Songs (and performances) that embody the spirit of rock and roll

[highplainsdem]

Was thinking about this when YouTube segued from the Georgia Satellites hit I posted earlier today to a song I like even more - Iggy Pop's cover of "Real Wild Child (Wild One)." Definitely a song that embodies the spirit of rock and roll, for me.

And I was wondering what other songs - and videos, which I hope you'll post - embody rock and roll for you.

[patphil]

1. I gave it some thought and decided to reach way back to my first interest in rock n roll.

I'm sure no one else is going to post this one...super oldie but goodie:

[highplainsdem]

12. A true classic!

[wnylib]

55. That one came to mind for me, too.

Along with this other oldie.

[patphil]

58. Quaint posted this song as #21 - Imagine $.10 songs on a jukebox!

I would have posted this one also, it's a classic.

[wnylib]

59. I don't have to imagine 10 cent songs

on a juke box. Just remember them, along with 10 cent phone calls on a pay phone.

[quaint]

63. Put another dime and play it again!

[gay texan]

2. here you go...

In my opinion, this is one of Page's finest moments. The solo starts at 1:45.

It's a short solo, but i'll be damned if it isnt everything. It's perfect.

[highplainsdem]

14. Love Led Zeppelin, always. And that is a great solo.

[gay texan]

3. another

[gay texan]

4. more

[highplainsdem]

15. One of the best tracks from a fantastic album. Thanks!

[gay texan]

5. oh yeah

[highplainsdem]

17. He could really rock.

[patphil]

44. I'm going to add a second song...could post a thousand.

One of my favorites from Woodstock:

[highplainsdem]

51. Great video! Love Alvin Lee:

https://democraticunderground.com/103474520

[likesmountains 52]

54. Exactly what I thought of!

[yonder]

6. Blue Cheer's Summertime Blues popped into my head first.

But would have to make way for some Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin and Ten Years After probably in that order.

And both the Stones and Mountain would be there too. Of course. I'm probably dating myself.

So many choices - impossible task.

[highplainsdem]

11. I could have posted a lot of others, too, and I love all those you mentioned, but since you

mentioned Blue Cheer first, and I haven't heard that song for a while...the band on German TV's Beat-Club in 1968:

[quaint]

20. Whoo, that got me dancin'

[yonder]

22. Thanks for digging that up. I thought they played it straight

but there's a bridge towards the end which begged for a modulation. Glad they left it alone.

[Elessar Zappa]

85. Almost like early heavy metal.

Thanks for the video!

[blm]

16. Agree on all,

I was trying to go with universal rock that symbolized the genre, overall.

Trust me, I would put Dazed and Confused above most anything. Me and Bobby McGee, too. But they are more bluesy rock. 😁

[yonder]

25. "embody the spirit of rock and roll"

I dont know that one or even a dozen or more would work. Its a big musical world out there.

[blm]

26. Yup.Just please don't put Sugar, Sugar on a list

with Rebel, Rebel - unless it’s name a song with one word repeated twice.

For instance, I’d place Cherry, Cherry on a rock list with Rebel, Rebel, but, not Sugar, Sugar. 😎
Cherry, Cherry was bad ass.

[yonder]

28. Ya got me laughing. Still am.

Sugar, Sugar, gawd. Someone made some bucks off that assault.

[highplainsdem]

73. There's actually a pretty good shuffle-dance video on YouTube using "Sugar, Sugar."

Which I will NOT post here, though I've posted some other shuffle-dance videos.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

7. I'll leave it to others to post ancient stuff

Here's my contribution, from this century, but sounds like it could be from the 1970's so there's that.

Careful, though ... it's widely rumored that just watching Alex Turner can make a person preggers.

[highplainsdem]

9. From an album the band said was influenced by hip-hop. Oh, well...

So Alex Turner is supposed to be hot?

It's a really good song, from a really good album. But I remember the '70s (well, with the exception of a few party nights). So this probably sounds less '70s to me than it would to someone born in 1986, like Alex Turner.

As for classic rock being "ancient" - if it's wild enough, spirited enough, it never gets old, let alone ancient.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

24. Alex Turner is supposed to be sexy, or at least that's the 'meme' if you will

He's a good looking guy, but not classically super-handsome. But he has a way about him, a stylish, sexy persona one might say. Bowie I'd say falls into a similar general category.

Since I brought up Bowie, he's one of the 70's artists I could see have done this song or something like it back then.

I listen to tons of ancient stuff (or at least did over the course of my life) ... I was just going leave the rest of the respondents to post the inevitable Zeppelin and Stones and Iggy Pop and Black Sabbath sorts of things.

You know me, I tend to post things that aren't already known by everyone who's ever turned on an FM radio

[highplainsdem]

29. Honestly, when you said you weren't going to post "ancient stuff," I was expecting you to

post the best song by the Struts, that great British band you introduced DU to last winter (and I'll post that below).

I'm glad you do post some music we're less famiiar with. That's always good.

I'm sure some people find Alex Turner sexy. Not sure about the Bowie comparison, but then I didn't find Bowie sexy till he was about 50 and finally relaxing, being himself rather than some character he'd created to hide behind. Loved his music, but didn't find him particularly sexy. Ditto for other favorite singers like Paul Rodgers and Robert Plant.

[IcyPeas]

61. there is something about him ...

[Hugh_Lebowski]

62. Good thing I have leftover Plan B (from the last time I watched this video)

Dude's a badass, no getting around it afaic.

And that friggin 12 string electric he's playing ... OMG that thing is gorgeous

[blm]

8. Radar Love. Ballroom Blitz. Suffragette City. Welcome to the Jungle.

Should I Stay or Should I Go. Jailhouse Rock. Johnny B Goode. Baby Wrote me a Letter (Joe Cocker/Leon Russell version).

[highplainsdem]

10. Love ALL of those.

[Ptah]

13. Black Betty

[highplainsdem]

18. Wow!

[blm]

19. Lolol. Good one

Never fails to crack me up

[quaint]

21. Joan

[highplainsdem]

23. Definitely!

[blm]

27. AbsoLUTELY.

My number one choice when I was dosed with acid at a party in San Francisco. That song got me through it.

Now I’m kicking myself for forgetting to list it.

[patphil]

53. Oh Yeah! I truly do Love Rock 'N Roll.

[highplainsdem]

86. Should include her cover of "Real Wild Child" too:

[quaint]

87. Oh yeah

[Mr.Bill]

30. Honestly, not really my favorite,

but absolutely iconic as a live performance (plus I was there):

[highplainsdem]

31. Amazing performance by a brilliant guitarist! Iconic, as you said. Very

sadly, he's now so ill he won't be able to play much longer.

Did you see this thread started by ProfessorGAC yesterday?

https://democraticunderground.com/103482926

Please see the replies there, too. He's doing a lot to help others.

[blm]

32. I was more a Once Bitten, Twice Shy

kinda girl. 😉

[Ptah]

33. Redbone - Come And Get Your Love

[highplainsdem]

34. Great clip, and a perfect example of why the Midnight Special was such a good show.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

35. Alright I'm going to break previously stated rule ... to post the winning song ;)

Convince me this Exile on Main Street track ain't arguably the most rock and roll song ever?

[highplainsdem]

36. LOVE that song! And some covers of the song, which I polled DUers on

a while back:

https://democraticunderground.com/10181605357

[Hugh_Lebowski]

37. Don't think there's any valid argument against this one either ...

[highplainsdem]

38. Nope. No argument against it.

[blm]

46. ✔️

[highplainsdem]

39. Been a long time...

[Hugh_Lebowski]

41. That one was too easy ;)

Tellin' me Robert wasn't a sexy mofo back then? Geez. I'm not even (all that) gay and I'd have had his babies back in those days.

[highplainsdem]

43. Really didn't think Robert was very sexy. I thought Jimmy Page was

sexier at times, at a certain age like whatever his age was in 1973, especially in the video below, especially from about 3:40 - 4:20:

[Hugh_Lebowski]

45. Maybe cause I like girls and you like boys ;) (nt)

[highplainsdem]

47. LOL!

I thought Robert seemed amusing. I thought Jimmy seemed dangerous, which was much more interesting.

But I didn't worship rock stars. For instance, I never had a poster of one, at any age. Never had any posters of celebrities (never really understood wanting posters). Have never asked anyone for an autograph.

But I admire talent. I admire great musicians. And those guys were.

And if they looked good, too, that was a bonus, but not the reason I loved their music.

[Ptah]

40. One more; Country Joe and the Fish

[highplainsdem]

48. Instant musical time machine. Thanks!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

42. Since you loved the Midnight Special (as did I), I proffer this absolute friggin GEM

I can't imagine anyone not having seen this by now, but ... I think it fits the bill.

This is one of those vids that sounds SO MUCH BETTER if you click thru to Youtube instead of listening in a DU window

[highplainsdem]

49. Thanks! What a fantastic live performance!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

50. I THOUGHT you'd have seen it, but if not, you'd love it ...

They really do kick some ass right there

[quaint]

52. Another ancient because I prefer this to both The Beatles and The Beach Boys versions.

[Mad_Dem_X]

56. As a Beatles fan, I have to agree

Chuck Berry's version is the best. I really don't like the Beach Boys' version.

[highplainsdem]

57. Always loved that. And as I said elsewhere here, I don't believe music like this

ever gets old, let alone ancient.

[Ohio Joe]

60. Talking Heads - Life During Wartime LIVE Los Angeles '83

[highplainsdem]

74. Thanks! What an amazing performance!

[Aristus]

64. It's not like this song shreds or anything.

It's just the kind of song I imagine Buddy Holly would sing if he was still around today. Or at least around in the late '70's.

[highplainsdem]

75. I agree. That's one of my favorite Cars songs.

[japple]

65. Otis Redding live in Paris 1966

[highplainsdem]

76. Love Otis. And that's a great set for that half-hour video!

[Ohiya]

66. Twist and Shout

[quaint]

71. Good, but for rockin'

?t=4

[kwolf68]

67. A bit under the radar but

[highplainsdem]

77. Garage rock. Hadn't thought of that hit in years, but I really enjoyed it.

From Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotic_Reaction

"Psychotic Reaction" was born out of an instrumental that Count Five played for six months before their manager Sol Ellner, Kenn Ellner's father, suggested that rhythm guitarist John "Sean" Byrne" write lyrics for it.[6] Inspiration came in early 1966 when Byrne was seated in a health education class during his freshmen year at San Jose City College in California. As his professor lectured about psychosis and neurosis, Byrne's friend Ron Lamb, seated next to him, leaned over and whispered, "You know what would be a great name for a song? Psychotic Reaction!"[7] Byrne later stated, "That was the missing punch-line for the song".[6] He finished the lyrics and presented them to the rest of the group at band practice that night.[6]

When the band played the song live a few weeks later at a dance at West Valley College, local KLIV disc jockey Brian Lord, emceeing the event, was very impressed. After a few pointed suggestions on rearranging the tune for a punchier sound,[7] Lord landed the group auditions with several record labels, most of whom turned them down flat.[8] Lord then put the band in touch with a couple of friends in Los Angeles, Hal Winn and Joe Hooven, who were about to start their own label, Double Shot Records. The band drove down to meet them at Decca Studios on Melrose Avenue. They were accompanied by Lord, who had the group begin the audition with some of their other songs before dramatically unveiling "Psychotic Reaction".[7]

"Psychotic Reaction" begins with a pentatonic fuzz guitar riff based around the note F♯; it is played by lead guitarist John "Mouse" Michalski.[9] Musicologist Michael Hicks noted the opening riff's similarities with that of Johnny Rivers' rendition of "The Seventh Son", released the previous year.[1] Author Steve Waksman wrote that the treble-laden quality of the fuzztone was resemblant of the Electric Prunes' "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" and, more fundamentally, the Rolling Stones' " (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".[9] Accompanying the riff is drummer Craig "Butch" Atkinson playing a rhythmic monad on the bass drum along with Kenn Ellner's warbling harmonica.[1][10] Also similar to "Satisfaction", the lead riff gives way to a less abrasive two-chord progression[11] – played by Byrne on a Danelectro Bellzouki[12] – oscillating between the I (tonic) and ♭VII (subtonic) chord[1][13] and giving the lyrical section a bouncy feel.[10]

The lyrics of "Psychotic Reaction" concern the common garage rock theme of frustrated male desire, bemoaning the loss of "the best girl that I've ever had" and proclaiming "I can't get your love, I can't get a fraction", which ultimately provokes the psychotic reaction of the song's title.[11][14] At the end of the first verse, Byrne shouts "And it feels like this",[11] which leads into a double time section – described by commentators as a "rave-up"[10][15][16] or "freak-out" section[10] – that serves as a musical analogy of the mental disturbance and disorientation of the singer's condition.[10][17] The rave-up has frequently led to comparisons between the song and the music of the Yardbirds,[18][19] particularly their 1965 cover of Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man",[3][10][20][21] although Byrne claimed that they had no influence on the song.[22] The chaotic and tension-filled episode features a pulsating bass line played by Roy Chaney and reverb-laced palm muted strums from Byrne's guitar, ascending in pitch for about forty-five seconds before a climactic drum fill brings the band back for a second and final verse that reiterates the singer's unsatisfied longings.[10][11] After the verse closes, the lead riff returns momentarily[11] before a copy of the rave-up, spliced onto the end of the track, plays during the fade out.[23]

[Texasgal]

68. Queen!

[highplainsdem]

78. Can't forget them! And that's a great TOTP video.

[William Seger]

69. Rock and roll? Here's some!

[highplainsdem]

79. Oh, yeah... Love Bob Seger.

[tinymontgomery]

70. Bob Dylan "Like a Rolling Stone" 1966 Manchester Free Trade Hall

[highplainsdem]

80. Some folkies just couldn't handle it when Dylan went electric.

I liked it.

[tinymontgomery]

82. I like his early music, still listen every so often

This version of "Like a Rolling" I think this is the best. When the guy yells Judas's and Dylan looks at the Band and say's play it "F**ing loud.

[jcgoldie]

72. Anything by Chuck Berry

[highplainsdem]

81. Yep. And a lot of the music inspired by him. Including this Dutch

song, the first Dutch-language rock'n'roll, which I ran across because of two videos where the old song was being covered by a member of Golden Earring (once solo, and one with a Dutch folksinger, with the guy who wrote and sang the original song joining them).

But this was the original. It was inspired by Little Richard as well as Chuck Berry. The title translates to "Get Off That Roof." The song's about a man yelling at his tightrope-dancer wife to get off the roof. He's mad because his food's cold, and he threatens to kick her out. Sexist as hell, but of course a lot of rock always has been.

[Tikki]

83. Tee Vee Repairman..."Bus Stop" (2022)

Tikki

[highplainsdem]

84. Thanks! Pretty good garage punk. I was googling him because

I'd never heard of him, but I couldn't find out much about him, other than that he's Australian and his real name is Ishka Edmeades, and he's used a variety of stage names and been in different bands.

[Tikki]

88. There are so many young musicians cranking away trying to find their place in this big music world.

There are lots of these young bands finding their way into defining their Rock and Roll.

I respect them

Ishka happens to be a very good and innovative songwriter and an amazing guitar player.

I could only find that "Bus Stop" video and even that was a bit muted and all.

Tee Vee Repairman does have a 4 song EP that streams on most music sites, Spotify, bandcamp, apple, YouTube etc. The EP is called Patterns.


Tikki

[highplainsdem]

89. Thanks for the info! He is really talented.