Only one answer please. Not the best written or the best musical complexity but the one that represents the rock.
My choice: Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
Reasons: - first notes are like the 5th of Beethoven (when you hear those notes, everybody pumps up the volume) - still very up to date - a mix of rock and blues rock and Motown sound - lyrics talks about disatisfaction of young people vs life, politics, money and women (even B Dylan like that song) - music is very basic as a good rock song should be
Great choice @mapman! There is a version of "Revolution" (perhaps taped on a soundstage for TV broadcast) in which they combine elements of the slow and fast versions; it’s really cool.
@bdp24 - I make the same distinction you do, between rock and roll and 'rock'- the former, to me, is the stuff from the '50s and after, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and all that it inspired- mixing R&B, gospel, country, etc.  JLL Live in Hamburg is one of the great  recorded performances, though not the best sounding recording. To me, in my fractured view of music history, rock (as opposed to rock and roll) grew out of the psych period and went in several directions-- from the very heavy stuff which is now considered proto metal (the genres labels can be constricting, i like some of the early stuff from Sabbath, Zep, Purple in the post-1970 era), hard rock (many of those UK bands, like Free, started as blues rock bands and morphed into a more radio friendly style), and stuff that is now labelled 'classic' rock.Â
I don’t even know what "Rock" means. I know what Rock ’n’ Roll means, but my definition is different from that of younger Rockers, to whom Little Richard (Paul McCartney’s role model, along with Buddy Holly), Chuck Berry (John Lennon, Keith Richards, and Dave Edmunds role model), Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Bobby Fuller mean next-to-nothing. Barrett Strong’s recording of "Money (That’s What I Want)" is as tough a song as there is (the tone of the guitar playing the song’s trademark riff is SO wickedly cool!), but it came out on Motown Records, so can it be Rock? The Beatles liked the song enough to include on their first album; their version is good, Barrett’s is great.
Is "Like A Rolling Stone" Rock? It meets the op’s criteria, and still never fails to raise the hair on the back of my neck. To me, it’s the ultimate anthem song, along with Bobby Fuller’s recording of "I Fought The Law" (written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets). The Clash’s version of "IFTL" is definitely Rock, and simply dreadful. What a terrible, terrible band. I had to keep that opinion to myself when I was in Pearl Harbour’s band, as she had been married to their bassist Paul Simonon. One of the worst professional musicians in the entire history of recorded music, his "style" was to just play the root note of the chords the guitars were playing. A real knuckle-dragger ;-) .
I found this thread and felt it needed clarification. Rock is supposed to be hard as in when one find's themselves between a rock and a hard place. Even Tina Turner sung about doing it rough sometimes...
Pure straight unadulterated rock is best described (imo) by the song" Beyond The Wheel" by Sound Garden. the album is titled "Ultramega OK". I saw them perform this album live in NYC when it was introduced. Kim Thayil (guitarist) did his single solo guitar work as in the album. At the end of the show he leaned his Guild S-100 against his Music Man full stack (tube, like Marshall) as the band left stage..... it rang out!!!!! Nice exit. I don't think Herbie's Tube Damper's were employed. That is Rock guys!!!!
While I will always choose Gimme Shelter, or Sweet Home Alabama as my favorites, I think Twist and Shout probably best meets your definition. And I don't even care that much for The Beatles so go figure.
Jperry,Good pick,I have the CD every song is good! My pick for best rock song,,,and there is so many great ones,would be ,Walk this Way,short ,to the point ,and rocks like crazy.One of the only songs that leaves me wanting more at the end of the song.
Best rock song of all time has to be the one that started it all. Without it all of the ones mentioned would never have happened. "Rock Around the Clock".....Bill Haley and the Comets.
Cream: Crossroads, White Room, SWLABR, Sunshine of Your Love, Tales of Brave Ulysses Chambers Brothers: Time Meatloaf: Paradise by the Dashboard Light Eric Clapton: Cocaine Hendrix: Purple Haze Mr Rogers: Themesong
My favorite for the last few months since discovering it is "One Time" by King Crimson, especially the live version on "Elecktrik" which improves on the nuances delivered during the performance on guitar and fretless bass in particular although the original studio version on THRAK is quite similar.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
