By bdpoe.

Ask 700 music experts to vote on the greatest Rock 
and Roll songs of all time and you get a hybrid opinion.  
Something everybody can argue with. Such is the nature 
of opinion.

That said, here's my choice for the top twenty rock songs:

1. Johnny B Goode, Chuck Berry.

Ask Keith Richards what the greatest Rock song is 
and perhaps he'll name a Chuck Berry Song! Indeed Keith 
has made remarks in the past as to Berry's influence 
on his style. Being a big Stones fan, I was glad 
"Satisfaction" ranked number one in VH1's poll, yet 
could there be "Satisfaction" without first having
Chuck Berry ?

2. She Loves You, The Beatles.

VH1 picked "RESPECT" as number two but "She Loves You" 
with its "yeah, yeah, yeahs" characterized the band 
that would change the music industry and
lead the British Invasion.

3.  Good Golly Miss Molly & Tuti Fruti, Little Richard.

Little Richard claims he invented rock and roll. 
Indeed his influence is undeniable- so much so that 
two of his songs tied for the number three position 
as opposed to VH1's pick, "Stairway To Heaven." One 
must wonder if Robert Plant's wailing vocals owe a 
debt to Richard's screaming deliveries. Covered by 
so many bands including The Beatles, Elvis, Mitch 
Ryder and Bruce Springsteen, the stars themselves
endorse Richard's contributions.

4. Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley. 

The beat and the guitar riffs were unmistakably ahead 
of their time. Covered, converted and even ripped off, 
Bo may have been the first "Hard" rocker.
The Stones credit him as an influence. Bob Seger, 
Bruce Springsteen, Eric Burden, The Doors, The Band 
(as The Hawks) and others give the musical nod to BO.
"If you don't know Bo - you don't know Diddley!"  
VH1 chose Dylan's "Like A Rolling 
 Stone" as number four.

5. Be My Baby, The Ronnettes.

Phil Spector's Wall of Sound made this girl group the 
archetype for the Supremes. Later the folks at MOTOWN did 
their best to emulate the sound. Had Ronnie continued  
her career rather than marrying Phil and being locked away, 
she might have given Diana Ross a run for the money. 
The Supremes went on to become the most successful 
American vocal group often challenging The Beatles for 
the Number one slot on the charts.VH1 picked Bruce 
Springsteen's "Born To Run" as #5.

6. Blowin' In The Wind & The Times They Are A Changin', 
Bob Dylan

Two ties in the top ten ? These two "protest songs" 
seemed to inject seriousness into pop music.
Dylan proved to the folk world that success could be 
achieved in writing fresh new viable material.
He gave Rock and Roll a consciousness that inspired 
John Lennon and others to write socially
relevant lyrics giving the genre artistic credibility. 
Dylan has been attributed with starting the
counterculture. Either of these two songs were far more 
influential than VH1's pick "Hotel California"  
by the Eagles. 

7. Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix

From his debut album, the guitar playing and suggestive 
lyrics turned the music world upside down.
So unique and masterful the entire album constitutes 
90% of Jimi's greatest hits. A definitive high point 
in the psychedelic era which inspired every 
guitar player to follow. VH1 chose
"Light My Fire" by the Doors as number Seven.

8. Boogie Chillun, John Lee Hooker.

This song from 1948 qualifies as one of the earliest 
rock recordings even if the term hadn't been
invented yet. Note the similarities between "Hipshake" 
off  Exile On Main Street by the Stones,
La Grange " by ZZ TOP and Hooker's Boogie. VH1 has 
the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" at this position.

9. Shake Rattle & Roll, Bill Haley & His Comets.

For years Bill Haley was attributed as the founder 
of Rock and Roll. While musicologists place Rock's 
origins a bit earlier, a case can be made that Bill 
Haley gave us rockabilly.

As far as Alan Freed was concerned, Bill was the boss.
"I'm like a one eyed cat peeking in a seafood store.." 
The Beatles' "Hey Jude" was VH1's entry at #9.

10. Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones.

The Stones have said Keith laid down the chops for 
Satisfaction in Tampa Fla which indeed
is where the airport was but the motel they stayed in 
was actually in Clearwater. It was there
that Richards came up with the opening chords. 
Early social commentary in the lyrics and a 
harder tone became this band's calling card. They 
opened with this song on their last tour.
VH1 placed this at number one.

11. Stairway To Heaven, Led Zeppelin.

The most requested rock song in the 70's according 
to FM jocks. VH1 placed it at #3
while "Louie Louie" came in at #11.

12. Louie Louie, The Kingsmen.

It was rumored for years that the inaudible 
lyrics were allegedly obscene. Still this song
became a party classic. When the words were finally 
published in the mass media it's lyrics were revealed 
to be quite aboveboard. "Yesterday" by The Beatles 
took this spot in VH1's poll.

13. Layla, Derek & The Dominos.

Recorded in Miami with Eric Clapton, Duane Allman
and members of Bob Seger's band, the song stands 
as Claptons' "Stairway". VH1 picked The Who's 
"My Generation" for this spot.

14. Tangled Up In Blue, Bob Dylan.

A triumphal epic for Dylan. Significant because of 
it's complex story line and brilliant verse.

From his best selling album "Blood On The Tracks' 
many consider it Dylan's greatest. In so many 
songs Bruce Springsteen has attempted to capture 
the movie-like feel of Bob's lyrics earning him
the title "the new Bob Dylan." VH1 place Marvin 
Gaye's "What's Going On" at #14.


15. Ohio, Crosby Stills Nash & Young.

Powerful protest at a time when it was needed. 
Anthemic in proportion.

VH1's pick - "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry.

16. Gimme Shelter , The Rolling Stones.

The 60's ended with a bang at Altamonte. 
It was "Satisfaction" for  a new violent time. 
The VH 1 pick for this slot is my next pick.

17. Won't Get Fooled Again & Baba O Reilley, The Who.

Another Tie. Both from Who's Next. DJ's got lots 
of calls requesting a song  called " Teenage Wasteland"
which was titled "Baba O' Reilly."

Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock" took this VH1 position.

18. Walk Like A Man & Sherry, Franky Valli & 
The Four Seasons.

Talk About high notes. VH1 picked "American Pie" as 18.

19. My Girl & Just My Imagination, The Temptations.

Both the Temptations and the Four Seasons had 
phenomenal success and influenced pop and rock to 
such an extent that their inclusion in the 
top twenty is a must. Groups like the Backstreet 
Boys, Boy's To Men and a handful of similar sounding 
vocalists owe their existence to these
two originals. VH1 listed "American Pie" at 19.

20. American Pie, Don McClean.

It would be sacreligious not to include this 
brilliant musical history of rock in the top 
twenty. Like the VH1 list, which placed the 
Beatle's "A Day In The Life" at number 20,
you probably can argue with my picks as well....