The Greatest Songs of All Time: 200-151

#200: Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman

Percy Sledge puts in one of the all-time great vocal performances. The vocals are so powerful that they take you completely by surprise. You physically cannot focus on anything else with that voice taking centre stage, and I'm glad the backing instruments have been toned down to showcase that raw talent. The sweet and romantic lyrics have allowed this track to become one of the most adored tracks in history, although under the surface there's an introspective tone that adds new dimensions to what many perceive to be a simple love song.

#199: The Killers - Mr. Brightside

No night out in Britain would be complete without drunkenly shouting along to this belter. The hook is just fucking brilliant and goes on for about half the song's duration. Who cares if you don't hit everything right the first time because someone in The Killers had the bright idea to repeat the whole thing a second time. 'Mr. Brightside' is such an epic feelgood anthem and whenever I hear those opening chords it instantly brings a huge smile to my face. The song has remained charting in the UK for over an incredible 200 weeks whilst also continuing to be the quintessential party anthem.

#198: The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn!

So good they named it three times. The Byrds do what they do best and mix some rich and jangly guitars with well-layered vocal harmonies. They didn't even bother writing any lyrics because they just stole them out of a bible. Truth be told The Byrds actually stole this track off of a 50s folk singer, but surprisingly these ancient texts still work as pop lyrics and became a large part of the Vietnam War counterculture movement.

#197: Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman

What an iconic riff. It's such an inspired piece of guitar playing, really describing this attractive woman in better detail than the lyrics. You can just include that guitar and it would still be considered one of the finest instrumentals ever. Roy sounds like a sensual predator, but there's definitely a lot of charm found within these now legendary lines. The catchy track was certified gold in just a few short months after release and is Orbison's most famous piece by a country mile.

#196: Public Enemy - Bring the Noise

Public Enemy brought a lot of things to the hip hop world, and a rowdy noise was definitely one of those things. Here we have a collection of these noises, each layered into a clever, if unorthodox, structure. The rhymes travel at about a thousand miles an hour, yet still manage to flow better than just about any other hip hop track. The energy in this record is just crazy, and I for one am radicalised into joining the extreme political groups mentioned on every listen. There are about a million different remixes of this rap classic, with each one bringing a new awful take on a piece that should never be touched.

#195: Chuck Berry - Maybellene

Rock and roll royalty. Not only is Maybellene a standard of the genre but it's also one of the first ever times the genre hit the charts. I cannot even begin to imagine how this must have sounded to those in the 50s, but I can only presume they were given a loud wake-up call in the form of the wildest guitar playing any man had ever managed. Chuck Berry as a vocalist was head and shoulders better than any of his contemporaries, hammering home those revolutionary hooks into the history books.

#194: Survivor - Eye of the Tiger

We all know that riff. Whenever I hear it I feel like I'm about to enter a full-scale brawl. I can't think of any other riff that has had such a dramatic effect on pop culture and is still one of the most discussed all these years later. The chorus deserves a mention as well because it's absolutely anthemic. Of course, the track was immortalised by the film 'Rocky III' and as such became one of the biggest selling singles of the 1980s.

#193: Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds

Elvis needed to find some momentum in the late 60s for his waning career and found the answer with this epic release. The vocals are arguably the greatest of Elvis' career, fitting right in with the sense of drama and theatre about the whole production. Suspicious Minds was the last time Elvis would top the American charts, briefly reviving his career and cementing his legacy as an all-time great.

#192: Buddy Holly - Rave On

One of the best ever rock and roll tracks ever recorded. Technically this is about as proficient as early rock and roll ever got. For me this is Buddy Holly doing what he does best, rocking out on a guitar heavy track like the title would suggest. Holly makes the track his own with that distinctive voice and fast-paced beat, creating a rock and roll classic in the process.

#191: The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

Possibly the best-known love song in history. The track itself has been covered by countless artists, but none are quite as definitive as The Righteous Brothers release that always seems to make a revival every decade or so. None of the other versions manage to copy that level of sophistication or sincerity this version manages. The vocals are just achingly beautiful, slowly leading up to an epic climax that you cannot fail to be touched by. In the UK alone this track has reached the top spot in the charts on four separate occasions, but it will always be associated with The Righteous Brothers version.

#190: Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep - Mountain High

Legendary producer Phil Spector cited this as one of his greatest projects and was so disillusioned with its commercial flop that he subsequently left the music industry and never recovered. We Britons liked it and sent it to number three in the charts. The combination of Spector and Tina Turner is a marriage made in heaven, as not only do you have those powerful vocals but you also get an equally epic production. Tina Turner just cannot be beaten when she's in this sort of form. Well, actually she can be beaten, but unfortunately it's being physically beaten by Ike.

#189: Kiss - Detroit Rock City

This is what Kiss should be remembered for. Here we have a seriously good hard rocker with the ability to blow the roof off of entire stadiums. The subject isn't exactly cheery, and I really shouldn't be enjoying myself shouting about a fan killed in a car crash. That guitar solo is just phenomenal and is built up in such dramatic fashion. Words can't describe how that solo makes me feel. Detroit Rock City is a real spectacle of rock entertainment, bringing life into a genre that all too often goes down needlessly serious paths.

#188: The Monkees - Daydream Believer

A brilliant pop track that's as catchy as it is sweet. It's just such a charming track with an uncanny ability to put a smile on your face. The song paints this beautiful picture of romance in the most bog standard way possible. Who honestly cares if The Monkees were a manufactured band? They look like they're having fun, and I'm certainly having fun. Isn't that what music is all about?

#187: Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name

Bon Jovi aren't the most subtle of groups. Here we have their biggest offender at going completely over the top with a hit that slaps its garishness right in your face at every opportunity. If you aren't screaming along to the lyrics then you're doing it all wrong. The hook is one of the best in rock history, instantly getting lodged in your head for days on end. This track proved tremendously popular, topping American charts and opening the floodgates for hair metal bands everywhere.

#186: The Clash - The Guns of Brixton

Fusing reggae and punk was a ballsy move, but if any band could pull it off it's the one that fused just about every genre with punk. The bassline is just awesome, giving the song an instant edge for its political content. Martial law is a pretty big topic to cover, but here The Clash give this serious predicament the serious treatment it deserves. Not sure about that faux Jamaican accent however.

#185: Dick Dale - Misirlou

Misirlou is a traditional folk song from the Mediterranean. For some reason Dick Dale associated surfing with the calm waters of the Mediterranean and in doing so created one of the most iconic guitar tracks of all time. The fast-paced guitar is a fantastic way to breathe life into a traditional song whilst simultaneously creating a sound that would go on to inspire numerous other West Coast Rockers. Also, a quick shoutout to Kitchen Nightmares, which wisely decided to use this as its opening theme. The Black Eyed Peas on the other hand can fuck right off.

#184: The Beatles - Day Tripper

I get chills every time I listen to that opening riff. It's such a simple chord progression, yet just works so effectively as the track's foundation. You know you have a great guitar based track when Jimi Hendrix decides to record it on more than one occasion. Add in a few sexually charged lyrics and you have a pop-rock hit. Put it on a single with 'We Can Work it Out' and you have one of the best selling singles of all time. Simple Beatles genius really.

#183: The Who - My Generation

The quintessential anthem of an up and coming rebellious youth. My Generation encompasses everything we love about rock and roll. It's about living while you're young. It's about sticking it to the older generations with a wall of guitar-based noise. It's about going as crazy as the ending of this song and as angry as Roger Daltry's instantly quotable vocals. I hope the elderly down the old folks' home remember this poignant message they once worshipped when they start slagging off my generation.

#182: The Rolling Stones - The Last Time

Another classic riff that underpins one of the most important songs in rock history. It might not be the first single released by the band, and it wasn't even their first chart-topping hit, but it's the one that turned them into household names. By taking a traditional gospel track and giving it that British rock and roll sheen The Stones became one of the most important bands in the world. There's also an orchestral version, although that song is better known when found in the track Bittersweet Symphony.

#181: The Who - I Can't Explain

Believe it or not this was the first ever single The Who released. They don't appear to sound like a new band on the scene, but I'm sure this simple rock track caught a lot of attention. The high pitched hook works a treat, instantly lodging this lovely little rock and roll track into your brain. The riff is also put on full display, giving the song that noticeable 60s soundtrack. The Who would go on to greater things, but their debut track still stands out as one of their defining tracks.

#180: The Beatles - Girl

Not exactly The Beatles most charming ever love song. Some of the lines in this one are incredibly harsh, showcasing how the sound of the band was maturing from their humble beginnings. John Lennon's vocals are some of his very best. You can physically hear the emotion he puts into the lyrics, with the production being equally as complex. Girl stands out a mile on the Rubber Soul album, providing a rare melancholic reprieve.

#179: King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man

What the hell is this? It's like a prog-rock version of a mental breakdown. The guitars are just insane. They sound majestic half the time and then devolve into absolute mayhem the next. Then the vocals come in, sounding like an absolute madman raving. It's hard to categorise this song because there's so much going on. It's prog rock at the core, but we also see signs of forward thinking heavy metal, inadvertently providing the foundations for the genre progressive metal.

#178: Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman

Wichita Lineman is a track that floats along from a combination of dulcet guitar chords and the delicate sound of strings. The lyrics are just absolutely beautiful, showcasing some of the greatest lines ever penned in a country record. Wichita Lineman explores themes of love and loneliness both poetically and thoughtfully, accompanied by the smooth voice of Glen Campbell. Country music doesn't get any better produced than this.

#177: R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe

The first ever single from these influential alternative rockers was also one of the founding records of an expanding genre. The lyrics are serious, if you can actually understand them, using a radio station broadcast across the Iron Curtain to tell tales of propaganda in the media. Frontman Michael Stipe did actually admit his lyrics were completely nonsensical due to the song being unfinished at the time of recording. Still, all musical genres have to start from somewhere, and this is a great starting point.

#176: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Lookin' Out My Back Door

This single is about as rustic as rock music ever gets, but sometimes it's nice to indulge in the simple pleasures of music. At the heart this is a song written out of pure joy and respect for the rock and roll days of yore. The lyrics are innocent, but it's the charm of the vocals that really make you love the song. This track has now become etched into pop culture thanks to the film 'The Big Lebowski', but let's not forget it was also an important country-rock hit back in the 1970s.

#175: The Beatles - I'm Only Sleeping

I feel this song appeals to me on a spiritual level, not only because I'm incredibly lazy, but also as it's a precursor to the genre of psychedelic rock. The composition does actually make me feel tired, but I can never understand whether this track was an ode to LSD or Night Nurse. I'm Only Sleeping really does feel like it was composed in some sort of dreamworld. The backwards guitar solo in particular stands out as otherworldly, putting an exclamation mark on the incredible production.

#174: The Spencer Davis Group - Gimme Some Lovin'

Written by seventeen-year-old Steve Winwood and sounding like a song from a future era is this absolute classic. When I was seventeen I was quickscoping my way through Call of Duty, not writing one of the greatest British rock tracks in history. The toe-tapping beat is accompanied by a distinctive organ and the aggressive voices of the group. The hook is phenomenal, giving out another burst of energy in an already energetic track. What an amazing composition.

#173: Al Green - Let's Stay Together

Al Green's vocals are just so erotic. I'm not even a gay man but I'd happily make a pass on Al if he started serenading me with this. If you're Al's partner and you hear him singing this how can you really ever want to leave him? Let's Stay Together is about as smooth and sensual as soul ever gets. For once it was the Americans who identified a hit, with the track topping the charts and staying around for a total of sixteen weeks. Tina Turner's version fared better here in Britain, which as injustices go is pretty heinous.

#172: The Temptations - My Girl

Oh, that acoustic intro makes me giddy with excitement. My Girl is perhaps the ultimate boy band track, relying on catchy hooks and the charisma of five charming men to get it lodged inside your head. American audiences loved it, easily topping the charts, but once again Britain wasn't impressed by the legendary soul record and as such it barely charted. Motown produced some of the best songs in existence, but this might have been their greatest ever achievement.

#171: The Doors - Love Her Madly

An intriguing mix of psychedelia and blues meshed together by a lively organ. The song is psychedelic, it's catchy, and it has that rough-edged romantic flavour that makes Jim Morrison such a catch. Love Her Madly is one of The Doors most successful pieces, marking their last big release before Jim's untimely demise.

#170: The Champs - Tequila

All you need to create a hit song is a lively and fun instrumental with the odd break to shout an alcoholic based drink. You may laugh, but a structure so simple is what forms one of the most recognisable pieces in music history. It certainly helps that the instrumentation is a funky and lively saxophone solo. Tequila was one of the biggest selling singles of the 50s, but still gets recognition from me when I start ruining my evening with a barrage of shots.

#169: Blondie - Heart of Glass

Disco and rock have historically had an interesting relationship with each other, but here is an example of a track that brought the best out of both genres. Not only is this a fine modern rock track, but it's also one perfectly at home on a light up dancefloor. The forward-thinking production is then paired with stunning visual imagery to create a polished package that was always bound to sell. Debbie Harry puts in a sultry performance that compliments the laid back feel of the song. To say the song was a hit is a massive understatement as it managed to storm the charts in just about every country worth mentioning.

#168: The Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought the Law

Originally recorded by The Crickets this rock and roll classic uses the tricks of previous decades to create a lovely little track. The combination of guitars and vocals are absolutely fantastic, and the result is an upbeat rock track that will easily get stuck in your head. The Clash cover may well be the most famous, but it never manages to capture the spirit of the track like Bobby Fuller manages here. 'I Fought the Law' became Bobby Fuller's only hit as he was found dead under suspicious circumstances just six months later.

#167: Dolly Parton - Jolene

The track that put Dolly Parton on the music map. Jolene is one of those tracks that has the unique gift of uniting fans from a multitude of backgrounds, and even if you're not a country fan you can't help but be moved by this morbid tale. Dolly does a great job at expressing the anguish found within the lyrics, only accompanied by a lonesome acoustic guitar. Dolly even managed to score a top ten hit in Britain, which is a feat not achieved by many American country stars.

#166: R.E.M. - Losing My Religion

Why aren't more pop songs based on mandolin riffs? R.E.M. pull off a charming modern re-imagining of classic pop-rock tracks with added layers of sophistication. Gone are cliches and simplistic structures and in comes a brilliantly paced soundtrack and alternative rock artistry. Losing My Religion brought the band to the masses, becoming the group's signature song in the process. That scene in the video with an old man being fingered always gives me the creeps however.

#165: The Police - Every Breath You Take

It's not often sinister songs about stalking dominate the pop charts, but when they do the results are usually something very special. The lyrics are a really graphic interpretation of surveillance. Perhaps the band should change their name to 'The Thought Police'. Sting's vocals leave an instant impression, but the real surprise comes from the solid guitar work that underpins the track. Every Breath You Take was a massive hit, becoming the best selling single of 1983 and is often considered one of the definitive tracks of the 80s.

#164: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird

Only in America could a simple rock ballad be stretched out into nine minutes of hillbilly nonsense about freedom. Lynyrd Skynyrd don't exactly rush this one, instead stretching it out into an epic slog. The track never feels long winded however and there's plenty of different sections to enjoy that naturally progress with some high-quality pacing. The guitar solo in particular is brilliant and one of the most cherished in the world of classic rock. A defining taste of Southern American. Well, this and the taste of your sister.

#163: The Beach Boys - Sloop John B

A traditional Caribbean folk song is a given a taste of Californian pop rock. You really appreciate how amazing the composition is when you compare this track to the previous cover versions. The vocal harmonies are simply incredible, and I honestly cannot believe this was produced in the mid-60s. The main reason why this is such a beloved track is that it's just so vibrant and inviting. This Brian Wilson based project became the lead single off the iconic 'Pet Sounds' album and in turn became one of the band's biggest hits.

#162: Ozzy Osbourne - Mr. Crowley

If there is anyone who can nail a song about a dark and mysterious occultist it's going to be Ozzy. The dark atmosphere created in this song is phenomenal. From the foreboding organs to the demonic guitar solos we get one of the most dramatic and unsettling Ozzy tracks ever. Not satisfied with one solid solo Randy Rhoads pulls out one of the best in his collection, putting a massive exclamation mark on an already brilliant heavy metal piece.

#161: The Kinks - You Really Got Me

The central riff has now become legendary. Back in the mid-60s nothing as heavy had ever been heard, and this raw and powerful noise would go on to inspire the creation of an intense hard rock sound. The excessive use of distortion creates such a fantastic noise and was interestingly created by Dave Davies slashing his amp to allow the fabric to vibrate in a peculiar way. When The Kinks decided to invade the American music scene they must have made the Yanks look like right simpletons, which isn't difficult when you come to think of it.

#160: Dire Straits - Money for Nothing

Dire Straits produce an interesting and negative take on the world of rock and roll. The riff is the real talking point, creating a heavily distorted foundation for the track that sounds unmistakably 80s. A lot of the song is fashioned around 1980s culture, even down to the casually homophobic lyrics in the second verse. There's a lot going on, with many over-exaggerated elements interacting with just solid rock music. Even Sting pops along for some high pitched backing vocals. The music video may look shite by the standards of today, but back when MTV was just launching this was about as incredible as graphics got.

#159: Elton John - Tiny Dancer

About as profound as piano-based ballads ever get. The verses are all well structured, but really they only serve to build up to that epic chorus. The pacing is rather ballsy for a pop track, giving off its adrenaline in isolated chunks rather than any logical structure. The lyrics are similarly just fantastic, although you can tell Elton didn't write them as I doubt he would ever beckon women to hold him closer. Tiny Dancer was never actually released as a single, but over time has become one of Elton's most iconic tracks.

#158: Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy

A blues standard. The plodding beat allows the memorable riff and aggressive vocals of Muddy to really stand out. Mannish Boy is an anthem for masculinity, pumping testosterone through my body at rates other songs could only dream of. That now iconic riff that punctuates every line of the song has been ripped off by many aspiring blues performers, arguably becoming far more famous than the song itself.

#157: Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side

As protest songs go this is one of the more subtle. It doesn't scream in your face for a change, instead gently caressing your ears like a masseuse. The lyrics don't beat around the bush however, telling very vivid tales of transsexuals with both generosity and admiration. Let's be honest, who else in the world of rock was bringing these issues to the fore in the early 70s? The bass line is also fantastic and has been stolen by many other hit singles over the years, but what people really remember is the spoken hook. Well, that and the constant references to prostitution that somehow manage to always get past the totalitarian censors of British radio.

#156: Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

Technically it's the second of three parts that makes it on the list. 'Another Brick in the Wall' is an unusual inclusion in the Pink Floyd discography due to its reliance on funk to create a foreboding atmosphere. Thankfully all is restored to normal with that guitar driven solo. I also love the inclusion of a working-class sounding choir, who really add to the dystopian feel of the whole song. 'Another Brick in the Wall' has now become something of a protest song for school students tired of the current educational system, but back in 1980 it impressively managed to become a number one single.

#155: Metallica - Enter Sandman

The song that placed Metallica at the forefront of metal. Enter Sandman contains one of the most recognisable metal riffs in history. Here the thrash metal deities tap into the commercial side of rock music, trading unrepentant ferocity with catchy hooks and equally catchy power riffs. There is a nightmarish theme to the song which allows the track to border between being easily digestible and downright unsettling. Yeah, metal purists might hate it, but there's no denying it's one of the biggest and most important metal releases in history.

#154: Pearl Jam - Jeremy

Based on the delightful story of a boy named Jeremy who shot himself in front of his own English class. The whole composition really hammers home the disturbing themes, with Eddie Vedder's vocals in particular adding a deranged edge to this tragic tale. Despite its controversial nature Jeremy would go on to become one of Pearl Jam's defining songs, transforming their sound from grunge origins to rock monsters.

#153: Eagles - Lyin' Eyes

In my opinion the most laid back and relaxing country rock track in history. Here we have a six-minute country epic that switches between calm, smooth verses and hooks with beautiful vocal harmonies. Glenn Frey's vocals tell a rich tale of heartbreak and betrayal with a surprising amount of flair, occasionally being shattered with a chorus that just makes you want to live out the rest of your days in rural California. 

#152: Led Zeppelin - Good Times Bad Times

What an opening track for your first ever album. If anyone needs any introduction to what Led Zeppelin are all about then just direct them here. The way this seemingly simple track just devolves into some crazy rock shenanigans is just incredible. In fact, the whole energy of the song is a joy to behold. Good Times Bad Times provides a brief introduction to the immense talent of every member of the group, paving the way in style for a storied career that changed rock music forever.

#151: Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

The final hurrah for frontman Ian Curtis who killed himself just a few short months after the release of this amazing single. His voice in this is hauntingly macabre, creating this unique atmosphere that's so unnerving in a pop track. I just absolutely love that synthesiser. That honestly has to be one of the greatest transitions into a synthesiser based melody I've ever heard in my life. Interestingly the music video is shot in what is considered a mansion in the band's native Scotland.