CLASSIC ROCK ESSENTIALS: December 2019

#1

Which leave us, of course, with #1 ...

YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE AND MOST DESERVING CLASSIC ROCK TRACK OF ALL TIME ...

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY by QUEEN!!!

(C'mon ... you already knew that ... but it was STILL fun counting them down, wasn't it?!?!)

We'll keep the full list posted for awhile ...

If you know somebody who might enjoy reviewing it, please send them our way.

Same goes for any adventurous Dee Jays out there who might want to entertain your listeners with any part of this countdown. (Please just be sure to give us credit ... and offer links to the complete list ... that's all we ask ... otherwise the list is there for the sharing!)

But if you ARE going to run a countdown ... or even some segment of a countdown ... please let us know so we can run Listen Live Links on the site so that other fans can tune in and listen along, too!

Several of you have written in asking for printed copies of THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME and we will put something together for you. (Just be forewarned that even as an Excel Document, this still runs about 70 pages!!!) It's already in the works so stay tuned to Forgotten Hits to find out when it'll be available and how you can get a copy. (kk)

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/

#2

Your Top Two Favorites duked it out for five months, swapping the lead at least 50 times ... and even when it was all over, only 24 Votes separated the two from the #1 Spot.

That's a pretty convincing reality if you ask me. (To keep things in perspective, yesterday's track, LAYLA, finished 326 votes behind this one to come in at #3.

Again, those of you who have been following along have probably never had any doubt as to which to tracks would come out on top ...

But today we reveal the runner up.

Let's hear it for THE EAGLES and HOTEL CALIFORNIA ...

Congratulations, Guys!!!

#3

The Top Three Songs are the ONLY Three Songs to lead the list over the five month period that we were tabulating your votes ...

And today's featured #3 Track held it for exactly ONE DAY ... the VERY FIRST DAY ... and then never held it again.

Still, they retained enough of your votes ... and reaped the benefit of even more of your votes as the election wore on ... to hold on to the #3 Spot.

Here are DEREK AND THE DOMINOES ...

And LAYLA!

#4

Your 4th Classic Rock Favorite takes us down to SWEET HOME ALABAMA.

Those of you who've been with us from the beginning remember that the polls couldn't close until the Fat Lady Sings ...

And this is the tune that she sang.

Now, based on the thousands of you who voted for it, we're guessing that you'd much rather hear the LYNYRD SKYNYRD version ...

but I've gotta tell ya, this one STILL cracks me up ...

However, for all you "purists" out there, here is the LYNYRD SKYNYRD version ...

Turn It Up!

#5

THE ROLLING STONES are back with their highest entry in our TOP 3333 List (out of 56 hits mind you!)

Honestly, most of their Top 13 Hits vied for the lead at some point during the tabulation process ... at various times it looked like SATISFACTION, HONKY TONK WOMEN, START ME UP or BROWN SUGAR all could have wound up on top of THE STONES' list of favorites ...

But in the end, it is GIMME SHELTER that takes home their top honor, finishing at #5.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

The countdown continues tomorrow ...

With your Top Five Most Essential Classic Rock Songs Of All-Time!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

#6

This track has topped SO many of these Classic Rock lists over the years, even coming in at #1 on some of those Memorial Day and Labor Day 500 lists that radio stations seem to do on a regular basis, despite the fact that it was never officially released as a single.

Still, it's a timeless classic that EVERYBODY knows and loves ...

But when put to the test of a million votes, it falls a few rungs short of the Top Spot on our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME List.

(That's OK ... we won't hold it against them!!!)

I'm talking about, STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN by LED ZEPPELIN, of course ... and the truth of the matter is, it ranked as high as #3 during the months-long tabulation process ... but it NEVER hit #1 in our poll. (Only three songs ever did ... and one of those was only #1 for the very first day ... and then never again! Stay tuned for more details ... as we get closer to the top!)

We'll be back after the holiday with your Top Five selections ... Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

(WHAT?!?! Is he SERIOUS?!?! Are you frickin' KIDDING me?!?! We're not going to get The Top Five until AFTER the holiday?!?! No Way! Can he do this??? We've waited ALL this time for the big reveal and now he's going to stall?!?! WTF?!?!?)

Yep ... but hopefully the anticipation is SO close to killing you that you'll be back on Thursday, the 26th, to finish the countdown!

#7

THE STONES are back with the #7 song in our countdown ...

Technically, it's still the biggest hit of their career ... a huge #1 Hit from all the way back in 1965. (Talk about "Long Live Rock"!!! Oh wait, that was THE WHO ... they had YESTERDAY's featured hit!)

"(I Can't Get No) SATISFACTION" is timeless gem that EVERY guitar player alive in 1965 ... and born since ... learned the opening riff to. 55 years later it still displays the same raw energy it did back in the mid-'60's when THE ROLLING STONES were still just part of The British Invasion and not the World's Greatest Rock And Roll Band, dominating the touring scene for another fifty years! (And it's every bit as infectious, as new generations are discovering every day.)

Mick Jagger, at the ripe old age of 22, was already displaying a confident grit and swagger ... and he's STILL out there doing it some 54 years later, even after recent heart surgery!

#8

THE WHO finished with TWO songs in The Top 25 ... but THIS one was their biggest ...

WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN from their WHO'S NEXT album!

#9

AEROSMITH hold down the #9 spot on the final countdown.

DREAM ON and SWEET EMOTION swapped places numerous times during the vote tabulation period ... but when all was said and done, it was DREAM ON who came in on top, finishing at #9 in your TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME. (It makes sense ... even 46 years later, we still hear this song at least ten times a week!)

For the record, SWEET EMOTION came in at #22 once all the votes were tabulated.

#10

With FIVE songs in The Top 13, The Rolling Stones are definitely dominating the top end of the countdown. (We recently saw "Brown Sugar" at #13 and "Honky Tonk Women" at #12.)

They kick off The Top Ten today as well with 1981's "START ME UP" ... and clearly we haven't seen or heard the last of them yet!

One of MY all-time favorites by The Stones (and also one of my ringtones for YEARS now) ...

Here is START ME UP by THE ROLLING STONES!

Your TOP 20!

#20 - More Than A Feeling - Boston

#19 - Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles

#18 - Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

#17 - Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen

#16 - Light My Fire - The Doors

#15 - Tiny Dancer - Elton John

#14 - While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles

#13 - Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones

#12 - Honky Tonk Women - The Rolling Stones

#11 - We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions - Queen

Be sure to join us tomorrow as we begin counting down
THE TOP TEN MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME!!!

#30 - #21

#30 - Africa - Toto

#29 - Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf

#28 - Free Fallin' - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

#27 - Ramblin' Man - The Allman Brothers Band

#26 - Dancing In The Dark - Bruce Springsteen

#25 - Who Are You - The Who

#24 - All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

#23 - Kashmir - Led Zeppelin

#22 - Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith

#21 - Somebody To Love - Queen

The Top 40!

#40 - Live And Let Die - Paul McCartney and Wings

#39 - Who'll Stop The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival

#38 - Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

#37 - Hey Jude - The Beatles (I'm sure everybody figured this one for, if not #1, then certainly Top Five or, at the very least, Top Ten ... but here it is ... based on your actual votes ... at #37, trailing two other Beatles tunes ... neither of which were written by the songwriting team of Lennon and McCartney!)

#36 - Black Magic Woman - Santana

#35 - You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones

#34 - You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC

#33 - Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix

#32 - Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival

#31 - Don't Stop Believin' - Journey

HERE COME YOUR TOP 50!

#50 - Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi

#49 - Back In Black - AC/DC

#48 - Let It Be - The Beatles

#47 - Take It Easy - The Eagles

#46 - Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams

#45 - Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas

#44 - A Day In The Life - The Beatles

#43 - I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

#42 - Life In The Fast Lane - The Eagles

#41 - In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins

#60 - #51

#60 - I Love Rock And Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

#59 - Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen

#58 - Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
(Surprised? Rolling Stone Magazine's #1 Song didn't even make our Top 50, as voted on by the fans. Lack of nepotism, perhaps???)

#57 - Band On The Run - Paul McCartney and Wings

#56 - You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi

#55 - Paint It, Black - The Rolling Stones

#54 - Jumping Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones

#53 - Already Gone - The Eagles

#52 - Another One Bites The Dust - Queen

#51 - Night Moves - Bob Seger

Every New Day Brings Us Closer To The Top!

#70 - Jack And Diane - John Cougar
#69 - Maggie May - Rod Stewart
#68 - Got To Get You Into My Life - The Beatles
#67 - Rock And Roll - Led Zepplin
#66 - In My Life - The Beatles
#65 - Time Of The Season - The Zombies
#64 - Gimme Some Lovin' - The Spencer Davis Group
#63 - Your Song - Elton John
(and here it is again from the film "Rocketman" ...
because it's SUCH a great scene!!!) #62 - Cold As Ice - Foreigner
#61 - Hold The Line - Toto

We're Countin' 'em Down

#80 - Hurts So Good - John Cougar

#79 - Old Time Rock And Roll - Bob Seger

#78 - Under Pressure - Queen with David Bowie
(wouldn't this have been cool???)

#77 - Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

#76 - For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield

#75 - Juke Box Hero - Foreigner

#74 - Every Breath You Take - The Police

#73 - Black Dog - Led Zeppelin

#72 - Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

#71 - Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney

The Countdown Continues

#90 - The Weight - The Band

#89 - Walk This Way - Aerosmith

#88 - Rocket Man - Elton John

#87 - Come Together - The Beatles

#86 - Turn The Page - Bob Seger

#85 - I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick

#84 - Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf

#83 - You Really Got Me - The Kinks

#82 - Changes - David Bowie

#81 - Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard

HERE ARE YOUR TOP 100 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME ...

... as voted on by YOU!!!

#100 - One Of These Nights - The Eagles

# 99 - Come Sail Away - Styx

# 98 - La Grange - ZZ Top

# 97 - Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac

# 96 - Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones

# 95 - Wanted Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi

# 94 - D'yer Mak'er - Led Zeppelin

# 93 - Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

# 92 - Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival

# 91 - All Right Now - Free

#150 - #101

#150 - Hello I Love You - The Doors

#149 - Listen To The Music - The Doobie Brothers

#148 - Amie - The Pure Prairie League

#147 - Killer Queen - Queen

#146 - Feels Like The First Time - Foreigner

#145 - Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar

#144 - Touch Me - The Doors

#143 - Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple

#142 - Vehicle - The Ides Of March

#141 - Beast Of Burden - The Rolling Stones

#140 - White Wedding - Billy Idol

#139 - House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals

#138 - A Horse With No Name - America

#137 - Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix

#136 - Highway To Hell - AC/DC

#135 - Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

#134 - Life's Been Good - Joe Walsh

#133 - Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor

#132 - Fly Like An Eagle - The Steve Miller Band

#131 - LA Woman - The Doors

#130 - Slow Ride - Foghat

#129 - Jump - Van Halen

#128 - Piece Of My Heart - Janis Joplin / Big Brother and the Holding Company

#127 - Beginnings - Chicago

#126 - Crazy On You - Heart

#125 - With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker

#124 - Saturday In The Park - Chicago

#123 - 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago

Hello kk –
Applause, for doing the research … I’m sure it’s an arduous task!
It was interesting to see that four of my songs were in the top 200 of the 3333!
Now I’m curious to see all the songs which were higher on the survey than #123!
Taking into account the millions of rock tracks generated since, let’s say, the 1950’s, it gives us pause.
I am grateful for all music lovers.
Robert Lamm / Chicago
Now how cool is THAT?!?! (kk)