One best rock song of all time, and why.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 09:43 AM

Dang, Manic, you ought to get that shanty on video and on YouTube. Gotta see it.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Manicmick
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 10:56 AM

Not sure if the greatest rock song but I have sung Pinball Wizard by the Who in a folk club, as a SHANTY!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Giant Folk Eyeball (inactive)
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 06:51 PM

For me it has to be 'White Man in Hammersmith Palais' by the Clash. It completely blew me away when I first heard it and even now I only have to hear the opening bars and I'm back to being a snotty fourteen year old with a safety pin through the lapel of his school blazer...

And yeah, of course they were a folk band!

As for the best ever of all time blah blah either no such record exists or a hundred thousand variants exist. see, it all depends if we're talking about your best or mine!

Cheers

Nigel

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 06:07 PM

"Tutti Frutti" ~ by "El"?????

What about Little Richard? His "Tutti Frutti" was the orignal and definitive recording, and a plausible nomination for "all-time best." All subsequent covers are pale imitations ~ not only Pat Boone's but anyone's ~ even The King's.

I liked the belated mention of "You Really Got Me," and appreciated the reasoning behind it. A truly monumental musical accomplishment. Ray Davies became a part-time New Orleanian in recent years, and famously fought off a mugger in the French Quarter not long ago; that makes him and his work even dearer to my heart then ever. (Although I'm not sure if he's been back here at all since Katrina.)

I was also glad to see mention of "The Weight," as well as a couple of other contributions by The Band, longtime faves of mine. However, much as I love "Long Black Veil" ~ a regular part of my own repertoire ~ I don't think of it as a "rock song." It's a beautifully crafted bit of commercial Nashville C&W, and quite a convincing imitation of a real folk song, but not "rock," except insofar as it became identified with its performance by an ensemble that was an important part of rock history.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Leadbelly
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 01:56 PM

Thanks, David. El made r&r most popular. All others are imitators. Some of them produced real good r&r songs. But El made the best of it as to Tutti Frutti and other songs. Do remember his perfect voice in regard of this style of music.

PS.: From decade to decade many others made an excellent contribution to r&r. Nevertheless, El was the king. And because of this most of his r&r songs are king-size.

The same goes for Lonnie's Cumberland Gap. He was and still is the king of skiffle. Like El he wasn't the first to play this music but both have been the best.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 01:32 PM

The Thread Heading specifies ONE best rock song and i believe that was the challenging part. To come up with just one. I've always said that if I said this song or that song was my favorite, I could only mean it is my favorite today. Yesterday it was some other song as it will be tomorrow. That being said I'll try to name one song.
    Since there seems to be a differenciation being made between Rock and Rock&Roll(I've haven't seen anyone define the difference yet) I will name the song that, to me, was the first Rock (not R&R) song by the first Rock (not R&R) band. I think someone else named the song as a cover but I have to go with the original. Besides this band in particular is the most underrated of all time and deserves some props.
The fact that in a thread this old and this long they haven't even been mentioned till now bears this out.
    So Ladies and Gentleman I give you the best rock song of all
time:

       "You Really Got Me" by THE KINKS

    Hey people were talking 1964 here and they were deffinitely taking Rock Music to new heights.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,The Ballad of the Bold Researcher
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 01:12 PM

I always thought The Clash were folk, but...never mind *LOL*

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 12:39 PM

This is all very interesting but, for any rock afficionado, isn't it rather like asking "What was the best air you ever breathed, and why?"

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Banjiman
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 11:52 AM

God Save The Queen The Sex Pistols, Bankrobber by The Clash or maybe Motorhead by Motorhead........no more than 3 chords...... almost like folk songs!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,The Ballad of the Bold Researcher
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 11:46 AM

Of all time is a wee bit too broad, it's like those half-arsed rock music magazines, a variation on a theme...anyway, a great song is The Band's version of I Shall Be Released and also their version of Long Black Veil.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: David C. Carter
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 11:33 AM

I go along with Leadbelly on-Tutti Frutti.

David

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Ermintruder
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 09:54 AM

Aerosmith the best band ever? Pah! The world already has the Stones, it doesn't need an American karaoke version!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Guest, Kyle
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 08:00 PM

I'd have to say the best rock song of all time is "Hotel California" by the Eagles. The guitar music at the end of that song is just plain awesome, and every time I hear that song I think about nothing else while listening to it.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Leadbelly
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 04:01 PM

Mostly forgotten, the early beginning. What about Tutti Frutti by El? That's rock and roll, dear friends...

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,squeezyhel
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 03:25 PM

In the interests of being vaguely original, "Dream On" by Aerosmith, mainly because they are the best rock band in the world ever and partly because I just really like the lyrics...

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: mrmoe
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 02:17 PM

Introduction to Sweet Jane - Lou Reed
River deep mountain high - Ike & Tina Turner

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: bankley
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 01:29 PM

"of all time"??    those are long hours, no ?

wait a sec, it might not seem like it, but there's still some time left... on the Mystery Train...

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:50 PM

Sorry if someone's already submitted it, but - THE WEIGHT by THE BAND - the all time best rock & roll band in my opinion followed closely by The Allman Bros. Statesborough Blues.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Wayne
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 09:22 AM

Time For Me To Fly - R.E.O. Speedwagon. Simply glorious!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:18 PM

you guys are fruit cakes with bad songs its about this ones

him - wings of a butterfly
almost all of breaking benjamin
perfect circle - 3 libras
and some of tool

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: John O'L
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 09:32 AM

'Rocks Off' by The Rolling Stones

If for no other reason, then because of the line 'The sunshine bores the daylights outta me' - pure rock & roll.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Allen in Oz
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 10:25 PM

Anything by Chuck Berry and the Muleskinner Blues by the Fendermen
Also " Lotta Lovin " by Gene Vincent
AD 1943

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Gene
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 10:14 PM

Yea! Spaw & frogprince! They fit 'Right In' too.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: number 6
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 09:25 PM

alanabit ... My post regarding "I aint Superstitious" is relevant to the subject of this thread. I certainly would never dispute Willie Dixon's contribution to this song, I mean, it is his after all. Willie's blues version I favour over Beck's rock version. But Beck's is certainly one rocker.

sIx

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: frogprince
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 08:00 PM

Big Rock Candy Mountain

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 07:12 PM

Excellent choices Gene, but for sheer staying power over the years, I'll go with "Rock of Ages"...............

Spaw

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Gene
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 06:44 PM

My favorite Rock song of all times is any one of these.

Rock-y Top
There's a Big Rock in the road
Rock-in' alone in an old Rock-in' chair
Rock all the babies to sleep
Rock-a-bye Boogie

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: alanabit
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 12:24 PM

Er... Didn't Willie Dixon have something to do with that song too?

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: number 6
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 11:32 AM

The best rock song of all time ... "I aint Superstitious" by Jeff Beck.

and why ... well, in the genre of what I think is 'rock music .. electric, strong vocals,heavy bass, hard driving beat' it fits the bill ... just listen to it and that explains why I chose it.

sIx

Subject: Lyr Add: THUMBING MY WAY (Pearl Jam)
From: Peace
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 11:15 AM

Pearl Jam - Thumbing My Way Lyrics:

i have not been home since you left long ago
i'm thumbing my way back to heaven
counting steps, walking backwards on the road
i'm counting my way back to heaven
i can't be free with what's locked inside of me
if there was a key, you took it in your hand
there's no wrong or right, but i'm sure there's good and bad
the questions linger overhead
no matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead
i'm thumbing my way back to heaven
i wish that i could hold you
i wish that i had
thinking 'bout heaven
i let go of a rope, thinking that's what held me back
and in time i've realized, it's now wrapped around my neck
i can't see what's next, from this lonely overpass
hang my head and count my steps, as another car goes past
all the rusted signs we ignore throughout our lives
choosing the shiny ones instead
i turned my back, now there's no turning back
no matter how cold the winter, there's a springtime ahead
i smile, but who am i kidding?
i'm just walking the miles, every once in a while i'll get a ride
i'm thumbing my way back to heaven
thumbing my way back to heaven
i'm thumbing my way back to heaven...


mp3 here.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,RAB
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 10:38 AM

maybe not THE BEST, but one of my favs right now is perla jam "thumbing my way" check it out if u havent heard it

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Peace
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 02:44 PM

"(yaknowhatimsayn'?)"

That's the phrase I was lookin' for. Thanks, Bill, 'stanwhamsayin'?

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 23 Nov 05 - 09:42 AM

All of The White Stripes last two albums, also their live DVD recorded in Blackpool last year.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:37 PM

Madam George, Van Morrison. Powderfinger, Neil Young, The Wall, Pink Floyd, We Are The Champions, Queen. Good Golly Miss Molly, Little Richard. When A Man Loves A Woman, Percy Sledge. Satisfaction, The Stones. Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley. The Trouble With Normal, Bruce Cockburn.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 12:06 PM

*sigh*................. (yaknowhatimsayn'?)

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Peace
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 11:09 AM

This thread does have a way of coming back now and then. There's a repressed rock and roller in lots of us I guess.

One that's classic is "Walk, Don't Run" by the Ventures. I have never cared for "Stairway to Heaven", but that's because I was stoned at the time it was released and I associate the song with a mouthful of beer from a bottle people had been using as an ashtray. It wasn't the cigarette taste that got me. That I coulda put up with. But flat Budweiser just don't cut it. Gnome mean?

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: rhyzla
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 09:41 AM

Watchtower by Hendrix - nothing better!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: David C. Carter
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 08:46 AM

"Muleskinner Blues",Paul Fender and the Fendermen.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: David C. Carter
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 08:41 AM

"Muleskinner blues" Paul Fender and the Fendermen.The rest of the CD's crap though.

Subject: RE: One best song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,sherwin
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 01:12 AM

no question, The Beatles got the world inculturated by their music. "Something" by George Harrison may be the best ever. Complete package right?

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,Black Rocker
Date: 27 Mar 05 - 06:25 PM

Id have to say Van Halen's version of You Really Got Me which has great pedigree, yet also stands as a virtuoso guitar piece (if you include Eruption). Tied for first has to be Stairway to Heaven, which as someone said, is known world wide, is virtuosic, melodic, powerful and mysterious. But I like the other choices too.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 16 Dec 04 - 02:39 AM

There IS a difference between Rock 'n Roll and Rock that's for sure...
So I'd have to go with something from Led Zeppelin (my favourite "Rock" band), but NOT "Stairway". It's a classic, but over-rated I feel...

It's gotta be "Whole Lotta Love"!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,SAVITRI
Date: 16 Dec 04 - 02:28 AM

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From:
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 06:49 AM

ALL PINKFLOYD SONGS ESPECIALLY ECHOES,SHINE ON YOU,MONEY,TIME...

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST,pygmydave
Date: 26 Nov 04 - 07:48 PM

Midnight Rambler.
There is simply no other rock song, post beatles, that comes close..I mean the studio version, not the live one. The contrast with the live version shows what great control and production can do.
The boys are at the top of their game, every part fusing into a snaky, seething, menacing whole. The relentless guitar riff, the harmonica deep and resonating, the sinewy slide guitar, held together by Charley's flawless drumming, beautifully restrained. They avoid going too fast, Charley simply doubling up on the high hat after about 16 bars to increase the tension, and the incredible studio production with just the right amount of echo accentuating the rests and stops as the thing slows down. Mick's hissing and stuttering vocals give the piece a sense of danger and unnervingness that was a premonition of the whole post hippy, pre- Altamont era.
And the lyrics! This is why rap just leaves me cold...

" did you hear about the midnight rambler?
one you never seen before..

Sighin down the wind so sadly
Listen and you'll hear him moan
Talkin bout the midnight rambler
everybody got to go"

This is the definition of rock and roll. the mystery, the danger just under the surface. Even thirty odd years later, I have to pull over if it comes on the radio, my nerves tingling as the echoing harmonica fades out...Elton john? Austen Powers??
Please. anyone who thinks that the sixties and early seventies were like this simply was not ther. It was dangerous and that's all.

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 07:45 PM

BTW- I forgot to say- both are Staus Quo classics!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 07:43 PM

I often find that my rendition of 'Sweet Caroline'+ 'Rockin all over the world' goes down a bomb at every venue we perform- cos it's a real FOLKSONG!

Everyone knows it [not just the folkies!] & often people jump outta their seats & start dancing as well- its a real whizzer!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: PoppaGator
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 04:21 PM

Hey, Bruce, glad to see you back; I noticed your absence in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, and this is the first I've seen of you since. Hope all is well.

"Mountain Jam" is indeed a worthy nominee for this title, although *any* cut from the Allmans' "Live at Fillmore East" could probably qualify, too -- e.g., "Whipping Post" and "Statesboro Blues." I assume that, as a serious student of Southern Rock, you're aware of the "extended" version of that classic album that came out on 2 CDs a few years back, which gave us new and longer jam versions of practically every cut.

Your message also reminded me of another notable guitar duet featuring Duane Allman: "Layla." If nobody's mentioned THAT memorable number yet, I'd be surprised. I'm sure a lot of folks consider it the best rock song ever. Eric Clapton certainly didn't play with Duane as regularly as Dicky Betts, and the symbiosis may not have been quite as deep, but "Layla," and indeed that whole album, is quite an achievement.

Eric does seem to know a thing or two about playing *together* with other great guitar players -- he's not just a viruoso soloist. His great collaborations with George Harrison (most notably "While My Guitar Gently Weeps") deserve a mention, too.

But hey -- I don't mean to argue against what you're saying. "Mountain Jam" is really something, indeed -- arguably superior to all the other stuff I just mentioned. Especially considering its humble origins in that cute little Donovan ditty!

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 02:05 PM

"Mountain Jam" from The Allman Brothers Band gets my vote. Yeah, I know it's not technically a "song" since it's not sung, but it's based on a song (Donovan's "There Is a Mountain").

Iron Butterfly's "In-a-Gadda-da-Vida" established the extended jam as a valid rock idiom, but "Mountain Jam" proved that it could be art as well. Duane Allman and Dickie Betts were great guitarists individually, but they had a symbiotic relationship that pushed their playing from the merely great into the transcendent. They fed off of each other's playing, making their joint efforts greater than the sum of the two parts that went into them. No other two guitarists have come close to musical symbiosis on the same level. And, though that symbiosis is displayed on most of their recordings, it was most pronounced in live performance and epitomized on "Mountain Jam".

Subject: RE: One best rock song of all time, and why.
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 01:35 PM

Hard to choose one, so I'm going to list two, one instrumental and one with lyrics.

Instrumental:

Still I'm Sad (version by Richie Blackmore and Rainbow)

Absolutely kick ass!

With lyrics:

Money, by Pink Floyd

Both great tunes that significantly enhance an already altered state of consciousness.

Happy Trails