Green Day: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2015

Official Site: http://www.greenday.com/

Rock Hall Bio: https://rockhall.com/inductees/nominees/green-day/

Green Day formed in 1986. The current lineup came together when Tre Cool joined the band in 1990. They released a couple of albums on an independent label. They signed a big label deal and broke out in 1994.

Longview (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42BBdzzgPNM

Welcome to Paradise (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7R9Kuw2fY

Basket Case (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUTGr5t3MoY

When I Come Around (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8dh9gDzmz8

Geek Stink Breath (1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr2T-Rcgq1c

Good Riddance (1997): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ8N1KacJc

Minority (2000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDBlqu6KF4k

Warning (2000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eebfMFzJHNs

In 2004, critics began comparing them to The Clash and The Who.

American Idiot (2004): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee_uujKuJMI

Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soa3gO7tL-c

Holiday (2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1OqtIqzScI

Wake Me Up When September Ends (2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU9JoFKlaZ0

Working Class Hero (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPPgeDhGzKY

Know Your Enemy (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IclmVdWNbI

21 Guns (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r00ikilDxW4

Oh Love (2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWwMqa-_210

X-Kid (2013):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVmpURJEZRY

The Clash: Rock the Casbah (1982)

"Rock the Casbah" became The Clash's biggest hit. It begins with some Arab king banning rock music. In response, the people "rock the Casbah" which results in an airstrike. However, the pilots don't obey orders and rock out themselves. The song incorporates Arabic, Hebrew, and Sanscrit words in a clever way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

The Clash: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2003

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-clash/bio/

Official Site: http://www.theclash.com/

The Clash formed in the initial stages of British punk in 1976. Although they began as punks, they later incorporated ska, reggae, funk, rockabilly, and other musical forms into their music. They were unabashed revolutionaries and engaged in leftist politics, which later influenced other bands such as U2.

White Riot (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzXkbV4lEKU

Complete Control (1977): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeTw_p_WglY

Clash City Rockers (1978): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzmNzJgvKFo

(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais (1978): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTnijX0TH-w

Tommy Gun (1978): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFHEuKkTa5k

The band was accused of selling out.

English Civil War (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6zcTRAeNp0

I Fought the Law (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsS0cvTxU-8

London Calling became a seminal rock n roll record, which provided a very dark analysis of post-industrial Britain.

London Calling (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfK-WX2pa8c

Clampdown (1979): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVYMppMiSmc

Train in Vain (1980): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNot47WRBFk

The Magnificent Seven (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijiazWlawUY

This is Radio Clash (1981): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk0MnQft85M

Rock the Casbah (1982): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (1982): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMaE6toi4mk

Drugs led to Topper Headon’s departure in 1982. Mick Jones left  the following year after fighting with Joe Strummer.

Their final album was universally panned, but led to one classic:

This is England (1985): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROj_1R36lX0

The Clash broke up in 1986.

The members considered a reunion in 2002. Joe Strummer died of a congenital heart defect before it could take place.

The Clash: I Fought the Law (1979)

Several artists have taken a shot at recording “I Fought the Law.” Bobby Fuller’s original is the best remembered. The Clash modernized the 1959 hit two decades later giving it a grittier punk edge. Waylon Jennings, Social Distortion, Green Day, Bryan Adams, John Mellencamp, and Bruce Springsteen are among the myriad of artists to cover Fuller’s hit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9wwsxiLGbg

The Greatest Songs of the 1970s: Part II

Part 2 (of 3): My favorite songs of the 1970s:

Running on Empty by Jackson Browne:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJYRtOPUonA

Complete Control by The Clash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TcKiC2yB0s

Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ul-cZyuYq4

My My Hey Hey by Neil Young:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O1v_7T6p8U

Sam and Dave: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1992

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/sam-and-dave/

The pair began performing together in 1961. They met on the Gospel circuit.

I Need Love (1962):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ANa7HEQWw

They recorded at Stax from 1965-68.

You Don’t Know Like I Know (1965):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpYLPnYYKs03

They broke through with…

Hold On, I’m Coming (1965):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9iiO-EVb-A

Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody (1966):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLnAWwYo8Bo

You Got Me Hummin’ (1967):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLRZJl4FKc0

When Something is Wrong with My Baby (1967):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89ddPhDZgUA

Soothe Me (1967):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8JUN085KZA

Soul Man (1967):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B26ORjxQdNA

In 1968, they moved to Atlantic Records

I Thank You (1968):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLtKYFP-Zso

By this point, they were known as “Double Dynamite” for their live shows.

Soul Sister Brown Sugar (1969):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgzLhbjRnLw

The duo split in 1970, but reformed.

Don’t Pull Your Love (1971):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIKBDSn7fkU

After 1972, they failed to win another record deal, but kept touring.

Why Did You Do It (1977):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7XdE7w1Zcs

The Blues Brothers (1979) led to a resurgence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1ehMrK3itM

They opened for the Clash in 1979-80. They also opened for Sha Na Na in 1980.

The pair later split for good and did not speak for 13 years.

In 1988, Dave Prater died in a car accident.
Sam Moore performed with Bruce Springsteen in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame concert in 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTplny76s7M&feature=related

RS Mag's Top 500 Songs #11-20

11. My Generation: The Who- Hope I die before I get old. How this is not in the top 10 is beyond me, but it’s close!

12. A Change is Gonna Come: Sam Cooke- Cooke was shot and killed in a Los Angeles hotel. He was chasing a white woman that stole his clothes. This song was released two weeks later. It is about the day when black Americans would be equal. It became a civil rights anthem.

13. Yesterday: The Beatles- If there is a perfect song, this is it.

14. Blowin’ in the Wind: Bob Dylan- Dylan’s first important work.

15. London Calling: The Clash- The whole album was post industrial/post apocalyptic.

16. I Want to Hold Your Hand: The Beatles- and Beatlemania was born.

17. Purple Haze: Jimi Hendrix- Originally the lyrics read Purple Haze, Jesus Saves.

18. Maybellene: Chuck Berry- Alan Freed played this over and over and over. This signaled the beginning of the rock era.

19. Hound Dog: Elvis Presley- Elvis redid Big Mama’s Thornton’s song, and changed some of the lyrics, and a musical revolution took off.

20. Let it Be: The Beatles- John had problems with the religious reference, but Mother Mary was Paul’s mom and not Mary of Mary mother of Jesus fame.

Rolling Stone Mag's Top 500 Songs #216-230

216. Rockin’ in the Free World: Neil Young- Pride and guilt about being American…Young throws everything from infanticide to the hole in the ozone layer (remember that crisis?) into this song


217. Your Cheatin’ Heart: Hank Williams Sr.- Real country; not this Taylor Swift pop stuff.

218. Do You Believe in Magic?: The Lovin’ Spoonful- America’s answer to the British Invasion.

219. Jolene: Dolly Parton- Parton’s breakout hit; covered much later by the White Stripes.

220. Boom Boom: John Lee Hooker- Hooker adds bounce to the blues.

221. Spoonful: Howlin’ Wolf- Cream later covered this. Wolf was a baaaad man.

222. Walk Away Renee: The Left Banke- Another odd choice. No one remembers this one...well almost no one.

223. Walk on the Wild Side: Lou Reed- and the colored girls go doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo

224. Oh, Pretty Woman: Roy Orbison- Should be in the top 40 greatest ever. How is #222 ahead of this?

225. Dance to the Music: Sly and the Family Stone- It’s a shame Sly is so messed up now.

226. Hoochie Coochie Man: Muddy Waters- Not a gangsta…not a pimp…a hoochie coochie man!

227. Fire and Rain: James Taylor- About addiction, crisis, and recovery.

228. Should I Stay or Should I Go?: The Clash- A prescient question as the band began to implode.

229. Good Times: Chic- Influenced Queen and the Sugarhill Gang. It was a song based on irony as it came out during the worst times since the Great Depression.

230. Mannish Boy: Muddy Waters- One of the all time great Blues songs.

Rolling Stone Mag's Top 500 Songs #276-300

276. Sloop John B: The Beach Boys- I think of Forrest Gump in the rain when I hear this.

277. Sweet Little Sixteen: Chuck Berry- The Beach Boys ripped this off and now Chuck Berry has a writing credit on “Surfin’ USA.”

278. Something: The Beatles- Pattie Boyd influenced this, and Layla and Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.

279. Somebody to Love: Jefferson Airplane- Grace Slick accidentally got invited to the Nixon White House. She wanted to plant LSD in his drink, but got caught.

280. Born in the USA: Bruce Springsteen- The song’s message got lost in the flag.

281. I’ll Take You There: The Staples Singers- Still appears in commercials…It will never die!

282. Ziggy Stardust: David Bowie- Bowie makes a plastic rock star and becomes a real rock star.

283. Pictures of You: The Cure- Robert Smith does a love song…and of course it is about a broken dream.

284. Chapel of Love: Dixie Cups- Phil Spector was behind this (of course). It appears in wedding movies and will never die.

285. Ain’t No Sunshine: Bill Withers- Not sure why this is so high up.

286. Seven Nation Army: White Stripes- One of the last of the classic rock bands…even though they are newer.

287. You Are the Sunshine of My Life: Stevie Wonder- I vaguely remember this from childhood. I’m surprised it is not used in commercials nowadays.

288. Help Me: Joni Mitchell- Jazz meets the singer/songwriter genre.

289. Call Me: Blondie- More hookers.

290. What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love, and Understanding): Elvis Costello- Great song/long title.

291. Smokestack Lightin’: Howlin’ Wolf- Now we’re talking!

292. Summer Babe: Pavement- Pavement does a Lou Reed imitation.

293. Walk this Way: Run DMC and Aerosmith- They created a monster. Now we can’t get rid of rap rock.

294. Money (That’s What I Want): Barrett Strong- Motown’s First Hit

295. Can’t Buy Me Love: The Beatles- More hookers

296. Stan: Eminem and Dido: Not very often a song becomes a hit twice during the same period of time. This happened for Dido.

297. She’s Not There: The Zombies- The British Invasion meets jazz.

298. Train in Vain: The Clash- An uplifting end to an album about the post modern apocalypse

299. Tired of Being Alone: Al Green- Al Green was huge many moons ago.

300. Black Dog: Led Zeppelin- Robert Plant’s ode to a dog’s upfrontness. No courting rituals here!

RS Magazine's Top 500 Songs #371-390

371. Complete Control: The Clash- A jam and a tirade against sell-outs.

372. The Letter: The Box Tops- The late great Alex Chilton was 16 when he cut this. I have seen many interviews with Vietnam vets that loved this song.

373. Highway 61 Revisited: Bob Dylan- What was he on?

374. Unchained Melody: The Righteous Brothers- The song that won’t die. It came back like Jason or Freddy when I was in High School.

375. How Deep is Your Love: The Bee Gees- Reminds me of being 5 or 6.

376. White Room: Cream- Nothing like a drug trip, Eric Clapton, and a wah wah.

377. Personal Jesus: Depeche Mode- It sounds like a song about televangelism, but is actually about Elvis.

378. I’m a Man: Bo Diddley- This is the basis of rock n roll. It’s essence.

379. The Wind Cries Mary: The Jimi Hendrix Experience- A Hendrix ballad? The Lions version was “The Crowd Cries Barry!”

380. I Can’t Explain: The Who- Pete Townsend examines the teen inability to vocalize….with a big riff.

381. Marquee Moon: Television- Many groups were influenced by Television, even if they did not know it.

382. Wonderful World: Sam Cooke- Another song that could be sponsored by teacher’s unions…(don’t know much about history…)

383. Brown Eyed Handsome Man: Chuck Berry- This is subversive. Chuck Berry takes a shot at Jim Crow, but you have to know the story behind the song to know it.

384. Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2: Pink Floyd- Roger Waters did not like school. Nowadays, it makes a great theme song for various teacher’s unions.

385. Fake Plastic Trees: Radiohead- I am shocked they only have two songs in this.

386. Maps: Yeah Yeah Yeahs- an interesting song. Reminded me of late 80s/early 90s alt.

387. Hit the Road Jack: Ray Charles- Today’s version would be “Hit the road Bar-ack and don’t you come back no more no more no more.

388. Pride (In the Name of Love): U2- U2’s ode to Martin Luther King and their fervent wish for an Irish MLK. Back then, Bono had a mega-mullet.

389. Radio Free Europe: REM- An important song which eventually led to the early 90s short-lived revolution.

390. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: Elton John- IMO This is probably John’s best work

RS Magazine's Top 500 Songs #431-450

431. William, It Was Really Nothing: The Smiths- This is the Smiths' best work. It's about teen sex and a love triangle. Morrisey is particularly tortured here.

432. American Idiot: Green Day-Green Day branches out and ends up getting compared with the Clash. The American Idiot album captured the zeitgeist of the time better than any other album.

433. Tumbling Dice: The Rolling Stones-Mick thought the song was weak. Audiences love it.

434. Smoke on the Water: Deep Purple- Greatest riff of all time.

435. New Year's Day: U2- This made U2 stars and demonstrated their progression out of the New Wave/post punk movement.

436. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love: Solomon Burke- Another Blues Brothers hit.

437. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais: The Clash- The Clash branch out from punk and become the "only band that matters." Using reggae, the song's themes include anti-racism and a tirade against selling out.

438. Ain't That a Shame: Fats Domino- Just an awesome song.

439. Midnight Train to Georgia: Gladys Knight and the Pips- I am amazed at the staying power of this song. Must have been huge in the fall of 1973.

440. Ramble On: Led Zeppelin- Who would have thought groupies and Lord of the Rings would go together?

441. Mustang Sally: Wilson Pickett- This is just great.

442. Alone Again Or: Love- Another one that I never would have included.

443. Beast of Burden: The Rolling Stones- The most overrated Stones song.

444. Love Me Tender: Elvis Presley-This one puts me to sleep.

445. I Wanna Be Your Dog: The Stooges- The essence of rock is in this song.

446. Push It: Salt n Peppa- Not sure why this is here.

447. Pink Houses: John Cougar Mellencamp- An eighties version of "This Land is Your Land."

448. In da Club: 50 Cent- OVER-RATED

449. Come Go With Me: The Dell Vikings-The Dell-Vikings were the first successful multiracial group which is probably why this made the cut.

450. I Shot the Sheriff: Bob Marley and the Wailers- I shot the sheriff sounds better than the original title "I Shot the Police." It makes it an outlaw song as well as a protest song and hence less objectionable. I find the vocals amusing.