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Some irrefutable truths about rock and roll

1) Robert Johnson invented rock and roll, and is the rightful King of it. Elvis Presley's title should be amended to "Poster Boy of Early Rock and Roll."

2) Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is infinitely better than the Rufus Wainwright version and is the definitive version of the song.

3) The Rolling Stones were and are the most overrated band in the history of rock and roll.

4) If it's too loud you are, indeed, too old.

5) The Stone Roses' self-titled debut is the best debut album ever in the history of ever.

6) John Mayer needs to stop that right now.

7) A good song is a good song, whether it's played on an Audiovox tape deck and a single factory speaker in a 1976 Buick Skylark or a complete Linn Klimax system.

8) A couple of Les Pauls, a Fender Precision bass, and a decent set of drums sound every bit as good as the most disciplined orchestra.

9) There is absolutely nothing wrong with having the occasional urge to crank "Hungry Like the Wolf" from time to time, so long as it doesn't become a habit.

Did I forget anything?

*yes, I realize everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and this is meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
theraiguy
theraiguy OP
20 posts
 
Wow. I always had a hypothesis that any discussion/debate focused on rock and roll would eventually become a discussion about the Beatles.

On a completely different note, someone in the "real" world suggested I had forgotten the following truth:

10) Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" is the greatest song ever written.

Hmmmmmmm . . . . . .

Thoughts?
martykl
3,563 posts
 
"Like A Rolling Stone" the greatest ROCK song ever?
Personally, I'd be inclined to place it second to "Johnny B Goode".

Note: For me, this one is Chuck Berry vs Dylan, no Beatles involved (until someone - Audiofiel? - involves them).

Second Note: Please, no "Stairway". I get enough of that on the July 4th countdown radio shows.

Marty
parasound63
162 posts
 
Marty. It's obvious. 'Freebird' is the greatest rock song ever.

(just kidding)
parasound63
162 posts
 
Seriously though, this whole thing about the Beatles vs anyone else is amusing and boring at the same time. They simply cannot be taken out of the context in which they came from. There was a lot of great music by many great bands during that era. They all fed off of and thrived off of eachother.

I cannot dispute that more people seem to relate to and love the Beatles than most other bands. Same with the Stones, I guess. For me personally, both of them are enormously boring. I find the material from the Yardbirds, The Kinks and The Who far more interesting, raw and engaging.

Then again, my favorite music was born with 'In the Court of the Crimson King', and then 'Black Sabbath' (bastard children both). So what do I know?

I do know that rock is alive and well. Always has been. There is so much good and interesting music out there, from the 50's to today, that it seems a shame to limit it to one particulat sub-genre, let alone one or two bands.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
There is lots of good music always out there.

Irrefutable truths require factual data to back them up though, otherwise they are just opinions, to which all are entitled. There can only be one "best" of anything.

Best song? I won't even attempt to go there.

In the "best rock and roll song that most people never heard of" category, I like "Some People" by Savoy Brown off the classic album "Jack The Toad".
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