THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL BRITISH ROCK SONGS. 
This post: #60-51. Continues next week.

Caffé Latté celebrates…

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL

BRITISH

ROCK SONGS

Rock and roll’s roots may have been American, but the Brits have been putting their own stamp on its sound and attitude since the 1950s. Some significant rock legends hail from the United Kingdom, including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Elton John and David Bowie. This countdown focuses on 200 British tracks that have made the greatest impact on rock music.

*60

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

Procol Harum

Procol Harum fused rock with classical music on the majestic track "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", a #1 single in 1967. Few subsequent singles have ever matched its grandeur.

*59

DON'T STOP ME NOW

Queen

Queen unleashred 'Jazz' in 1978. The following year, "Don't Stop Me Now" was lifted as a single. It shot into the Top 10. Penned by lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, the track pumps the listener with adrenaline.

*58

DEDICATED FOLLOWER OF FASHION

The Kinks

"Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" takes aim at the Swinging London of the 1960s. In 1966, the disc climbed to #4.

*57

CLOCKS

Coldplay

"Clocks" is another piano-led track from Coldplay. It was lifted off the 2002 album 'A Rush Of Blood To The Head' and became a Top 10 hit.

*56

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

The Beatles

Embraced as an anthem for the flower power movement, "All You Need Is Love" summed up the simple ethos of the 1960s. The single became a worldwide #1 in 1967.

*55

ASHES TO ASHES

David Bowie

After securing his place in British rock music history during the 1970s, David Bowie extended his influence into the 1980s with "Ashes To Ashes". Lifted off his 1980 album 'Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)', the single gave Bowie another chart topper.

*54

OLIVER'S ARMY

Elvis Costello

Peaking at #2 for 3 weeks, "Oliver's Army" became Elvis Costello's most successful single in Britain. The singer/ songwriter's lyrics convey an anti-war sentiment as well as berating the practice of recruiting unemployed and poor youths for the British armed forces. The title refers to Oliver Cromwell, a key figure in British history.

*53

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO

The Clash

First heard on the 1982 album 'Combat Rock', "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" became The Clash's sole #1 when re-issued in 1991. The disc's renewed appeal was due to its use in a Levi's jeans TV ad.

*52

GOING UNDERGROUND

The Jam

One year into the Prime Minustership of Margaret Thatcher, Paul Weller attacked her Conservative Party's policies in "Going Underground". The song became the first of The Jam's 4 UK #1 singles in 1980.

*51

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon penned "Give Peace A Chance", his first musical foray outside of The Beatles in 1969. Essentially his solo debut, the track soon became an anthem for those opposed to the war in Vietnam. Yoko Ono is heard on the track. She penned the flip side "Remember Love". The single peaked at #2.

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