CLASSIC ROCK TRACKS POLL: THE RESULTS

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Good afternoon, listeners, thanks for tuning in to 107.7 WILX "The Aorta." Starting on Monday, we will be rolling out the top 100 tracks of all time, as decided by 63 voters, with beautiful images courtesy of gr80.

You all voted for a total of 917 songs, and remember there were only 861 in the official nominations list, so that's a lot of write-ins.

But first, we are starting things off with our subpolls. And for a very special "no request weekend" you told us what songs you say NO to requesting. That's right, the 10 worst classic rock songs of all time, coming up in a few minutes.

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:01 (ten years ago) link

that's powerful stuff

Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:02 (ten years ago) link

yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:03 (ten years ago) link

37 ballots came with 'worst' lists. Here are the 10 songs that made you say "stay away from me-hee":

10. The Guess Who – American Woman
31 points, 4 votes, 2 worst place votes

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:05 (ten years ago) link

Wow, really? Is this residual hatred for Lenny Kravitz? I have no need for the long version of this but the core of the song is super rockin'!

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:07 (ten years ago) link

Huh, is it just the cheap America-bashing that people hate?

EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:13 (ten years ago) link

8. (tie) Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
33 points, 5 votes

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:16 (ten years ago) link

oops, did not bold that one

8. (tie) Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
33 points, 5 votes

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:17 (ten years ago) link

wtf American Woman

Brad C., Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:19 (ten years ago) link

I HATE "American Woman", voted it 7th worst.

"Now woman, I said stay away
American woman, listen what I say"

but if she stays away, how can she hear him? hideously stupid

Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:24 (ten years ago) link

Nibblin' on sponge cake,
watchin' the sun bake;
All of those tourists covered with oil.
Strummin' my six string on my front porch swing.
Smell those shrimp
They're beginnin' to boil.

Lewis - J'Agour (crüt), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:26 (ten years ago) link

8. (tie) Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
33 points, 4 votes, 1 worst place vote

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:28 (ten years ago) link

disgusting
both of them
bring it on!

whoops xp

cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:29 (ten years ago) link

107.7 WILX "The Aorta" is going to make me laugh all week long.

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:29 (ten years ago) link

hahahahha okay, that's fair - but surely true of lots of "woman, get thee gone!" songs. Listen this one last time, etc.

But that lead guitar sound, man! Like a balloon overfilled with diesel fumes, something really great about that. DOODLE OO DOOOOOOOOO

"Margaritaville" made my 100 on principle - Jimmy Buffett filled a lot of the empty playlist slots where I wasn't hearing lower-tier Bob Seger et al. down south. Not my favorite Buffett but it's fine.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:30 (ten years ago) link

that was xpost to Euler re: American Woman

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:30 (ten years ago) link

"Don't Stop Believin'" is soooooo painfully overplayed and over-heralded, these days more than ever. I cannot imagine a state of mind where I'd be glad to hear it.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:31 (ten years ago) link

I hate "Don't Stop Believin'" with a deep abiding hatred

Brad C., Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:32 (ten years ago) link

"Now woman, I said stay away
American woman, listen what I say"

but if she stays away, how can she hear him?

Always loved the song--even more so, now!

clemenza, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:32 (ten years ago) link

wow, does it really say "I don't need your ghetto scenes" ???

Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:32 (ten years ago) link

yeah man, we don't need Canadian rockers judging Americans ::turns up "Southern Man"::

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:35 (ten years ago) link

I still like Don't Stop Believin', but whatever you guys. Good work on the American Woman and Margaritaville.

Johnny Fever, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:36 (ten years ago) link

(xxpost) It does. Burton Cummings had a real anti-hippie thing (cf. "Hand Me Down World" too)--except when it was convenient to sound like a hippie ("No Sugar Tonight," "Share the Land"). He was all things to all people. He was as shameless and as trashy as it got.

clemenza, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:37 (ten years ago) link

tbh I hate "Southern Man" even more b/c I actually like Neil Young, whereas the Guess Who...well, I guess it's fun to sing "These Eyes" as "These Nuts", I'll give them that.

Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:37 (ten years ago) link

I wonder how many of the "Worst" songs here will place in the main poll! I don't expect "Margaritaville" will come close, but DSB had a surprising number of defenders here: "Come Sail Away" vs. "More than a Feeling" vs. "Don't Stop Believing"

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:39 (ten years ago) link

believe it or not, there are TWO ties in this top ten, and here comes the other one:

6. (tie) Bob Seger – Old Time Rock & Roll
39 points, 7 votes, 1 worst place vote

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:40 (ten years ago) link

I voted for Don't Stop Believing in my main list, mainly cause it's truly one of those songs where everyone knows the words (at least the first verse), and listening to the song in a big group is a lot of fun, even if I would mostly switch the station if it came on the radio.

voodoo chili, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:40 (ten years ago) link

DSB got my one Journey vote. didn't vote for Margaritaville but I like it, probably b/c I left Florida when I was 13

Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:41 (ten years ago) link

I never submit worst lists, but if I had, "Old Time Rock & Roll" would have been my #1.

clemenza, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:42 (ten years ago) link

I guess the Seger song is overexposed? I don't care about it one way or another, though Risky Business is probably my favorite movie

Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:43 (ten years ago) link

listening to the song in a big group is a lot, yes. Fun, no.

My mandatory listening thread has totally opened my eyes on Seger, who I previously gave credit only for "Katmandu" and "Night Moves" (which I came to late in life). But "Old Time Rock & Roll" still seems like a real dog to me, just forced as hell and the lyrics really miss out on chances for specificity in favor of hoary old filler lyrics. Which is sorta old time rock and roll but it would have been great if he'd really brought some Berry-like wit and imagination to the lines - "Roll Over Beethoven" rocks harder while being more delightful and believable as the words of a man excited to rock.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:44 (ten years ago) link

"Margaritaville" was absent from my worst ballot because I never think of it as CR--it has more of an oldies station or dentist's office vibe for me--but I'm happy to see it place.

one way street, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:45 (ten years ago) link

won't go to hear 'em play a tang-o

Lewis - J'Agour (crüt), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:46 (ten years ago) link

I've never really understood which rock 'n' roll songs "Old Time Rock & Roll" is supposed to sound like

Lewis - J'Agour (crüt), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:48 (ten years ago) link

well, yeah

6. (tie) The Eagles – Hotel California
39 points, 5 votes

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:51 (ten years ago) link

each of these songs sounds like it should be blasting out of tinny speakers at a car dealership
to me it's the sound of desperate (sometimes macho) fake fun

cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:51 (ten years ago) link

i admire "don't stop believin'" for the resolute weirdness of its structure:

intro verse verse verse bridge verse verse bridge solo chorus chorus fadeout

plus it's a pretty great song.

fact checking cuz, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:51 (ten years ago) link

bibbity bup at the hotel california

cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:52 (ten years ago) link

Don, Glenn, and the Eagles had SEVERAL songs in contention for this list that missed the top 10 btw

some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:53 (ten years ago) link

my money was on "Witchy Woman," oh well

Brad C., Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:55 (ten years ago) link

"Hotel California" just missed worst list for me on strength of its final solo - always kinda stoked to hear those cascading guitars in sync. The rest is a snooze but usually refreshing when heard in a non-Eagles cover that people actually seem to like - I respond to enthusiasm. Is there anybody in the world who still turns on the radio and is hoping to hear the Eagles version of the song? Kinda the ultimate in CR canon wearing out an okay song until it's a detestable ubiquity.

Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:55 (ten years ago) link

I don't hate Hotel California. Didn't vote for it, but I still like the guitar sound on the solo.

voodoo chili, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:56 (ten years ago) link

Old Time Rock & Roll is the first of these that was on my worst list and one of two Bob Seeger songs on my worst list.

I know some of y'all love him but he makes me grind my teeth.

carl agatha, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:57 (ten years ago) link

Voted life in the fast lane on my worst list, to me the pinnacle of Henley's dumbass cynicism masquerading as trenchant social commentary

intheblanks, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:57 (ten years ago) link

margaritaville TOO LOW

resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:00 (ten years ago) link

"old time rock & roll" woulda been my #1 dog if i had submitted a dogs list. any and all today's-music-ain't-got-the-same-soul complaints, from any era, make me want to gag, but never more so than when they become massive hits in the very era they're complaining about.

also: wtf complaiing about hearing too many tangos in 1978? where was he getting his pop culture information? from 20-year-old chuck berry records?

fact checking cuz, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:01 (ten years ago) link

I voted for "Witchy Woman" as sixth worst, worser than bullshit "American Woman". the opening notes of "Witchy Woman" are enough to get me to smash the radio, and that's before the awful vocals. I think I hate vamps, and, well, the Eagles.

Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:02 (ten years ago) link

huge kudos to some dude for the thread title, btw. raw, simple and self-explanatory, like boston or the cars.

fact checking cuz, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:03 (ten years ago) link

I voted for Margaritaville at number 8 on my worst list actually, so good job everybody.

voodoo chili, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:03 (ten years ago) link

margaritaville TOO LOW

― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, July 26, 2014 1:00 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

^ this. I used to work in an office where the bosses had Buffett playing on repeat. Heard "Margaritaville" an average of five times a day. It was the company's hold music too, so at least once a day I'd take a call where a customer would excitedly say, "HEY, COOL HOLD MUSIC! ARE YOU A PARROTHEAD?" "No, sir, I am not. How may I help you?"

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:03 (ten years ago) link

Ugh. I'll say this for that station, though: the "Rock & Roll Roots" DJ Bob Stroud was someone I listened to a lot as a kid. The first time I heard a lot of Stax, Chicago soul, less-obvious Motown tracks, garage rock, girl groups, and early rock & roll was on his show, and many of those songs I haven't heard on the radio since (almost 40 years).

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 14:06 (one year ago) link

hometown station completed its 500 and indeed, stairway was #1 and freebird was #2 once again

the most recent song on the list was, at #310, green day's when i come around (1994)

mookieproof, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 19:01 (one year ago) link

gotta throw the kids a bone

INDEPENDENTS DAY BY STEVEN SPILBERG (President Keyes), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 19:07 (one year ago) link

Ugh, these winners are so boring

calstars, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 19:44 (one year ago) link

I could live with tumbling dice

calstars, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 19:46 (one year ago) link

Or combination

calstars, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 19:52 (one year ago) link

No one goes to Classic Rock radio to be surprised

INDEPENDENTS DAY BY STEVEN SPILBERG (President Keyes), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 20:26 (one year ago) link

Today, to mix things up, we're gonna put the Led in!

INDEPENDENTS DAY BY STEVEN SPILBERG (President Keyes), Tuesday, 30 May 2023 20:27 (one year ago) link

Have Beatles... for lunch!

pplains, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 20:36 (one year ago) link

Let’s redefine classic rock

calstars, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 20:43 (one year ago) link

No one goes to Classic Rock radio to be surprised

au contraire. is the next heart song on twofer tuesday going to be "magic man" or "crazy on you"? no one knows! the anticipation is excruciatingly beautiful as we wait to see if it's going to be a sustained, piercing electric guitar note or some sweet acoustic flatpicking! surprise me, classic rock drive-time dj!

fact checking cuz, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 21:23 (one year ago) link

heart rules

It’s “these dreams” btw

calstars, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 21:43 (one year ago) link

heart rules

um, yes! as i believe this very thread decisively established!

fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 01:40 (one year ago) link

They don’t play Dog & Butterfly on the radio enough

INDEPENDENTS DAY BY STEVEN SPILBERG (President Keyes), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 01:48 (one year ago) link

I had to do some research on Top 500s a few months ago; if you're interested, here's a cached version of all the yearly Top 500s from '81 to '91 for CKOC, a station out of Hamilton.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Y0a2BmTRGU4J:https://kaseygraovac.tripod.com/CKOC/CKOCBig500/timeline.html&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca

(At the end of each blurb, there's a "VIEW THE COMPLETE 19__ BIG 500" link you can click on.)

clemenza, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 01:51 (one year ago) link

that is awesome

mookieproof, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 02:17 (one year ago) link

would never have suspected the love for chris de burgh or milli vanilli

complete disregard of skynyrd (which is of course fine)

certainly more inclusive than my hometown radio

mookieproof, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 02:25 (one year ago) link

Thinking about it now, I shouldn't have put that here. CKOC was an AM Top-40 station, not Classic Rock. (They're all-sports now.) They were competing, in a sense, with Q-107's countdowns--a Toronto station that was Classic Rock--but CKOC wasn't. That '90 chart with Milli Vanilli, New Kids, and Bette Midler makes that pretty clear.

clemenza, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 02:30 (one year ago) link

Similarly, here’s the WLS list from 1981 (they continued it until the late ‘80s, iirc), which I remember listening to most of.

https://hercshideaway.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-1981-wls-rock-hall-of-fame.html?m=1

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 04:33 (one year ago) link

that is a lot of REO

mookieproof, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 04:41 (one year ago) link

totally support 'roll with the changes' of course

mookieproof, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 04:45 (one year ago) link

REO and Styx were local boys made good, so they were played an extremely irritating amount on WLS. I haven’t heard Styx’s “Too Much Time On My Hands” since 1981 but I could sing the whole thing from memory.

Cheap Trick also got a lot of airplay — I remember hearing “So Good To See You” — but when their popularity started to wane post-Dream Police, WLS ignored them.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 05:09 (one year ago) link

The intro to "Silly Love Songs" takes me right back to rollerskating when I was 11 years old. I can't hate on it.

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 06:04 (one year ago) link

aw

mookieproof, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 06:19 (one year ago) link

feel like 'all right now' is the quintessential classic rock song

it's . . . decent? but i can't imagine any possible context in which it might be mentioned other than 'classic rock songs that exist'


It’s the Stanfurd Band fight song, unfortunately

Day 1 fan (morrisp), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 07:47 (one year ago) link

(“unfortunately” b/c it’s a pretty cool song without that association)

Day 1 fan (morrisp), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 07:51 (one year ago) link

REO and Styx were local boys made good, so they were played an extremely irritating amount on WLS.

It's hard to believe such a calamity, Tarfumes.

Landfill Collins (Ye Mad Puffin), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 11:31 (one year ago) link

Hi Infidelity sold 10 million copies, I don't think it was a regional quirk or anything

Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 11:35 (one year ago) link

the following year they split the Layla votes into original Layla and EC unplugged, and both made the top 10, but this ensured Stairway would be first.

god, imagine preferring the MTV Unplugged version

Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 11:41 (one year ago) link

Hi Infidelity sold 10 million copies, I don't think it was a regional quirk or anything


I don’t have much to compare it to, but in addition to the Hi Infidelity singles, WLS also played barely-hits like the live version of “Ridin’ The Storm Out” (#97 Billboard), “Time For Me To Fly” (#70; re-release #72), and “Roll With The Changes” (#48) into the ground. I heard them so often that I just assumed they were all much bigger hits.

It’s like learning that Rusted Root’s “Send Me On My Way” only hit #72 — then why was it on the radio all the goddamn time?

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 12:17 (one year ago) link

Time for me to Fly gets a lot of play

INDEPENDENTS DAY BY STEVEN SPILBERG (President Keyes), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 15:14 (one year ago) link

WLS also played barely-hits like the live version of “Ridin’ The Storm Out” (#97 Billboard), “Time For Me To Fly” (#70; re-release #72), and “Roll With The Changes” (#48) into the ground. I heard them so often that I just assumed they were all much bigger hits. It’s like learning that Rusted Root’s “Send Me On My Way” only hit #72 — then why was it on the radio all the goddamn time?

classic rock hits aren't supposed to be pop hits! "free bird" topped out at #19. "crazy on you" at #35. "runnin' with the devil" at #84. "american girl" didn't chart at all. "stairway to heaven" and "baba o'riley" weren't singles. classic rock radio rolls with the changes, not the charts!

fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 17:09 (one year ago) link

I don’t have much to compare it to, but in addition to the Hi Infidelity singles, WLS also played barely-hits like the live version of “Ridin’ The Storm Out” (#97 Billboard), “Time For Me To Fly” (#70; re-release #72), and “Roll With The Changes” (#48) into the ground. I heard them so often that I just assumed they were all much bigger hits.

huh yeah me too, these have been staples on minneapolis's kqrs for years too

Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 17:14 (one year ago) link

feel like 'all right now' is the quintessential classic rock song

it's . . . decent? but i can't imagine any possible context in which it might be mentioned other than 'classic rock songs that exist'

With an eye toward the exits, I'll mention a context where I think it's great: cutting away from Annette Bening screaming in the much-beloved American Beauty.

clemenza, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 19:57 (one year ago) link

“feel like 'all right now' is the quintessential classic rock song”
I think you mean Highway to Hell

calstars, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:04 (one year ago) link

i think u mean FREEBIRD

werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:08 (one year ago) link

also imo Alright Now is good for 30 seconds to a minute or so when it starts up and then it’s super boring

werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:10 (one year ago) link

like it wears out its welcome for me very quickly

werewolves of laudanum (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:10 (one year ago) link

wow, Paul Kossoff is great. never tire of All Right Now, especially live versions. and Angus gets a fair bit from him.

bulb after bulb, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:12 (one year ago) link

also imo Alright Now is good for 30 seconds to a minute or so when it starts up and then it’s super boring

Truthfully, I feel this way about 30 to 40% of classic rock warhorses. After 90 seconds I'm flipping the radio dial.

Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:18 (one year ago) link

...and there's another 10 to 15% that I don't even give that long anymore.

Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:20 (one year ago) link

yeah, delete my "wow," get it just am always there for that guitar

bulb after bulb, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:23 (one year ago) link

quality wise it's in the top 100 or 500 or maybe more but i do think "all right now" does feel like a very middle of a venn diagram classic rock song

Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 20:49 (one year ago) link

Dug up my ballot from e-mail. 1) I can't believe I turned in a ballot of 100 songs--my ballots are almost always half the limit allowed at best. 2) "All Right Now" wasn't one of my 100, which surprised me a little.

clemenza, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 21:01 (one year ago) link

I don't listen to classic rock radio much, and I don't think they play "All Right Now" all that often, but that would be infinitely preferable to another helping of Guns N Roses.

Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 21:10 (one year ago) link

classic rock hits aren't supposed to be pop hits! "free bird" topped out at #19. "crazy on you" at #35. "runnin' with the devil" at #84. "american girl" didn't chart at all. "stairway to heaven" and "baba o'riley" weren't singles. classic rock radio rolls with the changes, not the charts!

That’s just it: WLS was a top 40 station, not a “classic rock” station (which also accounts for the fact that it took until 1986 or ‘87 for “Stairway” to top its annual Top 500 list). I never heard “Baba O’Riley” on WLS, not even during the Who-saturated autumn of 1982, during their “Farewell” tour.

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 21:27 (one year ago) link

“Farewell (and good riddance)”

calstars, Wednesday, 31 May 2023 21:28 (one year ago) link

I was just reminiscing with one of my kids about AOR in the 70s. Denver had two very good stations, KBPI and KAZY. They had actual local DJs who had, or seemed to have, a fair amount of control over or at least input on what got played. Sure, you'd hear "All Right Now," but you'd also get "Silver, Blue & Gold" or "Wishing Well" or even an entire side of Burning Sky. Also, they took actual requests.

We were laughing about this because of the state of "classic rock" radio now. The stations are all standardized, even the names. In Atlanta, and half a dozen other places, it's "The River." In Denver, it's "The Mountain." Who even listens to these now?

immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 21:34 (one year ago) link

In Portland, Maine, their “classic rock” station is “The Blimp.” I asked a friend who lives there, “So, do they play Captain Beef-“ “YES! ALL THE FUCKING TIME! THEY JUST PLAY THE ‘THE BLIMP! THE BLIMP!’ PART BUT NEVER AN ACTUAL BEEFHEART SONG!”

Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 31 May 2023 21:45 (one year ago) link


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