Sometimes I just need to take a break from taxes.
Hear are my top ten pure rock songs of all time in no particular order:
- Barracuda - Heart – The first and only great chick rock band. Crazy on You and Magic Man aren’t far behind this one. If you said the Dixie Chicks, shut up and listen: You deserve to be waterboarded then renditioned to Egypt.
- Radio Gaga – Queen – I could have put a half dozen Queen songs on this list, but I chose this one because, well, who the hell else was genius enough to pay a rock and roll tribute to radio?
- Black Dog - Led Zeppelin – Just listen to it. Robert Plant had the greatest rock and roll voice ever. ‘Nuff said.
- American Woman - Guess Who – Burton Cummings is one of the most underrated male vocalists in rock and roll history.
- We Belong - Pat Benatar – Because the song is awesome and she’s sexy as hell. Do something about it.
- Piece of my Heart- Janis Joplin – Has there ever been a white woman who sang with this much soul? I mean before Miley Cyrus.
- Who are You? - The Who – A pure rock band. Daltrey’s vocals are superb and Townsend plays the guitar as effortlessly as I breathe.
- Come Together – The Beatles – They weren’t the purest of rock bands, but they could do it when they wanted to. I also considered Don’t Let me Down, Helter Skelter and Get Back for this slot.
- Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John – It’s long, but worth every second. The first part is instrumental, but you must listen to the whole thing to get the true experience. And if you don’t, you’re probably a fascist.
- Maybe I’m Amazed - Paul McCartney – Thanks to Yoko this tour de force was about a year too late to be yet another Beatles mega-hit. If it had been released as a Beatles song rather than a McCartney solo, it would have gotten the respect it deserves. Probably McCartney’s best vocals ever.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Amy // Jul 1, 2010 at 2:43 pm
The Who had Keith Moon back in the days they did Who Are You. His drumming was a HUGE influence on why they sounded so great. Love that Elton John song, too!
2 Peter // Jul 2, 2010 at 12:06 am
Amy,
Thanks for the input. Keith Moon was talented but a little off his rocker.
Did you see the movie Tommy?
3 Amy // Jul 3, 2010 at 10:47 am
I think I saw it years ago. I had a music teacher in 7th grade who took us through the Who’s LP Tommy and explained it. What did you think of it?
The more I listen to the rock music I love, the more I notice the percussion. The rock I think is just so so has the most predictable drumming, and the rock that I find intriguing and exciting has intricate rhythms. Elton John’s drummer Ray Cooper, fro example. I’m beginning to think the drummers are the underrated, taken for granted stars in the show…
Just a theory I’m trying out for a while..
4 Peter // Jul 3, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Amy,
I liked the movie Tommy. It was kind of a cult classic for my generation… very strange.
I think you’re right about drummers. Ringo Starr never got enough credit, but I read somewhere that Paul McCartney thought the Beatles would not have been nearly as good without him. He said he was the perfect drummer for them.
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