Posted on 04/16/2005 9:40:10 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
I just heard Del Shannon's "Runaway" and realized that the song was near-perfect and there barely anything you'd like to change. And, off the top of my head, here are 9 more that I can think of:
- Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" - also my best-ever rock song candidate
- The Stones' live "Ya-Yas" version of Berry's "Little Queenie"
- Bunny Berigan's "I Can't Get Started" - Louis Armstrong supposedly said that he'd never record the tune because Berigan's interpretation was just too good.
- The Coasters' "Searchin'" - cheating here, I'd have to say "Along Came Jones" and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" they recorded as the Robins are naerly as good - The Strangeloves' "I Want Candy" - my candidate for best obscure rock song
- Split Enz' "I Got You" - captures perfectly the feeling of being in a relationship with the wrong lady
- Elvis' "Hound Dog" - no comment necessary
- Prince's "1999" - just comes together nicely
- B-52's "Rock Lobster" - so weird it's good.
- Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" - including, of course, the now-censored verse about how "the little faggot is a millionaire"
I could go on and on but those are the 10 I'd start with (and I haven't even touched Sinatra or Charlie Parker.)
Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison. End of story.
Stand By Me
Up On The Roof
Since I Fell For You
When A Man Loves A Woman (Percy Sledge not Bolton)
Unchained Melody
Spanish Harlem
Me and Mrs. Jones
Whiter Shade of Pale
I'm very familiar with "It Will Stand" although I never knew that The Showmen were James and Bobby. "I'm Your Puppet" was another great number!
I'll play. The song I always think of as rock and roll perfection is (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson.
Boston - More Than A Feeling
Which of the dozens of versions?
How about "Hooked on a Feeling?" I don't remember who performed it though.
BTW, I'm getting ready to take the ipod plunge. Are oldies from the 50's and 60's available for purchase? What about classical music?
My nominees:
Best Rock and Roll song: "Gimme Some Lovin" by the Spencer Davis Group
Best instrumental: "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers
California Dreamin'
Happy Together
Summer In the City
Cherish
What The World Needs Now
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
Stop In The Name Of Love
Never My Love
For What Its Worth
Good Vibrations
"More Than A Feeling" fits into one of my sick mind's other music categories: Great Until They Start Singing
I think the lead on "It Will Stand" was "General" Johnson, who later did lead for the Chairmen of the Board.
I'm sorry I can't help you there; I know zero about Ipod. Great version of "Heart and Soul," btw.
Fear the Reaper....heavy on the cowbells! ;-)
Man.! That Line-Up Brings back a time and place.
Like a black and white newsreel of yesterday.
Thanks. I'm going to go dig out as many of those as I can find around here and have a groovy saturday.
Pax-Aye
Ah, no, they weren't.
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