The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 451-460

#TeamSammy

Big Joe Turner, Shake Rattle and Roll
From 1954. Has some big band elements to it. Boogie woogie piano. Brawny voiced boss of the blues. Inducted into the R&RHOF in 1987. I've heard it a million times, but it still kicks. 

Ike and Tina Turner, River Deep Mountain High

These are the moments that are pure conflict, like the legacy of Ty Cobb. Do you respect the brilliance while ignoring the fact they are a horrible person? There's so much they did as a duo that is brilliant, but maaaaaan, get your hands off Tina, Ike. 

The Turtles, It Ain't Me Babe

Isn't this a call and answer song by Johnny and June Carter Cash? It's a dirtier version of the song I can appreciate. 

UTFO, Roxanne Roxanne

OMG, I haven't heard this in almost 40 years! I roller skated to this! I remember some of the hipper kids popping and locking to this at the high school dance. From wiki: "The group's best-known single is "Roxanne, Roxanne," a widely acclaimed and hip hop classic, which created a sensation on the hip hop scene soon after it was released and inspired a record-high of 25 answer records in a single year (Roxanne Wars), with estimates ultimately spawning over 100. The most notable remake was done by Marley Marl's protégée Roxanne Shanté, which led to hip hop's first rap beef."

U2, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Pride, Sunday Bloody Sunday

U2 has had such a long, storied career that there are so many more songs that could be included. It does seem that they churned out an album every other year back in the 80s, slowed it to every three years in the 90s; every four years in the aughts, to the point we haven't seen much from them since the disastrous free album debacle of 2014, which followed with the quiet release of Songs of Experience in 2017.

For more on what I would put here instead, my blog entry from 2013. 

Richie Valens, La Bamba

I adored the movie La Bamba when it came out in 1987. It has aged badly, yet it told an important story about the legacy of the first hispanic rock star, who was still a high school junior when he perished in the flight that also took the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly. Freaking little planes in snowstorms. 

Van Halen, Running With the Devil, Jump

Another one of the debates that rages: VH with David or VH with Sammy? Yeah, the third guy never comes into play, sorry Gary. 

I love me some Sammy Hagar, he's in the elite rock circle with Alex Lifeson, Lenny Kravitz, and John Deacon. 

For more, I covered this back in 2013.