Number 114

Rock 'N' Roll (Part II)

Once upon a time on this blog - it might have been last year or it might have been yesterday - I commented that I take this shit (r 'n' r) way too seriously. You might read that as some sort of apology, but, really, it's simply a fact. Awhile ago (AtRP #52), I wrote a lengthy post about 20 musical acts that should be in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, but aren't, because the people that run the place are elitist, stuffed-shirt morons who think they know more than you and me. F*ck 'em. 

What I thought I'd do today, is to go through that list one more time and offer up some songs  from each act that give you a sense of their sound (if you don't already know it). Obviously, my choices reflect those songs that I consider their very best. Give the ones that are new to you a try - I'm good at this.

Iron Maiden: "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "The Trooper," "Fear of the Dark," & "Paschendale." (I could easily pick four different songs with no drop in quality)

Judas Priest: "Snakebite," "Better by You, Better Than Me" (This is the song that got the band sued for putting backwards 'satanic' messages on it), "Living After Midnight," & "Hell Bent For Leather."

Anthrax: "Madhouse," "I Am the Law," & "Ball of Confusion" (This is a cover of the Temptations song. A thrash bad covering a soul song shouldn't work, but it does. Well.)

Megadeth: "A Tout le Monde," "Hanger 18," "Super Collider," & "Holy Wars... the Punishment Due."

Slayer: "Seasons in the Abyss," "South of Heaven," & "Hell Awaits." (Cheery titles, I know, but it IS thrash.)

Thin Lizzy: "Cowboy Song," "Do Anything You Want To," "Fighting My Way Back," & "Roisin Dubh (Black Rose: A Rock Legend)." (I didn't include "The Boys Are Back In Town, because you already know it.)

Motley Crue: "Kickstart My Heart," "Looks That Kill," "Saints of Los Angeles," & "Don't Go Away Mad"

Doobie Brothers: "China Grove," Listen To the Music," Taking It To the Street," & "Long Train Runnin'" (Note: They got admitted this year. Still waiting for a 'thank you' note.)

J. Geils Band: "Love Stinks," "Musta Got Lost," "I Do," & "Give It To Me" (Plus a lot of others you know.)

Meat Loaf: "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" (This is a predictable choice, but it's become rather iconic in its own right, so I have to list it), "I'd Lie For You (And That's the Truth)," "Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself," & "Home By Now/No Matter What."

Jethro Tull: "Bungle In the Jungle," "Locomotive Breath," "Heavy Horses," & "Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll (Too Young To Die)" (Plus a lot of others you know.)

REO Speedwagon: "Time For Me To Fly," "Take It On the Run," "Roll With the Changes," "Keep On Lovin' You," & "Back On the Road Again." (I dare you not to sing along.)

Styx: "Come Fly Away," "Renegade," "The Best of Times," & "Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man)." (Plus a lot of others you know.)

Foreigner: "Cold As Ice," "Blue Morning, Blue Day," "Hot Blooded," & "I Want To Know What Love Is." (Get your lighter ready for that last one.)

Slade: "Cum On, Feel the Noize," "My Friend Stan," "Mama We're All Crazee Now," "Harmony," & "Run Runaway." (Yes, Quiet Riot covered them twice.)

Michael Stanley Band: "Strike Up the Band," "He Can't Love You," "Misery Loves Company," "Somewhere in the Night," & "Love Doesn't Live Here." (Great stuff, these guys should have been huge.)

Warren Zevon: "Lawyers, Guns, & Money," "Werewolves of London," "Desperados Under the Eaves," "Frank & Jesse James," "Never Too Late For Love," "The Heartache," & "My Shit's Fucked Up," etc. etc. (His exclusion is mind boggling. If you don't know much about his music, dive in, you will not be disappointed.)

Ian Hunter: "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," "23a Swan Hill," "Cleveland Rocks," "Red Letter Day," "Shrunken Heads," "Irene Wilde," "All-American Alien Boy," & "Michael Picasso." (The last song was in honor of Mick Ronson upon his death. One of the most honest tribute songs ever written.)

Badfinger: "Apple of My Eye," "Take It All," "No Matter What," "Day After Day," & "Without You."

the Raspberries: "Go All the Way," "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)," "Tonight," "Let's Pretend," "Ecstasy," & "I Can Remember,"

Coming in Rock 'N' Roll (part III): The greatest songs you've never heard.