AC/DC- Back in Black. The tightness of the rhythm with some great solos as well makes it essential listening.
The Beatles- Impossible to name just one. For Lennon at his best, A Day in The Life; McCartney, Hey Jude; Something has to be there; and finally the medley from Abbey Road (although I don't recommend this on an IPOD as it pauses between tracks. Vinyl is the best option for this.)
David Bowie- Changes & Ziggy Stardust. Two sides of a genius.
Beach Boys- Good Vibrations. Absolute masterpiece.
Aerosmith- Sweet Emotion. I'm not a big fan, but this song is rock 101.
Beck- Where it's at. History will see him as very important.
Black Sabbath- War Pigs. Inspired legions of guitarists and it has Ozzy.
Blur- Park Life. They were the best band to come out of the Britpop scene. This song captures the movement at its best.
Bob Dylan- Again it's impossible to choose just one. I'll go for Like A Rolling Stone, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Tangled up in Blue. Each song is genre defining.
The Cars- My Best Friend's Girl. This one never ages.
The Clash- London Calling. The best punk band. Title song from their best album.
Cream- White Room. Shows why Clapton was important.
CCR- Born on The Bayou. Captures the full range of John Fogarty's southern fantasy world.
The Doors- Light My Fire. By no means my favourite, but the best place to start with this band.
Hotel California- Very good songwriting from an overrated band.
Elton John- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. He was the king of the early-to-mid '70s and this song shows why.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions- I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea. Captures his anger perfectly and showcases the best backing band ever.
Grateful Dead- Casey Jones. Their most accessible song.
Jimi Hendrix- Are you Experienced?, Purple Haze
Led Zeppelin- Dazed and Confused, Black Dog, Stairway to Heaven.
Lou Reed & Velvet Underground- Walk on The Wild Side, Sweet Jane
Lynyrd Skynyrd- Sweet Home Alabama. Even Neil Young liked it.
Joni Mitchell- A Case of You. The template for confessional songwriting.
Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden- Smells Like Teen Spirit, Alive, Jesus Christ Pose. Whether you bought into the whole grunge thing or not, this is what the kids were listening to back then.
Pink Floyd- Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts I-IV). Floyd in all its glory.
The Police- Every Little Thing She Does. Sting harnessed his pretentions for this one.
Radiohead- Paranoid Android. The best song of the 90's.
Rolling Stones- Gimme Shelter, Sympathy for The Devil, Jumping Jack Flash. There are so many more, but these are a good place to start.
U2- With or Without You.
Stevie Wonder- Living For The City, Superstition, I Believe
Scott Walker- Angels of Ashes. If you're teaching a rock 101 class, you need to highlight the influential musicians as well as the popular ones.
The Who- Baba O'Reilly, Pinball Wizard, I Can See For Miles
Neil Young- Old Man, After The Goldrush, Hey, Hey, My, My.
I'm sure I've missed many, but those are the ones that immediately came to me.
