won't go to hear 'em play a tang-o
― Lewis - J'Agour (crüt), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:46 (nine 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 (nine years ago) link
well, yeah
6. (tie) The Eagles – Hotel California39 points, 5 votes
― some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:51 (nine years ago) link
each of these songs sounds like it should be blasting out of tinny speakers at a car dealershipto me it's the sound of desperate (sometimes macho) fake fun
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:51 (nine 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 (nine years ago) link
bibbity bup at the hotel california
― cross over the mushroom circle (La Lechera), Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:52 (nine 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 (nine years ago) link
my money was on "Witchy Woman," oh well
― Brad C., Saturday, 26 July 2014 16:55 (nine 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 (nine 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 (nine 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 (nine 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 (nine years ago) link
margaritaville TOO LOW
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:00 (nine 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 (nine 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 (nine 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 (nine 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 (nine years ago) link
― 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 (nine years ago) link
and now, we continue sticking it to Winnipeg:
5. Bachman-Turner Overdrive – Takin’ Care of Business45 points, 7 votes, 1 worst place vote
― some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:03 (nine years ago) link
haha okay will admit that tarfumes's story sounds like pure hell
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:04 (nine years ago) link
Don't like this one, but You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet is worse.
― voodoo chili, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:04 (nine years ago) link
"Takin' Care of Business" is fun! Very stupid, but fun. Work out!
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:05 (nine years ago) link
context of overplay has got to be a huge factor in everyone's hates
― Brad C., Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:05 (nine years ago) link
Is there anybody in the world who still turns on the radio and is hoping to hear the Eagles version of the song?
no, but i never ever turn it off when i do hear it. made my top 100.
― fact checking cuz, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:05 (nine years ago) link
seems like there might be an obvious #1 here (for musical and non-musical reasons)
― relentlessly pecking at peace (President Keyes), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:06 (nine years ago) link
man we shoulda voted for our Friday 5 o'clock whistle songs, I'd have voted for "Takin Care of Business" there. along with "Shanty".
― Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:07 (nine years ago) link
lol
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:07 (nine years ago) link
"Takin' Care of Business" has a great guitar lead. i really don't understand why "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" has a better rep w/ y'all.
― some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:08 (nine years ago) link
forgot all about the five o'clock whistle
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:08 (nine years ago) link
FRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAY
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE
― Euler, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:09 (nine years ago) link
-> "Bang the Drum All Day" -> "Shanty"
"You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" better make the top songs rollout.
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:10 (nine years ago) link
I do or have sometimes actively enjoyed 9 or 10 of the songs on this list, and this is probably my favorite:
4. Billy Joel – Piano Man55 points, 7 votes, 2 worst place votes
― some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:15 (nine years ago) link
this is like the Eagles making the worst list for Hotel California ... so many worse Billy Joel songs to choose from
glad they are both represented tbh
― Brad C., Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:19 (nine years ago) link
starting to get nervous that we may not see the Doors on this list at all
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:19 (nine years ago) link
YES! Forgot to vote for this because I assembled my worst ballot hastily, but I fucking despise every second of this song's miserable existence.
― voodoo chili, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:20 (nine years ago) link
Chill out, man. Have a tonic and gin.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:22 (nine years ago) link
Do you mind if I make love to it?
― voodoo chili, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:25 (nine years ago) link
I was the #1 Vote for DSB. It's rise to a "Stairway.../Freebird/Hotel California"-level CR Staple is one of the worst things to happen to the format. Plus, since it's popped up on some TV shows, the thing has become a go-to shorthand for a great 'old song' by a lot of younger people I know.
FWIW, I'm just not that into Journey on the whole.
― Randall "Humble" Pie (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:28 (nine years ago) link
also: wtf complaiing about hearing too many tangos in 1978?
The Evita musical was a big deal at the time
― Josefa, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:30 (nine years ago) link
this one was a widely tipped favorite for #1, which should give you an idea of just how hated the other 2 songs are...
3. Don McLean – American Pie68 points, 8 votes, 3 worst place votes
― some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:31 (nine years ago) link
don't do hate lists but this is sort of fun.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:32 (nine years ago) link
Saved by the Mott the Hoople live version "The day the music died...OR DID IT?"
― relentlessly pecking at peace (President Keyes), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:32 (nine years ago) link
legit suspense here tbh! what could be worse?
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:35 (nine years ago) link
okay wait i can think of one: Defend the Indefensible: "Wonderful Tonight"
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:36 (nine years ago) link
"Margaritaville", "Old Time Rock and Roll", and "Takin' Care of Business" are the ones I dislike from this list. "Old Time..." is by far my least favourite.
Interesting: 10 years ago, I would have picked DSB as a top Journey song and it would have easily made my favourites list. When I listened to things this time around, I realized that there were several other Journey songs that I enjoy far more now. Probably just a result of overplay over the last 5-8 years or so.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:37 (nine years ago) link
I don't do 'worst' lists though.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:38 (nine years ago) link
so the last two "Piano Man" and "American Pie" made my main list.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:42 (nine years ago) link
and now, a song that I've heard far too many amateur guitarists proudly show off their ability to play:
2. Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight72 points, 11 votes, 3 worst place votes
― some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:43 (nine years ago) link
I think what makes "Wonderful Tonight" especially loathsome is that it's this 'romantic' song that seems to be unwittingly told from the perspective of a hopeless drug addict whose girlfriend has to drag him home and put him to bed at the end of the night
― some dude, Saturday, 26 July 2014 17:45 (nine years 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
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
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