Top 500 Song: "Light My Fire" by the Doors

We began putting this music special together in the 1980's, and have updated it several times, the last one being published in 1999.  Someday we'll publish it again (it takes considerable work to do it right), but in the meantime, Inside The Rock Era will feature songs periodically that are safely members of The Top 500 Songs Club*.

The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* (1955-2013) features a complex formula to compute the Top 500 Songs* from a database composed of now over 12,000 entries that either made the Top 10 at some point or have additional strength, be it from longevity, airplay, or album sales.  The formula focus on over 50 variables, but we believe the single factor that makes our list stand out from other lists that don't consider it (at least objectively) is competition.  Specifically, success in numbers (chart position, weeks at #1, weeks in Top 10, etc.) means nothing if the song's competition is not objectively analyzed.

From my background in music and subsequent research, I can tell you that 1967 was one of the best if not the best year in the Rock Era.  Some of the all-time classics come from that year, many of which competed against each other.  In the case of this amazing song, it went up against songs like "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, "Groovin'" by the Rascals, "Windy" by the Association, "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles, and "Ode To Billie Joe" by Bobbie Gentry.  If you were a listener back then, or a student of the Rock Era, you will realize how powerful this last statement is. 

 For those with a good background in the Rock Era, common sense would tell you that this was an amazing period, but when you put all the factors into a mathematical formula, you can really see it.  The strength of each of those songs, plus others out at the time ("Somebody To Love" by Jefferson Airplane, "Little Bit O' Soul" by the Music Explosion, "San Francisco" by Scott McKenzie, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli, "Up-Up And Away" by the 5th Dimension, "I Was Made To Love Her" by Stevie Wonder, and "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum), strengthens and elevates all of the songs in the period, and you see that many of these are far stronger than their simple chart numbers at the time might indicate.

"Light My Fire" was released May 29, 1967, and it took seven weeks to reach the Top 10 and nine to reach #1.  Amidst all that competition, the Doors remained at #1 for three weeks.  Impressive but not mind-blowing numbers.  But you see, it isn't about weeks at #1, but the more pertinent question is:  "What is the quality of other songs out at the time?"  Competition for that #1 spot has never been tougher than it was in June, July and August of 1967.

And it is that competition, plus huge airplay and album sales (now on albums with over 23 million copies sold), that makes "Light My Fire" by the Doors one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*: