Top 10 Rock Songs of All Time

Just the other day, I received an email from The Eagles. That's right, Don, Glenn, Timothy and Joe and me are buddies. Actually, I am on their mass mailing list. They announced their big TV special coming up on Showtime next weekend, The History of the Eagles. I'm sure I will be tuning in for that. Anyway, as I drove home that day from work, I played some old Eagle's tunes. As Joe Walsh and Don Felder manically strummed their dueling guitar duet on Hotel California, I thought, "That is one of the greatest rock songs of all time." Then I started musing as to what songs might make my top 10 list. Well, after much deliberation and deep thought, here it is. Now, I know many of you will be appalled at some of the songs named here. But, bear in mind that I am a child of the late 60's and 70's. I am sure most will agree that that era was the best ever for rock and roll music although I'm not much of a 'hard' rocker. I regret I couldn't find a spot for Elton John, Uriah Heep and Neil Diamond. I felt bad leaving out Bread and the Bee Gees, even Three Dog Night. James Taylor and Coldplay should probably be there, too. I know, I should have included the Stones, Bob Dylan and Elvis. But, I had to draw the line somewhere. Please let me know which of your favorites I omitted. Make a case for your songs, I'm willing to listen. Without further delay, here is:

 

The Top 10 Rock Songs of All Time 

1. Hey Jude

1968 Beatles (Paul McCartney and John Lennon)

"Hey Jude" was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song was released in August 1968 as the first single from the Beatles' record label Apple Records. It also spent nine weeks as number one in the United States—the longest run at the top of the American charts for a Beatles' single, and tied the record for longest stay at number one (until the record was broken by "You Light Up My Life"). The single has sold approximately eight million copies and is frequently included on professional lists of the all-time best songs. In 1968, John Lennon and his wife Cynthia Lennon separated due to John's affair with Yoko Ono. Soon afterwards, Paul McCartney drove out to visit Cynthia and Lennon's son, Julian. "We'd been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life," McCartney said. Cynthia Lennon recalled, "I was truly surprised when, one afternoon, Paul arrived on his own. I was touched by his obvious concern for our welfare.... On the journey down he composed 'Hey Jules' [later renamed Hey Jude] in the car. I will never forget Paul's gesture of care and concern in coming to see us."
So, Paul wrote this song in his head while driving out to John's country home!!! Ridiculous!! 

 

2. Hotel California

1977 Eagles (Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey)

"Hotel California" is the title song from the Eagles' album of the same name and was released as a single in February 1977. It is one of the best-known songs of all time. Don Felder wrote the music and Don Henley the lyrics. I’m not sure what Glenn Frey’s contribution was. "Hotel California" topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week in May 1977. The Eagles also won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for "Hotel California" at the 20th Grammy Awards in 1978. Felder and Joe Walsh’s song ending guitar solo is one of the high points in rock history. It’s a shame that “The Gods” (Henley and Frey) fired Felder from the Eagles a few years ago in a squabble over money. Pretty pathetic.

3. Stairway to Heaven
1971 Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page and Robert Plant)

Led Zeppelin’s biggest hit with Jimmy Page composing the music and Robert Plant the lyrics. This tune is recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. It was the most requested song on FM radio stations in the United States in the 1970s, despite never having been officially released as a single there. Who can forget the somber final line of the song: "And she's buying a Stairway to Heaven".

4. Imagine
1971 John Lennon

"Imagine" is a song written and performed by John Lennon, the best-selling single of his solo career. While I don't endorse Lennon's views on the nature of God and organized religion, I do acknowledge his musical genius:

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

5. Bridge over Troubled Water

1970 Simon and Garfunkel (Paul Simon)

"Bridge over Troubled Water" is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel's album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, and stayed at the top of the chart for six weeks. Simon wrote the song in the summer of 1969 while Garfunkel was filming Catch-22 in Europe. Simon and Garfunkel fans are aware that Paul Simon wrote all the songs while Garfunkel was primarily a vocalist. In my opinion, he was an incredible vocalist. Bridge over Troubled Water was the beginning of the end for the duo. Simon has said he has always regretted having Garfunkel sing this song. Since it became such a monster hit, it catapulted Garfunkel to greater fame than Simon. Since both these artists were monumental egotists, Simon couldn’t allow that to continue and they broke up. It seems in rock bands and sports dynasties, dream teams never last.

6. Ventura Highway

1972 America (Dewey Bunnell)

Dewey Bunnell, the song's vocalist and writer, has said that the lyric "alligator lizards in the air" in the song is a reference to the shapes of clouds in the sky he saw in 1963 while his family was driving down the coast from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California where they had a flat tire. While his father changed the tire, he and his brother stood by the side of the road and watched the clouds and saw a road sign for "Ventura". He states that the song "reminds me of the time I lived in Omaha as a kid and how we'd walk through cornfields and chew on pieces of grass. There were cold winters, and I had images of going to California. So I think in the song I'm talking to myself, frankly: 'How long you gonna stay here, Joe?' I really believe that 'Ventura Highway' has the most lasting power of all my songs.’

The song went to #8 on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Charts for America, spending nine weeks on the charts after debuting on November 4, 1972. America also won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1973!

America is my favorite rock band of all time, so one of their songs had to be included in this list. I first discovered America’s music sitting in Eric Woodhouse’s mint green Ford pick-up while it played on his 8-track player in the winter of 1972. I have been hooked on their sound ever since.

Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek were sons of American Servicemen stationed in London in the late 60’s. Dan Peek left the band in 1977 and regrettably passed away 2 years ago. Dewey and Gerry still perform today. Did you know they are Hawaii’s favorite rock band? 

7. Won’t Get Fooled Again
1971 The Who (Pete Townshend)

Written by Townshend and sung by Roger Daltrey. A list of the Top 10 rock songs of all time wouldn’t have any credibility without including this classic. I still remember listening to it for the first time at Steve Boyack’s house on their giant stereo console. (They just don’t make them like that anymore) I think we must have borrowed the ‘Who’s Next?’ album from his older sister. Then I think we went and played "Mystery Date."

8. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

1987 U2 (Adam Clayton, Dave Evans [The Edge], Paul David Hewson [Bono], Larry Mullen and Victor Reina)

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" is the second track from their 1987 album The Joshua Tree and was released as the album's second single in May 1987. The song was a hit, becoming the band's second consecutive number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 after "With or Without You". There is just something about U2’s distinctive sound.

9. Every Breath You Take

1983 The Police (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner [Sting])

"Every Breath You Take" is a song by The Police on the band's 1983 album Synchronicity, written by Sting and Andy Summers (but officially credited to Sting only). The single was one of the biggest hits of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks. Sting won "Song of the Year" and The Police won "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" at the Grammy Awards of 1984 for "Every Breath You Take". This song has generated 1/3 of Sting’s music publishing income over his career! We are talking about $100’s of millions of dollars!!!! By the way, my wife is in love with Sting! Look for him on the Grammy Show this Sunday night.

10. There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler

1974 Dan Fogelberg

“There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler” is the 11^th and final track on his 1974 Souvenirs album. It also appears on the soundtrack to the movie FM, and was produced by Joe Walsh, who supplied backing vocals. Also appearing on the Souvenirs album were: America’s Gerry Beckley - acoustic guitar,  Graham Nash - vocals, Eagles Glenn Frey - background vocals, Don Henley -background vocals, drums, and Randy Meisner – vocals.

Fogelberg is one of my wife and I’s favorite solo artists. Sadly, Dan passed away due to prostate cancer in 2007 at the age of 56. In the 80’s and 90’s we saw him concert at least 20 times. We first saw him live at the Oakland Coliseum in October 1980. The next day we went to the local record store and bought every one of his albums. I once smuggled a portable cassette recorder, ace wrapped to my leg, so I could record the concert. It added to the excitement, but the recording quality sucked. Fogelberg was an amazingly talented guy. One of his many fantastic songs had to be included in this list. His insightful ballads are sorely missed.

Well, there you have it. I'm sure my list will be ridiculed by Rolling Stone magazine as well as my brother-in-law, Brian K. He is a heavy metal guy also known as "Mad Dog." (Hard to believe he is also a Stake President) I will be looking forward to getting your top 10 lists!!!

OK, turn on your iPod and imagine you are on a beach somewhere................................

Sunrise at Koloa on Kaua'i, Hawaii Dec 2012