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50 Songs for 50 Years

MPR's 50th Anniversary

The Current is celebrating 50 years of Minnesota Public Radio and 50 years of amazing music. On Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017 — the 50th anniversary of MPR — join Mac Wilson from 1 to 5 p.m. Mac reflects on some of the most influential, popular and groundbreaking music from 1967 to now — one song from each year.

It's 50 songs for 50 years.

Celebrate MPR's 50th anniversary with music that shaped the last half-century.

  1. 1967

    The Beatles: A Day in the Life

    A Day in the Life

    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
    The Beatles

  2. 1968

    Otis Redding: Sittin on the Dock of the Bay

    Sittin on the Dock of the Bay

    The Dock of the Bay
    Otis Redding

  3. 1969

    The Velvet Underground: Pale Blue Eyes

    Pale Blue Eyes

    The Velvet Underground
    The Velvet Underground

  4. 1970

    James Brown: Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Pt. 1

    Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine, Pt. 1

    Sex Machine
    James Brown

  5. 1971

    Joni Mitchell: River

    River

    Blue
    Joni Mitchell

  6. 1972

    The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice

    Tumbling Dice

    Exile on Main Street
    The Rolling Stones

  7. 1973

    Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On

    Let's Get It On

    Let's Get It On
    Marvin Gaye

  8. 1974

    Kraftwerk: Autobahn

    Autobahn

    Autobahn
    Kraftwerk

  9. 1975

    Bob Dylan: Tangled Up in Blue

    Tangled Up in Blue

    Blood on the Tracks
    Bob Dylan

  10. 1976

    Stevie Wonder: Sir Duke

    Sir Duke

    Songs in the Key of Life
    Stevie Wonder

  11. 1977

    Sex Pistols: God Save the Queen

    God Save the Queen

    Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
    Sex Pistols

  12. 1978

    Blondie: Heart of Glass

    Heart of Glass

    Parallel Lines
    Blondie

  13. 1979

    The Clash: London Calling

    London Calling

    London Calling
    The Clash

  14. 1980

    Talking Heads: Once in a Lifetime

    Once in a Lifetime

    Remain in Light
    Talking Heads

  15. 1981

    The Go Go's: We Got the Beat

    We Got the Beat

    Beauty and the Beat
    The Go Go's

  16. 1982

    Michael Jackson: Billie Jean

    Billie Jean

    Thriller
    Michael Jackson

  17. 1983

    U2: Sunday Bloody Sunday

    Sunday Bloody Sunday

    War
    U2

  18. 1984

    Prince: Purple Rain

    Purple Rain

    Purple Rain
    Prince

  19. 1985

    The Replacements: Left of the Dial

    Left of the Dial

    Tim
    The Replacements

  20. 1986

    Run DMC: Walk This Way

    Walk This Way

    Raising Hell
    Run DMC

  21. 1987

    R.E.M.: It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

    It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

    Document
    R.E.M.

  22. 1988

    Public Enemy: Bring the Noise

    Bring the Noise

    It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
    Public Enemy

  23. 1989

    Neil Young: Rockin' in the Free World

    Rockin' in the Free World

    Freedom
    Neil Young

  24. 1990

    Sonic Youth: Kool Thing

    Kool Thing

    Goo
    Sonic Youth

  25. 1991

    Nirvana: Smells Like Teen Spirit

    Smells Like Teen Spirit

    Nevermind
    Nirvana

  26. 1992

    Tori Amos: Silent All These Years

    Silent All These Years

    Little Earthquakes
    Tori Amos

  27. 1993

    Liz Phair: Never Said

    Never Said

    Exile in Guyville
    Liz Phair

  28. 1994

    Beastie Boys: Sabotage

    Sabotage

    Ill Communication
    Beastie Boys

  29. 1995

    Oasis: Wonderwall

    Wonderwall

    (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
    Oasis

  30. 1996

    Fiona Apple: Criminal

    Criminal

    Tidal
    Fiona Apple

  31. 1997

    Radiohead: Karma Police

    Karma Police

    OK Computer
    Radiohead

  32. 1998

    Lauryn Hill: Everything is Everything

    Everything is Everything

    The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
    Lauryn Hill

  33. 1999

    Moby: Porcelain

    Porcelain

    Play
    Moby

  34. 2000

    Coldplay: Yellow

    Yellow

    Parachutes
    Coldplay

  35. 2001

    The Strokes: Last Nite

    Last Nite

    Is This It
    The Strokes

  36. 2002

    Wilco: Jesus, Etc.

    Jesus, Etc.

    Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
    Wilco

  37. 2003

    The White Stripes: Seven Nation Army

    Seven Nation Army

    Elephant
    The White Stripes

  38. 2004

    Arcade Fire: Wake Up

    Wake Up

    Funeral
    Arcade Fire

  39. 2005

    Gorillaz: Feel Good Inc.

    Feel Good Inc.

    Demon Days
    Gorillaz

  40. 2006

    Amy Winehouse: Rehab

    Rehab

    Back to Black
    Amy Winehouse

  41. 2007

    LCD Soundsystem: All My Friends

    All My Friends

    Sound of Silver
    LCD Soundsystem

  42. 2008

    Bon Iver: Skinny Love

    Skinny Love

    For Emma, Forever Ago
    Bon Iver

  43. 2009

    Florence + The Machine: Dog Days are Over

    Dog Days are Over

    Lungs
    Florence + The Machine

  44. 2010

    Mumford and Sons: Little Lion Man

    Little Lion Man

    Sigh No More
    Mumford and Sons

  45. 2011

    Adele: Someone Like You

    Someone Like You

    21
    Adele

  46. 2012

    Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Same Love feat. Mary Lambert

    Same Love feat. Mary Lambert

    The Heist
    Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

  47. 2013

    Daft Punk: Get Lucky

    Get Lucky

    Random Access Memories
    Daft Punk

  48. 2014

    Beck: Waking Light

    Waking Light

    Morning Phase
    Beck

  49. 2015

    Kendrick Lamar: King Kunta

    King Kunta

    To Pimp a Butterfly
    Kendrick Lamar

  50. 2016

    David Bowie: Lazarus

    Lazarus

    Blackstar
    David Bowie

  51. 2017

    jeremy messersmith: Little Blue World

    Little Blue World

    jeremy messersmith