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"The best writer around whose subject is rock and roll."
-- Rolling Stone

ROCK AND ROLL
The 100 Best Singles

Paul Williams

"Williams has a warm, relaxed, chatty style and a roving, inquiring mind that lends both conviction and interest to his writings."
-- The New York Times

"The pure joy of his writing is that it comes from a heart that speaks the truth, from a pen of deep talent."
-- BILL GRAHAM

FROM Robert Johnson to Nirvana, by way of Elvis, Buddy Holly, the Beatles, The Stones, Jimi Hendrix, R.E.M., U2, the Sex Pistols, and everybody else, here is one fan's impassioned guide to the 100 best rock and roll singles of all time.

 

Finally back in print, in paperback and hardcover.

How to get this book

Table of Contents

  1. Terraplane BluesRobert Johnson (1937) . . . . . 19

  2. Rolling StoneMuddy Waters (1950) . . . . . 21

  3. Tutti-FruttiLittle Richard (1955) . . . . . 23

  4. Heartbreak HotelElvis Presley (1956) . . . . . 25

  5. FeverLittle Willie John (1956) . . . . . 27

  6. In the Still of the NiteThe Five Satins (1956). . . . . 29

  7. MonaBo Diddley (1957) . . . . . 31

  8. Whole Lot of Shakin' Going OnJerry Lee Lewis (1957) . . . . . 33

  9. Peggy SueBuddy Holly (1957) . . . . . 35

  10. At the HopDanny and the Juniors (1957) . . . . . 37

  11. Johnny B. GoodeChuck Berry (1958) . . . . . 39

  12. All I Have to Do Is DreamThe Everly Brothers (1958) . . . . . 41

  13. I've Had ItThe Bell Notes (1959) . . . . . 43

  14. CrossfireJohnny and the Hurricanes (1959) . . . . . 45

  15. Memphis, TennesseeChuck Berry (1959) . . . . . 47

  16. RunawayDel Shannon (1961) . . . . . 49

  17. Stand By MeBen E. King (1961) . . . . . 51

  18. I'll Try Something NewThe Miracles (1962) . . . . . 53

  19. You Belong to MeThe Duprees (1962) . . . . . 55

  20. Please Please MeThe Beatles (1963) . . . . . 57

  21. Sally Go 'Round the RosesThe Jaynetts (1963) . . . . . 59

  22. Louie LouieThe Kingsmen (1963) . . . . . 61

  23. Fun, Fun, FunThe Beach Boys (1964) . . . . . 63

  24. I Get Around/Don't Worry BabyThe Beach Boys (1964) . . . . . 65

  25. Dancing in the Street Martha and the Vandellas (1964) . . . . . 67

  26. You Really Got MeThe Kinks (1964) . . . . . 69

  27. Baby Please Don't Go/GloriaThem (1964) . . . . . 71

  28. A Change Is Gonna ComeSam Cooke (1964) . . . . . 73

  29. I Can't ExplainThe Who (1965) . . . . . 75

  30. The Last TimeThe Rolling Stones (1965) . . . . . 77

  31. Subterranean Homesick BluesBob Dylan (1965) . . . . . 79

  32. Ticket to RideThe Beatles (1965) . . . . . 81

  33. Mr. Tambourine ManThe Byrds (1965) . . . . . 83

  34. (I Can't Get No) SatisfactionThe Rolling Stones (1965) . . . . . 85

  35. In the Midnight HourWilson Pickett (1965) . . . . . 87

  36. Like A Rolling StoneBob Dylan (1965) . . . . . 89

  37. Day TripperThe Beatles (1965) . . . . . 91

  38. Going to A Go-GoThe Miracles (1965) . . . . . 93

  39. Oh How HappyShades of Blue (1966) . . . . . 95

  40. River Deep, Mountain HighIke and Tina Turner (1966) . . . . . 97

  41. Reach Out I'll Be ThereThe Four Tops (1966) . . . . . 100

  42. Knock on WoodEddie Floyd (1966) . . . . . 103

  43. Good VibrationsThe Beach Boys (1966) . . . . . 105

  44. Gimme Some Lovin'The Spencer Davis Group (1966) . . . . . 107

  45. For What It's WorthBuffalo Springfield (1967) . . . . . 109

  46. I Never Loved A ManAretha Franklin (1967) . . . . . 111

  47. The Love I Saw in You Was Just A MirageSmokey Robinson and the Miracles (1967) . . . . . 113

  48. Waterloo SunsetThe Kinks (1967) . . . . . 115

  49. The Crystal ShipThe Doors (1967) . . . . . 118

  50. Heroes and VillainsThe Beach Boys (1967) . . . . . 120

  51. Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison (1967) . . . . . 122

  52. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and HigherJackie Wilson (1967) . . . . . 124

  53. I Can See for MilesThe Who (1967) . . . . . 126

  54. (Sittin' on) The Dock of the BayOtis Redding (1968) . . . . . 128

  55. Magic BusThe Who (1968) . . . . . 131

  56. All Along the WatchtowerJimi Hendrix Experience (1968) . . . . . 133

  57. Dark StarGrateful Dead (1968) . . . . . 135

  58. Hey JudeThe Beatles (1968) . . . . . 137

  59. I Heard It Through the GrapevineMarvin Gaye (1968) . . . . . 139

  60. Honky Tonk Women/You Can't Always Get What You WantThe Rolling Stones (1969) . . . . . 141

  61. Green RiverCreedence Clearwater Revival (1969) . . . . . 143

  62. Foggy NotionVelvet Underground (1969) . . . . . 145

  63. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) Sly and the Family Stone (1969) . . . . . 148

  64. Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine (Part 1)James Brown (1970) . . . . . 150

  65. Drowning in the Sea of LoveJoe Simon (1971) . . . . . 153

  66. All Down the LineThe Rolling Stones (1972) . . . . . 155

  67. Knockin' on Heaven's DoorBob Dylan (1973) . . . . . 157

  68. You Ain't Seen Nothing YetBachman-Turner Overdrive (1974) . . . . . 159

  69. No Woman, No CryBob Marley and the Wailers (1975) . . . . . 161

  70. HurricaneBob Dylan (1975) . . . . . 163

  71. GloriaPatti Smith Group (1976) . . . . . 165

  72. Anarchy in the U.K. The Sex Pistols (1976) . . . . . 168

  73. Marquee MoonTelevision (1977) . . . . . 171

  74. Handy ManJames Taylor (1977) . . . . . 173

  75. RoadrunnerJonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers (1977) . . . . . 175

  76. Holidays in the SunThe Sex Pistols (1977) . . . . . 177

  77. We Will Rock You/We Are the ChampionsQueen (1977) . . . . . 179

  78. Another Girl, Another PlanetThe Only Ones (1978) . . . . . 182

  79. Take Me to the RiverTalking Heads (1978) . . . . . 184

  80. Sultans of SwingDire Straits (1979) . . . . . 186

  81. Ring My BellAnita Ward (1979) . . . . . 188

  82. FunkytownLipps, Inc. (1980) . . . . . 191

  83. Love Will Tear Us ApartJoy Division (1980) . . . . . 194

  84. Walking on Thin IceYoko Ono (1981) . . . . . 196

  85. Radio Free EuropeR.E.M. (1981) . . . . . 199

  86. When You Were MinePrince (1981) . . . . . 201

  87. The MessageGrandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (1982) . . . . . 204

  88. I Melt with YouModern English (1982) . . . . . 207

  89. New Year's DayU2 (1983) . . . . . 210

  90. Atomic DogGeorge Clinton (1983) . . . . . 212

  91. Middle of the RoadThe Pretenders (1983) . . . . . 214

  92. When Doves CryPrince (1984) . . . . . 216

  93. Pride (In the Name of Love)U2 (1984) . . . . . 218

  94. ShoutTears for Fears (1984) . . . . . 221

  95. Fall DownTramaine (1985) . . . . . 223

  96. SledgehammerPeter Gabriel (1986) . . . . . 225

  97. The One I LoveR.E.M. (1987) . . . . . 227

  98. Fisherman's BluesThe Waterboys (1988) . . . . . 230

  99. Rockin' in the Free WorldNeil Young (1989) . . . . . 232

  100. Smells Like Teen SpiritNirvana (1991) . . . . . 234

"One of the most original thinkers and writers working within the dimension of rock. His ideas are fresh, fierce, and singularly alive."
-- Fusion

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