Rock.

So one side effect of proctoring exams is you can't read a book or use your computer. As it is exam season here in Connecticut that leaves me lots of bored time, in which I make lists, to keep me from falling asleep. (The rooms are small, as is the number of students - so strenuous proctoring isn't required.)

Here are 100 essential songs to understand rock n roll.

1.       1949 – Saturday Night Fish Fry – Louis Jordan

2.       1952 – Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley

3.       1954 – That’s All Right – Elvis Presley

4.       1955 – Maybellene – Chuck Berry

5.       1956 – Long Tall Sally – Little Richard

6.       1956 – I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash

7.       1957 – Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis

8.       1957 – Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers

9.       1958 – Lonesome Town – Ricky Nelson

10.   1958 – What’d I Say – Ray Charles

11.   1958 – Well All Right – Buddy Holly

12.   1960 – Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino

13.   1961 – Mama Said – The Shirelles

14.   1962 – Up on the Roof – The Drifters

15.   1962 – Autumn to May – Peter, Paul and Mary

16.   1963 – Be My Baby – The Ronettes

17.   1963 – Louie Louie – The Kingsmen

18.   1964 – My Girl – Temptations

19.   1964 – A Change Is Gonna Come – Sam Cooke

20.   1965 – Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

21.   1965 – Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag – James Brown

22.   1965 – Going to a Go-Go – Smokey Robinson

23.   1965 – My Generation – The Who

24.   1965 – California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas

25.   1965 – I Ain’t Marching Anymore – Phil Ochs

26.   1965 – Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan

27.   1966 – Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

28.   1966 – Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles

29.   1966 – Scarborough Fair/Canticle – Simon and Garfunkel

30.   1966 – Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops

31.   1966 – You Keep Me Hangin’ On – The Supremes

32.   1966 – Trouble Every Day – The Mothers of Invention

33.   1967 – For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield

34.   1967 – Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson

35.   1967 – Respect – Aretha Franklin

36.   1967 – The End – The Doors

37.   1967 – European Son – Velvet Underground

38.   1968 – All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix

39.   1968 – (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding

40.   1968 – Beside You – Van Morrison

41.   1968 – Everyday People – Sly and the Family Stone

42.   1968 – Troubadour (Live) – Tim Buckley

43.   1969 – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band

44.   1969 – Christine’s Tune – The Flying Burrito Brothers

45.   1969 – Neon Meate Dream of a Octafish – Captain Beefheart

46.   1969 – Shangri-La – The Kinks

47.   1969 – Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival

48.   1969 – Turn On Your Love Light (Live) – The Grateful Dead

49.   1970 – Oye Como Va – Santana

50.   1971 – Imagine – John Lennon

51.   1971 – What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye

52.   1971 – Changes – David Bowie

53.   1971 – Layla – Derek and the Dominos

54.   1971 – The Last Time I Saw Richard – Joni Mitchell

55.   1971 – Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin

56.   1971 – Proud Mary – Ike and Tina Turner

57.   1971 – Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

58.   1971 – Hot ‘Lanta (Live) – The Allman Brothers Band

59.   1972 – Superfly – Curtis Mayfield

60.   1972 – Superstition – Stevie Wonder

61.   1972 – Old Man – Neil Young

62.   1973 – Turn the Page – Bob Seger

63.   1973 – Penetration – The Stooges

64.   1975 – Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain – Willie Nelson

65.   1975 – Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

66.   1975 – Birdland – Patti Smith

67.   1976 – Blitzkrieg Bop – Ramones

68.   1976 – Anarchy in the U.K. – Sex Pistols

69.   1976 – Corn Fish Dub – Lee Scratch Perry

70.   1977 – Europe Endless – Kraftwerk

71.   1978 – (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding – Elvis Costello

72.   1978 – 1/1 – Brian Eno

73.   1979 – Life During Wartime – The Talking Heads

74.   1979 – London Calling – The Clash

75.   1980 – Redemption Song – Bob Marley

76.   1980 – Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd

77.   1980 – Shoot to Thrill – AC/DC

78.   1982 – Avalon – Roxy Music

79.   1982 – Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

80.   1982 – The Message – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

81.   1984 – When Doves Cry – Prince

82.   1985 – Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears

83.   1986 – Walk This Way – Run D.M.C. ft. Aerosmith

84.   1986 – Battery – Metallica

85.   1987 – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

86.   1987 – Bring the Noise – Public Enemy

87.   1988 – Fuck Tha Police – N.W.A.

88.   1989 – High Plains Drifter – Beastie Boys

89.   1989 – Like a Prayer – Madonna

90.   1992 – Come As You Are – Nirvana

91.   1994 – Mysterons – Portishead

92.   1995 – California Love – 2Pac

93.   1997 – Paranoid Android – Radiohead

94.   2000 – Big Exit – PJ Harvey

95.   2000 – Stan – Eminem ft. Dido

96.   2001 – Too Long – Daft Punk

97.   2006 – Margaret vs. Pauline – Neko Case

98.   2007 – No Cars Go – Arcade Fire

99.   2007 – Paper Planes – M.I.A.

100.2010 – Lost in the World – Kanye West ft. Bon Iver