Monday, February 06, 2006
A Bittersweet Symphony
A certain friend of mine has been blessed with the gift of hyperbole. Not in the occasional sense like you or I may use it. He has taken things to a new level. He's a master craftsman perfecting his art.
The latest example came recently when he proclaimed The Verve as one of the "top 50 greatest rock and roll bands of all time." Yup. Even when given an opportunity to recant, he stood his ground. Those not familiar with The Verve might know them from thier biggest hit in the United States, Bittersweet Symphony. Now I think The Verve are a very good band, don't get me wrong, but I think it says something about them that their breakthrough hit is built entirely around an unapproved sample from The Last Time by the Rolling Stones (Mick and Keith successfully sued for 100% of the royalties, songwriting credits, and publishing rights).
All of that aside, this sparked a disussion between us about the top 50 rock and roll acts of all time. Our main sticking point was his refusal to acknowledge the difference between "greatest" and "favorite". I maintain that there are many acts that would easily qualify for a spot on the "greatest" list, and still come nowhere close to my "favorites" list, and vice versa. I challenged him to put together a list of the Top 50 Greatest Rock and Roll Acts of All Time for comparisson to a list that I would make.
My list is far from comprehensive, and it is in absolutely no order whatsoever. For your consideration, your enlightenment, and your comments, here is my list of the Top 50 Greatest Rock and Roll Acts of All Time:
Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Rolling Stones
Who
Bob Dylan
Elvis Presley
Beach Boys
U2
Clash
Michael Jackson/Jackson Five
Aerosmith
Talking Heads
Police
Kinks
Jimi Hendrix
James Brown
Ramones
David Bowie
Pink Floyd
Fleetwood Mac
Buddy Holly
Velvet Underground
Doors
Chuck Berry
Little Richard
Jerry Lee Lewis
Johnny Cash
Nirvana
Sex Pistols
AC/DC
Black Sabbath
Iggy Pop/Stooges
Metallica
Van Halen
Cure
Bruce Springsteen/E Street Band
Queen
ABBA
Roy Orbison
Elton John
Simon and Garfunkel
Elvis Costello
Ray Charles
Stevie Wonder
Sly and the Family Stone
Kraftwerk
Marvin Gaye
Aretha Franklin
Pixies
Prince
These artists were bumped from the list, but still deserve mentioning:
R.E.M.
Madonna
B-52s
INXS
Al Green
CCR
Temptations
Supremes
Earth Wind and Fire
Replacements
Roxy Music
Joy Division
B.B. King
T. Rex
The latest example came recently when he proclaimed The Verve as one of the "top 50 greatest rock and roll bands of all time." Yup. Even when given an opportunity to recant, he stood his ground. Those not familiar with The Verve might know them from thier biggest hit in the United States, Bittersweet Symphony. Now I think The Verve are a very good band, don't get me wrong, but I think it says something about them that their breakthrough hit is built entirely around an unapproved sample from The Last Time by the Rolling Stones (Mick and Keith successfully sued for 100% of the royalties, songwriting credits, and publishing rights).
All of that aside, this sparked a disussion between us about the top 50 rock and roll acts of all time. Our main sticking point was his refusal to acknowledge the difference between "greatest" and "favorite". I maintain that there are many acts that would easily qualify for a spot on the "greatest" list, and still come nowhere close to my "favorites" list, and vice versa. I challenged him to put together a list of the Top 50 Greatest Rock and Roll Acts of All Time for comparisson to a list that I would make.
My list is far from comprehensive, and it is in absolutely no order whatsoever. For your consideration, your enlightenment, and your comments, here is my list of the Top 50 Greatest Rock and Roll Acts of All Time:
Beatles
Led Zeppelin
Rolling Stones
Who
Bob Dylan
Elvis Presley
Beach Boys
U2
Clash
Michael Jackson/Jackson Five
Aerosmith
Talking Heads
Police
Kinks
Jimi Hendrix
James Brown
Ramones
David Bowie
Pink Floyd
Fleetwood Mac
Buddy Holly
Velvet Underground
Doors
Chuck Berry
Little Richard
Jerry Lee Lewis
Johnny Cash
Nirvana
Sex Pistols
AC/DC
Black Sabbath
Iggy Pop/Stooges
Metallica
Van Halen
Cure
Bruce Springsteen/E Street Band
Queen
ABBA
Roy Orbison
Elton John
Simon and Garfunkel
Elvis Costello
Ray Charles
Stevie Wonder
Sly and the Family Stone
Kraftwerk
Marvin Gaye
Aretha Franklin
Pixies
Prince
These artists were bumped from the list, but still deserve mentioning:
R.E.M.
Madonna
B-52s
INXS
Al Green
CCR
Temptations
Supremes
Earth Wind and Fire
Replacements
Roxy Music
Joy Division
B.B. King
T. Rex
|| Adam, 8:51 PM
9 Comments:
You forgot 98 degrees. I woulda added any or all of CSNY, particularly Neil Young.
Neil Young...I apologize for that omission. I don't think I can bump anyone from my 50 for him, but he definitely deserves the honorable mention.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are missing from this list on purpose. Popularity does not equal greatness. That band is NOT good.
And who on this list have you NOT heard? Get out from under that rock every once in a while.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are missing from this list on purpose. Popularity does not equal greatness. That band is NOT good.
And who on this list have you NOT heard? Get out from under that rock every once in a while.
Are there ears under that blonde mop?
Popularity has nothing to do with it. Eagles are one of the Top 50 rock acts of all time.
If Kraftwerk makes the list and Eagles doesn't, you've got some musical soul searching to do.
Get serious.
Popularity has nothing to do with it. Eagles are one of the Top 50 rock acts of all time.
If Kraftwerk makes the list and Eagles doesn't, you've got some musical soul searching to do.
Get serious.
Explain to me how the Eagles have impacted rock music more than Kraftwerk, please. I dare you.
Dear Desperado,
Why don't you come to your senses? Oh, you're a hard one. I know that you got your reasons. Come down from your fences, open the gate. It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you.
Someday you'll understand.
Sincerely,
Bo Diddley
Why don't you come to your senses? Oh, you're a hard one. I know that you got your reasons. Come down from your fences, open the gate. It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you.
Someday you'll understand.
Sincerely,
Bo Diddley
Nice dodge. I'll accept your surrender.
I'd like to suggest a band as great as the Eagles that you might consider including in your list (by removing Bruce Springsteen of course): Bell Biv Devoe. Pure poetry:
Tell me when will I see you smile again
‘Cause I know I messed up, baby (Oh)
And I know you’re fed up (Ooh), sugar (Hey, hey)
Tell me when will I see you smile again
‘Cause I know I messed up, baby (Oh)
And I know you’re fed up (Ooh), sugar (Hey, hey)
We made a promise we swore we’d always remember
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter’s night with a vow to defend
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
Like soldiers in the winter’s night with a vow to defend
No retreat, believe me, no surrender
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