Showing posts with label Eric Clapton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Clapton. Show all posts

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Dave's Faves: My Top 100 Compilations

Dave’s Faves:

My Top 100 Compilations

These are my personal favorite compilations. To clarify, I define a compilation as a hits-focused anthology comprised of the equivalent of 1 or 2 discs of predominantly studio material by one recording act. One of the challenges in compiling this list is how acts often have multiple compilations. Because of that, I opted to only feature one compilation per artist. I also developed a formula to weigh the compilations against each other so the “winner” wouldn’t automatically be the one with the most songs but the one with the best selection of songs. In essence, I rated the albums on a pound-for-pound basis, or the average points in my personal Database of all the songs on the collection. In parentheses after the name of the collection I indicate the years covered by the compilation followed by r. and another date which indicates the year of its release.

Check out other best-of album lists by individuals/critics here.

1. The Beatles 1 (1962-70, r. 2000)
2. Eric Clapton The Cream of Clapton (1966-81, r. 1995)
3. The Rolling Stones Forty Licks (1964-2002, r. 2002)
4. Eagles Very Best of (1971-1979, r. 1994)
5. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Greatest Hits (1973-2007, r. 2009)
6. Styx Come Sail Away: The Styx Anthology (1972-2003, r. 2004)
7. Olivia Newton-John Magic: The Best of (1973-1990, r. 2001)
8. John Mellencamp Words & Music: Greatest Hits (1978-2004, r. 2004)
9. Elvis Presley 30 #1 Hits (1956-77, r. 2002)
10. David Bowie Changesbowie (1969-1990, r. 1990)

11. Elton John Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits (compilation: 1970-2006, r. 2007)
12. The Doors Best of the Doors (1966-71, r. 1987)
13. Billy Joel The Essential (1973-2001, r. 2001)
14. The Who Who’s Better Who’s Best (1964-81, r. 1988)
15. U2 Best of 1980-1990 (1980-89, r. 1998)
16. Pink Floyd Foot in the Door: The Best of (1967-1994, r. 2011)
17. Bob Dylan The Essential (1962-99, r. 2000)
18. Marillion Best of Both Worlds (1982-96, r. 1997)
19. Rush The Spirit of Radio: The Greatest Hits (1974-87, r. 2003)
20. Prince Very Best of (1979-92, r. 2001)

21. Tears for Fears Rule the World: The Greatest Hits (1982-2017, r. 2017)
22. Journey Greatest Hits (1977-87, r. 1988)
23. Genesis Turn It on Again: The Hits (1973-97, r. 1999)
24. Queen Greatest Hits (aka “We Will Rock You”) (1973-81, r. 1981)
25. The Beach Boys Very Best of (1962-88, r. 2001)
26. Alan Parsons The Definitive Collection (1976-93, r. 1997)
27. The Cars Complete Greatest Hits (1978-87, r. 2002)
28. The Police Every Breath You Take – The Classics (1978-86, r. 1995)
29. Paul Simon/Simon & Garfunkel The Ultimate Collection (1965-2002, r. 2015)
30. Sheryl Crow Very Best of (UK version, 1993-2003, r. 2003)

31. Crowded House Recurring Dream: The Very Best of (1986-96, r. 1996)
32. Crosby, Stills & Nash Greatest Hits (1969-82, r. 2005)
33. Stevie Wonder The Definitive Collection (1962-98, r. 2002)
34. Sting Fields of Gold – The Best of (1985-94, r. 1994)
35. John Lennon Lennon Legend: The Very Best of (1969-80, r. 1997)
36. REO Speedwagon The Hits (1976-88, r. 1988)
37. Paul McCartney All the Best! (1970-87, r. 1987)
38. Supertramp Classics (1974-85, r. 1987)
39. Aerosmith O Yeah! The Ultimate Hits (1973-2002, r. 2002)
40. Madonna The Immaculate Collection (1983-90, r. 1990)

41. Kevin Gilbert Bolts (archives: 1984-96, r. 2006)
42. Creedence Clearwater Revival Chronicle: Their 20 Greatest Hits (1968-72, r. 1976)
43. Michael Jackson HIStory/Greatest Hits (1979-95, r. 1995)
44. Lionel Richie/Commodores Back to Front (1977-92, r. 1992)
45. The Jimi Hendrix Experience The Ultimate Experience (1966-70, r. 1992)
46. Pearl Jam Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits (1991-2003, r. 2004)
47. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits (1976-93, r. 1993)
48. Chicago Only the Beginning: Very Best of (1969-95, r. 2002)
49. ZZ Top The Baddest of (1973-2003, r. 2014)
50. Squeeze Greatest Hits (1978-89, r. 2001)

51. Little River Band Greatest Hits (1975-82, r. 1982)
52. Peter Gabriel Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats (1977-89, r. 1990)
53. Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits (1975-88, r. 1988)
54. Foreigner Records (1976-81, r. 1982)
55. Bob Seger Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets (1968-2011, r. 2011)
56. Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits (1987-94, r. 2004)
57. The Doobie Brothers Greatest Hits (1971-91, r. 2001)
58. Phil Collins Hits (1981-98, r. 1998)
59. Van Halen Best of Both Worlds (1977-2004, r. 2004)
60. Split Enz History Never Repeats: The Best of (US version, 1976-84, r. 1987)

61. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (1973-83, r. 1984)
62. Shawn Colvin Polaroids: A Greatest Hits Collection (1989-2004, r. 2004)
63. R.E.M. Eponymous (1981-87, r. 1988)
64. Rick Springfield Greatest Hits (1981-88, r. 1999)
65. Def Leppard Vault: Greatest Hits (1980-95, r. 1995)
66. Led Zeppelin Mothership (1969-79, r. 2007)
67. Eurythmics Greatest Hits (1982-89, r. 1991)
68. Kenny Rogers 20 Greatest Hits (1969-83, r. 1983)
69. Kansas Best of (1974-84, r. 1984)
70. Simple Minds Glittering Prize 81/92 (1981-91, r. 1992)

71. Yes Yes Singles (1971-83, r. 2023)
72. Linda Ronstadt Very Best of (1970-93, r. 2002)
73. Foo Fighters The Essential (1995-2021, r. 2022)
74. Lynyrd Skynyrd All Time Greatest Hits (1972-77, r. 2000)
75. Alabama Greatest Hits (1980-86, r. 1986)
76. Boston Greatest Hits (1976-97, r. 1997)
77. Four Tops 19 Greatest Hits: Compact Command Performances (1964-72, r. 1984)
78. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (1955-64, r. 1982)
79. Lyle Lovett Here I Am: The Lyle Lovett Collection (1986-91, r. 1991)
80. Van Morrison Still on Top: The Greatest Hits (US version, 1965-2005, r. 2007)

81. The Supremes 20 Greatest Hits: Compact Command Performances (1963-71, r. 1983)
82. Steely Dan A Decade of Steely Dan (1972-80, r. 1985)
83. Neil Diamond All-Time Greatest Hits (1966-80, r. 2014)
84. Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul: The Very Best of (1967-74, r. 1994)
85. Buddy Holly 20 Golden Greats (1956-58, r. 1978)
86. Jethro Tull Original Masters (1966-77, r. 1985)
87. Berlin Best of (1979-88, r. 1988)
88. Mike + the Mechanics The Singles 1985-2014 (1985-2014, r. 2014)
89. Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music More Than This: The Best of (1972-94, r. 1995)
90. Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits (1999-2005, r. 2005)

91. Heart These Dreams: Greatest Hits (1975-93, r. 1997)
92. Red Hot Chili Peppers Road Trippin’ Through Time (1991-2006, r. 2011)
93. Elvis Costello Best of (1977-84, r. 1985)
94. Alanis Morissette The Collection (1995-2005, r. 2005)
95. The Smiths Louder Than Bombs (1983-87, r. 1987)
96. Del Amitri Hatful of Rain: The Best of (1989-98, r. 1998)
97. Duran Duran Greatest (1980-97, r. 1998)
98. Tina Turner Tina! (1966-2008, r. 2008)
99. aha Headlines and Deadlines (1985-91, r. 1991)
100. Bryan Adams So Far So Good (1983-93, r. 1993)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 10/4/2025

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, May 17, 2024

The Top 50 Live Albums of All Time

Live Albums:

The Top 50

On March 9, 2010, I posted a list of the top 20 live albums of all time on the DMDB Facebook page. I expanded the list to a top 50 a and have since updated it several times on the DMDB blog. The list was compiled by aggregating 38 lists (see resources at bottom of page) focused specifically on the best live albums of all time.

Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here.

1. James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (1962)
2. The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East (live, 1971)
3. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968)
4. Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York (recorded live 1993, released 1994)
5. Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (1975)
6. Eric Clapton Unplugged (1992)
7. The Who Live at Leeds (1970)
8. The MC5 Kick Out the Jams (1968)
9. B.B. King Live at the Regal (1964)
10. Grateful Dead Live/Dead (1969)

11. Johnny Cash At San Quentin (1969)
12. U2 Rattle and Hum (studio/live, 1988)
13. Bob Marley Live! (At the Lyceum) (1975)
14. Kiss Alive! (1975)
15. The Rolling Stones Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out (1969)
16. Judy Garland Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961)
17. Deep Purple Made in Japan (1972)
18. Talking Heads Stop Making Sense (live soundtrack, recorded 1983, released 1984)
19. Cheap Trick At Budokan (1978)
20. Bob Dylan The Royal Albert Hall Concert (The Bootleg Series Volume 4) (1966)

21. U2 Under a Blood Red Sky (1983)
22. Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys/Live at Fillmore East (1970)
23. Jackson Browne Running on Empty (1977)
24. Muddy Waters At Newport (1960)
25. Bruce Springsteen Live 1975/1985 (live box: 1975-85, released 1986)
26. Benny Goodman The Complete Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert (1938)
27. Cream Wheels of Fire (live/studio, 1968)
28. Motorhead No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (1981)
29. Eagles Hell Freezes Over (live/studio, 1994)
30. Garth Brooks Double Live (1998)

31. various artists Woodstock (1969)
32. The Band The Last Waltz (1976)
33. Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous (1977)
34. Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club (1963)
35. Erroll Garner Concert by the Sea (1955)
36. Duke Ellington At Newport (1956)
37. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 4 Way Street (1970)
38. Quicksilver Messenger Service Happy Trails (1969)
39. Little Feat Waiting for Columbus (1978)
40. Jerry Lee Lewis Live at the Star Club, Hamburg (1964)

41. Led Zeppelin How the West Was Won (recorded 1972, released 2003)
42. James Brown Sex Machine (1970)
43. Bill Evans Trio Waltz for Debby (1961)
44. Neil Young Live Rust (1979)
45. Bill Evans Trio Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961)
46. Luciano Pavarotti/Placido Domingo/Jose Carreras The Three Tenors in Concert/Mehta (1990)
47. Simon & Garfunkel The Concert in Central Park (1981)
48. Van Morrison It’s Too Late to Stop Now (1974)
49. The Quintet (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, & Max Roach) Jazz at Massey Hall (1953)
50. George Harrison et al The Concert for Bangladesh (1971)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 3/18/2012; last updated 5/17/2024.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Book: Songs That Made a Mark

Songs That Made a Mark:

100 of Mark Whitaker’s Favorites

For Christmas 2022, I told my brother I’d make a book – just for him – of 100 of his favorite songs. We worked together to come up with the list offered here. Songs are not ranked; they are listed alphabetically by the recording acts. While the book is not available for purchase, all the songs are listed here with links to dedicated Dave’s Music Database pages, each with information about the song’s chart, sales, and airplay statistics as well as links to awards won by the songs, videos, and lyrics.

Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations.

Spotify Playlist:

You can listen to all these songs via the Spotify playlist Songs That Made a Mark.

1. Ace “How Long” (1974)
2. Adele “Skyfall” (2012)
3. Aerosmith “Janie’s Got a Gun” (1989)
4. Alabama “Mountain Music” (1982)
5. Animal Logic “I’m Sorry Baby (I Want You in My Life)” (1989)
6. Asia “Heat of the Moment” (1982)
7. Asia “Only Time Will Tell” (1982)
8. Asia “Don’t Cry” (1983)
9. The Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (1968)
10. Pat Benatar “Shadows of the Night” (1982)

11. Clint Black “Killin’ Time” (1989)
12. David Bowie “Changes” (1971)
13. Boyz II Men “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” (1991)
14. Garth Brooks “> Unanswered Prayers” (1990)
15. Kate Bush “This Woman’s Work” (1988)
16. Johnny Cash “Hurt” (2002)
17. Harry Chapin “Cat’s in the Cradle” (1974)
18. Chic “Le Freak” (1978)
19. Chicago “If You Leave Me Now” (1976)
20. Eric Clapton “Wonderful Tonight” (1977)

21. Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (1992)
22. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
23. Commodores “Three Times a Lady” (1978)
24. Robert Cray “Smoking Gun” (1986)
25. Bing Crosby with David Bowie “Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy” (1977)
26. Crowded House “Don’t Dream It’s Over” (1986)
27. Crowded House “Better Be Home Soon” (1988)
28. Charlie Daniels Band “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (1979)
29. Def Leppard “Photograph” (1983)
30. Depeche Mode “Somebody” (1984)

31. Dennis DeYoung “Desert Moon” (1984)
32. Eagles “Take It Easy” (1972)
33. Eagles “Desperado” (1973)
34. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981)
35. Peter Gabriel “Biko” (1980)
36. Genesis “Mama” (1983)
37. Hootie & the Blowfish “Only Wanna Be with You” (1995)
38. Billy Joel “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” (1977)
39. Billy Joel “The Stranger” (1977)
40. Billy Joel with Ray Charles “Baby Grand” (1986)

41. Elton John “Candle in the Wind” (1973) / “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” (1997)
42. Journey “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (1983)
43. Journey “Faithfully” (1983)
44. Journey “Ask the Lonely” (1983)
45. Kansas “Carry on Wayward Son” (1976)
46. Kansas “Dust in the Wind” (1977)
47. Jonny Lang “Lie to Me” (1997)
48. Led Zeppelin “The Battle of Evermore” (1971)
49. John Lennon “Imagine” (1971)
50. Huey Lewis & the News “Naturally” (1986)

51. Linkin Park “In the End” (2000)
52. Little River Band “Lonesome Loser” (1979)
53. Nick Lowe “Cruel to Be Kind” (1979)
54. Manfred Mann’s Earth Band “Blinded by the Light” (1976)
55. Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder “Ebony and Ivory” (1982)
56. John Cougar Mellencamp “Rain on the Scarecrow” (1985)
57. Metallica “One” (1989)
58. Metallica “Nothing Else Matters” (1992)
59. Mike + the Mechanics “Silent Running” (1985)
60. Mike + the Mechanics “The Living Years” (1988)

61. Mr. Mister “Broken Wings” (1985)
62. Night Ranger “Four in the Morning” (1985)
63. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2003)
64. The Alan Parsons Project “Old and Wise” (1982)
65. The Alan Parsons Project “Let’s Talk About Me” (1985)
66. Dolly Parton “Jolene” (1973)
67. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1991)
68. Steve Perry “Oh Sherrie” (1984)
69. The Police “Roxanne” (1978)
70. The Police “Message in a Bottle” (1979)

71. Elvis Presley “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (1961)
72. Prince & the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984)
73. Queen “We Will Rock You” / “We Are the Champions” (1977)
74. Queensrÿche “Empire” (1990)
75. Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” (1991)
76. The Rainmakers “Downstream” (1986)
77. Bonnie Raitt “Nick of Time” (1989)
78. R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (1987)
79. REO Speedwagon “Can’t Fight This Feeling” (1984)
80. Lionel Richie “Hello” (1984)

81. Lionel Richie “Say You Say Me” (1985)
82. Kenny Rogers “Coward of the County” (1979)
83. Rush “Free Will” (1980)
84. Kenny Wayne Shepherd “Blue on Black” (1998)
85. Rick Springfield “Affair of the Heart” (1983)
86. Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” (1984)
87. Squeeze “Tempted” (1981)
88. Styx “Come Sail Away” (1977)
89. Styx “Renegade” (1978)
90. Tears for Fears “Mad World” (1982) / Michael Andrews & Gary Jules “Mad World” (2002)

91. Toto “Africa” (1982)
92. Toto “Stranger in Town” (1984)
93. Tina Turner “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” (1985)
94. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
95. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983)
96. U2 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (1987)
97. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble “The Sky Is Crying” (1985)
98. Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear “Silent Movies” (2015)
99. Stevie Wonder “Superstition” (1972)
100. Stevie Wonder “Isn’t She Lovely” (1977)

Resources/Related Links:

First posted 12/26/2022; last updated 1/19/2023.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

The Top 100 Guitarists of All Time

Guitarists:

Top 100

This list first surfaced on 5/29/10 in a response to a voter-based list released by Gibson.com. Barely two weeks went by when an update became necessary thanks to an LA Times Magazine article listing the 50 greatest guitarists of all time. The DMDB’s revised list of best guitarists was posted on the DMDB Facebook page.

In November 2011, Rolling Stone posted a new list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. As such, this post has been revised yet again to reflect the inclusion of that list. 34 lists have been compiled to create this aggregate list.

Click on names to see their entries in the Dave’s Music Database Music Makers Encyclopedia. The highlights – selected by browsing best-guitar-solo lists – link to videos.

See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Categories.

1. Jimi Hendrix Highlight: “Machine Gun”
2. Jimmy Page Highlight: “Stairway to Heaven” (with Led Zeppelin)
3. Eric Clapton Highlight: “Crossroads” (with Cream)
4. Stevie Ray Vaughan Highlight: “Texas Flood”
5. Eddie Van Halen Highlight: “Eruption” (with Van Halen)
6. B.B. King Highlight: “The Thrill Is Gone”
7. Jeff Beck Highlight: “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers”
8. Angus Young Highlight: “You Shook Me All Night Long” (with AC/DC)
9. Chuck Berry Highlight: “Johnny B. Goode”
10. Duane Allman Highlight: “Dreams” (with the Allman Brothers Band)

11. Steve Vai Highlight: “For the Love of God”
12. David Gilmour Highlight: “Comfortably Numb” (with Pink Floyd)
13. Keith Richards Highlight: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (with the Rolling Stones)
14. Ritchie Blackmore Highlight: “Highway Star” (with Deep Purple)
15. Joe Satriani Highlight: “Surfing with the Alien”
16. Slash Highlight: “November Rain” (with Guns N’ Roses)
17. Randy Rhoads Highlight: “Crazy Train” (with Ozzy Osbourne)
18. Yngwie Malmsteen Highlight: “Black Star”
19. Tony Iommi Highlight: “War Pigs” (with Black Sabbath)
20. George Harrison Highlight: “And Your Bird Can Sing” (with The Beatles)

21. Pete Townshend Highlight: “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (with the Who)
22. Steve Cropper
23. Santana Highlight: “Europa”
24. Frank Zappa Highlight: “Zoot Allures”
25. Brian May Highlight: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (with Queen)
26. Robert Johnson
27. Mark Knopfler Highlight: “Sultans of Swing” (with Dire Straits)
28. Neil Young Highlight: “Cortez the Killer”
29. Kirk Hammett Highlight: “One” (with Metallica)
30. Les Paul

31. Tom Morello Highlight: “Bulls on Parade” (with Rage Against the Machine)
32. The Edge
33. John Frusciante Highlight: “I Could Have Lied” (with Red Hot Chili Peppers)
34. Robert Fripp Highlight: “21st Century Schizoid Man” (with King Crimson)
35. John McLaughlin Highlight: “Dream” (with Mahavishnu Orchestra)
36. Jerry Garcia Highlight: “Truckin’” (with the Grateful Dead)
37. Ry Cooder
38. Chet Atkins
39. Prince
40. John Petrucci Highlight: “Under a Glass Moon” (with Dream Theater)

41. Alex Lifeson Highlight: “Working Man” (with Rush)
42. Steve Morse Highlight: “Punk Sandwich” (with Dixie Dregs)
43. Buddy Guy
44. Peter Green
45. Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott Highlight: “Floods” (with Pantera)
46. Kurt Cobain Highlight: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (with Nirvana)
47. Rory Gallagher
48. Richard Thompson
49. Bo Diddley
50. Django Reinhardt

51. Eric Johnson Highlight: “Cliffs of Dover”
52. Steve Howe Highlight: “Starship Trooper” (with Yes)
53. Scotty Moore
54. Joe Perry Highlight: “Walk This Way” (with Aerosmith)
55. Mick Taylor
56. Billy Gibbons Highlight: “Sharp Dressed Man” (with ZZ Top)
57. Buckethead Highlight: “Nottingham Lace”
58. Albert King
59. Gary Moore Highlight: “Still in Love with You” (with Thin Lizzy)
60. Freddie King

61. Phil Keaggy
62. Jack White
63. James Burton
64. T-Bone Walker
65. Mike Bloomfield
66. Marty Friedman Highlight: “Tornado of Souls (with Megadeth)
67. Wes Montgomery
68. Mick Ronson Highlight: “Moonage Daydream” (with David Bowie)
69. Eddie Hazel Highlight: “Maggot Brain” (with Funkadelic)
70. Michael Schenker Highlight: “Rock Bottom” (with UFO)

71. Dickey Betts Highlight: “Jessica” (with the Allman Brothers Band)
72. Jonny Greenwood Highlight: “Paranoid Android” (with Radiohead)
73. Charlie Christian Highlight: “Solo Flight” (with Benny Goodman)
74. Zakk Wylde Highlight: “No More Tears” (with Ozzy Osbourne)
75. Allan Holdsworth Highlight: “Devil take the Hindmost”
76. Joey Ramone
77. John Fahey
78. Link Wray
79. Johnny Marr
80. Warren Haynes

81. Johnny Winter Highlight: “Highway 61 Revisited”
82. Dick Dale Highlight: “Miserlou” (Dick Dale & the Del-Tones)
83. Glenn Tipton Highlight: “Beyond the Realms of Death” (with Judas Priest)
84. Derek Trucks
85. Roy Buchanan
86. Neal Schon Highlight: “Any Way You Want It” (with Journey)
87. Humbert Sumlin
88. Paul Gilbert Highlight: “Price You Gotta Pay” (with Mr. Big)
89. Adrian Smith Highlight: “Powerslave” (with Iron Maiden)
90. Ace Frehley Highlight: “Shock Me” (with Kiss)

91. Tom Verlaine
92. Leslie West
93. Robin Trower Highlight: “Bridge of Sighs”
94. Mike McCready Highlight: “Alive” (with Pearl Jam)
95. Dave Davies Highlight: “You Really Got Me” (with The Kinks)
96. Danny Gatton
97. Andres Segovia
98. Richie Sambora
99. Ron Asheton
100. Dave Murray Highlight: “2 Minutes to Midnight” (with Iron Maiden)

Resources/Related Links:

  • Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Categories

  • About.com’s 100 Greatest Guitar Solos

  • AssociatedContent.com Top 10 Greatest Guitarists of All Time by Dennis Lindsay (12/29/08)

  • BBC News Zeppelin voted ‘ideal supergroup’ (7/10/05)

    Roughly 3500 music fans were polled at Planet Rock Radio for best singer, guitarist, bassist, and drummer. The top 10 of each are listed.

  • Buzzle.com Greatest Guitar Players. By Batul Nafisa Baxamusa. (4/13/10)

    Unranked list of 10 with commentaries. Another 15 with no commentary. Looks like a webzine.

  • Buzzle.com Famous Jazz and Rock Guitarists. By Madhura P. (date?)

    Commentary on only 5 guitarists (although another 11 are listed) and all from the rock genre, not jazz.

  • Digital Dream Door 100 Greatest Rock Guitarists. Edited by Andreas Haukenes, Jeffrey P., George F., and gminer. (5/11/10)

    List has no commentaries, but links to Nutsie.com where you can hear songs.

  • Digital Dream Door 100 Greatest Guitarists (All Genres). Edited by George. (2/13/08)

    This is an all-genre list with no commentaries, but links to Nutsie.com where you can hear songs. List actually includes 200 guitarists.

  • Digital Dream Door’s 100 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos edited by Eric/Lew (5/15/05)

  • EduBook.com The Greatest Guitarists of All Time. By Phil Dotree. (10/24/09)

    Top 5 ranked list with commentaries.

  • Gibson.com Top 50 Guitarists of All Time. By various writers. (5/28/10)

    List was compiled by votes over a month’s time. The end result is a ranked list with multiple ties and commentaries written by various writers. As the site indicates, votes came from the Gibson.com readers’ poll as well as Paolo Bassotti, Dave Hunter, Jeff Cease (Black Crowes), James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges), Steve Mazur (Our Lady Peace), Martin Belmont (Graham Parker & The Rumour), and writers Ellen Barnes, Sean Dooley, Ted Drozdowski, Russell Hall, Arlen Roth, Andrew Vaughan, Aidin Vaziri, Bryan Wawzenek, Michael Wright.

  • Guitar World 30 on 30: The Greatest Guitarists Picked by the Greatest Guitarists. By multiple authors. (3/10)

    In celebration of their 30th anniversary, Guitar World asked 30 different guitarists to comment on a favorite guitarist of theirs.

  • LA Times‘s The 50 Greatest Guitarists Ever (6/10)

    Unranked list with no commentary but links to videos.

  • Mojo‘s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time (6/96)

    Link is for a ranked list which includes a recommended song or album and indicates the main guitar used by the guitarist.

  • MusicBanter.com 200 Greatest Guitarists in Rock. By Boo Boo. (6/05)

    List only. No commentary. Site looks like a fan-based billboard.

  • MusiciansFriend.com The 100 Greatest Guitarists Who Ever Lived. By Adam St. James. (year?)

    List is identified as being from Guitar.com and says the list is based on votes compiled at Guitar.com. A short bio notes that St. James has been the site’s editor and is an author of several instructional guitar books.

  • MyMusicLists.com Best Guitarists of All Time. (2006)

    Details of list are unclear. This appears to be a site in which fans can vote on favorites. The list includes 51 ranked guitarists, but does not indicate if ranking actually came from fan votes. There are brief comments from users.

  • PhilBrodieBand.com Greatest Guitarists. (2005)

    Page offers multiple lists (acoustic, blues, hard rock/heavy metal, jazz, R&B/soul, rock) which are identified as being from DigitalDreamDoor.com, but these same lists do not appear to be on that site. All lists are ranked without commentary. Most are top 100 lists, except for the hard rock/heavy metal and R&B/soul, which are top 30 lists.

  • RateItAll.com Best Guitarists of All Time. (Originated 1/19/04)

    This ranked list appears to be generated by voter ratings and reviews. Clicking on a guitarist’s name takes one to a page with voters’ comments. List is apparently ongoing with more comments and ratings being added.

  • RateYourMusic.com 25 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. By Fatman (10/12/06)

    Site allows users to generate lists. This ranked list offers brief commentaries.

  • Rolling Stone‘s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. (2003?)

    This ranked list, with commentary, is difficult to navigate on the Rolling Stone site since each guitarist has a separate page. To just see the list, check out TheInsider.com.

  • Piero Scarufi, Greatest Rock Guitarists of All Times (1999)

    This is a list only with no commentary. For no explained reason, there are 53 guitarists in ranked list followed by another 100 names in no perceivable order.

  • Squidoo.com The Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. (year?)

    Ranked list with no commentary. List appears to have been generated by original author and then others could vote on it. Author and date not identified.

  • Time Magazine The 10 Greatest Electric-Guitar Players. By Josh Tyrangiel (year?)

    Short list with only one-sentence commentaries.

  • The-Top-Tens.com Greatest Guitarists Ever. (year?)

    This top 100 ranked list offers brief comments from site visitors. List appears to be voter-generated.

  • TopTenz.net Top 10 Greatest Guitar Players. By Clarence F. (2008?)

    Top 10 ranked list with commentaries and video for each guitarist.

  • Total Guitarist Magazine The Top 100 Guitarists. (8/3/02)

    Top 100 ranked list with no commentary. Voted on by Total Guitar readers.

First posted 11/23/2011; last updated 1/25/2022.

at 3 comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, November 11, 2021

The Top 100 Eric Clapton Songs/Studio Albums Ranked

Eric Clapton

Top 100 Songs/
Studio Albums Ranked

He was born Eric Patrick Clapton on March 30, 1945 in Ripley, England. His father was a Canadian airman named Edward Fryer who met Pat Clapton at one of his dance-band gigs. The married Fryer had an affair with her and she got pregnant. When the war was over, Fryer went back home to Canada and his wife. She was 16 when Eric was born. JR-1 When he was only 2, his mom left him with her mother and stepfather and met another Canadian serviceman, married him, and moved to Canada. JR-2

In his youth, Clapton was swept up by American rock-and-roll, especially a Jerry Lee Lewis performance of “Great Balls of Fire” in 1958, via television. Clapton’s grandparents bought him a guitar for his 13th birthday. JR-3 He became more enamored with the blues artists who inspired rock and roll, namely Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red Whittaker, and Robert Johnson. JR-5-6

He would go on to work with the Roosters, the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Delaney & Bonnie, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos. He launched a solo career in 1970.

Over the next eighteen years, Clapton released ten studio albums as a solo artist, including the celebrated 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974) and Slowhand (1977) albums. He delivered memorable covers of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff,” Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” and a pair of J.J. Cale songs with “After Midnight” and “Cocaine.” He also penned album rock staples like “Lay Down Sally,” “Wonderful Tonight,” “Promises,” and “I Can’t Stand It.”

Click here to see other best-of lists from performers and here to see other best-of lists from songwriters and/or producers.

Awards:

Top 100 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Layla (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
2. Tears in Heaven (1992)
3. Wonderful Tonight (1977)
4. Sunshine of Your Love (Cream, 1967)

DMDB Top 2%:

5. Change the World (1996)
6. White Room (Cream, 1968)
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles, 1968)
8. I Shot the Sheriff (1974)
9. For Your Love (Yardbirds, 1965)

DMDB Top 5%:

10. Badge (Cream, 1969)
11. Cocaine (1977)
12. Layla (Unplugged, 1992)
13. Lay Down Sally (1977)
14. After Midnight (1970)
15. Crossroads (Cream, live, 1968)
16. I Feel Free (Cream, 1966)
17. My Father’s Eyes (1998)
18. Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith, 1969)

DMDB Top 10%:

19. Strange Brew (Cream, 1967)
20. Promises (1978)
21. Bell Bottom Blues (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
22. Forever Man (1986)
23. I”ve Got a Rock and Roll Heart (1983)
24. Let It Rain (1970)
25. Anyone for Tennis? (Cream, 1968)

DMDB Top 20%:

26. I Can’t Stand It (1981)
27. Pretending (1989)
28. Spoonful (Cream, 1966)
29. Presence of the Lord (Blind Faith, 1969)
30. I’ts Probably Me (with Sting, 1992)

31. Tales of Brave Ulysses (Cream, 1967)
32. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1975)
33. Willie and the Hand Jive (1974)
34. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (1975)
35. Hello Old Friend (1976)
36. Bad Love (1989)
37. Tulsa Time (1978)
38. Coming Home (Delaney & Bonnie, 1969)
39. Blues Power (1970)
40. It’s in the Way That You Use It (1986)

41. Circus Left Town (1992)
42. Motherless Child (1994)
43. Riding with the King (with B.B. King, 2000)
44. Watch Out for Lucy (1978)
45. Running on Faith (1989)
46. Blue Moon (with Rod Stewart, 2004)
47. Tearing Us Apart (with Tina Turner, 1986)
48. SWLABR (Cream, 1967)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

49. All of Me (with Paul McCartney, 2013)
50. Good Morning Little School Girl (Yardbirds, 1964)

51. Crossroads (Derek & the Dominos, live, 1970)
52. Wrapping Paper (Cream, 1966)
53. Before You Accuse Me (1989)
54. Only You Know and I Know (Delaney & Bonnie, 1970)
55. Little Wing (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
56. She’s Waiting (1985)
57. Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, 1966)
58. I’m Tore Down (1994)
59. My Back Pages (live with Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, & George Harrison, 1992)
60. Let It Grow (1974)

61. After Midnight (1988)
62. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
63. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (with Randy Crawford & David Sanborn, 1989)
64. Miss You (1986)
65. Ramblin’ on My Mind (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, 1966)
66. See What Love Can Do (1985)
67. No Alibis (1989)
68. N.S.U. (Cream, 1966)
69. Key to the Highway (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
70. Blue Eyes Blue (1999)

71. Runaway Train (with Elton John, 1992)
72. The Usual (with Bob Dylan, 1987)
73. Superman Inside (2001)
74. Goodnight Irene (2013)
75. Another Ticket (1981)
76. Further on Up the Road (live, 1975)
77. She’s Gone (1998)
78. I’m So Glad (Cream, 1966)
79. The Core (1977)
80. Stone Free (1993)

81. Motherless Children (1974)
82. Come Rain or Come Shine (with B.B. King, 2000)
83. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
84. Born Under a Bad Sign (Cream, (1968)
85. Lawdy Mama (Cream, 1966)
86. Fight (No Matter How Long) (The Bunburys, 1988)
87. I’ll Be Seeing You (2016)
88. The Sky Is Crying (1975)
89. Run (1986)
90. Politician (Cream, 1968)

91. Sea of Joy (Blind Faith, 1969)
92. Help Me Up (1992)
93. Revolution (2005)
94. Keep on Growing (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
95. Tell the Truth (Derek & the Dominos, 1970)
96. Travelin’ Light (2001)
97. Boom Boom (Yardbirds, 1963)
98. Don’t’ Think Twice, It’s Alright (live, 1992)
99. Rita Mae (1981)
100. Ride the River (with J.J. Cale, 2006)

Eric Clapton: Studio Albums Ranked

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by album’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, critics’ ratings, and awards. Also factored in are the status of each album’s songs in Dave’s Music Database for songs.

Note: In addition to Eric Clapton’s studio albums, this includes works with the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Delaney & Bonnie, and Derek & the Dominos. Also, although they are live albums, Delaney & Bonnie’s On Tour with Eric Clapton and Eric Clapton’s Grammy-winning Unplugged have been included on this list because they consisted largely of material not previously on Eric Clapton studio releases.

1. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (Derek and the Dominos, 1970)
2. Disraeli Gears (Cream, 1967)
3. Unplugged (1992)
4. Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, 1966)
5. Blind Faith (Blind Faith, 1969)
6. 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974)
7. Wheels of Fire (Cream, studio/live, 1968)
8. Slowhand (1977)
9. From the Cradle (blues covers, 1994)
10. Riding with the King (with B.B. King, 2000)

11. Me and Mr. Johnson (Robert Johnson covers, 2004)
12. Journeyman (1989)
13. Fresh Cream (Cream, 1966)
14. Eric Clapton (1970)
15. Reptile (2001)
16. Pilgrim (1998)
17. Backless (1978)
18. Another Ticket (1981)
19. On Tour with Eric Clapton (Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, 1970)
20. Back Home (2005)

21. The Road to Escondido (with J.J. Cale, 2006)
22. For Your Love (Yardbirds, 1965)
23. No Reason to Cry (1976)
24. There’s One in Every Crowd (1975)
25. Money and Cigarettes (1983)
26. Goodbye (Cream, studio/live, 1969)
27. Behind the Sun (1985)
28. August (1986)
29. Clapton (2010)
30. Old Sock (2013)

31. The Breeze: An Appreciation of J.J. Cale (with various artists, 2014)
32. I Still Do (2016)
33. Happy Xmas (Christmas songs, 2018)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 3/30/2012; updated 11/11/2021.
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Albums (Aug. 2021)

Originally posted 8/22/2021.

January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog. To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This month marks the eleventh group of album inductees. These are amongst the top twenty blues albums of all time, excluding previous inductees Robert Johnson’s The Complete Recordings, Bessie Smith’s The Essential, and Charley Patton’s Founder of the Delta Blues.

See the full list of album inductees here.

Muddy Waters At Newport (live, 1960)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

This was “a great breakthrough moment in blues history.” AMG “Though his ‘50s recordings…revolutionized modern blues, it wasn’t until his raw, plugged-in steer blew up the Newport Folk Festival that whites in America gave Muddy (and the blues) proper respect.” VB “This was many white folks’ first exposure” BL “to live recorded blues.” AMG It was also significant because “the jazz audience opened its ears and embraced Chicago blues.” AMG Read more.

Bobby “Blue” Band Two Steps from the Blues (recorded 1956-60, released 1961)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

“Two Steps from the Blues is the definitive Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland album and one of the great records in electric blues and soul-blues. In fact, it’s one of the key albums in modern blues, marking a turning point when juke joint blues were seamlessly blended with gospel and Southern soul, creating a distinctly Southern sound where all of these styles blended so thoroughly it was impossible to tell where one began and one ended.” STE Read more.

Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ in the Moonlight/Howlin’ Wolf (aka “The Rockin’ Chair Album”) (1959/1962)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

Howlin’ Wolf’s first two albums were compilations covering the years 1951 to 1962. Amongst the songs are “How Many More Years,” “Smokestack Lightning,” “Spoonful,” and “The Little Red Rooster,” all of which have been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. In the CD era, they were packaged as one release, making for an effective overview of “the cream of Wolf’s Chicago blues work.” SC Both albums have been inducted in the Blues Hall of Fame. Read more.

B.B. King Live at the Regal (recorded live 1964, released 1965)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

B.B. “King, who has been called ‘The King of the Blues’ and the ‘best blues artist of his generation,’ has been a primary influence on a number of artists, including Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton and Mike Bloomfield.” NRR “King is not only a timeless singer and guitarist, he’s also a natural-born entertainer, and on Live at the Regal the listener is treated to an exhibition of all three of his talents.” DG The album was significant in King’s career because it graduated him from a largely black following to a much larger white audience. Read more.

John Mayall’s Blue Breakers Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

“Rarely has any single record album induced such a shift in popular music.” LP This is “perhaps the best British blues album ever cut.” BE It reinvented “the American blues for a fresh audience” LP giving “rise to subgenres such as heavy metal and other roots-related rock.” LP The album significantly featured guest Eric Clapton on his “first fully realized album as a blues guitarist,” BE coming in between his stints with the Yardbirds and Cream. His work “catapulted him” LP “to the helm of the burgeoning British blues-rock scene” LP and “international exposure as well as legendary guitar rock idol status.” LP Read more.

Albert King Born Under a Bad Sign (1967)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

This Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry inductee features two songs (“Born Under a Bad Sign,” “Crosscut Saw”) which are Blues Hall of Fame inductees. The album marked King’s arrival at Stax Records where he recorded with Booker T & the MG’s and found the crossover appeal he’d previously been missing. AllMusic.com’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls this “one of the very greatest electric blues albums of all time.” AMG Read more.

Willie Dixon The Chess Box (compilation: 1951-69, released 1988)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

“Songwriter, producer, and talent scout, singer-bassist Willie Dixon essentially built Chicago's Cobra and Chess labels with his sweat.” AZ This collection features 13 different artists including Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Koko Taylor, and Muddy Waters, but with one unifying theme – all of these songs are written by Dixon, making a case for him to be crowned “king of the blues composers.” BF Read more.

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Texas Flood (1983)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

“Produced by legendary talent scout John Hammond,” TD1 Texas Flood “captures the rising guitar star” TD1 “as rockin’ blues purist.” TD2 “Critics claimed that, no matter how prodigious Vaughan’s instrumental talents were, he didn’t forge a distinctive voice” STE but “that was sort of the point of Texas Flood. Vaughan didn’t hide his influences; he celebrated them, pumping fresh blood into a familiar genre” STE and becoming the “torchbearer of the ‘80s-‘90s blues revival.” TD2 Read more.

Robert Cray Strong Persuader (1986)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

Strong Persuader, Cray’s fifth studio album, was his mainstream breakthrough, opening up blues to a wider audience than it had received in decades. The Village Voice, Robert Christgau called it “the first album to break out of the genre’s sales ghetto since B.B. King was a hot item” WK and “the best blues record in many, many years.” WK Read more.

Eric Clapton From the Cradle (1994)

Inducted August 2021 as “Top Blues Albums.”

No white man did more to expose blues to mass audiences than Eric Clapton. Before launching his solo career, his work with groups virtually established the blues-rock genre. As a solo artist, he regularly slipped blues covers into his albums. When his Unplugged album became the most successful of his career, selling 20 million copies and winning the Grammy for Album of the Year, he used his new-found clout to record his first all-blues cover album. Whle “he doesn’t have the strength to pull off Howlin’ Wolf’s growl or the confidence to replicate Muddy Waters’ assured phrasing” STE “the album manages to re-create the ambience of postwar electric blues, right down to the bottomless thump of the rhythm section.” STE Read more.
at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)