Top 100 Rock Songs
87
Nantucket Sleighride
Celluloid Heroes
Funk #49
Call Me When Your Sober
Badge
The Top 100 Rock Songs of all time can be debated endlessly. I thought I would come up with my own list, based on lifetime experiences of over 40 years of listening to music and rating sounds that struck a chord in my heart. I have listened to tens of thousands of tunes over the years, and will try to do justice to the gold nuggets that are out there. Each song that we rate favorably, has one or more of the following four qualities:
1) They contain a pleasing melody or harmony
2) They have a catchy beat
3) The lyrics have a meaning to us
4) They trigger memories from our past
There are many top 100 lists that are put together strictly by the number of weeks the song spent at #1 or by the number of sales that it had. The following list has nothing to do with commercial rating systems. It is my own personal list of the Top 100 Rock Songs.
1. Hey Jude - the Beatles
2. Immortality - Celine Dion and the Bee Gees
3. Brown Sugar - the Rolling Stones
4. Nantucket Sleighride - Mountain
5. Rag Doll - Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons
6. Barracuda - Heart
7. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
9. What Have I Done to Deserve This - the Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield
10. Badge - Cream
11. Get Back - the Beatles
12. Celluloid Heroes - the Kinks
13. Layla - Derek and the Dominoes (with Eric Clapton)
14. Funk #49 - the James Gang (with Joe Walsh)
15. River Deep Mountain High - the Supremes and 4 Tops
16. Gloria - Laura Branigan
17. Stop Draggin My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty
18. Day After Day - the Pretenders
19. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
20. A Day In the Life - the Beatles
21. Lola - the Kinks
22. Call Me When Your Sober - Evanescence
23. Someday(Aug. 29, 1968) - Chicago
24. White Rabbit - the Jefferson Airplane
25. The Story in Your Eyes - the Moody Blues
26. Highway Star - Deep Purple
27. To Sir With Love - Lulu
28. Let It Be - the Beatles
29. DeJa Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
30. He's So Fine - the Chiffons
31. Rocks Off - the Rolling Stones
32. Heroes - David Bowie
33. Let's Spend the Night Together - the Rolling Stones
34. Stop! In the Name of Love - the Supremes
35. Bernadette - the Four Tops
36. Good Vibrations - the Beach Boys
37. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
38. Vertigo - U2
39. Don't Look Back - Boston
40. All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople
41. Every Mothers Son - Traffic
42. Your Love - the Outfield
43. Breakfast In America - Supertramp
44. Edge of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks
45. Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix
46. Beautiful Day - U2
47. Radio Ga Ga - Queen
48. Message In A Bottle - the Police
49. Mr. Tambourine Man - the Byrds
50. Words of Love - the Mamas & Papas
51. I Know a Place - Petula Clark
52. Ship Of Fools - the Doors
53. Friday on My Mind - the Easybeats
54. Breathe Your Name - Sixpence None the Richer
55. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
56. Out of Touch - Hall and Oates
57. Peace Frog - the Doors
58. I Can't Get it Out Of My Head - Electric Light Orchestra
59. Powerman - the Kinks
60. S.O.S - Abba
61. Mainline Florida - Eric Clapton
62. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
63. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
64. Woodstock - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
65. A Christmas Song - Jethro Tull
66. Stand Back - Stevie Nicks
67. Live to Tell - Madonna
68. Tonight It's You - Cheap Trick
69. You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling - the Righteous Brothers
70. Eli's Coming - Three Dog Night
71. Be My Baby - the Ronettes (featuring Ronnie Spector)
72. Heroes & Villains - the Beachboys
73. Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me - Elton John
74. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little More) - the Doobie Brothers
75. Do You Know What I Mean? - the Turtles
76. Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
77. Anyway You Want It - the Dave Clark Five
78. Jailbreak - AC/DC
79. Summer In the City - the Lovin Spoonful
80. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
81. Starship Trooper - Yes
82. Don't Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty
83. Bad Company - Bad Company
84. Ball Of Confusion - the Temptations
85. House of the Rising Sun - the Animals
86. Brandy - Looking Glass
87. Soul Survivor - the Rolling Stones
88. We Can Work it Out - the Beatles
89. Armageddon It - Def Leppard
90. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman, Turner Overdrive
91. Susan - The Buckinghams
92. Panama - Van Halen
93, Gloria - U2
94. Midnight Man - the James Gang (with Joe Walsh)
95. Pigs - Pink Floyd
96. It's the Same Old Song - the Four Tops
97. Crimson And Clover - Tommy James & the Shondells
98. Atlantis - Donovan
99. Run With the Pack - Bad Company
100. Beat it - Michael Jackson
This concludes my own personal list of the Top 100 Rock Songs .
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Great List! Must have been fun and challenging to go back through your brain and your memories and your music to compile this! Love tons of these songs!
Sad to see Queen down at #47...and that's not even their best song (IMHO). Also...why is Evanescence's "Call me when you're sober" in the top 25? That song is hardly deserving...I also like Donovan's "Catch the Wind" but I don't see that on here sadly.
I don't listen to much radio rock so the rest are a moot point to me :) Beates are pretty timeless...obviously why they have quite a few toppers.
Oh I know it's your opinion...I just don't think Evanescence is even top 100 worthy. They're a copy of a ton of European gothic bands including Nightwish. Her voice, though unique to America, is nothing more than a carbon copy of these others bands. Just my opinion too, but I would be a person who wouldn't recognize Evanescence due to the fact that their entire inspiration is too close to better bands with better music ;)
The Queen comment rings true....their songs are overpayed. A top song would have to be timeless though I assume? Being a musician myself I would have to put songs that were overplayed on the top 100...since they were favourites for so long (a lot of Beatles tunes incuded here).
Good list though...inspired me to do the same. I'm not sure I could organize 100 songs as well as you did though...
Yeah...I suppose the video and audio combination would up it a few notches
I'll be drafting a top 100 list now...it should be fun!
@Hglicks i'm sorry where is Free Bird from Lynard Skynard?
Hglick, The personal top 100 list of music is a great idea! Like a few others that have made comments, now I have to do my own, (IMHO) Songs that have meaning to me,....... The Joker, Fly like an eagle, We've got tonight, Just a few from the Steve Miller band, Most of the songs by the Eagles (One of the greatest bands of my time), Then you have Lynard Skynard, Dr.Hook, Ottis Redding, and even a little Elvis..... Hoping not to offend anyone just a thought, Take a break and lets all listen to old time rock and roll. Loved your list and all the comments!
I went with the top 25 greatst rock songs of all time, not the 100 you wrote about. Check out my list and let me know what you think. http://hubpages.com/hub/Greatest-Rock-Songs-of-All
NO METAL, NOT EVEN METALLICA
the unforgiven IS one of the greatest songs EVER made
this page is COMPLETELY WORTHLESS
Not a song by The Who?...
What an awful life you had while u grew.
This is a good list! Anyone's list of best would be different, but i feel like you really chose based on their significance to you, not to everyone else. Even more so because some of my favorite songs that I don't see on other lists are on here. I like seeing your different picks from Yes (Starship Trooper is a great piece of Prog!) and Jethro Tull, and I'm glad you gave regard to Boston's Don't Look Back (It was just as good as any of the first 3 tracks of of their debut!). Cool!
Interesting list. I used to like The Buckinghams (still do, I guess), but I didn't like what they did with the song, Susan, on their album (which was to start playing a lot of really strange music at the end of the song). When I first saw your remark about 40 years of listening, I thought, "me too". Now I'm realizing that I seemed to have stopped listening in the 80's, when my children came along. I've never realized, until reading your list, that I've apparently missed 30 years of music (although I do have my own collection, so I haven't been "music-less" - just out of touch. :) )
Just like to point out that your definition of "Rock" seems a little wayward here. There are very few people who would consider anything involving Celine Dion to be rock. Also The Pet Shop Boys are about as far from rock as you're likely to get, especially as they're synthpop, electro and house. Also The Supremes, uh, definitely not rock. The Four Tops, nope, not rock. Petula Clark? Now you're just having a laugh!
I'm not putting down your list, what I am saying is your definition of what constitutes a rock song is not accurate.
Perhaps you should rename this "My Top 100 songs"
Right you are. I guess we all have our own take on rock.
Still, the Pet Shop Boys would seriosly cast coubts.
where are any songs of "The Who" like baba o`riley,my generation,wont get fooled again or more
wait wait wait!!
Where's Pink Floyd, Stairway to Heaven and Bohemian Rhapsody?????
Any song list with "Pigs," "Peace Frog," and "Nantucket Sleighride" on it is OK by me. I really appreciate how deep and shallow you have dug for this list. That is a compliment - just so you know.
Thanks
frank dobner
well hglick i am only twenty but am very enthusiastic about music and the list you have compiled has really helped me find song i may never have listened to before so i think that your list is great each song has it's own individual style that is collectively yours so bravo and please do make another list I will be waiting for it
also if you would like to step a little outside the rock genre for a moment i would have to recommend you listen to a group called the angry string orchestra they did a tribute to metallica a few years back no vocals but it is sure to send that creepy chill down your spine i think you may like this one the name of the album is "Say Your Prayers Little One"
Your list brought back many memories but of course I differ on many. To each his own.
pretty decent list although i think it lacks some key artists like the jimi hendrix experience and pink floyd and even the red hot chili peppers. i know this is your list of your opinion but Evanescence deserves no spot on this list but that is also opinion being that Evanescence is one of my least favorite bands. i like 42. Your love by the outfield..such a great song. i would have also added All the love in the world also by the Outfield. all in all pretty decent list.
Being a huge Rush fan I was dissapointed not to see Tom Sawyer on here - but other than that (and the odd ABBA appearance) - great hub.
I have no doubt that all of us here could alter this list In one way or another with our own pesonal selections . However I really like the wide spectrum of different music , genres and eras that your choices come from and many are favorites of mine as well . That being said I think I would have put "Bohemian Rhapsody a little bit higher In the rankings as It Is one of the all time most recognizeable songs ever ! Good Job though !
Dude you RAWK!
Check out our new hub. It's about a friend of ours. Goes by the name of Matteo Scumaci. He's wrote what we believe is the best alternative Christmas Song of all time! It's called 'Branch in the Spokes'.
Hope you enjoy it and rock on brother!
mmm i respect your personal opinion but i think u need to check ur mind again.
u didnt mention stairway to heaven & whole lotta love of led &
u didnt mention any song of dire straits and i think sultasn of swing and brothers in arms should be add at least in top 50.
what is more u didnt mention black sabbath(maybe i am wrong i didnt check so well) with crazy train & mr crowley and not to mentione that u didnt add hot for teacher & hotel californis.
anyway dont missunderstand me i think ur list is awesome anyway but some things should be add and others should be out.
Not arguing with your personal choices but but seriously, the Beegees were a POP group, Lulu was a POP singer. So were the Turtles but a real class act.
Please don't cite wikipedia as an "Authority" and expect to be taken seriously.
where is Beatles' Yesterday?
My favourite is evanascence - call me when you're sober. I like good vocal in songs, and call me has perfect focals, mixed with a nice and soft melody..
Can't believe no Rush-Tom Sawyer. Jimmi- All along the Watchtower, Bogus list
I respect your work and added blog to favorites
Nice list. I enjoyed seeing Moody Blues "Story in Your Eyes", Three Dog Night's "Eli's Coming", and Madonna's "Live to Tell", among others. I'm not sure I could make my own list, so thanks for sharing yours.
"PANAMA" IS ONLY #92!?!?!?
BLASPHEMER!!!
Nice list.
Great hub very well compiled list i may be only 17 but i've listened to alot of great classics and most very influential to me but my favorite band of all time would be def leppard and not many people place them in any of their lists so thats was the thing that got my highest attention. Great list though hope to see more from you.
I have been racking my brain on who sings this song. I hope someone can tell me who sings it. :) Its (I believe) called "Killing Time" It was maybe in the early 70's but Im thinking more like 78 or so. Heard it on a rock station and want this song bad.
Thanks in advance. :)
Great stuff. I had a lot of fun checking out this eclectic mix and dowloading a few! Fantastic list. Glad Evanescence made it.
"?100 Beat it - Michael Jackson" - it's all about rock or what? I think that MJ some kinda POP singer.
Hey dude,
As much as I am impressed by your top 100,I am a little saddened that such classics from The Who,Janis Joplin and Sabbath have not quite risen to your tastebuds. Im sure nobody's list would be exactly the same....lovin the Turtles tho!!! one of my fave's!!!!!
Great list! It's got a lot of great hits by numerous classic and new bands. I have been reading some of the comments and I agree that they are your opinion. They are also my opinion of top songs too! Good job with the list and looking forewards to seeing another!
62. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin , is the best. really really great song. btw, nice list.
You need to add Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson. Really outstanding song.
Only one AC/DC! No GNR! No Ozzy! No Smoke on the Water! No Stairway to heaven! No Another One Bites the Dust! this is the most suckish list ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this list blows there are a lot of other bands that deserve to be on that list or higher on it eric johnson cliffs of dover i didnt even see stairway to heaven u even went as far as to put pop on a rock list shame on u O.o
nice job ! even though i didnt get wat i was looking for i got plenty of other great songs
Nice List..thnx...
Hey Jude is one of the Beatles' worst songs. I Want You or Rain however.
Of course, I have heard it. Hey Jude is an overhyped, overrated, overplayed and boring song. But I don't hate it because it's famous, (I like some famous Beatles songs), I hate it because it's a horrible song. Have an open mind and you will hopefully see that there are rock songs ten times better than Hey Jude, both from the Beatles and others. Don't listen to others saying Hey Jude is the best song ever.
The melody is mediocre and the instruments does nothing special.
The end is just "Naa-na-na-nananana, nananana. Hey Jude!" 100 times. I have nothing against repetition, but it has to be done right.
You should also listen to the lyrics, I think it's actually about heroin (that just makes me hate the song a little less, even though I don't do heroin)
Have you heard the songs I reconnected to you?
Here's some other Beatles rock songs, all better than Hey Jude: (Random order)
She Said She Said
It's All too Much
Strawberry Fields Forever
You Never Give Me Your Money
I Me Mine
All My Loving
I'm a Loser
Happiness is a Warm Gun
Yer Blues
A Day in The Life
Blue Jay Way
Let it Be
It's Only a Northern Song
Octopus's Garden (just barely better)
Can't Buy Me Love
Polythene Pam
Help!
All You Need is Love
Helter Skelter
Nowhere Man
I'm Only Sleeping
Don't Bother Me
Dear Prudence
Fixing a Hole
Across The Universe
Tomorrow Never Knows
Girl (not sure if the four last songs are really rock though)
Etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. Most of their songs are better than Hey Jude!
If I had to choose, I'd rather listen to Yellow Submarine, because it is shorter.
OK, I'm sorry. I respect your opinion.
"Have you heard the songs I reconnected to you?" I obviously mean recommended, it's Firefox's fault.
I strongly agree with this list. Being an old soul trapped in a young body, I enjoy seeing that I hold the same opinion as those who were actually around to enjoy the epic times of Rock & Roll. The Beatles are my absolute favorite, so I was pleased to see them take 1st. Great list.
Some good stuff in the list hglick but i'm a little confused. How can you place Dusty Springfield, Celine Dion and the Bee Gees in a top 100 'Rock' songs list? All good tracks but not really Rock in my opinion.
I'm sad the iconic Jimi Hendrix version of Dylan's All Along the Watchtower didn't make the list. One of the few covers ever recorded that bettered the original and says everything about the era.
Here are a few more Classic Rock memories for your perusal http://guitarcrayzee.com/listening.php
What a great idea to come up with your own list! Alot of my personal favorites were on there. Wasn't "Hey Jude" written for Julian Lennon when his parents were splitting up? My favorite Beatle song is "Anna". I'm sure I won't get many votes on that one!
I LOVE "The Graduation Song" by Vitamin C. This is what we played during my graduation party in 2000. Along with the song, "Butterfly Kisses" at our (my twin sis and I) graduation party for the family.
I gotta say, I understand that this is just your personal opinion, and I still love it! But for those of you bashing his list because there isn't any "Lynard Skynard"... just thought you should know it's spelled "Lynyrd Skynyrd." Great Hub, hglick!
Most of this I agree with.
A good list and I have to agree with funmontrealgirl on most of the list. I do like Aerosmith's Rag Doll better though :) thanks
Not a very good list. Just saying....
This is great, loved reading it. The (majority of) people above me aren't understanding what you were trying to do here, clearly. No one understands what a personal opinion is? But I think this list is great! Thanks for sharing.
youre welcome!
dude i respect the fack that this is your personal opinion but...you sould put some more pink floyd,rolling stones,the who and led zeppelin songs...but still,you've done a realy good work with this
Queen bohemian rhapsody should be number 1 freddie mercury was a intricate vocalists
Nice List! Bob Dylan?
All along the Watchtower is a gem.. Anyway we know its YOUR PERSONAL OPINION.. Anyway Good List!
Queen Radio Ga Ga and Queen Bohemian Rhapsody I think are the best Rock songs on this list no one like Freddie Mercury, not a better performer like Freddie Mercury.
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hglick Hub Author 3 years ago
My Apologies - "Where the Streets Have No Name" was listed twice at #49 and #81. I made an error during editing. "Mr. Tambourine Man" was #49.