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Top 15 Epic Rock Songs from the 1970's (5-1)May 28 '07 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Here you are, folks. Please feel free to bomb my selections in the Comments section, or mercilessly chastise me for leaving out Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Alrighty. Here they are, the five we've been working up to. The ones that really stood out in the 1970's as first-rate epic compositions. These are the songs that skillfully combined power, finesse, intelligence, and gutter mysticism to break the bounds of acceptable track lengths, and by doing so burned permanent places for themselves in the pantheon of rock n' roll classics. Thus, I doubt if any of these sitting at the top of the list will come as much of a surprise (especially for those of you who've read enough of my junk to know my tastes). Before we get to them, though, let's look at some honorable mentions from the 1970's that were almost monumental enough to make the cut. And, as always, you're in a Meat Loaf-free zone. And sorry Chuck, no Ted Nugent either. The Doors: Riders On The Storm- Jim Morrison's last big hurrah before dying in 1971. A softly crawling exercise in menace, with some of the lyrics loosely based on the actions of hitch-hiking serial killer Billy Cook, as well as a healthy helping of Morrison's bleak outlook on life itself. David Bowie: Station To Station- after trying unsuccessfully in 1975 to be a funky black man, Bowie returned to form with this ten minute monster that goes from two note clunker to full-blown disco, while referencing the Kabala, Aleister Crowley, and the cocaine-fueled insanity that his life had then become. The European cannon had returned indeed. Boston: Foreplay/Long Time- Boston always tried to sound big and impressive, and this is the one track that really did it. Foreplay is an awesome intro on par with any found in prog rock, and like a good epic, it manages to be both musically impressive and melodically memorable, especially once ol' Brad Delp comes in with that high shriek of his. KISS: Detroit Rock City- this probably seems an odd inclusion, but if KISS ever made anything that approached the level of an epic, it would have to be this ditty about dying in a car wreck. I think most of the guitarists I knew in high school learned this song first, and while all of the parts are borderline elementary in their simplicity, they're fitted together in such a way that the song sounds bigger than it really should. Alice Cooper: Black Juju, Killer- Vincent and the boys made two especially awesome epics back in their heyday. Both of these tunes have an evil vibe, with Juju being about as Gothic as early 70's rock could get. Lots of changes and Alice yelling, and some very tasty instrumental work on the part of Michael Bruce and Glen Buxton. Rainbow: Gates Of Babylon, Stargazer- Ritchie Blackmore's post-Deep Purple collaboration with Ronnie Dio produced a few large packages, most notably the awesomely evil Middle Eastern Babylon and the stately and orchestral Stargazer. Neither were radio hits but should most definitely be investigated. Bob Marley: Exodus- the closest reggae ever came to producing an epic masterpiece. While the rhythmic sameness of the genre would seem to exclude it from consideration, Exodus is a driving, sprawling beast that puts me in the same mental territory as some of these others. Kraftwerk: Autobahn- my buddy Mark would like me to throw this out as an epic of 70's electronica. I'd probably be more inclined to put Trans-Europe Express, but Autobahn is certainly a colossus, and one that goes on for over twenty minutes. Anyway, here are the top five. The ones that'll cause me to attack anybody who tries to touch the radio dial when they come on. Songs that are musically thrilling, lyrically awesome, and possibly represent the highest expression of 1970's rock as an art form. 5) Styx: Come Sail Away Roll your eyes all you want- this one has amply demonstrated its staying power. Dennis DeYoung once said that he wrote it during a depression caused by the unimpressive sales of the Crystal Ball and Equinox albums. Given the jolly Broadway manner in which he sings the piece, one would never guess the guy was down; either way, thanks to this song, Styx would never again have to worry about how to pay the plumber. Not only do I like the contrast between the beautiful piano first half and the rock-out of the latter (and let us not forget the strange little synthy middle section), I’ve always loved the curveball taken by the lyrics, with seekers of a new life setting sail, only to find themselves spirited off by extraterrestrials. Probably one of the most positive rocks songs ever (and South Park’s creators would have to agree), and a chorus that just WILL NOT GO AWAY. 4) Kansas: Carry On Wayward Son Another titanic marriage of the piano-driven and the guitar-heavy, this 1976 breakthrough hit for American prog-rockers Kansas also explores a timeless theme. However, unlike the message of hopeful self-discovery that worked so well for Styx, guitarist Kerry Livgren kicked his way into the profit margin with a retelling of the Icarus myth (you know, the Greek chap who flew too high with his wings of wax and ended up going down in the drink). Steve Walsh, arguably one of the best rock vocalists of that entire decade, commands the listener’s attention from moment one with that thick refrain, and anybody who doesn’t say this song jams better not say so while I’m drinking shots. The guitar solos, the majestic feel invoked by Walsh’s singing and piano playing, the strange yet subtle shifts in rhythm and tempo- it all pulled me in as a kid and still deserves my admiration to this very day. 3) Blue Oyster Cult: Don’t Fear The Reaper In addition to being the source of one of the funniest Saturday Night Live skits ever, this eerie yet poignant epic is notable for its treatment of death as an essential part of nature, an inevitable force that ought to be embraced like one would a lover. Written by lead guitarist and occasional vocalist Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser during a period of nearly fatal illness, Reaper has one of the most memorable opening riffs ever, as well as a guitar solo that I’d probably consider among my all-time faves. Between the soft, almost distant quality of Roeser’s vocals and the spooky lyrics that reference Romeo and Juliet alongside the 40,000 men that join them daily in the grave, as well as descriptions of a grieving Mary being visited and taken away by the phantom of her lover, there is something ghostly about this song that people have recognized for over thirty years. BOC wrote a lot of really interesting tunes during their glory days of the 70’s, but this is one that simply moved onto a plane that most rock songs will never reach. 2) The Eagles: Hotel California As a whole, The Eagles were a very hit or miss affair for me, but Don Henley, Don Felder, and Glenn Frey really hit the mother lode with this, a troubling commentary on American society of the 1970’s, particularly the decadent scene that existed in California. Just about any ol’ lyrics would’ve worked over that melancholy chord progression, but Henley’s tale of a man coming upon a sinister hotel in the desert is a fascinating piece of literature in and of itself. In addition to the clever phrases and wordplay (her mind is Tiffany-twisted/she got the Mercedes bends), there’s a seemingly malevolent underlying message that’s caused some to speculate that the song is somehow Satanic (thanks in no small part to the bit about people stabbing an apparently immortal beast with their steely knives during a feast in the master’s chambers). When you realize that Don was just generally describing any situation that starts out smooth and ends up being a trap, be it drug addiction, a cultural slide into debasement and debauchery, or simply finding oneself on a scary roller coaster and unable to disembark, the song loses its evil aura and becomes a lovely if slightly depressing bit of philosophy, albeit one with some super hot solos and at least one really cool drum fill. 1) Led Zeppelin: Stairway To Heaven Well, who didn’t see this one coming? And who out there would say that it doesn’t deserve its position at the top? Despite the talk of backwards messages (which I, along with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, find extremely retarded), tales of automatic writing (Plant was once quoted as saying that the lyrics basically wrote themselves, using his hand as the vehicle), and endless speculation as to what it’s all about, Stairway really is just a gorgeous look at a woman who undergoes a spiritual transformation with the help of characters and images that any student of Celtic mythology would instantly recognize (the piper, the May-Queen, laughing forests and bustling hedgerows). The song’s significance is quite alchemical, dealing as it does with the lady’s transformation from a creature of greedy baseness and self-interest to an enlightened spirit who now shines light and wants to show us all the way. Musically, it’s an unparalleled masterpiece of build and beauty; not only do we go from quiet guitars and flutes in the beginning to John Bonham’s bashing drums and a viciously ripping Page lead by song’s end, Plant himself gradually shifts from a sleepy storyteller to a shrill-throated banshee. There is a reason why this is the most-played song ever on rock radio and has sold more sheet music than any other, despite never having been released as an official single: it is a fascinating work of art that poetically describes the very struggle that we as humans (well, us normal ones at least) carry on for the span of our entire lives- the building-up of our souls so that, at the end of the day, they stand taller than our shadows. And there you have it. The fifteen 70’s rock epics that make me wonder why bands these days even act as if they have anything important to say or play. It’s not as though any of the artists listed invented the form (in fact, had I permitted myself to include some 1960’s tunes, it’s possible that King Crimson’s 21st Century Schizoid Man, Black Sabbath’s eponymous track, The Stones’ Sympathy For The Devil, or even In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida would’ve edged some of the contenders out), but these are the ones that I grew up with and by which I continue to judge much of what I hear. Top 15 Epic Rock Songs from the 1970's (10-6) http://www.epinions.com/content_5025538180 Top 15 Epic Rock Songs from the 1970's (15-11) http://www.epinions.com/content_5025079428  |
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