WATERMARK ON THE WEB: AMERICAN TOP 40 - Giants Of Rock and Roll Special

GIANTS OF ROCK AND ROLL

(The most influential people and acts of the rock era based on a poll of DJs)

Broadcast Fourth Of July Weekend 1986 (5 July 1986)

(16th Anniversary Show)

Artist Reason included Song(s) played

1 The Beatles The rock eras most successful group, act, and British act. 20 #1 singles. Many rock era records thay may never be broken. Possibly the most influential act of the rock era. I Want To Hold Your Hand and A Day In the Life

2 Elvis Presley The rock eras most successful solo act. 18 #1 singles. 148 charted singles. Hound Dog and Suspicious Minds

3 The Rolling Stones After the Beatles, the most successful British act. Still superstars well into the 80s. Jumpin' Jack Flash and Miss You

4 Stevie Wonder One of Motown's most successful acts. Regarded as rocks most innovative artist and songwriter. Fingertips (Part 2), Superstition and Part-Time Lover

5 Chuck Berry The 2nd act after Bill Haley to hit the charts with a rock and roll single in 1955. Wrote dozens of songs now regarded as classics. Successful career well into the 80s. Maybellene

6 Bruce Springsteen One of the most successful acts of the 80s. Born To Run album considered a classic. Born In the US.A.

7 Elton John The most successful act of the 70s. Continued success in the 80s. First artist ever to debut at #1 on the album chart. Sad Songs (Say So Much)

8 Paul McCartney Half of the rock eras most successful songwriting team. The ex-Beatle with the most successful solo career including 9 #1 singles. Coming Up (Live At Glasgow) by Paul McCartney and Wings and Yesterday by the Beatles

9 The Beach Boys One of the rock eras most successful acts. Trademark sound. Medley of Several Songs and Good Vibrations

10 Buddy Holly/The Crickets Possibly the most influential rock act of the 50s. Set several trends including writing their own material. That'll Be the Day

11 John Lennon Half of the rock eras most successful songwriting team. Innovative artists as a solo artist. Imagine

12 Chicago Pioneers in the jazz-rock sound. 5 #1 albums. Successful act in the 70s and in the 80s. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Old Days and You're the Inspiration

13 Creedence Clearwater Revival Pioneers of the country/rock or Southern/rock sound. Many songs recorded now standards. Had a record setting 5 #2 singles without ever hitting #1. Suzie Q (Part 1) and Bad Moon Rising

14 The Eagles The most successful of the Country Rock bands formed in late 60s/early 70s. Highly influentialy. Albums sell consistantly even today. Take It Easy and Hotel California

15 Bob Dylan Possibly the rock eras most influential and successful songwriter. Also had several hit albums and singles. Many of his songs are now folk rock standards. Like a Rolling Stone

16 The Who Several hit singles and albums. Includes the landmark rock opera concept album of Tommy. Won't Get Fooled Again

17 The Doors One of the rock eras most influential groups. Light My Fire

18 Lionel Richie Lead singer of the Commodores and successful solo artist. Wrote dozens of songs including many big hits for other artists. All Night Long (All Night)

19 Led Zeppelin One of the rock eras most successful album acts. 6 #1 albums. Many songs have become rock classics. Stairway To Heaven

20 James Brown The R&B charts most successful act. Over 100 charted singles. The godfather of soul. Living In America

21 The Supremes/Diana Ross and the Supremes Rock eras most successful American group with 13 #1 singles. Motown's most successful act. Where Did Our Love Go, Love Child and Someday We'll Be Together

22 Eric Clapton Possibly the rock eras more successful guitarist. Member of many legendary groups and recorded several successful albums and singles. Layla by Derek and the Dominos and I Shot the Sheriff

23 Jimi Hendrix Legendary psychedelic and blues artist. Purple Haze by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

24 Billy Joel Highly influential singer and songwriter. Many of his singles and albums are classics. My Life

25 Simon and Garfunkel Duo wrote and recorded many influential singles and albums. 19 charted singles and 8 charted albums. The Bridge Over Troubled Water album holds the record for the most grammys won by an album. The Sounds of Silence

26 Michael Jackson Member of the most successful "teen" group. As a solo artist responsible for the biggest selling ablum of all time with Thriller. I Want You Back by the Jackson 5 and Beat It

27 Bill Haley and His Comets Responsible for the first big rock and roll hit in 1955, making its sound acceptable to a much wider audience. (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock

28 Little Richard One of the rock eras first and most influential artists. Wrote and recorded dozens of classics. Good Golly Miss Molly

29 Quincy Jones One of the Rock eras most successful producers beginning with Lesley Gore in the 60s. Produced Michael Jackson's Thriller album. We Are the World by USA For Africa

30 Daryl Hall and John Oates Most successful of the blue-eyed soul acts. Most successful duo of all time. Out Of Touch

31 Fleetwood Mac Evolved from a blues rock act of the late 60s to one of the most successful singles and albums acts ever in the 70s and 80s. The Rumours album is one of the most successful of all time. Dreams

32 Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship The most successful of the psychedelic rock groups of the late 60s. Went on to change styles and have more hits in the 70s and 80s. Somebody To Love by Jefferson Airplane and We Built This City By Starship

33 Marvin Gaye One of Motown's most successful artists including 56 charted singles. I Heard It Through the Grapevine

34 Ray Charles One of the trend setters of the rock era with several songs that have become standards. What'd I Say (Part 1)

35 Prince One of the most successful artists of the 80s. He also has written and produced many songs for other artists. When Doves Cry

36 Mick Jagger Lead singer of the Rolling Stones. Half of its songwriting and producing team (along with Keith Richards). Harlem Shuffle by the Rolling Stones

37 David Bowie First and most successful of the glamour rock starts of the late 60s/early 70s. Continued to be a trend setter in rock music in the 80s. Let's Dance

38 Jerry Lee Lewis One of the first Rock and roll artist of the 50s. 18 charted singles. Highly influential. Great Balls Of Fire

39 Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland Motown's most famous and prolific songwriting team of the 60s. Wrote several #1 singles for the label. I Can't Help Myself by the Four Tops

40 Pink Floyd 15 charted albums and 3 charted singles. Most notable for the "Dark Side Of the Moon" album which was still charting after 14 years. Another Brick In the Wall (Part 2)

First special countdown in 3 years (since 1983). When the idea returned, it returned with a totally new concept. By polling DJs, the countdown attempted to chart the rock eras most influential people, whether artists, writers or producers. The rankings were purely subjective.

At last "Stairway To Heaven" by Led Zeppelin is featured in an AT40 countdown! It never made the charts when released in 1972 off the Led Zeppelin (IV) album since it was never released commerically as a single. So as a result AT40 never played it. Here at last it was.

Back to the Special Countdowns page

	Artist	Reason included	Song(s) played
1	The Beatles	The rock eras most successful group, act, and British act. 20 #1 singles. Many rock era records thay may never be broken. Possibly the most influential act of the rock era.	I Want To Hold Your Hand and A Day In the Life
2	Elvis Presley	The rock eras most successful solo act. 18 #1 singles. 148 charted singles.	Hound Dog and Suspicious Minds
3	The Rolling Stones	After the Beatles, the most successful British act. Still superstars well into the 80s.	Jumpin' Jack Flash and Miss You
4	Stevie Wonder	One of Motown's most successful acts. Regarded as rocks most innovative artist and songwriter.	Fingertips (Part 2), Superstition and Part-Time Lover
5	Chuck Berry	The 2nd act after Bill Haley to hit the charts with a rock and roll single in 1955. Wrote dozens of songs now regarded as classics. Successful career well into the 80s.	Maybellene
6	Bruce Springsteen	One of the most successful acts of the 80s. Born To Run album considered a classic.	Born In the US.A.
7	Elton John	The most successful act of the 70s. Continued success in the 80s. First artist ever to debut at #1 on the album chart.	Sad Songs (Say So Much)
8	Paul McCartney	Half of the rock eras most successful songwriting team. The ex-Beatle with the most successful solo career including 9 #1 singles.	Coming Up (Live At Glasgow) by Paul McCartney and Wings and Yesterday by the Beatles
9	The Beach Boys	One of the rock eras most successful acts. Trademark sound.	Medley of Several Songs and Good Vibrations
10	Buddy Holly/The Crickets	Possibly the most influential rock act of the 50s. Set several trends including writing their own material.	That'll Be the Day
11	John Lennon	Half of the rock eras most successful songwriting team. Innovative artists as a solo artist.	Imagine
12	Chicago	Pioneers in the jazz-rock sound. 5 #1 albums. Successful act in the 70s and in the 80s.	Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is, Old Days and You're the Inspiration
13	Creedence Clearwater Revival	Pioneers of the country/rock or Southern/rock sound. Many songs recorded now standards. Had a record setting 5 #2 singles without ever hitting #1.	Suzie Q (Part 1) and Bad Moon Rising
14	The Eagles	The most successful of the Country Rock bands formed in late 60s/early 70s. Highly influentialy. Albums sell consistantly even today.	Take It Easy and Hotel California
15	Bob Dylan	Possibly the rock eras most influential and successful songwriter. Also had several hit albums and singles. Many of his songs are now folk rock standards.	Like a Rolling Stone
16	The Who	Several hit singles and albums. Includes the landmark rock opera concept album of Tommy.	Won't Get Fooled Again
17	The Doors	One of the rock eras most influential groups.	Light My Fire
18	Lionel Richie	Lead singer of the Commodores and successful solo artist. Wrote dozens of songs including many big hits for other artists.	All Night Long (All Night)
19	Led Zeppelin	One of the rock eras most successful album acts. 6 #1 albums. Many songs have become rock classics.	Stairway To Heaven
20	James Brown	The R&B charts most successful act. Over 100 charted singles. The godfather of soul.	Living In America
21	The Supremes/Diana Ross and the Supremes	Rock eras most successful American group with 13 #1 singles. Motown's most successful act.	Where Did Our Love Go, Love Child and Someday We'll Be Together
22	Eric Clapton	Possibly the rock eras more successful guitarist. Member of many legendary groups and recorded several successful albums and singles.	Layla by Derek and the Dominos and I Shot the Sheriff
23	Jimi Hendrix	Legendary psychedelic and blues artist.	Purple Haze by the Jimi Hendrix Experience
24	Billy Joel	Highly influential singer and songwriter. Many of his singles and albums are classics.	My Life
25	Simon and Garfunkel	Duo wrote and recorded many influential singles and albums. 19 charted singles and 8 charted albums. The Bridge Over Troubled Water album holds the record for the most grammys won by an album.	The Sounds of Silence
26	Michael Jackson	Member of the most successful "teen" group. As a solo artist responsible for the biggest selling ablum of all time with Thriller.	I Want You Back by the Jackson 5 and Beat It
27	Bill Haley and His Comets	Responsible for the first big rock and roll hit in 1955, making its sound acceptable to a much wider audience.	(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock
28	Little Richard	One of the rock eras first and most influential artists. Wrote and recorded dozens of classics.	Good Golly Miss Molly
29	Quincy Jones	One of the Rock eras most successful producers beginning with Lesley Gore in the 60s. Produced Michael Jackson's Thriller album.	We Are the World by USA For Africa
30	Daryl Hall and John Oates	Most successful of the blue-eyed soul acts. Most successful duo of all time.	Out Of Touch
31	Fleetwood Mac	Evolved from a blues rock act of the late 60s to one of the most successful singles and albums acts ever in the 70s and 80s. The Rumours album is one of the most successful of all time.	Dreams
32	Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship	The most successful of the psychedelic rock groups of the late 60s. Went on to change styles and have more hits in the 70s and 80s.	Somebody To Love by Jefferson Airplane and We Built This City By Starship
33	Marvin Gaye	One of Motown's most successful artists including 56 charted singles.	I Heard It Through the Grapevine
34	Ray Charles	One of the trend setters of the rock era with several songs that have become standards.	What'd I Say (Part 1)
35	Prince	One of the most successful artists of the 80s. He also has written and produced many songs for other artists.	When Doves Cry
36	Mick Jagger	Lead singer of the Rolling Stones. Half of its songwriting and producing team (along with Keith Richards).	Harlem Shuffle by the Rolling Stones
37	David Bowie	First and most successful of the glamour rock starts of the late 60s/early 70s. Continued to be a trend setter in rock music in the 80s.	Let's Dance
38	Jerry Lee Lewis	One of the first Rock and roll artist of the 50s. 18 charted singles. Highly influential.	Great Balls Of Fire
39	Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland	Motown's most famous and prolific songwriting team of the 60s. Wrote several #1 singles for the label.	I Can't Help Myself by the Four Tops
40	Pink Floyd	15 charted albums and 3 charted singles. Most notable for the "Dark Side Of the Moon" album which was still charting after 14 years.	Another Brick In the Wall (Part 2)