Mick Jagger with the Rolling Stones break into the top 20

The Rolling Stones are the highest placed British artists at number 16 for Satisfaction.

Bing Crosby, Woody Guthrie, Aretha Franklin and Don McLean make up the rest of the top five.

"These are songs a lot of people would recognize if they were white, middle-class and old," Bob George, of the Archive of Contemporary Music, said.

"It's a great list for people who go to baseball games."

He called the list "wacky", adding, "When you look at what is important and has influenced other musicians, it is rap, house, electronica and obviously punk."

Punk music and the songs of reggae legend Bob Marley do not feature in the list.

Aretha Franklin's Respect is at number four in the chart

Hilary Rosen, president of the RIAA, said: "Our list represents many different genres throughout all parts of the 20th century. And our hope is that each song will help tell a very different story."

The first remotely contemporary song in the chart is Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It at number 38.

John Lennon's Imagine is at number 30 while U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For is just two places ahead of Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper at number 120.

Back to top

Songs of the Century - Top 20

1. Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
2. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
3. This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
4. Respect - Aretha Franklin
5. American Pie - Don McLean
6. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - The Andrews Sisters
7. West Side Story - Original Cast
8. Take Me Out To The Ball Game - Billy Murray
9. You've Lost That Lovin Feelin' - The Righteous Brothers
10. The Entertainer - Scott Joplin

11. In The Mood - Glenn Miller Orchestra
12 . Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & The Comets
13. When the Saints Go Marching In - Louis Armstrong
14. You Are My Sunshine - Jimmie Davis
15. Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin
16. Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
17. Take the 'A' Train - Duke Ellington Orchestra
18. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
19. God Bless America - Kate Smith
20. Stars and Stripes Forever - Sousa's Band