What are the classics every rock band simply must be able to play?

Chicago Tribune ^ | June 21st, 2018 | Randy Blaser

[Mariner]

I have a theory about rock ’n’ roll bands that I haven’t really expressed to many people, but I will offer it here.

I think any rock ’n’ roll band that wants to consider itself serious needs to be able to competently perform a certain set of standard rock songs. If they can’t play these songs, they should just stop the music and get day jobs.

I’m talking about classic songs that are basic to the genre.

Let me explain.

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi were not blues musicians. However, they knew enough about music to know any band worth its salt had to be able to perform certain standards at any time.

Thus The Blues Brothers were born. The idea led to a hit album called “Briefcase Full of Blues,” which contained the standards, and a hit movie. The song “Soul Man,” was immortalized thanks to The Blues Brothers.

So it should be with any competent rock band. If you want to be good, if you want to entertain, there are certain basics which must be mastered.

But which songs are the songs that must be part of any competent band’s repertoire.

[Mariner]

The author is conceptually correct.

All of the great rock bands started by covering the classics.

But his selection of songs is somewhat laughable.

I suggest: House of the Rising Sun Homework Good morning little school girl Revolution Under my thumb Eight days a week Refugee

What about you folks? What great classics should be included? Not the obscure, but real mainstream rock winners.

[virgil]

Hotel California. huh

[SkyDancer]

Ricky Nelson’s Garden Party - that’s my theme song! Why do someone elses songs? Do your own. However one point: A group called Poppa Do-Ron-Ron does the Beach Boys better than the Beach Boys.

[Roccus]

Since I’ll assume you mean classics to dance to I’ll add

Mustang Sally
Midnight Hour
Get Ready

[dfwgator]

Smoke On the Water

[raiderboy]

sweet home Alabama?

[SamAdams76]

I think any band that covers this classic song will get a lot of attention really fast. It's not a well known song but easy to learn and very catchy.

Syndicate of Sound - Little Girl

Check out the seagull at the 1:22 mark. I think that is one of the most awesome "seagull in a music video" moments ever. That seagull was so full of life and had so much energy!

[partyrepub]

Comfortably Numb, Wish you Were Here.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I would think any such list should begin and end with “Johnny B Goode” and “Louie Louie.” Everything else is more or less optional.

[Henry Hnyellar]

That’s Alright Mama

[Bodleian_Girl]

Whipping Post.

Just sayin’....

[Bodleian_Girl]

“Under My Thumb.”

Yep.

[Billthedrill]

Zappa's The Black Page, Liquid Tension Experiment's Universal Mind, Racer X's YRO, just the basics.

[bigbob]

Louie Louie

that’s all

[Paladin2]

Rawhide....

[Snickering Hound]

https://youtu.be/Jj7pDNDuoJ0
Worst band ever butchers Pink Floyd.

[llevrok]

Rock is dead. Sad to say. It’s a lost art form especially to any one under 30.

[GoDuke]

“Just the basics” lol!

[irishjuggler]

Freebird.

[Terry Mross]

Mariner, Ackroyd and Belushi didn’t create a blues band. The band, as Ackroyd said, was the best house band in the world. They were basically the MGs (Memphis Group). Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn.
Riccus, they were the band in two of the songs you mentioned. Booker T and the MGs. Steve wrote the music and contributed to the lyrics to Mustang Sally and Knock On Wood. Play one then play the other one backwards.