The 250 songs that define Philadelphia
Over 4th of July weekend, our hosts you know and love will be playing 250 curated songs that are for, by, and about Philadelphia to help you rediscover the city’s enduring musical rhythm and its pivotal place in music history.
Over 4th of July weekend, WXPN is celebrating the country’s 250th birthday with 250 songs that are from, by, and about Philadelphia.
The list spans genres and generations, from Lil Uzi Vert and Sheer Mag to Patti LaBelle and The A’s, capturing how the city has shaped American music.
“Earlier in the spring we invited listeners to submit their favorites to us online, we also asked influential Philly music experts and people vital to the scene and combined that with staff picks to come up with our list,” WXPN Programming Director Jim McGuinn said. “The beauty of any list like this is that your mileage may vary, but we hope everyone gets something from this great collection, discovers something new about Philly’s music history, and enjoys celebrating our musical legacy.
Tune in starting at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday on 88.5 or streaming online to hear all 250 songs. If you miss any part of it over the weekend, we’ll be playing these songs again on Sunday starting at 8 a.m.
WXPN Presents
The Philly 250
Songs by, from, and about Philly
#
Song
Artist
1.
T. S. O. P. (The Sound Of Philadelphia)
M. F. S. B.
2.
Philadelphia Freedom
Elton John
3.
Love Train
The O'Jays
4.
Gonna Fly Now (Theme From "Rocky")
Bill Conti
5.
Summertime
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
6.
Punk Rock Girl
The Dead Milkmen
7.
Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
McFadden & Whitehead
8.
Fall In Philadelphia
Daryl Hall & John Oates
9.
Lady Marmalade
Labelle
10.
Motownphilly
Boyz II Men
11.
Streets Of Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen
12.
You Got Me
The Roots
13.
Young Americans
David Bowie
14.
Hello It's Me
Todd Rundgren
15.
The Twist
Chubby Checker
16.
I-76
G. Love & Special Sauce
17.
And We Danced
The Hooters
18.
South Street
The Orlons
19.
Expressway To Your Heart
Soul Survivors
20.
Freedom Of 76
Ween
21.
Me and Mrs. Jones
Billy Paul
22.
Red Eyes
The War on Drugs
23.
Golden
Jill Scott
24.
I'll Be Around
The Spinners
25.
She's Gone
Daryl Hall & John Oates
26.
Giant Steps
John Coltrane
27.
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
28.
Be Thankful For What You Got
William DeVaughn
29.
Escalator Of Life
Robert Hazard
30.
The Love I Lost
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
31.
Sailing To Philadelphia
Mark Knopfler
32.
La La Means I Love You
The Delfonics
33.
Strange Fruit
Billie Holiday
34.
Time In A Bottle
Jim Croce
35.
Pretty Pimpin'
Kurt Vile
36.
The Girl From Ipanema
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
37.
Rock Around The Clock
Bill Haley & His Comets
38.
Disco Inferno
The Trammps
39.
Up Above My Head
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
40.
Cowboys To Girls
The Intruders
41.
Windows Are Rolled Down
Amos Lee
42.
You Make Me Feel Brand New
The Stylistics
43.
Fly Eagles Fly
Eagles Pep Band
44.
I Love Rock & Roll
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
45.
Mashed Potato Time
Dee Dee Sharp
46.
Where'd All the Time Go?
Dr. Dog
47.
At The Hop
Danny & The Juniors
48.
Get The Party Started
P!nk
49.
Sara Smile
Daryl Hall & John Oates
50.
To The Beat Y'all
Lady B
51.
Just the Two of Us
Grover Washington Jr.
52.
All The Young Dudes
David Bowie
53.
You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
Lou Rawls
54.
Yo Home to Bel-Air
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
55.
Atlantic City
Bruce Springsteen
56.
Gloria
Patti Smith
57.
Astrovan
Mt. Joy
58.
Back Stabbers
The O'Jays
59.
All You Zombies
The Hooters
60.
The Rubberband Man
The Spinners
61.
Runner
Alex G
62.
Dreams and Nightmares
Meek Mill
63.
Frankford El
The American Dream
64.
My Favorite Things
John Coltrane
65.
Be Sweet
Japanese Breakfast
66.
God Bless The Child
Billie Holiday
67.
Love You Anyway
Devon Gilfillian
68.
End of the Road
Boyz II Men
69.
Cold Beverage
G. Love & Special Sauce
70.
Mister Magic
Grover Washington Jr.
71.
The Liberty Bell
John Phillip Souza
72.
Open My Eyes
Nazz
73.
P.S.K. (What Does It Mean?)
Schoolly D
74.
Philadelphia
Neil Young
75.
The Sidewinder
Lee Morgan
76.
When Will I See You Again
The Three Degrees
77.
I Saw the Light
Todd Rundgren
78.
Space Is The Place
Sun Ra
79.
Betcha By Golly Wow
The Stylistics
80.
School Days
Stanley Clarke
81.
Over and Over Again (Lost and Found)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
82.
Let's Twist Again
Chubby Checker
83.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper
84.
Rich Girl
Daryl Hall & John Oates
85.
If You Don't Know Me By Now
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
86.
When Sunny Gets Blue
McCoy Tyner
87.
Into Philadelphia
Ike
88.
Over The Rainbow
Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles
89.
Holding On
The War on Drugs
90.
The Seed
The Roots
91.
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
92.
Bristol Stomp
The Dovells
93.
Cry To Me
Solomon Burke
94.
Move It On Over
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
95.
Bandstand Boogie
Les Elgart
96.
I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
Daryl Hall & John Oates
97.
Root Down
Jimmy Smith
98.
I'll Make Love To You
Boyz II Men
99.
Sharon
David Bromberg
100.
Point Breeze
Marah
101.
Feeling Good
Nina Simone
102.
For The Love Of Money
The O'Jays
103.
Don't Know What You've Got (Till It's Gone)
Cinderella
104.
Wake Up Everybody
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
105.
Werewolves of Bryn Mawr
Warren Zevon
106.
Venus
Frankie Avalon
107.
Parents Just Don't Understand
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
108.
Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)
The Delfonics
109.
Loading Zones
Kurt Vile
110.
In Your Eyes
Jeffrey Gaines
111.
I'm Not Your Man
Tommy Conwell & The Young Rumblers
112.
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
The Spinners
113.
Golden Slippers
Ferko String Band
114.
Love TKO
Teddy Pendergrass
115.
All I Really Wanna Do
Devon Gilfillian
116.
Fascination
David Bowie
117.
New Attitude
Patti LaBelle
118.
That Old Black Hole
Dr. Dog
119.
Soul Station
Hank Mobley
120.
High Hopes
Harry Kalas
121.
The Horse
Cliff Nobles & Company
122.
Revolution Rock n Roll
Low Cut Connie
123.
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Jim Croce
124.
Arms Of A Woman
Amos Lee
125.
Never Give You Up
Jerry Butler
126.
Let Me Blow Ya Mind (ft. Gwen Stefani)
Eve
127.
Get Me Back On Time, Engine Number 9
Wilson Pickett
128.
You Make My Dreams
Daryl Hall & John Oates
129.
Wildwood Days
Bobby Rydell
130.
Silver Lining
Mt. Joy
131.
Naima
John Coltrane
132.
One Of Us
Joan Osborne
133.
Here Come The Sixers
Fresh Aire
134.
Woman's Got The Power
The A's
135.
A Long Walk
Jill Scott
136.
Toccatta and Fuge in D Minor
Leopold Stokowski & The Philadelphia Orchestra
137.
Bang The Drum All Day
Todd Rundgren
138.
Together (feat. Devon Gilfillian)
Snacktime
139.
Instant Club Hit (You'll Dance To Anything)
The Dead Milkmen
140.
My Country, 'Tis of Thee
Marian Anderson
141.
Catch Me (I'm Falling)
Pretty Poison
142.
Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
143.
What We Do (ft. Jay Z and Beanie Sigel)
Freeway
144.
Mt. Airy Groove
Pieces Of A Dream
145.
One More Time Back to School
Jerry Blavat
146.
Hard Times
John Legend & The Roots
147.
Do It Any Way You Wanna
People's Choice
148.
Because The Night
Patti Smith
149.
Be My Love
Mario Lanza
150.
Bury Me In Philly
Dave Hause
151.
Two Bass Hit
Phillly Joe Jones
152.
Pretty Little Rebel
John Eddie
153.
Move Closer to Your World
Al Ham & The Hllside Singers
154.
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
155.
Pick Up Your Feelings
Jazmine Sullivan
156.
I Don't Know You
Mannequin Pussy
157.
One Of A Kind (Love Affair)
The Spinners
158.
Boozophilia
Low Cut Connie
159.
1-2-3
Len Barry
160.
You Don't Mess Around With Jim
Jim Croce
161.
Say Yes
Langhorne Slim
162.
Call Your Bluff
Catbite
163.
Let Me Clear My Throat
DJ Kool
164.
Thunder In The Morning
Essra Mohawk
165.
Young Lady, You're Scaring Me
Ron Gallo
166.
Loves Me Like A Rock
Paul Simon
167.
Voodoo Lady
Ween
168.
Beat Up Guitar
The Hooters
169.
Wagon Wheel
Old Crow Medicine Show
170.
Roc The Mic
Beanie Sigel feat. Freeway
171.
Hero In Me
Jeffrey Gaines
172.
Girlschool
Britny Fox
173.
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Bessie Smith
174.
Shine
Mondo Cozmo
175.
Dancing In The Street
Martha & The Vandellas
176.
Yankee Doodle
The United States Air Force Heritage of America Band
177.
Shadow People
Dr. Dog
178.
Down
Marian Hill
179.
The Penalty Box
Dave "The Hammer" Schultz
180.
The Wah-Watusi
The Orlons
181.
Chance to Bleed
Kurt Vile
182.
Captain Jack
Billy Joel
183.
XO TOUR LIif3
Lil Uzi Vert
184.
Boogaloo Down Broadway
Fantastic Johnny C
185.
Mr. Tillman
Father John Misty
186.
Honky Tonk pt 1
Bill Dogget
187.
Shackamaxon
Slo-mo & Mic Wrecka
188.
Volare
Bobby Rydell
189.
Long Lonely Nights
Lee Andrews & The Hearts
190.
Only The Strong Survive
Jerry Butler
191.
Paprika
Japanese Breakfast
192.
Astral Freak
Ben Arnold
193.
L.E.S. Artistes
Santigold
194.
Can We Still Be Friends
Todd Rundgren
195.
You Are Everything
The Stylistics
196.
Proceed
The Roots
197.
I Don't Love You Anymore
Teddy Pendergrass
198.
Just Can't Get Enough
Sheer Mag
199.
Love Is The Message
M. F. S. B.
200.
Higher State Of Consciousness
Josh Wink
201.
Shake Me
Cinderella
202.
Love Comes Down
Evelyn "Champagne" King
203.
Ham Hocks and Cabbage
Christian McBride Trio
204.
Waitress
Hop Along
205.
Kiss And Say Goodbye
The Manhattans
206.
Christmas On The Block
Alan Mann
207.
Came Out Swinging
The Wonder Years
208.
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
209.
Second Avenue
Tim Moore
210.
I'm Sorry ( But So Is Brenda Lee)
Ben Vaughn
211.
Typical American
The Goats
212.
The Visit
Pat Martino
213.
How I Got Over
Clara Ward & The Ward Singers
214.
Under the Pressure
The War on Drugs
215.
Right On The Tip Of My Tongue
Brenda & The Tabulations
216.
Break My Heart
Buzz Zeemer
217.
Philly Jump
Instant Funk
218.
Silver
Waxahatchee
219.
Yes, I'm Ready
Barbara Mason
220.
Baby's Got Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
221.
A Brand New Me
Dusty Springfield
222.
Sally Sayin' Something
Billy Harner
223.
Forever Young
Patti LaBelle
224.
Soul Sista
Bilal
225.
Fairytale Of Philadelphia (ft. Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce)
The Philly Specials
226.
I Can't Stop Dancing
Archie Bell & The Drells
227.
Anna
The Menzingers
228.
Sideshow
Blue Magic
229.
Wait
Huffamoose
230.
I'll Always Love My Mama
The Intruders
231.
Philadelphia
Mike Douglas
232.
Your Graduation
Modern Baseball
233.
Before I Let Go
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
234.
Adagio For Strings
Samuel Barber
235.
Who's That Girl?
Eve
236.
The River
Son Little
237.
Your Love Is Good
Bunny Sigler
238.
Just Friends (Sunny)
Musiq Soulchild
239.
I Got A Job
Beru Revue
240.
Goshen '97
Strand Of Oaks
241.
Fabulous
Charlie Gracie
242.
When The Funk Hits The Fan
King Britt and SYLK 130
243.
Who Will Comfort Me
Melody Gardot
244.
Plus One
Speedy Ortiz
245.
Queen of the Dream
Cosmic Guilt
246.
Double Dutch Bus
Frankie Smith
247.
Suzy Said So
Kenn Kweder
248.
Love Won't Let Me Wait
Major Harris
249.
Drunk and High
Florry
250.
Pony Time
Chubby Checker
Final list, ranked 1-250