An article came out of listing these songs as the 5 Greatest Classic Rock songs. .....
- Thread starter Mr. Potter
- Start date
Can’t really argue on any of these. Maybe bump one for Jimi H’s All Along the Watchtower
Of course, when you try to narrow down thousands of great songs there will be disagreements. I like Hotel CA and Free Bird but I'd have to move either comfortably numb or time in there from Pink Floyd. It is hard to imagine a top five without a Beatles song....perhaps Day in the Life or Let It Be.
Ith
I thought the same thing about the Beatles. All though they are not my favorite songs of Classic Rock I could see the universal appeal these songs have attracted.
"Dancing Queen" by ABBA requested more and more popular than any of those songs.
Without a Who song it's an incomplete list. 3 suggestions: I Can See for Miles, Baba O'Riley, Love Reign O'er Me
100% agree with you on All Along the Watchtower. Hotel California? Not in my top 200.
Bohemian Rhapsody? Hell no!
Dylan makes the list twice. I got him there for writing Watchtower and performing Blowing In the Wind. That song is not my favorite Dylan song, but undeniably it was an anthem for a generation and one of the most important popular American songs ever written.
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Has anyone ever been formally banned from the Board?"Dancing Queen" by ABBA requested more and more popular than any of those songs.
As stated above, Jimi and Dylan have got to be included. What he does with this song is amazing.
This one is in my top five, classic tune and lyrics. The epidemy of a rock song.
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This one is in my top five, classic tune and lyrics. The epidemy of a rock song.
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Bohemian Rhapsody is a self indulgent mess and is arguably not rock.
I'd swap that out in a second for Comfortably Numb or All Along the Watchtower.
I'd swap that out in a second for Comfortably Numb or All Along the Watchtower.
by latte drinkers."Dancing Queen" by ABBA requested more and more popular than any of those songs.
I think you really whiffed on your downgrade of Hotel California. It broke a lot of rules yet became, at least IMO, an absolute classic --- brilliant lyrics and great guitar work PLUS several less obvious rock nuanes.
It's very subjective. The top 10 sellers has a few surprises:
- ‘Candle in the Wind 1997’ – Elton John (33 million)
- ‘Rock Around the Clock’ – Bill Haley and His Comets (25 million)
- ‘It’s Now or Never’ – Elvis Presley (20 million)
- ‘We Are the World’ – USA For Africa (20 million)
- ‘Everything I Do (I Do It For You)’ – Bryan Adams (15 million)
- ‘Winds of Change’ – Scorpions (14 million)
- ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ – The Beatles (12 million)
- ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ – Band Aid (11.7 million)
- ‘My Sweet Lord’ – George Harrison (10 million)
- ‘I’m A Believer’ – The Monkees (10 million)
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Bowie's 'Heroes' and/or 'Life on Mars' would make my Top 5 (maybe both).
Lose Hotel CA and Free Bird. The stones have much better songs than Satisfaction. Gimme Shelter, Sympathy for the Devil, Paint it Black are all better. I also think you need The Beatles Revolution in there.
My Back Pages is my all time favorite Dylan song quickly followed by The Hurricane.
Agreed. To me the Eagles are one of the all time greats, but Hotel Cali is not even in the same league as Gimme Shelter IMO. Hotel California is an interesting song and I know it touches people because it’s sort of mesmerizing but I don’t consider it a masterpiece and if you’re going to make this list it has to be.
I don’t disagree with any of that, the band was amazing, but still don’t think it approaches top 5 of all time category.
Heroes is up there. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking is up there for me too. Pink Floyd belongs on that list. For The Beatles, I’d argue the whole back side of “Abbey Road” is one ballad and belongs on this list.
And MBP was never done better than this....Dylan, McGuinn, Petty, Young, Clapton, and Harrison.
My gawd, what a group!
As an aside, next week marks 5 years since my wife and I took up playing guitar at age 70. I had been playing a Tagima but just bought this Fender to celebrate. I love the look and sound. With 5 years of lessons, and not a day of missed practice, I am getting pretty decent. It's no surprise that my wife is even better. Look for news of our tour schedule coming soon!
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I agree, Sluggo. I would take Blue Sky, Won't Get Fooled Again, and It's Only Rock 'N Roll, and give Satisfaction, Hotel California, and Bohemian Rhapsody the boot.
The version of "Heroes" that Bowie did at Live Aid was so good it was mind bending. That song has such a positive message and vibe.
Certainly gimme shelter
maybe The Who’s 5:15
dark horse creams badge
maybe The Who’s 5:15
dark horse creams badge
Yeah, but that's a cover. It's a great cover and can stand on it's own, but without Dylan, it would have never been written and he would have never been famous for it (just like Hey Joe was a cover also, he is primarily recognzed for the song).
It’s a very subjective thing, of course. When you’re saying rock song, I think rock and roll. Bohemian Rhapsody doesn’t fit that to me. Tough to come with a top five but off the top of my head I’ll try this, in no order:
Johnny B Goode- Chuck Berry
Born to Run- Springsteen
London Calling- Clash
Lola- Kinks
Alive- Pearl Jam
Johnny B Goode- Chuck Berry
Born to Run- Springsteen
London Calling- Clash
Lola- Kinks
Alive- Pearl Jam
Congrats on the guitariversary! I've been kicking around giving it a shot myself at age 61, you've inspired me to actually do it. I'm going to start the search for a teacher today.
Fortunately, I have a bit of a head-start -- been playing sax for decades and I can read music, so I don't need to learn what a quarter note is, etc. Goal is to become a competent rhythm guitarist. "Check out guitar toast! He knows...all the chords. But it's strictly rhythm he doesn't wanna make it cry or sing...they said an old guitar is all he can afford. When he gets up under the lights to play his thing...:
Do you need a bass? I’m rested and ready. My son can do vocals and keyboard ala Wynwood.
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