Greatest classic rock ever? Tough call. But here are a few of my favs: CCR’s “Down on the Corner,” the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout,” the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride,” Three Dog Night’s “Celebrate,” and the Kingsmen’s “Louie, Louie.” How about you? Favorite classic rock song? Note to ACU grad students who read this blog: by “classic” I’m talking well before 1990. Likely before you were born! 
Do Simon & Garfunkel count? ‘Cause I like just about anything of theirs. Unfortunately, I wasn’t born till ‘79, so I’m not even 100% sure what era they fall mostly into…
But then again, I’m also a big fan of “When I’m 64,” by the Beatles. And “Eve of Destruction” by Barry Maguire. (I think?) I dunno.
I’m beginning to think all this generational stuff is bunk anyway. I’m only 24 and they’re already marketing my childhood as nostalgia.
The Greatest ever has to be, in my humble opinion, Drift Away by someone who though I cannot remember their name should have a Saint in front of it for that little piece of musical ambrosia.
“Drift Away” is by Dobie Gray. Or is it Gillis??
My favorite of all time is Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams”. I still cry at the end — starting right around “but just before the dawn…”
I really, really like “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones, with all the rebellious implications that come with loving it. (Do I only love it because it might annoy my parents?) Nah — I just like the song.
Props (forgive me, but I do teach 13-year-olds) to “In Dreams”; I also greatly enjoy every song (yes, even “Squeezebox”) that the Who has ever done. Mad props to those 70’s one-off power rock bands as well: Golden Earring, Go West, Rush, Boston — you know them all, and Ted Nugent has opened for each and every one of them.
How about anything by Stevie Ray Vaughn? I don’t know if he counts as rock, but he’s up there on the list of classics.
And I’m amazed that “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen wasn’t mentioned. Wayne’s World might be a little young for some readers, but for some, it introduced big-hair rock to a whole generation of Nirvana and Pearl Jam fans.
I’ve got to put in a vote for STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. Led Zeppelin scored big with this one. Of course, the ballad nature of the song and it’s length, keeps it from being played much on the classic rock stations
Nobody rocked like Debby Boone. Ten weeks in a row at #1 with “You Light Up My Life,” bay-bay! That piano riff at the beginning may be the finest 12 seconds in recorded music history. And the stories of how she threw back milk with her groupies ’til they all got a lactose buzz and cleaning up her hotel bedroom before maid service could get there only added to that image of the hard-rockin’ lifestyle.
“House of the Rising Sun.”
“Southern Man.”
How about a category for softer stuff, like James Taylor and the aforementioned Simon & Garfunkel?
Great suggestions. Oh, yeah — I just got started. I didn’t even begin to share my love for Buffett, James Taylor, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, etc.
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Jimmy Buffett, now there’s brilliance incarnate. Or… something. I have a suspicion that too much time spent in Margaritaville inspired greats like Cheeseburger in Paradise, but I could be wrong.
Someone mentioned Willie Nelson — I don’t think he counts as a “rocker,” per se, but he does qualify as someone who was singing long before I was born. I have to confess, I love the song Whiskey for My Men (Beer for My Horses), even if it is about revenge/retribution/rogue justice. (Of course, Smokin’ Weed with Willie is also questionable on a moral level, but an absolutely hilarious song, as far as that goes.)
Tim McGraw recently did a remake of Tiny Dancer that I like a lot, too. But I liked the original anyway, so I’m thinkin’ as long as it’s not butchered, I’m likely to enjoy it by nearly anyone.
What? No CHIEFTANS?
My rebellious self loves Molly Hatchet, Flirting with Disaster
Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” which poetically tell about mens true love, cars.
ZZ TOP’S LA GRANGE
My personal favorite: “Life in the Fast Lane” courtesy of The Eagles. It’s the BEST for my 6 AM run!
“Do Feel Like We Do?”
By Peter Frampton
Anything Eagles. Anything Simon and Garfunkel. But come on…someone wrote about Debby Boone. Who wrote that? Admit it! It was Dickie Porche. I know it was.
I’m just glad that there’s finally a place on the world wide web where it’s safe to talk about issues of such magnitude. Thanks, Mike, for caring about the important things that touch each of us every day. Thanks for building this blog/city on rock and roll.
What about Crosby, Stills, and Nash? James Taylor was/is pretty “dope.” (word to yo motha) Ok, so that language doesn’t fit these artist, but I try to keep in touch with both my past and my present.
I’ve not heard such great names as Pink Floyd or Rush. Granted I was very young back in the 70’s early 80’s, but please don’t tell me what my big brother liked, and therefore what I learned to like was not cool.
The Debby Boone/”You Light Up My Life” comment was probably by her cousin, Grant …
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Free Ride by Edgar Winter. It brings back memories of a long term (two weeks) high school infatuation with Sonya, while we were riding around with friends in a VW convertible with the top down. As I later thought about the words, it could have been written by Jesus: “The mountain is high, the valley is low, and you’re confused on which way to go. But I’ve come here to give you a hand, and lead you into the promised land…. Come on, and take a free ride,” (GRACE?) “yeah yeah yeah yeah” (neat guitar riff), repeat. At least the first verse is very spiritual, and I can’t remember the words to the second. Also, I can’t quite picture Jesus saying yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But other than that, it fits.
……..Don Eudaly, Arkansas
Clarissa, I resent your accusation, especially the accuracy of it.
Aha — so you resemble that remark.
I was at Madison as a small child — 4 years younger than you, if you’re wondering who on earth I am and how I know that info.
Glad I was right.
I’d like to apologize for my smarmy comment a few comments ago. I’ve been feeling guilty about it, and I realize that I give love a bad name.
I recently had a conversation with a group of college buddies that fell along these lines. If you had to explain rock n roll to an alien life form by playing it 5 songs, what would they be? My list: “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones, “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, “Rock N Roll” by Led Zeppelin, “Johnny Be Good” by Chuck Berry, and “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan. Other favorites run throughout your list and other comments listed. Didn’t think I saw Elvis Costello anywhere. He’s a fav. Bruce Cockburn, Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne are others. There is simply so much good music out there. Your list rocks. Good stuff.
I’d have to go with Led Zepplin’s “Fool in the Rain.” A lot of folks might not think of it as a pure rock song, but it’s just such unadulterated musical genius, I have to bring it up.
Oh, and “Born to Run.”
Since JT has already been mentioned…….I am going to go with “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens…..or ANY song off the “Tea for the Tillerman” album. A close second is anything off of Carole King’s “Tapestry” album. Thirdly, Don McLean’s “Castles in the Air” is a song that should be in some Hall of Fame. Speaking of, how did he go from being THE MAN to obscurity?
Thanks Mike for generating good memories!
DU
speaking of Don McLean, how about American Pie. There is a web site detailing every line of the song, and how it relates to Rock and Roll history, mostly of the 60’s. very interesting stuff, but I don’t remember where it is. go look for it.
de
For fun whimsy, Six String Music by Buffett is stellar. As for the king, Bruce: Thunder Road (acoustic version) speaks volumes.
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