# Your top three rock and roll songs of all time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 28, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884 "2024-11-28T01:07:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![rickp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickp/32/17521_2.png) [@rickp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rickp)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/21 "2024-11-28T07:07:10Z")
I already gave my 3 songs but wanted to add this non-song comment: “Rock’n’roll won’t solve your problems. But it will let you sort of dance all over them.” (Pete Townshend) ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/22 "2024-11-28T08:19:18Z")
Smoke on the Water - DP (from Made in Japan, not Machine Head) Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols Long way to the Top - AC⚡️DC ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/23 "2024-11-28T09:57:46Z")
Won’t Get Fooled Again - The Who A Day in the Life - The Beatles Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/24 "2024-11-28T10:52:29Z")
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones Lola - The Kinks Behind Blue Eyes - The Who ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/25 "2024-11-28T11:02:05Z")
“Don’t Stop Me Now” - Queen “City of New Orleans” - Arlo Guthrie “Kodachrome” - Paul Simon ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/26 "2024-11-28T11:19:04Z")
Excellent choices. _Don’t Fear the Reaper_ - Blue Oyster Cult _New York City Serenade_ - Springsteen _Begin the Begin_ - R.E.M. Whenever someone says ‘what’s the greatest rock song ever?’ I always reply with _Don’t Fear the Reaper_. It has everything that makes a rock song great: the vocals, the guitar, the drums, the keyboards. the mysterious and ominous lyrics, etc. etc… ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/27 "2024-11-28T12:02:50Z")
You may as well ask me which 3 of my 15,000 children are my favorites. 1. Like a Hurricane - Neil Young 2. Won’t Get Fooled Again - The Who 3. Stay with Me - Faces mmm ---
**Author:** ![theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theater_in_a_crowded_fire)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/28 "2024-11-28T13:28:15Z")
1. Lookout Mountain by Drive By Truckers - just the pure, unadulterated essence of rock n roll for me. Pissed off, loud and in your face. 2. Eruption by Van Halen - What can you say that hasn’t been said. It changed the game and after a million listens it still gives me goosebumps every time. 3. Ball and Biscuit by The White Stripes - It’s furious, powerful, chaotic and insanely good. Absolutely never gets old no matter how many times I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/29 "2024-11-28T13:39:02Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > You may as well ask me which 3 of my 15,000 children are my favorites. I know, right? Using the “when scanning radio stations on the car radio and hearing this song, I must choose it and always have to turn it up very loud” rule: 1. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin (almost chose ‘When the Levee Breaks’ instead) 2. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones 3. War Pigs - Black Sabbath ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/30 "2024-11-28T13:43:05Z")
_Moonage Daydream_ - David Bowie (preferably [this live version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVvKaDfKrho)) _Troy_ - Sinéad O’Connor _Meet Me in the City_ - Bruce Springsteen ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/31 "2024-11-28T13:48:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Definitely not “I just can’t choose!”, which just means “Definitely not a thread I should bother posting in”. “Welcome to the Jungle” “Smells Like Teen Spirit” “Under My Thumb” …I can’t help but think the story told by chaining those makes this a thread I maybe shouldn’t have posted in… ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/32 "2024-11-28T13:54:02Z")
“Look! No Head!” “Bang The Drum All Day” and “California Sex Lawyer”. https://www.youtube.com/embed/jbiqMCC69u8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDjbiqMCC69u8 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/33 "2024-11-28T14:01:13Z")
@Jackmannii; Adding the groups would be good. ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/34 "2024-11-28T14:02:07Z")
Apache - The Shadows Pipeline - The Chantays Walk-Don’t Run - The Ventures ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/35 "2024-11-28T14:10:48Z")
Well alrighty then. "Look! No Head! - Laika and the Cosmonauts “Bang The Drum All Day” - Todd Rundgren “California Sex Lawyer” - Fountains of Wayne https://www.youtube.com/embed/HrNA3KcyxPg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDHrNA3KcyxPg ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/36 "2024-11-28T14:39:37Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > It has everything that makes a rock song great: the vocals, the guitar, the drums, the keyboards. the mysterious and ominous lyrics, etc. etc… [Old 97s - Four Leaf Clover](https://youtu.be/ndn37Hr-2jk?si=3aMt0sgui799nGLq). To me, _this_ song has everything that makes a rock song great: pounding drums, screaming guitars, angsty lyrics, male/female vocal duet (with Exene Cervenka!), and it clocks in at under 3:30 so it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Short, sweet, and loud. Also: [Richard Thompson - Shoot Out The Lights](https://youtu.be/2ljITeqfSQw?si=_Eq0s2rvoSb2udDy) Beatles - Helter Skelter ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/37 "2024-11-28T14:47:16Z")
~~Highway Star~~ [Space Truckin’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_Hn1IAHzLg) - Deep Purple ~~Station To Station~~ [What In The World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5hBZLYsg0) - David Bowie ~~Helter Skelter~~ [While My Guitar Gently Weeps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp7dMLeSTT0) - The Beatles ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/38 "2024-11-28T14:50:25Z")
Dick Dale’s version of “Miserlou” Blue Oyster Cult’s “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” Chuck Berry’s “Promised Land” Ask me in an hour, and I will name three completely different songs. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/39 "2024-11-28T15:12:07Z")
“Baracuda”- Heart “Radar Love”- Golden Earring “Dragon Attack”- Queen ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884/40 "2024-11-28T15:43:28Z")
I was wondering when Richard Thompson would show up. i would normally just exclude RT, simply because I could never make up my mind. But if forced to choose one of his songs, it would be “Walking on a Wire.” I don’t think any artist can do more with a couple vocal tracks and a Strat (plus some backing instrumentals). But, I digress… Derek & The Dominos - “Layla” The Who - “Won’t Get Fooled Again” Boston - “More Than a Feeling” (controversial,I know) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-three-rock-and-roll-songs-of-all-time/1010884.md?page=3)