THE 200  MOST ESSENTIAL AMERICAN ROCK SONGS: #110-101. Continues next week.

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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*110

RAPTURE

Blondie

Blondie's 1980 album 'Autoamerican' featured "Rapture". Fusing disco with hip hop and new wave, the single topped the U.S. chart the following year. Issued at a time when rap had little mainstream appeal, this track was a watershed disc.

 

*109

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

Billy Joel

One of the most enduring ballads from the American rock songbook is Billy Joel's tender love song "Just The Way You Are". As well as peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, the track collected the Record and Song of the Year Grammy Awards.

*108

BEAT IT

Michael Jackson

Bringing together elements of rock, dance and R&B, "Beat It" was one of the highlights on Michael Jackson's mega-successful 1982 album 'Thriller'. The following year, it was lifted as a single and reached the chart summit in its own right.

*117

SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR

Bill Haley & His Comets

Back in 1956, rock 'n' roll was becoming ubiquitous. Bill Haley & The Comets was rock's first major act. "See You Later, Alligator" became a Top 10 chart hit on both sides of the Atlantic. 

*106

YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME

Bon Jovi

In 1986, Bon Jovi scaled the Hot 100 with "You Give Love A Bad Name". It became the group's first chart topping disc. 

*105

RAMBLIN' MAN

The Allman Brothers Band

Part southern rock and part country, "Ramblin' Man" mines the American rock sound. The single was released in 1973 and made the Top 10. 

 

*104

YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND

Carole King

Carole King had already penned many gems of the American rock catalogue, most with her first husband Gerry Goffin. "You've Got A Friend" was written by King herself. It was included on her 1971 classic 'Tapestry' album.  That same year, it was covered by James Taylor. His interpretation reached #1. It has been remade by countless others since.

*103

THE RIVER

Bruce Springsteen

The title track from Bruce Springsteen's 1980 album was inspired by his sister and her husband's experiences. It's tracks such as "The River" that have seen The Boss revered as the spokesman for his generation.

*102

WHITE LIGHT / WHITE HEAT

The Velvet Underground

Lou Reed's "White Light / White Heat" was recorded by The Velvet Underground and was the title track of the highly influential band's second studio album.

*101

CATHY'S CLOWN

The Everly Brothers

Of the string of hits accomplished by brothers Don and Phil Everly, "Cathy's Clown" was the biggest. The single topped the American and British charts in 1960.

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