There are other songs that are its equal, but I’m not sure if I can think of a song that surpasses the Beatles’ cover of the Shirelles’ “Boys” as a pure, Rock & Roll song. That’s Richard Starkey nailing the lead vocals and George’s solo is perfect. Every lead guitarist wannabe should study this solo until he or she knows it backwards and forwards. It’s not the quantity or volume of the notes, not even the duration of the solo, it’s how the solo fits with the rest of the song. It’s about the song, not the soloist.
So, if a flying saucer landed tomorrow and Martians asked you for an example of Rock & Roll, what song would you play for them?
And while you’re telling us all in the comments, here’s a great quote from Paul McCartney about this song:
“Any one of us could hold the audience. Ringo would do ‘Boys’, which was a fan favourite with the crowd. And it was great – though if you think about it, here’s us doing a song and it was really a girls’ song. ‘I talk about boys now!’ Or it was a gay song. But we never even listened. It’s just a great song. I think that’s one of the things about youth – you just don’t give a shit. I love the innocence of those days.”
Blitzkrieg bop…fast short intense and damn near perfect.
That’s a tough one, Rufus. I’m trying to narrow it down a little bit. Maybe something from the 50’s or 60’s, and in a pentatonic scale. Rock and Roll is hard to define.
Sorry men from Mars, just one it too tough – you’re going to have to listen to a short set (of the ones that come to mind immediately, in alphabetical order);
“Born to Be Wild” – Steppenwolf
“Good Lovin’ ” – Rascals
“Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry version, not Michael J. Fox version
“Locomotive Breath” – Tull
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” – The Who
(“Locomotive Breath” doesn’t really fit in there, but I think every visiting Martian should have a chance to hear a song with an electric flute – plus, I just like it).
Definitely a tough one, and I’m far from an expert. One thing for sure though, I steer the Martians clear of “Stairway to Heaven”. There is Led Zep that I like a lot, but I never understood the fascination with Stairway.
My first instinct is to vote for “Walk of Life” by Dire Straits. Hearing it always makes me happy. Or maybe it’s just because I love the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrjBddCTCmk
“Walk of Life” over “Sultans of Swing”? (We don’t know if the Martians get to see the video).
Re: “Stairway to Heaven” When I was dating the woman who is now Mrs. Stosh (or Mrs. Sticks, if you prefer), I gave her brother a CD as a birthday present – it was titled “Stairways to Heaven”, or some such thing – a dozen different groups covering “Stairway to Heaven”.
By the way, got it at Hegewisch Records, back when they had their shop out on Torrence in Burnham.
“I gave her brother a CD as a birthday present – it was titled “Stairways to Heaven”, or some such thing – a dozen different groups covering “Stairway to Heaven”.”
What? Hoping that he would take a power drill to his head, leaving the future Mrs. Stoshicks in such a state of grief that she would accept a marriage proposal from anybody?
Seems a little extreme.
Just get her drunk and pop the question at a weak moment. That’s what I did.
Wait a second – she never told me some other guy got her drunk and proposed to her!
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl”
American Girl is a great choice Eric. I reserve the right to name another as my choice, but that is an excellent song. Brings back memories of playing that through my roommate’s stereo (along with teh record) on some cheap Jap-Srat copy that I had bought. Over and over for hours.
But Boys, yikes, Rufus. I guess you’re just more comfortable with your sexulaity or something, but this song, played by the Beatles, anyway, is too goofy to tolerate. Always gave me the creeps.
Very comfortable. This song rocks! Who are you to argue with Sir Paul McCartney?
And not one comment on the brilliance of my title on this post?! My Christmas wish is that I get a blog with readers smart enough to appreciate me.