THE 200  MOST ESSENTIAL AMERICAN ROCK SONGS: Concludes today with the Top 10.

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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*10

JOHNNY B. GOODE

Chuck Berry

"Johnny B. Goode" inspired countless aspiring rockers to pick up a guitar. In 1958, this defining Chuck Berry classic made the Top 10 on both the Pop and R&B Charts.

 

*9

GO YOUR OWN WAY

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's origins were British, but the recruitment of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the line-up changed the group's sound radically. The former penned "Go Your Own Way" for the timeless 'Rumours' album. Its lyrics reflect the end of his relationship with Nicks. Issued as the LP's lead single in late 1976, the disc reached the Top 10 and defined the parameters of American rock.

*8

HEARTBREAK HOTEL

Elvis Presley

"Heartbreak Hotel" was the first Elvis Presley single to crash the Top 40. It flew to #1 Pop and Country in 1956. The King of Rock 'n' Roll had arrived. A string of chart-toppers ensued.

*7

TAKE IT EASY

The Eagles

Jackson Browne had most of the song "Take It Easy" as it is now known completed when he offered it to Glenn Frey. The latter's group Eagles recorded the track after he made some lyrical alterations. Released as a single in 1972, it was the band's debut disc. Its fusion of country, soft rock, pop and West Coast leanings helped exemplify the direction American rock would follow in the 1970s and beyond.

*6

LIKE A ROLLING STONE

Bob Dylan

Featuring sublime organ magic by Al Kooper, "Like A Rolling Stone" remains one of the gems of the American rock songbook. The legendary Bob Dylan used the song to show he was more than just a folkie protest singer. In 1965, the track climbed to #2. It was included on his first electric rock and roll LP, 'Highway 61 Revisited'.

 

*5

ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

Bill Haley & His Comets

American rock launched its attack on the cashed-up youth market with the song "Rock Around The Clock". Bill Haley & His Comets had previously released the disc in 1954. It was already a remake. The following year, it was featured in the film 'The Blackboard Jungle'. Audiences were transfixed. The single was re-issued and shot to #1. As the first rock and roll recording to top the US Hot 100, it marked a shift in popular culture: rock music would swiftly become the dominant genre.

*4

AMERICAN PIE

Don McLean

Unleashed in late 1971, "American Pie" soon became a US classic. Don McLean drew inspiration from the crash that killed Buddy Holly to pen an epic that has commentators pouring over its verses for meaning to this day. Despite a running time of 8½ minutes, the track topped the American Hot 100. There has never been another song like it.

*3

THAT'LL BE THE DAY

Buddy Holly & The Crickets

In 1957, "That'll Be the Day" preceded the debut album from Buddy Holly & The Crickets. The group became the blueprint for self-contained outfits, imitated by umpteen rock bands since. Holly was a major influence on rock's musicians, achieving this impact in around 18 months. His trajectory was tragically cut short by his death in a plane crash on February 3, 1959.

*2

MAYBELLENE

Chuck Berry

"Maybellene" was a watershed recording in the annals of American rock history. Chuck Berry's demo of the song (then entitled "Ida Red") impressed Leonard Chess. Re-titled, the track was recorded on May 21, 1955 and unleashed on Chess Records. The seminal rock and roll disc peaked at #5 Pop and topped the R&B Chart. Its influence on the genre cannot be overstated.

*1

BORN TO RUN

Bruce Springsteen

If any one recording can be said to possess all the fundamentals of American rock, it is Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run". At the time, it was a last-ditch attempt to salvage his career after his first 2 albums had been ignored by the public. You can hear his raw ambition and yearning. Hungry for a hit, Springsteen poured it all into the mix. His protagonist is marginalized, fighting for a future with his woman. The public related with the struggle. Musically, The Boss references Phil Spector's Wall Of Sound and Bob Dylan's lyrical skill. Springsteen has been a hero of American rock ever since the release of this single on August 25, 1975.

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