Top 200 Albums of All Time: A

I decided to do my own Top 200 Albums of All Time. Instead of ranking them #1-200, I am listing them alphabetically by artists. Here are the first 5 entries:

Highway to Hell: AC/DC (1979)


Highway to Hell is the last album AC/DC recorded with Bon Scott. The album propelled the band to stardom. Scott died six months after the album’s release. The song “Night Prowler” is about a boy sneaking into his girlfriend’s bedroom at night. However, the song was stolen by serial killer Richard Ramirez. The publicity led to a backlash against the band for a time.

Key Tracks:

Highway to Hell
Girls Got Rhythm
Shot Down in Flames

Back in Black: AC/DC (1980)

Five months after lead singer Bon Scott’s death by “misadventure,” AC/DC released their greatest album to date with a new lead singer. The band considered dissolving after Scott’s demise, but decided to carry on. They quickly drafted Brian Johnson to do vocals and brought producer Mutt Lange, who produced Highway to Hell, back. This metal masterpiece is the second highest selling album of all time. The band dedicated the album to Bon Scott.

Key Tracks:

Hell’s Bells
Back in Black
You Shook Me All Night Long

Toys in the Attic: Aerosmith (1975)

Aerosmith’s second best selling album is also their greatest work. The album contains four of the band’s most iconic songs including “Walk this Way” and “Sweet Emotion.” The album helped turn the Boston natives into one of America’s greatest bands. By the end of the decade, Aerosmith began to disintegrate as a result of drug abuse. They eventually recovered to reform and experienced a second round of success.

Key Tracks:

Toys in the Attic
Walk This Way
Sweet Emotion
No More No More

Dirt: Alice in Chains (1992)

The first band of the so-called Grunge era to break was not Nirvana. Alice in Chains broke slightly before their Seattle compatriots. In 1992, the band released Dirt which yielded multiple hits. The album focused on depression, drug use, death, war, and other downer topics. It was a clear antithesis of 80s pop metal which was in its death throes at the time.

Key Tracks:

Them Bones
Down in a Hole
Rooster
Angry Chair
Would?

5. At Fillmore East: The Allman Brothers Band (1971)

Recorded at the hallowed concert hall in New York City, the album highlighted The Allman Brothers talent and varied influences. The band incorporated blues, jazz, and southern rock into a four album recording. The album included songs with lengths of 19:15, 13:04, and 23:03 which demonstrates the longer attention span and sophistication of audiences of the time. The live albums made the Allman Brothers stars and showcased the talents of Duane Allman.

Key Tracks:

Statesboro Blues
Whipping Post

Greatest Guitar Riffs of the 60s

I did not put these in any order. This period was the heyday for guitar rock. These are the best riffs in my opinion...

Whole Lotta Love- Led Zeppelin

Satisfaction- Rolling Stones

Purple Haze- Jimy Hendrix

Sunshine of Your Love- Cream

Day Tripper- The Beatles

Jumpin’ Jack Flash- Rolling Stones

You Really Got Me- The Kinks

Voodoo Child- Jimy Hendrix

Black Dog- Led Zeppelin

Roadhouse Blues- The Doors



Pinball Wizard- The Who

Wipe Out- The Sufaris

All Along the Watchtower- Jimy Hendrix

Revolution- The Beatles

Miserlou- Dick Dale

I Can’t Explain- The Who

Fortunate Son- CCR

My Generation- The Who

All Day and All of the Night- The Kinks

Paint it Black- The Rolling Stones

Favorite 70s Albums

Not in any order...

Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen (1975)

Who’s Next- The Who (1971)

The Wall- Pink Floyd (1979)

Quadrophenia- The Who (1973)

Sticky Fingers- Rolling Stones (1971)

Some Girls- The Rolling Stones (1978)

Plastic Ono Band- John Lennon (1970)

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd (1975)

Let it Be- The Beatles (1970)

Greatest Albums of the 1970s

Not in any order...

Dark Side of the Moon: Pink Floyd (1973)

What’s Going On?: Marvin Gaye (1971)

Born to Run: Bruce Springsteen (1975)

Exile on Mainstreet: The Rolling Stones (1972)

Innervisions: Stevie Wonder (1973)

Led Zeppelin IV: Led Zeppelin (1971)

Who’s Next: The Who (1971)

Rumours: Fleetwood Mac (1977)

The Wall: Pink Floyd (1979)

Quadrophenia: The Who (1973)

Best riffs of the 1970s

Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple

Layla- Derek and the Dominoes

Iron Man- Black Sabbath

Heartbreaker- Led Zeppelin

Walk This Way- Aerosmith

Paranoid- Black Sabbath

Aqualung- Jethro Tull

Brown Sugar- The Rolling Stones

Running with the Devil- Van Halen

La Grange- ZZ Top

Cat Scratch Fever- Ted Nugent

Hey Hey My My- Neil Young

Money- Pink Floyd

Cocaine- Eric Clapton

Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love- Van Halen

Frankenstein- Edgar Winter

Stranglehold- Ted Nugent

Sweet Home Alabama- LS

In the Evening- Led Zeppelin

Echoes- Pink Floyd

My All-Time Grammy Awards

Best Vocals: Roger Daltrey: Love Reign O’er Me

Greatest Guitar riff: Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple

Greatest Guitar Solo: David Gilmour: Comfortably Numb

Greatest Bass Line: Another One Bites the Dust: John Deacon (Queen)

Greatest Bass Solo: My Generation: John Entwhistle (The Who)

Greatest Drum Performance: Moby Dick: John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)

Greatest Keyboard Performance: Light My Fire: Ray Manzerek (The Doors)

Best Riffs of the 80s

Here are the best riffs of the 1980s...not in any order...

Paradise City- GnR

Rock You Like a Hurricane- The Scorpions

Back in Black- AC/DC

Breakin’ the Law- Judas Priest

Master of Puppets- Metallica

Seek and Destroy- Metallica

Photograph- Def Leppard

Sharp Dressed Man- ZZ Top

Money for Nothing- Dire Straits

Start Me Up- The Rolling Stones

Rockin’ in the Free World- Neil Young

Spirit of Radio- Rush

Eminence Front- The Who

Run Like Hell- Pink Floyd

Couldn’t Stand the Weather- Stevie Ray Vaughn

Crazy Train- Ozzy

Eye of the Tiger- Survivor

You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC

I Love Rock n Roll- Joan Jett

Sunday, Bloody Sunday-U2

The 10 Greatest Albums of the 80s

Not in any particular order...

Thriller- Michael Jackson (1982): It's now fashionable to claim Off the Wall was better, but those folks are on crack. This was a monster that opened doors for black artists and changed pop music. Today's hip hop, pop, and rap are all influenced by Thriller. No Thriller, no Hip Hop and today's pop is different.

Purple Rain- Prince (1984): For a time, people asked "Michael Jackson or Prince?"

The Joshua Tree- U2 (1987): U2 went in a totally different direction than everyone else in the mainstream with Joshua Tree. It was a rejection of plastic modern society and is probably more relevant today than in 1987.

Raising Hell- Run DMC (1986): Rap comes to the suburbs. Blondie introduced it to white America, Grandmaster Flash brought the streets to MTV, but Run DMC brought Hip Hop to the forefront and legitimized it. Although MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice made it mainstream, Run DMC became the first to explode onto the scene.

Appetite for Destruction- GnR (1987): Like U2, Guns n Roses took popular music in a radical direction in 1987. Unlike U2's examination of America and modern materialism, GnR took a darker approach and examined the underworld in a way no had since Exile on Mainstreet.

Back in Black- AC/DC (1980): AC/DC somehow survived the death of Bon Scott and turned that loss into one of the greatest tribute albums ever.

Born in the USA- Bruce (1984): Just about every song on this album became a hit. Bruce became a phenomenon and the embodiment of America. No one bothered to listen to the lyrics of the title track...

Murmur- REM (1983): While pop music was heading in multiple directions during the eighties including hair metal, new wave, hip hop, and some groups which defied categorization (Huey Lewis was played on rock stations that would follow Heart of Rock n Roll with Led Zeppelin), R.E.M. ushered in the alternative movement. Murmur represented an attempt to get back to basics and bring fresh rock n roll back to an audience.

London Calling- The Clash (1980): The west appeared on the verge of utter collapse in the late seventies. High unemployment, stagnant economies, and disheartened populations wanted to go to the disco. London Calling reflects the postwar apocalypse that hit during the seventies. Despite the coming ice age and sun zooming in, the album ends on an uplifting note with "Train in Vain."

Synchronicity- The Police (1983): Synchronicity made the Police the biggest band in the world. The album and its songs was omnipresent from summer of 1983 and into 1984. "Every Breath You Take" is one of the songs that defined the eighties.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Worthy Acts Part IV

Here is the final installment.

The Smiths


Pro: Unique, massively popular, influential, there is even a great feud

Con: 1980s band

Steppenwolf

Pro: Hitmakers, generation defining song in “Born to be Wild”

Con: Canadian, Born to be Wild is a bit cliché

Sting

Pro: Incorporates Jazz and other influences, tons of hits, he is Sting

Con: Influence is with the Police, at times pop and at times jazz rock, Already in with the Police

The Stray Cats

Pro: Brian Setzer is a great guitarist, unique, influence, important songs, more than a throwback act

Con: From the 80s, not top of mind

Donna Summer

Pro: Mixed rock with disco

Con: She’s the disco queen

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Pro: One of the greatest guitarists ever

Con: Died in 1989

Hank Williams Jr.

Pro: Influential in rock circles, crossover act

Con: Country star

Yes

Pro: Archetype Prog band, survived many changes, blended classical music into rock

Con: They are a prog band, not a lot of hits

Warren Zevon

Pro: No one sounded or wrote like Warren Zevon, influenced and worked with Bruce Springsteen, David Letterman, and REM, and influenced Kid Rock among others, Great writer

Con: His stuff might be too out there

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Worthy Acts Part III

Megadeth

Pro: Dave Mustaine is a great guitarist, original, songs with meaning, great songs

Con: They are not named Metallica; Metal acts get no respect; their name

Motley Crue

Pro: The most Rock n Roll act since the Stones, lots of hits, popularized the power ballad; The Rock Hall was made in part for acts like this.

Con: Considered a hair band, from the 80s, popularized the power ballad

Motorhead

Pro: Lemmy, Ace of Spades

Con: Not top of mind; Metal acts get no respect

Willie Nelson

Pro: Crossover act, Farm Aid, bad ass

Con: Country act

Ted Nugent

Pro: Top act of 1976, great guitarist, Motor City Madman, popular into the 90s and even today

Con: Conservative, NRA guy

Ozzy Osbourne

Pro: It’s Ozzy; Still influential

Con: The Osbournes TV Show

Robert Palmer

Pro: His influence is less musical and more cultural, Rock writer, Influence through video,

Con: Popular Songs sounded alike

Robert Plant

Pro: Nothing groundbreaking until Allison Krause

Con: His groundbreaking work post-Zep was in bluegrass/country

The Replacements

Pro: Critical darlings, representative of a genre, Alternative music leaders

Con: REM is in, popularity

Neil Sedaka

Pro: Major songwriter in 50s and 60s, solid solo career

Con: Legacy blown away by British Invasion

Ravi Shankar

Pro: Influenced Beatles, helped bring Eastern music to pop/rock

Con: Sitar does not fire people’s juice

Rock and Roll Worthy Acts Part II

Hall & Oates

Pro: White guys that had soul, very successful duo, tons of hits, influential in hip hop

Con: Cheese factor, from the 80s, more influential outside rock, may be too poppy

Richie Havens

Pro: Woodstock, Intensity, great live act

Con: Not really a rock artist, known for his covers

Heart

Pro: First girl hard rock band, influential, Ann Wilson’s voice

Con: They’re girls

Iron Maiden

Pro: One of the most important metal bands, showed metal songs could mean something

Con: There is a thin line between cheese and cool; also as a metal band, they don’t get respect

Jan & Dean

Pro: Popular act with classic songs, they pre-dated the Beach Boys

Con: People confuse them with the Beach Boys

Waylon Jennings

Pro: Like Haggard and Cash, more Rock n Roll than most Rock n Rollers, Buddy Holly’s bass player, was rock n roll during 50s, originator of outlaw music

Con: Mostly country which overshadowed his rock

Jethro Tull

Pro: Unique as they come

Con: Jazz flute’s for sissy boys

Judas Priest

Pro: See Maiden, plus Rob Halford’s voice is the best, the band’s story is awesome

Con: See Maiden

Ben E. King

Pro: Percy Sledge is in

Con: Seen as one hit wonder

Carol King

Pro: Great songwriter, James Taylor is in

Con: Not true rock, but came out of that singer/songwriter tradition

KISS

Pro: Lots of hits, Unique persona, known for their live shows

Con: Don’t sing about anything important, reputation as weak musicians, cheese factor, too capitalist for some voters

Kraftwerk

Pro: Unique and influential

Con: German!

Kris Kristofferson

Pro: Great songwriter (Me and Bobby McGee and Sunday Morning Coming Down among others)

Con: Seen as country

The Marvelettes

Pro: Motown’s first successful girl group, “Please Mr. Postman”, 23 Hot 100 Singles (9 in the top 10)

Con: There is no con. The voters and/or selection board are dumb

MC5

Pro: Hugely influential, one of the first punk bands, incorporated many styles, representative of the counterculture

Con: See the Marvellettes, may be too raw

More Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Worthy Acts

A month or so back, I listed the Top 10 most deserving acts not in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame (See: http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/03/rock-n-roll-hall-of-fame-generally-does.html).  Some folks grumbled about missing acts...so, here is the first installment of acts that could make an argument for induction. I listed the pros and cons for each. They are in alphabetical order.

This is just the first installment...more to follow later.

Joan Baez


Pro: At the forefront of 60s music, iconic Woodstock moments, master interpreter of music

Con: Folk artist, known for doing other people’s work.

Bon Jovi

Pro: Best of the 80s hard rock bands and the hall likes to include one of every genre, tons of hits and sales, ability to adapt, still making hits today.

Con: They came from the 80s, not many people list them as an influence

Cheap Trick

Pro: Influential, original

Con: Not a ton of hits, so not top of mind

Chubby Checker

Pro: Ushered in a dance craze, “The Twist” and its sequel song, did branch out to other genres

Con: Typecast by The Twist

Phil Collins

Pro: Crap load of hits, influential, great drummer

Con: Lots of love songs, might be too poppy, already in with Genesis

The Cure

Pro: Unique, Influential

Con: Ironically, may not be commercial enough, so not top of mind

Dick Dale

Pro: King of Surf Guitar, At forefront of the genre, Experimented with reverb and other technical aspects of guitar

Con: Disappeared for awhile, genre was very short-lived

Def Leppard

Pro: Along with Bon Jovi, best representative of 80s hard rock, massive success, biggest act of the 80s other than Michael Jackson, unique live shows in the round, influence can be heard in other acts today

Con: Lumped with hair metal, a lot of their stuff sounds alike

Neil Diamond

Pro: Prolific Brill Building song writer, other acts recorded his songs before he branched out, he’s immensely popular and has oodles of hits.

Con: There is a cheese factor and he is considered A.C. as opposed to rock.

Dire Straits

Pro: Mark Knofler, great guitar work, solid music, huge in the 80s

Con: Not top of mind

The Dominoes

Pro: Important Doo wop group from 50s

Con: Important Doo wop group from the 50s

Duran Duran

Pro: Massively popular 80s band; great representatives of that post punk New Wave sound

Con: 1980s; seen as pretty boys

Peter Gabriel

Pro: Unique and popular

Con: Weird, already in with Genesis

Sammy Hagar

Pro: Classic rocker representing multiple genres

Con: Already in with VH, influence outside VH is probably minimal

Merle Haggard

Pro: He is more Rock n Roll than most Rock artists, Cash is in

Con: He’s country with little to no crossover

Top 10 Acts NOT in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame generally does a good job inducting acts. However, it does an even better job ignoring acts. Here are the Top 10 acts not already in the Hall of Fame:

The Clovers: They should have been inducted during the eighties. The Clovers formed in 1946 and were one of the first major vocal groups. They were the mold from which other groups modeled themselves. Their biggest hit, “Love Potion No. 9” came in 1959. It’s likely the voters don’t realize their history beyond that one song.

Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddnDuR8QG-s

Alice Cooper: Cooper was a diverse artist known for his stage shows. He was one of the first to create a rock n roll villain figure and his stage shows were adventures. Cooper’s theatrics and body of work deserve inclusion.

Welcome to My Nightmare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQE0pfBAYQ8

Deep Purple: Deep Purple is one of the most influential groups ever. They broke with “Hush” which bordered on psychedelic and created perhaps the greatest riff of all time with “Smoke on the Water.” This is a seminal act. Perhaps the billion lineup changes have hurt the band because they did not evolve with a set lineup operating on a single trajectory ala the Rolling Stones or Metallica.

Smoke on the Water (Live with all their lead singers):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WX_4FNoto4


Emerson, Lake, and Palmer: They had a very short-lived mainstream period which undercuts their viability. Additionally, the voters don’t seem to know what to do with Prog rock. It took several tries for Pink Floyd and years for Genesis to make the hall. If the Hall decides to really look at the genre, then ELP (and Rush) will be quick inductees.

Lucky Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRFpXPu_7wE

Darlene Love: I have written about her before. Love’s main work was not done under her own name. They need another category to get Darlene elected.

He's a Rebel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOU_uefqeXg

Red Hot Chili Peppers: They have not been eligible for long, so it should not be long before they make it. The early RHCP were innovative and different. They have several seminal albums and a large body of hits. On the other hand, many of their recent hits, all sound alike.

Under the Bridge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlogyj7nFE

Rush: Where to start? They are immensely popular, but the band’s personality (mostly) avoids conflict and publicity. So, people forget them. Their musicianship is second to none and Neil Peart is one of the top three drummers of all time (Moon and Bonham). It is a crime Rush is not in the Hall of Fame. Maybe they don’t like Canadians.

Tom Sawyer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DFsBcVMDA

Ringo Starr: John, Paul, and George are all in as solo artists. Ringo had as many top 10 hits in the seventies as John and George combined. He's had as many #1 hits as John. Ringo probably suffers from his goofy personality and people don’t remember his resume.

It Don't Come Easy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUbntU2N7xY

Tina Turner: Tina is the Queen of Rock n Roll. She is in as part of Ike and Tina Turner, but belongs in as a solo artist which began in the seventies. Her story is compelling, her comeback is legendary, she is well respected and loved, and her hits are still played on the radio today. What gives?

We Don't Need Another Hero:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FPK5-Rm38

Mary Wells: Wells was Motown’s first solo star. She helped break Motown nationally and crossed racial boundaries. Some consider Mary Wells the originator of the “Motown Sound.“ Her signature hit, “My Guy” is a classic. Unfortunately, she died of cancer in 1992. As a result, she has been forgotten.

My Guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ-qsGe96cw

Riffs of the Decade: 2000-2009

Here are the best riffs of the decade. This is one of the few posts I actually had to research! Interestingly, the best known riff of the decade was probably a piano riff. Coldplay's "Clocks" became omnipresent and iconic during the aughts especially when the media needed some background music for a story. The riff is not as important to music as it used to be. Perhaps all the great riffs have been written.

Here are the riffs of the decade:

Kryptonite- 3 Doors Down

Judith- A Perfect Circle

Cochise- Audioslave

Suicide Messiah- Black Label Society

The Pretender- Foo Fighters

Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand

American Idiot- Green Day

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades- Green Day

Sleep Now in the Fire- Rage Against the Machine

Vertigo- U2

Slither- Velvet Revolver

Seven Nation Army- White Stripes

The Ten Most Conservative Songs of all Time

Bodies- The Sex Pistols: The Sex Pistols sing about dying babies in this anti-abortion song.

Coming to America- Neil Diamond: Neil Diamond expresses a very Reaganesque message of America being that shining city on a hill providing inspiration to the world.

Don’t Tread on Me- Metallica: Metallica ties themselves to the American Revolution. During that period, one flag featured a snake ready to strike with the words “Don’t Tread On Me” underneath. The song includes many conservative messages such as “liberty or death”, “love it or leave it”, and “to secure peace is to prepare for war.”

I Can’t Drive 55- Sammy Hagar: Hagar rails against the nanny state and its desire to run every aspect of our lives.

Rock The Casbah- The Clash: Joe Strummer wrote this after the Ayatollah clamped down on rock music in Iran. The song was co-opted by American troops during the First Gulf War and was re-interpreted to mean “bomb the Middle East.” Ironically, Strummer was a committed leftist that despised war.

Small Town- John Mellencamp: Mellencamp is not a conservative. However, Small Town represents the cultural divide between left and right. While the left controls urban areas, the small town remains conservative.

Stormtroopin’- Ted Nugent: Unlike Mellencamp and Strummer, Nugent is a right winger. Uncle Ted warns about big government and provides the real rationale for the 2nd Amendment.

Taxman- The Beatles: Beware of the Taxman. He’ll tax the heat, your car, and even your feet. The government knows what is best, so don’t ask where the money goes!

We’re Not Gonna Take It- Twisted Sister: Since the left tends to like government, it tends to be more institutional than the right. When the left revolts, it tends to be against themselves. When the right revolts, it’s against the left, the government, the system, and the machine.

Won’t Get Fooled Again- The Who: Pete Townsend wrote this in reaction to the sixties. In his view, he felt that we won’t be fooled again by those left wing hippie tools. The song was played at Bush headquarters on election eve 2000.

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame: Who didn't get in

Now for the acts that did not make it this year and will have to wait for another opportunity.

The Chantels: They were the first real “girl group” to emerge and set the sound of the early 60s. However, they did not last very long and other, more famous girl groups are already enshrined.

Kiss: They scored many hits, but most of their songs lack substance. Musically, they did not provide anything earth shattering, but their stage shows are legendary. They are overly commercial, yet have a very loyal following. They represent cheese at its finest, yet are unique. These contradictions keep Kiss from being elected. On one hand, they are very rock n roll while on the other hand, they are processed cheese.

LL Cool J: With Grandmaster Flash and Run DMC in the hall, it is surprising LL Cool J did not make it. He was groundbreaking and showed hip hop was not a fad by being a consistent big seller. He also did not follow trends and did his own thing.

Darlene Love: Love belongs in the Hall, but falls in between the cracks because she rarely got credit for her work. She scored hits, but no one knew her name because producers always attributed her work under assumed names or for others.

Laura Nyro: She is well known for writing songs for others. Perhaps she belongs in another category.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: I am shocked they did not make it. They were completely original for rock, good musicians, have a lot of hits, and have personalities which fit nicely into the Hall.

Donna Summer: Another one I thought would make it. Since they have opened the door to hip hop, the queen of disco should go in. Plus, she did mix disco with rock at times which does make her unique.

2010 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Here are the 2010 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The top 5 vote getters are elected each year. Of course, there has been rumors of vote fraud by one Jan Wenner, but that is just alleged.

and now the Class of 2010:

Abba: I don't get this one and neither does Bjorn Ulvaeus of Abba. Oh well. They are best known for their disco hit, "Dancing Queen." Amazing the region that brought us the 9th century Viking invasions also gave us Abba.

The Stooges: The Stooges were punk before punk. Not sure why it took so long for them to get in. Madonna may have helped by asking them to perform at her induction. Their signature song was "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

Jimmy Cliff: Cliff is one of the great Reggae artists. His signature song is probably "Many Rivers to Cross." Although, his best known song is a cover of "I Can See Clearly Now."

The Hollies: They came with the British Invasion and should have been inducted 20 years ago. They are best known for their unique harmonies. Their hits include "Bus Stop" and "Carrie Anne."

Genesis: Genesis began as Prog Rock and evolved into a pop band. They survived the departure of Peter Gabriel by replacing him with Phil Collins. Guitarist Steve Hackett's guitar style predated Eddie Van Halen and they influenced acts such as Dream Theater. In the early days, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway stands out. During the Collins era, they hit their zenith with the Invisible Touch album. They should have been inducted long ago.

#1 The Beatles

The Beatles formed in Liverpool, England in 1960. The band moved from its working class roots to become the most popular and influential group in history. In 1957, John Lennon formed The Quarrymen. Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined soon thereafter. Stuart Sutcliffe and Colin Hanton rounded out the band. Sutcliffe would die of a cerebral hemorrage in 1962. It was Sutcliffe that suggested “Beetles” as a name for the group. Drummer Colin Hanton quickly left the band and was replaced by Pete Best.

The Beatles earned their chops touring Hamburg, Germany. They began earning a name for themselves and soon came to the attention of Brian Epstein. Epstein became their manager in January, 1962. Their new manager contacted producer George Martin. Martin took an interest in the band, but did not like the drummer. The Beatles fired Pete Best and replaced him with Ringo Starr.

In 1963, they experienced modest success in England. In 1964, the world exploded. No English band had experienced success in the United States. The Beatles debuted in the states and Beatlemania was born. People went nuts. Girls would faint and soil themselves. The record companies began searching for other British groups.

Musically, the Beatles represented a British reworking of American Rock n Roll. Rock had been shoved aside due to scandals in the late fifties. With the exception of the Surf Craze, popular music had no edge. Lyrically, the Beatles were nothing extraordinary until they met Bob Dylan. Dylan dug the Beatles sound, but was critical of their lyrics. The lyrics did not say anything. John Lennon took the advice to heart and began writing more personal songs.

After the Dylan meeting, the Beatles work improved dramatically. Rubber Soul and Revolver represent a fundamental reworking of rock music. Meanwhile, the band tired of touring. They could not hear each other on stage and that bothered them. As a result, they stopped touring. This, combined with their popularity, gave them the freedom to do whatever they wanted.
Creativity and freedom led to Sgt Peppers. The band experimented and created a masterpiece. The album changed the rules of the game and other acts scrambled to keep up. It drove Beach Boy Brian Wilson over the edge. The Rolling Stones countered with their own take on the album with Their Satanic Majesties Request. One month after Sgt Peppers’ release, the Beatles performed “All You Need Is Love” for a worldwide satellite audience. It was one of the first satellite feeds to go around the world.

After the worldwide performance, they went to India to investigate the mysteries of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and transcendental meditation. Yogi proved a fraud and the band was disenchanted. At this point, Paul decided to do another movie. Their previous movies were well received. However, The Magical Mystery Tour was perceived as the first real chink in the Beatles armor. The unscripted movie came across poorly to audiences. It lacked direction and most T.V. sets were black and white which meant the colorful film lost its impact.

The Beatles continued to record. They followed the film with Yellow Submarine, The White Album, Let It Be, and Abbey Road. By the end, tensions within the group tore it apart. Many blamed John Lennon’s partner Yoko Ono. However, the real cause appears to be financial. After the Brian Epstein died, the Beatles took control of their finances and had no idea what they were doing. Eventually, they hired Allen Klein. Klein was a shady character and Mick Jagger warned Paul McCartney not to hire him. Paul advocated another candidate, but John, George, and Ringo lined up against Paul. The band eventually fell apart, Paul announced he was going solo and lawsuits followed.

The Beatles reunited in 1995 for the Anthology Project. They released a couple of new songs. Unfortunately, John Lennon was murdered in 1980 amidst rumors of a reunion. George would pass in 2002 of cancer. Paul and Ringo performed at The Concert for George. Ringo continues to record. Paul had a smash hit album in 2007 and scored some minor hits in the 2000s. The Beatles are in Rock n Roll Hall of Fame as a group and John, Paul, and George are in the Hall as solo artists.

Rock n Roll Moment: John claimed the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. He was right.

Essential Beatles:
Please Please Me (1963)
With the Beatles (1963)
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
Rubber Soul (1965)
Revolver (1966)
Sgt Peppers (1967)
The White Album (1968)
Abbey Road (1969)
Let it Be (1970)

The Beatles’ Top 10:
Please Please Me
I Want to Hold Your Hand
A Hard Day’s Night
Can’t Buy Me Love
Yesterday
Norwegian Wood
Eleanor Rigby
A Day in the Life
Strawberry Fields
Something
Here Comes the Sun

Rock Countdown: Complete List

1. The Beatles
2. Elvis Presley
3. Bob Dylan
4. The Rolling Stones
5. The Who
6. Led Zeppelin
7. Pink Floyd
8. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
9. Chuck Berry
10. Buddy Holly

11. Jimy Hendrix
12. The Clash
13. U2
14. Little Richard
15. Jerry Lee Lewis
16. James Brown
17 The Beach Boys
18. Stevie Wonder
19. Diana Ross and The Supremes
20. The Eagles

21. John Lennon
22. Eric Clapton
23. David Bowie
24. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
25. Johnny Cash
26. The Police
27. Queen
28. Tina Turner
29. The Doors
30. AC/DC

31. Bo Diddley
32. B.B. King
33. Ray Charles
34. Roy Orbison
35. Neil Young
36. Cream
37. Simon and Garfunkel
38. Velvet Underground
39. Aretha Franklin
40. Elton John

41. Black Sabbath
42. Nirvana
43. Metallica
44. Fleetwood Mac
45. The Talking Heads
46. Janis Joplin
47. The Ramones
48. The Kinks
49. The Byrds
50. Elvis Costello

51. The Yardbirds
52. George Harrison
53. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
54. Billy Joel
55. Paul McCartney
56. Paul Simon
57. CSNY
58. REM
59. Radiohead
60. Prince

61. The Sex Pistols
62. Aerosmith
63. Pearl Jam
64. Guns n Roses
65. Sly and the Family Stone
66. Bob Marley
67. Sam Cooke
68. The Grateful Dead
69. Wilson Pickett
70. Jeff Beck

71. Steely Dan
72. CCR
73. Blondie
74. Ozzy Osbourne
75. Rush
76. Bill Haley and The Comets
77. The Animals
78. Fats Domino
79. Dion
80. Genesis

81. Bon Jovi
82. Carlos Santana
83. ZZ Top
84. The Mamas and the Papas
85. Lynyrd Skynrd
86. Allman Brothers Band
87. Dire Straits
88. Judas Priest
89. Coldplay
90. Green Day

91. KISS
92. Smashing Pumpkins
93. Rage Against The Machine
94. Soundgarden
95. Motley Crue
96. Def Leppard
97. Weezer
98. Tool
99. Foo Fighters
100. Ringo

#2 Elvis Presley

Elvis is the King of Rock n Roll. He is the American icon. Elvis combined rockabilly, country, and R&B to create his own sound. He was extremely controversial at first. People were uncomfortable with the musical “race mixing.” Additionally, his sexually charged shows further rankled critics. Elvis also used a back beat to change the direction of music. Some consider “That’s All Right” the first rock song. However, “Hound Dog” was the major cultural milestone. It truly marked rock’s emergence. Also, Elvis was one of the Young Turks of the fifties that defined rebellion, but had nothing to rebel against.

The fifties generation can remember where they were when Elvis broke, when he was on Steve Allen, or when he was on Ed Sullivan. They were the ones that attended and watched his comeback special in ‘68 while in their thirties. Elvis’ voice is amongst the most versatile in rock music. His music covered every possible genre and he even won Grammy Awards for his Gospel work. At his height, Elvis dominated like no other act in Rock History with the exception of the Beatles. After an amazing run, he was drafted into the army.

After returning from the service, Elvis scored some hits, but he spent most of his time making bad movies. After several years away, Elvis made a comeback special in 1968. The King was back. Over a billion people watched his Hawaiian Special in 1973. By the late seventies, he was a shell of his former self. He died in 1977 and has been hanging out at Burger Kings ever since. Interestingly, Elvis scored a #1 in the early 2000s with a remixed version of "A Little Less Conversation."

Rock n Roll Moment: Elvis ran out onto a tarmac, flashed his DEA badge, and stopped a plane taxiing on the runway.

Essential Elvis:
Elvis Presley (1956)
Elvis (1956)
Elvis (1968)
The Sun Sessions (1976)

Elvis’ Top 10:
That’s All Right
Heartbreak Hotel
Don’t Be Cruel
Hound Dog
Love Me Tender
All Shook Up
Jailhouse Rock
A Little Less Conversation
Can’t Help Falling
Suspicious Minds