The Civil Rights Movement in America bought with it a whole number of moving songs, but none are quite as passionate and emotional as this soul masterpiece. Race was a key theme in a whole range of politically motivated classics, yet nobody ever treated these strong themes with such grace and gravitas. Here, Sam Cooke lays out all his frustrations with the current system, sounding like a man in desperate measures pleading for mercy. However, there's also a sense of hope found within the song. It's not so much a protest song, but a beacon of hope in a dark and turbulent period of history.
It shouldn't need to be said, but Sam Cooke has such an incredible voice. You really don't need much else when you have those passionate vocals dominating the track, but I still want to commend whoever thought to add french horns onto the track was a good idea. It's an outstanding move, and I even believe they rival Cooke's contributions with their swelling beauty. Interestingly the track was a B-Side to the vastly different 'Shake'. Shake is an uptempo and fun dance track, so imagine the shock of flipping over that record and expecting another feel-good pop hit.
Tragically Cooke's life was cut short just two weeks before the release of this track. He was murdered in a race related incident at a tragically young age. It's events like this that really add an extra layer of meaning to the track. What should have been a momentous moment in American culture unfortunately became overshadowed by the arrival of Beatlemania just two days after the song was first performed, and so the song never became a big hit either. Cooke never played the song live after the first time due to its serious nature and complex composition, adding even more misery to this depressing tale.
Thankfully Sam Cooke's vision has come to fruition. This track became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, and is still today often quoted during momentous societal changes. Oh, and make sure it's the Sam Cooke version you're listening to. There are plenty of imitators who've had a crack at covering this legendary track, including a recent cover from a young rock band named Greta Van Fleet. That version is an absolute disgrace, whereas the original is one of the most powerful pieces of music ever.
#9: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
The greatest guitarist that ever strummed a chord released some incredible tracks over the years, but none are as pure and raw as this legendary acid rock track. Jimi is in fine form on the guitar, giving a performance fitting of such a highly renowned player. The intro in particular is a thing of beauty. It's masterful guitar work at its most sophisticated and effective. From there the song just keeps evolving, exploring the very limits of what can be achieved with an electric guitar in that classic brash style of Hendrix.
Electric Ladyland is an album filled not just with topless women, but also a whole host of brilliant tracks. It takes something special to stand out amongst this bible of guitar playing perfection, yet Voodoo Child does exactly that. It's the swansong of the album, rounding off Hendrix's finest work with his finest ever performance.
Hard rock was an emerging genre in the early 70s, and it was tracks like this one that hammered home just how good a loud guitar can be. By using a blues-rock based foundation many bands were able to produce this dirty sound, but none were more hectic and revolutionary than what Hendrix manages here. In Britain this became Hendrix's only number-one single, which sadly he never got to celebrate due to it being released shortly after his premature death. What an incredible memorial to one of the all-time musical greats.
#8: The Who - Baba O'Riley
The Who loved to spend their time dreaming up complex artistic projects, and none were more advanced than this legendary track. For a taster of the unusual sound that's about to fill the room you only need listen to the unique intro. I don't know why synthesisers were included in the final piece, and to hardcore classic rock fans this is probably sacrilege, but I love this unique feel. Baba O'Riley takes its sweet time to get to the main hooks, gradually building in energy, but when this track gets there it goes absolutely crazy. In all honesty I could happily listen to that build for days, but this track just becomes something else with that burst of adrenaline.
Once you get past the fantastic instrumentation you're left with Roger Daltry's exuberant voice that dominates the soundtrack as always, but just for a moment we get the sweet sound of Pete Townshend introducing us to 'teenage wasteland'. That, in my opinion, is one of the greatest single lines in music history and I just adore how the whole track seems to be building you up for that brief moment of euphoria. With Baba O'Riley you get such a sense of excitement every time that distinct opening gets underway, even if it is just for the chance to hear that one line again.
The Who also added a rebellious undertone to this track that perfectly compliments the ongoing trend of the youth going wild. Just a quick play of this and I too want to go and beat up a load of rockers on Brighton Beach for the hell of it. My Generation is often touted as the anthem of this generation, but in my opinion it's Baba O'Riley that holds this prestigious spot. It's hardly a celebration of youthful rebelliousness, but rather a grim acceptance of a rapidly changing country. The Who had a career filled with classic rock gems, but this was their finest effort by a country mile.
#7: Black Sabbath - Paranoid
With their debut album Black Sabbath formulated what would later become heavy metal. The band then decided that pioneering a genre wasn't enough and so released Paranoid in order to define the very thing they created. In my opinion this is the first ever song that can be classed as 'heavy metal', and every metal song can trace its roots back to this single release. Paranoid presents a simple formula, punctuated by just sheer noise, but this simplistic genius has never been topped, ever after all these decades.
The opening riff is just orgasmic. Who would ever have imagined that the height of metal perfection could be found in the early 70s? This is one of those tracks you just have to crank up to max and bleed your eardrums with. Sure, it's a quick and intense adrenaline burst, but I promise you'll never feel more alive. Ozzy Osbourne sounds like he's having a mental breakdown on the vocals, even pleading for help during the hook. You have a job to hear him over the sheer noise coming from the guitars, but the combination of these sounds is just brutal and epic in equal measures. Despite this revolutionary and heavy sound Paranoid never feels edgy or artificial, even feeling strangely profound in some areas.
You may think an effort of this magnitude would take years of preparation, but no. Paranoid was written in just over twenty minutes and was originally scheduled to be filler for their upcoming album. You would probably be beaten to death by metal fans if you called this 'filler' today. Such was the influence of this record that it even crossed into the pop charts here in Britain. Reaching number four on the pop charts is one hell of an achievement for a band experimenting with revolutionary sounds. I suppose that's just one of the perks that come with being the greatest metal track in history.
#6: Eagles - Hotel California
Hotel California has become something of a 'Marmite song' over the years. Half of the people think its rambling drivel, whilst the other half, that includes me, believe this to be one of the greatest rock songs of all time. I still posit that there isn't any other track that manages to master the smooth and laid back rock that's featured here. The way the song flows from verse to verse is something very special, and at no point does the track feel dull or overblown.
The lyrics are the real strong point. The listener is presented with a fascinating tale filled with deep imagery and themes, brilliantly describing the highs and perils of the American Dream. There's such a dreamy atmosphere created that it's so easy to get lost in this fictional world upon every listen. There's this constant sense of unease found within the plot, which is probably why no other song in history has been dissected and misinterpreted quite to the extent this one has. There's plenty of rumours out there that this is an ode to the Church of Satan, whose leader can allegedly be seen on the cover. As with every great rock track there are numerous stories adding to the legend. The bottom line is that as an allegory for a whole generation there is nothing that even comes close to the songwriting mastery found in this song.
Once the story concludes in a dramatic fashion we're treated to duelling guitars in a brilliantly paced solo. Again, everything is carried out in moderation, and even the odd increase in intensity from the guitars never spoils the dreamy mood. Today Hotel California has become possibly the most iconic rock track in history and one of the finest compositions to ever grace the planet.
#5: David Bowie - Space Oddity
David Bowie is the master of the avant-garde, yet even in his storied career there was never a better example of his supremely unique artistry than this legendary track. When space exploration was all the rage Bowie penned a fitting tribute to the cultural climate, beautifully reimagining the greatest feats of mankind like the writer of an epic poem. Apollo 11 would launch just five days after the release of this track, yet that venture pails in comparison to this artistic effort. Even today Space Oddity has become synonymous with spaceflight, with every revolutionary adventure into the cosmos usually beginning with the ceremonial playing of this classic. It's a testament to the quality of this song that nobody has ever released a better song on the wilderness of space in the fifty years since this was released.
The pacing of the song is just marvellous. The way Space Oddity transitions from otherworldly acoustics to the effortlessly smooth saxophone is just a treat to hear. That growing tension towards the primary hook perfectly emulates the hopes and fears of astronauts, heightened by those repeated lines that have become part of pop culture forever.
Space Oddity was released as a single in 1969. I repeat, 1969. Not only does it sound like nothing from that period, but it also sounds like nothing from any period. Even today it still sounds futuristic. This was Bowie's first real hit in the British charts, even making it to number one when re-released in 1975. The wonder of spaceflight may have waned by that point, but the power of this song certainly hadn't.
#4: Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd combine superior pacing and instrumentation to instantly render the rest of progressive rock null and void. That first guitar solo is one of the greatest moments in music history. There's something so serene about hearing a guitar sound that amazing. Comfortably Numb keeps building towards this release of energy whilst still managing to sound effortlessly smooth. In case you weren't satisfied with that solo for some weird reason you're then treated to another, which is arguably even better. All this goodness in a song that doesn't stretch out its components.
The way Comfortably Numb maintains this euphoric atmosphere is just incredible. It's like a prolonged shot of Prozac coursing through your veins. The whole feel of the track is just extraordinary, giving you a giddy feeling that no other song can manage. It's not the most lighthearted of songs, but boy does it make you feel special. It's one of the few tracks that bring on some sort of trance upon every listen. It doesn't matter how many times I hear this masterpiece I always stop dead in my tracks and get lost in the intense atmosphere.
There are also some deep motifs lingering around as well. The haunting opening leading into this euphoric concoction is reflective of the serious themes of addiction. You can tell there's a serious tone to the song, and when you work out it's all about drug addiction the composition suddenly makes so much more sense. The Wall album may have been largely uninteresting aside from its later association with Cold War politics, but at least for six minutes there's a brief break from tradition to grace listeners with. Oh, and the mere act of even mentioning the appalling Scissor Sisters cover is sacrilege.
#3: The Beatles - A Day in the Life
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is quite possibly the greatest album in music history. The way the Beatles moved the yardstick of what can be achieved through the medium of sounds is awe-inspiring. The final track on the album is by far the finest piece on this landmark album. The fictional band have just announced they're leaving the stage and then all of a sudden we're greeted with the most amazing encore it's possible to imagine. Nothing has still managed to one-up this masterpiece in terms of scale over 50 years later, but to be fair not many albums manage to end with a full symphony having a breakdown. The really amazing thing is that it's not even five minutes in length, yet the song covers more artistically than many artists manage in their whole careers.
First, the listener is treated to this strange and mysterious tale open for interpretation. This is all fine, and could have been capped off with a smooth transition, but that wouldn't have been theatrical enough for the Beatles, so they rouse up a whole orchestra of strings to go absolutely crazy. Honestly, that build up stands my hairs on end every single time without fail. 'A Day in the Life' somehow manages to sound both chaotic and ordered at the same time. You think you know what's around the corner and then all of a sudden a full-blown orchestra will start shouting at you with full force. It's just such inspired pacing.
Not content on this being grandiose enough the Beatles then decide to bridge the two verses with a beautiful section that conjures up an intense dreamy atmosphere out of nowhere. All this leads to the track ending with just a single piano chord, snapping you out of this dreamworld and straight into another euphoric one. This is undoubtedly John Lennon's magnum opus. His creative juices do get topped up from a brief McCartney contribution, but this is undoubtedly his brainchild. This is the Beatles at their most creative, finding it possible to create iconic lines out of the number of holes in Blackburn in ways only they can manage. From their humble beginnings the Beatles had finally reached the promised land over the course of the most famous journey in music history.
#2: The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
The Pyramids. The Parthenon. The Great Wall of China. All of these feats pale in comparison to the effort it must have taken to get this bad boy just perfect in the studio. At the time of release this was the most expensive song ever recorded, estimated at costing around half a million dollars. You couldn't just record this whole track, you had to piece together individual fragments in four different recording studios. Throughout this list you've heard me say numerous times how the studio becomes an instrument within itself, and it's here we find the genesis of this revolutionary method that would change the face of music. It even inspired the track sitting in the number three position.
From average surf rockers this group of Californians managed to produce the greatest harmonies the world will ever hear. There's still odes to the beaches of California found in this lively number, but in between these brief nostalgic nods we're treated to huge chunks of state of the art psychedelic brilliance. The way the track moves through different sections is symphonic. Each verse and chorus has its own unique characteristics, each sounding more wonderful with each passing second. I don't know what Brian Wilson was smoking when he penned this one up, but he absolutely nails this complex project.
Every instrument ever created is probably hidden away in the rich layers of this monumental production. There's even some electro-theremin thing used to create that high pitched disturbance, which funnily enough no other band would ever dream of touching. Yeah, the harmonies may be perfection, but I really love the dreamy verses where the vast array of instruments can shine. There's something magical about the way they flow into the choruses with such ease. Every complex element is synchronised for maximum euphoria. From that abrupt opening I'm grinning like a Cheshire Cat throughout the whole track. To quote Alex DeLarge, this is 'gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh'.
I'm not the only person to love this song. Good Vibrations became the band's first number-one single in the UK and their first to sell over a million copies worldwide. Those idiots who have dared criticise the record include Jonathan King and Phil Spector, who I'm sure are very nice people and have absolutely no history of raping or murdering anyone.
Good Vibrations gives me more than a good feeling, it gives me a full-blown erection. Let's not beat around the bush. These are fucking incredible vibrations.
#1: Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
This is it. There is not a song out there as pure and perfect as this symphony of perfection. I doubt we will live long enough to see such an epic piece surpass this one.
The guitar is the real star of the show here. It's fucking magnetic. The way it evolves from the iconic opening to the anthemic verses is just divine. The solo, when things really ramp up into new territories, is the pinnacle of guitar playing. There's just this moment where the beautiful tone just makes way for some truly incredible hard rock that has been built up like an absolute dream. Guitarist Jimmy Page sums it up best when he describes this as being like a 'sonic orgasm'. I don't know what a 'sonic orgasm' is, but I want one. From the moment those heavy guitars kick in its passionate vocals, crashing drums, and intricate guitar playing to the very end. Just incredible progression that can't be taught by any teacher.
As with any legendary rock track there's always the tales of satanism having some role in the production. This being 'Stairway to Heaven' these tales go to the next level. Apparently if you play the track backwards there's a prayer to Satan. Charming. I prefer when the turntable spins the record forwards myself, as I love the mystical lyrics, but you can't blame folks for believing this level of talent is supernatural.
'Stairway to Heaven' is so epic that I'm now running out of superlatives. Not only is this Led Zeppelin's magnum opus, but it's also the finest moment for music in general. If you're ever down on your luck just remember that you had the incredible privilege to live at the same time as the greatest piece of music that will ever exist.
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