Best R & R song ever?

[dennis thompson]

While working in the shop today I heard what I regard as the best Rock & Roll song ever (I'm showing my age here) it's "Rave On" by Buddy Holly.:)
What's your favorite?
Thanks
Dennis

[Scott Loven]

Smoke on the water.

Scott
Class of 74

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Having to pick one is like trying to pick your favorite child.

My 150+ CD collection from 1964-1978..........If I could only select one group....The Beatles recordings.....of maybe some Buddy Holly songs?

[Judy Kingery]

Dennis,

Ken captured it for me because I love so many kinds of music, including classic rock, that it would be impossible to pick which one's the best in my book. My husband would agree with Scott's choice, although he too, would have dozens of 'favorites.' I like everything from 'Magic Carpet Ride, (Steppenwolfe) to Motown stuff, some classical music to hymns. Folk to alternative music. I like everything from the late 50's and throughout the 60's. Fun to see what folks'll say!

Jude

[Matt Ocel]

Born to Run.

What about best rock and roll screamer.
David lee Roth
With Axel Rose and Roger Daultry A close second

What about best guitar riff.
Keith Richards in Sympathy for the Devil.

[Doug Shepard]

gotta go with the one named R & R by Led Zepellin.

[Bill Huber]

I hate to say it but you are all wrong.

Now we are talking real Rock and Roll, not that stuff from across the water that they call Rock and Roll.

So its got to be Jerry Lee Lewis and Great Balls Of Fire.... Now that is real Rock and Roll.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Jim Becker]

'Can't say I have a favorite, honestly. I was a "Yes head" when I was a teen and didn't listen to too much of the more "rock" bands; more progressives. But I like almost anything outside of really hard, hard, hard stuff or punk. Even many of the so-called "oldies"... :)

I'm particularly happy with the Pretenders having new material officially coming out on the 7th. I've already downloaded most of the tracks as they have been offered for free online.

[Greg Peterson]

Well, after careful consideration and extensive research, I've come to the conclusion that the greatest R-n-R piece was not a song, but rather a cohesive collection of songs. The work is by The Beatles and the album is Abbey Road. Specifically side two, but the entire album is stunning.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I was playing in a class f- rock band when the Beatles came across the pond. I was so, so, so, so tired of playing "Johnny Be Goode". And unless you had horns as in a real band, the other stuff was almost impossible to do well. The Beatles 4 piece style of R&R music was so refreshing!

So Huber....You are wrong!

[Eric Larsen]

I've always thought the most quintessentially "pure" rock 'n' roll song is "James Dean," by the Eagles. It's the right length, the right arrangement, non-preachy, and will never go stale.

Then again, I listen to Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and Alan Parsons most of the time.

Eric

PS -- For best rock composition ever written (regardless of length) Jeff Wayne's "War of the Worlds." Not even a question in my mind. Best thing humankind has created musically since Aaron Copeland died.

[John Shuk]

Anything but Stairway to Heaven.

[Joe Petersen]

Me and my son both choose "Long way to the top" by ACDC.
Not a classic greatest song by most peoples standards, but has everything.

[Doug Shepard]

...I was a "Yes head" when I was a teen and didn't listen to too much of the more "rock" bands; more progressives....

Same here. Saw them and ELP a couple times each. King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Genesis (early with P.Gabriel) were favs too.

[Bill Arnold]

When I'm in the shop, I'll listen to CDs from Chicago, Shania, Eagles, CCR, Faith, Moody Blues, Jon Secada and even Melissa Etheridge! When we want some background music in the house, it'll be Acoustic Alchemy or maybe a classic set with ocean or storm sounds. My wife likes anything from Tina (after Ike was out of the picture) and Cher.

[Clifford Mescher]

"Before anyone did anything, Elvis did everything." Too many favorites to choose just one. Clifford

[David DeCristoforo]

"... The Beatles 4 piece style of R&R music was so refreshing...So Huber....You are wrong!..."

No... Huber is right. "The Beatles started out imitating the "real" rock and roll bands. There is a big difference between "Rock" and "Rock and Roll". Fats, Buddy, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee... those guys played rock and roll. Zep? ACDC? Van Halen? Steely Dan? The Eagles? Well maybe you like those bands and maybe you don't but they did not play "pure" rock and roll.

[Greg Peterson]

Not sure if Elvis did everything. If you mean singing, gyrating and B movies, then you are correct.

The Beatles, in their very short career as The Beatles, covered more ground musically than any band or musician I can think of. the breadth of their catalog is immense.

I'll give young Elvis is props, but his career lasted about eight years to long.

When I'm 64
Paperback Writer
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Helter Skelter
Michelle
Norwegian Wood
O Darling

[Clifford Mescher]

I'll give the beatles their due, but even John Lennon said it was Elvis that inspired him to get into music. How many "B" movies did Beatles make?:rolleyes:Clifford

[Ken Fitzgerald]

David....Some of the best renditions of Holly, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins and other R&R'ers IMHO were done by the Beatles. They copied the instrumentals portions closely but the Beatles vocal harmony I preferred.

That's what is interesting about music and art. It's subjective. There is no definitive objective measurement. It is simply a matter of taste.

Kinda like my wife of 40 years, me and pizza. She takes the time to pick the mushrooms off and I can't get enough.

[David G Baker]

No one mentioned Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" :D
My likes vary from day to day so I spend a lot of time on YouTube researching the oldies hoping to find a video. I listen to a lot of the older Country music.
Right now my favorite is Brandi Carlile.

[Randal Stevenson]

"... The Beatles 4 piece style of R&R music was so refreshing...So Huber....You are wrong!..."

No... Huber is right. "The Beatles started out imitating the "real" rock and roll bands. There is a big difference between "Rock" and "Rock and Roll". Fats, Buddy, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee... those guys played rock and roll. Zep? ACDC? Van Halen? Steely Dan? The Eagles? Well maybe you like those bands and maybe you don't but they did not play "pure" rock and roll.

It is hard for me to pick an exact timeframe, as I wasn't alive (sorry, real age, and feel age aren't even close), but GENERALLY, to me Rock and Roll ran from the 50's up to 67 (Monteray), after that, it is just Rock. I have heard 64, and more Folk music in between (which I also like), but like I said, I was conceived around the moon landing, so I wasn't there.

I grew up listening to a lot of it, and while I have a MAJOR problem trying to pick ONE song, I could pick one artist that I listened to more of his stuff and prefered. Fat's Domino.


Same here. Saw them and ELP a couple times each. King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Genesis (early with P.Gabriel) were favs too.

I would like a recommendation of album's or songs of early Gabriel Genesis, I don't remember hearing any of his stuff.
And if you like early works, I would STRONGLY recommend Fleetwood Mac, from the Peter Green era (pre Lindsay and Stevie) listen to the song Man of the World.
But again, I consider this Rock, not Rock and Roll

[Al Willits]

Randal, either the Station Man or Then Play On from Mac were killer LP's, try them if you already haven't.

Hard to pick just one, can't I'm afraid.
Made a list of possibles and it just got to long... :)

Al

[Greg Stanford]

'Rockin Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu'!!!!!

g

[Tim Thomas]

AC/DC - Back in Black: The title track from the best rock and roll album ever recorded.

I listen to a lot of different types of music, depending on my mood. My MP3 player has a bit of everything: big band tunes, jazz (old and new), heavy metal, gangsta rap, pop tunes, singer/songwriter folk tunes, country, etc. But when I think of real, true, simple "Rock and Roll", I think of AC/DC.

Side note: The Beatles will always be pop music to me. I like the Beatles, I like them a lot, but I don't think the Beatles "rock". Their early music was influenced by "skiffle" wasn't it? That hardly sounds like rock and roll to me. :D

[Dave Bender]

My single all-time favorite R&R song that has a catchy tune, is fairly short, and timeless lyrics is Elvis Costello and the Attractions "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" written by Nick Lowe

Some other great turnes that expanded the bounds of R&R

Blue Cheer's "Summertime Blues"

"Little Wing", "Star Spangled Banner", "All Along the Watchtower" by James Marshall Hendrix

"Heroin" by Lou Reed

"Eruption" by Eddie Van Halen. Our jaws all dropped when we heard this tune for the first time. All of my friends spent many nights trying to figure out that first Van Halen album. My goodness Eddie raised the bar with that tune, just like Jimi Hendrix and others did before him.

"Search and Destroy" Iggy and the Stooges

"Peaches En Regalia", "Penguin in Bondage", "The Torture Never Stops", "Why does it Hurt when I Pee", etc. from Frank Zappa

And the entire army of blues and jazz muscians that influenced all of the great rock and rollers of our time. And don't forget to include Mozart, Bartok, Beethoven, and others that came before.

[Wally Lloyd]

One song that does it for me?
Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harem

[David DeCristoforo]

It's odd that with all of the "rock" bands mentioned here (ACDC, Zep, etc.) there's no mention of John Fogerty who simply cannot be left put of any discussion of "rock and roll". I mean just listen to "Almost Saturday Night" or "Bad Moon" and tell me that this is not inspired rock and roll music. Also, a lot of the Nick Lowe / Dave Edmonds stuff has to be on any list of "post 50's" R&R. Hit You Tube and check out songs like "Queen of Hearts", "I Knew the Bride", "The Race is On", etc. Great stuff....

[Belinda Barfield]

Like some of the others, for me there is R & R, then Rock, and I have to include Southern Rock.

R & R - "Chantilly Lace" Jerry Lee Lewis

Rock - "Don't Fear the Reaper" Blue Oyster Cult, "Paint it Black" and "Sympathy for the Devil" The Rolling Stones. Most AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Ozzy. "Enter Sandman" Metallica.

Southern Rock - "Brickyard Road" Lynyrd Skynyrd, "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" The Allman Brothers, "Honeysuckle Blue" and "Straight to Hell" Drivi' N Cryin', "Long Haired Country Boy" Charlie Daniels

Country - Yes, the ever popular Red Neck Anthem - "Family Tradition" Hank, Jr. "Crazy" and "Walkin After Midnight" Patsy Cline.

[Greg Peterson]

I'll give the beatles their due, but even John Lennon said it was Elvis that inspired him to get into music. How many "B" movies did Beatles make?:rolleyes:Clifford

And like a good student, he surpassed the artist that inspired him. Lennon was a master songwriter, singer musician. And coupled with McCartney, produced some of the most memorable, inspiring and enduring songs.

Elvis may have been first, but he wasn't the best, IMO. A one trick pony, and a heck of a trick at that, but still pretty limited.

As for Beatles movies, I think they did five movies, A Hard Days Night, Help!, Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine and Let It Be. Lennon was in How I Won the War, and Ringo did a movie or two, or three.

Across the Universe
Hello Goodbye
Girl
Blackbird
I Am the Walrus
If I Fell
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Revolution

[Clifford Mescher]

Elvis Presley has sold over 1,300,000,000 albums worldwide; more than any other musical artist/group in the world, including The Beatles (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397313/). That is one heck of a trick.:rolleyes:


According to Rolling Stone Magazine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone_Magazine), "it was Elvis who made rock 'n' roll the international language of pop." A PBS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBS) documentary described Presley as "an American music giant of the 20th century who single-handedly changed the course of music and culture in the mid-1950s."[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_impact_of_Elvis_Presley#cite_note-0) His recordings, dance moves, attitude and clothing came to be seen as embodiments of rock and roll. His music was heavily influenced by African-American blues, Christian gospel, and Southern country.
Presley sang both hard driving rockabilly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockabilly), rock and roll (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll) dance songs and ballads (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballad), laying a commercial foundation upon which other rock musicians would build their careers. African-American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_American) performers like Chuck Berry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Berry), Bo Diddley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Diddley), Little Richard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Richard) and Fats Domino (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fats_Domino) came to national prominence after Presley's acceptance among mass audiences of White American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_American) teenagers. Singers like Jerry Lee Lewis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lee_Lewis), the Everly Brothers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everly_Brothers), Buddy Holly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Holly), Johnny Cash (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash), Roy Orbison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Orbison) and others immediately followed in his wake. John Lennon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon) later observed, "Before Elvis, there was nothing." Clifford

PS. Elvis also served his country attaining the rank of Sergeant.

[Greg Peterson]

Abbey Road.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Again.....it's all a matter of taste.......it's subjective........there is not definitive objective measurement.

And is it really important?

Maybe to those who sell music or concert tickets....

In the meantime, I'm going to have lunch and go back to the shop and "Rock On" with my local classic rock station....:D

[Tyler Howell]

The best For jump up and shake it music,
one hit wonder
"Devil With the Blue Dress On"
Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels

[Dave Lehnert]

Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liqT8X6PG3M

Look above the drum riser and you will then know where my aviator comes from.

LONG LIVE THE PRIEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f366/giofer/Albums/judas_priest_-_screaming_for_vengea.jpghttp://judaspriest.com/photo/bomber/vengeance.jpg

[Ken Fitzgerald]

The best For jump up and shake it music,
one hit wonder
"Devil With the Blue Dress On"
Mitch Rider and the Detroit Wheels


But Tyler.....They had more than one hit......and we had a lot less to shake then too!;)

[Clifford Mescher]

We've Gotta Get out of This Place",[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Gotta_Get_Out_of_This_Place#cite_note-0) is a rock song written by Barry Mann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Mann) and Cynthia Weil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Weil) and recorded as a 1965 hit single by The Animals (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Animals). It has become an iconic song of its type and was immensely popular among United States Armed Forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Armed_Forces) during the Vietnam War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War).

My kid brother said they sang it alot over there. Clifford

[Greg Peterson]

Sly and the Family Stone - Everyday People
Three Dog Night - Joy To the World
George Baker Selection - Little Green Bag
EasyBeats (Angus and Malcom's older brother)- Friday on My Mind & I'll Make You Happy

So many great R-n-R songs and artists. Alas, commerce is an inaccurate measure of a song or artists contribution to the soul. To each his own.

[Dylan Smith]

London Calling - The Clash