Rock & Roll

July 8, 2005 5:42 AM

Rock & Roll - I need to make a mix tape CD of Rock & Roll tunes that pay tribute to and/or glorify Rock & Roll... something I believe no other genre does with quite the same fervor and dedication. Do you have any suggestions?

Songs about rockin'... how cool rocking is, etc. Some obvious examples (maybe) would be:

Led Zeppelin - Rock & Roll
Kiss - Rock and Roll All Nite
AC-DC - For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Night Ranger - (You Can Still) Rock in America

I would prefer if the song title included the word 'Rock' (at least).

I expect jonmc to make an appearance.

posted by Necker to Media & Arts (53 answers total)

Jone Jett-I love Rock and Roll
Wilco-Heavy Metal Drummer
Jawbreaker-Tour Song
posted by OmieWise at 5:51 AM on July 8, 2005

Twisted Sister - I Wanna Rock

And, not exactly what you're looking for, but Radiohead's Anyone Can Play Guitar is a slightly more interesting take.
posted by Kwantsar at 5:54 AM on July 8, 2005

The Ramones - Sheena is a punk rocker
posted by handybitesize at 5:54 AM on July 8, 2005

Def Leppard--Rock of Ages
posted by Prospero at 5:59 AM on July 8, 2005

Queen - We Will Rock You
posted by jontyjago at 6:00 AM on July 8, 2005

Ramones - Do You Remember Rock'n'Roll Radio?
Velvet Underground - Rock and Roll
posted by jessenoonan at 6:01 AM on July 8, 2005

Stray Cats - Rock This Town
Bill Haley & The Comets - Rock Around the Clock
Billy Joel - It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
Huey Lewis - Heart of Rock n Roll
John Cougar - R.O.C.K.
posted by missed at 6:10 AM on July 8, 2005

The Who -- Long Live Rock
posted by Otis at 6:13 AM on July 8, 2005

Bill Haley - Rock Around the Clock
Beatles - Rockin' and Rollin'
BMRC - Whatever Happened to my Rock and Roll?
Boston - Rock and Roll Band
Guitar Wolf - Midnight Violence Rock and Roll
Jon Spencer - Shakin' Rock and Roll Tonight
Kinks - Rock and Roll Fantasy
Neil Young - Rockin' in the Free World
Ramones - Rock 'n' Roll Highschool
Richard Hell - Down at the Rock and Roll Club
Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
posted by electric_counterpoint at 6:15 AM on July 8, 2005

the last tune would have to be Rock is Dead, by Marilyn Manson.
posted by dong_resin at 6:20 AM on July 8, 2005

I'd bet that Blues glorifies itself more than Rock'n'Roll does. Not that the two are a million miles apart, of course. I make no comments on the quality (or otherwise) of the following tracks:

Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around The Clock
Bill Haley & His Comets - Don't Knock The Rock
Elvis Presley - Good Rockin' Tonight
Elvis Presley - Raised On Rock
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'N' Roll
Prefab Sprout - The King Of Rock 'N' Roll
Chuck Berry - Every Day We Rock'n'Roll
Chuck Berry - I'm a Rocker
Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
Elton John - Crocodile Rock
The Happy Days theme tune
The Kinks - Denmark Street
The Kinks - Top of the Pops
Argent - God Gave Rock And Roll To You (or the Kiss cover)
Rock And Roll Music (Chuck Berry, Beatles, Beach Boys and probably some others - it's a standard)
Ramones - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Anything That's Rock 'N' Roll
Status Quo - Rockin' All Over The World
Mott The Hoople - Golden Age Of Rock 'N' Roll
Gary Glitter - Rock and Roll

Tip of the iceberg.
posted by Leon at 6:27 AM on July 8, 2005

Don't forget Scorpions' Rock you Like a Hurricane
posted by grateful at 6:29 AM on July 8, 2005

Bryan Adams - "Summer of '69"
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:34 AM on July 8, 2005

KISS - God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You
posted by Moondoggie at 6:35 AM on July 8, 2005

AC/DC - Rock N Roll ain't noise pollution
posted by mattr at 6:40 AM on July 8, 2005

AC/DC - Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
4 Horsemen - Rockin' Is My Business
Drive By Truckers - Let There Be Rock
John (cougar?) Mellencamp - Rock in the USA

on preview: mattr beat me to the ac/dc.
posted by hominid211 at 6:43 AM on July 8, 2005

AC/DC - "It's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock 'n' roll)", complete with bagpipe lead break!
posted by flabdablet at 6:44 AM on July 8, 2005

Must have Rainbow's Long Live Rock and Roll.
posted by Wolfdog at 6:47 AM on July 8, 2005

Def Leppard's Rock Rock Till You Drop
posted by grateful at 7:03 AM on July 8, 2005

Bad Company's Rock and Roll Fantasy
Foreigner's Jukebox Hero. (No "rock" in the title, but...)
posted by Wolfdog at 7:11 AM on July 8, 2005

May I suggest an All Music Guide search for "Rock" > Song? ...231 results for "Rock Me," 151 for "Rock On," 257 for "Rock & Roll," 385 for "Rock of Ages," and so on. Still, pleas don't forget Jonathan Richman's "Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns."
posted by glibhamdreck at 7:12 AM on July 8, 2005

Motorhead - We Are The Road Crew
posted by Leon at 7:18 AM on July 8, 2005

King Missile - Rock and Roll Will Never Die
Starship - We Built This City on Rock and Roll (ugh!)
posted by abingham at 7:24 AM on July 8, 2005

Response by poster: Awesome!
posted by Necker at 7:37 AM on July 8, 2005

No 'rock' in the title, but Neil Young's 'Hey Hey My My' and 'My My Hey Hey' might fit.

They may not be, strictly speaking, rock songs, but DJ Z-Trip's 'Rockstar Pt. I' and 'Rockstar Pt. II' might, y'know, mix things up, mixtape-wise. Ditto Billy Joel's 'It's Still Rock and Roll to Me,' and the Righteous Brothers' 'Rock and Roll Heaven.'
posted by box at 7:37 AM on July 8, 2005

(Please post your final track list when it's done!)
posted by Wolfdog at 7:38 AM on July 8, 2005

On a lighter note, how about Spinal Tap's Rock and Roll Creation?
posted by Wolfdog at 7:39 AM on July 8, 2005

Since jonmc hasn't shown up yet, I get to be the first to mention one of the very greatest such songs, if little known these days: "It will stand" by The Showmen (1961).

Some folks don't understand it
That's why they don't demand it
They're out tryn' to end it
Forgive them for they know not what they're doin'

Don't nickname it
You might as well claim it
It swept this whole wide land
Rock and roll forever will stand!

You can hear a snippet here.

Wikipedia has a good list here.
posted by languagehat at 7:44 AM on July 8, 2005

Patti Smith - Rock'n'Roll Nigger
Mekons - Rock'n'Roll
Human League - Rock'n'Roll (covering Gary Glitter's version)
posted by omnidrew at 7:48 AM on July 8, 2005

Queen: We Will Rock You
Queen: We Are the Champions (doesn't directly mention rock, but has the right feel to it)
Elton John: Benny and the Jets
Foreigner: Juke Box Hero
and from the irony department,
Dire Straits: Money for Nothing

On preview: Good call with the wiki link, languagehat!
posted by CrunchyFrog at 7:54 AM on July 8, 2005

Wesley Willis - Rock and Roll McDonalds
posted by p3t3 at 8:01 AM on July 8, 2005

dong_resin: in that case, the penultimate track should be Jesus and Mary Chain's answer to Joan Jett: I Hate Rock'n'Roll.
posted by nylon at 8:08 AM on July 8, 2005

Can't believe this hasn't been suggested yet:

The Who: Long Live Rock
posted by pmurray63 at 8:16 AM on July 8, 2005

Whoops, Otis had it. Never mind.
posted by pmurray63 at 8:18 AM on July 8, 2005

Rock N' Roll Is Here to Stay
by Sha-Na-Na
posted by Mack Twain at 8:57 AM on July 8, 2005

Well, the song title doesn't qualify, but there's Spoon's "The Beast and Dragon Adored" ("When you don't feel it, it shows, they tear out your soul/And when you believe, they call it rock and roll.")
posted by transona5 at 9:01 AM on July 8, 2005

ELO - Rock and Roll Is King
posted by brookedel at 9:05 AM on July 8, 2005

Mekons, "Memphis, Egypt" (from the album Rock 'n' Roll)
posted by scody at 9:12 AM on July 8, 2005

(that song title doesn't quite qualify, i realize, but it is fucking great...and the album title counts, doesn't it??)
posted by scody at 9:13 AM on July 8, 2005

Danny & The Juniors - Rock 'n Roll Is Here To Stay

Can't believe I forgot that one. It's on languagehat's wikipedia link, but it's worth highlighting.
posted by Leon at 9:22 AM on July 8, 2005

What about "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" by Petra? He put it in the soul of everyone!

I crack myself up.
posted by jdroth at 9:33 AM on July 8, 2005

Black cloud crossed my mind
Blue mist round my soul
Feel so sucidal
Even hate my rock and roll

The Beatles - Yer Blues
posted by TimeFactor at 10:10 AM on July 8, 2005

Cliff Richard - Move It

("It's rhythm that gets into your heart and soul/Well let me tell you baby it's called rock 'n roll")

I'm gonna stop now.
posted by Leon at 11:14 AM on July 8, 2005

Supernaut - Black Sabbath

Yeah, it doesn't have the words "ROCK" or "ROLL" in the title, but when my ashes are blasted into space when I die, it will be playing /very loud/
posted by benATthelocust at 11:18 AM on July 8, 2005

Tenacious D's "Rock Your Socks" and "Dio" are all about the rockin'.
posted by crumbly at 11:20 AM on July 8, 2005

Blue Oyster Cult, Cities On Flame (with Rock and Roll).
posted by Wolfdog at 11:24 AM on July 8, 2005

Response by poster: I'm so glad I asked you guys/gals. Thanks!
posted by Necker at 11:34 AM on July 8, 2005

Just one more... Oasis - Rock 'n' Roll Star
posted by saintsguy at 12:03 PM on July 8, 2005

Cypress Hill - Rock Superstar
posted by jewishbuddha at 12:33 PM on July 8, 2005

Cat Mother and the All-Night Newsboys -- "Good Old Rock and Roll" (1969 -- produced by Jimi Hendrix)
posted by Faze at 12:48 PM on July 8, 2005

"The Majesty of Rock" by Spinal Tap.
posted by kindall at 1:09 PM on July 8, 2005

The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"
Rick Derringer, "Rock'n'Roll Hoochie Coo"
Don McLean, "American Pie"
posted by me3dia at 1:37 PM on July 8, 2005

Thin Lizzy-The Rocker
Tenacious D-Tribute
posted by OmieWise at 10:24 AM on July 9, 2005