Hey Robertson,

No soul. Rock is a white man's game.

Yours,
Levon

In order to get the reasoning in, and because I'm still working it out, I'll be doing mine in pieces.

Four Stones songs for me are Contenders: "Satisfaction," "Street Fighting Man," "Gimme Shelter," and "Brown Sugar." "Satisfaction," however, is going to lose out. It may be the song that best meets the objectives of rock, but it isn't the best song: at that stage, the band just isn't as overwhelmingly powerful. Only one of these songs for me is without doubt in the Top Ten, and that's "Gimme Shelter." Great rhythm section, overwhelming power, and finally the female backing vocals. Absolutely unforgettable. "Brown Sugar" is a little too much of a sprinter without "Sway" to follow it, although those two songs together might be The Best Moment In Rock and Roll. But even though "Street Fighting Man" has more long distance capability, it doesn't have quite enough. "Brown Sugar" flies out of the gate and never looks back.

Stones songs in my Top Ten:

Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar

I hear you, but I'm leaving soul in there only to avoid having to field questions about that Dusty in Memphis album again.

Robbie,

Drop soul. It's as distinct as jazz and country.

Yours,
Levon

yeah...this is hard....in no particular order, but as they come to mind...

1. Jumpin' Jack Flash (stones)
2. No Fun (stooges)
3. Road Runner (modern lovers)
4. Anarchy in the U.K. (sex pistols)
5. Revolution (beatles)
6. Whole Lotta Love (zep: icky vocals notwithstanding)
7. I Don't Live Today (hendrix)
8. Like a Rollin' Stone (dylan)
9. Substitute (the who)
10. Sister Anne (mc5)

Gotta get some comments, Saturnismine, or I'm hitting DELETE. You've got 6 hours to come through with comments on your selections. That will leave you plenty of time for soundcheck.

Gotta keep soul in there to prevent fielding questions about The Box Tops' "Cry Like a Baby". Otherwise, someone's bound to ask me, "Does blue-eyed soul count?"

I knew there was a fifth Stones Contender, but I'm a little hazy this morning. "Jumping Jack Flash" is an amazing song. But it's not going to make my Top Ten: there are two versions, and each one has something that the other version doesn't. If there's no definitive version, I'm not going to include it.

Hey Robbie,

Give mwall credit at the Main Stage for coming up with the idea for the list. This isn't Nixon's Head. Idea theft isn't tolerated around these parts.

Yours,
Levon

1. Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones: The Song That Best Satisfies the Objectives of Rock ‘n Roll.
2. Revolution (single version) – The Beatles: The first runner up to the coveted Song That Best Satisfies the Objectives of Rock ‘n Roll award.
3. Garageland – The Clash: My raison d’être regarding my own humble efforts as a musician.
4. Gimme Some Lovin’ – Spencer Davis Group: That octave-note bassline! The heavy downbeat! Young Stevie Winwood’s awesome vocal performance!
5. The Village Green Preservation Society – The Kinks: It’s so hard to write a successful rock manifesto, and Ray Davies did it.
6. Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles: Magical, mystical song, performance, and production. Perhaps the best justification for ‘60s drug culture.
7. Substitute – The Who: Fascinating! Townshend uses a tremendous and ground-breaking chord riff and writes lyrics unlike any written before in the history of rock, and then Daltry and the band drive it home. Rock ‘n roll’s first walk on the moon?
8. Rock ‘n Roll – Velvet Underground: The finest meta-rock song ever composed. Beware of the CD versions with 2 measures of crappy guitar chords setting up the amazing guitar fill that sets up the “It was all right” coda. Those 2 measures of reinstated chords are the worst crime committed in the history of CD reissues.
9. I Get Around – Beach Boys: There’s something about this song that never fails to fascinate me. Mike Love gets a lot of abuse, but like Daltry in The Who, he couldn’t have been better suited to expressing a certain cool in the band’s music.
10. Pump it Up – Elvis Costello and the Attractions: A Top 10 selection on purely objective terms. A strong contender for Song That Best Satisfies the Objectives of Rock ‘n Roll.

I'm not sure I want to be credited for this kind of thing, Plurb, but I appreciate the nod.

Although I'm a huge fan, I have to admit that there's only one Velvet Underground song that's finally even a Contender. But "I'm Waiting For The Man" isn't just a Contender. It's a stone cold Top Ten Classic.

It's not just that the rhythm sections pummels the listener into submission. It's not just that the lyrical stance makes it The Coolest Song In Rock and Roll. It's also the texture of the instruments. That "ka-jung" sound on the guitar fill is Heaven in the Midst of Hell.

So far, my Top Ten includes:

Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar
I'm Waiting for the Man

Hey Art,

Every member of the human race would like to know the rationale behind your inclusion of MC5's "Sister Anne."

Hope to hear from you soon,
E. Pluribus

comments? like..."i like this song"..."I like this song too"? gee, what a great idea. mod, as much as you "dread" this whole exercise, so do i. everyone's list has songs i shoulda thunk of.

plurb, what can i say about "sister anne"? it just KILLS me every time i hear it. i almost put "the word" as no. ten, but i have a personal affection for the mc5...i mean, i get emotional about this shit...so i couldn't leave them off. and when ever i hear that stop in the intro, i wanna do a split jump and land just as the band kicks back in. i thought about "lookin' at you" as my representative mc5 song (check this youtube...the moment where they kick in....WOW, dude! don't you wish you were THERE???

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LEi1-FSec24

i do).

long story short, no song on this list gives me the sheer ENERGY that Sister Anne does. It's top ten for me.

1. Jumpin' Jack Flash (stones)
end to end...it's perfect.

2. No Fun (stooges)
maybe one of the best dumb lyrics i've ever heard: "maybe go out...maybe stay home...maybe call ma on the telephone.."

3. Road Runner (modern lovers)

again, the stop is the thing. and he says he's "in love with rock and roll" and you know he means it.

4. Anarchy in the U.K. (sex pistols)

a close contender in the "sheer energy" sweepstakes.

5. Revolution (beatles)
john is king and this is actuallly a "rock and roll" song with hyper distorted guitar.

6. Whole Lotta Love (zep: icky vocals notwithstanding)
gotta have a zep song on here, and i love the way the guitar chords between the solo licks are almost distorted. going into the red, there.

7. I Don't Live Today (hendrix)

over the lyrics "maybe tomorrow...i just can't say", jimi invented hardcore.

8. Like a Rollin' Stone (dylan)
where the sneer reaches perfection.

9. Substitute (the who)
entwistle's bass ruins half of south london. moon's fills ruin the other half. you can hear him yell over his own drumming. this song hates everybody.

10. Sister Anne (mc5)

see above. the anthem of my love for rock and roll, volume, guitar, and feeling THAT WAY about a woman.

i love rock.

i fucking love it.

art

That's all I asked for, Saturn. Thanks.

Saturn delivered. I'm enjoying all of this -- dubious though the enterprise may be -- but I'd rather hear about some genuine love for this music than hemming and hawing, compulsive rule-making and rock objectives.

I'm with you, Oats. Look at the example I set. Look at the example Mwall is setting! How 'bout the rest of you following our lead. How 'bout you, Oats, refraining from commenting on your enjoyment of this exercise and laying your Top 10 on the line, with love!

Believe me, setting the rules for this thread killed me.

Dylan is a tough one for me. He has three Contenders: "Subterranean Homesick Blues," "Positively 4th Street," and "Like a Rolling Stone." "Positively" is the greatest kiss-my-ass song in rock history. But it's context is maybe a little too narrow, so it's not going to pass. "Like A Rolling Stone" comes out less gangbusters than many of my other choices, but it's the classic long distance runner: by the end, it's just carried everything away with it. So it's going in. And "Subterranean"? I'm not ready to decide. I'm going to revisit it when I get down to the final slots.

So far:
Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar
I'm Waiting for the Man
Like A Rolling Stone


Now I'm off to teach a three hour class, and will have to pick this up some time later.

Mark

thanks oats! those comments are definitely dashed off, and there may be misunderstandings as a result (i.e. "revolution" is a rock and roll song....as a opposed to a "rock" song...).

i gotta roll....

art

1 - 'Communication Breakdown', Led Zep
All that punk rock would strive to recapture. Love it as much as I did as a boy!

2 - 'Going Underground', The Jam
ELECTRIC! The slamming sound gets me every time. Too bad the Jam never produced another record this exciting.

3 - 'My Generation', The Who
Hearing this for the first time is a young boy's entry to rock manhood.

4 - 'Brown Sugar', The Stones
The guitar fills on the choruses are underrated; some of my favorite parts on a favorite Stones song.

5 - 'The Wait', The Pretenders
More of those slamming drums and one of Chrissie's sexiest vocals.

6 - 'Down on the Street', The Stooges
Hard to pick one, but this one does a little bit of everything they did best.

7 - 'New Rose', The Damned
Totally moronic, not at all melodic, all rock 'n roll.

8 - 'Revolution Blues', Neil Young
Harrowing lyrics with music to match.

9 - 'Love Comes in Spurts', Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Explosive, funny, jagged, and brief. Sounds like a little car crash.

10 - 'Sweet Leaf', Black Sabbath
When you want to get heavy and amp up the buzz. Many memories are attached to this one.

Okay, I think I have a slightly skewed view of rock. So here we go, in chronological order.

1. "A Hard Day's Night," The Beatles - Starts out unbelievably exciting and then somehow only progresses to get more exciting.

2. "Like a Rolling Stone," Bob Dylan - Once you can detach this song from its overuse in rockumentaries, Dylan's storytelling skills pull you in and urge to look at the song from myriad angles.

3. "Waterloo Sunset," The Kinks - When push comes to shove, my favorite song. The characters in this song are practically a part of rock history themselves.

4. "Baba O'Riley," The Who - Fist-pumping rock at its finest, paying tribute to the outcasts and misfits that helped build this band's platform.

5. "Re-make/Re-model," Roxy Music - Turns rock inside out, while rocking the house itself. Great example of a band using its debut to grab the public by the lapels and shouting "Listen!"

6. "Rednecks," Randy Newman. Ballsier than any guitar-rock. Newman does the thing I really value here, he occupies two seemingly incompatible positions at once.

7. "Heroes," David Bowie. People who aren't sure if Bowie "means it" obviously never really listened to his music.

8. "No Language in our Lungs," XTC. I've been a rock critic for about ten years now, so this song occupies a subject near and dear to my heart: the futility of words.

9. "Lipgloss," Pulp. Another song that truly celebrates a band's oddball audience. A song about heartbreak that defies the tenants of "loser-rock."

10. "Good Weekend," Art Brut. Every piece of this song works, every band member has his/her role down pat. It's all in the service of a song that's so witty and true about a tired rock story that it really feels like a new beginning for me.

In addtion to Mwall’s rules and Mr. Mod’s rules, I’ve added my own;
(1) I’m not putting too much thought into this. Picking the 10 best rock & roll songs is a ludicrous exercise. Next week it would be so different, whether I put 2 minutes thought into it or 2 hours or 2 days. So I put 2 minutes into it.
(2) I’m ignoring Mr. Mod’s acceptance of soul songs. The task is difficult enough as is without that restriction.
(3) The order doesn’t matter. I’m certainly incapable of picking the best rock & roll song and the second best and so on.
(4) Stay as close to straight rock & roll as possible; this ain’t Green Town Hall, we need no hybrids.
(5) There's a lot to be said for a three minute song.


1. The Beatles - “I Saw Her Standing There” – as someone said in the Fab Faux thread, the Beatles are so far ahead of everyone else that this could be any one of a dozen songs. Earlier this week I was listening to recent Macca, though, and thought that he’s never topped this number.
2. T. Rex – “Bang A Gong (Get It On) – Marc Bolan is the Rodney Dangerfield of rock & roll. He had one riff and one theme (boys & girls & sex) but he knew what to do with them. And this song uses that riff and theme as well as any song.
3. Cream – “Crossroads” – I’m on board with all the Clapton dissing of recent days but I think this song is perfect. A classic blues song, totally faithful to the original while totally updating it. While I wish it went on forever I know a large part of its perfection is its brevity.
4. The Rolling Stones – “Satisfaction” – does this need any explanation? There may be a million songs about sexual needs – a classic teenage rock & roll theme – but there aren’t any better than this.
5. Chuck Berry – “Johnny B Good” – you’d think it would have taken years to perfectly encapsulate rock & roll but Chuck did it right at the start.
6. Little Richard – “Good Golly Miss Molly” – boys & girls & sex and what I said about Chuck.
7. The Kinks – “You Really Got Me” – there are a lot of great Kinks songs, including my personal favorite, “Waterloo Sunset”, but this is rock & roll.
8. Mott The Hoople – “All The Young Dudes” – the best Bowie song and the best Mott song (ironic on both sides) and maybe wouldn’t be on my list except that I’ve been listening to Ian Hunter a lot lately.
9. Bruce Springsteen – “Thunder Road” – from before he became a caricature of himself. Wanting something better, not knowing what it is, but knowing you haven’t got it is another classic theme and this one’s nails it perfectly.
10. VU – “Rock & Roll” – my life was saved by rock & roll, gotta figure that’s true for all of us. I probably ought to put the Lou “Rock & Roll Animal” version here because I really love that one but the VU deserve a spot.

"communication breakdown"! wooh!

i want to change my zep entry to "heartbreaker". man...how could i have forgotten that doozer?????

CLAAAAANG!

i agree that vu deserve a spot. i would've given them "what goes on" over "rock and roll" however, because it rocks more...and it might be the first dueling two track guitar solo ... at least, it's the first successful one.

hey, since we all have to give comments, does eplurbs? as i recall, he gave his list, called it the gold standard, and aside from a few other general comments, that was it. mod? am i right?

art

Boy - pure talent - that's me. I stuck my little list in the Band thread, which is weird cuz I thought I was here. Because I can't even work up enough to care if anyone likes or dislikes the band. They're pretty non offensive and that's just not my style. But if you wat to see how many Stones songs I picked - look there!

Here's Whammo's choices! I wanted all tosee what he picked!

Comment from: 2000 man [Member] · http://www.whammoblammo.blogspot.com/

1. Jumpin’ Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones. First, because it flat out kicks ass. Second, because it bends and twists the riff to Satisfaction to absolute perfection. Third, because I was asked to pick a favorite song since I had a favorite band. I really don’t usually do that kind of stuff well, and I’ll change the whole list literally the same day, and mean it just as much.

2. Cracked Actor – David Bowie. I love this song for so many reasons. Huge, chunky riffs. Big, bendy chords. Utterly depraved lyrics. The look in a girl named Mary Jo’s eyes when I put it in the cassette player and turned it up to 11 when we were 16. There’s so much that says, “I’m rock and roll” about this song.

3. It’s Only Rock N’ Roll – The Rolling Stones. They can’t play this one live to save their asses usually, but the studio version is just sublime. Keith starts with just a little rock n’ roll fairy dust, and practically every bar he finds another chord, or singer, or hand clap to add to it until it’s just too much, at which point the song is over. I don’t care if it was really Mick that did it, either. I’m crediting Keith. Because that record gets to the core of why I love the Stones. It’s the last perfect record they ever made (which is fine, because so few people really ever get one perfect).

4. Shake Some Action – The Flamin’ Groovies. I don’t think this could have been any more different than one of my most beloved albums of all time, Teenage Head, than if a different band played on it. Which technically it was. But still, Cyril Jordan’s jangly guitars and the big drum sound just blow me away every time.

5. Louie, Louie – The Kingsmen. Utter lunkheaded rock and roll perfection. Even the fuckup coming out of the bridge is perfect. There’s a reason why every band plays this song, and it’s because if The Kingsmen could do it, then anyone can.

6. Wild Thing – The Troggs. Whatever rock and roll is, is what Wild Thing is. Didya know the dude that wrote that Juice Newton hit, Angel of the Morning wrote it? Wow! Anyway, like Louie, Louie any band can play this and get asses out shakin’ on the dance floor. Even Hendrix, while trying to kill the greatness of Wild Thing with lighter fluid and brute force, still managed to get asses out shakin’. Cuz it’s just a great song.

7. Train Kept A Rollin’ – The Yardbirds. This is the song I discovered The Yardbirds with. I think Jeff Beck had the budget and effects available at the time that would be equal to a rock and a stick today. There’s some fascinating reading about who and how the guitar player for Johnny Burnette’s version is, but we all know Jeff Beck was the guy for The Yardbirds. Jeff Beck sounds like a freight train because Jeff Beck used to actually BE a freight train.

8. Sonic Reducer – Rocket From the Tombs. I gotta show some love for the local kids. Most people would say it was The Dead Boys, but both RFTT releases have better versions on them. I used to stay up until 4AM to hear the college kids play Sonic Reducer when I was a kid. It was so different from all the music my friends listened to, and it still kinda runs through my head on a steady repeat all the time….I got my tele machine…got my ‘lectronic dream…

9. Reelin’ In the Years – Steely Dan. How come no one does guitar solos like this anymore? Where they actually fit in with the song, and complement things rather than totally distract from them. What an unlikely song for a big hit single, and it still sounds just swell to me.

10. Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones. It’s my list. I feel I’ve held back by only including three Stones songs (especially my not including Rip This Joint, which surprises me). But this began the golden era of Jimmy Miller produced Rolling Stones. The standout besides the monster riff is quite possibly the best drum sound anyone has ever gotten down on a record. The Stones can actually pull this one off live pretty well, but the record is just extra special cuz it’s got so much sex in it.

I'd really like to have added some newer songs, but then I think about the "test of time" thing and they just haven't. I hope that changes for me as time goes by. But I sure do like those ten songs.
Permalink 2007-06-22 @ 16:18

Hey Robertson,

No soul. Rock is a white man's game.

Yours,
Levon

Hey Levon,
Why don't you tell that to Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley or Fats Domino, just for starters?

With that said and following that rule, here's what I've come up with:

1) Soft Boys "I Wanna Destroy You" - its genius is that it can be applied to both political and personal matters of various sorts and thus it never gets old or dated; plus it features a great melody, fine guitar solo and a sneering Robyn Hitchcock; how can you go wrong?

2) The Modern Lovers "Someone I Care About" - Others on here have put "Roadrunner" on their list and while I love it and understand its significance and broad appeal, I've always preferred this song from The Modern Lovers s/t debut. One reason I love that album is because it not only defied the conventions of the time, but because of its brazen honesty in doing so. This song is the most perfect manifestation of that and probably the best "nice guy" rock and roll song ever written

3) Elvis Costello "Jack of All Parades" - OK I'm sure that none of you are surprised that Elvis made the list here. This is my favorite song of his, expertly defining his preference for unconditional love over conditional fame. I could also pick "Poor Napoleon" or "Human Hands" or "King Horse" or "White Knuckles" or probably a dozen other EC songs, but ultimately this one is my favorite.

4) The Smiths "There Is a Light that Never Goes Out" - this is the song that really made me fall in love with them when I was 15 and its subject matter is suited very well to the desires of that age

5) The Minutemen "History Lesson Part 2" - I listened to this song twice today and it has the power to almost bring me to tears; possibly the sweetest thing they ever wrote and one of the most moving songs as well; it also gave Michael Azerrad a book title

6) Gang of Four "I Found that Essence Rare" - the perfect distillation of how the personal can intersect with the political; it also gave Bikini Kill a band name

7) The Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter" - do I really have to comment on this? Every note of it is perfect, from the intro to the amazing backing vocals; as a kid I'd get goosebumps listening to the "it's just a shot away... it's just a kiss away" part at the end

8) XTC "Earn Enough for Us" - I couldn't decide whether to put this one or "That's Really Super, Supergirl" on this list; both are works of absolute genius

9) The Stooges "Dirt" - my favorite song on what is possibly the greatest rock and roll album ever made

10) X "Some Other Time" - I could've substituted "Poor Girl" or "It's Who You Know" for this, but ultimately this one is my favorite. When I saw Exene play this with the Original Sinners last December, my jaw nearly dropped because X never play it live; every time I hear it I am transformed and taken to another place and I don't just mean the L.A. river bend. :-)

Good stuff, Townspeeps. I'm shocked! I'm with Al regarding the ignorance of my allowance for soul songs, but I hope he understands I had to do that so no one worries about which category Prince falls under.

Saturn, you make a good point about Eplurbs needing to step up with some comments for his Gold Standard list, but since he posted it in The Band thread, his agent, Scott Boras, probably would find some loophole to get him out of having to comment. Figures!

Matt,

I called up Chuck, Bo, and Fats to let them know that Rock was a white man's game. They didn't appear to have a problem with that.

Talk to ya soon,
E. Pluribus

Hey man,

Just for the record, the whole reason thing is megaretarded. My choices are great because they work on my system like powerful drugs. Ever get one of those steroid shots that gives all your senses a certain hyperawareness? Well, that's how I feel when the stuff of the Gold Standard comes blasting out of the speakers. It's so good, I don't have to think about it. I feel it -the adrenalin, the goosebumps. . . .all that stuff kicks in, even after repeated listenings. And what's funny about all this is the fact that Art of all people, who I've been trying to take the piss out of for the last week or so, is the only one who too took note of the phenomenon.

Know that I nixed any contender that I liked for intellectual reasons. If it didn't make me feel like I was higher than a kite, curbside it went.

And if I hear one more clod, rave on about the joys of the four on the floor beat, I'm gonna scream bloody murder. Said bozos love it because it's the only beat their rhythmically challenged bodies can move to!

Heaven help all of you!
E. Pluribus

10 songs that produce an instant rock woody, all for the reasons EPG cites:

(no order, BTW, and just the first 10 that pop into my head)

1. Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad, Prince
2. Tush, ZZ Top
3. Turn To Stone, ELO
4. Killer Queen, Queen
5. That Is Why, Jellyfish
6. Ready For You, Sloan
7. Problem Child, AC/DC
8. Take It So Hard, Keith Richards
9. Southbound, Thin Lizzy
10. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, Bob Seger

Hrundi,

As of this date, I acknowledge your Charlton Hestonlike manhood for having enough chesthair to present a list like that in a public forum. For the record, are you indeed stating that Prince, the Top, and ELO comprise your holy trinity of rock? I'm aware of your aforemtioned statement regarding the fact that the titles were chosen in no particular order, but one cannot help but point out that the trinity is indeed at the top of the list.

Know that sleep will not be forthcoming until I hear from you.

Yours respectfully,
E. Pluribus

Boy, Hrrundi - I dunno if I can get that rock n' roll woody for Queen, Prince or ELO. In fact, I think I get that survival "turtle" instinct.

But then again, you've got Take It So Hard on there, and that is a real big, tasty pinch of the rock n' roll Skoal right there.

You kinda remind me of a Canadian guy I met in a bar in Mexico that was real fun. But then the next morning he showed up at the pool in a thong.

I just didn't know what to say or do.

Seeing hrunndi's list makes me rest easier regarding my next choice, the one that for me feels most controversial.

Again, I was struck by how many of the Best Moments of Rock were really two songs in juxtaposition, and how many of those songs, without the juxtaposition, weren't quite as good. Along with Purple Haze-Manic Depression, and Brown Sugar-Sway were also things like Holidays in the Sun-Bodies and a few others.

There's one song, however, that seems to understand this split and work with it. Yes, he's on the whole a mediocre musician, but this is his best cut and he's playing with excellent musicians.

The song almost gets in on the strength of its opening blast alone, but when it comes around at the end of the first half to the massed guitars and the highest pitched guitar solo in rock history, it's a huge rush. Even the bit of sloppiness contributes to its just-in-control out of controlness. And the second half, not that interesting on its own, nonetheless is the perfect close out, like having a quality brandy right after... I think you see what I mean.

My Top Ten so far, in no order:

Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar
I'm Waiting for the Man
Like a Rolling Stone
Layla

You can say, forever, that Clapton sucks, and almost all of the time I'm inclined to agree with you. But for my money, he made one of the Top Ten songs in rock history.

Whammo sayz:

"You kinda remind me of a Canadian guy I met in a bar in Mexico that was real fun. But then the next morning he showed up at the pool in a thong. . . .I just didn't know what to say or do."

And this was an unwanted thread?

Whammo, I haven't laughed so hard in ages.

Talk to ya tomorrow!
E. Pluribus

Gentlemen:

I'm truly pleased my little brain fart has elicited such consternation and deep disappointment. Let me just say it like it is, man: this whole concept is a Very Sad Thing. At least, it was, until my man EPG clarified things by saying that his only criteria for rock greatness was that the tunage in question cause instant intestinal rumbling. He quite rightly hooted and jeered at "Lab Coat" McMod for insisting that folks provide "reasons" for choosing their top 10 fave raves. He was strangely silent when Mwall began his endless dissertation on the subtle dark forces behind the parallel universality of album segues, but I cut him some slack for his revolutionary simplicity on the reasons why he selected his top 10. Instant appeal -- that's something I can get to!

Now, as it happens, there are probably ten *thousand* songs that make me go "FUCKIN'A, YEAH!" the moment I hear them, and it makes no sense to try and put them in any kind of order. So, to amuse and enlighten, I chose 10 that I was certain would get Gurgle's Goat. So let it be written, so let it be done.

And, with regard to Whammo's very funny thong story, I reply: trust me, dude; you'll look back on this thread in a couple of weeks and wonder what the hell you all were smoking. Note to all of you who have been spending this day with your pants around your ankles: I've never seen such a nerdy display of adolescent brain power round these parts -- and that's saying something! I mean -- what's next? Do I have to pick my "Desert Island Discs"? SHEESH!

I have to agree with hrunndi that the "fuck yeah" idea isn't enough. There are a lot more than 10 songs that do that. The question is, how do you choose from all the songs that do that, and get down to 10?

The Beatles are a real problem for me. This is the first band that I have to ask myself: Am I bringing them up because I like them or because I'm supposed to like them?

There were never my thing. They were always being foisted on me by The Older Generation, and then I got to college and they were foisted on me again. So I have always heard the Beatles through the haze of my own prejudice. But I do like them, I swear.

Next problem; once you're going to pick Beatles songs, why not put 8 of them on your list? They set a standard of consistent craftsmanship that's tough to match. I'm without much Beatles on CD right now, so when Plurb reminded me of "She Said, She Said," I was thinking goddamnit, that's even another great song. "Hard Day's Night," "Day Tripper," shit. too many choices. Luckily I don't feel quite as disturbed by P's White Album choices.

For me, though, there's one Beatles song that sets the Gold Standard for subtlety in pop music, and it's going on my list. I may come back to the others if I have any space left.


Top Ten so far:

Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar
I'm Waiting for the Man
Like a Rolling Stones
Layla
Norwegian Wood

Oh, and hey Hrunndi? May I say, in the very friendliest way possible, kiss my ass? I asked Plurb a question, he answered it and asked me one in return. You go on and on more than any other single person on this list, blathering about a whole bunch of nonsense day in, day out. You have nothing to say about this subject? Great. Shutting up can be a useful skill in life. Maybe you should practice it now and then.

I hope all of you are happier than clams today. 2000 Man, your thong story clinches the Post of the Week award. It's made this whole excruciating exercise worthwhile. Thank you.

So on my way home I walked by a pile of rubbish by the kerb. I grabbed the pile of 8-tracks, but if anyone wants Eplurb's intellect, it's still out there. Meanwhile, as if this blog needed any more spritzes of Women-B-Gone, we have this thread so redolent of "sword fighting" with streams of urine in the rest room in elementary school. But far be it from me, &c. &c. So OK, Mr. Mod, my list today is this:

1. Beginning to See the Light - VU
In college, a friend had visited and wrote the lines "I wore my teeth in my hand so I could mess the hair of the night..." in light pencil on the wood door of my dorm room. When my roomate's folks came to visit I saw them read it. It was the perfect balance of strange and therefore threatening, but also poetic and not pointedly alienating, so...?

2. Girlfren - Modern Lovers from the "demo tapes" Kim Fowley album. Less fist-pumpy than some others, but it always spoke to me.

3. Baby Me - Buddy Holly
That first piano groove loops you right in and it stays that catchy all the way through.

4. A Quick One While He's Away - the Who (any of several live versions.)
They get full use out of four guys, here. Everybody sings, Moon is sublime, great rave-uppish ending.

5. Street Fighting Man - Stones
That opening guitar is intense, for some reason. Without being one of my most played songs, it accomplishes the goals of Rock and Roll better than many that are in heavier rotation.

6. Ashtray Heart - Beefheart
I tried to leave it at Ice Rose, for it's trombone alone, a redeeming factor. But this one has some of the most astounding vocals anywhere. The poetry, the rawness of his sound. Shit.

7. I'm Gonna Miss You - Hank Ballard
Another vocal that surely lit a flame under James Brown back in the day.

8. Revolution - the Beatles
I'm with Mod, here. This one had me & my brother rocking out around my little sisters Donald Duck record player like madmen.

9. Blitzkrieg Bop - the Ramones
Surely a most efficient meeting of many Rock goals with a minimum of music.

10. July Morning - Uriah Heep
There is an entire branch of rock entertainingly epitomized by the Heep at their best. One of the bands most obviously targeted by Spinal Tap.

No, Slokie wins Post Of the Week with this hilarious jab. I'm still laughing!

Meanwhile, as if this blog needed any more spritzes of Women-B-Gone, we have this thread so redolent of "sword fighting" with streams of urine in the rest room in elementary school.

Mwall sez:

I have to agree with hrunndi that the "fuck yeah" idea isn't enough.

I say:

You aren't agreeing with me at all! The "fuck yeah" idea *is* enough -- that'll get you as many great songs as you need. The fact that it produces thousands to choose from will rain on this "top 10" sausage-fest, but, at the end of the day, Gergs probably doesn't really care.

"No Fun" starts out with one of the chunkiest riffs ever and the song just keeps getting thicker and thicker. Maybe the song seems for a moment like just a sprinter, but the longer it goes, the thicker it gets. The killer moment: "Tell 'em how I feel." it's a song that goes the distance, adding something new every step of the way, while never losing sight of what makes the number rock in the first place.

Top Ten so far:

Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar
I'm Waiting for the Man
Like a Rolling Stones
Layla
Norwegian Wood
No Fun

Hey Mr. Mod, I'm not sure why you find the exercise "excruciating." Aren't you the dumbass who, once upon a time, posted your top 100 rock songs to an old version of this list, complete with paragraph length defenses? It's not my fault you wasted your time doing that--this is the first time I've ever made this kind of list. It's been a fun way to play around on a slow Friday.

Rock is a white man's game.

... said the man with Jimi Hendrix on his list.

Mwall, are you sure Norwegian Wood is rock?

Steve, you're so funny when you're passive aggressive! When you feel like, you know, talking, I'm always glad to listen.

Mwall, I'm glad you're having fun with this, and truth be told, you guys are doing a good job with this. Some great songs have been listed, good rationales, a bit of friendly jousting. I know what's yet to come, though, and it ain't pretty.

Mr. Mod presages:
I know what's yet to come, though, and it ain't pretty.

Man, aside from your youthful regrets that *you* should have played the lead in "Jesus Christ, Superstar," coupled with your healing fixation, is this whole Top Ten Torture (at Gitmo every night, the music they blare at top volume is each inmate's Desert Island List, 1 detainee each night, in numerical order) thing a Chia-Pet Gesthemane? Am I going to log on tomorrow and be exhorted to drink the kool aid? Don't be cryptic.

Mwall, you yourself said Norwegian Wood "sets the Gold Standard for subtlety in pop music," not rock music. Acoustic guitar, sitar, and tambourine ... does it even have bass? I'm not saying it's a bad song, though I think it's a weird choice for the one Beatle song on the list. I'm just saying it's not a rock song.

Dear General,

I'd just like to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your incredibly witty attempts at humor here at the site.

Sincerely,
E. Pluribus

Yes, all we can do is attempt, Gergles. We are glad our efforts are, if not successful, at least noted.

Well, another day, another list, then I'll stop. We're going on vaca tomorrow, and this is some of the stuff that has enabled me to get things in order for going away. An audio espresso, for my ears. Obviously a classic rock thing going on somewhat. But there's the thing. Without RTH, I'm sure I would not have assembled a list of this flavor. So thanks for lending a little oomph to my flagging rawk enthusiasm. G'day, gents (and lady)I'll talk to you all in July. Also I will consider it an irreconcilable difference between me and the universe if I'm checking in on you lot while I'm away. I say that with all due affection and self-accusation.

1. As Safe As Yesterday Is - Humble Pie

2. One of the Boys - Mott the Hoople

3. She Said - Hasil Adkins

4. Yours Is No Disgrace - Yes

5. The Real Thing - the Detroit Cobras

6. Hey Memphis - Laverne Baker

7. Maybe I'm a Leo - Deep Purple

8. Symptom of the Universe - Black Sabbath

9. Kangaroo - Big Star

10. Bad Stuff - Cactus

Have a great trip, General. We'll miss you. When you're back, I'll have to make sure you get a chance to download the Mad Libs prize I'm working on putting together. I can't remember if I've ever tried to push what I've got in the works down your throat before, but I'd be curious to hear your take on it. Maybe I'll have it up there late tonight.

Here's my list, in roughly chronological order. There is one "soul" song, but to my mind it unwinds and hits more like a rock song.

13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me

This is the ultimate garage rock song that in power and Erickson's spine tingling shriek reaches a far above it's B level origins.

The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever -

I tried to stick to rock, but to me this song was the pinnacle of the Beatles achievements. For me it renders Sgt. Pepper's irrelevant because it captures the essence of the Beatle's Pepper era ambition with none of the pretension that crops up over the full album. Also, although the root of the song is an almost Incredible String Band type whifty folk thing, it rocks.

Rolling Stones - Street Fightin' Man

While I am more a fan of the slightly earlier Stones singles, this captures a sound of the band in the maelstrom but aware that they aren't controlling it. No cute, wink-wink, we're so (Sympathy for the) Devilish, but the very middle-class Jagger owning up to his roots over a great acoustic based thunderstorm.

Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane

OK, I understand the appeal of "Rock and Roll" as a potential selection, but for me this one comes closer to describing those same sentiments without being literal. The inherent clumsiness in Reed's delivery is exploited in a way that makes it an asset. The basic verse riff is as classic as Louie Louie.

Aretha Franklin - Rocksteady

I was familiar with this song but one night I heard it booming over the soundsystem at the Mudd Club and it sounded like a cluster bomb. Their were horns goin' off over there, and bass and drums chooglin' over here and Aretha's wail going all over the place. It made quite an impression. I hope you all agree that it rocks.

The Replacements - Unsatisfied

I'll agree that this is a strangely misshapen song, all build and a completely unsatisfying release in the bridge, but hell, isn't that what it's about, unsatisfaction? It's probably not The Song That Best Satisfies the Objectives of Rock ‘n Roll, but it takes the premise of "Satisfaction" and makes it seem real rather than clever.

Prince - Pop Life

Maybe it doesn't rock enough to be here, but here it is. This song sways with a casual attitude that says rock to me. "Did he put your million dollar check in someone else's box?" That kills me.

Mekons - Memphis Egypt

I think Mr. Mod may have said something about this being the sound of middle aged guys with tight waistbands rocking out on Peavey amps or some such thing. He's wrong. It's the sound of the ultimate Loser Rock band kicking up a shitstorm to delay their inevitable defeat. I love Sally's off kilter and off key doubling of Langford's lead vocal. "Destroy your safe and happy life before it is too late."

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Sure, from a distance we can all see the flaws of Nevermind, the fussy production weirdly disguised to give the appearance of unfussiness. But damn this record was great and I think it still is. It hooked me in with its weird blend of Zep like heroics and loser rock attitude. It completely changed my feeling on "Rock" music, which I might have felt I had grown out of at that time.

PJ Harvey - Rid of Me

This song is sexy, scary and it rocks. It goes quite literally from a whisper to a scream. It also quotes Beefheart. What more could you ask for?

matt, slokie, geo: great lists!

gurg: i spend a week goading you into getting pissy about my patronizing tone and YOU were jerkin' MY chain? nice try.

THEN...after i'm the FIRST to say that i based my list on songs that quicken my pulse you respond by trying to coopt my stance by claiming that that was the basis for your list all along? meanwhile you still haven't posted a song by song set of comments for your list. i'd say "nice try again", but this is pathetic, cowardly cyber-community behavior. you should be ashamed.

wanted to add...

personally, i find the inclusion of "strawberry fields" on a list of the ten greatest "rock" songs a bit dubious. I LOVE "SF". But it's too questioning, mellow, and dreamy for me to consider it rock. Listening to that song is like watching a flower bud open, grow, bloom, and die...not something I associate with "rock". In fact, "SF" DOESN'T ROCK. Don't songs on a list of "rock" songs have to rock?

If it IS "rock", then the floodgates are opened for kinds of song I hadn't considerd when compiling my list.

That is, I think I disagree.

I don't know WHAT category I'd put it in, instead, but I'm paying the song a compliment. It's outside of categories, and thinking about it in these terms has maybe given me JUUUST a little understanding of why people spoke in such superlative terms about the "history changing" quality of the Beatles' output at this time.

That is I think I disagree.

plurb,

I don't expect you to respond directly to my latest barbs. your tactic on RTH has generally been the ol' "end around" when I've posted something that "owns" your ass.

and btw, BigSteve, we're not going to let him get out of this "hendrix" thing, either.

Mwall, you yourself said Norwegian Wood "sets the Gold Standard for subtlety in pop music," not rock music. Acoustic guitar, sitar, and tambourine ... does it even have bass? I'm not saying it's a bad song, though I think it's a weird choice for the one Beatle song on the list. I'm just saying it's not a rock song.

Well, I hear that, Steve. But I guess that's one of those "what are the rules here?" things. Was a firm distinction between rock and pop being made in the game? And what is that firm distinction? Are some Beatles songs allowable and others not? I was going by the standard Plurb defined; "pop music with an edge made by long-hairs between 1963 and 76," or something like that.

I think I chose that song because when it comes to out and out rocking, the Beatles don't really come to mind for me. Their strengths lie elsewhere--and Norwegian Wood is a song they do that's on a level that not much other music matches.

I'm not sure, though, that the Mod wanted us to indulge in this kind of "Where's the boundary?" stuff. But if "Norwegian Wood" is outside whatever boundary has not been defined here, I'm happy to pick another song.

Mark

hey art,

take it EASY, man. . . .(sorry for stealing your whole lower case thing and caps for serious emotin', but i'm feelin' like i wanna express my individuality and stuff) . . .i'm sure YOU can understand. . . .bad vibes aren't cool right now. okay? daughter number two, THE MABES (Robbie's goddaughter) learned to ride her two wheeler today. . . .don't rain on my parade. . . .stay POSITIVE. . . .listen to a soul asylum LP, figure out another one of those ultra complicated Simonon bass lines, or get together with Chalf and write a jangle ballad or two. . . .

peace,
e.

Here's my list. I tried to do it fast and spontaneous because I wanted to list tunes that I didn't have to think too much about why I love them. So maybe I left off some songs that are considered "important," but I think the main reason a song should be listed here is that you really want to hear it now.

1. Easybeats--Friday on My Mind
Life is mostly a drag, but if you luck out and have a pretty girlfriend who wants to have fun in the city on Friday night, it doesn't get any better than that. Listen to this song and feel the joy.

2. Velvet Underground--Rock 'n' Roll
Again, life is mostly a drag, but then you turn on a great radio station, and all of a sudden you're "saved by rock 'n' roll." I agree that they never should have added the bit they originally left out.

3. Kinks--You Really Got Me
Great riff, great sloppy guitar solo that expresses the pure joy of creating a racket.

4. Yardbirds--I'm a Man
See above. Plus no notes are really played in the best part of the guitar solo that once again expresses the pure joy of making a racket.

5. Count Five--Psychotic Reaction
Out Yardbirds the Yardbirds

6. Beatles--Boys (Hollywood Bowl version)
Sure, dozens of Beatles songs are more important, and more creative, etc. But Ringo is on fire as he belts this one out, and the whole band just kicks ass. I love Paul's scream on the background vocal just before the solo comes in. Plus you have the thousands of screaming girls adding to the chaos. Don't anyone ruin this for me by telling me that any part of this song was dubbed in after the actual performance.

7. MC5--Kick out the Jams
I don't worship the MC5 as much as most people on this site, but there's no denying this one. The riff grabs you and won't fuckin' let go.

8. Rolling Stones--The Last Time
For some reason this is the one Stones song that gets me every time no matter how often I've heard it. The guitar riff is haunting and rocks at the same time. And it's one of Mick's most emotional vocals.

9. The Replacements--Favorite Thing
Pure joyous, sloppy rock 'n' roll by the band that doesn't "give a single shiiiit!"

10. The Soft Boys--I Want To Be an Anglepoise Lamp
Every part of this song is so god-damn catchy and creative. The one song where Robyn Hitchcock agrees to let you just feel pure pop pleasure.

Hey Mark,

Just for the record, I struggled with the whole Dylan thing with reasoning once again that was frightfully similar to yours. I too considered "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Positively Fourth Street". As far as "Stone" is concerned, the build is indeed incredible, but I appreciate it more for its craft than its emotional impact. Hence the nixing.

"Postitively 4th Street" is one nasty mother. When Bob sings that final line it never fails to put a HUGE smile on my face. This is ridiculous, but that line is SO good it negates the impact of everything that was said before it. Again, too much appreciation for the craft of the thing.

Whatever. Just wanted to check in with you about what was running through my mind regarding my nixing of Bob.

Talk to ya soon,
E. Pluribus

The thing about the ending of Positively 4th St is that if you think about it it cuts both ways. The victim of the put down is in the singer's shoes, but he's in hers too. So when she finds out what a drag it is, it's the singer she's seeing, right?

As in the best put-down songs, (at least this is true of Elvis Costello too) the putter gets skewered too.

I don't know if this is what you were thinking, e. I don't want to try to get inside your head.

"In the Street" and "September Gurls" are both Contenders for me. On some given days, in fact, on the level of pure rush I'd give the nod to "In the Street." But not on most days. I like the overwhelmingly understated longing, but also the ambivalence, of the "September Gurls" lyric. Call it power pop, sure, but what's fascinating to me is that it might also be the culmination of the whole Byrds jangle rock sound, with more edge than any other song of that kind. Sure, I can hear that it's a bit trebly, but that doesn't bug me anywhere near enough to mitigate against the easy majesty of the tune.

Top Ten so far:

Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar
I'm Waiting for the Man
Like a Rolling Stone
Layla
Norwegian Wood
No Fun
September Gurls

So, it's the rush that we're looking for? It's the smile on the face? "I Can Only Give You Everything" gives me that every time, and I think it's a Contender, but, facts are facts, there's nothing like "Gloria" for sheer gloating rock pleasure. It's THE garage rock song. The band's not the greatest ever but they sure do bring it on this one. And Van doesn't just sing it like crazy, he doesn't just talk, he spells her fucking name.

Top Ten so far, in no order:

Gimme Shelter
Brown Sugar
I'm Waiting for the Man
Like a Rolling Stone
Layla
Norwegian Wood
No Fun
September Gurls
Gloria

in his imitable non-caps style saturnismine wrote:

"personally, i find the inclusion of "strawberry fields" on a list of the ten greatest "rock" songs a bit dubious. I LOVE "SF". But it's too questioning, mellow, and dreamy for me to consider it rock."

First, I'll mention that Jim dun it first. I've lately felt like Strawberry Fields was the pinnacle of the Beatles career. It sort of built up to that amazing moment and then the slipping began, probably with Pepper proper. (I'm speaking as a giant fan of the White Album, but the trend is undeniable.) Anyway, that tape splice moment where the band arrives in the second verse and Ringo plays one of his clumsy but patented drum fills spells rock to me, and the coda, totally avant but reminiscent of KrautROCK makes the inclusion justified.

mod: are you watching this brilliant piece of an extra inning at bat by Omar Vizquel? the old man is DETERMINED to end this thing once and for all and he'll wait all day for his pitch. i hope j-roll is watching.

geo: i agree with your assessment of SF's place in the beatles trajectory. but indecisive, mellow songs about childhood only need an "avant" tape splice, coda, and "one clumsy fill" rock? idunno....but i guess when we distinguish "rock" from "rock and roll", SF qualifies as the former. so...fair enough.

plurb: first things first. we stop this entertaining debate for the following: congratulations on the kid stuff! that's genuinely sweet. really. i LOVE goofy little kids. hell, i AM one.

to recommence:

i'm all acquiver with the warmth in those posi-vibes you sent to me through cyberspace.

but brother, when my mole told me how much you're paying your writers, i almost choked. these guys are takin' you for a ride. that "soul asylum / chalf" stuff is almost as played as that tired, overused "peruvian flake" bit (which is about due for recycling, huh? this just in from plurbis's "idea dictaphone": "note to self: warmed-over "peruvian flake" yuks, rth, late august, book it").

tell your pimply-faced research intern he needs to get over his crush on your "concept guy" and freaking communicate with him. assuming a "levon" persona in this thread is among your most ill-advised gaffes: Levon can't say enough good things about Manuel's voice.

and what's this? e plurbis-machismo -- you know, the guy who likes to point out the testicles on every rth'er he thinks might back him when he in a corner later on -- still has no response to BigSteve's observation that his inclusion of Hendrix in his (self-proclaimed) Gold Standard top ten just doesn't jibe with his "rock is a white man's game" stance either, huh?

hey, look at the stones on YOU, big guy! cyber-high five! let's get together and do some peruvian flake and gripe about the sorry state of new music, my brothahhh!

my GOD...did EVERYONE on staff decide not to return your desperate voicemails today? their patience must be wearing thin.

cheese'm crackers, team plurbis is a shambles that's not even worthy of a fox summer season sit-com treatment. i'm worried. we may HAVE to schedule that get together sooner rather than later after all!

get back to me....

also, geo, i was aware of SF's conclusion on lists other than yours. that's part of the reason why i commented.

it's not always about YOU dude (it's usually about plurb)!

others should chime in.

Geo, I believe, wrote:

I'm not sure, though, that the Mod wanted us to indulge in this kind of "Where's the boundary?" stuff.

Indeed. The only guidelines I set for this thread were set to help all of us avoid these sort of boundary discussions. The only rule is, there are just enough rules so that more rules are not needed.

General Slocum, if not for the fine work of Mwall and Dick Bonanza, I would encourage you to pack up the family and hit the road tonight. As it is, I hope to have my reward to the Mad Libs contestants up in a few minutes!