The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 481-490

Marion Williams 

The Who, My Generation

I really should have said in my last post that one of the most memorable performances to The Who was done by my friend Becky at Adult Nationals in 2009, when she skated to Baba O'Reilly in a black and gold dress. I threw a pair of glitter shoes on the ice. 

Big Joe Williams, Baby Please Don't Go
Holy crap, 1935! Mississippi Delta blues man, famous for his 9 string guitar. Here's how one historian described his playing, from wiki: 

The blues historian Barry Lee Pearson (Sounds Good to Me: The Bluesman's Story, Virginia Piedmont Blues) described Williams's performance: "When I saw him playing at Mike Bloomfield's "blues night" at the Fickle Pickle, Williams was playing an electric nine-string guitar through a small ramshackle amp with a pie plate nailed to it and a beer can dangling against that. When he played, everything rattled but Big Joe himself. The total effect of this incredible apparatus produced the most buzzing, sizzling, African-sounding music I have ever heard."

Larry Williams, Bony Maronie

First time listening to the original, from 1957. This is more raw, hot sax sound compared to more popular songs from the era. I like this, alot. Someone put together a montage of his 45 sleeves in this youtube video, and looks like lots of his songs were redone by the Beatles. Things are making sense. 

Marion Williams, Packing Up
She was a member of The Ward Singers and The Stars of Faith, going solo in 1957. At the age of 60, she graduate from Pacific Union College. Little Richard cites her as a musical influence. She was a Kennedy Center honoree and made a cameo in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. An assessment of her voice is that "A powerful singer with a preternaturally broad range, able to reach the highest registers of the soprano range without losing either purity or volume, she could also swoop down to growling low notes in the style of a country preacher."

Sonny Boy Williamson, Good Morning Schoolgirl
Apparently there were two Sonny Boy Williamsons back in the day, both blues musicians. The internet appears to be confusing I and II in the legends and lexicons. I cannot separate them. This one appears to have been recorded by I in 1937. 

Legend behind number II is equally confusing, as his birthdate could be anywhere between 1897 and 1912. His birthday is either in March or December, nobody knows.  

Chuck Willis, CC Rider
This one from 1957. I thought I knew it, but the xylophone threw me off. Nope, I know the lyrics, but this is a completely different delivery. It's soul and gospel, but not what I'd call R&B. The vocal are... perfect. Not sure about the arrangement. Mentally, this is taking me somewhere in my head I don't belong and have never been before. Is that odd? I know it's been remade by countless other artists, but for the life of me, I can't name one. 

Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Take Me Back to Tulsa
First time listening: 1941! That's some fiddlin'! I think I heard this watching the Country Music documentary on PBS last year. It's a little country, a little bluegrass, and a little bit fun. A little search, this is called Western Swing, so maybe I heard it on Cocaine and Rhinestones? The band was inducted into the R&RHOF in 1999. 

Jackie Wilson, Higher and Higher

I very familiar with the song, but meh? It's part of the sound of the 60s. 

Stevie Wonder, Living for the City, Master Blaster

I love Stevie Wonder. I need Sir Duke! I need Superstition! As a second generation listener, we got That's What Friends Are For and I Just Called To Say I Love You. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 471-480

Clara Ward and the Ward Singers, How I Got Over

1950. Gospel. You can feel this. The vocals are clear and lovely. Cool, she got postage stamp! She was the "stepmom" to Aretha Franklin, and mentored her as a young singer. Her life, unfortunately, was a sad one marked by abuse, addiction, and illness. Some people give more than they get. 

Dinah Washington, Am I Asking Too Much

1947! Definitely a Big Band entry, a genre that just doesn't have enough representation on this list. I would also add traditional church music here as well, as gospel represented well, see above. This is very sweet, it's lovely. 

Muddy Waters, Got My Mojo Working, Hoochie Coochie Man, Mannish Boy, Rollin' Stone
From wiki: Muddy Waters was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues". His style of playing has been described as "raining down Delta beatitude".

This is standard blues fare that you will hear any given day at any blues festival where the bar band is getting the crowd fired up. Blueprints for an entire genre, right here. Four songs, that's impressive. 

The Weavers, Goodnight Irene

Folk hit from 1950. Notable they give credit straightaway to Lead Belly for the song. The documentary The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time! is considered one of the best films of 1982. First time hearing this and I guess I don't see where this is particularly groundbreaking, but after so many 60s songs, some folk deserves to be on here. YouTube drops me another version of this song on me, from a reunion show where the members are old and gray. One is performing in a wheelchair. This version is sweet and melancholy, the kind of delivery I'm a sucker for. 

Mary Wells, My Guy

Another woman eligible for a biopic. She did a lot of living in her 49 years. And this song is classic Motown. You deserve better than serving as an extra answering phones in the Temptations movie. 

The Who, Baba O'Reilly, Go to the Mirror Boy

Oh, Clay - remember stories about Clay? The Who was one of his favorite bands, and after a particularly painful breakup, I really disliked the band. 

Flash forward to being happily married and having a tween in the house, and one of his favorite bands becomes, of course, The Who.

They tour, and I am able to score a $20 ticket to see a classic rock band. 

Redemption. The show was fantastic, and I become infatuated with Pete Townsend's guitar playing. 

Still, I'd include Five Fifteen, Substitute. Nothing after the demise of Keith Moon is necessary. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 461-470

Spill the Wine! 

Stevie Ray Vaughn, Pride n' Joy

I have loved this forever. I went through the SRV mourning after the helicopter crash. He was a technician of the blues, as well as an educator and historian. There's a reason all of rock mourned his passing; he overcame his own addictions while serving others in the music scene. A true loss. 

Velvet Underground, Heroin, White Light White Heat

I'm not as cool as I think I am, as I am listening to Heroin for the first time. I get it, I get the brilliance. Appropriate that Andy Warhol designed the album cover for this. I say this because I never got the horror of the Kennedy assassination until I experienced his series on Jackie Kennedy in off-putting colors. His use of color helped me understand the emotional horror of what happened. 

The same holds true for the song Heroin. Although I've never done the drug, I understand through the use of tempo and instruments how it feels, the rush, and the ultimate let down. Brilliant. 

The Ventures, Walk Don't Run

The Beatles imitated them, Little Steven plays them on his show, and countless guitar gods of the 70s looked to them as inspiration. Me? Meh. But I feel a twinge of guilt, as they inspired the music I do love. So thanks, I guess. 

Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, Be Bop a Lula

Again, a second generation consumer. Paul McCartney did an awesome remake of this during his MTV Unplugged concert. I have the limited edition numbered cassette.

The Wailers, Get Up Stand Up, I Shot the Sheriff

Bob Marley's band! If you don't know these songs, did you really even go to college? 

Jr. Walker and the All Stars, Shotgun

It's the intro music to The Cosby Show! Didn't I just post something again about the conflict of amazing acts by garbage people? Cos brought so much African American culture to the mainstream via his success, like introducing Jr. Walker to the masses. I learned many great morality lessons from watching The Cosby Kids. He did an amazing thing by foregoing his appearance fee at my alma mater, as Entertainment Unlimited miscalculated the expenses of bringing him to campus, which would have bankrupt the organization. 

Sigh, why Bill? I mourn these poor choices on your part because you were truly beloved. And it's too bad, because my reaction here should have been about Junior, not about you. 

T-Bone Walker, Call It Stormy Monday
First off, what a great name. Sink your teeth into that one. Classic blues structure. 

From wiki: Stormy was recorded in 1947. Walker was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Chuck Berry named Walker and Louis Jordan as his main influences. B.B. King cited hearing Walker's recording of Stormy Monday as his inspiration for getting an electric guitar. Jimi Hendrix imitated Walker's trick of playing the guitar with his teeth. Steve Miller stated when he was eight, Walker taught him how to play his guitar behind his back and also with his teeth. Stormy Monday was a favorite number of the Allman Brothers Band; Jethro Tull and Eva Cassidy also recorded Stormy Monday.

War, Slipping into Darkness

War is something else entirely. You can hear funk, soul, reggae, rock and more in there. So distinctly 70s. My personal favorite is the song Summer. 

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. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 441-450

Sister Rosetta Tharp is badass. 

The Temptations, My Girl, Papa Was a Rolling Stone

A bucket list entry was crossed off my list when I saw the Temptations in concert January of 2017. One of the most powerful things I have ever witnessed was the anger of this group singing Ball of Confusion the same week the orange menace took office. That elevated the song to iconic status for me. I would also add Can't Get Next to You to the list. Yet you cannot argue against My Girl and Papa. 

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, This Train

She has been on a postage stamp, is in the R&RHOF, Blues HOF, has historical markers all over Philadelphia, and plays a mean guitar. Watching this performance on YouTube, she is an enthralling performer. She was Johnny Cash's favorite performer according to daughter Roseanne; Little Richard loved her too. Other songs that should be on this list include Strange Things Happen Every Day and Rock Me. 

Big Mama Thorton, Ball n' Chain, Hound Dog
Her voice is so unique, colored with honey, smoke, weariness, pain, and desire. You feel like you are being let in on a secret. She is a standard of beauty that is unconventional, but commands you lean in and pay attention. Her voice communicates what words can't. And what octave did she JUST hit? Damn. 

Toots & the Mayalls, Pressure Drop

First time listening. Early reggae? Well, crap: a YouTube poster wishing Toots godspeed as he passed away earlier this month from COVID. The version of this I'm listening to is a loose jam that is sunny while somewhat depressing. Maybe it's just the day. 

Peter Tosh, Legalize It
I know I've heard it before, I went to college for God's sake. Meh. 

Traffic, Dear Mr. Fantasy

Steve Winwood is just one of those artists I just don't like. Next. 

The Trammps, Disco Inferno

You have to understand, while I was old enough to remember disco as a first generation consumer of the music, I was 7 years old. Why is it essential? What did it bring to the scene? 

Fun facts: the lyrics were inspired by the movie The Towering Inferno. It was mixed incorrectly, and as a result, the mix had a much wider range and practically jumps out of the speakers. The song had a long shelf life, released in late 1976, getting considerable playing time through 1977, and experienced a resurgence in 1978 based on its inclusion on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005. 

Burn baby, burn. 

The Troggs, Wild Thing

This is the second generation thing kicking in. This song experienced a resurgence in the 90s based on its inclusion in the movie Major League, as Ricky Vaughn's intro music. Redone by Joan Jett, and played ad nauseam by classic rock stations. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 431-440

The book is Remain in Love, a twist on the Talking Heads album Remain in Light. As an old married couple myself, I find I'm championing similarly committed couples. Go Tina and Chris!

The Supremes, Stop in the Name of Love, You Can't Hurry Love

What can I say about the Supremes that Diana hasn't already said herself? I cannot believe I'm about to meh a Motown artist, but meh. My heart belongs to the Three Degrees. 

The Surfaris, Wipe Out

One of the few songs I can play on guitar. I really need to start taking lessons again. 

Swinging Blue Jeans, Hippy Hippy Shake

A classic that has been remade by everyone from The Beatles to the Georgia Satellites. 

T. Rex, Bang a Gong

Another glam rock entry for this list. Marc Bolan, gone too soon. 

Talking Heads, Life During Wartime, Once in a Lifetime

We went shopping for a cottage this weekend, and Once in a Lifetime was on heavy rotation on Dave's Spotify list. I'm kind of over TH right now as a result. Still, Once in a Lifetime was played incessantly during those early MTV days, and David Byrne's oversized white suit made quite the impression. And I would love to read Tina and Chris' book about being happily married while being edgy alt rockers. Shout out for the little side project the Tom Tom Club and the hit Genius of Love. 

James Taylor, Fire and Rain

One of those 70s singer/songwriters that is not on my playlist. He's ok. 

Television, Little Johnny Jewel

I originally started this story thinking I knew a shred of information about the band, and instead went on for a while about Pamela Des Barres' husband Michael, who was actually in the band Detective. 

Anyway, I still know nothing about Television except they were darlings of the post-punk era at CBGBs, and Little Johnny Jewel is an instrumental jam that appears to be abouuuuuuuut 15 minutes long. Oh, we are 5 minutes in, and they just started singing. Can't understand a word.

I'm thinking this is notable for being the end of one thing, and the beginning of something else. 

Listening, I feel like I'm should be nodding along while standing in the corner of the lead guitarists' basement rec room, trying to be cool, my shoes sticking to the floor from a spilled shot n' pop mixed by the drummer's girlfriend. I was invited by bassist who I know from econ class, the handbill invite  crudely designed from images cut out of a Sears catalog, info scribed with a sharpie marker. Lead singer crooning along to lyrics I suspect were made up on the spot. I'm pretending to have a good time. 

At the end of the night, the band has made $26 by selling red solo cups at the door, and the handbill gets shoved in a scrapbook with the words "our first gig!" written below it with the same sharpie marker. 

Maybe I will say I knew them when. 

The Temptations, Ain't Too Proud to Beg

I 

Love

The

Temptations. 

There for a strange stretch of time, every time I was hospitalized, the miniseries The Temptations: Forever was televised. I watched every single minute of it. 

Who's the best singer in the Temptations: Ruffin or Edwards? Trick question: could be Eddie or Paul! 

I could go on about the Temps, and I will in the next post. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 421-430

growing old gracefully: I listened to a live Stray Cats show on NPR

Edwin Starr, War

The song that has been used as a punchline for some many a sitcom moment. I'm sorry Edwin, you deserved better. 

Steely Dan, Reeling in the Years

In 1979, I was a 10 year old who listened to American Top 40 religiously and developed a taste for Steely Dan. What kind of 10 year old listens to Steely Dan? I had no idea what they meant by fine Colombian or what Cuervo Gold was, the Benson & Hedges 100 Greatest Bars drink book be damned. I think I can blame it on my dad, who between all the ABBA albums and novelty songs, kept a stash of Leon Russell cassettes and sang along to the Alan Parsons Project as well as the wry offerings of Becker and Fagen. And, Hey Nineteen figures prominently in the courtship of me and the Mr. 

Steppenwolf, Born to Be Wild

Again, another song that has been appropriated by that movie that featured it on the soundtrack. And the Huggies diaper commercial. And the As Seen on TV compilation. And a staple of every unimaginative classic rock program director from the morning zoo down the dial to the hyper 108FM. RAWK. 

And now: a snapshot demonstrating the versatility of three stars - Rod, Iggy, and Brian

Rod Stewart, Maggie May

Oh Rod. His catalog is so very all over the place, from experimental stuff with Faces, to his confessional solo stuff through his sleazy disco era to his sensible pop to the standards he does today. Maggie May is classic rock fare, but where's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? Young Turks? Forever Young? Oh, and You're in My Heart, which has the most gorgeous lines: you're a rhapsody, a comedy, you're a symphony and a play, you're every love song ever written, but honey what do you see in me? Heart melts. 

Iggy and the Stooges, Search and Destroy

Iggy Pop has already been featured on this list under Lust for Life, so this is his return with the Stooges. He has come back around in his career many times as well, singing Candy with Kate Pierson of the B-52s; a cameo in a children's show breaking the fourth wall, eyebrow cocked to prove he's in on the joke; and of course eating vegetarian after karate lessons with Anthony Bourdain, may he RIP 

The Stooges, I Wanna Be Your Dog

Ok, what's going on here? See above. 

Stray Cats, Rock This Town

Brian Setzer led the Stray Cats, a rockabilly band in the 80s, to significant success by reintroducing the sound to 80s audiences. Stray Cat Strut was moody, sexy. Sexy + 17 was a rousing good time. But he went on to make movie appearances as 50s rockabilly stars in movies such as La Bamba. when the 90s rolled around, he formed the Brian Setzer Orchestra and brought back Big Band. 

Barrett Strong, Money
Not a favorite of mine, but it has been remade, rerecorded, reimagined since its release in the 50s. Glancing at YouTube comments, yep, it's been used in every conceivable way on any number of movie soundtracks about men chasing bank.  

The Sugarhill Gang, Rapper's Delight

An early rap song, credited for introducing hip hop to a wide audience, and of course it's been used on countless movie soundtracks to create a sense of time. Cool fact: Sylvia, from Mickey & Sylvia, singers of Love is Strange, was the producer. This song has made numerous most important music lists, including the Library of Congress. Not bad for a trio of guys from Jersey. Shout out to Wonder Mike, Big Bank, and Master Gee. 

Donna Summer, Love to Love You

Sweet Donna had her moment under the glitter ball when disco was queen. Love to Love You was her big break but she had so much more going on than dance music. She was the lead singer of a psychedelic rock band in the 60s and toured in a production of Hair. She was in a couple of movies, had 42 hit singles, and was a sensation in her music videos. My dad was particularly fond of her version of O Holy Night. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 411-420

Respect Patti's DILLYGAF attitude. 

Huey Smith & His Clowns, Rockin' Pneumonia and Boobie Woogie Flu
Meh.

Patti Smith, Gloria
Broken but grappling for the pieces. I do prefer Dancing Barefoot. It's funny to think as I've aged, I'm finding multifaceted artists far more appealing than the high gloss pop acts.

The Smiths, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
New wave Elvis. YouTube describes it as happy music + sad lyrics, which is Morrisey's calling card. He is the darling boy of my generation's emo boys, such as my friend Shannon, who loves this man's falsetto.

Sonic Youth, Teenage Riot
My first and thus far only Sweetest Day's gift was Sonic Youth's Dirty album. They were the darlings of the college alternative rock scene of the 80s and 90s. They were animated for The Simpsons and headliners on Lollapalooza.

The Soul Stirrers, By and By
From wiki: The Soul Stirrers were an American gospel group whose career spans over 80 years. They were pioneers of quartet gospel and were a major influence on soul, doo wop, and R&B. And this may be our earliest entry: this band formed in 1926! And Sam Cooke was once a member! They were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run, Dancing in the Dark, Rosalita
Bruce was a big deal when I was in high school challenging Michael Jackson for popularity and his Born in the USA album. I had the poster. Born to Run was a epic tale of youth chasing dreams. My favorite of the list is of course Rosalita, easily the sister of the Gloria, the girl stone desire whose parents don't want her to run with the player in a rock and roll band, but baby he just got a big advance! I prefer a late catalog piece from the Magic album, Girls in Their Summer Clothes. 

The Standells, Dirty Water
I know nothing about this song, so I relied on the internet to educate me. The Standells were an LA garage rock band that heavily influenced The Sex Pistols and the Ramones. And Boston area sports teams adopted the song as rally anthems. During their heyday, they made cameos as The Love Bugs on the Bing Crosby Show.

The Staple Singers, Respect Yourself
There's something rich and deeply soulful about the Staple Singers, I've loved them forever, going back to the American Bandstand/Soul Train Saturday mornings. While I like Respect Yourself, I prefer I'll Take You There.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 401-410

Sass.

The Shirelles, Will You Love Me Tomorrow
The bar has been raised so high by girl groups in the 60s, I'm not sure any other girl power phase in popular music has come close. I guess the late 90s into the early aughts might come close: you had the Spice Girls and Destiny's Child as powerhouses; lots of rock bands with mixed lineup featuring female lead singers or guitarists/bassists like Garbage and Smashing Pumpkins; and the explosion of female lead singers that hasn't ebbed since, starting with Britney Spears and P!nk, up to the current crop. But no classic girl lineups... 

Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water, The Sounds of Silence

It always fascinates me that the biggest brawls in a musical act seem to come from the duos. Is it a case of a Type A overpowering the Type B until they lose their mind? These two songs seem to speak to the sensitive Big Chill boomers. Great songs. 

Paul Simon, Graceland
I know this is some big deal in world music in the late 80s, but I feel that honor is better given to George Harrision and his sitar back in the 60s. I prefer Simon's Kodachrome or Mother and Child Reunion.

Sir Douglas Quintet, She's About a Mover
First time listen, I think. This sounds like something LAV would have played before they streamlined the playlist. I like it. Seems like a simple jam that still rocks. Without looking at the video, I would say this owes a huge debt to Ray Charles. YouTube poster: She's About A Mover is what you get when Ray Charles reimagines The Beatles' She's A Woman. I don't see this as particularly innovative. 

Sister Sledge, We Are Family
This was a sweet soul hit of family togetherness in the late 70s. It has been adopted for sorority get togethers, bachelorette parties, and of course wedding receptions."I got all my Phi Gams with me!"

Percy Sledge, When a Man Loves a Woman
A classic. Adult skating story is sweet little old man Dan Brown skated to this song for years in dedication to his equally sweet wife Judy Box Brown. The sweet program was unbeatable, much to my friend Jen's chagrin. This is the power of Percy Sledge.

Sly and the Family Stone, Dance to the Music, Thank You
Pioneers of psychedelic soul, they were a massive group of musicians that could jam. So, I prefer the song Everybody is a Star, which is the flip side of Thank You, so does this also count?

Bessie Smith, Downhearted Blues

OMG, I think we have a winner for the earliest recording: 1923! Empress of the Blues, she is considered one of the greatest singers of her era. She lived life by her rules; in modern times, we wouldn't blink an eye at her success or exploits, and damn, good for her. YouTube moving on to Sugar in my Bowl. Did she just sing "I need a little hot dog between my rolls?" Damn, girl. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 391-400

Bob!

The Searchers, Needles and Pins
More British Invasion stuff with guys playing guitars that are up in their armpits. Meh.

The Seeds, Pushing Too Hard

First time listening. I can hear garage, punk, that 60s organ sound that Ray Manzarek did so well, some fuzzy guitar. Is it revolutionary? Another meh from me. 

Pete Seeger, Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
Another folk protest song. Katarina Witt skated to it at the '94 Olympics, IIRC. She herself was victim of the Cold War, a performing doll for the East German regime. When the bloc broke up in the 90s, Witt was accused of being complicit to an oppressive government that gave her advantages her countrymen, including her family, were not afforded. That is when she started telling stories of every aspect of her life being controlled if not by her government, then by her coach, who was a general or something. Box of chocolates? None for you Kat. Proof that without freedom for all, even those with the most advantages, aren't really free.

Bob Seger, Night Moves
This is a glorious tale of a boy attempting to woo a dark haired beauty with deep dark eyes as friends gather in the woods to, I assume, smoke, drink, dance, and listen to music. A typical night out for a Michigan teen who is too old to stay home, and too young or too broke to get into the bars. I think he, along with Mellencamp, are the Midwestern troubadours.

One song isn't enough. Where's Turn the Page? Tryin' to Live My Life Without You? Roll Me Away? Shame on the Moon? We Got Tonight? Like a Rock? Against the Wind?

I'm thankful his biggest pop hits didn't make the list, for which I won't honor with naming except one crazy actor in his underwear and another movie about a Detroit cop in California.

And I do have a treasure: when Ed Buchanan, a legendary DJ at WLAV passed away, I made it to his garage sale, and found a promo copy of Seger's Beautiful Loser album along with a letter from the label, promising it would be a hit.

Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the UK, God Save the Queen
In reviewing all of these songs that shaped rock and roll, the mythology surrounding the Sex Pistols has faded a bit. I can appreciate their to hell with it attitude, and Johnny Rotten proves he's the talent of the outfit when he fucks off to Public Image Limited. Again, I think I suffer from second hand consumption, as I was 7 when this came out, and apparently listening to the Bay City Rollers, Queen, and the Grease soundtrack.

What I can tell is an embarrassing story of when I obtained Never Mind the Bollocks, Here Come the Sex Pistols on cassette. I got it the same weekend Carla was having a party. She told me she was inviting Steve, the guy I had a crush on in high school. I had recently broken up with Clay and nursing a broken heart. Unable to function like a normal human being, I was too nervous to eat and instead consumed copious amounts of alcohol instead. I think that is as drunk as I ever got at that point. There were shenanigans posing as a beauty queen on the roof of someone's car; I believe I relayed some bullshit about practicing luge for the 92 Olympics because I had a fake Olympic medal keychain; oh and then there was the not so clever conversation about the merits of corrugated cardboard vs. chip board - I was still right!

Alas, I did not make a good impression and it was determined by Rachel and Chuck I was in no condition to drive home, so they poured me into my Aries K, and got me home. I proceeded to cry because Clay broke my heart and I was a dumbass. I decided I needed to rebel against my heart and play the Sex Pistols, but with the volume down low, so as not to wake up my parents.

I put it on repeat, and too drunk to turn it off, laid there, head swimming, listening to the damn album for about six straight hours.

The Shadows of Knight, Gloria
How many bands have remade this gem in one way or another? Oh my, Them with Van Morrison. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. John Mellencamp. The local act opening for the band at the county fair. This song has taken on a life of its own, embellishments on the story to create scenarios for the lead singer to interact with the lovely lady. An unimpressed groupie being wooed by the up and coming singer. A waitress in a cocktail bar being persuaded to meet the narrator some time after midnight. Schoolgirl catcalled by a greaser in a hot rod. Scene is different, but the result is the same: he gets the girl and sings her name.

The Shangri-Las, Leader of the Pack
There needs to be a new era of the girl group. Girls with guitars telling it like it is. Will they be as cool as the Shangri-Las? And for everyone flipping out about the rappers wanting to get some, well the Shangri-Las wanted some too.

Del Shannon, Runaway
Not sure what the big deal is. I can't name another song of his. Meh.

The Shirelles, Dedicated to the One I Love
More girl groups! I learned a little bit about Gerry Goffin's wandering eye and the Shirelles in the musical about Carole King. Lots of broken hearts, which was kind of their bread and butter, so do you sing what you know? Something to ponder.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 381-390

#teamAlex

The Rolling Stones, Time is on My Side
I dunno, I would rather see Gimme Shelter here. Or a nod to the Stones being relevant into their 3rd or 4th decade by including something from Tattoo You or Voodoo Lounge. Extraordinarily grateful to say we saw them at SARstock in Toronto. Even have a Canadian flag RS t-shirt that may have to come out of retirement.

The Ronettes, Be My Baby
Absolutely, without a doubt, this one has to be on the list. There's a wistfulness, and a longing in the vocals that can only be achieved by a teenaged girl.

Roxy Music, Love is the Drug
Formed in 1970. That blows my mind. I came to the Roxy Music party late, as they were the early darlings of MTV, with Avalon and More Than This on heavy rotation. The band didn't feel like they fit in with the youth culture of the channel, very, terribly adult. Love is the Drug was a hit in 1974, so I was 4/5 at the time, which lends itself to the whole adult/child perception.

Run DMC - Walk This Way
Walk This Way was big, it was huge, it was the first instance of a collaboration between rock and rap to make it to the mainstream. Because of this hit, Run DMC went mainstream, Aerosmith's career got a resurgence, and MTV created specialty programming for the emerging genre of rap that had been around since the 70s.

Rush, Spirit of the Radio
Where do I start with this one? I live with a Rush enthusiast; by extension, since he loves them, I love them. We own all the concerts on DVD, all the concert programs, the box set, numerous inside joke t-shirts, another box set of some sort, all of Neil's books, Geddy's coffee table book of bass guitars, an instructional video on how to drum, a signed Power Windows poster, and a genuine 1980s Tempest machine all because the kid was playing one in the Subdivisions video.

I love my husband, honest and truly, and adore his infatuation. Sincerely, go buy more of their shit if it makes you happy, love.

And yes, I had a brief crush on Alex Lifeson in the 80s, and again in the 2000s. He kinda falls into the new wavey rock look with the red pants and skinny tie like John Deacon, of whom I also had a crush back then, the Crazy Little Thing to Back Chat era. But honestly girls, do our crushes ever really go away...? My Deacon/Kravitz/Hagar/Lifeson thirst is real. 

I'm unsure what kind of a Rush fan I am since most of this is by osmosis. I'm surprised Tom Sawyer, their biggest hit, isn't here instead of Spirit of the Radio. I have my own favorites:

• YYZ
• New World Man
• One Little Victory
• Caravan

Otis Rush, I Can't Quit You Baby
First exposure was of course Led Zeppelin, so I'm listening for the first time. I feel like I've known this song all my life. I wish COVID hadn't cancelled cool things like Blues on the Mall.

Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Devil with a Blue Dress/Good Golly Miss Molly
This came out in 1966, so four years prior to my existence. Watching video on YouTube for the first time, I will admit I thought Mitch was black. And there's my backup dancers in fringe. I have a fringe dress in black and one in red. I think I need another.

Sam and Dave, Soul Man
Another song that has been around so long, that it's just become the fabric of American popular music. As a second generation consumer of the material, I just know it from endless inclusion on various movie soundtracks.

Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, Wooly Bully
My only anecdote about this song involves Christopher Bowman, a former national figure skating champion. He did the lamest exhibition program to this song, where he would don the local sports team's jersey, flirt with a lady in the front row, mug for the cameras, do a jump or two, and hump the ice to the delight of the audience. Shudder. 

Santana, Black Magic Woman
A signature song, but I think it was originally done by Fleetwood Mac. Take it, bake it, make it your own. That guitar solo is perfection.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 371-380

It's a two-fer Tuesday! Why? Well, I missed yesterday and it's my birthday.

#TeamKeith

Little Richard, Long Tall Sally, Tutti Fruitti
There was more! Second generation fans got him in movie and television cameos. Third generation Little Richard fans were treated to his antics via television commercials for things like Doritos and Snickers bars. Guy's gotta pay the bills. Rest in power, as they say.

The Righteous Brothers, You've Lost That Loving Feeling
Some consider this one of the most romantic songs ever. It certainly features some of the most amazing vocals. Truly a classic.

Billy Riley & His Little Green Men, Red Hot
Was he one of the minor artists at Sun Records? I don't know anything more about him. Early rock and roll piano, growling vocals, thumping bass, things kind of get a little crazy there at the end. Quick wiki trip reveals Billy recorded and performed right up to his death in 2009 at the age of 75. Don't ever stop people, tenacity is where it's at.

Jimmie Rodgers, Blue Yodel No. 9
From 1930. It sounds like 1930. One of the earliest marriages of blues and country. And then the yodeling starts. And the trumpet player is Louie Armstrong? Epic.

The Rolling Stones, Honky Tonk Woman, Satisfaction, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Miss You, Sympathy for the Devil
Somewhere, somehow, people force you to draw a line where you are an Elvis or Beatles fan, and then once you've made you decision, then you are forced into yet another argument: Beatles or Stones? Does it ever stop?

While I am a big Beatles fan, I have much love for the Stones, and think Keith is far more brilliant than Mick. Honky Tonk Woman was the #1 song the week I was born - happy birthday to me today BTW - so I feel a particular affinity for the song. Miss You is one of those successful answers to Trivial Pursuit that ended yet another friendship, and Sympathy for the Devil makes you truly contemplate the role of evil in our changing times. Satisfaction is fuzzy brilliance, by who? Keith of course.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 361-370

Otis Redding, Shake, Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, Try a Little Tenderness
Second generation. We were exposed to the joy of Tenderness via Duckie's dance at Trax in the movie Pretty in Pink. Shake is the bomb. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay, sadly, is Otis' swan song, the last hit after he died in a plane crash. Rock stars should not fly in little planes.

Jimmy Reed, Big Boss Man, Bright Lights, Big City
According to one youtube poster: Doesn't get any purer than this...a bluesman, his harp, his guitar, and his boys. Haa'Mercy! It sounds like standard issue blues to me, yet it's tighter and less messy. YouTube just kept playing his stuff and it's fantastic.

Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side
A standard on classic rock stations, this is as racy as they will get playing Lou's catalog. Very descriptive song, I wanted to experience those streets of NYC when I naively had no idea who Candy was or what she was doing. When I figured it out, I still wanted to go.

The Replacements, I Will Dare
One of those classic indie college bands that kids like me thought were edgy and cool. There's a pattern to such success: the song that blew up on college radio, the song that edged them towards international stardom, the song on the soundtrack, the collab, the breakup, the position as elder statesman that has the syndicated radio program or stint on a music channel show panelist lamenting the top 10 songs from some era.

Today may be shaping up to be a binge on The Replacements day.

Paul Revere & The Raiders, Just Like Me
American answer to The Beatles, albeit with less success. I recall instances where they were playing beach parties on music specials back in the 70s wearing tri-corner hats and other revolutionary war garb. Seemed out of place. Just looked them up on YouTube, and there they are on a 60s show doing the same thing. Very garage-y. I guess it's fun. I just found the song Kicks, and there's three girls in fringe dresses shaking their asses off to a dance one poster identified as The Pony. They are grandmas now.

Cliff Richard and the Drifters, Move It
I'm glad I broke this exercise up into 10 or so song increments so I can absorb the song or the era or the vibe. This is somewhere between garage, surf, and rockabilly.

Little Richard, Good Golly Miss Molly
Little Richard passed away earlier this year, just one more thing that sucks about 2020. What I appreciate about him was how coy he was about his appeal, his sexuality, his flamboyance. As a CIS white female, I just cannot imagine the bullshit a gay black man had to deal with in the 50s, and for him to succeed so spectacularly in spite of it and have a career to his grave is amazing.

Oh, and then there's the music. Designed to get you off your ass and shaking it. He was a big deal with the US Figure Skating ice dancers for a couple of years. He's multi-generational. Is there more for him on this list? There has to be more.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 352-360

How is she not named one of the most beautiful women in rock?

Quicksilver Messenger Service, Who Do You Love

Why would this list feature a remake version when you have Bo Diddley that you can honor instead? Admittedly, listening to this version for the first time, I have George Thorogood's version up in my brain instead. Yes, this is better than George's by a long shot, definitely more bluesy but with a bit of an acid rock bend to it. 

REM, Losing My Religion, Radio Free Europe

Radio Free Europe was their introduction to the world via college radio in the early to mid 80s. Rolling Stone magazine named them both "The Only Band That Matters" and "The Band of the 80s," a title they shared with U2. 

We only saw them once, at the Breslin Center in Lansing shortly after the drummer suffered a stroke. I think the concert t-shirt even featured his x-rays. 

They are a classic college band: intelligent, outrageous, tackling taboo subjects, drawing inspiration from the most absurd moments, utilizing a variety of instruments to create the most endearing audio landscapes. Who else could bring the mandolin to mainstream rock? 

Ma Rainey & Her Tub Jug Washboard Band, Prove it on Me
Best guess is she is the oldest artist on this list, born in 1882. She became a performer at the age of 12, singing in minstrel shows. She was introduced to blues music around 1902, but didn't start to record until around 1923. This song was recorded in 1928, and is noted as one of the first songs to address and celebrate lesbianism. She is of course a member of numerous Hall of Fames, was commemorated on a postage stamp, and several of her recordings have been preserved by the Library of Congress.

Bonnie Raitt, Something to Talk About
Bonnie has been a critic and indie darling forever, their little secret, until she hit it big with this hit single. Think of this as her career Oscar, a single stroke of recognition for an amazing body of work. I prefer Have a Heart or I Can't Make You Love Me. She's amazing.

Ramones, Sheena is a Punk Rocker
Ok, more stories from my youth. I got me and Dave tickets to see the Ramones for our second Valentine's Day together. They played Ferris' Williams Auditorium, not sure of the exact date, but it was around Valentine's. The opening bands were Overwhelming Colorfast and Social Distortion. They were AWESOME. Then came the Ramones, who basically tore the place up. It was chaotic, crazy energy. We stayed for a couple of songs, until the seats were torn out of the floor and the audience started throwing them around and body slamming. We got the hell out of there, and ended up having a quiet dinner at the Holiday Inn, as that was the only sit down restaurant still open. Oh, we laughed about that one.

I prefer Rock and Roll Radio, I Wanna Be Sedated, and their cover of The Who's Substitute.

The Young Rascals, Groovin', Good Lovin'
I know next to nothing about the Young Rascals except that Groovin' is a fantastic song. Ok, they're from Jersey, has a five year string of hits, and were inducted into the HOF in 1997. Happily, all members are still alive and well, and they get together from time to time to do reunion shows.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Give it Away
My introduction to the RHCP was at WRKX, the college rock station where I was a DJ at Ferris State. We were spinning Mother's Milk on our 50 watt station that barely reached the edges of campus. I prefer their remake of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground or the deceased guitarist who od’ed tribute Knock Me Down.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 351

One vision? What a vision... 

Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody
This very well could be the post with the most photos I've ever done. As mentioned previously, during my cancer treatment when the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was everywhere, I rediscovered the band and revisited what I call my retro-crush on John Deacon.

John Deacon with Jesus hair circa 1974? God yes.

70s disco coiffed in the Blackhawks jacket? Adorable!

Accountant in a leather jacket writing THE monster single of the 80s? Bring it!

Floofy with eyeliner in Radio Gaga? He’s perfect.

Silvered haired cowboy from The Invisible Man? Yeehaw.

Soft and tender in the Those Were the Days video? You tell me.

I mean, LOOK AT HIM. He is a beautiful man. I had a little crush on him along with Alex Lifeson back during the Hot Space/Moving Pictures early MTV era. For proof, I give you Back Chat:

Damn. 

But I wouldn't be here without the music. I grew up on Queen. My sister got News of the World on 8-track for her birthday, and The Game on vinyl. I know A Night at the Opera was on vinyl somewhere, and of course I saw all the videos for various songs from Hot Space on MTV (but no Body Language, you naughty boys), Under Pressure was in hot rotation. I briefly had the album The Works, as it was one of those cassettes that slid across the dashboard and flew out the window of my first car; I don't remember how I got it, I don't think I bought it, nor was it borrowed. Did it just change hands? And I remember I Want It All from a Pepsi commercial. Two songs in particular have been consistently on my playlists outside of the greatest hits, 39 and Sail Away Sweet Sister.

I was a Queen fan, but not a rabid one. We had the box set for a long time, but I was listening to other things. Blame it on classic rock radio fatigue: current corporate playlist formulas essentially spin the same 10 songs from the same 20 artists. Which means you grow tired of the greatest hits songs, which leads to BoRap being overplayed.

But then Bohemian Rhapsody the movie happens. It's a phenomenon and I am obsessed. My friend Peg helpfully contributes to the obsession, and hooks me up with Seaside Rendezvous, a radio show out of a hospital in England. Lynn Davis, the host, gets a giggle out of getting song requests from all over. She has a loyal following for a good reason - she mines the archives for deep album cuts, rarities, alternative takes, B sides, and more. For the Deaky birthday show, she found a rare recording of Sunny done by his first band, The Opposition when he was only 17 or 18 years old.

As for songs that shaped rock and roll, what more needs to be added? BoRap is essential to this list of course. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions are stadium staples. Another One Bites the Dust is iconic, as is Under Pressure. The Show Must Go On has, since Freddie's death, become a victorious epitaph to a man who lived out loud. And I think the perfect rom/com trilogy would be In Only Seven Days, You and I, and You're My Best Friend. Do something with this Hallmark Channel, instead of all your sappy Christmas movies!

Hoop ditty Deaky. 

But there's so much more to the catalog, a breadth and depth where the whole band draws on a variety of influences to create a sound unlike anything else anyone was doing, from the first chugging chords of Keep Yourself Alive on Queen I to Freddie's last Yeah on Made in Heaven.

Start with Queen I and move through the catalog chronologically, then pick your favorites. You will be surprised. Mine? Well, here we go; should I just pick one song per that hasn't already been mentioned? Otherwise, this will get longer than it already is:

Queen I: LIAR! 

Queen II: don't make me choose between the White Queen or the Black Queen. 

Sheer Heart Attack: Stone Cold Crazy and She Makes Me. 

A Night at the Opera: I thought 39, but opting for The Prophet Song.

A Day at the Races: Tie Your Mother Down is trashy glam rock

News of the World: Get Down Make Love, hands down. Never has a bass line sounded so suggestive.

Jazz: Let Me Entertain You is as Broadway/Cabaret a song they ever did.

The Game: Sail Away Sweet Sister has been a favorite since 1980. 

Hot Space: Calling All Girls. And I want the Deaky Hot Space t-shirt.

The Works: I like Machines, don't come at me. 

A Kind of Magic: Who Wants to Live Forever is Brian at his most emo. Gorgeous. 

The Miracle: The Invisible Man because it makes me laugh.

Innuendo: dammit, I want to say Innuendo but Headlong is my Friday song. So both. 

Made in Heaven: A Winter's Tale. I'm skating to it. 

1997: Hurts my heart to see your sadness at this tribute. 

Remember the fans adore you Deaky. Enjoy your retirement. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 341-350

70s Elvis givin' that dad vibe. 

Elvis Presley, Suspicious Minds, That's All Right
Suspicious Minds was one of Elvis' last hits, from 1969. It's intense and soulful. That's All Right was one of his first hits, and is on my adored Sun Records compilation.

The Pretenders, Brass in Pocket
I'm with Madonna, you want to be as cool as Chrissie Hynde. She named the band after the song The Great Pretender, which was a favorite of hers and her boyfriend at the time. This was their commercial breakthrough, but I thought the breezy Message of Love and hardcore Tattooed Love Boys was cooler. And yes, my tender rock and roll hear broke at 12 when Honeyman-Scott and Fardon both died of drug overdoses. Just say no, kids.

Lloyd Price, Lawdy Miss Clawdy
First time listener. Pure blues. I would love to hear a modern kid tackle this. I'm amazed at how clean and fresh this sounds.

Prince, Little Red Corvette, When Doves Cry
"Ladies and gentleman..." oh Lord, he was a phenomenon in the 80s. Purple Rain was a hit EVERYWHERE and in every possible way. At one point, he had the #1 album, #1 song, and the #1 movie. Was it Oscar-nominated? YES! Best original song score! The movie has been preserved by the National Film Registry, categorically considered one of the best movie musicals. The acting and plot, er, not as polished. I've gone on about Purple Rain, and surprised to see it wasn't listed here, but When Doves Cry was, so ok. Little Red Corvette, ok. 

What would I list in place? Obvs, Purple Rain. I Wanna Be Your Lover. Oh man, I love Computer Blue.

Procol Harum, Whiter Shade of Pale
Time capsule song, I cannot separate the 60s from this song. Video on youtube is all neru jackets, sideburns, love beads, uncomfortable closeups of young men in tight trousers. I never noticed that echo before. Boomer comments bitching about how much they hate the current generation and wish they could go back to 1967 when they were the hated upon. Hm, Summer of Love philosophies dried up a long time ago. So much for those vestal virgin visages.

Public Enemy, Fight the Power
Yeah, boiiiiii! Hardcore rap as a protest song. It's 31 years later and shit hasn't changed yet. I get the anger and cannot imagine what Chuck D and Flavor Flav are thinking right now. Same shit guys. I remember their being controversy about D calling out Elvis for stealing from black artists. Ten years later, Eminem says the same thing, then it's ok? LISTEN.

Queen Latifah, Ladies First
Before she became a celebrated actress, she became one of the first lady rappers, an old school cool customer who spread a message of empowerment. She wasn't a hanger on, a side piece, riding on anyone's coattails, she had her own message to spread and no man was going to stop her. She predates Missy Elliot, Cardi B, and Lizzo, who owe her a debt that she would graciously not accept.

? and the Mysterians, 96 Tears
I dig this song, and ? is apparently from Bay City, Michigan. It goes against the grain of previous posts where I deride a song for sounding dated. Yes, this sounds dated but I don't care, this is just weird, cool, groovy.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 331-340

Young Elvis. My nephew Dylan looks a lot like him. 

Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall, Money, See Emily Play
It is fascinating being exposed to the psyche of the members of Pink Floyd. World War II and drugs have done a number on these guys living in the aftermath of both. See Emily Play is very much in that 60s psychedelic sound. Money is from Dark Side of the Moon and Another Brick in the Wall is from The Wall, both EPIC albums.

I'm surrounded by Floyd fans even in my own house; I'd put myself in in the middle. I prefer Wish You Were Here, Bike, Have a Cigar, and Learning to Fly.

The Platters, The Great Pretender
I do believe I went into detail about this song in an earlier blog post, click here. Love, love, love. 



The Police, Every Breath You Take, Roxanne
The Police, as of late, have been the source of documentaries, reunion shows, and such. Amazing to think this was 40 years ago, and I don't feel like I'm that old. I did have two Police album cover school folders, along with one Loverboy album cover. Zenyata Mendotta and Ghost in the Machine. They were very cool.

Elvis Presley, Heartbreak Hotel, Jailhouse Rock, Love Me Tender, Mystery Train
He is the King for a reason, he is the blueprint for EVERYTHING to come.

On the plus side, he had charisma, a great voice, a great performer, was good looking, and very well mannered. He did the movies, television, had the comeback, did Vegas.

On the other side, he had the creepy manager who controlled his every move, made his money and fame off the talent of black singers and musicians, a drug addiction, a temper, and appetites for any number of things. While I think he played rhythm guitar, I don't think he played on any but his very early recordings. And I don't think he wrote any of his material. He is pure performance.

And his fans are rabid. I was naively unaware of this until I did a report in Humanities class my first semester in college on The Beatles, when I was heckled by an Elvis fan throughout the entire report. This guy even had his spit curl greased to perfection. I was pissed. Still, held my cool and managed to get a very large A for the report.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 321-330

It's sad to think of the grunge era, Eddie Vedder one of the few voices still standing.

Les Paul and Mary Ford, How High is the Moon
First time listening. Reminds me of the big band offerings of the Andrews Sisters, but an eclectic mix of bluegrass and rough guitar solos that you'd expect of 60s rock. It's cool and charming.

Pearl Jam, Jeremy
Another instance of living it in real time. The Seattle Sound put alternative rock at the forefront of Gen X generation. We've seen them at Lollapalooza, on tour protesting, not on tour protesting the price gouging of the consumer by Ticketmaster, and of course playing arenas after getting policies to change.

The album Ten was everywhere and I have purchased it more than once. I really should have learned not to put cassettes on my dashboard when my windows are open, as I had a tendency to see my music fly out the window making a left-handed turn. Queen's The Works and The Black Crowes’ Shake Your Moneymaker met similar fates.

The Penguins, Earth Angel
Yes, definitely one of the songs that shaped rock and roll.  A mainstay on any 50s compilation.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes, Matchbox
Ringo Starr sang lead on a paltry 11 Beatles songs, yet his version of Matchbox is AWESOME. We visited Memphis in 2002 over the MLK holiday, and toured Sun Records studio and was allowed to hold Carl's microphone.

Pinetop Perkins, Pinetop's Boogie Woogie
Talk about a man who saw it all. This man was born in 1913, and passed in 2011. At the time of his death, he had a 20 performances booked! He knew Robert Johnson, taught countless musicians how to play, made cameos in movies such as The Blues Brothers (naturally), and he won a Grammy in 2008 at the tender age of (doing math) 95. 95!

Peter and Gordon, A World Without Love
Is this entry in tribute to the musical genius of Lennon and McCartney? It feels a little tepid an entry. You can hear all of the early genius but this is just kind of meh.

Peter, Paul, and Mary, If I Had a Hammer
One of my first professors at Ferris was an artistic child prodigy who achieved a masters degree from the School of Visual Arts at 21. She left New York City to teach art to a bunch of smartasses in a tiny lumber town in central northern Michigan, bringing with her all of her Peter, Paul, and Mary tapes. She would play said tapes during our drawing classes, in which we were to render the naked JCPenney's shoe salesman at the center of our circle on newsprint sketchbooks, his appendage dripping with what we hoped was nervous sweat.

In order to distract our brains from the wet penis in front of us, our mumbled conversation was to debate if Puff the Magic Dragon was about drugs. I insisted it was a child's nursery story, while Jeff of my lost weekend, insisted it was about drugs. "C'mon, Little Jacky Paper?!" he crowed, breaking the tension as the entire class burst out laughing.

In my eventful college career, it is the only time I was ever called into my professor's office, as she demanded an apology or else I get kicked out of the program. Amazed she had the stones to threaten such a thing, I countered that there was no lecture at the time, and we were doing our work and the model was more distracting than our conversation. I apologized for my role in the distraction, but contended we were doing our work and there was no mandate for silence as she was playing P, P, & M at the time, and we were engaged in an artistic discussion.

She accepted the weak apology from me. Jeff was not as gracious and told her to blow it out her ass. He remained in the program as well, at least until the end of the year. This rendered her authority useless in her classes, and the rest of our unit ran roughshod over her as a result. The thing about prodigies is they are brilliant, having magic spring from their fingertips. That usually means that magic isn't easy to translate into a lesson plan for instructing those less blessed. She lasted only the year, and the Original Girl from New York returned to Manhattan. I wish you only the best Lori. 

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, American Girl
I grew up on Tom Petty. I remember his first fight with his record company, learning the story from my weekly listening of American Top 40. He found out the record company was going to raise prices of superstar albums a dollar, retailing for $9.98. He threatened to name it "The $8.98 Album" if the company didn't back down. They did. 

He's been Lucky on King of the Hill, a Wilbury, and Stanky in the film Made in Heaven. We've seen them in concert three times, the best at the Van Andel arena where they dragged the song Gloria out for about a half hour. I think I referenced this in a blog post many moons ago. RIP Tom.

Wilson Pickett, In the Midnight Hour
An American standard. I'm not a huge fan of the song but I can't argue with its inclusion.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 311-320

Oh for our youthful days 

Aaron Neville, Tell It Like It Is
This is an undeniable slow jam. I really love the version Heart did in the early 80s on the album Private Audition.

New York Dolls, Personality Crisis
It's glam and garage and punk, and not something you would have found by twisting the radio dial in my area in the 70s. It's glorious noise. I can't believe the lead singer is the same guy who became novelty hit maker Buster Poindexter 15 years later. Sometimes you have to feather the nest by flipping the formula for the fun of it; ask one earnest singer/songwriter named Stephanie who became Lady GaGa.

Randy Newman, Sail Away
I detest Randy Newman and I cannot explain it. Was it Short People? Those 70s aviator shades? Giving the song a listen, yes, he doesn't sound like anyone else, but eh. YouTube dumped me into the song I Love LA, and yeah, this only solidifies it for me. My faint praise for him would be the song You've Got a Friend in Me from the Toy Story franchise. And for someone that has been in the industry for so long, and nominated for so many awards, good on him for finally earning his Oscar.

Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit
At the time, popular music was hair bands, overproduced dance music fronted by nameless singers in the wake of the Milli Vanilli scandal (there were more dirty dealings, such as the Weather Girls fronting the female models posing as C+C Music Company), and the MotownPhilly sound. Everything was very glossy, and Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Jane's Addiction, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden, and the rest ripped off the sheen. It was a loud, rowdy few years.

O'Jays, Love Train
Story of my youth: one year my cousin Nancy decided to buy her little cousins Christmas presents. My gift from her was two 45s: one by Anne Murray, and this one by the O'Jays. I don't know if she was just feeling generous that year, or if she felt that I needed to get funkier. I mean, I was 6 or 7. What's not to love about this song, it's a guaranteed fill the dance floor song at any wedding. I say that because that's pretty much the only time I'm around a DJ trying to get the party started anymore.

Phil Ochs, I Ain't Marching Anymore
Bluegrass/country war protest song that chronicles the American history of war, and the desire to end it, finally. "Call it reason or call it treason, I'm not marching anymore." Whoa.

Roy Orbison, Oh Pretty Woman
I feel like Roy is to the 50s teen boys as Mariah Carey is to 90s teenage girls. This is his signature song, so yes this should be here. I'm still surprised there's no biopic on him, as one of the legends that made Sun Records famous; his contemporaries include Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The Beatles worshipped him. My dad loved him. He had a second generation career resurgence in the late 80s when a black and white concert presentation revived interest in his catalog. Then he joined the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, had a hit record with Mystery Girl, and a hit duet with KD Lang. Alas, his late career success was too much, and he died on the road of a heart attack at the age of 52.

He needs his biopic!

The Orioles, Crying in the Chapel
Made more famous by Elvis, all the bones are here, in 1953. I'm pleased to see comments on youtube from teenagers saying they are floored by this "new" doowop and are playing it. The kids are all right.

Johnny Otis, Willie and the Hand Jive
I. Love. This. Song. Again, I reference Grease as the catalyst for the revival of 50s dance, music, and culture in the 70s. My mom taught me how to do the hand jive. Hm, future solo ice dance routine?

Parliament, Give Up the Funk
Is it Parliament? Is it Funkadelic? Is it Parliament Funkadelic? The many incarnations of George Clinton's genius cannot be denied. I will see them some day.

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 301-310

Van was a Ferris State college party staple

The Monotones, Book of Love
Another doo-wop group from the 50s, and one that is a standard issue on 50s greatest hits compilations. Not a favorite, there's already been many more worthy groups already listed here.

Bill Monroe, Mule Skinner Blues
No Blue Moon of Kentucky? I have a solid affection for him and that tender bluegrass.

The Moody Blues, Nights in White Satin
The Moody Blues are another of the 60s acts that got a second wind in the 80s with the song Wildest Dreams, which was, interestingly enough, a video about looking back at a long ago love affair from the 60s "love was all we knew, and all I knew was you." Nights was their calling card, their standard. It's a sweeping, dramatic and nothing I know of sounded anything like it at the time.

The Moonglows, Sincerely
It took 30 seconds of doowopping for them to utter the first word in this song. Good looking group of guys. Quick bio, formed in Louisville in 1949, Named the Moonglows by DJ Alan Freed, Sincerely was a hit in 1953 for the legendary Chess Records, they were inducting into the R&RHOF in 2000, and the last remaining member of the band passed away in 2010. Their singing style is known as blow harmony. I do not know what that means.

Van Morrison, Brown Eyed Girl, Madame George, Moondance
Oh, Van was another one of those artists that were essential listening in college, the party songs that had everyone singing along. I don't know why I haven't considered Moondance for a skating routine. Maybe it should be on the list. Also, why isn't Into the Mystic on this list?

The Mothers of Invention, Brown Shoes Don't Make It
Oh Zappa. When it comes to Frank, it's not something you put on and cruise around, this is more of something you carefully sit down and pay attention. Valley Girl was my introduction to him, and I was more interested in tales told by Pamela Des Barres when she was an aspiring musician/groupie who was the family babysitter. I enjoy St Alphonse Pancake Breakfast. And appreciate his odd brilliance.

Mott the Hoople, All the Young Dudes
Glorious loud glam rock from the early 70s. I had an assistant manager, Troy, who was a teeny tiny yooper that ran away from home to be his own person. Assistant manager at a chain pharmacy didn't exactly seem like living the dream, but truly to each their own, I don't exactly know what he was running away FROM. Anyway, on his way out the door he grabbed all his older brother's record albums, which included Queen, Sweet, Paul McCartney, and Mott the Hoople. I know this because he started making me a series of mix tapes. I truly think he was sharing his love of music with me, and not attempting to woo.

Ricky Nelson, Hello Mary Lou
Garden Party is the classic rock staple, Hello Mary Lou is more of a 50s hit. He's the daddy of TV rock, he played an all American teenager aspiring to be a rock star on Ozzie and Harriet. The Monkees, the Osmonds, and and every other show featuring an aspiring rock star character owe him his due. His twins sons Gunnar and Matthew, were briefly rock stars in the 90s, with songs After the Rain and Love and Affection. Too bad they were miscast as a hair band at the tail end of the hair band fad, they were more pop rock and very talented. 

The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll, 299-300

I love you Peter Tork...

The Monkees, I'm a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville

Why their own entry? My blog my rules. I should have done this with The Beatles; wait until I get to Queen.

The Monkees have long been dismissed as trivial by the die hards of rock music. I say nay! Of course, I am handicapped by the fact I am a second generation listener and consumed the music after the initial impact. Either that, or this is my four year old self digging her heels in to make a case for her favorite band/show since watching reruns on TV50 out of Detroit.

The Monkees were a manufactured band put together for a television show to capitalize on Beatlemania pop rock music. The producers noted the success of the movies A Hard Days Night and Help, and wondered if that would translate to the small screen.

All four members of the Monkees came from a music background. Mike Nesmith was a singer/songwriter who had a minor hit with Different Drum, which was given to Linda Ronstadt's band The Stone Ponys. Peter Tork was part of the fledging folk scene when Stephen Still recommended he audition. Micky Dolenz, a former child actor, was a guitarist and drummer in a college band at UCLA. Davy Jones sang and performed on Broadway.

As artists, all four Monkees bristled against the rigid parameters of the television show, and wanted to do their own music. From the third album on, they did.

The show as actually the antithesis of Beatlemania. Whereas the Beatles movies were essentially about their success and fame, the show was about a struggling band who was always looking for the next gig, dodging their landlord, and of course avoiding all the girls falling in love with Davy. The second season poked fun at their own off-camera success and the critics by turning the formulas against themselves, including dressing in drag, challenging the sensors in The Devil and Mr. Tork, and questioning television itself, turning the populace into zombies in the episode The Great Frodis Caper. Then there were the cameos by Liberace, Frank Zappa, and Tim Buckley. That's a lot of alternative culture for 7:30 on Mondays.

The movie Head was a further dismantling of their image. The first time I saw it when I was a teenager, I didn't get it. Rewatching it as an adult, I thought it was brilliant. There's Frank Zappa again, with a talking cow. Don't wish Nez a happy birthday. Don't piss off Davy. Don't send Pete to Vietnam. And someone please give Micky a Coke.

The songs themselves are amazing, and have endured through several generations. I'm a Believer and Last Train to Clarksville as well as Daydream Believer get plenty of airplay even today. Punk bands love songs like I'm Not Your Stepping Stone. Rappers sample songs like Mary Mary. And Little Steven plays the Monkees on a routine basis on his Underground Garage syndicated show, alongside modern artists like The Dollyrots and Greta Von Fleet. And they had a hit record 50 years after the fact with the album Good Times and the Grammy-nominated Me and Magdelena. Credit for this success goes to the four, as well as Neil Diamond, Goffin and King, and numerous other talented people associated with the band.

What would I add? Words. Pleasant Valley Sunday. Sunny Girlfriend. The Girl That I Knew Somewhere. The Porpoise Song. Circle Sky. I could go on.