Best song ever picks me up when I'm feelin' blue

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | March 30, 2005 | RICHARD ROEPER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

[safeasthebanks]

"The Who is a rock and roll band. The Clash was a rock and roll band. AC/DC is a rock and roll band. REO Speedwagon is a pop band that makes slow-dance ballads for junior high school homecoming mixers."

Good point. And, just because I haven't seen any other references to the "Thunder From Down Under", let me put a word in for "Shoot To Thrill" as a great (true) rock and roll song to get the blood pumping.

Though AC/DC certainly has many such anthems to pick from (as can be discovered when attending most live sports events).

[7thson]

My choice for best rock song ever is Brown Sugar. Best pop song for me is In The Mood by Glen Miller. Some of the best 50's tunes I love - the ones they don't play on the radio - are Black Slacks, Red Hot, Framed, Smokey Joes Cafe, Knockin' On My Front Door, 60 Minute Man, and Rocket 88.

[toothfairy86]

I like "Trampled Underfoot" better.

[expatguy]

You might have it there ~ ;-)

Excellent Choice!!

"All Right Now" by Free

[soundandvision]

Back in the '70s, I thought the '60s were the golden age of rock. But the '70s were the best. The output was amazing, especially compared to the last couple of decades.

I always kind of felt like just because you make songs longer and louder doesn't mean they are necessarily better. To me, the 70's (particularly the early 70's) were very bloated. I further think rock music was rescued from itself later in the decade with punk, etc.

I'm not against some pre-"Wish You Were Here" Floyd or some 'mid period' Stones w/Mick Taylor.. nor more than the next guy. But a lot of the music from that era is bloated and lame.

Whenever it gets big and bloated.. I just dive back into early to mid 50's Sun and Chess stuff and I'm saved.

[John O]

As another poster said: Barracuda by Heart (still the only girl band that rocks)

Also Inagodadavida by Iron Butterfly.

[dfwgator]

AC/DC is a rock and roll band. REO Speedwagon is a pop band that makes slow-dance ballads for junior high school homecoming mixers.

I can't think of REO Speedwagon without thinking of the movie "Billy Madison."

[dfwgator]

Barracuda by Heart (still the only girl band that rocks)

They did rock, before 1985.

[GrammaLou]

"What'd I say" Jerry Lee Lewis

[expatguy]

I diagree - the best intro is on "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones

[GrammaLou]

"What'd I say" Jerry Lee Lewis

[dfwgator]

"What'd I say" Jerry Lee Lewis

Don't you mean Ray Charles?

[Dan from Michigan]

Some Lynyrd Skynyrd purists will tell you that "Sweet Home Alabama" isn't even the greatest Skynyrd song of all time, that the honors should go to "Tuesday's Gone" or some lesser-known album cut

SIMPLE MAN, followed by Gimme Back My Bullets, and Mississippi Kid. Although Sweet Home Alabama is a great song.

[expatguy]

"In the Evening" by Led Zeppelin also has a nice intro

[pbear8]

I love that song!

[Ramcat]

Best most moving opening guitar lick>

Memphis: Johnny Rivers

Sweet Home Alabama is up there. I'm a Skynard fan.

[Dan from Michigan]

George Thourogood and the Destroyers

"If you don't start drinkin', I'm gonna leave."

[infocats]

"The Ballad of Curtis Lowe"

[Dan from Michigan]

Damn, nobody's mentioned Uncle Ted yet?

Fred Bear!

[Dan from Michigan]

Neil Young's an indy. I know he backed Reagan twice, then he backed Nader.

I think he just likes to be anti-establishment, which isn't always a bad thing.