The Smiley Smile Message Board

1. ''ANARCHY IN THE U.K.,'' The Sex Pistols
This song still sums up what I love about rock & roll: anger and joy and urgency, all compressed into three and a half minutes of drums and buzz-saw guitar. By God, even the name of the group sweats rock & roll.
2. ''BURNING LOVE,'' Elvis Presley
He saved the best for last. Lawd-a-mighty, I feel my temperature rising.
3. ''MYSTERY DANCE,'' Elvis Costello
It's 1:35, but how much angry, frustrated sex can you take?
4. ''STUPID CUPID,'' Connie Francis
Don't argue; the vocal is hotter than a pistol, and it's the best clap track ever. Stupid cupid, stop pickin' on me: Ay-men.
5. ''C'MON EVERYBODY,'' Eddie Cochran
The apocalyptic call of the teenage male: Dude, let's party. And screw the consequences.
6. ''RAMROD,'' Bruce Springsteen
His cleanest, coolest, purest track. To quote Mr. Berry, his guitar rings like a bell.
7. ''NEW ORLEANS,'' Gary U.S. Bonds
Terrific recorded-in-a-bathroom reverb, insanely danceable backbeat. Earl Swanson's sax is the Special Bonus Feature.
8. ''LET'S HAVE A PARTY,'' Wanda Jackson
That raspy, frantic vocal has never been equaled. Ms. Jackson makes Beyoncé look like Britney.
9. ''BIP BOP BOOM,'' Mickey Hawks
Under two minutes and still the greatest rockabilly record ever made.
10. ''A BIG HUNK O' LOVE,'' Elvis Presley
Almost eclipsed by Elvis' screaming vocal is the rock era's best barrelhouse piano.
11. ''SHE LOVES YOU,'' The Beatles
I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's the best Beatles track because it gets in, does its business, and gets back out again.
12. ''THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT,'' Little Richard
Can you imagine this guy on American Idol? The mind boggles.
13. ''MASS. AVE.,'' Willie Alexander
Rattle-box guitar and the weirdest male falsetto ever laid down; it's Boston punk at its best.
14. ''SIXTY MINUTE MAN,'' the Dominoes
Basic dirty boogie boasting, 1950s style. What could be finer?
15. ''AIN'T NO FUN (WAITING ROUND TO BE A MILLIONAIRE),'' AC/DC
The quintessential AC/DC hook...played over...and over...and over.
16. ''DON'T BE CRUEL,'' Elvis Presley
Total bebop testifying. Brian Setzer would sell his soul to do this.
17. ''LONG COOL WOMAN IN A BLACK DRESS,'' the Hollies
Should get old, but somehow never does.
18. ''I WANT TO HELP YOU ANN,'' the Lyres
The best stalker rock song ever. Listen to it once and you'll never bother with ''Every Breath You Take'' again.
19. ''YOU NEVER CAN TELL,'' Chuck Berry
The father of us all. And whoa! The whole story of true love and happy marriage in two and a half minutes? Can't argue with that.
20. ''ON THE DARK SIDE,'' John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
Still smokin' after all these years. Simple and cool.
21. ''I GET AROUND,'' the Beach Boys
Pretty white-bread, but unlike the odious ''Kokomo,'' it has stood the test of time.
22. ''NEEDLES AND PINS,'' the Searchers
The epitome of folk rock.
23. ''DEAD FLOWERS,'' the Rolling Stones
Their finest rock-and-country fusion.
24. ''IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA,'' Iron Butterfly
Only the long version counts. Which you can't get on iTunes, curse them.


Just to give my two cents, I think espeacially "I get around" is one of the most electrifying and best rock'n'roll-songs ever. IMO much better that "Surfin USA" or "Fun Fun Fun" while keeping at the BBs. Wouldn't call it "white-bread" although he might have his reasons... dunno...

I have enjoyed many of Stephen King's books throughout the years, and respect him as an author, but this list is just one guy's opinion.  It's not a bad list for the most part, although I must confess to never having heard a few of those tunes.  But 'Dead Flowers'?  Really?  'Needles and Pins'?  Not on my list.  Everyone has their own 'greatest of all time' list, and a few of these tunes just might make mine.  But man, there are so many great Rock n' Roll tunes to choose from, and just when I think I've assembled a list of the best twenty, I could think of fifty more that are just as good. 

I always loved Stephen King (ergh, at least his writing.  Sometimes his ideas and opinions are pretty wild, but to each his own).  I've said many times that "She Loves You" was at least as good as all the other Beatles songs.  I can't say it's a better song than "In My Life" or anything, but it is equally as great, if that makes sense.  Basically, once the Beatles did "She Loves You", they changed a bit after that but didn't grow in terms of quality.  Only my opinion, but when I think of the Beatles, I think of them on stage singing "She Loves You", shaking their heads, and being the greatest band of all time.   

He's right - you can't get all 17 minutes of "In A Gadda Da Vida" on iTunes, AND that song has never been released in full on an Iron Butterfly greatest hits set.  Sad really, especially for a one hit wonder band...

It makes sense that it's not on a Greatest Hits compilation -- the full album version was never released as a single.