No need for apoplexy, m'dear duelling, if one reads the last paragraph as an ironic, tongue-firmly-in-cheek commentary of the oft-insipid choices of the list makers, whom it is claimed are "172 writers and artists, including Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello and k.d. lang."

And I believe Wenner has arrogantly decided that "All Time" began with the birth of his magazine in San Francisco.

"I Only Have Eyes"--another choice made in extraordinarily good taste!

I was also thinking of the 50s R & B doo wop & ballad genres--classics like Little Anthony and the Imperials "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurts So Bad". Or Ray Charles' "Georgia".

As to the Motown "choice" of a song that embodies the era and the sound, I'd have a hard time with that one too. "My Girl"? "Tracks of My Tears"?

Or howzabout rockabilly? How can this list not acknowledge the uniquely American influences on 60s rock fer chrissake, like Little Richard, Lefty Frizell, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, "Hey Bo Diddley"...Not just the Stax stuff but Memphis Sun, and a whole lotta other stuff.

Or even the rockabilly/country pop crossover sorts of stuff like Johnny Rivers' "Memphis" or "Mountain of Love" or "Poor Side of Town"?