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Health & Fitness

Best classic rock songs ever......

Let me preface this by changing the title to "SOME of the best classic rock songs ever".  There - now I covered my behind.  
As a guy in his mid-forties, I grew up devouring vinyl.  I'll never forget begging my parents to drive me to TSS (Times Square Stores - later TSS Seedmans) so I could buy an album or 45.  I would head right for the music dept (TSS sold everything - almost like a prehistoric Target or Walmart).  Once I got there - I was a kid in a candy store - or music store.  I would go through all the wooded slats that held 45's for the top 100 at that given time.  I would tear home and put the needle on the record over and over and over.  If it was an album, I'd have my eyes glued to the liner notes and sing along with the lyrics that were provided on the sleeve.  Perhaps there were some cool photos from behind the scenes that would give you a little insight to the band or artist.   Those were the days.  I'm not going to rant about todays music.....there is a lot of solid music out there.  That's future blog territory.  One does, however, have to admit that if you listen to todays classic rock stations, you may think that there are only 20 - 30 songs that exist as they keep regurgitating the same old classic rock tunes over and over.......and over.   This brings me to todays topic.  (Sorry, I can talk music all day and I tend to ramble)  Best classic rock songs of all time.  
My methodology?:
If a song from say the 70's, that you've quite possibly heard close to a million times is still fresh and ENJOYABLE today - it's earned the distinction.  Please keep in mind that we are talking about songs that are absolutely overplayed.  Tunes that are in some cases 40 years old (at least 30 years old)  - Classic rock stations "go to" songs.  For example, The Beatles Eleanor Rigby, does not make the cut for while it's been played frequently, it hasn't been overplayed.  "Born on the Bayou" - another one.  "Dreams" from Fleetwood MAc has been overplayed and I feel it.  It does not make the list.   I'm talking real staples here:  
Drum roll please - and these are not in any order:

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run:  The first time I heard this song, I was walking to summer camp and this guy was cleaning his car by hand.  He had the doors open and he was blasting this song.  I stopped in my tracks.  I swear the hair on my arms raised.  To say I was mesmerized would be an understatement.  This song, when heard today, never gets turned off.  

The Beatles - Hey Jude:   1968.  At the "end" of the song, there is 4 minutes of "na, na, na na, na ,na,na"......  I blast it and sing along to it every time. I'll admit, I get a little teary eyed.  Why?  I don't know.  This song also never gets turned off.  

Billy Joel - Scenes from an Italian Restaurant:  It's like 3 songs in one.   The tale of Brenda and Eddie never gets old.  Great sax, piano, drums - it's hard not to air ______ (fill in the blanks with an instrument) to this one.  
As an added bonus, how good is it to have a LI boy on the list.  
This song never gets turned off. 

The Doors - LA Woman:   The title track of their 1971 album.  Yes, 1971.  I feel like I have the ability to fly when I hear the beginning bass line combined with the subtle drums in the beginning.  When this song "takes off", I'm in a quasi-trance.  Jim Morrison makes you want to cruise down the highway in a convertible with the breeze flowing through your hair as he sings.   "Well I just got into town about an hour ago"  This song never gets turned off. 

The Kinks - Lola:  A great little ditty about a transvestite.  I know what you're thinking - this is the best song ever written about transvestites.   Lola only made it to #9 on the charts however it ranks high on this list.  The beginning of the song - soft guitars and midway through, Ray Davies becomes emphatic.  Great stuff!  This song never gets turned off. 

Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar  I hate to sound cliche however does it get better than Mick and Keith in the rock universe?  This song, also from 1971, has some controversial lyrics as it deals with some racy issues.  The lyrics however can't take away from an absolute gem of a rock and roll song.  As soon as I hear the opening guitar lick, my head starts bopping.  Bring me my tambourine!  This song never gets turned off.

Rounding out the top 10:
Maggie May - Rod Stewart.  Recorded in just two takes.  This is a song about a young mans fling with an older woman.  Who's idea was it to include the mandolin?  Brilliant. This song never gets turned off.  Crazy bit of trivia....this song was originally just supposed to be a B side???  

Night Moves - Bob Seger  If I could play guitar, and I try, I would play this opening chord constantly.  A truly timeless song about a summer romance.  I can almost feel the summers warm wind when I hear the strum of the guitar.  Minus the cornfields, I can transplant myself in this song.  

Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd  One of the most powerful guitar solos ever.  There were actually two.  (Also the theme of a future blog)  This solo gets into my blood - no it's stronger than that - it gets into my tissues and muscles.  Is this possible?  I also get a little emotional when I hear this song.  Forgive me for the overuse of the word powerful however there isn't a more effective word to decsribe this song.  This song never gets turned off. 

Roxanne - The Police  1978.  Another perfect example of an overplayed song that I never get sick of.  How can one not sing along to this one?  How can it be that Roxanne only made it to #32 on the charts?  This song never gets turned off.  

So there you have it.  Yes - there are countless other songs that could have made this list.  It would have been easier, with less left for discussion, had it been a top 50 list however this is just me putting in my two cents.  
  
 

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