A couple of months back I blogged about the death of Boston lead singer Brad Delp. Within the context of that blog I stated that in my opinion Boston's "More Than a Feeling" was one of the top ten rock songs of all time.
A reader from Lemoyne that remembers me from my days as a local disc jockey on the old Solid Rock 92-7 Starview commented that a list of what my top rock songs of all-time actually are would make for a good blog topic.
It was flattering to hear from someone who still remembers me from my local radio career and the days of my, "mullet." I also figured that compiling such a list would actually be a lot of fun.
Me...... "back in the day"
An old Lancaster Newspaper ad
I enjoyed doing it, but it was also a challenge. Go ahead... try it. Sit down with a blank sheet of paper and try to write down the definitive top 25 rock songs of all time. For me the challenge was (as Bob Seger once sang) "What to leave in, what to leave out."
I decided to establish one very important rule for my list. I would only include songs that were released during my lifetime, therefore anything prior to 1970 would not make the cut. I guess I just didn't feel like having to tax myself with the debate over whether or not artists like Dion, Del Shannon, the Supremes, or the Miracles belong in a top 25 "rock" songs list. To me, I define most of the 50's and 60's stuff as "oldies." Therefore, I came up with the "1970 rule." Also, just to be clear, this is not a list of my personal favorite top 25 rock songs of all time, that list would look different. This is a list of songs that I feel are the true heavyweights of the genre, regardless of my personal opinion.
I took several criteria in to consideration while compiling this list, including popularity of the song, frequency of radio airplay over the years, the songs impact, and the general impact of the artist as a whole.
Don't agree with my list? Want to go upside my head with an Elvis or Motown 2 x 4? Wondering how a list like this could omit the Doors, the Police or R.E.M.? Not happy about not seeing "Fantasy" from Aldo Nova make the cut? I would love to hear your comments, that's what lists like this are all about.
For better or for worse, here we go......
25. Baba O’Riley – The Who 1971
This is a song that is often (and incorrectly) called “Teenage Wasteland” thanks to its chorus. The song comes from their 1971 effort Who’s Next, an album that many consider to be The Who’s best.
24. “We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions” – Queen 1977
From it’s “stomp, stomp, clap” beat during We will Rock You, to the soaring vocals of the late great Freddie Mercury on We are the Champions, these two songs played back to back epitomize everything that made Queen one of rock’s most influential bands.
23. “Go Your Own Way” – Fleetwood Mac 1976
For a period of time in the late 1970’s, Fleetwood Mac was the biggest act on the planet. The first song released from their 1977 album, Rumours propelled the album to spending 31 weeks at the top of the charts. To date, Rumours has sold almost 20 million copies, and counting.
22. “Creep” – Radiohead 1992
The first of two “grunge” era songs to make the chart, this was the first Radiohead single to receive wide airplay. “Creep” put British band Radiohead on the United States map. For a time Radiohead was perceived as a one hit wonder, but the 1997 album Ok Computer became a huge critical and commercial success. More success came in the new millennium with the albums Kid A and Amnesiac.
21. “American Pie” – Don McLean 1971
This classic American sing along traces much of the history of rock n’ roll and was inspired by the events of February 3rd 1959, a day that McLean penned as “the Day the Music Died.” On that day, young rock stars the Big Bopper (J.P. Richards), Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly all lost their lives when the small plane they were traveling in crashed in to an Iowa cornfield. Over the years there has been much debate about the meaning of McLean’s lyrics. In a recent interview he coyly stated, "The song was written as my attempt at an epic song about America, and I used the imagery of music and politics to do that." Let the debate rage on.
20. Piano Man – Billy Joel 1973
This song is based on real people from a bar that a young and struggling Billy Joel played for free. His first major hit, it is still considered his signature song. Released in 1973, “Piano Man” remains popular as it is still listed as Billy Joel’s top seller in the online iTunes music store.
19. Paradise by the Dashboard Light – Meat Loaf 1977
The best known song from Meat Loaf’s classic Bat out of Hell album. This is a tune that everyone that has been in a long relationship can relate to and features a guest appearance by legendary New York Yankee Phil Rizzuto. Bat Out of Hell still sells about 200,000 copies per year and has sold an estimated 40 million copies worldwide, 16 million in the US alone.
18. . Enter Sandman – Metallica 1991
With one song and one album, Metallica went from a band with a loyal but relatively small following, to a world wide commercially succesful sensation. From the self titled or “Black” album, Enter Sandman tells the grim tale of a young child who fears falling asleep and the nightmares that come. To date, the “Black” album has sold 15 million copies worldwide.
17.Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd 1979
From the concept album, The Wall this song helps tell the tale of the of a rock star that is slowly going insane and building a wall inside of his head between himself and reality. According to Rolling Stone the lyrics came from Roger Waters' experience when he was injected with tranquillizers for hepatitis by a doctor prior to playing a Pink Floyd show in Philadelphia on the band's 1977 tour for the Animals album. "That was the longest two hours of my life," Waters said. "Trying to do a show when you can hardly lift your arm." The experience gave him the idea which became this song.
16.Miss You – The Rolling Stones 1978
Admitedly, a lot of the classic Stones material came out prior to 1970, but this song is one of their best. From the album, Some Girls it was the first Rolling Stones single with prominent disco influences that reflected the pop culture of the late 1970’s.
15. Dream On – Aerosmith 1973
It’s hard to believe, but when this song was first released in 1973, it went nowhere on the chart, not even cracking the top 50. That was most likely a result of the fact that it comes from Aerosmith’s debut album and the band was relatively unknown at the time. Re-released in 1976, it stormed up the charts and made the top 10. One of the first hard rock, “power ballads” and still one of the best.
14.One – U2 1991
You could argue the case for several U2 songs to make this chart, but in my mind this is U2’s best effort. U2 was on the brink of breaking up when the band rallied around a riff The Edge was writing during the recording sessions for the album Achtung Baby. It inspired the band to write "One," and it changed the band's outlook. Treat yourself and seek out Johnny Cash’s cover of this song from his 2000 album American III: Solitary Man. Trust me, it’s one of the greatest vocals the late great Cash ever recorded.
13. Layla – Derek and the Dominoes 1970
Considered one of rock music's definitive love songs, it features an unmistakable guitar opening riff that was played by Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. Layla was written by Eric Clapton about his love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend George Harrison from The Beatles. This song became a hit all over again 20 years later when it was a released as a single from Eric Clapton’s famous Unplugged album.
12. Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith 1975
From the bands breakthough album Toys in the Attic, this song was the first one to achieve major mainstream success for American rockers Aerosmith. The song was loosely based on some of the internal turmoil that was going on amongst the wives of the band members. Ever since its inception, the song has been a live staple at Aerosmith concerts, and even to this day, the band almost never omits it from the setlist.
11. Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers 1991
Like Metallica, the Red Hot Chili Peppers spent years developing a loyal but small fan base. That all changed in 1991 with their commercial break through album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Under the Bridge is a reflection on vocalist Anthony Kiedis’ drug addiction. It remains their most succesful song, peaking at number 2 on the charts.
10. You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC 1980
In 1980 AC/DC was reeling from the death of its legendary lead singer Bon Scott. The band considered breaking up, but ultimately decided to continue after hiring Brian Johnson as new singer and lyricist. Amazingly the first album from the new AC/DC lineup, Back in Black became their most succesful and an instant classic. Driven by songs like “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Hells Bells”, and the title track, international sales of Back in Black ascend to more than 42 million copies, making it the second most sold disc of all time after “Thriller” by Michael Jackson.
9. Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who 1971
The second song on the chart to come from The Who’s 1971 album, Who’s Next. Written by Who guitarist Pete Townshend. The song famously mixes organs against massive guitar power chords, leading up to an extended synthesizer break into a drum entrance followed by a massive scream. Roger Daltrey’s scream from Won’t Get Fooled Again is perhaps the most famous bellow in the history of rock music.
8. More Than a Feeling – Boston 1976
The inspiration for this blog, and for my money, just about the “perfect” rock song. It features incredible vocals from Brad Delp, stellar guitar work from Tom Scholz, and a huge sing along hook for a chourus. The most popular of all of the Boston tracks, it has helped their 1976 debut album sell over 17 million copies worldwide.
7. Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses 1988
The opening guitar chord progression on this track by G N’ R guitarist Slash is unmistakeable. Guns and Roses was a relatively unknown L.A. band until the release of their album, Appetite for Destruction. Intial response to the album was lukewarm until Sweet Child O’ Mine was released as a single. It shot all of the way to number one by September of 1988 and propelled Appetite for Destruction to sales in excess of 25 million copies
6. Hotel California – Eagles 1976
From the smash album of the same name, Hotel California is a complex song with themes of addiction, materialism, and the 1970’s Southern California lifestyle. Known for it’s guitar solos that are performed by both Joe Walsh and Don Felder, Hotel California was a grammy award winner and an overwhelming critical and commercial success.
5. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen 1975
Without question, Born to Run has become the signature song for Bruce Springsteen. “The Boss” had released two albums prior to Born to Run to vast critical acclaim but with little to show in actual sales. Both the album and single of Born to Run changed all that. Springsteen has said that he wrote the song with a desperate feeling to make something big out of his music career. The lyrics are written to a fictious girl named Wendy, and they echo those desperate sentiments: “We gotta get out while we're young, 'cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run.”
4. Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd 1973
This epics theme was originally conceived by Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins after his steady girlfriend, who realized that the band would always come first, kept asking him questions like, “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?” After the 1977 plane crash that killed Skynyrd band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines along with assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray, the song took on mythical proportions as the legendary story of Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to be told to each new generation of rock fans.
3. Smells like Teen Spirit – Nirvana 1991
Simply put, this song changed absolutely everything. From the seminal album Nevermind, Smells Like Teen Spirit sent a seismic shock wave across the rock music landscape. It put the sound of the 1980’s firmly in its grave and ushered in an entire era of new music. With the possible exception of Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” I don’t think another single song has ever changed things the way this one did from the then previously unknown Seattle trio.
2 Hey Jude – The Beatles 1968*
* This will be my one exception to my, “1970 rule.” I just don’t think I can have a top 25 list like this without including a song from the Beatles. I’ll skirt my way around my rule by virtue of the fact that the song was covered by several artists after 1970, including versions by Elvis Presley and the Grateful Dead. Originally titled "Hey Jules", it was written by Paul McCartney to comfort John Lennon's son Julian when Lennon and his first wife, Cynthia Powell, were divorced. Despite being over 7 minutes long, it lasted two weeks at number one in the British charts, and spent nine weeks as number one in the United States, the longest spell at the top of the American charts for a Beatles single.
1.Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin 1971
What? You actually expected something else to be number 1? No way. This Led Zeppelin classic is the undisputed king of kings. In the history of FM radio, no song has received more airplay then Stairway to Heaven. Despite pressure from Atlantic Records, the band would not authorize the editing of the lenghty song for single release, making Stairway to Heaven one of the most well-known and popular rock songs never to have been actually released as a single. The extended Jimmy Page guitar solo in the song's final section was played for the recording on a classic 1958 Fender Telecaster guitar. Three different solos were recorded with Page agonizing about deciding which one to keep. It’s safe to say that Jimmy made the right decision. On a personal note, I was always amazed when I was a disc jockey about the amount of continual requests I would get for, “Stairway” a song that at the time was 20 years old. Finally it occurred to me that every day there was a new young rock fan being turned on to this song for the first time, and being as blown away by it as I was when I first heard it. As long as there are people playing rock music, there will be people playing Stairway to Heaven.
Well there you go, for better or worse, my top 25.
I’ll close with a nod to a guy I listened to on the radio every weekend growing up…the all-time countdown king….. Some of you will know exactly where I’m going with this…….
”Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.”
