NEW YORK, Nov 17 PA - The Bob Dylan classic, 
Like a Rolling Stone, has been voted the greatest song of all time.
The folk legend’s 1965 hit topped the list of 500 songs in Rolling Stone Magazine, with the top 10 also featuring tunes by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Chuck Berry and the Beach Boys.
The Fab Four and the Stones account for many of the songs on the list, chosen by 172 artists including Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello and K D Lang.
The Dylan hit was followed by the Stones’ (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction and John Lennon’s Imagine.
Aretha Franklin got plenty of Respect, coming in at number five with her chart topper.
She is followed by the Beach Boys with Good Vibrations and then Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode.
The Beatles get their first entry at number eight with Hey Jude - bound to spark debate over whether the tune is the best-ever Beatles number.
Just behind the Beatles is Nirvana, with Smells Like Teen Spirit
the only offering from recent years in the top 20.
The list proves that the 60s was really the decade that made music.
More than 200 of the tunes were penned in the swinging sixties, and 144 were written the following decade.
The 1980s, known for glam rock and bad fashion, could offer just 55 songs.
From the current decade there were only three songs.
Eminem’s Lose Yourself reached number 166, and the controversial rapper also came in at number 290 with Stan.
OutKast’s memorable hit from last year, Hey Ya, came in at number 180.
Following the top 20 songs from Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time:
:: Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
:: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
:: Imagine, John Lennon
:: What’s Going On, Marvin Gaye
:: Respect, Aretha Franklin
:: Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
:: Johnny B Goode, Chuck Berry
:: Hey Jude, The Beatles
:: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
:: What’d I Say, Ray Charles
:: My Generation, The Who
:: A Change is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke
:: Yesterday, The Beatles
:: Blowin’ in the Wind, Bob Dylan
:: London Calling, The Clash
:: I Want to Hold Your Hand, The Beatles
:: Purple Haze, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
:: Maybellene, Chuck Berry
:: Hound Dog, Elvis Presley
:: Let It Be, The Beatles
Great song to be picked for #1, heck all of them are good…
I’m pretty partial to Captain Beefheart’s “Long Neck Bottles” off the Clear Spot album but then again I’m fond of quite a few of his mate, (the late) Frank Zappa’s stuff, especially “Hot Rats” off the album of the same name.
Charlie? You’re a Zappa man. Back me up here please. Your favourite FZ number?
The list proves that the 60s was really the decade that made music.
It shows those who read Rolling Stone Magazine are in their 60’s.
True, but it would be hard to name some bettter songs then that…
I’m still trying to figure out how Stairway to Heaven isn’t on that list or any other Led Zeppelin or eve a Black Sabbath song. Yes, it’s Jurassic rock, but still.
Nothing by the Police near the top either. And Billie Jean is missing too.
And the 90’s were whoafully underrepresented. Yes, Smells Like Teen Spirit is the song of the 90’s, but 1 song in the top 20 when there is 2 by Chuck Berry alone?
Oh well, it’d be interesting to see what Spin or NME’s list would look like.
yeah stairway to heaven is real low (#31), but I would be interested to hear what other songs from the 90s you would put up there?
Hmm…off the top of my head (one or two of these could have made top ten) - I’m sure they’re in there somewhere further down
Jeremy or Alive - Pearl Jam
Even Better Than the Real Thing - U2
Wonderwall - Oasis
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Closer - Nine Inch Nails
Losing My Religion - REM
Where is My Mind? - Pixies
Soon - My Bloody Valentine
Today - Smashing Pumpkins
Welcome to the Terrordome - Public Enemy
Nothin’ But A G Thang - Dr. Dre
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O’Connor
Under The Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
I’m sure there are many that I missed. I think when they compile these, nostalgia plays a huge role in choosing songs. Older material has more cred and it’s tougher to choose recent material on a list of all time great songs.
How about beefhearts ’ China Pig’?
His lyrics are something else. They always make me laugh.
marilyn manson’s the beautiful people was a big one in the 90’s too…
there is a lot of good music, these kinds of lists are impossible
Beefheart is (was) up there as one of the intellects of music, that was clear from the humour of his lyrics (“There ain’t no Santa Clause on the Midnight Stage”) and his often whimsical ways with the music. But he could also drive hard - “Big Eyed Beans From Venus”.
No wonder he collaborated with the likes of Zappa, one of the evil geniuses of rock/jazz