Posted on 05/08/2020 11:40:14 AM PDT by PROCON
As we all await in our homes hoping for some good news so we can resume our once active lives, there has never been a better time to reflect on the glory days of Rock. Attempting to pick an all time top 10 list has proven a great excuse to listen to some of the all time great rock anthems, but has also brought the pain of leaving legends of rock without the ranking they deserve.
There are far too many apologies to even begin listing here, although The Who and the Jimi Hendrix experience were the next two to be chosen. The desire to throw in a deserved left field selection like The Bee Gees(pre Disco of course) or tragically underrated Australian gems like The Skyhooks and Cold Chisel was unfortunately thwarted due to the quality bands that would be forced to be left out.
The criteria for this list came down to a few key factors, including worldwide recognition, the quantity of quality singles and albums produced, the band's overall impact and influence, and the ability to be embraced by a wide audience. While Top 40 success was not the sole criteria here, it was definitely taken into consideration, as was the band's ability to create music that has lasted the test of time.
So while this writer hopes you get some Satisfaction from this list, please Don't Cry on the comments section and learn to just Let it Be if you disagree.
~~~SNIP~~~
Author's picks (NOT MINE):
10. Fleetwood Mac
9. U2
8. Guns 'N' Roses
7. Queen
6. The Doors
5. AC/DC
4. Pink Floyd
3. The Beatles
2. Led Zeppelin
1. The Rolling Stones
From Zooropa on I like at most 2-3 songs per album
I didn’t care much for AC/DC until I saw a Trump video set to Thunderstruck. It was fantastic. I watch the actual AC/DC video of that song all the time now.
How popular was Little Feat?
I think that this listing was in part based on mainstream popularity of the groups being discussed.
Y’all are missing it.
Any list without RUSH is just screwing around with your personal preferences.
Queen is timeless. That's why. Same with so many other great classic rock bands. I see I've missed at least 3 bands that should've made my top ten, which would've made my list 13. :-}
Nor rap(/humor)
Queen pretty much disappeared in the US in the 80s, as Freddie got way too campy.
But Innuendo was a damn good album, best album they did since the 70s.
Exactly.
Re: Author’s picks.
Guns & Roses & U2 are decidedly not “Classic Rock” in the sense of the time period when they were performing. Classic Rock being vinyl record albums sales primarily.
Then you get into “Which Pink Floyd”? Syd Barrett’s Floyd? Probably a little too out-there commercially.
Doors? Not my cup of tea, but a solid pick.
No Who?
Rolling Stones were a monster back then, but since the late ‘80s are largely living off their rep. But if we’re talking about the time period... OK.
You have to put the Eagles in there.
Only if Andy was in it.
Back in my day it wasn’t classic rock. It was just rock.
Yeah, CCR was great also!
Helter Skelter, Twist and Shout, Oh! Darling, and a lot more. In fact it has been said that Helter Skelter was one of the first, if not THE first heavy metal rock songs.
ELO recorded a lot of classic songs.
The Beach Boys Pet Sounds inspired Sgt Pepper
Little Feat was VERY well known & highly respected within the industry and their fellow musicians...less so to the general public.
That said, they were truly one of the best - especially their musicianship. Lowell George’s songwriting, vocals and slide was beyond extraordinary.
Beatles (as I’v gotten older)
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The Beatles have grown on me over time as well. I used to think they were too sing-songy and not heavy enough, but now I just plain like a lot of their songs and admire how they put them together.
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