THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL BRITISH ROCK SONGS.
This post: Concludes here withThe Top 10.  

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.

*10

YESTERDAY

The Beatles

The most covered rock song of all time is "Yesterday" by The Beatles. Paul McCartney's ballad was first heard on the band's 'Help!' album.

*9

LONDON CALLING

The Clash

The title song from The Clash's classic 1979 album, "London Calling" was a rallying cry for the new wave / punk scene.

*8

WATERLOO SUNSET

The Kinks

Ray Davies depicts a Waterloo Sunset as an idyllic experience, cherished by the protagonist on this single by his group The Kinks in 1967. This quintessential British song peaked at #2.

 

*7

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

Led Zeppelin

One of the best known British rock epics, "Stairway To Heaven" holds a special place for many fans. Running for about 8 minutes, the Led Zeppelin track was created by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. It is the highlight of Led Zeppelin's fourth and untitled album.

*6

ANARCHY IN THE U.K.

The Sex Pistols

In 1976, The Sex Pistols crashed through with this manifesto, attacking almost everything about the system. "Anarchy In The U.K." introduced the masses to punk rock and its anti-establishment message. Despite selling 55,000 copies, the band was dropped by EMI. The band continued attracting controversy and changed the musical landscape forever.

*5

MY GENERATION

The Who

Pete Townshend penned "My Generation", one of the first British rock anthems. The Who single was unleashed in 1965 and shot to #2. 

*4

(I CAN'T GET NO) SATISFACTION

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones were unofficially the bad boys of British rock, in contrast to The Beatles. This image gave the group licence to explore musically and tackle themes such as sexual frustration on "Satisfaction". In 1965, the disc reached #1 at home and around the globe.

*3

I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND

The Beatles

The Beatles had already made major inroads in the UK but, with "I Want To Hold Your Hand", the Fab Four became a worldwide phenomenon. In 1963, the release of the single announced the official start of Beatlemania. Sales were in the millions as the disc began its reign on countless Top 40 charts around the planet.

 

*2

IMAGINE

John Lennon

As if his work as a member of The Beatles wasn't enough, John Lennon delivered one of the most timeless songs of hope in 1971. Drawing inspiration from Yoko Ono, Lennon crafted a song with a vision of how the world could be if divisiveness ceased to exist. Never corny, the song still moves listeners to this day.

*1

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Queen

On paper, Freddie Mercury's concept for "Bohemian Rhapsody" must have seemed the most unlikely idea for an enduring classic. The group was far from the legend it is today, albeit because of the success of this disc in 1975-6. With its mix of hard rock, opera, prog rock, it was a brave decision to release it. Queen's canon is rich with amazing songs, but the group will always be best remembered for this majestic track.

 

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