known blues riffs from the influential guitarist Diddley.
42 GEORGIA ON MY MIND Ray Charles 1960
Hoagy Carmichael; Stuart Gorrell
The song originated in 1930 and has been covered numerous times, but, in the hands of Ray, "Georgia on my Mind" retains its brilliance despite the passage of time.
41 GREAT BALLS OF FIRE Jerry Lee Lewis 1957 Otis Blackwell
Jerry Lee Lewis was one of the first stars of rock 'n roll. His keyboard arrangement still breathes fire into the song; perfectly suited to the suggestive lyrics.
40 DANCING QUEEN Abba 1976 Benny Andersson; Bjorn Ulvaeus; Stig Anderson
They had their detractors, but there is no denying that this song is a definitive pop recording. It has influenced pop music ever since, especially in the last 2 decades. It is a deceptive song: it sounds simple and cheesy, but on closer analysis, the single reveals a challenging vocal range, creative instrumentation and intricate harmonies. Pure magic.
39 I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU Flamingos 1959
Al Dubin; Harry Warren
An early doo wop recording by one of the most influential harmony vocal groups of the time. You can hear the legacy of their tracks in the sounds of the later Motown and Philly labels.
38 WHAT'S GOING ON Marvin Gaye 1971
Al Cleveland; Marvin Gaye, Renaldo Benson
Gaye challenged his label's policy tackling social issues and producing the album of the same name. Doing so, the prince of Motown elevated the importance of albums as well as formally marrying R&B with social comment. Along with its historical and political significance, it is an aural masterpiece as brother Marvin preaches the need for understanding, peace and love. The track is soul at its most essential and coolest.
37 SH-BOOM (LIFE COULD BE A DREAM) Chords 1954
Carl & Claude Feaster; Floyd McRae; James Edwards; James Keyes
This early doo wop classic was penned by members of the Chords. It is a catchy and simple example of the genre. Their own recording was soon overshadowed by the white (and therefore more acceptable to the mainstream at that time) remake by the Crew Cuts.
36 SAY IT LOUD (I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD) Part 1
James Brown 1968 Alfred Ellis; James Brown
The Godfather of Soul empowered his African- American community with this civil rights anthem. It was brimming with black pride and a demand for better. And it had that call and response from the church as he called his congregation together with an enticing incessant beat.
35 BYE BYE LOVE Everly Brothers 1957 Felice & Boudeleaux Bryant
The Everly Brothers launched their career with this early rock song. Don and Phil went on to influence countless performers, some as significant as the Byrds, the Bee Gees, Simon & Garfunkel, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
34 I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU Ray Charles 1962 Don Gibson
When Ray Charles told his label that he was planning a country album, they were pessimistic and feared he would lose his fan base. What the genius performer did was marry country and western with his jazz and gospel experience and created a milestone album, featuring this global hit single.
33 SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL Big Joe Turner 1954
Charles E. Calhoun (Jesse Stone)
Bill Haley & His Comets recorded a tamer version of this song. Turner's original was unabashedly sexual. Mixing boogie woogie, rockabilly, blues and rock and roll, this single was one of the blueprints for the emerging new genre. The lyrical content, vocals and musicianship influenced the likes of Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.
32 I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG (TO STOP NOW) Otis Redding 1965 Jerry Butler; Otis Redding
Gritty vocals and intimate lyrics only make Otis' reading of this song more impassioned on this classic soul ballad. He remains one of the most influential vocalists of all-time.
31 SHOUT (Parts 1 &2) Isley Brothers 1959 Isley Brothers
Building on the call and response used in gospel, with all the manic frenzy of 1950s rock and roll, this seminal recording was ahead of its time. You can hear Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson and Little Richard in the Isley's original. The song has inspired the Beatles, Outkast, Earth, Wind and Fire and Prince since then.
30 I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE Marvin Gaye 1968 Barrett Strong; Norman Whitfield
This was not the original version of the song, but no one has ever improved on Marvin's take. He is in pain, grieving for a relationship he is hoping to salvage. From the opening beats of the song, the production and background harmonies only serve to elevate the recording to classic status.
29 ONLY YOU (AND YOU ALONE) Platters 1954 Ande Rand; Buck Ram
The Platters were the first significant vocal groups to crossover to a mainstream audience with a string of best selling hits.
28 STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Led Zeppelin 1971 Jimmy Page; Robert Plant
This epic is justifiably the best known song from the highly influential rock outfit Led Zeppelin. It is the perfect showcase of their craftsmanship as well as their range, as the song begins as an acoustic ballad and builds to a rockout with signiture guitar riffs.
27 HIT THE ROAD JACK Ray Charles 1961 Percy Mayfield
Ray throws all he's got into this global hit: gospel, jazz, soul and his own brand of rock and roll.
26 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 1964 Sam Cooke
Sam gave the civil rights movement its first major anthem. Sweeping music perfectly suited to Cooke's gorgeous vocals.
25 COLD, COLD HEART Hank Williams 1951 Hank Williams
Honky tonk country from one of the key performers and songwriters from that genre.
24 MY GENERATION Who 1965 Pete Townshend
One of the first anthems of youth from the very influential British group.
23 GOOD VIBRATIONS Beach Boys 1966 Brian Wilson; Mike Love
Brian Wilson created an aural masterpiece with his visionary production.
22 THERE GOES MY BABY Drifters 1959
Ben E. King; Lover Patterson; George Treadwell; Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller
The new incarnation of the Drifters took record production to new levels on this hit. Orchestration and strings had never been used on an R&B hit record before.
21 ANARCHY IN THE U.K. Sex Pistols 1976
Glen Matlock; Johnny Rotten; Steve Jones
The revolutionary anthem for the punk movement that fully exploited the controversy surrounding the group. Few songs have changed the musical landscape the way the Pistols did with this call to arms.
20 BLOWIN' IN THE WIND Peter, Paul & Mary 1963
Bob Dylan
Peter. Paul & Mary's version of "Blowin' in the Wind" helped popularize the works of Bob Dylan. Both the trio and the original by Dylan made this an iconic anthem for the protest movement. Dylan's well crafted lyrical structure and the trio's harmonies blend perfectly to push through the all-important message.
19 PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG James Brown 1965
James Brown
Soul brother #1 reconstructed the sound of his brand of R&B / funk, approaching the downbeat on the third and first beat.
18 AIN'T THAT A SHAME Fats Domino 1955
Dave Batholomew; Fats Domino
Fats Domino was a consistent charter on the R&B charts and, with this early rock 'n roll recording, reached a wider (white) audience. Pat Boone watered the song down and scored an even bigger hit with the song, but Domino went on to play a significant role in the evolution of rock and pop music.
17 WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Led Zeppelin 1969 Led Zeppelin; Willie Dixon
Built over a raw and gritty blues foundation, Led Zeppelin created a heavy rock monster that has inspired and influenced countless rock and metal bands ever since.
16 I FEEL LOVE Donna Summer 1977
Donna Summer; Giorgio Moroder; Pete Bellotte
This single completely transformed disco upon its being unleashed by Casablanca Records. Its electronic computer-generated beat took dance music in new directions. Moroder's visionary brilliance as co-producer on this track has influenced subsequent dance records and foresaw techno. Summer's sensual vocals are erotic and trance-like. Truly ahead of its time.
15 CUPID Sam Cooke 1961 Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke's major crossover hit resulted in his vocals influencing countless later singers.
14 THAT'LL BE THE DAY Buddy Holly & The Crickets 1957 Buddy Holly; Jerry Allison; Norman Petty
This single made a major pop star of Buddy Holly. His band the Crickets became the prototype for many rock groups. Holly was a major influence on countless performers that followed in his wake.
13 UNCHAIN MY HEART Ray Charles 1961 Robert Sharp Jr.; Teddy Powell
Another influential single that helped shape the sound of soul music: mixing gospel's call and response with the blues, jazz and a big band.
12 (I CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION Rolling Stones 1965 Mick Jagger; Keith Richards
From the instant that the familiar riff plays, this classic anthem never lets up, and still sounds as pertinent as it did in the 1960s, despite the members being in their 60s. One of the greatest and best known rock songs.
11 TUTTI FRUTTI Little Richard 1955
Dorothy LaBostrie; Richard Penniman (Little Richard); Robert Blackwell
Packing in as much frenzied dynamite as possible, Little Richard was the first African- American of note to crossover with this early rock 'n roll recording. He shocked with his primal singing and screams, and flamboyant appearance. Nothing could stop "Tutti Frutti" from becoming a seminal influence on the emerging new genre. After hearing the track, we all knew what he meant when the singer belted out: "a wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom".
10 JAILHOUSE ROCK Elvis Presley 1957 Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller
Elvis gave rock 'n roll one of its first iconic moments in film history when he rocked out with this song from the star's vehicle, 'Jailhouse Rock'. It's one of the best examples of why Elvis was crowned the King of Rock ' n Roll.
9 RESPECT Aretha Franklin 1957 Jerry Leiber; Mike Stoller
The Queen of Soul totally transformed and made this Otis Redding song her own and a landmark in pop / R&B. Her demand for mutual respect empowers not just women, but all of us; no matter what colour our skin is.
8 IMAGINE John Lennon 1971 John Lennon
"Imagine" is as amazing a song as any Lennon recorded with his old group, the Beatles. Its visionary and thought - provoking lyrics pose questions still worth reflecting on to this day. Tenderly sung and performed on piano by John.
7 ROCKET 88 Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats 1951
Ike Turner
Regarded by many as the first rock 'n roll record. This is where it all began...
6 MAYBELLINE Chuck Berry 1955 Chuck Berry
Country married electric blues on this early rock 'n roll hit for one of the founding fathers of the new genre.
5 THE TIMES THEY ARE A- CHANGIN' Bob Dylan 1964
Bob Dylan
The folk song that became an anthem for the civil protest movement generatoin of the 1960s.
4 WHAT'D I SAY Ray Charles 1959 Ray Charles
Combining the religious call and response from his gospel roots with jazz, Ray created a fusion that became the blueprint for soul music.
3 ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Bill Haley & His Comets 1955 Max C. Freedman; James E. Myers (aka Jimmy De Knight)
Haley's remake of Sonny Dae & His Knights' "Rock around the Clock" did not take off until it was featured in the film 'The Blackboard Jungle'. Its inclusion led to the single taking off and, when it reached the top of the charts around the world, announced the arrival of the new genre. We have been rocking ever since.
2 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND Beatles 1963
John Lennon; Paul McCartney
The worldwide success of this single proved that the Beatles were not one-hit wonders, but something special. The record launched Beatlemania and the British Invasion. From this moment on, the Beatles have been unbeatable in terms of being the greatest rock group of all-time.
1 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Queen 1975 Freddie Mercury
Queen's epic single has it all: bombast, rock, opera and great harmonies. It is over the top. It is unparalleled to this day. In others' hands, the song would have failed, but with Mercury at the helm, the group recorded arguably the most unique record ever. By defying all the rules of pop music, and with such a lengthy track, the odds were against it reaching number one. But top the charts it did. Ever since, any new song that throws out the rulebooks can follow the precedent set by "Bohemian Rhapsody". And that attitude will keep music fresh for years to come.
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