Dave Thompson
In 2011, Dave Thompson released a (to be generous) book featuring a litany of 1,000 songs that, according to the title of the work “rock your world.” To be fair to Mr. Thompson, the book seems intended to be a visual treasure trove of rare photographs, tour memorabilia, miscellaneous album paraphernalia and more, with a few diversely-organized lists, and thus the book is in nowise intended as a scholarly treatment of the history of pop music and/or what makes a song great. Fair enough. As our purpose here is not to treat on the book itself directly (I’m sure I’ll do that in a future book review collection), we shall simply introduce Mr. Thompson’s list of the best 1,000 rock songs (or whatever) of all time (as of 2011). This is not my list, but it has been an interesting experience trying to work through this list, especially as I have not heard of many of the artists and certainly fewer of the songs enumerated here. Feel free to join in my personal challenge to listen to these 1,000 songs and, perhaps, reflect on their merit and come up with your own such list.
- Bus Stop Hollies
- Season of the Witch Donovan
- Jungleland Bruce Springsteen
- Won’t Get Fooled Again Who
- Rock and Roll Gary Glitter
- Desolation Row Bob Dylan
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps Beatles
- Year of the Cat Al Stewart
- Famous Blue Raincoat Leonard Cohen
- Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones
- Rhiannon Fleetwood Mac
- Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin
- Hey Jude Beatles
- Like a Hurricane Neil Young
- Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan
- A Day in the Life Beatles
- Elemental Child T-Rex
- Born to Run Bruce Springsteen
- I Walk on Gilded Splinters Dr. John
- Shake Some Action Flaming Groovies
- Smoke on the Water Deep Purple
- Be Bop a Lula Gene Vincent & His Blue Cops
- Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
- Life on Mars David Bowie
- Trampled Underfoot Led Zeppelin
- Musical Box Genesis
- Number One Crush Garbage
- I’m Not in Love 10CC
- Lily, Rosemary, & The Jack of Hearts Bob Dylan
- Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel
- She’s Not There Zombies
- School’s Out Alice Cooper
- Sympathy for the Devil Rolling Stones
- Past, Present, Future Shangri-Las
- Waterloo Sunset Kinks
- Everyday is Like Sunday Morrissey
- America Simon & Garfunkel
- Layla Derek & The Dominos
- Heroes and Villains Beach Boys
- Bad Moon Rising Creedence Clearwater Revival
- I’m Eighteen Alice Cooper
- All Along the Watchtower Jimi Hendrix Experience
- American Pie Don McLean
- Celluloid Heroes Kinks
- Bored Teenagers Adverts
- See Emily Play Pink Floyd
- All the Young Dudes Mott the Hoople
- Baba O’Riley Who
- Low Spark of High Heeled Boys Traffic
- My Generation Who
- The Boys are Back in Town Thin Lizzy
- The Next Time Cliff Richard
- Bohemian Rhapsody Queen
- In a Broken Dream Python Lee Jackson
- Changing of the Guard Bob Dylan
- Instant Karma Plastic Ono Band
- Suite: Judy Blue Eyes Crosby, Still, & Nash
- Hocus Pocus Focus
- Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) Bruce Springsteen
- Midnight Rambler Rolling Stones
- A Man Needs a Maid Neil Young
- A Groovy Kind of Love Mindbenders
- Dream On Aerosmith
- New York Mining Disaster 1941 Bee Gees
- Can’t Find My Way Home Blind Faith
- Superstar Carpenters
- Caroline Says II Lou Reed
- God Only Knows Beach Boys
- I Feel Fine Beatles
- Alright Now Free
- D’yer Maker Led Zeppelin
- Let it Be Beatles
- Don’t Fear the Reaper Blue Oyster Cult
- Satisfaction Rolling Stones
- 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) Bruce Springsteen
- Statesboro Blues Allman Brothers
- Silver Springs Fleetwood Mac
- Octopus Syd Barrett
- She’s Gone Hall & Oates
- Refugees Van Der Graaf Generator
- Tupelo Honey Van Morrison
- Roadrunner Modern Lovers
- Reason to Believe Rod Stewart
- Diamonds and Rust Joan Baez
- You Really Got Me Kinks
- I’m Waiting for the Man Velvet Underground
- Cowgirl in the Sand Neil Young
- Imagine John Lennon
- Kashmir Led Zeppelin
- Bad to the Bone George Thorogood & The Destroyers
- Sultans of Swing Dire Straits
- New Rose Damned
- Loser Beck
- Ballad of a Thin Man Bob Dylan
- London Calling Clash
- Who Do You Love Juicy Lucy
- Across the Universe Beatles
- Autumn Almanac Kinks
- Roadhouse Blues Doors
- Hotel California Eagles
- House of the Rising Sun Animals
- Ball and Chain Big Brother & The Holding Company
- Do Ya Think I’m Sexy Rod Stewart
- Dust in the Wind Kansas
- Sunshine of Your Love Cream
- Come Out and Play Offspring
- The Boxer Simon & Garfunkel
- Highway to Hell AC/DC
- Solsbury Hill Peter Gabriel
- Violet Hole
- Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding Elton John
- Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana
- Take Me Out Franz Ferdinand
- Sweet Jane Velvet Underground
- God John Lennon
- Dead Babies Alice Cooper
- What Have They Done to My Song, Ma Melanie
- Stagger Lee Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Another Day Paul McCartney
- Privilege Patti Smith Group
- Mother’s Little Helper Rolling Stones
- More Than a Feeling Boston
- Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
- Daydream Believer Monkees
- Beautiful Day U2
- Heroes David Bowie
- Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood Animals
- Helter Skelter Beatles
- Wild Horses Rolling Stones
- Ballad of Dwight Frye Alice Cooper
- All Day and All of the Night Kinks
- White Rabbit Jefferson Airplane
- Eloise Barry Ryan
- Sara Fleetwood Mac
- Up on Cripple Creek Band
- Let It Bleed Rolling Stones
- Supper’s Ready Genesis
- Abandoned Love Bob Dylan
- I Love Rock ’n’ Roll Arrows
- White Man in Hammersmith Palais Clash
- 25 or 6 to 4 Chicago
- Summertime Blues Eddie Cochran
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight Elton John
- Sweet Baby James James Taylor
- Maybelline Chuck Berry
- These Days Jackson Browne
- Freight Train Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group
- A Night Like This Cure
- Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright Bob Dylan
- You Keep Me Hanging On Vanilla Fudge
- That’ll Be the Day Buddy Holly
- Hurdy Gurdy Man Donovan
- American Woman Guess Who
- On the Road Again Canned Heat
- Walk This Way Aerosmith
- You Can’t Always Get What You Want Rolling Stones
- Daniel Bat for Lashes
- Strawberry Fields Forever Beatles
- Mage Bus Who
- Good Vibrations Beach Boys
- Help Beatles
- Dancing in the Dark Bruce Springsteen
- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For U2
- Somebody to Shove Soul Asylum
- No Matter What Badfinger
- #9 Dream John Lennon
- Rock and Roll Music Chuck Berry
- Eight Miles High Byrds
- Drive In Saturday David Bowie
- Back Street Luv Curved Air
- The Letter Boxtops
- Atlantis Donovan
- At the Hop Danny & The Juniors
- Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley
- Supernaut Black Sabbath
- Napoleon Bonapart One and Two Budgie
- American Girl Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
- Echoes Pink Floyd
- The Knife Genesis
- Shape of Things Yardbirds
- Rebel Rebel David Bowie
- Gimme Some Truth John Lennon
- Desperado Eagles
- Soldier Blue Buffy Sainte Marie
- Watching the Detectives Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- Go Your Own Way Fleetwood Mac
- Josephine John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett
- Paris 1919 John Cale
- Someone to Lay Down Beside Me Karla Bonoff
- Get Back Beatles
- Rising Sun Medicine Head
- Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands Bob Dylan
- Breathing Kate Bush
- Bela Lugosi’s Dead Bauhaus
- Psychotic Reaction Count Five
- Autobahn Kraftwerk
- Lust for Life Iggy Pop
- Longview Green Day
- Almost Cut My Hair Crosby Stills Nash & Young
- Truckin’ Grateful Dead
- Everlong Foo Fighters
- Little Wing Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Ride Captain Rid Blues Image
- They Don’t Know Kirsty MacColl
- Takin’ Care of Business Bachman Turner Overdrive
- Jailbreak Thin Lizzy
- Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll Ian Dury & The Blackheads
- Lay Down Melanie
- Riot in Cell Block #9 Johnny Winter
- Wild Thing Troggs
- Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd
- How Soon is Now Smiths
- Edie Cult
- I Fought the Law Bobby Fuller Four
- Somebody to Love Jefferson Airplane
- Tarkus Emerson, Lake and Palmer
- And You And I Yes
- Badlands Bruce Springsteen
- Welcome to the Jungle Guns ’n’ Roses
- In the Ghetto Elvis Presley
- Cryin’ Aerosmith
- Pablo Picasso Modern Lovers
- Ramblin’ Man Allman Brothers
- Bittersweet Symphony Verve
- Great Balls of Fire Jerry Lee Lewis
- Next (Aux Suivantes) Sensational Alex Harvey Band
- Fire and Rain James Taylor
- It’s So Easy Buddy Holly
- Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory Traffic
- Then He Kissed Me Crystals
- Karma Police Radiohead
- Back in the USA Chuck Berry
- Rock Around the Clock Bill Haley & the Comets
- Answering Machine Replacements
- Black Metallic Catherine Wheel
- After the Goldrush Neil Young
- The Pretender Jackson Browne
- Tangled Up in Blue Bob Dylan
- Submission Sex Pistols
- Johnny Hit and Run Paulene X
- Touch Me I’m Sick Mudhoney
- Fly Like an Eagle Steve Miller Band
- Ooh La La Faces
- You Look Good on the Dancefloor Arctic Monkeys
- Sebastian Cockney Rebel
- Black Sabbath Black Sabbath
- What is Life George Harrison
- In Shreds Chameleons
- Epitaph King Crimson
- Jackson Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood
- Everything’s Alright Mojos
- Tom Traubert’s Blues Tom Waits
- It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding Bob Dylan
- Alternate Title Monkees
- Marie and Joe Doctors of Madness
- Baby Jump Mungo Jerry
- Heart of Gold Neil Young
- Protection Graham Parker
- That’s Entertainment Jam
- Rocking in the Free World Neil Young
- It Might as Well Rain Until September Carole King
- Come Together Beatles
- Love Reign O’er Me Who
- Losing My Religion REM
- Pink Moon Nick Drake
- Cortez the Killer Neil Young
- Everything I Own Bread
- Waiting for the Sun Doors
- Creep Radiohead
- Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton
- Time Pink Floyd
- Night Moves Bob Seger
- You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything Faces
- You’re So Vain Carly Simon
- Starting Over John Lennon
- Let’s Hang On Four Seasons
- Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) Green Day
- My Sweet Lord George Harrison
- Isis Bob Dylan
- A Hard Day’s Night Beatles
- Big Eyes Cheap Trick
- I Get Around Beach Boys
- Little Queenie Chuck Berry
- Powderfinger Neil Young
- Hello It’s Me Todd Rundgren
- Not Fade Away Buddy Holly
- Possession Sara McLachlan
- Everybody Hurst REM
- Barbara Ann Beach Boys
- Debris Faces
- Hallelujah Leonard Cohen
- Life During Wartime Talking Heads
- Why Do Fools Fall in Love Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
- Jessica Allman Brothers
- Lady Rachel Kevin Ayers
- The Only Living Boy in New York Simon & Garfunkel
- Three Stars Eddie Cochran
- Devoted to You Everly Brothers
- Oh Boy Buddy Holly
- So Long Marianne Leonard Cohen
- Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley
- Space Truckin’ Deep Purple
- Paranoid Black Sabbath
- The Carny Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Roadrunner Bo Diddley
- Jeremy Pearl Jam
- Out Demons Out Edgar Broughton Band
- Killer Queen Queen
- Hey Mr. Draftboard David Peel
- Bedsitter Images Al Stewart
- Shaking All Over Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
- The Perfect Drug Nine Inch Nails
- My Death David Bowie
- Heroin Velvet Underground
- Doll Parts Hole
- Pleasant Valley Sunday Monkees
- Born to be Wild Steppenwolf
- Venus in Furs Velvet Underground
- 24 Jem
- Lady Eleanor Lindisfarne
- Who Knows Where the Time Goes Fairport Convention
- Honky Tonk Woman Rolling Stones
- Court of the Crimson King King Crimson
- Tutti Frutti Little Richard
- The Show Must Go On Queen
- Soho Square Kirsty MacColl
- Total Eclipse of the Heart Bonnie Tyler
- Don’t Bring Me Down Pretty Things
- Nite Klub Specials
- 96 Tears Question Mark & The Mysterians
- Basket Case Green Day
- Lady Jane Rolling Stones
- Song for Europe Roxy Music
- Clocks Coldplay
- A Salty Dog Procol Harum
- Baker Street Gerry Rafferty
- Badge Cream
- Coney Island Baby Lou Reed
- For No One Beatles
- Blitzkrieg Bop Ramones
- Revolution Blues Neil Young
- Ghost of Tom Joad Bruce Springsteen
- There Goes a Tenner Kate Bush
- Barracuda Heart
- Fairytale of New York Pogues
- Johnny Mekon Radio Stars
- Maggie May Rod Stewart
- Proud Mary Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Soft Wolf Grant Lee Buffalo
- Get Off of My Cloud Rolling Stones
- Till the End of the Day Kinks
- Up the Junction Squeeze
- Hold Your Head Up Argent
- Winona Matthew Sweet
- Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again Bob Dylan
- Days of Pearly Spencer David McWilliams
- Positively 4th Street Bob Dylan
- Funeral Party Cure
- Running Up That Hill Kate Bush
- Happy Xmas War is Over John Lennon
- Tales of Brave Ulysses Cream
- Purple Haze Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Locomotive Breath Jethro Tull
- Firth of Fifth Genesis
- Nights in White Satin Moody Blues
- Those Were the Days Mary Hopkin
- Wake Up Little Susie Everly Brothers
- Something Else Eddie Cochran
- Chestnut Mare Byrds
- Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) Steve Harley
- Amoruese Kiki Dee
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Bob Dylan
- John I’m Only Dancing David Bowie
- Alice’s Restaurant Arlo Guthrie
- Jumping Jack Flash Rolling Stones
- Paradise by the Dashboard Light Meatloaf
- Me and Bobby McGee Janis Joplin
- Somewhere in Hollywood 10CC
- Dreaming Blondie
- Here There and Everywhere Beatles
- Madame George Van Morrison
- Life in Dark Water Al Stewart
- Carol Chuck Berry
- Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley
- Peggy Sue Buddy Holly
- Midnight Rider Greg Allman
- Wedding Bell Blues Laura Nyro
- Memphis, Tennessee Chuck Berry
- Tomorrow Never Knows Beatles
- Paint It Black Rolling Stones
- Crazy On You Heart
- Big Bad Moon Joe Satriani
- Come Dancing Kinks
- White Winter Hymn Fleet Foxes
- Mona Quicksilver Messenger Service
- Invisible Sun Police
- Marquee Moon Television
- Angie Rolling Stone
- I’m in Love with a German Filmstar Passions
- Rain on the Scarecrow John Mellencamp
- Ruby Kaiser Chiefs
- Hello I Love You Doors
- Born Too Late Poni-Tails
- War Pigs Black Sabbath
- This Wheel’s on Fire Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity
- Boxers Morrisey
- You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet BTO
- Go Now Moody Blues
- 10:15 Saturday Night Cure
- Down in the Boondocks Gregory Philips
- Universal Soldier Donovan
- Bad Things Jace Everett
- Psycho Killer Talking Heads
- C’est La Vie ELP
- You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory Johnny Thunders
- Light My Fire Doors
- California Girls Beach Boys
- Fireball Deep Purple
- Road to Cairo Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity
- Hey Hey My My Neil Young
- Anyone Who Had a Heart Cilla Black
- My Life Dido
- Black Water Doobie Brothers
- Massachusetts (The Lights Went Out In) Bee Gees
- Ashes to Ashes David Bowie
- Nobody’s Fault But Mine Led Zeppelin
- Showroom Dummies Kraftwerk
- News From Spain Al Stewart
- Lullaby Cure
- Come As You Are Nirvana
- Black Juju Alice Cooper
- We Are the Dead David Bowie
- In the Air Tonight Phil Collins
- Plaistow Patricia Ian Dury & The Blackhearts
- Astronomy Dominie Pink Floyd
- Rock Lobster B-52’s
- This Flight Tonight Joni Mitchell
- Kool Thing Sonic Youth
- I Don’t Want to Talk About It Rod Stewart
- Chapel of Love Dixie Cups
- Self Esteem Offspring
- Sweet Little Rock ’n’ Roller Chuck Berry
- Black Magic Woman Fleetwood Mac
- Girl Don’t Come Sandy Shaw
- Meet on the Ledge Fairport Convention
- Who Does Lisa Like Rachel Sweet
- Rock ’n’ Roll High School Ramones
- Space Oddity David Bowie
- Summer Breeze Seals and Croft
- It’s the End of the World As We Know It REM
- How Long Ace
- Where Do You Go to My Lovely Peter Sarstedt
- Too Much to Dream Last Night Electric Prunes
- Jeepster T-Rex
- We’re an American Band Grand Funk
- It’s My Life Animals
- Under Pressure Queen & David Bowie
- A Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum
- Faith Healer Sensational Alex Harvey Band
- White Punks on Dope Tubes
- Tusk Fleetwood Mac
- Sunny Afternoon Kinks
- It’s All Over Now Baby Blue Bob Dylan
- Hey Lord Don’t Ask Me Questions Graham Parker & The Rumour
- Fifteen Minutes Kirsty MacColl
- Bachelor Boy Cliff Richard
- It’s My Party Lesley Gore
- Alive Pearl Jam
- Subterranean Homesick Blues Bob Dylan
- Hasten Down the Wind Linda Ronstadt
- Another Girl Another Planet Only Ones
- Sara Smile Hall & Oates
- When We Were Fab George Harrison
- Dead Man’s Curve Jan and Dean
- Jack the Ripper Morrissey
- Have You Ever Seen the Rain Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Gold John Stewart
- Dead End Street Kinks
- Passion Rod Stewart
- It Doesn’t Matter Anymore Buddy Holly
- Suzanne Leonard Cohen
- Eve of Destruction Barry McGuire
- Down in the Tube Station Jam
- Berlin Udo Lindenberg
- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Band
- Death Disco Public Image Ltd
- (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- I Don’t Like Mondays Boomtown Rats
- Ghost Town Specials
- Anarchy in the UK Sex Pistols
- No Rain Blind Melon
- Promised Land Johnny Allen
- Change Sparks
- Johnny Remember Me John Leyton
- Blind Willie McTell Bob Dylan
- White Light White Heat Velvet Underground
- Song for Guy Elton John
- Gimme Some Loving Spencer Davis Group
- Little Deuce Coup Beach Boys
- Rosalyn Pretty Things
- Spirit of Christmas Steve Ashley
- Blockbuster Sweet
- Can’t Get Enough Bad Company
- Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in my Hand Primitive Radio Gods
- Journey from Eden Steve Miller Band
- California Dreamin’ The Mamas & The Papas
- Three Steps to Heaven Eddie Cochran
- Emma Hot Chocolate
- Criminal World Metro
- It’s Only Love Beatles
- Wishing Well Free
- Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On Jerry Lee Lewis
- Wild World Cat Stevens
- Burning of the Midnight Lamp Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Love Me Tender Elvis Presley
- City of New Orleans Arlo Guthrie
- Zombie Cranberries
- Zoom Club Budgie
- Parisienne Walkways Gary Moore
- Rita Mae Bob Dylan
- Ace of Spades Motorhead
- One of These Nights Eagles
- Tomahawk Cruise TV Smith
- Willin’ Little Feat
- Brothers in Arms Dire Straits
- Jennifer Juniper Donovan
- Berlin Lou Reed
- This is Hardcore Pulp
- Pretty in Pink Psychedelic Furs
- All I Have to Do is Dream Everly Brothers
- Rikki Don’t Lose That Number Steely Dan
- Werewolves of London Warren Zevon
- Porpoise Song Monkees
- Metal Guru T-Rex
- Since I’ve Been Loving You Led Zeppelin
- Hey Joe Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Friday on My Mind Easybeats
- Fox on the Run Sweet
- Lucille Little Richard
- Virginia Plain Roxy Music
- The Weight Band
- Jack and Diane John Mellencamp
- Leader of the Gang Gary Glitter
- Ever Fallen in Love Buzzcocks
- Leader of the Pack Shangri-Las
- Radio Activity Kraftwerk
- First of May Bee Gees
- Halloween Parade Lou Reed
- Rock On David Essex
- I’ve Seen All Good People Yes
- The Witch Cult
- Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth Sparks
- Bat out of Hell Meatloaf
- I Don’t Want to Know Nils Lofgren
- Pride (In the Name of Love) U2
- I Want to Kill You David Peel
- The Air That I Breathe Hollies
- Young Americans David Bowie
- Muswell Hillbillies Kinks
- Dance Me to the End of Love Leonard Cohen
- Andmoreagain Love
- Woodstock Joni Mitchell
- Folk Song Jack Bruce
- Maybe Baby Buddy Holly
- Glory Box Portishead
- 16 Again Buzzcocks
- Money Pink Floyd
- Immigrant Song Led Zeppelin
- The Wind Cries Mary Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Iron Man Black Sabbath
- Blackberry Way Move
- Oliver’s Army Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- Californication Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Walk Away Renee Left Banke
- For Your Love Yardbirds
- We Gotta Get Out of This Place Animals
- Apache Shadows
- Village Green Kinks
- Roundabout Yes
- Brass in Pocket Pretenders
- All Shook Up Elvis Presley
- The Sounds of Silence Simon & Garfunkel
- Hippy Hippy Shake Swinging Blue Jeans
- Matchstalk Men and Matchstick Cats and Dogs Brian & Michael
- I Want You, I Need You, I Love You Elvis Presley
- Hello Spaceboy David Bowie
- Sharp Dressed Man ZZ Top
- I Hate Banks Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper
- Cathy’s Clown Everly Brothers
- Rubber Bullets 10CC
- Expecting to Fly Buffalo Springfield
- God Save the Queen Sex Pistols
- To Know Him is to Love Him Teddy Bears
- Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell
- Blue Jean Bop Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
- Girls and Boys Blur
- Elenore Turtles
- Red Right Hand Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Johnny B. Goode Chuck Berry
- High and Dry Radiohead
- Sunday Bloody Sunday U2
- My White Bicycle Nazareth
- Excerpt from a Teenaged Opera Keith West
- Bo Diddley Bo Diddley
- Ebony Eyes Everly Brothers
- Glad All Over Dave Clark 5
- Speedway Morrissey
- Harvest Moon Neil Young
- Dancing Barefoot Patti Smith Group
- Police Car Larry Wallis
- America Nice
- Mr. Soul Buffalo Springfield
- Hurt Nine Inch Nails
- Stay with Me Faces
- Pipeline Chantays
- For You Judy Tzuke
- Young Turks Rod Stewart
- Sheep Pink Floyd
- I Walked with a Zombie Roky Erickson
- Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown Rolling Stones
- Silhouettes Herman’s Hermits
- Starman David Bowie
- A Touch of Grey Grateful Dead
- Happy Together Turtles
- Search and Destroy Stooges
- New Ways Are Best TV Smith
- The Jack AC/DC
- Trouble Coming Every Day Mothers of Invention
- Sweet Child of Mine Guns ’n’ Roses
- Moonage Daydream David Bowie
- Kiss Me on a Bus Replacements
- Achilles Last Stand Led Zeppelin
- Peaches Stranglers
- Here Comes the Night Them
- Love Will Tear us Apart Joy Division
- I Can’t Explain Who
- Je T’aime Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birken
- Starless King Crimson
- Veronika Tricky
- Reward Teardrop Explodes
- AC/DC Sweet
- Sonic Reducer Dead Boys
- Hypnotized Fleetwood Mac
- Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground White Stripes
- In a Gadda Da Vida Iron Butterfly
- Roxette Dr. Feelgood
- Eight Days a Week Beatles
- Memory Motel Rolling Stones
- Cincinnati Fatback Roogalator
- Volunteers Jefferson Airplane
- Blinded by the Light Bruce Springsteen
- I Wanna Be Sedated Ramones
- The State that I Am In Belle and Sebastian
- Tupelo Nice Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Vincent Don McLean
- California Uber Alles Dead Kennedys
- Eastbourne Ladies Kevin Coyne
- 1984 Spirit
- The End Doors
- Saturday Gigs Mott the Hoople
- Haitian Divorce Steely Dan
- Centerfield John Fogerty
- Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Daydream Lovin’ Spoonful
- First We Take Manhattan Leonard Cohen
- Song to Comus Comus
- Rooster Alice in Chains
- Perfect Day Lou Reed
- It Don’t Come Easy Ringo Starr
- Flash Queen
- SWLABR Cream
- 2000 Light Years From Home Rolling Stones
- Capital Radio Clash
- Ballroom Blitz Sweet
- Run Run Run Jo Jo Gunne
- Melissa Allman Brothers
- I Am a Rock Simon & Garfunkel
- Let’s Make the Water Turn Black Mothers of Invention
- China Girl Iggy Pop
- Death Is Not the End Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
- Shots Neil Young
- Overnight Sensation Raspberries
- Cygnet Committee David Bowie
- New Age Velvet Underground
- No Fun Stooges
- The Last Resort Eagles
- Itchycoo Park Small Forces
- Rat Trap Boomtown Rats
- Moondance Van Morrison
- White Riot Clash
- Band on the Run Paul McCartney & Wings
- Ballad of John and Yoko Beatles
- 24 Hours from Tulsa Gene Pitney
- Andy Warhol David Bowie
- I Feel Like I’m Fixing to Die Rag Country Joe & The Fish
- Are Friends Electric Tubeway Army
- Say Hello Wave Goodbye Soft Cell
- Saturday Night Bay City Rollers
- Rebellion Arcade Fire
- Needles and Pins Searches
- August Day Hall and Oates
- Hold the Line Toto
- Abacab Genesis
- Where Have all the Good Times Gone Kinks
- Da Doo Ron Ron Crystals
- Telstar Ronadoes
- Fell in Love with a Girl White Stripes
- A Lover’s Concerto Toys
- The Only Living Boy in New Cross Carter USM
- Sheena Is a Punk Rocker Ramones
- Mad Eyed Screamer Creatures
- Devil Woman Cliff Richard
- Strange Brew Cream
- Play with Fire Rolling Stones
- When Will I Be Loved Everly Brothers
- Broken English Marianne Faithfull
- Move It Cliff Richard
- Alone Again Or Love
- Alley Oop Hollywood Argyles
- Deuce Kiss
- To Bring You My Love PJ Harvey
- Cherry Bomb Runaways
- Two Princes Spin Doctors
- Maybe Chantels
- Living Next Door to Alice Smokey
- Brown Sugar Rolling Stones
- Jane Says Jane’s Addiction
- Surf’s Up Beach Boys
- I’m Going Home Ten Years After
- The Joker Steve Miller Band
- Atomic Blondie
- Plush Stone Temple Pilots
- Arizona Alejandro Escoveda
- Master of the Universe Hawkwind
- I Wanna Be Your Dog Stooges
- Going Up the Country Canned Heat
- All Apologies Nirvana
- C Moon Wings
- Hole in My shoe Traffic
- Deal Grateful Dead
- The River Bruce Springsteen
- Carry On My Wayward Son Kansas
- Love Will Come Through Travis
- Presence of the Lord Blind Faith
- Piece of My Heart Big Brother & The Holding Company
- Hell is Round the Corner Tricky
- Aqualung Jethro Tull
- Indian Reservation Paul Revere & The Raiders
- Spinning Wheel Blood, Sweat and Tears
- Radio Free Europe REM
- Lovecats Cure
- Queen B*tch David Bowie
- This Corrosion Sisters of Mercy
- Ciao Lush
- Terry Twinkle
- Lake of Fire Meat Puppets
- Jump Van Halen
- Pictures of Lilo Who
- Route 66 Depeche Mode
- Metal Postcard Siouxsie & The Banshees
- Coz I Luv You Slade
- I Got You Babe Sonny and Cher
- Sweeter Memories Todd Rundgren
- 20 Flight Rock Eddie Cochran
- I’m Ready Fats Domino
- Ruby Tuesday Rolling Stones
- Lola Kinks
- Lithium Nirvana
- When the Sun Goes Down Arctic Monkeys
- Everyday Buddy Holly
- What’d I Say? Ray Charles
- Killing Moon Echo & The Bunnymen
- Something in the Air Thunderclap Newman
- For What It’s Worth Buffalo Springfield
- Mrs. Robinson Simon & Garfunkel
- San Francisco Nights Eric Burdon & The Animals
- She Sells Sanctuary Cult
- Shattered Rolling Stones
- Gloria Patti Smith Group
- Radio Radio Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- Mississippi Queen Mountain
- Boys and Girls Bryan Ferry
- Green Manalishi Fleetwood Mac
- Monkberry Moon Delight Paul McCartney
- Stoned Soul Picnic Laura Nyro
- A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall Bob Dylan
- Jesus of Suburbia Green Day
- Love is Like Oxygen Sweet
- Homeward Bound Simon & Garfunkel
- Pinball Wizard Who
- Close Watch John Cole
- Reconnez Cherie Wreckless Eric
- Jet Paul McCartney & Wings
- The Rocker AC/DC
- Trans-Europe Express Kraftwerk
- It’s Different for Girls Joe Jackson
- Song to the Siren Tim Buckley
- Crystallised XX
- Nature’s Way Spirit
- A Certain Girl Yardbirds
- Lost Cause Beck
- Termination Iron Butterfly
- Wear Your Love Like Heaven Donovan
- Kiss on the Lips Joan Jett
- Walk Don’t Run Ventures
- Soul Sacrifice Santana
- Whole Lotta Love Led Zeppelin
- Dark End of the Street Linda Ronstadt
- Under the Bridge Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Because the Night Patti Smith Group
- Delilah Tom Jones
- Don’t Forget to Dance Kinks
- Morning Glory Tim Buckley
- I’m a Man Bo Diddley
- Madman Across the Water Elton John
- Breakdown Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
- Seether Veruca Salt
- Louie Louie Kingsmen
- Caring Is Creepy Shins
- Holiday on the Moon Love and Rockets
- Angeline Faithless
- Alcohol Kinks
- Tobacco Road Nashville Teens
- Monkey Gone to Heaven Pixies
- Back Street Girl Rolling Stones
- Do the Strand Roxy Music
- The Girl Can’t Help It Little Richard
- Pack Up Your Sorrows Richard and Mimi Farina
- I Just Wanna Make Love to You Rolling Stones
- Sunburn Muse
- Star Stealers Wheel
- Everyone Says Hi David Bowie
- Pandora’s Box Procul Harum
- The Carnival Is Over Seekers
- No Regrets Walker Brothers
- Stand by Me John Lennon
- Without You Nilsson
- Time of the Season Zombies
- Willie & The Hand Jive Eric Clapton
- Eminence Front Who
- Remember Walking in the Sand Shangri-Las
- Love Is the Drug Roxy Music
- Amos Moses Sensational Alex Harvey Band
- Suffocate Green Day
- Nantucket Sleighride Mountain
- Life’s a Gas T-Rex
- Surf City Jan and Dean
- Black Heart Marc & The Mambas
- Strange Kind of Woman Deep Purple
- La Grange ZZ Top
- Reno, Nevada Richard and Mimi Farina
- Bullet with Butterfly Wings Smashing Pumpkins
- Big Black Smoke Kinks
- Do Wah Diddy Diddy Manfred Mann
- Hurricane Bob Dylan
- St. Petersburg Robyn Hitchcock
- Wrecking Ball Emmylou Harris
- Sister Morphine Rolling Stones
- London Boys David Bowie
- You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover Bo Diddley
- Walking on Thin Ice Yoko Ono
- When We Meet Again Nicole Reynolds
- The High Road Broken Bells
- A Night In Tindersticks
- SOS ABBA
- Lalena Donovan
- Second Skin Gits
- No Milk Today Herman’s Hermits
- Opal Syd Barrett
- Ohio Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
- House of Fun Madness
- Do You Realize Flaming Lips
- Straight to Hell Clash
- All the Things She Said Tatu
- Rave On Buddy Holly
- Come Back Mighty Wah!
- Ballad of Easy Rider Byrds
- Tired of Waiting For You Kinks
- Crazy Gnarls Barkley
- Brand New Cadillac Vince Taylor
- Radar Love Golden Earring
- Refugee Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
- Freshmen Verve Pipe
- Whole Wide World Wreckless Eric
- 50 Ways to Leave Paul Simon
- Old Wild Men 10CC
- Child in Time Deep Purple
- Back On the Chaingang Pretenders
- Desire U2
- Panic Smiths
- Kick Out the Jams MC5
- Far Far Away Slade
- Southern Pacific Neil Young
- Silver Machine Hawkwind
- Drag Low
- Communication Breakdown Led Zeppelin
- Helen Wheels Paul McCartney & Wings
- No-One Knows Queens of the Stone Age
- Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll Mott the Hoople
- Jenny Was a Friend of Mine Killers
- Maybe I’m Amazed Paul McCartney
- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Warren Zevon
- Tush ZZ Top
- I Can Never Go Home Anymore Shangri-Las
- Whipping Post Allman Brothers
- The Jean Genie David Bowie
- I Want to See the Bright Lights Richard Thompson
- Blank Generation Richard Hell
- Ferry Cross the Mersey Gerry & The Pacemakers
- Runaway Train Soul Asylum
- King of the Rumbling Spires Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Bye Bye Johnny Chuck Berry
- One Headlight Wallflowers
- Stoney End Laura Nyro
- Buddy Holly Weezer
- Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing Buffalo Springfield
- Story of the Blues Wah!
- Adam Raised a Cain Bruce Springsteen
- God Gave Rock ’n’ Roll to You Argent
- Magic Man Heart
- Oxford Comma Vampire Weekend
- Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap AC/DC
- On the Radio Cheap Trick
- Alone Again Naturally Gilbert O’Sullivan
- Another Brick in the Wall Pink Floyd
- Fire Crazy World of Arthur Brown
- Tell Laura I Love Her Ricky Valance
- Here’s Where the Story Ends Sundays
- Brand New Key Melanie
- Duncan Paul Simon
- I’m a Boy Who
- Take the Money and Run Steve Miller Band
- Ballrooms and Mars T-Rex
- When Do I Get To Sing “My Way”? Sparks
- Tunnel of Love Fun Boy Three
- Your Woman White Town
- Merry Xmas Everybody Slade
- July Flame Laura Veirs
- New Year’s Day U2
- If You Go Away Marc & The Mambas
- Political World Bob Dylan
- As Tears Go By Marianne Faithfull
- TV Eye Stooges
- Seven Nation Army White Stripes
- Hound Dog Elvis Presley
- You Wear It Well Rod Stewart
- Hey Nineteen Steely Dan
- Talking Airplane Disaster Blues Phil Ochs
- This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us Sparks
- My Hero Foo Fighters
- Race with the Devil Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
- Prince Charming Adam & The Ants
- Sex and Candy Marcy Playground
- Love U More Sunscreen
- Sylvia Focus
- Conquistador Procul Harum
- Fun Fun Fun Beach Boys
- Loaded Primal Scream
- On the Beach Neil Young
- Blowing in the Wind Bob Dylan
- Kodachrome Paul Simon
- Vienna Ultravox
- Love and a Molotov Cocktail Flys
- Garden Party Ricky Nelson
- Crying in the Rain Everly Brothers
- Boy in the Bubble Paul Simon
- Everyday is Halloween Ministry
- The French Song Joan Jett
- Worcester City Eliza Carthy
- Dance to the Bop Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
- Get It On T-Rex
- Radio Radio Radio Rancid
- Samba Pa Ti Santana
- End of the World Skeeter Davis
- Fade Into You Mazzy Star
- July Morning Uriah Heep
- In Bloom Nirvana
- Rowche Rumble Fall
- I Wish You Would Yardbirds
- Good Morning Little Schoolgirl Yardbirds
- ME-262 Blue Oyster Cult
- Paraffin Ruby
- I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues Elton John
- Ex-Girlfriend No Doubt
- March of the Black Queen Queen
- Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide David Bowie
- In the Summertime Mungo Jerry
- Rock the Casbah Clash
- Megalomania Black Sabbath
- Carrie Cliff Richard
- Dope Show Marilyn Manson
- Shipbuilding Robert Wyatt
- Semaphore Signals Wreckless Eric
- Mandolin Wind Rod Stewart
- Jackie Scott Walker
- Shake Your Money Maker Fleetwood Mac
- Granny Takes a Trip Purple Gang
- Indian Summer Doors
- Jive Talking Bee Gees
- Telephone Line Electric Light Orchestra
As I said, I don’t have my identity wrapped up in this list, so if you disagree vehemently about anything, I’m sure I do, too. (No Men at Work? No Collective Soul? No “With or Without You”? Rubbish.) I don’t consider this list authoritative in any possible sense, but I have found it has told me of artists and songs I’ve never heard of, and even if I don’t treasure them like this fellow does, the experiences outside my rather diminutive personal preference bubble have been good for me. Thus I’m not saying I am recommending all these songs to you, certainly with far less certainty than Mr. Adler’s list of books, but we have never been ones to shy away from ideas in any medium (other than those obviously crazy ones, of course, like skydiving), so what do you say? Will you take the 1,000 song challenge? I apologize for the goofy WordPress spacing, which I couldn’t really adjust for all 1,000 entries. Feel free to download this and turn it into your own checklist.
As of this writing I’m a whopping 1% finished, not counting the songs I’ve already heard before discovering this list. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless. I’m sure we shall revisit this list in the future as I travel further along it. As always, we’d love to hear from you about this list, your list, or practically anything at all. Cheers!
Work Cited
Thompson, Dave. 1000 Songs that Rock Your World. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. 2011. Print.
Redeeming Pandora 