600 Greatest Rock Songs

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:17 pm **Posts:** 2949

pauldrach wrote:

gminer wrote:

Negative Creep wrote:

Fair enough I guess.

... STH has significant influence that is found in numerous ways ... whether it is the vocal stylings, the guitar solo ... the compositional style to the lyrical style ... the soft v/s heavy ... the mix of acoustic to electric and the fact the tune is one of those that every guitarist wants to play in their early years ... all the way to radio stations banning STH from the play list because of the continuous requests for it to be played ..... it is a tune that has transcended each musical generation and I can`t image it will fade when another generation discovers it .... and then if it was possible rewind the clock to 1971 and see if STH entered the musical landscape with any less impact then SLTS did upon its release many many years later .... Take care

See, Neg? That's how you do it. Let's see...

gminer, could you elaborate on the vocal stylings and the guitar solo? How they were influential? How they introduced new aspects to the rock music canon?

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "the compositional style to the lyrical style". Concerning the soft vs. heavy part, I'm pretty sure that had been done before. At the very least by The Who in "Behind Blue Eyes" (I know that wasn't much earlier, but still). The same goes for acoustic vs. electric. And when I started learning the guitar I didn't want to play Stairway. Hell, I don't think I knew it then.

That thing about the radio stations is interesting. Why would they want to ban a song that is continually requested? What you say about the multiple generations that were affected by Stairway is true, though I'm still not certain about the concrete nature of its influence. But yes, it's a song that is generally esteemed by musicians across the most different genres.

If rewinding clocks was possible the listmaking process would be so much easier. We'll see what progress brings...

... one starting point would be to say .... can you name any non single that carries the radio play a tune like Stairway to Heaven does across the globe in countries that keep this type of information ... can you name a tune other than STH that has been played by major radio stations constantly for a 24 hr period ...... or a radio station telling the listening public to stop requesting the tune because they are so sick of playing it ... or a non single tune downloaded so many times digitally that it entered the singles charts BUT more to the point on influence ... there is no other tune in the history of rock music that has sold more copies of sheet music than STH ... one has to assume a large portion of those purchasing the sheet music must be musicians and if they weren`t, that might even be more remarkable ......... Take care

and a quick look at the Euro 200 chart - All Time Top tunes

http://www.apcchart.com/

year ending December 31, 2010 compiled by APC-stats

2010 2009 apc-peak performer(s) title year
1 1 1 QUEEN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 1975
2 2 1 DEEP PURPLE CHILD IN TIME 1972
3 22 3 BLACK EYED PEAS I GOTTA FEELING 2009
4 3 3 ROLLING STONES, THE ANGIE 1973
5 4 3 EAGLES, THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA 1977
6 6 5 LED ZEPPELIN STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN 1971
7 5 4 MEAT LOAF PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHT 1978
8 7 5 BEATLES, THE HEY JUDE 1968
9 8 8 JOHN LENNON IMAGINE 1971
10 9 8 GOLDEN EARRING, THE RADAR LOVE 1973
11 10 9 U2 SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY 1983

... and the Top tunes from the 70`s

1 9 7 0 - 1 9 7 9

position apc-rank performer(s) title year
1 1 QUEEN BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY 1975
2 2 DEEP PURPLE CHILD IN TIME 1972
3 4 ROLLING STONES, THE ANGIE 1973
4 5 EAGLES, THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA 1977
5 6 LED ZEPPELIN STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN 1971

* Note if anyone is wondering why Child in Time is listed as 1972 when it was released on In Rock in 1970 is because it was released as a single in 1972 because of the constant requests going to numerous EU radio stations

... and switching over to Planet Rock in the UK for some trivia ....

http://208.88.245.107/sectional.asp?id=16339

MOST CLASSIC CLASSIC ROCK SONG
How do you define a classic rock song?

Is a classic rock song a song that has successfully weathered the test of time? Or is it a song that was simply incendiary upon its release? Or is it just a song that is really, really, REALLY good?

Well, the Planet Rock listeners have been voting in their thousands and have put together a list of songs that they think best define classic rock.

Perhaps the result of the poll is not altogether surprising - with Led Zeppelin's seminal 1971 epic essentially defining the phrase classic rock in one fell swoop. Its eight minute running time, varying tempo and volume and stunning solo represent pretty much everything great about rock music in one bitesize(ish) nugget of swaggering rock genius.

Robert Plant (and guitar shop employees) may not care for it much, but we do and that's why Stairway is a worthy winner of this particular poll.

Led Zeppelin actually managed to get a massive SEVEN songs in the top 70, narrowly beating Deep Purple to the most songs in the poll. In another impressive showing, AC/DC managed to get five songs into the top 40.

Here's the Top 40.

1. Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin
2. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
3. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. All Right Now - Free
5. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
6. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
7. Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC
8. More Than A Feeling - Boston
9. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
10. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
11. Stargazer - Rainbow
12. Bat Out Of Hell - Meat Loaf
13. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
14. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
15. Back In Black - AC/DC
16. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
17. Child In Time - Deep Purple
18. Highway to Hell AC/DC
19. Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin
20. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns n Roses
21. Ace of Spades - Motorhead
22. Let There Be Rock - AC/DC
23. Highway Star - Deep Purple
24. We Will Rock You - Queen
25. Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
26. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
27. Layla - Derek & The Dominoes
28. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
29. Gypsy - Uriah Heep
30. Hotel California - Eagles
31. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
32. Since You've Been Gone - Rainbow
33. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix
34. Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
35. Caroline - Status Quo
36. Shine On (You Crazy Diamond) - Pink Floyd
37. For Those About To Rock - AC/DC
38. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
39. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
40. (Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

Classic Rock Junkie · **Joined:** Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:05 am **Posts:** 1925

my completely subjective and useless input: I think the new list is terrible and if anything, the original was better for a 'songs most important to know for understanding rock'. My only complaint about the old list is stairway being way too high and JBG not at #1. Other than that, I think it's better. If you'd like me to explain why I think this objectively, be my guest, but I like the original list so much (well, it has issues but I like it a hell of a lot more than where this one is going) that I really don't want to take a serious part in dismantelling it, especially in this direction. Just my opinion, completely subjective and without explanation. Also, the guitar thread is getting so damn retarded I can't stand to go there anymore so I need a new thread with legit discussion, and this isn't it for me, so just letting you guys know because I want to get it out. Peace and best of luck with this list guys

Georgi · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 4:37 pm **Posts:** 9165

Oh yes, because all of the songs that were on the old list have been removed, haven't they?

pauldrach · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:28 am

gminer wrote:

... one starting point would be to say .... can you name any non single that carries the radio play a tune like Stairway to Heaven does across the globe in countries that keep this type of information ... can you name a tune other than STH that has been played by major radio stations constantly for a 24 hr period ...... or a radio station telling the listening public to stop requesting the tune because they are so sick of playing it ... or a non single tune downloaded so many times digitally that it entered the singles charts BUT more to the point on influence ... there is no other tune in the history of rock music that has sold more copies of sheet music than STH ... one has to assume a large portion of those purchasing the sheet music must be musicians and if they weren`t, that might even be more remarkable ......... Take care

Most of the information you provided gives Stairway credits for popularity, not for influence. Even the sheet music thing is doubtable in terms of being influential. People that play rock songs off of sheet music are not very likely to be significant factors in rock music history. Also that would be inspiration if anything, which according to Sampson is not part of influence.

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:17 pm **Posts:** 2949

pauldrach wrote:

gminer wrote:

... one starting point would be to say .... can you name any non single that carries the radio play a tune like Stairway to Heaven does across the globe in countries that keep this type of information ... can you name a tune other than STH that has been played by major radio stations constantly for a 24 hr period ...... or a radio station telling the listening public to stop requesting the tune because they are so sick of playing it ... or a non single tune downloaded so many times digitally that it entered the singles charts BUT more to the point on influence ... there is no other tune in the history of rock music that has sold more copies of sheet music than STH ... one has to assume a large portion of those purchasing the sheet music must be musicians and if they weren`t, that might even be more remarkable ......... Take care

Most of the information you provided gives Stairway credits for popularity, not for influence. Even the sheet music thing is doubtable in terms of being influential. People that play rock songs off of sheet music are not very likely to be significant factors in rock music history. Also that would be inspiration if anything, which according to Sampson is not part of influence.

I have not expanded on every point that relates to STH as I had assumed almost everyone on the planet who has even a causal interest in rock music knows the tune and those with a little more expanded interest in rock music would already understand its place in rock music history ... besides the fact it is one great composition and a wonderful melodic piece of music that continues to be timeless ... and on the sheet music front, selling over one million copies is an extremely interesting fact that no other rock tune can lend itself to .... and it would seem more than interesting that this tune of all times would be questioned as it relates to influence .... particularly by those that would be knowledgeable of rock music and the compiling of lists .... and as one example of too many lists to list that list STH for numerous reasons ..... STH is listed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as one of the Song`s of the Century, that comes from a project that aims to "promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage" .... Take care

http://www.riaa.comt

...SONG TITLE ARTIST
1. "OVER THE RAINBOW" JUDY GARLAND
2. "WHITE CHRISTMAS" BING CROSBY
3. 'THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND" WOODY GUTHRIE
4. "RESPECT" ARETHA FRANKLIN
5. "AMERICAN PIE" DON MCLEAN
6. "BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY" THE ANDREWS SISTERS
7. WEST SIDE STORY (ALBUM) ORIGINAL CAST
8. "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME" BILLY MURRAY
9. "YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVIN FEELIN" THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
10. "THE ENTERTAINER" SCOTT JOPLIN
12. "ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK" BILL HALEY & THE COMETS
13. "WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN" LOUIS ARMSTRONG
14. "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE" JIMMIE DAVIS
15. "MACK THE KNIFE" BOBBY DARIN
16. "SATISFACTION" THE ROLLING STONES
17. "TAKE THE 'A' TRAIN" DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA
18. "BLUEBERRY HILL" FATS DOMINO
19. "GOD BLESS AMERICA" KATE SMITH
20. "STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER" SOUSA'S BAND
21. "I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE" MARVIN GAYE
22. "DOCK OF THE BAY" OTIS REDDING
23. "I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO" TONY BENNETT
24. "GOOD VIBRATIONS" THE BEACH BOYS
25. "STAND BY ME" BEN E. KING
26. "STORMY WEATHER" LENA HORNE
27. "JOHNNY B. GOODE" CHUCK BERRY
28. "I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" THE BEATLES
29. "MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA" GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS
30. "IMAGINE" JOHN LENNON
31. "RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER" GENE AUTRY
32. "THE TWIST" CHUBBY CHECKER
33. "HAPPY TRAILS" ROY ROGERS & DALE EVANS
34. "YOUR CHEATIN' HEART" HANK WILLIAMS
35. "SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT" FISK JUBILEE SINGERS
36. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (ALBUM) ORIGINAL CAST
37. "'ROUND MIDNIGHT" THELONIUS MONK
38. "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT" TINA TURNER
39. "OVER THERE" THE AMERICAN QUARTET
40. "STAR DUST" HOAGY CARMICHAEL
41. "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'" FATS WALLER
42. "GEORGIA ON MY MIND" RAY CHARLES
43. "OH PRETTY WOMAN" ROY ORBISON
44. "EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE" THE POLICE
45. "MY GIRL" THE TEMPTATIONS
46. "HOTEL CALIFORNIA" THE EAGLES
47. "HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN" BEN SELVIN ORCHESTRA
48. "STAND BY YOUR MAN" TAMMY WYNETTE
49. "TAKE FIVE" DAVE BRUBECK
50. "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" LOUISE HOMER
51. "WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN" PERCY SLEDGE
52. "LIGHT MY FIRE" THE DOORS
53. "STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN" LED ZEPPELIN

80. "SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT" NIRVANA

pauldrach · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 11:31 am

Well, I don't want to deny Stairway's greatness at all. It is certainly among the greatest rock songs of all time, its huge popularity and reputation among the most different groups of people are astonishing. I just think that there may be about fifteen songs in rock's history that according to the criteria used for this list are somewhat greater, mainly because I still fail to understand the concrete nature of Stairway's influence. What did that song either innovate or popularize that would justify a placing inside the Top 5 or at least 10 or wherever you want to have it?

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:17 pm **Posts:** 2949

pauldrach wrote:

Well, I don't want to deny Stairway's greatness at all. It is certainly among the greatest rock songs of all time, its huge popularity and reputation among the most different groups of people are astonishing. I just think that there may be about fifteen songs in rock's history that according to the criteria used for this list are somewhat greater, mainly because I still fail to understand the concrete nature of Stairway's influence. What did that song either innovate or popularize that would justify a placing inside the Top 5 or at least 10 or wherever you want to have it?

... I`m not positioning/promoting STH for any particular number on this list my friend other than to suggest this tune is enormously influential and is one of the greatest rock tunes ever written. And it maybe over played to the point that many are tired of hearing it ... but for "my own personal preference and taste in rock music" there are very few rock tunes I would prefer to hear as many times as I have heard STH over the past 40 years ... in my mind it is a milestone, a benchmark, a centerpiece, the magnus opus to which many an artist might strive within their musical careers ... similar to Child in Time for Purple, BoRap with Queen, American Pie with Don MacLean, A Day in the Life the Beatles, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Time Has Come Today and so on etc etc.... and yes, these are my personal preferences and they do have a certain compositional style to each and has nothing to do with the criteria for this list ... just as I recognize" I Can`t Get No Satisfaction" by the Stones is considered one of the greatest rock tunes but I never cared for it when it was released and would never picked it out of a list of tunes to play .... Take care

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARgiPJob ... re=related

pauldrach · **Posted:** Fri Aug 19, 2011 5:06 pm

Great list of epic classics you picked as your favorites. Sadly my beloved fellow countrymen here in Germany are not going to let me watch that Youtube video because they think I shouldn't listen to music that I didn't pay for. Just out of interest, what was it?

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:17 pm **Posts:** 2949

pauldrach wrote:

Great list of epic classics you picked as your favorites. Sadly my beloved fellow countrymen here in Germany are not going to let me watch that Youtube video because they think I shouldn't listen to music that I didn't pay for. Just out of interest, what was it?

... it was Time Has Come Today by the Chamber Brothers ..... in my mind one of the rock greatest tunes done in the 60`s ... and very deserving of a place on a greatest of all time list ... Take care

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:21 pm **Posts:** 824

gminer wrote:

... it was Time Has Come Today by the Chamber Brothers ..... in my mind one of the rock greatest tunes done in the 60`s ... and very deserving of a place on a greatest of all time list ... Take care

I'll second that one and it has been on my Psych Song List for years.
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/b ... psych.html

83. Lather - Jefferson Airplane
84. You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators
85. Walking Thru My Dreams - The Pretty Things
86. Medication - The Chocolate Watch Band
87. Roller Coaster - 13th Floor Elevators

88. Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers

89. The Lake - Moby Grape
90. Green of My Pants - The Red Crayola
91. Chusingra - Jefferson Airplane
92. A Question of Temperature - The Balloon Farm
93. She Comes In Colors - Love
94. Iron Butterfly Theme - Iron Butterfly
95. Alice In Blunderland - Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
96. Piece For Piano & Electric Bass Guitar - The Red Crayola
97. 10,000 Words In a Cardboard Box - Aquarian Age
98. Upside Down - Hawkwind
99. Madman Running Through The Fields - Dantalian's Chariot

gminer · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:17 pm **Posts:** 2949

Rick wrote:

gminer wrote:

... it was Time Has Come Today by the Chamber Brothers ..... in my mind one of the rock greatest tunes done in the 60`s ... and very deserving of a place on a greatest of all time list ... Take care

I'll second that one and it has been on my Psych Song List for years.
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/b ... psych.html

83. Lather - Jefferson Airplane
84. You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators
85. Walking Thru My Dreams - The Pretty Things
86. Medication - The Chocolate Watch Band
87. Roller Coaster - 13th Floor Elevators

88. Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers

89. The Lake - Moby Grape
90. Green of My Pants - The Red Crayola
91. Chusingra - Jefferson Airplane
92. A Question of Temperature - The Balloon Farm
93. She Comes In Colors - Love
94. Iron Butterfly Theme - Iron Butterfly
95. Alice In Blunderland - Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
96. Piece For Piano & Electric Bass Guitar - The Red Crayola
97. 10,000 Words In a Cardboard Box - Aquarian Age
98. Upside Down - Hawkwind
99. Madman Running Through The Fields - Dantalian's Chariot

very good .... just for trivia I recall when that tune came out and many thought it was Hendrix doing the vocals ... Take care

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:21 pm **Posts:** 13572

Just wondering - anyone think That's All Right could be the highest Elvis song?
It jumpstarted his career, had a huge initial impact that only grew over time, and was one of the very first 'crossover' records of rock, being a mixture of styles and selling to both country and r&b crowds.

pauldrach · **Posted:** Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:28 pm

Negative Creep wrote:

Just wondering - anyone think That's All Right could be the highest Elvis song?
It jumpstarted his career, had a huge initial impact that only grew over time, and was one of the very first 'crossover' records of rock, being a mixture of styles and selling to both country and r&b crowds.

I guess "Jailhouse Rock", "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" beat it in each of the criteria really. "That's All Right" didn't even chart nationally, "Heartbreak Hotel" was his true breakthrough.

Rick · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:21 pm **Posts:** 824

gminer wrote:

Rick wrote:

gminer wrote:

... it was Time Has Come Today by the Chamber Brothers ..... in my mind one of the rock greatest tunes done in the 60`s ... and very deserving of a place on a greatest of all time list ... Take care

I'll second that one and it has been on my Psych Song List for years.
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/b ... psych.html

83. Lather - Jefferson Airplane
84. You're Gonna Miss Me - 13th Floor Elevators
85. Walking Thru My Dreams - The Pretty Things
86. Medication - The Chocolate Watch Band
87. Roller Coaster - 13th Floor Elevators

88. Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers

89. The Lake - Moby Grape
90. Green of My Pants - The Red Crayola
91. Chusingra - Jefferson Airplane
92. A Question of Temperature - The Balloon Farm
93. She Comes In Colors - Love
94. Iron Butterfly Theme - Iron Butterfly
95. Alice In Blunderland - Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
96. Piece For Piano & Electric Bass Guitar - The Red Crayola
97. 10,000 Words In a Cardboard Box - Aquarian Age
98. Upside Down - Hawkwind
99. Madman Running Through The Fields - Dantalian's Chariot

very good .... just for trivia I recall when that tune came out and many thought it was Hendrix doing the vocals ... Take care

Correct, I remember that. I really need to re-work 'Time' to a higher placement.

Brian · **Joined:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 2:52 pm **Posts:** 4300

pauldrach wrote:

Negative Creep wrote:

Just wondering - anyone think That's All Right could be the highest Elvis song?
It jumpstarted his career, had a huge initial impact that only grew over time, and was one of the very first 'crossover' records of rock, being a mixture of styles and selling to both country and r&b crowds.

I guess "Jailhouse Rock", "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" beat it in each of the criteria really. "That's All Right" didn't even chart nationally, "Heartbreak Hotel" was his true breakthrough.

I think "That's All Right", being the first true rockabilly record, beats those 3 songs in influence, but the other 3 beat it so easily in both initial and lasting popularity that I agree that all 3 should be ahead of it.

600 Greatest Rock Songs

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