Title: 20 best songs - my listing
Review: Hi people this is my very first piece that I am putting in on this site. The fact is I dont get enough time(and space to think) to roll through this site. I got a reminder from the site that I had not contributed any stuff(and they being rather polite) - so I thought I must finally take the plunge. Ah! rock - classic rock, heavy rock, hard rock, and then metal - over the years - its been a huge influence on my life. this list aims to cover the anthems through the years - starting from the 60s
*1) Red House - Jimi Hendrix **at a time when the great classic rock bands and guitarists were from britain, it was the realization of the Animals’ bassist Chas Chandler to discover jimi in US(where he was virtually unknown), bring him to UK and set him loose for the rest of the world to discover - he stunned them all - clapton, beck, page, townshend - with shock and awe and the pyrotechnics of his guitar. He redefined the way guitar should be played and how to use effects, feedback, with the gadgets of those days. Red House is a song that epitomizes Jimi at his raging best - check this track from the Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Winterland
*2) White Room - Cream** Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker - form the first supergroup CREAM(power trio) in rock. they were the pioneers of arena rock, filling stadiums, playing extended tracks with long solos. its difficult to choose a song(as there are so many!) but this was the first Cream track that i’d heard. as for Eric - ex-Yardbirds, ex-John Mayall, then Cream, and later Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominoes, before going solo. Now that is one amazing list to have on one’s CV!
*3) Lazy - Deep Purple** the first Purple album that I had heard - Machine Head - a true classic - every track rocks! In this track, the jugalbandhi between Blackmore on axe and Lord on keyboards is a must hear from any youngster with a sense of history. Of course, the anthem - Smoke on the Water, and in the 70s and 80s - many hard rock indian acts covered highway star. my alternate favorites - Space Truckin - a band in bombay - Krysys(Suraj on vocals - what stage act!) covered this track brilliantly, and Pictures of Home
*4) Babe - Led Zeppelin** in the 70s they were regarded as the greatest live act. This song - Babe - is from their very first album. in the days of album oriented rock(where every song counted), their first 4 albums, physical graffiti, hauses of the holy were true classic, and to a lesser degree - Presence, In through the outdoor, and Coda. This song has Page(guitar) showing off his acoustic virtuosity(folk influence), and the raging bluesy vocals of Plant - Plant and Page complemented each other brilliantly.
*5) Wont get fooled again**- the Who each member of this band is an immortal. At that time, keith moon was the greatest rock drummer - and in the 60s the who were the greatest live act - townshend on guitar, daltrey on vocals, and entwhistle on bass. this song is taken from arguably their best album - Who’s Next. Great in lyrics, and in music
*6) Aqualung- Jethro Tull** ian anderson is one the greatest poets/songwriters - a social commentator. I have seen tull perform in’94 and 2004 in india. this song is a crowd favorite and covered by many indian bands of the 80s. it takes a dig at horny old men - sitting on a park bench/eyeing little girls with bad intent!
*7) Sometimes I feel so uninspired - Traffic** Ah! a breath of fresh air - after the heaviness and abstruseness of listening to the earlier bands. the fusion of rhythm and blues, jazz, folk, and african percussion, and the soul-tinged vocals of winwood - traffic had it all. when you are uninspired - this is the song to hear!
*8)When the music’s over - the Doors** jim morrison was god for many - for the guys because of his messianic voice and lyrics, and for the girls because of his looks and sexuality. While there are many doors tracks that can be listed out, I choose this one - for the way it has been expressed by the band - conveying many emotions
*9)Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen** Arguably - the most technically competent rock vocalist - freddie mercury. and what a band! brian may is an amazing guitarist. Queen songs are usually tight and minimal solo pieces - no self indulgence.
*10)In memory of elizabeth reed - Allman Brothers** the band that defined southern rock - a true jamming band - listen to this from live at fillmore - 12 full minutes of it
*11)Persephone - Wishbone Ash** the band that pioneered the concept of twin lead - tinged with melodic riffs, and long instrumental passages - a fascinating track
*12)Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd** the next great southern rock band - this would be the closing track of their concerts. in their heyday, they had 3 guitarists! and the whiskey soaked vocals of ronnie van zant leading them on - hear this from the live set - one more for the road
*13)Carry on Wayward Son - Kansas** Arguably - this groups finest track - great lyrics, complex rhythm patterns
***14)July Morning - Uriah Heep**** Another interesting band from UK - they had many good albums laced with great songs such as Free Me, Return to Fantasy, Easy Livin, Wizard, Lady in Black, and more! this song is a showcase for their virtuoso keyboardist - Ken Hensley. The operatic pitch of David Byron(vocals) is another asset for this influential band
*15)Diamonds and Rust - Joan Baez** Ms. Baez - folk diva(very stunning!), a fragile and lilting voice, who sang songs of protest and was there with Bob Dylan in the early 60s at the vanguard of folk rock. this is a song that sort of trashes Bob!
*16)A Day in the life - Beatles** well - you might think why they are here, and what they are doing way below(this list is in no particular order)- brilliant lyrics - and a sign of the times that was -the 60s
*17)Hotel California - Eagles** this song has been heard by anyone and everyone who listens to western music, and even by those that dont. One of the most creative introductory pieces for any song. An anthem if there ever was .
*18)Moonflower - Santana** what can one say about this band? Todays folk would associate carlos with supernatural. Well - he was more natural in the 60s and 70s - producing great albums and songs. Black magic woman, europa, samba pa ti - too many to mention. and the percussion and rhythm section makes you want to get up and dance. This is my personal favorite - a jazzy instrumental
*19)Dance Away Lover - Head East** an obscure 70s MOR band from US - I am not sure how many would have heard the band or the song(do write in if you do - I am curious) - a hard rocking song - great composition
***20)Highway Song - Blackfoot**** what a song! - its my first choice for an on-the-road song! Blackfoot are a southern rock band but with a much harder edge than Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I am not sure how many readers would have heard them but Rik Medlocke has an amazing vocals and very natural singing style, and plays guitar too. In the Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup of today - he is the front man.
well - this list is personal - I would like your opinion. I have left out songs by Black Sabbath, Dio, Rainbow, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Malmsteen, and other metal bands - next time&n