Who Wants Some Timeless Classics?
Well, Pete Townsend is soaring high as he rocks one of music’s greatest anthems of all time!
It’s all part of my “Music A – Z” series, where I offer 7 great songs that all begin with the letter “W”! Let’s begin with a legendary duo who recently crashed and burned…
7 – “Wait For Me” by Daryl Hall & John Oates
Here’s the best-selling duo of the 80’s – Daryl Hall & John Oates – massive hits like “Sara Smile”, “She’s Gone”, “Maneater” and so many more: they ultimately had an acrimonious breakup, so let’s remember them for one of their most beautiful ballads.
“Wait For Me” is from their album “X-Static”, an album that celebrated the radio, and you can see how by watching this terrific music video for “Wait For Me”, which begins with someone fiddling with the dial on a radio:
The album “X-Static” wasn’t one of their biggest hits, but that song is timeless…and here are some more of their lesser-known songs that are still great to hear!
Next up is a music video that has been seen over 900-MILLION times!
Guess who’s back?
6 – “Without Me” by Eminem
This is a great song – profane and wise, filled with great rhythms and lyrics about life with – well, Eminem!
The lyrics explore the difficulty Eminem had breaking away from his “Slim Shady” character:
“Guess who’s back, back again
Shady’s back, tell a friend
Guess who’s back, guess who’s back?
Guess who’s back, guess who’s back?
Guess who’s back, guess who’s back?
Guess who’s back?
I’ve created a monster, ’cause nobody wants to see Marshall no more
They want Shady, I’m chopped liver
Well if you want Shady, then this is what I’ll give ya
A little bit of weed mixed with some hard liquor
Some vodka that will jump start my heart quicker
Then a shot when I get shocked at the hospital
By the doctor when I’m not cooperating
When I’m rocking the table while he’s operating “Hey”!”
Here’s the profanely entertaining music video:
That’s a classic song to be sure – and so is this one, with the immediately mesmerizing lyrics:
“One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small…and the ones that mother gives you don’t do anything at all…”
5 – “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
They were one of the great counter-culture bands of the 60’s, and lead Singer Grace Slick was a mesmerizing singer…here’s their great performance from the Smothers Brothers Show in 1967:
Fighting The Man!
The Smothers Brothers were very controversial at the time she showed that performance – it was way too raw for CBS in the late 60’s, and so the network tried to censor them! It’s a fascinating story, especially when George Harrison came on the show to encourage to keep fighting! Here is the complete story of that epic battle, with a great Beatles video as well:
Speaking of Harrison, he may have been the “Quiet” Beatle, but he wrote one of music’s most enduring hits:
4 – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by George Harrison
It wasn’t released a a single from the “White Album”, but this George Harrison classic is timeless.
Here’s a great video with the song, covered with lots of shot of the band throughout their storied career:
I shared this other video as well, when an all-star tribute to Harrison included the song – with a SEARING guitar solo by Prince near the end – this is unbelievable! See it here:
Since we are talking Prince and his musical wizardry, here is one of his many timeless classics:
3 – “When Doves Cry” by Prince
From his greatest album of all time, “Purple Rain”, came this incredible hit…enjoy!
It’s always so difficult to lose the legends, and the music world mourned the loss of Prince as well as this musical king:
2 – “We Will Rock You” by Queen
Freddie Mercury and Queen had such a huge impact on music: from the mesmerizing “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “Radio GaGa” and “We aRe The Champions”, they were an incredible live band with unique sound…and this was the short but powerful “clap along” song that everyone knows…enjoy:
What a band!
See more of their hits here:
Finally, you can look at the greatest entertainers today, but few can match this:
1 – “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who
The raucous rock ‘n’ roll of The Who has endured for decades, and for me, this is perhaps the greatest single rock song of all time:
“I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
No, no!”
Pete Townsend wrote the song, a epic statement about youth, rebellion, revolution and acceptance – eight minutes of rage, anger and energy that reaches a crescendo with what is, without a doubt, the greatest howl in rock history:
“Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
It’s almost impossible to accurately capture the power of this guttural primal scream that Roger Daltry performs in this song:
The song has great musicianship, two different solo bridges, changes in tempo, and of course, THAT SCREAM.
What follows that scream is a summation that is cutting – and iconic in rock history – as these lyrics end the song on a pessimistically accurate note:
“Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss…”
Anger, rage – and acceptance that nothing will ever really change…so might as well just “howl into the wind”…
Pete Townsend is famous for his powerful guitar work – and circular assault on the instrument – throughout the song – but the lyrics are just so incredibly powerful – match by the energy of the entire band – here is an amazing performance of the song live from 1977 – one of the greatest live rock songs of all:
The band endures 50 years on – here is a look at their incredible career, with lots of videos:
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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
How can I pick a favorite? The Who, Jefferson Airplane, and the Beatles are the best.
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wild and wooly W’s John!! wow!!
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An interesting mix for ‘W’, John. I remember how haunting ‘White Rabbit’ sounded at the time. Grace sung it so well.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, in the film “The Cable Guy”, Jim Carrey does a surreal version as well that made it a hit for a new generation! Thanks for sharing!
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A great selection, John. Well played 👍
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Thank you for commenting, much appreciated
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Great stuff….mostly from the days of real rock and roll……well done chuq
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Thanks for reading!
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Always a pleasure chuq
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Some great songs featured here, John. I really like Purple Rain and White Rabbit
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Thank you Robbie!
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