Rock Blog - Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Song:  Have You Ever Seen the Rain

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu2pVPWGYMQ

Quick Thoughts:  An American rock band popular in the late 1960s and early '70s.Over the years, there's been a great deal of speculation about the song's meaning, with some drawing links to Vietnam, the idealism of the 1960's, and events such as the Kent State shootings.  However, Fogerty himself has said that the song is about rising tension within the band and the imminent departure of his brother Tom from the band.  I love the poetry of this song, and the voice of John Fogerty is entirely unforgettable.  This is a great song, and not surprisingly, it's been featured in numerous films and tv shows over the years.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  887
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 54

For upcoming concerts: http://www.johnfogerty.com/events/

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Basket Case (Green Day)

Artist: Green Day
Song:  Basket Case

 Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUTGr5t3MoY

Quick Thoughts:  The band most visible band member is lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong.  The band's name derived from their fondness for marijuana.  Having sold over 75 million albums worldwide, they are one of the world's best selling groups of all-time.  According to Armstrong, Basket Case is about his struggle with anxiety.  Nearly 20 years since the song was released in 1994, many of us will never forget the music video to this song, which I now understand was first shot in black and white and then filled in with color.  This explains the unique trippy look it had!

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  894
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 53

For upcoming concerts: http://www.greenday.com/tour

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Show Me the Way (Peter Frampton)

Artist: Peter Frampton
Song:  Show Me the Way

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al9WmowJ3bQ

Quick Thoughts:  Another staple of classic-rock radio.  Peter Frampton is one of those musical prodigies that taught himself to play guitar and piano at the age of seven and was learning classical music by time he was eight.  Here's a guy who paid his dues during his childhood and teenage years for more than a decade before hitting super stardom in the mid 1970's with the best selling live album Frampton Comes Alive of all time (up until that time).  Due to it's wild success, his subsequent efforts were overshadowed by his live album and his career gradually seemed to drift away before making a comeback in the mid 1980's. He's been touring ever since.  Relative to other rock legends, Peter Frampton is under-rated.  "Show Me the Way" was one of the first songs to feature his famous talk box sound.  Originally released on his 1975 album Frampton as a single, it gained its highest popularity as a song from his 1976 live album Frampton Comes Alive!

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  895
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 52

For upcoming concerts: http://www.frampton.com/live/

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - The Chain (Fleetwood Mac)

Artist: Fleetwood Mac
Song:  The Chain

 Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfUPL5KQuiE

Quick Thoughts:  A British-American rock band formed in 1967 in London, Fleetwood Mac was blessed with the voice of Stevie Nicks, known by some as the "The Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll".  Assembled from different rejected songs, "The Chain" is one of only a few Fleetwood Mac songs credited to all the then-band members. Great drums, great guitar, and oh yes, I gotta say I absolutely love the voice of Stevie Nicks.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  897
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 51

For upcoming concerts: http://www.fleetwoodmac.com/events

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - The Last DJ (Tom Petty)

Artist: Tom Petty
Song:  The Last DJ

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00sy6_jv7Lc

Quick Thoughts:  A Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer, Tom Petty is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a superband founded in the late 1980's.  According to Petty, The Last DJ later was inspired by Los Angeles DJ Jim Ladd, one of the few notable remaining freefrom rock DJs in United States commercial radio.  Freeform is a radio station programming format in which the disc jockey is given total control over what music to play, regardless of music genre or commercial interests. This song comes from his 11th studio album of the same title.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  900
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 50

For upcoming concerts: http://www.tompetty.com/tour/archive/2013

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Street of Dreams (Rainbow)

Artist: Rainbow
Song:  Street of Dreams

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQvu5Eo7rKI

Quick Thoughts:   Ranked 90th on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow was a British band formed in California, featuring various lead singers over the years, including the amazing Ronnie James Dio.  Ritchie Blackmore himself was an original members of Deep Purple.  "Street of Dreams" was the first single from Rainbow's Bent Out of Shape album, released in 1983. According to Blackmore's official website, the music video was banned by MTV for its supposedly controversial hypnotic footage.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  901
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 49

For upcoming concerts: Unfortunately it is no longer possible to see this band live anymore.

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Mama's Little Helper (The Rolling Stones)

Artist: Rolling Stones
Song:  Mama's Little Helper

  
Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13olfeD026g

Quick Thoughts:   How could a band formed in 1962 still be going strong?  If you ask American music critic Robert Palmer, their "remarkable endurance" stems from being "rooted in traditional verities, in rhythm-and-blues and soul music" while "more ephemeral pop fashions have come and gone".  Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, this song deals with the sudden popularity of Valium ,a mild tranquilizer used by housewives, and the ease of obtaining it from their doctors.  Mother's Little Helper was released as a single in the U.S. in 1966 and has since been covered by various bands, including
Mexican rock band, Los Ovnis, from the 1960's. (here is link to that cover in Spanish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uA03CG6f70)

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  903
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 48

For upcoming concerts: They just ended a tour that wrapped up in England.  I hope I get to see them someday.    http://www.rollingstones.com/

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Mysterious Ways (U2)

Artist: U2
Song:  Mysterious Ways

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxcDTUMLQJI

Quick Thoughts: This Irish band from Dublin has been around since 1976, featuring Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge  (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr.(drums and percussion)  From their 1991 album Achtung Baby, Mysterious Ways is song praised by critics, well received by fans and even studied by scholars for its perceived religious undertones. While the intent of the lyrics can be debated, the undeniable seduction of this song stems largely from its varied musical influences, from funk, R&B, and gospel music.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  906
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 47

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.u2.com/tour/index/tour/id/76
(There appear to be no upcoming tours at this time)


Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Green Manalishi (Judas Priest)

Artist: Judas Priest
Song:  Green Manalishi (With the Two-Prong Crown)

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgnOJXIvu6s

Quick Thoughts:  Anyone that is serious about rock music and follows its paths into metal music will eventually stumble upon Judas Priest.  Widely regarded as the "Metal Gods", their1980 album, British Steel, has been referred to as the "record that, more than any other, codified what is meant by "heavy metal".  Green Manalishi features excellent guitar play, I mean, amazing electric guitar!  While this song is heavily identified with Judas Priest, it should be noted that it was a cover based on a song by Fleetwood Mac.  Here is the Fleetwood version:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTvKaLW5bu8

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  910
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 46

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.judaspriest.com/tour/default.ASP

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Stop Dragging My Heart Around (Stevie Nicks)

Artist: Stevie Nicks
Song:  Stop Dragging My Heart Around

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UD0c58nNCQ

Quick Thoughts: Sometimes referred to as the Reigning Queen of Rock n' Roll, between her work with Fleetwood Mac and her solo career, Stevie Nicks has produced more than forty Top 50 hits, an astonishing feat!  "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" stems from her 1981 debut solo album Bella Donna. Written by Tom Petty and Mike Campbell for their own band, but eventually arranged for Nicks.  This is a smooth duet, and Stevie Nick's voice is justifiable ranked among the greatest voices in Rock music history.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  915
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 45

For upcoming concerts:  http://stevienicks.net/

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - New World Man (Rush)

Artist: Rush
Song:  New World Man

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQRShD0xuAk

Quick Thoughts: This is Rush's only American Top 40 hit, peaking at #21 on the Billboard singles chart for three weeks.  According to wikipedia, "the song's lyrics, by contrasting a New World Man with that of one from the Old World and Third World, apparently refer to the need for Canadians and Americans, as their nations take their societal and political place in the 21st century, to learn from the experiences of European and Third World nations".  I don't know what exactly Rush band members meant by this, but it's a title that makes me curious about the political views behind it.  The song is good, though I'm having a hard time really liking Geddy Lee's voice.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  918
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 44

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.rush.com/

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Because the Night (Patti Smith)

Artist: Patti Smith
Song:  Because the Night

 Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSVd8szH7Qk

Quick Thoughts: Known as the "Godmother of Punk", Patti Smith created a fusion of rock and poetry, bringing together her talents as a singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist. I first heard "Because the Night" in the early 1990's as a cover by 10,000 Maniacs for MTV Unplugged, not knowing that this song had existed since before I was born, having been co-written with Bruce Springsteen in 1978 and reaching number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  918
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 43

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.5gig.com/Patti+Smith-tourdates/

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Stone in Love (Journey)

Artist: Journey
Song:  Stone in Love

  
Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFqXFE8OSG4

Quick Thoughts: An American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973, Journey has sold 47 million albums in the US, making them the 28th best selling band of all time.  Many critics over the years might knock this band and their embrace of pop sensibilities, but that doesn't make them any less pleasurable to listen to.  "Stone in Love" is timeless with its ability to conjure up feeling of youthful romance.  

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  919
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 42

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.journeymusic.com/pages/tour

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Straight On (Heart)

Artist: Heart
Song:  Straight On

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcEFPgNftPc 

Quick Thoughts: Started by the Wilson sisters (Ann and Nancy), Heart has spanned over four decades, giving them the longest span of Top 10 albums by a female fronted band.  Heart has had a large number of band members during their run, and have also come in and out of success with their records.  They were announced as inductees to the 2013 Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame last year.  "Straight On" is from their 1978 album Dog & Butterfly. In the U.S., it became Heart's third single to enter the Top 20.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  921
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 41

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.heart-music.com/tourdates.html

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Lyin Eyes (The Eagles)

Artist: The Eagles
Song:  Lyin Eyes

Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S67CTVVv3KQ 

Quick Thoughts:  Lyin' eyes was written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and recorded in 1975.  Glenn Frey has said the song stems from his meetings with Don Henley at a restaurant called Dan Tana's where they once observed a woman and a man having a romantic dinner but then speculating that the woman was in love with his money.  Here is the link to the restaurant: http://www.dantanasrestaurant.com/home.php.  I'd like to check out this restaurant sometime.  From the looks of the website, it seems like a place for celebrity sightings. Interestingly, the single version of this song is shortened quite a bit from the album version since Top 40 Radio in 1975 typically didn't play songs longer than 4 minutes.  Not only that, the label went as far as noting the runtime on the 45RPM label as being 3:58, but the actual playing time was 4:14.

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  924
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 40

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.eaglesband.com/events

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion

Rock Blog - Tell Me What You Want (Zebra)

Artist: Zebra
Song:  Tell Me What You Want

  
Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAl1nrRqSVg 

Quick Thoughts:  Zebra, a band formed in 1975 in New Orleans, started their career by playing covers of Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues and Rush songs.  Because of the reactions to their Led Zeppelin covers, the band decided to take their act to New York.  They would only go to record 7 albums, with their first album "Zebra" going

Ranking from Original "Top 1000" List:  929
Added to my Personal List?  YES
Total Songs Added to Final List: 39

For upcoming concerts:  http://www.thedoor.com/sched.html

Having grown up listening to mostly hip-hop, R&B, some alternative, and all sorts of music in Spanish, I decided it was time to give myself a personal survey of Rock music.  My friend BJ Swanner compiled a "Top 1000 Rock Song List", aggregated from several "Top Lists".  As I go through all 1,000 songs, I'll be creating my own list, sharing a brief post like this for all the songs that will make my final list.   I will not be ranking the songs that make it to my final list.....for now.

Twitter: @jimmythelion