Essential Classic Rock Listening

When I was almost 14, and I went to sleepaway camp, I spent much of my time at the radio station. The main reason I hung out there was because the counselor, Roger Bailey, was probably the kindest, most charming guy you could ever meet. Many campers would spend their time lounging around, socializing, and listening to his wisdom. Additionally, I had an interest in learning more about classic rock. My knowledge of classic rock was limited to The Yellow Submarine.

One day, Roger decided to gather a list of essential listening so I could develop my library beyond crappy pop music. As I was cleaning my desktop files, I found this list, and I thought it might be worth sharing with you guys. During my freshman year, I would visit FYE weekly, and each time I went, I picked up a CD by an artist on this list for $5 or less. You guys can easily listen to songs on Youtube or Spotify.

Must-Hear List

Bands/Artists

* = heavier (metal/hard rock)

·      Beatles

·      Led Zeppelin

·      Eric Clapton

·      Cream/Yardbirds

·      Jimi Hendrix

·      Heart

·      David Bowie

·      James Brown

·      Crosby, Stills, + Nash

·      Neil Young

·      Otis Redding

·      Nirvana *

·      Steely Dan

·      The Doors

·      The Eagles

·      Fleetwood Mac

·      Supergrass

·      Joni Mitchell

·      Smashing Pumpkins

·      Rush *

·      Yes

·      The Grateful Dead

·      Bruce Springsteen

·      ZZ Top

·      The Who

·      The Rolling Stones

·      Cheap Trick

·      The Ramones

·      Thin Lizzy *

·      10 Years After

·      Elvis Presley

·      Chuck Berry

·      Jerry Lee Lewis

·      Stevie Wonder

·      Kansas

·      Journey

·      Boston

·      Red Hot Chili Peppers

·      Queen

·      Pink Floyd

·      Kiss *

·      Black Sabbath/Ozzy *

·      Mountain

·      The Kinks

·      Van Halen

·      Johnny Winter

·      Jeff Beck

·      The Moody Blues

·      Free

·      AC/DC *

·      Le Tigre

·      Dio *

·      Creedence Clearwater

·      Bob Marley

·      The Police

·      The Cars

·      Little Richard

·      Michael Jackson

·      Billy Joel

·      Jackson 5

·      Metallica *

·      Jethro Tull

·      ELO

·      Beach Boys

Songs

·      Beatles

·      Led Zeppelin - "Kashmir" / "Stairway to Heaven"

·      Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "You're My Best Friend"

·      David Bowie - "Space Oddity"

·      Chuck Berry - "Maybelline"

·      Little Richard - "Hear You Knockin"

·      Elvis - "Jailhouse Rock"

·      The Who - "Baba O'Reilly"

·      The Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"

·      Cheap Trick - "Surrender" / "I Want You To Want Me"

·      James Brown - "I Feel Good"

·      Badfinger - "Come and Get It"

·      The Police - "I Can't Stand Losing You"

·      Otis Redding - "Respect"

·      Pink Floyd - the entire"Dark Side of the Moon" album

·      Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"

·      Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 - Any

·      AC/DC - "Highway to Hell"

·      Crosby, Stills + Nash - "Suite Judy Blue Eyes"

·      Jimi Hendrix - "Manic Depression"

·      The Dools - "Light My Fire"

·      Chicago - "Baby What a Big Surprise"

·      Kansas - "Dust in the Wind"

·      Boston - "More Than a Feeling"

·      Heart - "Magic Man"

·      Yes - "I've Seen All Good People"

·      Rush - "Limelight"