Lists are fun, people! A couple weeks ago we incurred your wrath with our Top 25 sci-fi list; now, in his Pop of King column in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King wants to be starting somethin’ with his list of the 24 greatest rock songs ever made.
Clearly, your Uncle Stevie likes the boogie — just not the disco kind (he eliminated that genre entirely, along with ballads, soul, and overplayed tunes like "Stairway to Heaven," from consideration). Instead, you’ll find tunes by Chuck Berry, the Dominoes, and Little Richard. Also making the cut: Elvis (Presley gets three mentions; Costello, one), Bruuuuuuce, the Stones and the Beatles, and two rocking ladies (Connie Francis and Wanda Jackson).
So… have at it. What’s missing? The most recent song in King’s countdown is from 1983 (that would be the Lyres’ "I Want to Help You Ann")… is that an appropriate commentary on the state of modern rock, or are there glaring omissions? Discuss!
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How in the world does Mr. King leave off the band he features in so many of his books–The Ramones?!? “Bonzo Goes To Bitburg,” “Swallow My Pride,” “Commando” or “She’s The One” would have fit just fine.
Dear Lord, it’s the soundtrack to the R-rated Lionsgate version of “The Body”… I can’t fault Uncle Steve’s taste when it comes to the music of his youth. But since I was in first grade in 1983, I mostly have no idea who the heck he’s talking about.
Nah. Satisfaction is still #1. Period.
The three rules of true song appreciation is version, version, version. Jumpin’ Jack Flash would have been a great addition, BUT the Leon Russell version from the concert from Bangladesh.
Nix, if you were in 1st great in 1981, then use this list as a starting point and jump in to some truly awesome music. No Buddy Holly – but a solid list nonetheless.
Sorry, but you must have a Jimi Hendrix song in there. He changed the way electric guitar was played from then on in rock music (and other genres, too!) Take your pick of songs, with distortion/feedback and a great blistering solo, but without one of his songs this list truly cannot be correct.
I won’t stop reading your stuff but how, just HOW could you leave off “Green Grass and High Tides” by the Outlaws?
Ok, even though we know these lists are ALWAYS subjective, how can you leave anything off just because you’ve heard it a million times? And if you haven’t heard ‘IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA a million times you haven’t been paying attention.
60 Minute Man may be great, but it’s not rock and roll. No Supremes? You have no soul.
What about the Door’s LA Woman? Steven, Steven, Steven….
Kudos to Stevie for an awesome list! Couldn’t have compiled a better list myself….. although I would have added a few more blues greats. Loved the clip of Gary U.S. Bonds…… I bought the Blues Brothers 2000 movie only to have the last 15 minutes….. if you don’t know what I’m talking about, go rent it and see what I mean.
Ciao!
Where’s Radar Love?
C’mon, Steve–no Sweeet Home Alabama (best song ever!), no Lynrd at all????!!!! Puh-lease!
I believe any song of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” or any song of the soundtrack “Tommy” could knock of at least 10 songs fo the list.
I echo the previous commenter’s post: Where’s The Ramones?
For that matter, where’s The Clash? Talking Heads? REM? U-friggin’-2?
But then, I’m not familiar with all the songs he mentioned, so I look forward to checking them out.
Just four words: Great Balls of Fire
Old Man by Neil Young
Thank you for a list that actually has variety! I can’t wait to check out some of the songs that are new to me.
Mr. King, you rock (& roll): )
No Zeppelin? No Who? No Floyd? No Bowie? No Velvet Underground? Tell me you can’t find at least one song by these guys that speaks something new to you every time you hear it? I can understand not including any ’southern rock’ band because even though I love it, ‘those songs have been played to death’. But COME ON! Elvis wasn’t that great, was he?
Did Stephen King die in 1980? Nothing bothers me more than when curmudgeonly types act like there has been absolutely no good music since the 70’s. REM, U2, The Pixies, Nirvana, Steve Earle, etc, etc, etc. And “Mystery Dance” isn’t even one of Elvis Costello’s 25 best songs, much less one of THE 25 best songs ever.
Yawn, maybe we need another two or three songs on the list from Elvis. Maybe we need to pick some even more obscure songs: Ramrod? How about Born to Run?
No Hendrix? The greatest rock and roll guitarist of all time doesn’t have any material deemed worthy by Mr. King.
Oh… THE HORROR!
Stephen, how on earth can you have left out “Baby, Can You Dig Your Man?”
Spirit in The Sky – Norman Greenbaum – Best distorted guitar riff ever.
Time has Come Today – The Chambers Brothers – Best rock n rool grunt ever.
I’m not even gonna read King’s list. Two years ago, he picked “My Humps” as best song of the year. I’m pretty sure he and I don’t have the same taste.
A great list, but for a guy that names characters after Ramones members and features their songs in pinnacle moments in his films, I am shocked that “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” was not #1!
Stephen! I know of your love for the Ramones…how could you leave them off? So many songs of theirs would have worked on this list. I couldn’t believe it as I got to number one and they weren’t even mentioned! the Pistols are great, but they wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for the Ramones…RIP Joey, DeeDee, Johnny…
Stephen. No Led Zep? No Aerosmith? Tsk, tsk. I love your books, love your style of writing, but this list? No likey.
This “list” is RIDICULOUS!!
Reading it was a TOTAL WASTE OF TIME!!
Steven, I’m inclined to disagree with everything you say, mainly because I’m a huge Yankees fan, but also because I am terrified by your stories. But looking at your list, I realized that you listen to a lot of the music that I grew up listening to because it was all my dad listened to. Good job choosing Beatles and Beach Boys songs that are fun and not overtly pretentious like their later stuff. Good job including Chuck Berry since he gets ignored much too often. We can work on your Bruce choice and your Elvis choices, but its a good starting point.
I’m surprised there’s really nothing mentioned that was released after 1980. Good music has been released since then. But you do a great job of recognizing that not all great music was released between 1967 and 1979.
No The Who? No Led Zeppelin? No Queen? This is tantamount to heresy!
I can’t argue with this list. Why? Art is subjective. It’s not quite the same as the monkey with typewriters argument, but you it would take a long time to find two people with exactly the same 25 songs on their own lists. What I am saying is…you can disagree with this list all you want — it doesn’t matter. This is Stephen King’s list. If you don’t agree with it, make your own.
Stephen King – love you. Always have, always will. That said – have the last 25 years been SO awful that they were almost completely left off the list? Ok, I know we’ve suffered the plague of boy bands, Britney Spears, rap metal, and general mediocrity on the radio for about the last ten, but for real. There must another couple of songs or two from the last quarter century that are worthy of your praise! Half your picks were so old that pictures weren’t available in color! You’re a pretty happening guy, so why the fogieness? How about you indulge us with your lits of the top however-many of the last decade? There’s some SERIOUS excellence going on in the indie scene, Stephen. Find it. That said, I still love you.