This is posted at the DigitalDreamDoor site- compared to some of the other lists on the sie, this one looks pretty decent. If reader input had anything to do with it, it's hard to believe.

http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_songs-500.html

(list simply is alphabetical order)

500 Songs Every Rock Fan Should Know
1. ? and the Mysterians - 96 Tears
2. 10cc - I'm Not in Love
3. 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre - California Love
4. AC/DC - Back in Black
5. AC/DC - Highway to Hell
6. AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
7. Aerosmith - Dream On
8. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
9. Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock
10. Al Green - Let's Stay Together
11. Al Green - Tired of Being Alone
12. Abba - Dancing Queen
13. Alice Cooper - School's Out
14. Animals, The - House of the Rising Sun
15. Aretha Franklin - Chain of Fools
16. Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)
17. Aretha Franklin - Respect
18. Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
19. B52's, The - Rock Lobster
20. Bachman-Turner Overdrive - You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
21. Band, The - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
22. Band, The - The Weight
23. B.B. King - The Thrill is Gone
24. Beach Boys, The - California Girls
25. Beach Boys, The - Don't Worry Baby
26. Beach Boys, The - God Only Knows
27. Beach Boys, The - Good Vibrations
28. Beach Boys, The - I Get Around
29. Beach Boys, The - Surfin' U.S.A.
30. Beastie Boys, The - Fight for Your Right
31. Beatles, The - A Day in the Life
32. Beatles, The - A Hard Day's Night
33. Beatles, The - All You Need Is Love
34. Beatles, The - Eleanor Rigby
35. Beatles, The - Hey Jude
36. Beatles, The - I Want to Hold Your Hand
37. Beatles, The - In My Life
38. Beatles, The - Let It Be
39. Beatles, The - She Loves You
40. Beatles, The - Something
41. Beatles, The - Strawberry Fields Forever
42. Beatles, The - Yesterday
43. Beck - Loser
44. Bee Gees, The - Stayin' Alive
45. Bee Gees, The - Night Fever
46. Ben E. King - Spanish Harlem
47. Ben E. King - Stand by Me
48. Big Joe Turner - Shake, Rattle & Roll
49. Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk
50. Bill Haley & His Comets - Rock Around the Clock
51. Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine
52. Bill Withers - Lean on Me
53. Billy Joel - Piano Man
54. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
55. Black Sabbath - Iron Man
56. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
57. Blondie - Call Me
58. Blondie - Heart of Glass
59. Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
60. Blur - Song 2
61. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
62. Bo Diddley - I'm a Man
63. Bo Diddley - Who Do You Love?
64. Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind
65. Bob Dylan - Knockin' on Heaven's Door
66. Bob Dylan - Like a Rolling Stone
67. Bob Dylan - Mr. Tambourine Man
68. Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
69. Bob Dylan - Tangled Up in Blue
70. Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin'
71. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Get Up, Stand Up
72. Bob Marley & the Wailers - No Woman, No Cry
73. Bob Marley & the Wailers - One Love/People Get Ready
74. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Redemption Song
75. Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought the Law
76. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves
77. Booker T. & The MG's - Green Onions
78. Boston - More Than a Feeling
79. Box Tops, The - The Letter
80. Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.
81. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
82. Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road
83. Buddy Holly - Not Fade Away
84. Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue
85. Buddy Holly - That'll Be the Day
86. Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth
87. Byrds, The - Eight Miles High
88. Byrds, The - Mr. Tambourine Man
89. Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes
90. Carole King - It's Too Late
91. Carpenters, The - Close to You
92. Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
93. Chantels, The - Maybe
94. Chic - Good Times
95. Chic - Le Freak
96. Chords, The - Sh-Boom
97. Chubby Checker - The Twist
98. Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
99. Chuck Berry - Maybellene
100. Chuck Berry - Rock & Roll Music

101. Chuck Berry - Roll over Beethoven
102. Chuck Berry - School Day
103. Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen
104. Clash, The - Complete Control
105. Clash, The - London Calling
106. Clash, The - Shoud I Stay or Shoud I Go?
107. Clash, The - Train in Vain
108. Cliff Richard - Move It
109. Clovers, The - Love Potion #9
110. Coasters, The - Yakety Yak
111. Contours, The - Do You Love Me
112. Count Five, The - Psychotic Reaction
113. Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
114. Cream - White Room
115. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising
116. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
117. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary
118. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
119. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio
120. Crows, The - Gee
121. Crystals, The - Da Doo Ron Ron
122. Cure, The - Love Song
123. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
124. Danny & the Juniors - At the Hop
125. David Bowie - Changes
126. David Bowie - Heroes
127. David Bowie - Space Oddity
128. David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust
129. Deep Purple - Child in Time
130. Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
131. Del Shannon - Runaway
132. Dells, The - Oh, What a Night
133. Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
134. Derek and the Dominos - Layla
135. Devo - Whip It
136. Dick Dale - Misirlou
137. Dion - Runaround Sue
138. Dion - The Wanderer
139. Dionne Warwick - Say a Little Prayer
140. Dionne Warwick - Walk on By
141. Dire Straits - Money for Nothing
142. Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
143. Dixie Cups, The - Chapel of Love
144. Dominoes, The - Have Mercy Baby
145. Dominoes, The - Sixty Minute Man
146. Don McLean - American Pie
147. Donna Summer - Hot Stuff
148. Donna Summer - I Feel Love
149. Donovan - Hurdy Gurdy Man
150. Doors, The - Break on Through (To the Other Side)
151. Doors, The - Light My Fire
152. Doors, The - Riders on the Storm
153. Dr. Dre feat Snoop Dogg - Nuthin' But a "G" Thang
154. Drifters, The - Money Honey
155. Drifters, The - There Goes My Baby
156. Drifters, The - Up on the Roof
157. Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
158. Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
159. Eagles, The - Hotel California
160. Earth, Wind & Fire - September
161. Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
162. Eddie Floyd - Knock on Wood
163. Edwin Starr - War
164. Elton John - Bennie and the Jets
165. Elton John - Candle in the Wind
166. Elton John - Rocket Man
167. Elton John - Your Song
168. Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
169. Elvis Costello - Alison
170. Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
171. Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight?
172. Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel
173. Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel
174. Elvis Presley - Hound Dog
175. Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock
176. Elvis Presley - Love Me Tender
177. Elvis Presley - Mystery Train
178. Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
179. Elvis Presley - That's All Right
180. Eminem - Lose Yourself
181. Eminem - Stan
182. Eric B. & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul
183. Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven
184. Etta James - At Last
185. Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)
186. Everly Brothers - All I Have to Do Is Dream
187. Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love
188. Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown
189. Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie
190. Fats Domino - Ain't That a Shame
191. Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill
192. Fats Domino - Fat Man
193. Five Satins - In the Still of the Night
194. Flamingos, The - I Only Have Eyes for You
195. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
196. Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
197. Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon
198. Four Seasons, The - Sherry
199. Four Tops, The - Baby I Need Your Loving
200. Four Tops, The - Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
201. Four Tops, The - Reach Out (I'll Be There)
202. Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
203. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall in Love?
204. Free - All Right Now
205. Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove
206. Gary Numan - Cars
207. Gene Vincent - Be-Bop-A-Lula
208. George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
209. Gladys Knight & the Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia
210. Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
211. Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
212. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - The Message
213. Grateful Dead, The - Truckin'
214. Guess Who, The - American Woman
215. Guitar Slim - The Things That I Used to Do
216. Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
217. Hank Ballard & the Midnighters - Work With Me, Annie
218. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - If You Don't Know Me by Now
219. Hollies - Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)
220. Human League - Don't You Want Me?
221. Iggy Pop - Lust for Life
222. Ike and Tina Turner - River Deep, Mountain High
223. Impressions, The - For Your Precious Love
224. Impressions, The - People Get Ready
225. Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
226. Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
227. Isaac Hayes - Theme from Shaft
228. Isley Brothers, The - It's Your Thing
229. Isley Brothers, The - Shout
230. Isley Brothers, The - Twist and Shout
231. J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers - Last Kiss
232. Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88
233. Jackie Wilson - Higher and Higher
234. Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
235. Jackson 5, The - I Want You Back
236. James Brown - Cold Sweat
237. James Brown - Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine
238. James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good)
239. James Brown - It's a Man's Man's Man's World
240. James Brown - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
241. James Brown - Please, Please, Please
242. James Brown - Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)
243. James Taylor - Fire and Rain
244. Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee
245. Janis Joplin/Big Brother & Holding Company - Piece of My Heart
246. Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love
247. Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit
248. Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire
249. Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
250. Jethro Tull - Aqualung
251. Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along the Watchtower
252. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hey Joe
253. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Little Wing
254. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze
255. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
256. Joan Jett - I Love Rock 'N' Roll
257. Johnny Burnette Trio - Train Kept A-Rollin'
258. John Lennon - Give Peace a Chance
259. John Lennon - Imagine
260. John Lennon - Instant Karma!
261. Johnny Ace - Pledging My Love
262. Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now
263. Joni Mitchell - Help Me
264. Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
265. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
266. King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man
267. Kingsmen, The - Louie, Louie
268. Kinks, The - Lola
269. Kinks, The - Waterloo Sunset
270. Kinks, The - You Really Got Me
271. Kiss - Rock 'N' Roll All Nite
272. Knack, The - My Sharona
273. Kool & The Gang - Celebration
274. Kraftwerk - Autobahn
275. Kurtis Blow - The Breaks
276. LaBelle - Lady Marmalade
277. Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
278. LaVern Baker - Tweedle Dee
279. Led Zeppelin - Black Dog
280. Led Zeppelin - Dazed and Confused
281. Led Zeppelin - Kashmir
282. Led Zeppelin - Rock and Roll
283. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
284. Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
285. Link Wray - Rumble
286. Little Eva - Loco-Motion
287. Little Richard - Good Golly, Miss Molly
288. Little Richard - Long Tall Sally
289. Little Richard - Lucille
290. Little Richard - Tutti Frutti
291. Little Willie John - Fever
292. LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
293. Lloyd Price - Lawdy Miss Clawdy
294. Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
295. Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic?
296. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird
297. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
298. Madonna - Holiday
299. Madonna - Like a Prayer
300. Madonna - Like a Virgin

301. Madonna - Material Girl
302. Mamas and the Papas, The - California Dreamin'
303. Martha & the Vandellas - Dancing in the Street
304. Martha & the Vandellas - Heat Wave
305. Marvelettes, The - Please Mr. Postman
306. Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine
307. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
308. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
309. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
310. Marvin Gaye feat. Tammi Terell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
311. MC5 - Kick out the Jams
312. Metallica - Enter Sandman
313. Metallica - One
314. Michael Jackson - Beat It
315. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
316. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
317. Michael Jackson - Thriller
318. Mickey & Sylvia - Love Is Strange
319. Miracles, The - Shop Around
320. Miracles, The - Tracks of My Tears
321. Monkees, The - I'm a Believer
322. Moonglows, The - Sincerely
323. Moody Blues, The - Nights in White Satin
324. N.W.A. - Fuck Tha Police
325. Neil Young - Heart of Gold
326. Neil Young - Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
327. Neil Young - Rockin' in the Free World
328. New Order - Blue Monday
329. Nirvana - Come as You Are
330. Nirvana - Heart-Shaped Box
331. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
332. Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky
333. Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa
334. Oasis - Wonderwall
335. Orioles, The - Crying in the Chapel
336. Otis Redding - I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
337. Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
338. Outkast - Hey Ya!
339. Outkast - Ms. Jackson
340. Parliament - Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
341. Paul McCartney & Wings - Band on the Run
342. Pearl Jam - Alive
343. Pearl Jam - Jeremy
344. Penguins - Earth Angel
345. Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman
346. Peter Frampton - Show Me the Way
347. Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
348. Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2
349. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
350. Pink Floyd - Money
351. Pink Floyd - Time
352. Pink Floyd - Wish You Where Here
353. Pixies - Where Is My Mind?
354. Platters, The - The Great Pretender
355. Platters, The - Only You
356. Pointer Sisters, The - I'm So Excited
357. Police, The - Every Breath You Take
358. Police, The - Roxanne
359. Pretenders, The - Brass in Pocket
360. Prince - 1999
361. Prince - Kiss
362. Prince - Little Red Corvette
363. Prince - Purple Rain
364. Prince - Sign 'O' the Times
365. Prince - When Doves Cry
366. Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale
367. Public Enemy - Fight the Power
368. Public Enemy - Rebel Without a Pause
369. Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
370. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
371. Queen - We Are the Champions
372. Queen - We Will Rock You
373. Queen feat. David Bowie - Under Pressure
374. R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
375. R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
376. R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe
377. Radiohead - Creep
378. Radiohead - Paranoid Android
379. Ramones, The - Blitzkrieg Bop
380. Ray Charles - Georgia on My Mind
381. Ray Charles - Hit the Road, Jack
382. Ray Charles - I Got a Woman
383. Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You
384. Ray Charles - What'd I Say?
385. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
386. Rick James - Super Freak
387. Ricky Nelson - Hello, Mary Lou
388. Righteous Brothers, The - Unchained Melody
389. Righteous Brothers, The - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
390. Ritchie Valens - La Bamba
391. Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly (With His Song)
392. Roberta Flack - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face
393. Rod Stewart - Maggie May
394. Rolling Stones, The - Brown Sugar
395. Rolling Stones, The - Gimme Shelter
396. Rolling Stones, The - Honky Tonk Women
397. Rolling Stones, The - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
398. Rolling Stones, The - Jumpin' Jack Flash
399. Rolling Stones, The - Paint It, Black
400. Rolling Stones, The - Sympathy for the Devil

401. Rolling Stones, The - You Can't Always Get What You Want
402. Ronettes, The - Be My Baby
403. Roy Orbison - Crying
404. Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman
405. Roy Orbison - Only the Lonely
406. Run D.M.C. - It's Like That
407. Run D.M.C. - Rock Box
408. Run D.M.C. - Sucker MC's
409. Run D.M.C. feat. Aerosmith - Walk This Way
410. Ruth Brown - (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean
411. Salt-N-Pepa - Push It
412. Sam & Dave - Hold on, I'm Comin'
413. Sam & Dave - Soul Man
414. Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come
415. Sam Cooke - Bring It on Home to Me
416. Sam Cooke - Wonderful World
417. Sam Cooke - You Send Me
418. Santana - Black Magic Woman
419. Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell on You
420. Sex Pistols, The - Anarchy in the U.K.
421. Sex Pistols, The - God Save the Queen
422. Shadows, The - Apache
423. Shangri-Las, The - Leader of the Pack
424. Shirelles, The - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
425. Shirley & Lee - Let the Good Times Roll
426. Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge over Troubled Water
427. Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson
428. Simon & Garfunkel - The Sounds of Silence
429. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
430. Sly and the Family Stone - Dance to the Music
431. Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People
432. Sly and the Family Stone - I Want to Take You Higher
433. Sly and the Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
434. Smashing Pumpkins, The - 1979
435. Smiths, The - How Soon Is Now?
436. Soft Cell - Tainted Love
437. Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe
438. Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
439. Spencer Davis Group - Gimme Some Lovin'
440. Staple Singers,The - I'll Take You There
441. Steely Dan - Do It Again
442. Steppenwolf - Born to Be Wild
443. Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride
444. Steve Miller Band - The Joker
445. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground
446. Stevie Wonder - I Wish
447. Stevie Wonder - Living for the City
448. Stevie Wonder - Superstition
449. Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)
450. Stevie Wonder - You Are the Sunshine of My Life
451. Stone Roses, The - Fool's Gold
452. Stooges, The - Search and Destroy
453. Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
454. Supremes, The - Baby Love
455. Supremes, The - Stop! In the Name of Love
456. Supremes, The - Where Did Our Love Go
457. Supremes, The - You Keep Me Hangin' On
458. Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
459. Talking Heads - Burning Down the House
460. Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
461. Temptations, The - Just My Imagination
462. Temptations, The - My Girl
463. Temptations, The - Papa Was a Rolling Stone
464. Them - Gloria
465. Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back in Town
466. Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do With It?
467. TLC - Waterfalls
468. Tommy James & the Shondells - Crimson & Clover
469. Tommy James & the Shondells - Mony, Mony
470. Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
471. T-Rex - (Bang a Gong) Get It On
472. Troggs - Wild Thing
473. U2 - One
474. U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)
475. U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
476. U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name
477. U2 - With or Without You
478. Van Halen - Jump
479. Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
480. Van Morrison - Moondance
481. Van Morrison - Wild Night
482. Velvet Underground - Heroin
483. Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane
484. Verve, The - Bitter Sweet Symphony
485. Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
486. War - Low Rider
487. White Stripes, The - Seven Nation Army
488. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
489. Who, The - Baba O'Riley
490. Who, The - I Can See for Miles
491. Who, The - I Can't Explain
492. Who, The - My Generation
493. Who, The - Pinball Wizard
494. Who, The - Won't Get Fooled Again
495. Wilson Pickett - In the Midnight Hour
496. Wilson Pickett - Land of 1000 Dances
497. Wynonie Harris - Good Rockin' Tonight
498. Yes - Roundabout
499. Zombies, The - She's Not There
500. Zombies, The - Time of The Season

Was this list made in 2000? Jesus.

Very heavily leaning toward's classic rock, nonetheless, the list has a bunch of good songs.

Decent list in my opinion. Respect for the pioneers along with some more modern stuff and a little bit of variety in the genres, interpreting rock broadly rather than narrowly. (i.e. no "nothing rap, R&B or girl group" bans.)

No list will ever be perfect, but I think this is a very good one, albeit they prob should have docked 2-3 songs from elvis (and maybe all of Queens but Bohemian Rhpasody) and gave an extra one to Radiohead (Fake Plastic Trees), The White Stripes (fell in love with a girl), and of course The Velvet Underground (I'm Waiting for the Man). I do have to say though, they seemed to have gotten each artists X bests songs almost perfectly.

I think this is a list that attempts to do exactly what AM does, but from the top of one person's head rather than from a formula based on critics lists. And it's a pretty good job at it.

However, out of curiosity I checked which songs in the AM top 100 that are absent from this list of 500.

45. Gnarls Barkley "Crazy"
62. Massive Attack "Unfinished Sympathy"
69. Franz Ferdinand "Take Me Out"
70. Missy Elliott "Get Ur Freak On"
71. Oasis "Live Forever"
86. Johnny Cash "I Walk the Line"
90. The Specials "Ghost Town"
93. The Smiths "This Charming Man"

It turned out that all the "missing" songs are among my personal favourites!

I understand that this list has a decade slant, but then how does Johnny Cash not make it?