The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 1-10

rockhall.com

This is the first post in the series reviewing the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame's list of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. Let it be known this list is dated, as this list starts in the early days of popular music, but stops in the mid-90s. Maybe a follow up, 50 posts later, will be to scour my middle-aged brain for new music to shape the future. I'm already thinking of Lizzo and Billie Ellish.

I am a life-long enthusiastic consumer of rock music, stories, and history. My disclaimer is I'm not a historian, and a very bad guitarist: my music teacher, a session musician from the Detroit area who played on a couple of Bluë Oyster Cült albums, can attest to the mind-numbing patience of teaching me how to play Wipeout and Love Me Tender.

I'm trying to figure out how to shape this, so my posts may evolve as I go. I will post my reactions to what was selected, share a memory, or perhaps discover something for the first time.

AC/DC - Back in Black and Highway to Hell
Saw AC/DC in Toronto at the SARstock benefit show in 2003. Both of these numbers were get off your butt rockers. It was a great opportunity to see an all-star lineup for $16 US. If I had to pick though, I'd choose for my greatest song She's Got the Jack over Highway to Hell.

Roy Acuff and the Smoky Mountain Boys - Wabash Cannonball
My popular music education is woefully underrepresented in the country/bluegrass category. I have a significant love for the Country documentary on PBS, and am interested in learning more. I'm also waiting with bated breath for the continuation of the podcast Cocaine and Rhinestones. Listening to this for the first time, I can see where the framework for country and folk comes into play here.

Aerosmith - Dream On and Toys in the Attic
Dream On is a hell of a way to make your national debut. It's amazing, simply put. Toys, though not so much. I prefer the bass-driven Draw the Line.

Afrika Bambaata - Planet Rock
You can hear this in so much music today: dance, pop, rock, rap, industrial. Essential track. Melly Mel!

The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man and Whipping Post
Greg Allman's bio was a fascinating read. Whipping Post belongs on this list, but I think classic rock stations have worn Ramblin' Man out, to the point I look past it to Melissa or Jessica.

The Animals - House of the Rising Sun and We Gotta Get Out of This Place
House of the Rising Sun has been shaped and personified by its inclusion on numerous period movie soundtracks, such as Casino, that its imagery has been forever altered. Given the fact it's about a whorehouse in the French Quarter, it's pretty fatalistic in its execution. It's a cool bop. I don't care for We Gotta Get Out of this Place, but as for a replacement song, I don't know enough of the Animals catalog to suggest an alternative.