Page 4 of 6 FirstFirst ... 23456 LastLast
Results 46 to 60 of 90

Thread: Greatest ROCK song EVER ?

  1. #46
    Senior Member Doc Mark's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Southern, California, USA
    Posts
    1,371
    Morning, Mike, and All,

    You asked about my musical career: I started in bands that played school parties, proms, Frat gigs, and such. Moved on to nightclub work, and from there, to the road. On the road, we mostly played Hotel lounges and bars, but later moved on to the clubs and casinos of Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. Along the way, we opened for some name acts, some quite famous, but never became famous, ourselves. Drugs took it's toll on much of the group, too, as we made more money, and played with more famous folks. Only myself and my room mate, our keyboard player, resisted the temptation.

    In all my years as a musician, I was never tempted to try even a single drug, and I'm quite proud of that, actually. Some of those guys in the early bands are long dead from their excesses. Some of them eventually cleaned up the act and moved on to "real" life, where they were eventually successful. A few are still mired in drugs and drama, and their lives are more than a little pitiful, really, and quite disgusting. Sad deal, but hey, they made their own choices, and now are trapped by the consequences of their actions/choices. Hoisted upon their own petards, as the phrase goes.

    My last musical adventure, was playing on the Harbor Cruise Boats out of San Diego. That was a hoot! Almost like playing at Disneyland, except the passengers were really the entertainment.... at least for us musicians!! <LOL!!> Man, did we get some characters on those cruises!! My last band was drug and drink free, and did not even smoke cigarettes. That made going to work a real pleasure, and I actually miss those days on the boats.

    Back then, I played drums, trombone, Fluegabone, and all the Latin percussion stuff, and I was the lead vocalist in most of the bands of which I was a member. When playing the big venues, I was out front, as the lead singer, and we had another drummer. Now, in our Living History hobby, I play 18th century traditional stuff, on whistles and flageolettes, and that's really a ton of fun! Still keep the pipes up, a little, by singing ballads and traditional songs at our events, in The Sow's Ear Tavern, which we host for colonial participants.

    So, that's about it for me. I miss playing music for a living, but to NOT miss the very negative effect that drugs eventually had on that entire scene!! Lost too many good friends back then, and to me, that made those dark days all a waste, and not the "fun, hazy days", that some seem to remember about their drug scene experiences. 'Nuff said.... Thanks for asking, and God Bless!

    Every Good Wish,
    Doc
    The only thing that can never be taken away from you, is your honor. Cherish it, in yourself, and in others.

  2. #47
    Senior Member JBLRaiser's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Columbus, Ga.
    Posts
    1,173

    Hi Doc, great musical autobio

    and for those of us who passed through those hazy crazy daze, our wisdom has grown because of it. Sad some didn't make it.

  3. #48
    Senior Member Doc Mark's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Southern, California, USA
    Posts
    1,371
    Quote Originally Posted by JBLRaiser View Post
    and for those of us who passed through those hazy crazy daze, our wisdom has grown because of it. Sad some didn't make it.
    Hey, JBLRaiser,

    Thanks, my Friend! Your comment is exactly what I have heard from very good friends who also survived that era unscathed. I appreciate your wisdom, and your experience, sometimes hard won, and that you have made yourself a better person from all that. Quite a few of my friends have done the same, and I'm very proud of them, too. The important thing, however, is not that I'm proud of them, but that they are proud of themselves!! Outstanding, sez I!!

    I do truly miss all of my friends who were not fortunate enough, nor lucky enough, nor blessed enough to have survived those days. In those 30 years of playing, I lost, at the minimum, two dozen close friends to drug fatality. To this day, I miss each one. But, I could not save them back then, even though I tried. Nor could anyone else. Some of those that did survive have thanked me, all these years later, for my efforts, though they hated me back then when it was all going on.

    I do have some very funny rememberances of those days, too, which help to temper the pain of the losses incurred back then. I can tell you some stories of the road that will have you rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter!!! I still smile at the fun and funny times. But, in the end, the cost of admission was more than a little too high.

    Remind me, however, to tell you about the time one of our trumpet players crapped his pants one night up on stage, going for a super high note!! It is truly an hilarious story!! Gotta go now, however, as Sweet Bride is flying in from her latest gig, and I've got a bit of cleaning to do before I head down the mountain to pick her up!! Talk to you later, my Friend, and God Bless, indeed!

    Every Good Wish,
    Doc
    The only thing that can never be taken away from you, is your honor. Cherish it, in yourself, and in others.

  4. #49
    Senior Member Tom Brennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Wheaton Illinois
    Posts
    663
    Quote Originally Posted by sonofagun View Post


    Now as to my own vote - I'm surprised this one hasn't been mentioned - one of the most recognized & popular opening guitar riffs and always brings the house down when performed live:


    JOHNNY B. GOODE - Chuck "Duck Walker" Berry!

    Whenever I see one of these polls I'm struck by how many people seem to think that Rock and Roll started with the Brits and Hippies in the mid-late 60s and are either unaware or unappreciative of the 50s and early 60s American rockers; you'll see guitarists unaware of Scotty Moore, James Burton and Steve Cropper and drummers who have no idea who DJ Fontana, Earl Palmer, Al Jackson and Howard Grimes are. Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Bo Diddly and the Doo-Wop groups are often ignored.

    Personally I think the Brits and Hippies screwed Rock and Roll up and by the 1970s the only decent bands were Mountain and Thin Lizzy. Until The Ramones came along and shook it up by going back to basics. And nobody beats the early rockers. Hell, Leslie Gore was better than Led Zeppelin.

  5. #50
    Senior Member Ducatista47's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Peoria, Illinois
    Posts
    1,886
    Tom, I see the problem as most listeners not being familiar with the Chess/Checker/Argo catalog. How can you have any real perspective when you don't know Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Etta James...

    I liked a lot of Led Zep, but I feel sorry for fans who think it started there. Or with The Beatles & The Stones. Lennon worshiped Gene Vincent and Mick & Keith dug Chess Blues artists more than anything else; Keith and Chuck Berry licks were inseparable.

    Fats Domino is so talented he is all you need to hear to catch on.

    Clark
    Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
    Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears


  6. #51
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Christchurch, NZ
    Posts
    1,400
    Did you guys kow that there has been some rather fine talent during the last four decades?

    Allan.

  7. #52
    Senior Member Ducatista47's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Peoria, Illinois
    Posts
    1,886
    Quote Originally Posted by Allanvh5150 View Post
    Did you guys kow that there has been some rather fine talent during the last four decades?

    Allan.
    Sure, but like studying art history to gain further appreciation, it helps to hear what your favorite musicians think is great, and where they came from. By the way, James Patrick Page thinks Les Paul understood and mastered it all, and before even I was born.

    When Dr. John says he took a great lick I like from Guitar Slim, it makes me want to hear Guitar Slim. Isn't that a natural thing to do?

    Clark
    Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
    Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears


  8. #53
    Senior Member Tom Brennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Wheaton Illinois
    Posts
    663
    Quote Originally Posted by Allanvh5150 View Post
    Did you guys kow that there has been some rather fine talent during the last four decades?

    Allan.

    Yeah, some, so what? Doesn't negate what I said.

    I was listening to Danny and the Juniors today doing "Let's Go to the Hop". Very simple arrangement; piano, electric bass, drums and the vocals. And more drive and pure Rock and Roll spirit than almost anything I've heard since, oh, 1965 or so. Rock and Roll was pretty much perfected by the early 1960s, everything that came after was reworking over the basics or sidetracking away from Rock and Roll.

    Not that some of that later work wasn't good, Hell, Steve Jones's guitar solo on EMI by the Sex Pistols is one of the greatest ever. Most overwrought guitar "heroes" never approached the simple perfection of Jones's work.

  9. #54
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Old Orchard Beach, Maine
    Posts
    167

    Great Rock Song

    For my money, though I own only one Led Zeppelin album, "Rock and Roll" pretty much encapsulates what rock music is all about, but it's a song that by its nature looks back to a "Golden Age," and in that Golden Age, there was Eddie Cochran, who died way too young in a freak London taxicab accident. His song, covered by many, most memorably, perhaps, by Humble Pie, "C'mon Everybody," summed up the spirit of classic rock'n roll:
    Well, c'mon everybody, let's get together tonight.
    I got a pocket fulla money, and ya know I'm gonna spend it right.
    I been doin' my homework all week long,
    Now the house is empty--my folks are gone,
    So c'mon everybody."
    Then came THE definitive guitar riff, often imitated but never surpassed. Ahhh, those were the days. But lest we wax overly nostalgic, we must remember that in the '60's, what had been "merely" a vehicle for teen angst and/or exuberance became, through the experimentation of the Beatles, King Crimson, The 13th Floor Elevators, and a host of others, a legitimate art-form. Nothing remains "pure," because if it did, it would be static and boring and would soon wither and die. We tend to resist change, but it's the only constant.

  10. #55
    Senior Member MikeBrewster77's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Wilmington, DE
    Posts
    746
    Hey Doc,

    Thanks for sharing! Great story, though sad to hear of those who addictions eventually ruled their lives, and in some unfortunate cases took it far too soon. Glad you steered clear all these years!

    Best,
    - Mike


    Quote Originally Posted by Doc Mark View Post
    Morning, Mike, and All,

    You asked about my musical career:

  11. #56
    RIP 2021 SEAWOLF97's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    in "managed decline"
    Posts
    10,054
    Quote Originally Posted by Ducatista47 View Post
    Tom, I see the problem as most listeners not being familiar with the Chess/Checker/Argo catalog. How can you have any real perspective when you don't know Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Etta James...
    Clark
    Agreed....I've been catching some Muddy Waters on the XM ..he's the real deal , kinda funny...The theme time radio hour (Bob Dylans show) has reintroduced me to many on your list.....Bob seems also quite interested in the 20/30's era music and showcases it whenever possible..

    A lot of early Stones & CCR work were covers of MW and HW(and dont forget Dale Hawkins !! )

    Quote Originally Posted by evans224 View Post
    The greatest collection of rock songs for headphones, hands down,
    Dark Side of the Moon,Pink Floyd (Back in the day, "Any Colour You Like" and some green smokeable stuff. There goes the afternoon).

    Santana-Evil Ways
    Bachman Turner Overdrive-Takin' Care Of Business
    As good as DSOM is ....I've put WYWH on multiple plays this week and is my fav among PF albums..

    and yes, TCOB is one that demands to be turned UP
    Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles

  12. #57
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    New Orleans, Louisiana
    Posts
    521
    Greatest ever? thats not easy; Zepplin, Stones, Elvis, Beatles, The Who, Steppenwolf, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby-Stills-Nash-Young, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Iron Butterfly, Cream, Animals, Beautiful Day, CCR, Joe Cocker, Country Joe & the Fish, Dylan, Hendrix, Rightgeous Bros, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Fleetwood Mac, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Buddy Holly, Jopplin, Yes, E,L&P, Traffic, Mountain, Police, Pink Floyd, Johnny Winter, Steely Dan, Ten Years After, Eagles, Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Moody Blues, Billy Joel, Van Morrison, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Association, Friends Of Distinction, Bruce Springsteen, Mamas & the Papas, Grass Roots, Jethro Tull, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Grateful Dead, etc...might need some sub catagories.

  13. #58
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Modesto CA
    Posts
    5

    Best Song

    I think you will need to have two catagories: With and Without drugs. If you chose Dark Side of The Moon, which catagory would you be in? Also, no one mentioned Three Dog Night ....

  14. #59
    Senior Member Tom Brennan's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Wheaton Illinois
    Posts
    663
    Quote Originally Posted by Dennis Albro View Post
    I think you will need to have two catagories: With and Without drugs. If you chose Dark Side of The Moon, which catagory would you be in? Also, no one mentioned Three Dog Night ....

    I saw Three Dog Night play around 1970, they were good, REAL good.

  15. #60
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Wash DC suburbs
    Posts
    1,215
    with or without ?
    Changing to Legacy Audio and started with a Silver Screen HD for my center between the 250TIs

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Rock & Roll A-Z On-line
    By toddalin in forum Music
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-30-2008, 06:16 PM
  2. Queen Rock Montreal 1981
    By CONVERGENCE in forum Music
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 06-03-2008, 06:09 PM
  3. What's your kind of music?
    By Hofmannhp in forum Music
    Replies: 52
    Last Post: 05-21-2006, 01:39 AM
  4. How to Cover a Famous Song
    By Don McRitchie in forum General Audio Discussion
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-02-2005, 01:42 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •