Dave Marsh's "1001 greatest singles ever made"

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Dave Marsh is a longtime rock critic. He wrote this book because he argues that the usual focus of rock critics on albums rather than individual songs shortchanges whole genres like R&B, pop, dance, and country and gives undue credit to genres like prog rock.

This is for SINGLES…so if a song wasn’t released as a radio single (Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven") it doesn’t appear. Also, Marsh is VERY specific about particular renditions…so if a cut says "live" or 12" mix, he’s claiming that rendition as the superior one.

NOTE: There are more than 1001 singles here because in 1998 Marsh wrote a supplement of 101 records he felt he would like to consider as taking place of some of the entries (he didn’t specify which ones). I have tacked them on at the end. Source: http://rateyourmusic.com/lists/list_view?list_id=55437&show=100&start=0

"Nobody whistles albums…." Dave Marsh

tiiiffffff's progress compared to yours…
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  1. 1.
    I Heard it Through the Grapevine (single)
    by Marvin Gaye

  2. 2.
    Johnny B. Goode (single)
    by Chuck Berry

  3. 3.
    Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (single)
    by James Brown

  4. 4.
    Reach Out I'll Be There (single)
    by The Four Tops

  5. 5.
    You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin' (single)
    by The Righteous Brothers

  6. 6.
    (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (single)
    by The Rolling Stones

  7. 7.
    Like a Rolling Stone (single)
    by Bob Dylan

  8. 8.
    Respect
    by Aretha Franklin

  9. 9.
    Tutti Frutti (single)
    by Little Richard

  10. 10.
    Nowhere to Run (single)
    by Martha & The Vandellas

  11. 11.
    Louie, Louie (single)
    by The Kingsmen

  12. 12.
    Mystery Train (single)
    by Elvis Presley

  13. 13.
    Shake, Rattle & Roll-Big Joe Turner (single)
    by Big Joe Turner

  14. 14.
    Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (single)
    by Jerry Lee Lewis

  15. 15.
    (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (single)
    by Otis Redding

  16. 16.
    Everyday People (single)
    by Sly & the Family Stone

  17. 17.
    Only the Lonely (single)
    by Roy Orbison

  18. 18.
    (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (single)
    by Aretha Franklin

  19. 19.
    Do You Love Me? (single)
    by The Contours

  20. 20.
    Be My Baby (single)
    by The Ronettes

  21. 21.
    Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) (single)
    by The Crystals

  22. 22.
    Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
    by Darlene Love

  23. 23.
    Hold On, I'm Comin' (single)
    by Sam and Dave

  24. 24.
    Born to Run (single)
    by Bruce Springsteen

  25. 25.
    What's Going On (single)
    by Marvin Gaye

  26. 26.
    Who'll Stop the Rain (single)
    by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  27. 27.
    My Girl (single)
    by The Temptations

  28. 28.
    Jump - Van Halen (single)
    by Van Halen

  29. 29.
    Ticket to Ride (single)
    by The Beatles

  30. 30.
    There Goes My Baby (single)
    by The Drifters

  31. 31.
    When a Man Loves a Woman (single)
    by Percy Sledge

  32. 32.
    A Change is Gonna Come (single)
    by Sam Cooke

  33. 33.
    That'll Be the Day (single)
    by Buddy Holly & the Crickets

  34. 34.
    Stay (single)
    by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs

  35. 35.
    I've Been Loving You too Long [To Stop Now] (single)
    by Otis Redding

  36. 36.
    Since I Don't Have You (single)
    by The Skyliners

  37. 37.
    Bernadette (single)
    by The Four Tops

  38. 38.
    She Loves You (single)
    by The Beatles

  39. 39.
    Oh, Pretty Woman (single)
    by Roy Orbison

  40. 40.
    I Can See for Miles (single)
    by The Who

  41. 41.
    What'd I Say? [Pt. 1] (single)
    by Ray Charles

  42. 42.
    Lonely Teardrops (single)
    by Jackie Wilson

  43. 43.
    One Fine Day (single)
    by The Chiffons

  44. 44.
    Uptight (Everything's Alright) (single)
    by Stevie Wonder

  45. 45.
    Little Red Corvette (single)
    by Prince

  46. 46.
    The Tracks of my Tears (single)
    by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

  47. 47.
    Blueberry Hill (single)
    by Fats Domino

  48. 48.
    Live to Tell (single)
    by Madonna

  49. 49.
    Need Your Love So Bad - Little Willie John (single)
    by Little Willie John

  50. 50.
    (Love is Like a) Heat Wave (single)
    by Martha & the Vandellas

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Created by ammusso on Nov 24, 2006.
 

Comments

Thank You for this list — 2 years ago

Mr. Marsh is absolutely right about the neglect of some great music when album lists are put together. There would be no prog rock without early R&B. I tried to mark these based on what is in my library. I’ve skipped some for now because I can’t remember if I actually have it or if I am simply familiar with the song.


corrections — 4 years ago

I made some minor, yet needed changes to this list. There were three songs missing and one song that was by the wrong artist. I also deleted that wrong Jim Dandy song. I changed the source to point to a clearer, more complete version of the list, while moving the previous source to the description, since it shows the 101 additional titles in the supplement.


Last song to be deleted — 4 years ago

“Jim Dandy Got Married” should be on list, but not “Jim Dandy”. It will be deleted…




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