[ConservativeStatement]

The top five is:

1. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

2. Something by the Beatles

3. Wild Horses by Rolling Stones

4. November Rain by Guns N' Roses

5. Let it Be by the Beatles.

[Olog-hai]

Bleh. Zep is overplayed and overrated. You’re better off with bands with truly original ideas (e.g. Purple, Heep, Sabbath) from that era. (Yes, they did ballads; Heep’s cover of “Come Away Melinda” from their first album is quite the classic.)

[dfwgator]

Love Reign O’er Me - The Who

[Zuben Elgenubi]

This is for "ballads" right?

Dust in the Wind by Kansas.

[I see my hands]

Davy, Davy Crockett,
King of the wild frontier!

[DemforBush]

Wow.

No Roy Orbison or James Taylor, no Little Feat or Al Stewart, no mention at all of Hendrix’s “Little Wing” or “Hey Joe”?

Yeesh, who reads RS these days?

[MplsSteve]

When a person thinks of ballads, they probably think of Barry Manilow or Peter Cetera.

But there is one artist who’s done only a few ballads over the years and his were great sounding.

Alice Cooper.

Yes, seriously. For those of you who’ve never heard one of his ballads, click on these YouTube links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbGM3zGb918 - I Never Cry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd4s3xmP7lI - How You Gonna See Me Now?

A few years ago, I played “I never Cry” for some of the younger guys at work. They had no idea it was Alice Cooper. They thought he sounded great.

[eyedigress]

I think Looking Glass had a damn fine one with “Brandy”.

[DesertRhino]

no Freebird in the top 5,,, philistines,,

[TomServo]

What? No “Wang-Dang Sweet Poontang”?

[Lazlo in PA]

MacArther Park. If this is not on their radar, they are way too high

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2U-6sahf9s

At 7 minutes plus you got your moneys worth. I threw this 8-track in driving the Vista Cruiser yesterday and my wife and daughter got cranky. Screw them.

[SatinDoll]

I agree with Olog-hai. BLEH!!

On New Years Eve night in 1979, Kasey Kasum of immemorial memory - a great disc jockey! - featured the greatest song of the 70s. Listen and watch while this ballad, from 1977. is sung. This is a truly great ballad sung by a lovely woman!

The singer was Debbie Boone, and the song, You Light Up My Life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b07-yKnKRMQ&feature=related

[Revolting cat!]

Feelins!

[Revolting cat!]

BAD TASTE THREAD PING!

[Always Independent]

I ain’t a vet but I like the ballad of the Green Beret!

[bigbob]

No Freebird, no Sink the Bismarck....bah

[JD91]

I watched the video of Let It Be from the link (great song)- it's sad to see what liberalism did to shuch a fine enterprise that was once the Beatles

[Tea Party Reveler]

I found YouTube to be an excellent tool to learn how to play all of these songs on guitar. Thousands of teachers with lessons.

I learned how to play “Pinball Wizard” on guitar tonight at Privettricker’s YouTube channel! That guy covers it all-—Beatles, Stones, Zep, Sabbath, one hit wonder groups, lesser known artists, he’s got it all. He must have posted 800 lessons now. There’s many other guitarists, pianists on YouTube showing you how to play all those songs.

[Revolting cat!]

Feelines! (This version almost saves it.)

[eyedigress]

Good Post. We are likely to remember many songs by the input of fellow FReepers young and a tad older.

Dock of the Bay

Alone Again Naturally

Midnite Train to Georgia

Wichita Lineman

The list is large.

[LibFreeOrDie]

“You Send Me” (1957) - Sam Cooke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqzv1ZS6uZs