Credit: Far Out / Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s selection of the ‘660 songs that shaped rock’

Sun 28 June 2026 19:00, UK

Ah, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the great arbiters of taste that everyone seems to hate and disregard, and yet the organisation remains the height of classic rock reverence.

It is an unusual paradigm that actually says a lot about classic rock and its formulation in general. You see, the genre isn’t really about being ‘the best’ or any measurable, objective qualities. It is, by and large, a cesspit of interesting stories. A song can be one chord, follow the most basic structure, peddle tired platitudes about love, and still be classic if there’s fierce character behind it.

But characters require an audience, and that validation is also part of the magic mix of the genre. For instance, Bob Dylan may be an amazing poet, but the height of his songwriting is surely tied to the fact that his songs connected with the public at the right time, in the right way, to create a revolution. Plenty of people have written pretty (or pointed) words to accompany four chords on a dog-eared guitar, but only about two of them can say that the results mobilised the most engaged youth movement in history.

And so, the RRHOF’s role in all of this becomes clear. It might largely be a chance of bigwigs to pose for a picture with Bruce Springsteen on one arm and Aretha Franklin on the other (a decent mantlepiece keepsake), but it is difficult to divorce that sort of bollocks from the music, and in its own crooked way, it is kind of important. Rock needs heroes, and the gaudy celebration of RRHOF helps to both make them and preserve them. Even a snub is all part of the characterful story.

To some extent, therefore, you could argue that the songs that the curators have assembled as the most important in rock history are more important than the list of inductees that they’re confident will attend on any given year. Amassed in alphabetical order, they find space for eight classic Beatles songs, five from The Beach Boys, and, regretably, one from Gary Glitter (the sheer number of problematic figures amassed is a story in and of itself, showcasing the dark side of rock and reverence in one fell swoop).

Who performed at the opening concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 — Credit: Far Out / Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

It also has epics like ‘Iron Man’, ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, and ‘Rapper’s Delight’ in its ranks. You can argue among yourselves about whether ‘Gimme Shelter’, ‘Dream’, ‘Free Fallin”, and ‘Comfortably Numb’ are glaring omissions.

This 660-song list is an expanded version of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s original ‘500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll’ project, compiled in 2004 by chief curator James Henke with input from music writers and critics. The original 500-song list was later expanded by 160 additional tracks, because presumably they thought 500 wasn’t enough of a bastard list for me to write up, with the new selections extending coverage through 2006.

The songs were chosen for their influence on the development of rock and roll and related genres, and perhaps also to ensure wide coverage of the annals of pop culture, with no one attack featuring too heavily. Weirdly, the RRHOF have never really disclosed this list all that often, maybe because of how time-consuming it is to pull together.

Anyway, they’re all wrapped up in a playlist at the foot of the piece (NB not all the songs are available on Spotify).

The 660 songs that shaped rock music:

‘Highway to Hell’ – AC/DC (1979)
‘Back in Black’ – AC/DC (1980)
‘Wabash Cannonball’ – Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys (1938)
‘Dream On’ – Aerosmith (1973)
‘Toys in the Attic’ – Aerosmith (1975)
‘Ramblin’ Man’ – The Allman Brothers Band (1973)
‘Whipping Post’ – The Allman Brothers Band (1969)
‘The House of the Rising Sun’ – The Animals (1964)
‘We Gotta Get Out of This Place’ – The Animals (1965)
‘West End Blues’ – Louis Armstrong (1928)
‘Tennessee’ – Arrested Development (1992)
‘Pick Up the Pieces’ – Average White Band (1974)
‘Jim Dandy’ – LaVern Baker (1956)
‘Planet Rock’ – Afrika Bambaataa (1982)
‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ – The Band (1969)
‘The Weight’ – The Band (1968)
‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’ – Bauhaus (1979)
‘California Girls’ – The Beach Boys (1965)
‘Don’t Worry Baby’ – The Beach Boys (1964)
‘God Only Knows’ – The Beach Boys (1966)
‘Good Vibrations’ – The Beach Boys (1966)
‘Surfin’ USA’ – The Beach Boys (1963)
‘Hey Ladies’ – Beastie Boys (1989)
‘(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)’ – Beastie Boys (1986)
‘A Day in the Life’ – The Beatles (1967)
‘Help!’ – The Beatles (1965)
‘Hey Jude’ – The Beatles (1968)
‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ – The Beatles (1963)
‘In My Life’ – The Beatles (1965)
‘Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)’ – The Beatles (1965)
‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ – The Beatles (1967)
‘Yesterday’ – The Beatles (1965)
‘Laugh, Laugh’ – The Beau Brummels (1965)
‘Loser’ – Beck (1993)
‘Plynth (Water Down the Drain)’ – Jeff Beck Group (1969)
‘Stayin’ Alive’ – Bee Gees (1977)
‘Tighten Up’ – Archie Bell & the Drells (1968)
‘Brown-Eyed Handsome Man’ – Chuck Berry (1956)
‘Johnny B. Goode’ – Chuck Berry (1958)
‘Maybellene’ – Chuck Berry (1955)
‘Rock and Roll Music’ – Chuck Berry (1957)
‘Roll Over Beethoven’ – Chuck Berry (1956)
‘Rock Lobster’ – The B-52’s (1979)
‘Chantilly Lace’ – The Big Bopper (1958)
‘Piece of My Heart’ – Big Brother and the Holding Company (1968)
‘September Gurls’ – Big Star (1974)
‘TV Party’ – Black Flag (1982)
‘Iron Man’ – Black Sabbath (1970)
‘Paranoid’ – Black Sabbath (1970)
‘Turn On Your Love Light’ – Bobby “Blue” Bland (1961)
‘Heart of Glass’ – Blondie (1978)
‘The Breaks’ – Kurtis Blow (1980)
‘Quarter to Three’ – Gary U.S. Bonds (1961)
‘Green Onions’ – Booker T & the MG’s (1962)
‘More Than a Feeling’ – Boston (1976)
‘Changes’ – David Bowie (1972)
‘Fame’ – David Bowie (1975)
‘Space Oddity’ – David Bowie (1969)
‘Ziggy Stardust’ – David Bowie (1972)
‘The Letter’ – The Box Tops (1967)
‘Rocket 88’ – Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats (1951)
‘Driftin’ Blues’ – Charles Brown (1945)
‘Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine’ – James Brown (1970)
‘I Got You (I Feel Good)’ – James Brown (1965)
‘Please, Please, Please’ – James Brown (1956)
‘Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud’ – James Brown (1968)
‘Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean’ – Ruth Brown (1953)
‘Late for the Sky’ – Jackson Browne (1974)
‘For What It’s Worth’ – Buffalo Springfield (1967)
‘Everybody Needs Somebody to Love’ – Solomon Burke (1964)
‘Train Kept A-Rollin’’ – Johnny Burnette & the Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio (1956)
‘Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’ – Buzzcocks (1978)
‘Eight Miles High’ – The Byrds (1966)
‘Hickory Wind’ – The Byrds (1968)
‘Mr Tambourine Man’ – The Byrds (1965)
‘How Long How Long Blues’ – Leroy Carr (1928)
‘Keep On the Sunny Side’ – The Carter Family (1928)
‘Folsom Prison Blues’ – Johnny Cash (1955)
‘I Walk the Line’ – Johnny Cash (1956)
‘Tequila’ – The Champs (1958)
‘Duke of Earl’ – Gene Chandler (1962)
‘Pipeline’ – The Chantays (1963)
‘Maybe’ – The Chantels (1958)
‘Hallelujah I Love Her So’ – Ray Charles (1956)
‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ – Ray Charles (1962)
‘I’ve Got a Woman’ – Ray Charles (1955)
‘What’d I Say’ – Ray Charles (1959)
‘The Twist’ – Chubby Checker (1960)
‘Le Freak’ – Chic (1978)
‘Good Times’ – Chic (1979)
‘Have You Seen Her’ – The Chi-Lites (1971)
‘Sh-Boom’ – The Chords (1954)
‘After Midnight’ – Eric Clapton (1970)
‘Tears in Heaven’ – Eric Clapton (1992)
‘Glad All Over’ – The Dave Clark Five (1964)
‘London Calling’ – The Clash (1979)
‘White Man in Hammersmith Palais’ – The Clash (1978)
‘Many Rivers to Cross’ – Jimmy Cliff (1972)
‘The Harder They Come’ – Jimmy Cliff (1969)
‘I Fall to Pieces’ – Patsy Cline (1961)
‘Walkin’ After Midnight’ – Patsy Cline (1957)
‘Atomic Dog’ – George Clinton (1983)
‘Love Potion No 9’ – The Clovers (1959)
‘Yakety Yak’ – The Coasters (1958)
‘Young Blood’ – The Coasters (1957)
‘C’mon Everybody’ – Eddie Cochran (1958)
‘Summertime Blues’ – Eddie Cochran (1958)
‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ – Joe Cocker (1968)
‘Ivo’ – Cocteau Twins (1984)
‘Suzanne’ – Leonard Cohen (1967)
‘Yellow’ – Coldplay (2000)
‘Straighten Up and Fly Right’ – Nat King Cole (1944)
‘Think (About It)’ – Lyn Collins (1972)
‘Do You Love Me’ – The Contours (1962)
‘Bring It On Home to Me’ – Sam Cooke (1962)
‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ – Sam Cooke (1965)
‘You Send Me’ – Sam Cooke (1957)
‘I’m Eighteen’ – Alice Cooper (1971)
‘Pump It Up’ – Elvis Costello (1978)
‘(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding’ – Elvis Costello (1978)
‘Psychotic Reaction’ – Count Five (1966)
‘The Fish Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag’ – Country Joe and the Fish (1967)
‘Mercy Mercy’ – Don Covay (1964)
‘Crossroads’ – Cream (1969)
‘Sunshine of Your Love’ – Cream (1967)
‘Fortunate Son’ – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
‘Green River’ – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
‘Proud Mary’ – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ – Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969)
‘Ohio’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
‘Gee’ – The Crows (1953)
‘Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)’ – The Crystals (1963)
‘He’s a Rebel’ – The Crystals (1962)
‘Time (Clock of the Heart)’ – Culture Club (1982)
‘In Between Days’ – The Cure (1985)
‘Let’s Go Trippin’’ – Dick Dale and the Del-Tones (1961)
‘New Rose’ – The Damned (1976)
‘At the Hop’ – Danny & the Juniors (1957)
‘Mack the Knife’ – Bobby Darin (1959)
‘Splish Splash’ – Bobby Darin (1958)
‘Gimme Some Lovin’’ – The Spencer Davis Group (1966)
‘Me Myself and I’ – De La Soul (1989)
‘Sonic Reducer’ – Dead Boys (1977)
‘Holiday in Cambodia’ – Dead Kennedys (1980)
‘Smoke on the Water’ – Deep Purple (1973)
‘Israelites’ – Desmond Dekker & the Aces (1969)
‘Oh, What a Night’ – The Dells (1956)
‘Hillbilly Boogie’ – The Delmore Brothers (1946)
‘Come Go with Me’ – The Del-Vikings (1957)
‘People Are People’ – Depeche Mode (1984)
‘Layla’ – Derek and the Dominos (1970)
‘Whip It’ – Devo (1980)
‘Bo Diddley’ – Bo Diddley (1955)
‘Say Man’ – Bo Diddley (1959)
‘Runaround Sue’ – Dion (1961)
‘A Teenager in Love’ – Dion and the Belmonts (1959)
‘Sultans of Swing’ – Dire Straits (1978)
‘Chapel of Love’ – The Dixie Cups (1964)
‘I’ll Live Again’ – The Dixie Hummingbirds (1952)
‘Honky Tonk’ – Bill Doggett (1956)
‘Ain’t That a Shame’ – Fats Domino (1955)
‘Blueberry Hill’ – Fats Domino (1956)
‘Sixty Minute Man’ – The Dominoes (1951)
‘Rock Island Line’ – Lonnie Donegan (1956)
‘Sunshine Superman’ – Donovan (1966)
‘What a Fool Believes’ – The Doobie Brothers (1978)
‘The End’ – The Doors (1967)
‘Light My Fire’ – The Doors (1967)
‘Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang’ – Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg (1992)
‘Right Place Wrong Time’ – Dr John (1973)
‘Money Honey’ – The Drifters (1953)
‘On Broadway’ – The Drifters (1963)
‘There Goes My Baby’ – The Drifters (1959)
‘Up on the Roof’ – The Drifters (1962)
‘Hungry Like the Wolf’ – Duran Duran (1982)
‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ – Bob Dylan (1963)
‘Like a Rolling Stone’ – Bob Dylan (1965)
‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ – Bob Dylan (1965)
‘Tangled Up in Blue’ – Bob Dylan (1975)
‘The Times They Are A-Changin’’ – Bob Dylan (1964)
‘Hotel California’ – Eagles (1976)
‘Take It Easy’ – Eagles (1972)
‘Shining Star’ – Earth, Wind & Fire (1975)
‘Rebel Rouser’ – Duane Eddy (1958)
‘Get Ur Freak On’ – Missy Elliott (2001)
‘Stan’ – Eminem featuring Dido (2000)
‘Mirror in the Bathroom’ – The English Beat (1980)
‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)’ – Eurythmics (1983)
‘All I Have to Do Is Dream’ – The Everly Brothers (1958)
‘Bye Bye Love’ – The Everly Brothers (1957)
‘Rockafeller Skank’ – Fatboy Slim (1998)
‘Think’ – The Five Royales (1957)
‘In the Still of the Nite’ – The Five Satins (1956)
‘I Only Have Eyes for You’ – The Flamingos (1959)
‘Go Your Own Way’ – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
‘Sin City’ – The Flying Burrito Brothers (1969)
‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ – The Four Seasons (1962)
‘Walk Like a Man’ – The Four Seasons (1963)
‘Baby I Need Your Loving’ – Four Tops (1964)
‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ – Four Tops (1966)
‘Chain of Fools’ – Aretha Franklin (1967)
‘I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)’ – Aretha Franklin (1967)
‘Respect’ – Aretha Franklin (1967)
‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ – Aretha Franklin (1967)
‘All Right Now’ – Free (1970)
‘Ready or Not’ – Fugees (1996)
‘I Fought the Law’ – The Bobby Fuller Four (1966)
‘Reconsider Baby’ – Lowell Fulson (1954)
‘One Nation Under a Groove’ – Funkadelic (1978)
‘Biko’ – Peter Gabriel (1980)
‘In Your Eyes’ – Peter Gabriel (1986)
‘What We All Want’ – Gang of Four (1981)
‘We’re Gonna Rock’ – Pvt. Cecil Gant (1950)
‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’ – Marvin Gaye (1968)
‘Sexual Healing’ – Marvin Gaye (1982)
‘What’s Going On’ – Marvin Gaye (1971)
‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ – Genesis (1974)
‘How Do You Do It?’ – Gerry & the Pacemakers (1963)
‘Mind Playing Tricks on Me’ – Geto Boys (1991)
‘Rock and Roll Part 2’ – Gary Glitter (1972)
‘Crazy’ – Gnarls Barkley (2006)
‘We Got the Beat’ – The Go-Go’s (1982)
‘Rock My Soul’ – Golden Gate Quartet (1938)
‘Solo Flight’ – Benny Goodman Orchestra featuring Charlie Christian (1938)
‘We’re an American Band’ – Grand Funk Railroad (1973)
‘The Message’ – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (1982)
‘Dark Star’ – Grateful Dead (1968)
‘Uncle John’s Band’ – Grateful Dead (1970)
‘Let’s Stay Together’ – Al Green (1971)
‘Basket Case’ – Green Day (1994)
‘The Things That I Used to Do’ – Guitar Slim (1952)
‘Welcome to the Jungle’ – Guns N’ Roses (1987)
‘Pastures of Plenty’ – Woody Guthrie (1941)
‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ – Woody Guthrie (1943)
‘This Land Is Your Land’ – Woody Guthrie (1944)
‘Rock Around the Clock’ – Bill Haley & His Comets (1954)
‘She’s Gone’ – Hall & Oates (1976)
‘Flying Home’ – Lionel Hampton (1940)
‘Rainin’ in My Heart’ – Slim Harpo (1961)
‘Good Rockin’ Tonight’ – Wynonie Harris (1948)
‘Kansas City’ – Wilbert Harrison (1959)
‘Dress’ – PJ Harvey (1991)
‘Suzy Q’ – Dale Hawkins (1957)
‘I Put a Spell on You’ – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1956)
‘Theme from Shaft’ – Isaac Hayes (1971)
‘Barracuda’ – Heart (1977)
‘(I Belong to the) Blank Generation’ – Richard Hell & the Voidoids (1976)
‘All Along the Watchtower’ – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
‘Purple Haze’ – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
‘Little Wing’ – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
‘Voodoo Child (Slight Return)’ – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968)
‘Strange Fruit’ – Billie Holiday (1939)
‘Bus Stop’ – The Hollies (1966)
‘Peggy Sue’ – Buddy Holly (1957)
‘That’ll Be the Day’ – Buddy Holly and The Crickets (1957)
‘Boogie Chillen’ – John Lee Hooker (1949)
‘Boom Boom’ – John Lee Hooker (1962)
‘The Little Red Rooster’ – Howlin’ Wolf (1961)
‘Smokestack Lightning’ – Howlin’ Wolf (1956)
‘Spoonful’ – Howlin’ Wolf (1960)
‘Don’t You Want Me’ – Human League (1981)
‘Stack O’ Lee Blues’ – Mississippi John Hurt (1928)
‘Turn on the News’ – Hüsker Dü (1984)
‘For Your Precious Love’ – The Impressions featuring Jerry Butler (1958)
‘People Get Ready’ – The Impressions (1965)
‘If I Didn’t Care’ – The Ink Spots (1939)
‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ – Iron Butterfly (1968)
‘It’s Your Thing’ – The Isley Brothers (1969)
‘Shout’ – The Isley Brothers (1959)
‘I Want You Back’ – The Jackson 5 (1969)
‘ABC’ – The Jackson 5 (1970)
‘Control’ – Janet Jackson (1986)
‘Move on Up a Little Higher’ – Mahalia Jackson (1948)
‘Beat It’ – Michael Jackson (1982)
‘Billie Jean’ – Michael Jackson (1982)
‘Juke’ – Little Walter (1952)
‘In the City’ – The Jam (1977)
‘Dust My Broom’ – Elmore James (1952)
‘Shake Your Moneymaker’ – Elmore James (1961)
‘At Last’ – Etta James (1960)
‘Tell Mama’ – Etta James (1967)
‘The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)’ – Etta James & the Peaches (1955)
‘Super Freak’ – Rick James (1981)
‘Crimson and Clover’ – Tommy James & the Shondells (1968)
‘Hanky Panky’ – Tommy James & the Shondells (1966)
‘Surf City’ – Jan & Dean (1963)
‘Been Caught Stealing’ – Jane’s Addiction (1990)
‘Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)’ – Jay-Z (1998)
‘Somebody to Love’ – Jefferson Airplane (1967)
‘White Rabbit’ – Jefferson Airplane (1967)
‘Matchbox Blues’ – Blind Lemon Jefferson (1927)
‘Aqualung’ – Jethro Tull (1971)
‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’ – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (1981)
‘Just the Way You Are’ – Billy Joel (1977)
‘Piano Man’ – Billy Joel (1974)
‘Bennie and the Jets’ – Elton John (1973)
‘Your Song’ – Elton John (1970)
‘Fever’ – Little Willie John (1956)
‘Motherless Children’ – Blind Willie Johnson (1927)
‘Cross Road Blues (Crossroads)’ – Robert Johnson (1936)
‘Hell Hound on My Trail’ – Robert Johnson (1937)
‘Love in Vain’ – Robert Johnson (1937)
‘Sweet Home Chicago’ – Robert Johnson (1936)
‘Caldonia’ – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (1945)
‘Saturday Night Fish Fry’ – Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (1949)
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ – Joy Division (1980)
‘Breaking the Law’ – Judas Priest (1980)
‘Born Under a Bad Sign’ – Albert King (1967)
‘Sweet Little Angel’ – BB King (1956)
‘Three O’Clock Blues’ – BB King (1951)
‘The Thrill Is Gone’ – BB King (1969)
‘Spanish Harlem’ – Ben E King (1960)
‘Stand by Me’ – Ben E King (1961)
‘You’ve Got a Friend’ – Carole King (1971)
‘Hide Away’ – Freddy King (1961)
‘S.K. Blues’ – Saunders King (1942)
‘In the Court of the Crimson King’ – King Crimson (1969)
‘Louie Louie’ – The Kingsmen (1963)
‘Lola’ – The Kinks (1970)
‘Waterloo Sunset’ – The Kinks (1967)
‘A Well Respected Man’ – The Kinks (1965)
‘You Really Got Me’ – The Kinks (1964)
‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ – Kiss (1975)
‘Party Doll’ – Buddy Knox (1957)
‘Freak on a Leash’ – Korn (1998)
‘Autobahn’ – Kraftwerk (1974)
‘There She Goes’ – The La’s (1988)
‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ – Cyndi Lauper (1983)
‘Dazed and Confused’ – Led Zeppelin (1969)
‘Kashmir’ – Led Zeppelin (1975)
‘Rock and Roll’ – Led Zeppelin (1972)
‘Stairway to Heaven’ – Led Zeppelin (1971)
‘Whole Lotta Love’ – Led Zeppelin (1969)
‘The Midnight Special’ – Lead Belly (1940)
‘Walk Away Renee’ – The Left Banke (1966)
‘Give Peace a Chance’ – John Lennon (1969)
‘Imagine’ – John Lennon (1971)
‘Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)’ – John Lennon (1970)
‘Great Balls of Fire’ – Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’ – Jerry Lee Lewis (1957)
‘The Honeydripper’ – Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers (1945)
‘The Loco-Motion’ – Little Eva (1962)
‘Dixie Chicken’ – Little Feat (1978)
‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ – Little Richard (1958)
‘Long Tall Sally’ – Little Richard (1956)
‘Tutti Frutti’ – Little Richard (1955)
‘Mama Said Knock You Out’ – LL Cool J (1991)
‘Lucky Number’ – Lene Lovich (1978)
‘Do You Believe in Magic’ – The Lovin’ Spoonful (1965)
‘Heart of the City’ – Nick Lowe (1978)
‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love’ – Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers (1956)
‘I’m Not a Juvenile Delinquent’ – Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers (1956)
‘Free Bird’ – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973)
‘Sweet Home Alabama’ – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974)
‘Like a Virgin’ – Madonna (1984)
‘Vogue’ – Madonna (1990)
‘California Dreamin’’ – The Mamas & the Papas (1966)
‘Blue Moon’ – The Marcels (1961)
‘Get Up Stand Up’ – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1973)
‘I Shot the Sheriff’ – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1973)
‘Lively Up Yourself’ – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1975)
‘No Woman, No Cry’ – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1974)
‘Redemption Song’ – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1980)
‘Three Little Birds’ – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1980)
‘Ants Marching’ – Dave Matthews Band (1993)
‘Superfly’ – Curtis Mayfield (1972)
‘U Can’t Touch This’ – M.C. Hammer (1990)
‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ – Paul McCartney (1970)
‘Drinking Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee’ – Stick McGhee (1949)
‘Eve of Destruction’ – Barry McGuire (1965)
‘American Pie’ – Don McLean (1971)
‘Statesboro Blues’ – Blind Willie McTell (1928)
‘Pink Houses’ – John Cougar Mellencamp (1983)
‘Authority Song’ – John Cougar Mellencamp (1983)
‘Enter Sandman’ – Metallica (1991)
‘Conga’ – Miami Sound Machine (1985)
‘Beds Are Burning’ – Midnight Oil (1988)
‘Work With Me Annie’ – The Midnighters (1954)
‘Chicken Shack Boogie’ – Amos Milburn (1948)
‘Let’s Have a Party’ – Amos Milburn (1957)
‘Fly Like an Eagle’ – Steve Miller Band (1976)
‘Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well’ – Lucky Millinder (1945)
‘Stigmata’ – Ministry (1988)
‘Going to a Go-Go’ – The Miracles (1965)
‘Shop Around’ – The Miracles (1960)
‘The Tracks of My Tears’ – The Miracles (1965)
‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me’ – The Miracles (1962)
‘Help Me’ – Joni Mitchell (1974)
‘Porcelain’ – Moby (2000)
‘Omaha’ – Moby Grape (1967)
‘I’m a Believer’ – The Monkees (1966)
‘Last Train to Clarksville’ – The Monkees (1966)
‘Book of Love’ – The Monotones (1958)
‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ – Bill Monroe (1947)
‘Mule Skinner Blues’ – Bill Monroe (1940)
‘Nights in White Satin’ – The Moody Blues (1967)
‘Sincerely’ – The Moonglows (1955)
‘Rock and Roll’ – Wild Bill Moore (1948)
‘You Oughta Know’ – Alanis Morissette (1995)
‘Brown-Eyed Girl’ – Van Morrison (1967)
‘Madame George’ – Van Morrison (1968)
‘Moondance’ – Van Morrison (1970)
‘All the Young Dudes’ – Mott the Hoople (1972)
‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ – My Chemical Romance (2006)
‘OPP’ – Naughty by Nature (1991)
‘Hello Mary Lou’ – Ricky Nelson (1961)
‘Tell It Like It Is’ – Aaron Neville (1966)
‘Blue Monday’ – New Order (1983)
‘Personality Crisis’ – New York Dolls (1973)
‘Sail Away’ – Randy Newman (1972)
‘Head Like a Hole’ – Nine Inch Nails (1990)
‘All Apologies’ – Nirvana (1993)
‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ – Nirvana (1991)
‘Fuck tha Police’ – NWA (1989)
‘Wonderwall’ – Oasis (1995)
‘I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore’ – Phil Ochs (1965)
‘Love Train’ – O’Jays (1973)
‘(Oh) Pretty Woman’ – Roy Orbison (1964)
‘Only the Lonely’ – Roy Orbison (1960)
‘Crying in the Chapel’ – The Orioles (1953)
‘Crazy Train’ – Ozzy Osbourne (1980)
‘Willie and the Hand Jive’ – Johnny Otis (1958)
‘Hey Ya!’ – OutKast (2003)
‘Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)’ – Parliament (1976)
‘How High the Moon’ – Les Paul and Mary Ford (1951)
‘Jeremy’ – Pearl Jam (1991)
‘Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)’ – The Penguins (1954)
‘Final Solution’ – Pere Ubu (1976)
‘Blue Suede Shoes’ – Carl Perkins (1956)
‘Matchbox’ – Carl Perkins (1957)
‘A World Without Love’ – Peter & Gordon (1964)
‘If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)’ – Peter, Paul and Mary (1962)
‘American Girl’ – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1976)
‘Chalk Dust Torture’ – Phish (1992)
‘In the Midnight Hour’ – Wilson Pickett (1965)
‘Another Brick in the Wall Part II’ – Pink Floyd (1979)
‘Money’ – Pink Floyd (1973)
‘See Emily Play’ – Pink Floyd (1967)
‘Where Is My Mind?’ – The Pixies (1988)
‘The Great Pretender’ – The Platters (1955)
‘Every Breath You Take’ – The Police (1983)
‘Roxanne’ – The Police (1978)
‘Heartbreak Hotel’ – Elvis Presley (1956)
‘Hound Dog’ – Elvis Presley (1956)
‘Jailhouse Rock’ – Elvis Presley (1957)
‘Love Me Tender’ – Elvis Presley (1956)
‘Mystery Train’ – Elvis Presley (1955)
‘Suspicious Minds’ – Elvis Presley (1969)
‘That’s All Right’ – Elvis Presley (1954)
‘Rock This Joint’ – Jimmy Preston (1949)
‘Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)’ – The Pretenders (1979)
‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’ – Lloyd Price (1952)
‘Little Red Corvette’ – Prince (1982)
‘Purple Rain’ – Prince & The Revolution (1984)
‘Sign o’ the Times’ – Prince (1987)
‘When Doves Cry’ – Prince (1984)
‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’ – Procol Harum (1967)
‘Mardi Gras in New Orleans’ – Professor Longhair & His Shuffling Hungarians (1949)
‘Tipitina’ – Professor Longhair (1953)
‘Fight the Power’ – Public Enemy (1989)
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – Queen (1975)
‘We Will Rock You’ – Queen (1977)
‘Ladies First’ – Queen Latifah & Monie Love (1990)
’96 Tears’ – Question Mark & the Mysterians (1966)
‘Who Do You Love?’ – Quicksilver Messenger Service (1969)
‘Karma Police’ – Radiohead (1997)
‘Prove It on Me Blues’ – Ma Rainey & Her Tub Jug Washboard Band (1928)
‘Something to Talk About’ – Bonnie Raitt (1991)
‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ – Ramones (1976)
‘Sheena Is a Punk Rocker’ – Ramones (1977)
‘Groovin’’ – The (Young) Rascals (1967)
‘Good Lovin’’ – The (Young) Rascals (1966)
‘Cry’ – Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads (1951)
‘Give It Away’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1991)
‘Shake’ – Otis Redding (1965)
‘(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay’ – Otis Redding (1968)
‘Try a Little Tenderness’ – Otis Redding (1966)
‘Big Boss Man’ – Jimmy Reed (1961)
‘Bright Lights, Big City’ – Jimmy Reed (1961)
‘Walk on the Wild Side’ – Lou Reed (1972)
‘Dancing in the Street’ – Martha Reeves & the Vandellas (1964)
‘Heat Wave’ – Martha Reeves & the Vandellas (1963)
‘Losing My Religion’ – REM (1991)
‘Radio Free Europe’ – REM (1983)
‘Here Comes a Regular’ – The Replacements (1985)
‘I Will Dare’ – The Replacements (1984)
‘Just Like Me’ – Paul Revere and The Raiders (1965)
‘Move It’ – Cliff Richard and the Drifters (1958)
‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’ – The Righteous Brothers (1964)
‘Red Hot’ – Billy Riley & His Little Green Men (1957)
‘Blue Yodel No 9 (Standing on the Corner)’ – Jimmie Rodgers (1928)
‘Honky Tonk Women’ – The Rolling Stones (1969)
‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ – The Rolling Stones (1965)
‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ – The Rolling Stones (1968)
‘Miss You’ – The Rolling Stones (1978)
‘Paint It Black’ – The Rolling Stones (1966)
‘Sympathy for the Devil’ – The Rolling Stones (1968)
‘Time Is on My Side’ – The Rolling Stones (1964)
‘Wild Horses’ – The Rolling Stones (1971)
‘Be My Baby’ – The Ronettes (1963)
‘Love Is the Drug’ – Roxy Music (1975)
‘Cherry Bomb’ – The Runaways (1976)
‘Walk This Way’ – Run-DMC with Aerosmith (1986)
‘The Spirit of Radio’ – Rush (1980)
‘I Can’t Quit You Baby’ – Otis Rush (1956)
‘Devil With a Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly’ – Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels (1966)
‘Let’s Talk About Sex’ – Salt-n-Pepa (1990)
‘Soul Man’ – Sam & Dave (1967)
‘Wooly Bully’ – Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs (1965)
‘Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen’ – Santana (1970)
‘Needles and Pins’ – The Searchers (1964)
‘Pushin’ Too Hard’ – The Seeds (1966)
‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’ – Pete Seeger (1964)
‘Night Moves’ – Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (1976)
‘Anarchy in the UK’ – Sex Pistols (1976)
‘God Save the Queen’ – Sex Pistols (1977)
‘Gloria’ – The Shadows of Knight (1966)
‘California Love’ – 2Pac & Dr Dre (1996)
‘Me Against the World’ – 2Pac (1995)
‘Leader of the Pack’ – The Shangri-Las (1964)
‘Runaway’ – Del Shannon (1961)
‘Hot Rod Race’ – Arkie Shibley (1950)
‘Dedicated to the One I Love’ – The Shirelles (1959)
‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow’ – The Shirelles (1960)
‘Graceland’ – Paul Simon (1986)
‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ – Simon and Garfunkel (1970)
‘The Sounds of Silence’ – Simon and Garfunkel (1965)
‘Cities in Dust’ – Siouxsie and the Banshees (1986)
‘She’s About a Mover’ – Sir Douglas Quintet (1965)
‘We Are Family’ – Sister Sledge (1979)
‘Guns of Navarone’ – The Skatalites (1967)
‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ – Percy Sledge (1966)
‘Dance to the Music’ – Sly & the Family Stone (1968)
‘Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)’ – Sly & the Family Stone (1969)
‘My Boy Lollipop’ – Millie Small (1964)
‘Guitar Boogie’ – Arthur Smith (1945)
‘Down Hearted Blues’ – Bessie Smith (1923)
‘Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie’ – Clarence “Pine Top” Smith (1929)
‘Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie Flu’ – Huey “Piano” Smith & His Clowns (1957)
‘Crazy Blues’ – Mamie Smith (1920)
‘Dancing Barefoot’ – Patti Smith Group (1979)
‘Gloria (in Excelsis Deo)’ – Patti Smith (1976)
‘My Man Rocks Me with One Steady Roll’ – Trixie Smith (1922)
‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ – The Smiths (1984)
‘How Soon Is Now?’ – The Smiths (1984)
‘Teenage Riot’ – Sonic Youth (1988)
‘By and By’ – The Soul Stirrers (1959)
‘Ghost Town’ – The Specials (1981)
‘Wishin’ and Hopin’’ – Dusty Springfield (1964)
‘Born in the USA’ – Bruce Springsteen (1984)
‘Born to Run’ – Bruce Springsteen (1975)
‘Dancing in the Dark’ – Bruce Springsteen (1984)
‘Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)’ – Bruce Springsteen (1973)
‘Streets of Philadelphia’ – Bruce Springsteen (1994)
‘Dirty Water’ – The Standells (1966)
‘I’ll Take You There’ – The Staple Singers (1972)
‘Respect Yourself’ – The Staple Singers (1971)
‘War’ – Edwin Starr (1970)
‘Reeling in the Years’ – Steely Dan (1973)
‘Born to Be Wild’ – Steppenwolf (1968)
‘Maggie May’ – Rod Stewart (1971)
‘Search and Destroy’ – The Stooges (1973)
‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ – The Stooges (1969)
‘Set It Off’ – Strafe (1984)
‘Rock This Town’ – Stray Cats (1982)
‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ – Barrett Strong (1960)
‘Rapper’s Delight’ – The Sugarhill Gang (1979)
‘Love to Love You Baby’ – Donna Summer (1975)
‘Stop! In the Name of Love’ – The Supremes (1965)
‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ – The Supremes (1966)
‘Wipe Out’ – The Surfaris (1963)
‘Hippy Hippy Shake’ – Swinging Blue Jeans (1963)
‘Get It On (Bang a Gong)’ – T. Rex (1971)
‘Life During Wartime’ – Talking Heads (1979)
‘Once in a Lifetime’ – Talking Heads (1980)
‘Psycho Killer’ – Talking Heads (1978)
‘It’s Tight Like That’ – Tampa Red (1928)
‘Fire and Rain’ – James Taylor (1970)
‘Little Johnny Jewel’ – Television (1975)
‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’ – The Temptations (1966)
‘My Girl’ – The Temptations (1964)
‘Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone’ – The Temptations (1972)
‘This Train’ – Sister Rosetta Tharpe (1922)
‘Ball ‘N’ Chain’ – Big Mama Thornton (1968)
‘Hound Dog’ – Big Mama Thornton (1953)
‘Pressure Drop’ – Toots & the Maytals (1970)
‘Legalize It’ – Peter Tosh (1976)
‘Dear Mr Fantasy’ – Traffic (1967)
‘Disco Inferno’ – The Trammps (1977)
‘Wild Thing’ – The Troggs (1966)
‘Roll ‘Em Pete’ – Big Joe Turner & Pete Johnson (1938)
‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ – Big Joe Turner (1954)
‘River Deep, Mountain High’ – Ike & Tina Turner (1966)
‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ – Tina Turner (1984)
‘Happy Together’ – The Turtles (1967)
‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ – The Turtles (1965)
‘Teenage Kicks’ – The Undertones (1978)
‘Roxanne, Roxanne’ – UTFO (1985)
‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ – U2 (1987)
‘One’ – U2 (1991)
‘Pride (In the Name of Love)’ – U2 (1984)
‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ – U2 (1983)
‘La Bamba’ – Ritchie Valens (1958)
‘Jump’ – Van Halen (1984)
‘Runnin’ with the Devil’ – Van Halen (1978)
‘Pride and Joy’ – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble (1983)
‘Heroin’ – The Velvet Underground (1965)
‘White Light/White Heat’ – The Velvet Underground (1968)
‘Sweet Jane’ – The Velvet Underground (1969)
‘Walk Don’t Run’ – The Ventures (1960)
‘Be-Bop-A-Lula’ – Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps (1956)
‘Hang on St. Christopher’ – Tom Waits (1987)
‘Shotgun’ – Junior Walker & the All Stars (1965)
‘Call It Stormy Monday’ – T-Bone Walker (1948)
‘Low Rider’ – War (1975)
‘Slippin’ into Darkness’ – War (1971)
‘How I Got Over’ – Clara Ward & the Ward Singers (1950)
‘Walk On By’ – Dionne Warwick (1964)
‘Am I Asking Too Much’ – Dinah Washington (1948)
‘Got My Mojo Working’ – Muddy Waters (1957)
‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ – Muddy Waters (1954)
‘Mannish Boy’ – Muddy Waters (1955)
‘Rollin’ Stone’ – Muddy Waters (1950)
‘Goodnight Irene’ – The Weavers (1950)
‘Undone (The Sweater Song)’ – Weezer (1994)
‘My Guy’ – Mary Wells (1964)
‘Baba O’Riley’ – The Who (1971)
‘Go to the Mirror Boy’ – The Who (1969)
‘I Can See for Miles’ – The Who (1967)
‘My Generation’ – The Who (1965)
‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ – Big Joe Williams (1941)
‘Lovesick Blues’ – Hank Williams (1949)
‘Move It on Over’ – Hank Williams (1947)
‘Bony Maronie’ – Larry Williams (1957)
‘Packing Up’ – Marion Williams (1958)
‘Good Morning Little School Girl’ – Sonny Boy Williamson (1937)
‘CC Rider’ – Chuck Willis (1957)
‘Ida Red’ – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys (1951)
‘Take Me Back to Tulsa’ – Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys (1941)
‘Lonely Teardrops’ – Jackie Wilson (1958)
‘Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher’ – Jackie Wilson (1967)
‘Fingertips (Part 2)’ – Little Stevie Wonder (1963)
‘Living for the City’ – Stevie Wonder (1973)
‘Master Blaster (Jammin’)’ – Stevie Wonder (1980)
‘Superstition’ – Stevie Wonder (1972)
‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright)’ – Stevie Wonder (1965)
‘Rumble’ – Link Wray (1958)
‘Los Angeles’ – X (1980)
‘Midnight Stomp’ – Jimmy Yancey (1954)
‘Shapes of Things’ – The Yardbirds (1966)
‘Roundabout’ – Yes (1972)
‘Down by the River’ – Neil Young (1969)
‘Heart of Gold’ – Neil Young (1972)
‘My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)’ – Neil Young (1979)
‘Montana’ – Frank Zappa (1973)
‘Brown Shoes Don’t Make It’ – Frank Zappa (The Mothers of Invention) (1967)
‘Time of the Season’ – The Zombies (1968)
‘La Grange’ – ZZ Top (1973)
‘Legs’ – ZZ Top (1984)

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