"Chestnuts" come in two flavors in my world: those songs that NEVER grow old and the ones that make you wanna kill things and break people if you EVER hear them again. "Proud Mary" is Number One With a Bullet in the latter category (we make a big-ass exception for Tina's version, which is better than CCR's by an order o' magnitude and never gets old in these parts), "Stairway to Heaven" is the runner-up, although anything by Bob Seger is a close second (living in Dee-troit for 11 years will do that to ya). Ya want more? OK... Carole King's/James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend." The Doobie Bros' "Listen to the Music." Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird." The Hollies' "Long Cool Woman In a Black Dress." And you KNOW there may be more... in fact there ARE many more but let's not dwell. Old-time Top 40 radio and the current "Classic Rock" genre o' FM radio spoiled a lot o' tunes for me, simply because they were (and are, still) well and truly over-played. I liked most of the songs in that "never wanna hear 'em again" category when they were first released but after the 1,342nd playing? No. Never again, thank ya.
As for the first category... there isn't a single Beatles (not even "I Wanna Hold Your Hand") or Stones ("Brown Sugar," anyone?) tune that's been overplayed in my book. The same goes for Van Morrison, although "Brown-eyed Girl" seems to be the only tune by Van in constant rotation. And this guy, of course:
THAT, Gentle Reader, is the rock 'n' roll anthem to end all anthems. We never get tired of it and I sometimes wonder why that is.
One more thing. There's a third category o' chestnuts, that bein' "we hated 'em then and we hate 'em now" category. Two "artists" come immediately to mind: Jim Croce and Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.. Everything they ever did was pure schlock and cringe-worthy on the very first hearing. YMMV, of course.
As for the first category... there isn't a single Beatles (not even "I Wanna Hold Your Hand") or Stones ("Brown Sugar," anyone?) tune that's been overplayed in my book. The same goes for Van Morrison, although "Brown-eyed Girl" seems to be the only tune by Van in constant rotation. And this guy, of course:
THAT, Gentle Reader, is the rock 'n' roll anthem to end all anthems. We never get tired of it and I sometimes wonder why that is.
One more thing. There's a third category o' chestnuts, that bein' "we hated 'em then and we hate 'em now" category. Two "artists" come immediately to mind: Jim Croce and Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.. Everything they ever did was pure schlock and cringe-worthy on the very first hearing. YMMV, of course.
When you hear Clapton do that one in concert, well, it just doesn't get ANY better than that. Clapton rules.
ReplyDeleteRemember the "Clapton Is God" graffiti when we were in London?
DeleteUh huh... turns out it was right...
DeleteFunny you should mention Jim Croce and John Denver. I was in a mood today, so I put on Pandora and set it to John Denver genre. Being of a slightly younger age, John Denver, Jim Croce, James Taylor were all popular. Kris will stand with me on this one. But I also got some Joni Mitchell and stuff you would like. Go figure. Sometimes ya wanna rock, and sometimes not. Sometimes I want Frank Sinatra.
ReplyDeleteYou've been with me long enough to remember I was a Sensitive Seventies kinda guy, so I don't have a problem with the genre. My problem is with those two twits I named. ;-)
DeleteAnd I have a Sinatra station on Pandora, too. ;-)
All subjective, of course, so I won't start any arguments (even though I, metal guy that I am, have to admit to a soft spot for Croce.) You're dead on with the classic rock radio thoughts. When the format first hit, back in the 70's, I loved it. Now? Not so much. The same songs, over and over and over, until you feel like reaching into your speakers and strangling the programming director. The largest pity in my life right now (small first-world problems division) is that my CD player conked out in Roddy The Wondercar about a month ago. Being out of work, I can't really afford to repair or replace, so I've been stuck with radio... Ugh. I mostly ride in silence because it's better than being in a state of rage when the rotation is Zeppelin - Boston - Cars - Phil Collins - Police.
ReplyDeleteSuldog; You forgot to mention fargin' Aerosmith. Every other song on the radio is Sweetemotiondudelookslikealadyrockthisway.
Delete@Jim: We're of the same mind. As for the radio in the car... I'm glad I have XM; they are what radio USED to be.
Delete@Darryl: I'll second that.
Oh, and my all-time stick-a-screwdriver-in-my-ear-and-pop-my-eardrums-please song is "Mockingbird" by James Taylor and Carly Simon.
ReplyDeleteMine is that miserable fucking Gloria Gaynor song: "I Will Survive." AIIIEEE!
DeleteSuldog -- you must be listening to WZLX. The play list is getting shorter, more predictable, and very repetitive. More and more, I'm using my phone as a music source when in the car. Listening to a lot of Richard and Linda Thompson currently.
DeleteMy personal "Please stop playing it, I'll tell you what you want to know" is anything by Journey, with Steve Miller running a close second.
I could never hear enough of these songs (no particular order, a few are not "chestnuts" in the sense that they never were radio hits).
Maybelline
Jumping Jack Flash
What's Going On
In My Life
Both Sides Now (2000 version, not the early '70s one)
Keep Your Distance (Richard Thompson on Rumor & Sigh)
Waterloo Sunset
Won't Get Fooled Again
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (actually anything by Bob, YMMV)
Mr. Bad Example
Daniel and the Sacred Harp (The Band on Stage Fright)
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (Harry Nilson on ... Schmillson in the Night)
J. R. Burns
@ J.R.: Dang, JR... I could have written that list. Have you been peekin' into my collection? I have nearly everything Richard and Linda Thompson ever recorded and most of Richard's solo albums, as well. He's HIGHLY under-rated.
DeleteI agree with you on Journey and Steve Miller, too. "Great Minds," and all that.
But the best part of Layla is brought to you by the Allman Bros.
ReplyDeleteDuane was the best part of the whole ALBUM. (Or is that what you meant?)
Delete