100 Greatest Rock Debut Singles
Criteria: These debut singles were chosen and ranked based upon their initial and lasting popularity and their impact and influence on rock 'n' roll and its related genres. Also taken into account is the fact that singles were much more significant in the early days of rock 'n' roll, and have been diminishing in importance since the late 1960s, to the point where the single is not very significant at all in the modern era.
Rock Debut Singles
1. Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley / I'm A Man - 1955
2. Chuck Berry
Maybellene / Wee Wee Hours - 1955
3. Sugarhill Gang
Rapper's Delight - 1979
4. Sex Pistols
Anarchy In The U.K. - 1976
5. Kingsmen
Louie Louie - 1963
Bo Diddley / I'm A Man - 1955
2. Chuck Berry
Maybellene / Wee Wee Hours - 1955
3. Sugarhill Gang
Rapper's Delight - 1979
4. Sex Pistols
Anarchy In The U.K. - 1976
5. Kingsmen
Louie Louie - 1963
6. Percy Sledge
When A Man Loves A Woman - 1966
7. James Brown
Please, Please, Please - 1956
8. Elvis Presley
That's All Right / Blue Moon Of Kentucky - 1954
9. Procol Harum
Whiter Shade Of Pale - 1967
10. Booker T. & the MG's
Green Onions - 1962
11. Jerry Butler & the Impressions
For Your Precious Love - 1958
12. Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
Be-Bop-A-Lula / Woman Love -1956
13. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
Why Do Fools Fall In Love - 1955
14. Lloyd Price
Lawdy Miss Clawdy / Mailman Blues - 1952
15. Ramones
Blitzkrieg Bop - 1976
16. Mamas & Papas
California Dreamin' - 1965
17. Zombies
She's Not There - 1964
18. Little Eva
The Loco-Motion - 1962
19. Chords
Sh-Boom - 1954
20. Drifters
Money Honey - 1953
21. Boston
More Than A Feeling - 1976
22. Lovin' Spoonful
Do You Believe In Magic - 1965
23. R.E.M.
Radio Free Europe - 1981
24. Del-Vikings
Come Go With Me - 1956
25. Jackie Brenston
Rocket 88 - 1951
26. Count Five
Psychotic Reaction - 1966
27. Box Tops
The Letter - 1967
28. ? & the Mysterians
96 Tears - 1966
29. Del Shannon
Runaway - 1961
30. Orioles
It's Too Soon To Know - 1948
31. Skyliners
Since I Don't Have You - 1958
32. Danny & the Juniors
At The Hop - 1957
33. Fats Domino
The Fat Man / Detroit City Blues - 1950
34. Aerosmith
Dream On - 1973
35. B-52's
Rock Lobster - 1978
36. Silhouettes
Get A Job - 1957
37. Monotones
Book Of Love - 1957
38. The Knack
My Sharona - 1979
39. Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Relax - 1983
40. The Clash
White Riot - 1977
41. Dire Straits
Sultans Of Swing - 1978
42. Bad Company
Can't Get Enough - 1974
43. McCoys
Hang On Sloopy - 1965
44. Champs
Tequila - 1958
45. Tracy Chapman
Fast Car - 1988
46. Cars
Just What I Needed - 1978
47. Bill Withers
Ain't No Sunshine - 1971
48. Eagles
Take It Easy - 1972
49. Jackson Browne
Doctor My Eyes - 1972
50. John Lee Hooker
Boogie Chillen - 1948
51. Van Halen
You Really Got Me - 1978
52. Showmen
It Will Stand - 1961
53. Marvelettes
Please Mr. Postman - 1961
54. Vanilla Fudge
You Keep Me Hangin' On - 1967
55. Etta James
The Wallflower - 1955
56. Ritchie Valens
Come On Let's Go - 1958
57. Slim Harpo
I'm A King Bee / Got Love If You Want It - 1957
58. Elmore James
Dust My Broom - 1951
59. Howlin' Wolf
How Many More Years / Moaning At Midnight - 1951
60. Doors
Break On Through - 1967
61. Lonnie Donegan
Rock Island Line - 1955
62. Marcels
Blue Moon - 1961
63. Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues - 1968
64. Deep Purple
Hush - 1968
65. Lorde - Royals - 2013
66. Mar-Keys
Last Night - 1961
67. Gary U.S. Bonds
New Orleans - 1960
68. Britney Spears
...Baby One More Time - 1998
69. Nazz
Hello It's Me / Open My Eyes - 1968
70. Chairmen Of The Board
Give Me Just A Little More Time - 1969
71. Tymes
So Much In Love - 1963
72. Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters
Cry Baby - 1963
73. Led Zeppelin
Good Times, Bad Times / Communication Breakdown - 1969
74. Lesley Gore
It's My Party - 1963
75. Thunderclap Newman
Something In The Air - 1969
76. Heart
Magic Man - 1976
77. Los Bravos
Black Is Black - 1966
78. Left Banke
Walk Away Renee - 1966
79. Shadows Of Knight
Gloria - 1966
80. Music Machine
Talk Talk - 1966
81. Janis Ian
Society's Child - 1966
82. Strawberry Alarm Clock
Incense And Peppermints - 1967
83. Monkees
Last Train To Clarksville - 1966
84. Jimi Hendrix
Hey Joe - 1966
85. Friends Of Distinction
Grazing In The Grass - 1969
86. Steam
Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) - 1969
87. Clarence "Frogman" Henry
Ain't Got No Home - 1956
88. America
A Horse With No Name - 1971
89. Yazoo
Only You / Situation - 1982
90. Chantays
Pipeline - 1963
91. Honeycombs
Have I The Right - 1964
92. Dixie Cups
Chapel Of Love - 1964
93. Teddy Bears
To Know Him Is To Love Him - 1958
94. Donovan
Catch The Wind - 1965
95. Harry Chapin
Taxi - 1972
96. Joe Jackson
Is She Really Going Out With Him? - 1978
97. Duprees
You Belong To Me - 1962
98. Dionne Warwick
Don't Make Me Over - 1962
99. Beach Boys
Surfin' - 1961
100. Jive Five
My True Story - 1961
When A Man Loves A Woman - 1966
7. James Brown
Please, Please, Please - 1956
8. Elvis Presley
That's All Right / Blue Moon Of Kentucky - 1954
9. Procol Harum
Whiter Shade Of Pale - 1967
10. Booker T. & the MG's
Green Onions - 1962
11. Jerry Butler & the Impressions
For Your Precious Love - 1958
12. Gene Vincent & the Bluecaps
Be-Bop-A-Lula / Woman Love -1956
13. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
Why Do Fools Fall In Love - 1955
14. Lloyd Price
Lawdy Miss Clawdy / Mailman Blues - 1952
15. Ramones
Blitzkrieg Bop - 1976
16. Mamas & Papas
California Dreamin' - 1965
17. Zombies
She's Not There - 1964
18. Little Eva
The Loco-Motion - 1962
19. Chords
Sh-Boom - 1954
20. Drifters
Money Honey - 1953
21. Boston
More Than A Feeling - 1976
22. Lovin' Spoonful
Do You Believe In Magic - 1965
23. R.E.M.
Radio Free Europe - 1981
24. Del-Vikings
Come Go With Me - 1956
25. Jackie Brenston
Rocket 88 - 1951
26. Count Five
Psychotic Reaction - 1966
27. Box Tops
The Letter - 1967
28. ? & the Mysterians
96 Tears - 1966
29. Del Shannon
Runaway - 1961
30. Orioles
It's Too Soon To Know - 1948
31. Skyliners
Since I Don't Have You - 1958
32. Danny & the Juniors
At The Hop - 1957
33. Fats Domino
The Fat Man / Detroit City Blues - 1950
34. Aerosmith
Dream On - 1973
35. B-52's
Rock Lobster - 1978
36. Silhouettes
Get A Job - 1957
37. Monotones
Book Of Love - 1957
38. The Knack
My Sharona - 1979
39. Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Relax - 1983
40. The Clash
White Riot - 1977
41. Dire Straits
Sultans Of Swing - 1978
42. Bad Company
Can't Get Enough - 1974
43. McCoys
Hang On Sloopy - 1965
44. Champs
Tequila - 1958
45. Tracy Chapman
Fast Car - 1988
46. Cars
Just What I Needed - 1978
47. Bill Withers
Ain't No Sunshine - 1971
48. Eagles
Take It Easy - 1972
49. Jackson Browne
Doctor My Eyes - 1972
50. John Lee Hooker
Boogie Chillen - 1948
51. Van Halen
You Really Got Me - 1978
52. Showmen
It Will Stand - 1961
53. Marvelettes
Please Mr. Postman - 1961
54. Vanilla Fudge
You Keep Me Hangin' On - 1967
55. Etta James
The Wallflower - 1955
56. Ritchie Valens
Come On Let's Go - 1958
57. Slim Harpo
I'm A King Bee / Got Love If You Want It - 1957
58. Elmore James
Dust My Broom - 1951
59. Howlin' Wolf
How Many More Years / Moaning At Midnight - 1951
60. Doors
Break On Through - 1967
61. Lonnie Donegan
Rock Island Line - 1955
62. Marcels
Blue Moon - 1961
63. Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues - 1968
64. Deep Purple
Hush - 1968
65. Lorde - Royals - 2013
66. Mar-Keys
Last Night - 1961
67. Gary U.S. Bonds
New Orleans - 1960
68. Britney Spears
...Baby One More Time - 1998
69. Nazz
Hello It's Me / Open My Eyes - 1968
70. Chairmen Of The Board
Give Me Just A Little More Time - 1969
71. Tymes
So Much In Love - 1963
72. Garnet Mimms & the Enchanters
Cry Baby - 1963
73. Led Zeppelin
Good Times, Bad Times / Communication Breakdown - 1969
74. Lesley Gore
It's My Party - 1963
75. Thunderclap Newman
Something In The Air - 1969
76. Heart
Magic Man - 1976
77. Los Bravos
Black Is Black - 1966
78. Left Banke
Walk Away Renee - 1966
79. Shadows Of Knight
Gloria - 1966
80. Music Machine
Talk Talk - 1966
81. Janis Ian
Society's Child - 1966
82. Strawberry Alarm Clock
Incense And Peppermints - 1967
83. Monkees
Last Train To Clarksville - 1966
84. Jimi Hendrix
Hey Joe - 1966
85. Friends Of Distinction
Grazing In The Grass - 1969
86. Steam
Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) - 1969
87. Clarence "Frogman" Henry
Ain't Got No Home - 1956
88. America
A Horse With No Name - 1971
89. Yazoo
Only You / Situation - 1982
90. Chantays
Pipeline - 1963
91. Honeycombs
Have I The Right - 1964
92. Dixie Cups
Chapel Of Love - 1964
93. Teddy Bears
To Know Him Is To Love Him - 1958
94. Donovan
Catch The Wind - 1965
95. Harry Chapin
Taxi - 1972
96. Joe Jackson
Is She Really Going Out With Him? - 1978
97. Duprees
You Belong To Me - 1962
98. Dionne Warwick
Don't Make Me Over - 1962
99. Beach Boys
Surfin' - 1961
100. Jive Five
My True Story - 1961
Honerable Mentions
Dee Dee Sharp
Mashed Potato Time - 1962
Peter & Gordon
A World Without Love - 1964
Beau Brummels
Laugh, Laugh - 1964
Foundations
Baby, Now That I've Found You - 1967
Herman's Hermits
I'm Into Something Good - 1964
Irma Thomas
Don't Mess With My Man - 1959
James & Bobby Purify
I'm Your Puppet - 1966
Mary Wells
Bye Bye Baby - 1960
Nashville Teens
Tobacco Road - 1964
Roxy Music
Virginia Plain - 1972
Otis Rush
I Can't Quit You Baby / Sit Down Baby - 1956
Randy & the Rainbows
Denise - 1963
Traffic
Paper Sun - 1967
Young Rascals
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore - 1965
Mungo Jerry
In The Summertime - 1970
Mashed Potato Time - 1962
Peter & Gordon
A World Without Love - 1964
Beau Brummels
Laugh, Laugh - 1964
Foundations
Baby, Now That I've Found You - 1967
Herman's Hermits
I'm Into Something Good - 1964
Irma Thomas
Don't Mess With My Man - 1959
James & Bobby Purify
I'm Your Puppet - 1966
Mary Wells
Bye Bye Baby - 1960
Nashville Teens
Tobacco Road - 1964
Roxy Music
Virginia Plain - 1972
Otis Rush
I Can't Quit You Baby / Sit Down Baby - 1956
Randy & the Rainbows
Denise - 1963
Traffic
Paper Sun - 1967
Young Rascals
I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore - 1965
Mungo Jerry
In The Summertime - 1970
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Edited By: Bruce
Last Updated: 2021-11-12
Newly added names are in Red
Last Updated: 2021-11-12
Newly added names are in Red