Showing posts with label Guns N' Roses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guns N' Roses. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Sports Anthems: Top 50 Songs

Sports Anthems:

Top 50 Songs

This list is the result of aggregating 27 lists of the most popular sports anthems. These may be songs that are designed to get the crowd riled up or singing along. They may be the introductory song as a team, or even a specific player, takes the field. In any case, these are the songs most likely to come blaring out of your favorite stadium’s speakers.

Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

1. Queen “We Will Rock You” (1977)
2. The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” (2003)
3. AC/DC “Thunderstruck” (1990)
4. Blur “Song 2” (1997)
5. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
6. House of Pain “Jump Around” (1992)
7. Eminem “Lose Yourself” (2002)
8. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991)
9. Ozzy Osbourne “Crazy Train” (1980)
10. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (1982)

11. Neil Diamond “Sweet Caroline” (1969)
12. Queen “We Are the Champions” (1977)
13. Gary Glitter “Rock and Roll Part 2” (1972)
14. Steam “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” (1969)
15. Tag Team “Whoomp! There It Is” (1993)
16. Europe “The Final Countdown” (1986)
17. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
18. Darude “Sandstorm” (2000)
19. 2 Unlimited “Get Ready for This” (1991)
20. The Alan Parsons Project “Sirius” / “Eye in the Sky” (1982)

21. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981)
22. Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop” (1976)
23. Zombie Nation “Kernkraft 400” (1999)
24. Jack Norworth and Albert von Tilzer (composers) “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (1908)
25. DJ Khaled with T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, & Rick Ross “All I Do Is Win” (2010)
26. Village People “Y.M.C.A.” (1978)
27. C + C Music Factory “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” (1990)
28. Smash Mouth “All Star” (1999)
29. Baha Men “Who Let the Dogs Out?” (2000)
30. Van Halen “Jump” (1983)

31. Black Eyed Peas “Let’s Get It Started” (2004)
32. Gerry & the Pacemakers “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1963)
33. Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” (1976)
34. Chumbawamba “Tubthumping” (1997)
35. Fort Minor “Remember the Name” (2005)
36. Technotronic “Pump Up the Jam” (1989)
37. Fatboy Slim “Right Here Right Now” (1999)
38. DJ Snake with Lil Jon “Turn Down for What” (2013)
39. Beastie Boys “Sabotage” (1994)
40. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Ray Dalton “Can’t Hold Us” (2011)

41. Kanye West with Daft Punk “Stronger” (2007)
42. Queen “Another One Bites the Dust” (1980)
43. Frank Sinatra “Theme from New York, New York” (1980)
44. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
45. Kendrick Lamar “Humble” (2017)
46. The Isley Brothers “Shout” (1959)
47. Todd Rundgren “Bang the Drum All Day” (1983)
48. Styx “Renegade” (1978)
49. Twisted Sister “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (1984)
50. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)

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First posted 3/14/2023.

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Friday, November 11, 2022

Guns N’ Roses et al: Top 50 Songs

Guns N’ Roses et al

Top 50 Songs

The rock band Guns N’ Roses formed in Los Angeles, Califirnia, in 1985. The original members consisted of Axl Rose (vocals: 1985-), Saul “Slash” Hudson (guitar: 1985-1996, 2016-), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar: 1985-1991), Duff McKagan (bass: 1985-1997, 2016-), and Steven Adler (drums: 1985-1990). Their first album, Appetite for Destruction, featured the #1 hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and top 10 hits “Welcome to the Jungle” and “Paradise City.” is the best-selling debut in U.S. history with 18 million copies sold (30 million worldwide).

The follow-up release, G N’ R Lies, combined the group’s 1986 EP Live Like a Suicide with four new cuts and sold 10 milion copies worldwide fueled by the top 10 song “Patience.” They followed that up with the simultaneous releases of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II in 1991. The albums combined for 35 million copies worldwide and featured two more top-10 hits – “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain.”

After the 1993 covers album The Spaghetti Incident?, all the members except Axl Rose left the band eventually as he spent fifteen years working on the follow-up, 2008’s Chinese Democracy. In the meantime, Slash, Gilby Clarke (guitar: 1991-1994), and Matt Sorum (drums: 1990-1997) worked together in Slash’s Snakepit. Slash and Sorum also worked with McKagan in Velvet Revolver (2003-2008).

Slash and McKagan came back into the fold in 2016 for the Not in This Lifetime tour, which grossed more than half a billion dollars over the next three years, becoming the third highest-grossing concert tour on record.

Other members over the years have included DJ Ashba (guitar: 2009-2015), Brain (drums: 2000-2006), Buckethead (guitar: 2000-2004), Frank Ferrer (drums: 2006-), Robin Finck (guitar: 1997-2008), Richard Fortus (guitar: 2002-), Josh Freese (drums: 1997-2000), Chris Pitman (keyboards: 1998-2016), Dizzy Reed (keyboards: 1990-), Melissa Reese (keyboards: 2016-), Tommy Stinson (bass: 1998-2014), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (guitar: 2006-2014), Paul Tobias (guitar: 1994-2002).

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. This list includes material by Velvet Revolver, Slash’s Snakepit, and Izzy Stradlin & the JuJu Hounds since they all featured former GNR members. Songs are by Guns N’ Roses unless noted otherwise.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Sweet Child O’ Mine (1987)
2. Welcome to the Jungle (1987)
3. November Rain (1991)
4. Paradise City (1987)

DMDB Top 2%:

5. Patience (1988)

DMDB Top 10%:

6. Don’t Cry (1991)
7. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (1987)
8. Civil War (1990)
9. Live and Let Die (1991)

DMDB Top 20%:

10. You Could Be Mine (1991)
11. Nightrain (1987)
12. Fall to Pieces (Velvet Revolver, 2004)
13. Mr. Brownstone (1987)
14. Estranged (1991)
15. Since I Don’t Have You (1993)
16. Yesterdays (1991)
17. Slither (Velvet Revolver, 2004)
18. Hair of the Dog (1993)
19. Sympathy for the Devil (1994)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

20. Rocket Queen (1987)
21. Chinese Democracy (2008)
22. It’s So Easy (1987)
23. Used to Love Her (1988)
24. Ain’t It Fun (1993)
25. The Last Fight (Velvet Revolver, 2007)
26. Better (2008)
27. One in a Million (1988)
28. Look at Your Game, Girl (1993)
29. Pretty Tied Up (1991)
30. Shadow of Your Love (1986)

31. Coma (1991)
32. I Will Not Go Quietly (Don Henley with Axl Rose, 1989)
33. So Fine (2008)
34. Shuffle It All (Izzy Stradlin & the JuJu Hounds, 1992)
35. Double Talkin’ Jive (1991)
36. My Michelle (1987)
37. She Builds Quick Machines (Velvet Revolver, 2007)
38. You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory (1993)
39. Move to the City (1986)
40. Out ta Get Me (1987)

41. Heartbreak Hotel (1986)
42. 14 Years (1991)
43. Garden of Eden (1991)
44. Set Me Free (Velvet Revolver, 2003)
45. Dirty Little Thing (Velvet Revolver, 2004)
46. Oh My God (1999)
47. Beggars & Hangers-On (Slash’s Snakepit, 1995)
48. Dead Horse (1991)
49. Dust N’ Bones (1991)
50. Street of Dreams (2008)

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First posted 11/11/2022.

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Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Top 100 Songs by Hair Bands

Hair Bands:

Top 100 Songs

Ah, the hair bands. This much-maligned genre was a mix of rock and pop wrapped up in big hair and leather pants. The bands – almost all white men – were known for lifestyles filled with debauchery and depravity. It was no wonder teens in the ‘80s flocked to the bands like moths to a flame.

Regardless of these bands’ lack of critical acclaim, some of these bands (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard) when on to become some of the biggest rock bands in the world – even after they cut their hair and opted for more sensible jeans. Here – love ‘em or hate ‘em – are the top songs from hair bands as determined by aggregating 21 lists and then ranking those songs featured on 3 or more lists in order of their overall DMDB points.

Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

1. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987)
2. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
3. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
4. Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987)
5. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
6. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991)
7. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987)
8. Kiss “Rock and Roll All Nite” (1975)
9. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988)
10. Guns N’ Roses “Paradise City” (1987)

11. Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986)
12. Def Leppard “Photograph” (1983)
13. Scorpions “Rock You Like a Hurricane” (1984)
14. Twisted Sister “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (1984)
15. Europe “The Final Countdown” (1986)
16. Ratt “Round and Round” (1984)
17. Quiet Riot “Cum on Feel the Noize” (1983)
18. Van Halen “Runnin’ with the Devil” (1978)
19. Extreme “More Than Words” (1990)
20. Mötley Crüe “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1987)

21. Whitesnake “Is This Love” (1987)
22. Warrant “Cherry Pie” (1990)
23. Def Leppard “Love Bites” (1987)
24. Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1986)
25. Mr. Big “To Be with You” (1991)
26. Night Ranger “Sister Christian” (1984)
27. Guns N’ Roses “Patience” (1988)
28. The Scorpions “No One Like You” (1982)
29. Kiss “Detroit Rock City” (1976)
30. Def Leppard “Rock of Ages” (1983)

31. Van Halen “Panama” (1984)
32. Mötley Crüe “Home Sweet Home” (1985)
33. Quiet Riot “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” (1983)
34. Poison “Nothin’ But a Good Time” (1988)
35. Skid Row “I Remember You” (1989)
36. Tesla “Love Song” (1989)
37. Van Halen “Hot for Teacher” (1984)
38. Whitesnake “Still of the Night” (1987)
39. Mötley Crüe “Dr. Feelgood” (1989)
40. The Scorpions “Still Loving You” (1984)

41. Lita Ford “Kiss Me Deadly” (1988)
42. Skid Row “18 and Life” (1989)
43. Warrant “Heaven” (1988)
44. Cinderella…Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone (1988)
45. Bon Jovi “Bad Medicine” (1988)
46. Mötley Crüe “Kickstart My Heart” (1989)
47. Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” (1990)
48. Def Leppard “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” (1981)
49. Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne “Close My Eyes Forever” (1988)
50. Poison “Talk Dirty to Me” (1986)

51. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989)
52. Bon Jovi “Runaway” (1983)
53. Great White “Once Bitten Twice Shy” (1989)
54. Autograph…Turn Up the Radio (1984)
55. Def Leppard “Foolin’” (1983)
56. White Lion “When the Children Cry” (1987)
57. Twisted Sister “I Wanna Rock” (1984)
58. Cinderella “Nobody’s Fool” (1986)
59. Mötley Crüe “Shout at the Devil” (1983)
60. Kiss “Lick It Up” (1983)

61. Skid Row “Youth Gone Wild” (1989)
62. Poison “Something to Believe In” (1990)
63. Damn Yankees “High Enough” (1990)
64. White Lion “Wait” (1987)
65. Ozzy Osbourne “Shot in the Dark” (1986)
66. Poison “Fallen Angel” (1988)
67. Dokken “In My Dreams” (1985)
68. Slaughter “Fly to the Angels” (1990)
69. Van Halen “I’ll Wait” (1984)
70. Winger “Seventeen” (1988)

71. Kix “Don’t Close Your Eyes” (1988)
72. David Lee Roth “Yankee Rose” (1986)
73. Kiss “Heaven’s on Fire” (1984)
74. Cinderella “Gypsy Road” (1988)
75. Cinderella “Shake Me” (1986)
76. Dokken “Alone Again” (1984)
77. Firehouse “Love of a Lifetime” (1991)
78. Ugly Kid Joe “Cat’s in the Cradle” (1992)
79. Mötley Crüe “Without You” (1989)
80. Winger “Miles Away” (1990)

81. Winger “Headed for a Heartbreak” (1988)
82. Great White “Rock Me” (1987)
83. Kiss “Tears Are Falling” (1985)
84. Warrant “Down Boys” (1988)
85. Tesla “Signs” (live, 1990)
86. Slaughter “Up All Night” (1990)
87. Ratt “You’re in Love” (1985)
88. Mötley Crüe “Looks That Kill” (1983)
89. Firehouse “Don’t Treat Me Bad” (1991)
90. Vixen “Edge of a Broken Heart” (1988)

91. Guns N’ Roses “Nightrain” (1987)
92. Mötley Crüe “Live Wire” (1981)
93. Cinderella “Coming Home” (1988)
94. Warrant “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1990)
95. Mötley Crüe “Too Young to Fall in Love” (1983)
96. Faster Pussycat “House of Pain” (1989)
97. Ratt “Lay It Down” (1985)
98. Mötley Crüe “Wild Side” (1987)
99. Trixter “Give It to Me Good” (1990)
100. L.A. Guns “The Ballad of Jayne” (1989)

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First posted 1/23/2018; last updated 5/11/2021.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Mainstream Rock: Top 100 Songs, 1981-2021

First posted 1/24/2021; updated 2/92021.

Mainstream Rock:

Top 100 Songs, 1981-2021

Billboard launched its Album Rock Tracks chart (now called “Mainstream Rock”) on March 21, 1981. Since then, more than 7000 songs have hit the chart; 2000 of which went top 10. This list ranks those songs which hit the top 10 in order of their overall status in Dave’s Music Database. These are the top 100 songs:

Note: click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

1. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
2. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
3. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991)
4. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988)
5. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981)
6. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991)
7. U2 “With or Without You” (1987)
8. Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981)
9. Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (1999)
10. The Human League “Don’t You Want Me?” (1981)

11. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” (1982)
12. U2 “One” (1992)
13. Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995)
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
15. Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998)
16. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001)
17. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
18. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
19. Green Day “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (2004)
20. Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (1992)

21. Men at Work “Down Under” (1981)
22. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
23. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
24. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995)
25. Phil Collins “Another Day in Paradise” (1989)
26. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982)
27. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1991)
28. U2 “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (1987)
29. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1991)
30. Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993)

31. Cyndi Lauper “Time After Time” (1983)
32. Tears for Fears “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (1985)
33. 3 Doors Down “Kryptonite” (2000)
34. Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark” (1984)
35. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985)
36. Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
37. Kenny Loggins “Footloose” (1984)
38. Hoobastank “The Reason” (2004)
39. Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986)
40. Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget about Me” (1985)

41. J. Geils Band “Centerfold” (1981)
42. Rick Springfield “Jessie’s Girl” (1981)
43. Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” (1981)
44. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)” (1984)
45. Oasis “Live Forever” (1984)
46. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991)
47. Phil Collins “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (1984)
48. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981)
49. John Cougar Mellencamp “Jack and Diane” (1982)
50. Tears for Fears “Shout” (1984)

51. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983)
52. Creed “With Arms Wide Open” (1999)
53. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
54. Lifehouse “Hanging by a Moment” (2000)
55. Green Day “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1997)
56. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994)
57. U2 “Vertigo” (2004)
58. Steve Miller Band “Abracadabra” (1982)
59. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984)
60. Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” (1985)

61. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981)
62. The Scorpions “Wind of Change” (1990)
63. The Police “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (1981)
64. Nickelback “Photograph” (2005)
65. Queen with David Bowie “Under Pressure” (1981)
66. U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1983)
67. Huey Lewis & the News “The Power of Love” (1985)
68. Nirvana “Come As You Are” (1991)
69. Midnight Oil “Beds Are Burning” (1987)
70. Smashing Pumpkins “1979” (1995)

71. The Wallflowers “One Headlight” (1996)
72. Hinder “Lips of an Angel” (2006)
73. Rush “Tom Sawyer” (1981)
74. REO Speedwagon “Keep on Loving You” (1980)
75. Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)
76. Tom Petty “Free Fallin’” (1989)
77. Nirvana “All Apologies” (1993)
78. Steve Winwood “Higher Love” (1986)
79. Linkin Park “In the End” (2000)
80. Toto “Rosanna” (1982)

81. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Dani California” (2006)
82. Staind “It’s Been Awhile” (2001)
83. R.E.M. “The One I Love” (1987)
84. Oasis “Champagne Supernova” (1995)
85. Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes’ (1986)
86. Collective Soul “Shine” (1993)
87. Live “Lightning Crashes” (1994)
88. Green Day “American Idiot” (2004)
89. Silverchair “Tomorrow” (1994)
90. Steve Winwood “Roll with It” (1988)

91. Green Day “Basket Case” (1994)
92. Mike + the Mechanics “The Living Years” (1988)
93. The Clash “Rock the Casbah” (1982)
94. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1982)
95. Yes “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (1983)
96. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987)
97. Pearl Jam “Daughter” (1993)
98. U2 “New Year’s Day” (1983)
99. Stone Temple Pilots “Interstate Love Song” (1994)
100. Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986)

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Friday, October 23, 2020

VH1 Top 100 Songs

Last updated 10/23/2020.

VH1:

Top 100 Songs

The music television channel VH1 has done a variety of “100 Greatest” shows over the years. The song lists at the bottom of this page have been consolidated into an aggregate list by Dave’s Music Database.

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

1. Salt-N-Pepa “Push It” (1987)
2. Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (1992)
3. Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” (1986)
4. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1983)
5. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
6. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
7. Dr. Dre with Snoop Doggy Dogg “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang” (1993)
8. Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” (1997)
9. Public Enemy “Fight the Power” (1989)
10. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988)

11. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
12. Prince Prince “When Doves Cry” (1984)
13. Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1983)
14. AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980)
15. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
16. Naughty by Nature “O.P.P.” (1991)
17. Cyndi Lauper “Time after Time” (1983)
18. M.C. Hammer “U Can’t Touch This” (1990)
19. Shania Twain “You’re Still the One” (1988)
20. The Clash “London Calling” (1979)

21. Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998)
22. The Rolling Stones “Start Me Up” (1981)
23. U2 “One” (1992)
24. Madonna “Vogue” (1990)
25. Aretha Franklin “Respect” (1967)
26. Madonna “Like a Virgin” (1984)
27. TLC “Waterfalls” (1994)
28. Sir Mix-A-Lot “Baby Got Back” (1992)
29. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” (1995)
30. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991)

31. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
32. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message” (1982)
33. U2 “With or Without You” (1987)
34. Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (1998)
35. The Sugarhill Gang “Rapper’s Delight” (1979)
36. The Kingsmen “Louie Louie” (1963)
37. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1991)
38. Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive” (1978)
39. C + C Music Factory “Gonna Make You Sweat” (1990)
40. Peter Gabriel “In Your Eyes” (1986)

41. Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock “It Takes Two” (1988)
42. No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (1996)
43. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
44. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1992)
45. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
46. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
47. Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way” (1999)
48. The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed” (1981)
49. Fugees “Killing Me Softly” (1996)
50. Janet Jackson “Nasty” (1986)

51. Bruce Springsteen “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
52. Queen with David Bowie “Under Pressure” (1981)
53. Elton John “Your Song” (1970)
54. Daryl Hall & John Oates “I Can’t Go for That” (No Can Do)” (1981)
55. Chubby Checker “The Twist” (1960)
56. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
57. Beck “Loser” (1993)
58. The Emotions “Best of My Love” (1977)
59. House of Pain “Jump Around” (1992)
60. Alicia Keys “Fallin’” (2001)

61. Digital Underground “The Humpty Dance” (1990)
62. James Brown “I Got You” (I Feel Good)” (1965)
63. Rick James “Super Freak” (1981)
64. Destiny’s Child “Say My Name” (1999)
65. Prince “Little Red Corvette” (1983)
66. Nelly “Hot in Herre” (2002)
67. REO Speedwagon “Keep on Loving You” (1980)
68. Modern English “I Melt with You” (1983)
69. Ice Cube “It Was a Good Day” (1993)
70. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981)

71. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991)
72. Young MC “Bust a Move” (1989)
73. Eminem “My Name Is”“ (1999)
74. Chic “Good Times” (1979)
75. Al Green “Let’s Stay Together” (1971)
76. Green Day “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (1997)
77. Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (1981)
78. Radiohead “Creep” (1993)
79. Barry White “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” (1974)
80. Led Zeppelin “Whole Lotta Love” (1969)

81. Sheryl Crow “All I Wanna Do” (1994)
82. Hanson “Mmmbop” (1997)
83. Cypress Hill “Insane in the Brain” (1993)
84. Blondie “Heart of Glass” (1979)
85. The Notorious B.I.G. with Puff Daddy & Mase “Mo Money, Mo Problems” (1997)
86. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
87. George Michael “Faith” (1987)
88. John Cougar Mellencamp “Jack and Diane” (1982)
89. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983)
90. Geto Boys “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” (1991)

91. Lenny Kravitz “Are You Gonna Go My Way” (1993)
92. Culture Club “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” (1982)
93. LL Cool J “Mama Said Knock You Out” (1991)
94. Tone Loc “Wild Thing” (1988)
95. Oasis “Wonderwall” (1995)
96. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988)
97. Cher “Believe” (1998)
98. Marvin Gaye “Sexual Healing” (1982)
99. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
100. Ray Charles “What’d I Say” (1959)

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Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Top 100 Power Ballads

First posted 6/3/2020.

Power Ballads:

Top 100 Songs

Classic rock came about in the 1970s, built on the backs of staples from the ‘60s like Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who. Newer acts like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Rush, and Boston were added to the fold to create a radio format which still maintains presences in major U.S. markets.

As rock became more commercialized, some acts like Foreigner, Journey, REO Speedwagon, and Styx were mocked as “corporate rock” for their more pop-friendly songs. One of the trends was for such bands was to produce “power ballads,” which were slower-tempo songs which fit well into adult contemporary radio and attracted female fans in addition to the more male-oriented fans which dominated classic rock. As the ‘80s wore on, the trend extended to more glammed-up “hair bands” (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Poison, Mötley Crüe) also crooning about love and finding huge success.

This list of the top power ballads of all time was created by aggregating more than 25 best-of lists. Click here to see other genre and category specific song lists.

1. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1989)
2. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
3. Heart “Alone” (1987)
4. Whitesnake “Is This Love?” (1987)
5. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991)
6. Skid Row “I Remember You” (1989)
7. Night Ranger “Sister Christian” (1984)
8. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
9. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
10. Cinderella “Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone” (1988)

11. Def Leppard “Love Bites” (1987)
12. Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love But I Won’t Do That” (1993)
13. Warrant “Heaven” (1989)
14. REO Speedwagon “Keep on Loving You” (1980)
15. Bon Jovi “Always” (1994)
16. Journey “Open Arms” (1981)
17. Mötley Crüe “Home Sweet Home” (1985)
18. Journey “Faithfully” (1983)
19. Bad English “When I See You Smile” (1989)
20. Cutting Crew “I Just Died in Your Arms” (1987)

21. Tesla “Love Song” (1989)
22. Cheap Trick “The Flame” (1988)
23. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
24. Prince & the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984)
25. Aerosmith “Dream On” (1973)
26. The Cars “Drive” (1984)
27. The Scorpions “Wind of Change” (1990)
28. Bon Jovi “I’ll Be There for You” (1988)
29. REO Speedwagon “Can’t Fight This Feeling” (1984)
30. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987)

31. U2 “With Or Without You” (1987)
32. Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” (1990)
33. Mr. Mister “Broken Wings” (1985)
34. Starship “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (1987)
35. Nazareth “Love Hurts” (1975)
36. The Scorpions “Still Loving You” (1984)
37. Bryan Adams “Heaven” (1984)
38. Boston “Amanda” (1986)
39. John Waite “Missing You” (1984)
40. Boston “More Than a Feeling” (1976)

41. Bon Jovi “Never Say Goodbye” (1986)
42. Guns N’ Roses “Patience” (1988)
43. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991)
44. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981)
45. Chicago “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (1982)
46. Kiss “Beth” (1976)
47. Alias “More Than Words Can Say” (1990)
48. Metallica “Nothing Else Matters” (1991)
49. Harry Nisson “Without You” (1971)
50. Phil Collins “Against All Odds” (1984)

51. Eric Carmen “All by Myself” (1975)
52. Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne “Close My Eyes Forever” (1988)
53. Aerosmith “Angel” (1988)
54. Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998)
55. Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)
56. The Beatles “Something” (1969)
57. John Farnham “You’re The Voice” (1986)
58. Bangles “Eternal Flame” (1988)
59. Alannah Myles “Black Velvet” (1989)
60. Thunder “Love Walked In” (1990)

61. T’Pau “China in Your Hand” (1987)
62. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989)
63. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001)
64. Slaughter “Fly to the Angels” (1990)
65. Aerosmith “What It Takes” (1989)
66. Styx “Lady” (1973)
67. Europe “Carrie” (1986)
68. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
69. Chad Kroeger with Josey Scott “Hero” (2002)
70. Heart “These Dreams” (1986)

71. Mr. Big “To Be with You” (1991)
72. Def Leppard “Hysteria” (1987)
73. Roxette “It Must Have Been Love” (1990)
74. Poison “Something to Believe In” (1990)
75. Loverboy “Heaven in Your Eyes” (1986)
76. Roxette “Listen to Your Heart” (1989)
77. L.A. Guns “The Ballad of Jayne” (1990)
78. Van Halen “When It’s Love” (1988)
79. White Lion “When the Children Cry” (1987)
80. The Beatles “Let It Be” (1970)

81. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1991)
82. Chicago “You’re the Inspiration” (1984)
83. Pink Floyd “Wish You Were Here” (1975)
84. Maria McKee “Show Me Heaven” (1990)
85. Metallica “The Unforgiven” (1991)
86. The Rolling Stones “Angie” (1973)
87. The Beatles “Yesterday” (1965)
88. The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (1971)
89. Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (1992)
90. Def Leppard “When Love and Hate Collide” (1995)

91. Damn Yankees “High Enough” (1990)
92. Pearl Jam “Black” (1991)
93. Kansas “Dust in the Wind” (1978)
94. Tina Turner “We Don’t Need Another Hero” (1985)
95. Extreme “More Than Words” (1990)
96. Styx “Babe” (1979)
97. Van Halen “Love Walks In” (1986)
98. Eric Clapton “Wonderful Tonight” (1977)
99. Billy Idol “Eyes Without a Face” (1984)
100. Berlin “Take My Breath Away” (1986)

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Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Kerrang! Top 100 Albums

First posted 2/19/2005; updated 8/5/2020.

Kerrang:

The Top Albums

This is an exclusive DMDB list which consolidates eight lists from the British music magazine Kerrang!, which focuses on heavy metal and punk (links to individual lists at bottom of page).

Also, check out annual picks for album of the year.

1. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
2. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986)
3. Slayer Reign in Blood (1986)
4. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975)
5. Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (1970)
6. Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast (1982)
7. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
8. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
9. AC/DC Back in Black (1980)
10. Green Day Dookie (1994)

11. Black Sabbath Vol. 4 (1972)
12. The Stooges Raw Power (1973)
13. Metallica Kill ‘Em All (1983)
14. Bad Brains Rock for Light (1982)
15. Discharge Hear Nothing, Say Nothing, See Nothing (1982)
16. Napalm Death Scum (1987)
17. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
18. Def Leppard Hysteria (1987)
19. The Clash London Calling (1979)
20. Def Leppard Pyromania (1983)

21. Motörhead Ace of Spades (1980)
22. Metallica Ride the Lightning (1984)
23. The Clash The Clash (1977)
24. Korn Korn (1994)
25. Pearl Jam Ten (1991)
26. Black Flag Damaged (1981)
27. Sepultura Roots (1996)
28. Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (1992)
29. Ramones Ramones (1976)
30. Alice in Chains Dirt (1992)

31. Rancid And Out Come the Wolves (1995)
32. Hole Live Through This (1994)
33. Sublime Sublime (1996)
34. The Offspring Smash (1994)
35. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994)
36. The Prodigy Fat of the Land (1997)
37. The Wildhearts Earth Vs. the Wildhearts (1993)
38. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986)
39. The Stooges Fun House (1970)
40. Deep Purple In Rock (1970)

41. Manic Street Preachers The Holy Bible (1994)
42. Pantera Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
43. Reef Glow (1997)
44. Ash 1977 (1996)
45. Van Halen Van Halen I (1978)
46. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993)
47. Aerosmith Toys in the Attic (1975)
48. Terrorvision How to Make Friends and Influence People (1994)
49. Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980)
50. Thin Lizzy Live and Dangerous (1977)

51. Iron Maiden Iron Maiden (1980)
52. Rocket from the Crypt Scream, Dracula, Scream! (1995)
53. Boston Boston (1976)
54. Motörhead No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (1981)
55. Queensryche Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
56. Bush Sixteen Stone (1994)
57. Motörhead Overkill (1979)
58. Queen A Night at the Opera (1975)
59. Killing Joke Killing Joke (1980)
60. Venom Black Metal (1982)

61. Skunk Anansie Paranoid & Sunburnt (1995)
62. Sisters of Mercy Floodland (1987)
63. Saxon Wheels of Steel (1980)
64. Fugazi Repeater (1990)
65. Journey Escape (1981)
66. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969)
67. Refused The Shape of Punk to Come: A Chimerical Bombation in 12 Bursts (1998)
68. Operation Ivy Energy (1989)
69. Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970)
70. The Damned Machine Gun Etiquette (1979)

71. Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go (1996)
72. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin I (1969)
73. Therapy? Trouble Gum (1991)
74. Kyuss Welcome to Sky Valley (1994)
75. The Descendents Milo Goes to College (1982)
76. Bryan Adams Reckless (1984)
77. Aerosmith Rocks (1976)
78. Deep Purple Machine Head (1972)
79. Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
80. Kiss Alive! (1975)

81. Bon Jovi Bon Jovi (1984)
82. Michael Bolton Everybody’s Crazy (1985)
83. Quicksand Manic Compression (1995)
84. Rainbow Rising (1976)
85. Judas Priest Screaming for Vengeance (1982)
86. The MC5 Kick Out the Jams (1968)
87. Helmet Meantime (1992)
88. Magnum On a Storyteller’s Night (1985)
89. The Ruts The Crack (1979)
90. Foo Fighters The Colour and the Shape (1997)

91. Stiff Little Fingers Inflammable Material (1979)
92. Judas Priest Stained Class (1978)
93. Iron Maiden Killers (1981)
94. Nirvana In Utero (1993)
95. Exodus Bonded by Blood (1985)
96. Tool Ænima (1996)
97. Anthrax Among the Living (1987)
98. Kreator Pleasure to Kill (1986)
99. Megadeth Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? (1986)
100. NOFX Punk in Drublic (1994)

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Monday, March 5, 2012

I Heard You Missed Us - We're Back!

Originally published in my "Aural Fixation" column on PopMatters.com on March 5, 2012. See original post here.

image from popmatters.com

The David Lee Roth-fronted Van Halen returns after a 28-year absence. Who else has made fans wait that long? Quite a few, it turns out.

All those who strolled their school halls in the late ‘70s or first half of the ‘80s clinging to a spiral notebook with a “VH” logo scrawled across the front knows that line from Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher”. Yes, boys. We did miss you and we’re glad you’re back.

New bassist Wolfgang Van Halen was walking the schools and crushing on high school educators just a few years ago. When Wolfie was born in 1991, his father and uncle were seven years removed from the classic 1984 album, the last to feature David Lee Roth. 

With made-for-video Diamond Dave at the helm, Van Halen used that album to expand their hard rock audience to the MTV generation. The same kids who plopped down allowance money for Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual, and Madonna’s first album also bought 1984 by the boatloads. The album took Van Halen to its greatest commercial heights with US #1 single “Jump” as well as hits “Panama”, “I’ll Wait”, and the aforementioned “Hot for Teacher”.

Then Roth took his hairy chest and spandex out for a solo spin and never returned. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, and then-bassist Michael Anthony recruited Sammy Hagar, one of the era’s few rockers with bigger hair than Roth. Although the faithful whined, somebody was still buying Van Hagar product, since they churned out four #1 studio efforts over the next decade. In the post-Red Rocker era, an ill-fated 1998 endeavor with Extreme’s Gary Cherone as the next dip into the whose-turn-is-it-now-to-front-our-group pool put a nail in the VH coffin.

Now, 14 years later, the lid has been pried off. With the release of A Different Kind of Truth, Wolfie experiences a studio album by Roth-era Van Halen for the first time in his life.

In his lifetime, Wolfie has also witnessed some of Pop’s contemporaries resurrect themselves. After The Long Run (1979) the Eagles let 28 long years fly by before reuniting for Long Road Out of Eden (2007). The Who went missing for 24 years between It’s Hard (1982) and Endless Wire (2006). The Cars shut the door after Door to Door (1987), finally revving up their engines again with Move Like This (2011). Steely Dan had gone incognito for two decades when Two Against Nature (2000) thrust them back into the limelight with a Grammy win for Album of the Year.

Guns N’ Roses have been showered with hype and scorn for most of Wolfie’s lifetime, thanks to constant postponements for the infamous Chinese Democracy. After the one-two punch of a pair of Use Your Illusion albums in 1991, a collection of covers for (1993’s The Spaghetti Incident?) was assumed to be a stopgap while the group readied its true follow-up. As the years and band members disappeared, frontman Axl Rose watched his image transform to that of an obsessive, egomaniacal micro-manager. When Chinese Democracy (2008) finally arrived, the votes opposed outweighed the votes in favor.

Rose isn’t the first agonizingly meticulous leader to unravel his band in the pursuit of perfection. Tom Scholz has traversed a similar “I’m committing career suicide” path. With Boston, he has released a scant five albums over a 36-year career. Scholz and Co. quickly followed the once best-selling debut in history (1976’s Boston) with Don’t Look Back (1978), but have done nothing timely since. An eight-year gap built demand for Third Stage (1986), sending the album and its lead single, “Amanda”, soaring to the tops of the US charts, but then the boys who gifted us with “More Than a Feeling” didn’t feel up to trotting out another release until Walk On (1994).

Fans walked away in droves and Corporate America (2002) made a paltry dent in the public’s wallets. Album #6 is supposed to come out this year. Scholz is the only remaining original member.

There have been other rock titans who never really went away, they just went solo while their bands went on holiday. Iggy Pop and David Johansen have regularly thrust product on the market, just not with their original groups. As such, their band’s reunions were perceived more as publicity stunts. Some 32 years separated Johansen’s New York Dolls’ Too Much Too Soon (1974) and One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This (2006). The Stooges, led by Iggy Pop, topped that with 34 years between Raw Power (1973) and The Weirdness (2007). In both cases, the long overdue returns went unnoticed by the general public considering neither the bands nor their anchors were ever mainstream.

There are superstars who’ve likely boosted their careers with short-term vacations. In 1983, Def Leppard exploded with Pyromania. Fans went manic in anticipation during the four-year wait for Hysteria (1987). However, it proved an even bigger blockbuster than its predecessor. The group went dormant another five years before Adrenalize (1992), which left fans a little less than juiced.

Maybe Def Leppard needed all that time off to do some wardrobe shopping;
image from toptenz.net

Similarly, Michael Jackson took five years between Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987). For the rest of his career, at least four years transpired between albums. Considering his constant tabloid presence, his occasional chart absence probably helped make the arrival of new product a welcome event.

In 1975, Bruce Springsteen was eager to get a new album back on the shelves in the wake of Born to Run’s success. However, contract disputes led to a three-year work stoppage in what seemed like an eternity then. Bruce had other idle periods, taking five years off between Tunnel of Love (1987) and the double whammy of Human Touch and Lucky Town (1992) and seven years between The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995) and The Rising (2002). He’s been on fire ever since, seemingly rejuvenated by his time away. The upcoming Wrecking Ball will be his sixth studio effort this century.

Speaking of Springsteen’s newest, a few other classic rockers are slated to return to the scene in 2012. Kiss is due to release Monster, their first project since Sonic Boom (2009). The latter album was 11 years in the making. It became the group’s highest charter, peaking at #2 in the US, but it was also their first non-gold seller.

Rush returns this year with Clockwork Angels, their first album since Snakes & Arrows (2007). Their longest layoff, however, was between Test for Echo (1996) and Vapor Trails (2002). The delay had an effect on Rush similar to what Sonic Boom did to Kiss; Trails was Rush’s fourth consecutive top ten album, but first in their career to miss the gold mark.

Classic rockers aren’t the only ones to disappear for long stretches. Sade and Kate Bush have each retreated from the spotlight for at least decade-long absences. Country fans pray that Shania Twain and Garth Brooks end their decade-long sabbaticals. Of course, English folk singer/songwriter Vashti Bunyan makes them all look prolific. Frustrated with the poor reception of her 1970 album Just Another Diamond Day, she abandoned the music industry. What fan base she had acquired waited 35 years for her next effort, 2005’s Lookingafter.

My original concept for this article was an open request to one of my favorites to get back in the studio. I wouldn’t expect most readers to be familiar with Fish. No, I’m not talking about the jam-band Phish, led by Trey Anastasio. Fish is a Scottish singer who got his start with the British-based Marillion in the early ‘80s. That neo-prog outfit became my favorite band after Misplaced Childhood (1985), but Fish only stuck around for one more album, Clutching at Straws (1987), before embarking on a solo career. From 1990 to 2007, he never went more than three years between releases, unleashing nine studio undertakings.

However, nothing has happened since. Wikipedia indicates a working title of A Feast of Consequences for a 2012 release, but twitter and Facebook posts from Fish mention only current gigs, not any time spent in the studio.

Fish ponders asking Wolfie to work on his next album;
image from yerburystudio.com

I can wait a little longer. Long gaps in a treasured artist’s discography are painful, but endurable. An eventual return is better than a complete disappearance. VH and GNR fans survived. The Rush and Kiss armies have soldiered on. Even if The Stooges and New York Dolls could hardly capture the raw power of their initial work, there’s something cool about them treating their fans to long-awaited comebacks. Fish, just promise me Wolfgang Van Halen won’t be starting a band with his son before you’ve put out new product. I’ve missed you and I’ll be glad when you’re back.

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

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A slate of 11 inductees were announced for the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Performer inductees were selected from more than 500 voters from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. The ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Cleveland (where the Hall is based) and air on HBO in early May. The ceremony is open to the public. Here’s a breakdown of the nominees:

Beastie Boys
Induction category: Performer

“The Beastie Boys (Adam Yauch, Mike Diamond and Adam Horowitz) are among the pioneers of rap. The first white act to make real inroads in the emerging genre, they were known initially for boorish party music, but would develop into a group critically acclaimed for its musicality, experimenting with different soundscapes, even producing an instrumental album.” EW “Their 1986 debut album Licensed To Ill – a supremely bratty, hard-punching, pitch-perfect mix of rap and hard rock – was hip-hop’s first number one album.” RH “The single ‘(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)’, became a teenage party anthem of the 1980s.” RH 1989’s Paul’s Boutique “was one of the high points of hip-hop’s golden age of sampling” RH and throughout the ‘90s, the group fused hardcore punk and funk into their sound. The trio are still active, having released Hot Sauce Committee Part Two just this year.

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.



Donovan
Induction category: Performer

“The first British folk troubadour who truly captured the imaginations of early Beatles-era fans on both sides of the Atlantic, Donovan Leitch made the transition from a scruffy blue-jeaned busker into a brocaded hippie traveler.” RH He “became a Dylan-esque visual presence” RH with songs like “Catch the Wind” and “Mellow Yellow” and “ignited the psychedelic revolution virtually single handedly when the iconic single ‘Sunshine Superman’.” RH

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.



Tom Dowd
Induction category: The Award for Musical Excellence

Dowd was a scientist whose “dreams of becoming a nuclear physicist research specialist were sidetracked when he began using his engineering knowledge to work as a freelancer for various New York record labels.” RH He became an Atlantic Records staff engineer and producer in 1954 and embraced technological innovations like the use of stereo and eight-track recording machines. RH “At Atlantic, he recorded, and occasionally produced, artists such as Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding.” RH “In later years he helped to create the signature sound of the Allman Brothers Band, Cream, Dusty Springfield, Rod Stewart, Bette Midler, Chicago and the James Gang.”

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.

Guns N’ Roses
Induction category: Performer

Guns N’ Roses emerged in 1987 with their debut album Appetite for Destruction which spawned the #1 “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and the top ten hit “Welcome to the Jungle”. The latter referenced the “gritty realities” RH of the group trying to make it “as just another long-haired band trying to make it on the L.A. Sunset Strip club scene.” RH Frontman Axl Rose, guitarist Slash, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin, bassist Duff McKagan, and drummer Steven Adler “established themselves as one the most dynamic and explosive hard rock bands in history. In many ways, they became the Rolling Stones for a new generation.” RH However, after their pair of Use Your Illusion albums in 1991, which sported memorable songs like “November Rain” and “You Could Be Mine”, internal strife ate away at the band. A covers album followed in 1994, but then everyone jumped ship except for Rose, who put together a new lineup and finally released an album of new material 14 years later.

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.



Glyn Johns
Induction category: The Award for Musical Excellence

Born in 1942 in Epson, England, Johns started out as a performer and then became “an apprentice to the producer Shel Talmy, who worked with the Who and the Kinks. By 1965, Johns was engineering Rolling Stones’ recording sessions, including 1967’s Their Satanic Majesties Request and 1968’s Beggars Banquet.” RH “By 1971, Johns had hit his stride as a producer, with Who’s Next by the Who, the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers and the Faces’ A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse to his credit. He produced the Eagles’ first three albums and is arguably responsible for creating that group’s distinct Southern California sound.” RH He has also done producing and engineering work for Traffic, Procol Harum, Spooky Tooth, The Move, Steve Miler Band, The Band, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, The Clash, Jimmy Page, John Hiatt, and David Crosby. In 2011, he worked as “mixer, engineer and producer of Ryan Adams’ 2011 album, Ashes and Fire.” RH

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.

Freddie King
Induction category: Early Influence

Guitarists Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, and Carlos Santana “have all acknowledged their debt to Freddie King (1934-1976), the “Texas Cannonball.” RH Classics like “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” and “Hide Away” have become “part of the DNA of modern electric blues.” RH The Texas-born King and his family went to Chicago in 1950 and he started learning his craft from bluesmen like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and Jimmie Rodgers. King found chart success with six R&B hits in 1961, including four top tens. In the late ‘60s and ‘70s, he “thrived on rock, jazz and blues scenes and at festivals” RH and right up until his death was influencing acts like “Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan and the next generation of disciples who would take electric blues into the ’80s, ’90s and beyond.” RH

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.



Don Kirshner
Induction category: Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award

He started out as a songwriter working with Bobby Darin and went on to work at the famous Brill Building in New York during its heyday. He was pivotal in creating The Monkees and The Archies and later hosted Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, a live television music show which aired from 1973 to 1982. Kirshner died of heart failure on January 17, 2011.

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.

Cosimo Matassa
Induction category: The Award for Musical Excellence

New Orleans R&B historian Jeff Hannusch has written that “Virtually every R&B record made in New Orleans between the late 40s and early 70s was engineered by Cosimo Matassa, and recorded in one of his four studios.” RH Some of the artists who “helped give birth to rock and roll” RH recorded at Matassa’s New Orleans’ studios, including Fats Domino, Little Richard, Lloyd Price, and Professor Longhair.

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.

Laura Nyro
Induction category: Performer

The Bronx-born singer/songwriter and pianist (1947-1997) began recording as a teenager. During the ‘60s, other artists scored hits with her songs, among them Blood, Sweat & Tears with “And When I Die”, The 5th Dimension with “Wedding Bell Blues”, and Three Dog Night with “Eli’s Coming”. In the early ‘70s, Barbra Streisand “charted three consecutive times with Nyro songs” RH and in 1971 Nyro recorded with the vocal group Labelle. Elton John has said, “The soul, the passion, the out-and-out audacity of her rhythmic and melody changes was like nothing I’d ever heard before.”

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.



Red Hot Chili Peppers
Induction category: Performer

With its “fusion of metal and rap” RH the Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in 1983 “in the sin-and-glamour capital of America – Hollywood, California.” EW “Singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Michael Balzary AKA Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons were high school pals who combined their passions for Jimi Hendrix, Seventies R&B and hardcore punk with sexual exuberance and local skateboard culture.” RH By the group’s 1991 breakthrough album BloodSugarSexMagik, the Peppers had endured the 1988 drug-related death of Slovak and welcomed new guitarist John Frusciante. With songs like “Give It Away” and the #2 pop hit “Under the Bridge”, the group became one of the core groups of the ‘90s alternative rock scene. Kiedis and Flea, along with drummer Chad Smith and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, released the Peppers’ tenth album, I’m with You, this year.

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.



The Small Faces/The Faces
Induction category: Performer

The Small Faces formed in London in 1965 at the peak of the British Invasion. They consisted of singer Steve Marriott, bassist Ronnie Lane, organist Ian McLagan, and drummer Kenney Jones. They “set the standard for Sixties soul-inflected pop and English psychedelic romanticism” RH before Marriott quit in 1969. Then Jeff Beck Group alumnis Rod Stewart and Ron Wood were enlisted and the group was reborn as The Faces. They “made joyful roots music with arena muscle, cutting their own immortal body of work” RH before breaking up in 1975. The two variations “have been a lasting inspiration on artists like the Black Crowes, the Jam’s Paul Weller, the Replacements and Oasis.” RH Stewart and Wood are previous inductees as a solo artist and member of The Rolling Stones, respectively.

See DMDB music maker encyclopedia entry for more.



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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

And This Year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Are…

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September 27, 2011: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its nominees for the 2012 class. They are Beastie Boys, The Cure, Donovan, Eric B. & Rakim, Guns N’ Roses, Heart, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Freddie King, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rufus/Chaka Khan, The Small Faces/The Faces, The Spinners, Donna Summer, and War. An act is eligible 25 years after the release of its first album or single. The nominating committee is comprised of 40 critics and music experts. Then ballots are sent to 500 critics who vote to determine at least 5 of the 15 nominees to be inducted. Those will be announced in November.

The 15 nominees have been ranked by Dave’s Music Database (number in parentheses after act). This is based on several criteria, including overall DMDB rating, rankings from Notinhalloffame.com (a website which has ranked 500 acts not yet voted into the Hall), and the act’s current induction chances as predicted by FutureRockLegends.com. Included with each act is commentary from both sites. Click on acts to link to their Rock Hall bios.

Guns N’ Roses (1) 1st nomination; first-year eligibility. NH rank: 15, FRL induction chances: 76%



“Many bands have a broad appeal and it is easy to figure out why. Guns N’ Roses exploded on the scene in the late 80’s and despite their dirty look and harsh Metal sound they became instant International Superstars; despite not subscribing to the traditional formula.” NH As FutureRockLegends.com (FRL) says, “See you in Cleveland.” F1

2. Red Hot Chili Peppers (2) 2nd nomination; eligible since 2009, NH rank: 5, FRL induction chances: 64%


“The NIHOF committee couldn’t agree on very much unanimously… [but thought] The Red Hot Chili Peppers was as almost as close to a lock to being a first ballot inductee to the Hall. We were wrong, but we don’t think their wait will be a long one.” NH They “will inevitably be inducted. It’s just a matter of when.” F1

Beastie Boys (3) 3rd nomination (2nd consecutive); eligible since 2007, NH rank: 8, FRL induction chances: 82%.


“It’s mystifying why they haven’t been inducted yet. They have some of the strongest credentials of any eligible artist.” F1 “Eventually as more Rap and Hip Hop artists become eligible for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, we suspect that our future NIHOF lists will be populated with them. Until then, we will have to settle for the few we do have, and our next selection, The Beastie Boys seems like a great place to start in respect to the genre.” NH

The Cure (4). 1st nomination; eligible since 2003. NH rank: 13, FRL induction chances: 57%


“Interesting nomination. Certainly fills a void on recent ballots, but it seems highly unlikely they’ll be inducted this year. Also in line for this ballot slot, The Smiths and Joy Division / New Order.” F1 However, The Cure may personify “the gothic image of a band (who ironically despised that label) better than any other group on this list.” NH

Donna Summer (5). 4th nomination (3rd consecutive); eligible since 1999. NH rank: 61, FRL induction chances: 56%


“We don’t have a problem admitting that at NIHOF we don’t have any issue with (and sometimes quite enjoy) the Disco genre. We aren’t sure what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thinks though. The Bee Gees are in, and they are constantly trying to get Chic in, but what of the woman most closely associated with Disco, Donna Summer?” NH FRL says to expect her to “be nominated again next year, because she won’t make it again.” F1

Heart (6). First nomination; eligible since 2001. NH rank: 33, FRL induction chances: 17%


“Seattle will be well represented as the Grunge era becomes Hall of Fame eligible. Until then, we think the Pacific North West has good representative in our top fifty with the Wilson sisters, A.K.A., Heart.” NH “Great to see Heart make the ballot after waiting 10 years. They recently made an appearance at the Rock Hall Museum as part of the ‘Women Who Rock’ exhibit.” F1

The Spinners (7) 1st nomination; eligible since 1986 (first year of inductions). NH Rank: 76, FRL induction chances: 8%


“The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame contains many an artist flying the Motown flag. Motown certainly became a star making label and under their label many legends were born. With that being said meet The Spinners, a band on this list who actually became stars once they left Motown.” NH FRL says “It seems likely that they will be ushered in quickly by the Voting Committee, who has probably been waiting for a chance to vote for them for years.” F1

War (8) 2nd nomination; eligible since 1996. NH rank: 57, FRL induction chances: 30%


“The United States of America has often touted itself as the ‘Melting Pot’ of the world. We will let some other website debate the validity of that statement. For now, we will simply slot the ironically named band, War as the band on our list that we think best serves the Melting Pot analogy.” NH As for getting in, there was “not a lot of traction the last time they were on the ballot. With heavy competition this year, they won’t get in.” F1

The Small Faces/The Faces (9) 1st nomination; eligible since 1991. NH rank: 59/131, FRL induction chances: 33%


The Small Faces may “very well the biggest band in England that barely made a dent in the U.S. Incidentally, this could be the biggest factor that keeps them out of the Hall.” NH As for The Faces, the Hall sometimes has an “urgency to induct [acts] based on the name(s) involved…Previous inductions of the two key members; Ron Wood (The Rolling Stones) and Rod Stewart (for his solo career)…[may create less] urgency to induct them.” NH Still, “Don’t count them out.” F1

Donovan (10). 2nd nomination (2nd consecutive); eligible since 1990. NH rank: 108, FRL induction chances: 11%


“When you have an icon in any field there always seems to be a clamoring for alternate versions of the original. Scotland’s Donovan was called by the some as the British answer to Bob Dylan. This wasn’t a very accurate description as Donovan’s musical vision certainly varied from Dylan; or any one else for that matter.” NH “Not sure there is much momentum behind him, but perhaps he fared well on last year’s ballot.” F1

Eric B. & Rakim (11). 1st nomination; first-year eligibility. NH rank: 77, FRL induction chances: 41%


“Huge in hip-hop circles” F1 and “they may have done more to further the genre of Hip Hop than anyone else on the latter half of the 1980’s.” NH Still, “to get inducted into the Rock Hall, you generally have to transcend your genre.” F1

Rufus with Chaka Khan (12). 1st nomination; eligible since 1999. NH rank: 159, FRL induction chances: 10%


“Chaka Khan’s name has been on the ‘Previously Considered’ list for years, but here she gets the nomination with her ‘70s band Rufus.” F1 “Many a band has become best known for launching a career of a lead singer who had gone on to eclipse that of his/her former group. Rufus is likely best known for introducing the world to the sultry Chaka Khan who managed to have a great career on her own. Having said that, the best way for both parties to get in to the Hall is to remember the work they did together.” NH

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (13). 1st nomination; eligible since 2005. NH rank: 174, FRL induction chances: 16%


“We are going to play the gender card again on this selection. There are musicians who are ranked lower on this list who may have been more successful and played in much bigger venues, but it is our guess that nobody inspired more women to pick up a guitar than Joan Jett.” NH “Another focus of the ‘Women Who Rock’ exhibit. Many people wanted the Runaways to get in first, but the Rock Hall went with the more popular band.” F1

Freddie King (14). 1st nomination; eligible since 1986 (first year of inductions). NH rank: 355, FRL induction chances: 4%


“This year’s left field nomination. Never count these guys out of the voting.” F1 “Like other successful Blues…Freddie King came from the heart of the Texas and brought the Lone Star sound across the country.” NH

Laura Nyro (15). 3rd nomination (3rd consecutive); eligible since 1992. NH rank: 157, FRL induction chances: 31%


“Laura Nyro must have some strong advocates on the Nominating Committee.” F1 “Singer/Songwriters are often applauded for their lyrics as they should be. Few however, seem to be praised for their vocal skills as well. Laura Nyro was a rare talent who was that dual threat.” NH

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