Did anybody see the VH1 special of the greatest rock and roll artists of all time? Admittedly, I didn't. I think I was busy doing something useful with my life... then again, I think I was too busy clipping my toenails or something (but hey, that's pretty useful... if you don't clip them, eventually they tear holes in your socks and stuff). Thankfully, a lot of people on the net posted the list and I was able to look it over. It was interesting... very interesting! The list was compiled by polling a bunch of artists, apparently. I'm not sure of the criteria, but I'm sure it had to do with the artists influence on music in general. There were some unique names on this list. There were some who I felt were ranked too high. There were others who I felt weren't ranked high enough.
Well, I decided to share the list with you like others have... but I decided to throw in a bit of a twist. I've decided to comment on each and every one of the artists included. There's a hundred of them... it's a daunting task (not to mention one hell of a long rambling). Then, on top of that, I've decided to compile my own list of some 20 artists who I feel are the cream of the crop (Maybe I don't have much of a life if I have time to do all of this... oh, what the hell!). You can see that at the bottom of this rambling.
Below are the artists with my little comments after each name. I'm doing this on a total whim here... I did not pre-plan my comments. Just what's off the top of my cluttered mind. Here we go with...
VH1 100 GREATEST ARTISTS OF ROCK AND ROLL
1) Beatles -- Do they deserve to be number one? In most minds, I'm sure they are. They may have been the most influental band of our century. Then again... that can be debated to no end.
2) The Rolling Stones -- I think they're the greatest rock and roll band ever over The Beatles... I'll tell you why in my personal list.
3) Jimi Hendrix -- Definite top-ten material... the man tried to create things with the guitar that no one had ever thought up before.
4) Led Zeppelin -- Never a huge favorite of mine, but I can't argue with their influence.
5) Bob Dylan -- I never got Bob Dylan... then I saw him live this past year. I figured it out then. I'm not his biggest fan, but the man can really write a song. I just wish he could sing it better.
6) James Brown -- I love listening to his music! He may be the godfather of soul. But I can't get past the fact that he once beat his wife and spent time in jail for it. That part always got to me.
7) David Bowie -- Took rock and roll to a new level in his day... then he tried that "Tin Machine" crap. I never got that band. I don't know if I'd make him top 10 material. Top 20 definetly.
8) Elvis Presley -- I thought he'd be higher. He had a stage presence that couldn't be beat. I love some of his material. I just wish he actually wrote it himself.
9) The Who -- They made it cool to be loud! They would have to be top 10 material.
10) The Police -- This one I flat out didn't understand! The Police are great... I can't argue with that. I was never a fan, but I can't argue their place in rock and roll history. But... TOP 10? Not at all... there's too many deserving artists below who should be ahead of The Police!
11) Stevie Wonder -- This man is one of them... he should be top 10. He influenced more musicians in his time than The Police ever did in my book. It's a travesty that Stevie Wonder is out of the top 10 while The Police are above him.
12) Ray Charles -- They put the blind guys back-to-back. I'm a bit of a Ray Charles junkie! He might be the REAL godfather of soul!
13) The Beach Boys -- They had a lot of hits... Brian Wilson was a unique man, that's for sure. I never understood their popularity, but they belong high on the list.
14) Marvin Gaye -- One I didn't expect to see so high, but I'm glad he is! His career and life were cut way too short!
15) Eric Clapton -- Personal bias here... he is my favorite of them all. I didn't expect to see him number one, but I would have expected top 10. At least above the freakin' Police!
16) John Lennon -- He got his recognition with the Beatles being number one... he was half of the driving force. I'm glad he was ranked above Paul... Lennon's solo career was much better in my opinion!
17) Elton John -- A flat-out incredible live performer! And a great songwriter to boot (with Bernie Taupin)! No arguments putting him top 20. Wouldn't have argued putting him top 10.
18) The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince) -- Interesting choice. I agree with it! The man should be more known for his guitar work... it's incredible!
19) Pink Floyd -- Most people would agree with them being top 20 and I wouldn't argue with it... I just never got 100% into them like so many others have. Then again... I did listen to "The Wall" over and over again in my youth!
20) The Doors -- I think Jim Morrison was one of those artists who was destined to die young. If he were alive today, no one would put The Doors as highly as they are. I think his death added to their mystique. Great band... I like just a few of their songs though.
21) Aretha Franklin -- You know what I just noticed? She's the highest ranking female! There's something wrong with that... she deserved better than this ranking!
22) Fleetwood Mac -- I'd have put them right about here. No complaints, though I never went out of my way to buy one of their albums.
23) The Eagles -- See Fleetwood Mac.
24) Bob Marley -- The greatest Reggae singer ever... and he influenced a man in the top 20 (Clapton). That should have been enough for top 20 material.
25) Van Morrison -- More personal bias... I certainly think he should be higher! He still puts out albums today full of great music!
26) Chuck Berry -- The fact that this man isn't ranked higher is a flat-out TRAVESTY! The man helped create rock and roll, for crying out loud! The Police are top 10 and this man isn't? (Think I'm bitter about The Police here?)
27) Bruce Springsteen -- Should be top 20 material... then again, if everybody I thought were top 20 material got into the top 20, it would be the top 30 (no, that didn't make much sense to me... and I wrote it).
28) Sly & The Family Stone -- This one is about right! I love this band, but they broke up way too early to merit a higher ranking!
29) U2 -- No arguments here... though I no longer get their music. I don't like their current direction.
30) Neil Young -- The grandfather of grunge music! Ranked higher than Crosby, Stills, or Nash!
31) The Clash -- I'm surprised they were ranked this high... but they influenced a lot of bands in this era.
32) Joni Mitchell -- Technically, the second highest female to be ranked... I would have liked to see more females up here (Billie Holiday for one).
33) Queen -- This placement seems about right... another powerful live band!
34) Buddy Holly -- If that plane didn't crash, he would have been higher in this list... simply because he would have made more great music!
35) Otis Redding -- I'm surprised he isn't higher... but the competition is getting rough above! Simply one of the greatest singers that ever lived!
36) Little Richard -- If Chuck Berry deserves to be higher, then so does Little Richard! Ask him... he'll tell you himself!
37) Al Green -- I've always said... you can't mess with the Reverend! I'm glad he's on the list... love his style!
38) Elvis Costello -- I never got him personally... but he deserves to be here.
39) Miles Davis -- The greatest jazz man ever in my mind!
40) Michael Jackson -- There is karmic justice here! He may have the biggest selling album of all time, but this placement is about right in my book.
41) Janis Joplin -- It's a shame what Southern Comfort can do to a wonderful singer! Another female who deserved higher!
42) Nirvana -- I never was a big fan... but Kurt Cobain is an artist that 20 years from now people will look at like we look at Hendrix today. I won't agree with them, but I think it will happen.
43) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers -- I don't know why, and others are puzzled by this too, but I never liked this band. They seem to fit my style of music... but I never could bring myself to like their music. Oh well...
44) The Jackson Five -- Should be ranked higher than Michael as a solo artist. And, let me ask this... WHERE IS TITO JACKSON IN THIS LIST? HE WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE POWER THAT IS THE JACKSON 5! (Why are you all looking at me funny?)
45) Crosby, Stills & Nash -- Probably should at least be top 40. If David Crosby were dead they would be (admit it... you're surprised he's still alive with all of the drugs and crap he did).
46) The Sex Pistols -- Probably the most influential punk band ever. I never listened to them, but they deserve a place in rock and roll history!
47) Creedence Clearwater Revival -- This placement is about right... I don't care what John Fogerty says about them.
48) Van Halen -- I'm one of the few who liked them better with Sammy Hagar... so sue me!
49) Roy Orbison -- He deserved higher.
50) R.E.M -- They deserved lower! Michael Stipe takes himself way too seriously!
51) B.B. King -- Yet again... more personal bias! He deserves much higher! He's been playing music on the road for nearly 50 years! He's in his early 70's and STILL does 250 shows a year! He's influenced at least 5 artists in the top 20! He's been honored by U.S. Presidents! He's played for the Pope (even gave the Pope a guitar)! Then again... those blues men never get any respect!
52) Cream -- The first ever supergroup! I'd say they deserve higher... but there's my bias in the way again!
53) Peter Gabriel -- Probably the greatest video artist ever. That's worth something!
54) The Grateful Dead -- So many people would put them higher... then again those people tend to be pretty high themselves on a regular basis. I do wish I got to see them live in my day, though!
55) The Byrds -- They were a big part of the 60's. Their place in rock and roll is solid!
56) The Kinks -- Another placement I feel is just about right.
57) Steely Dan -- They probably influenced more artists than you know! Donald Fagan was a genius as well as a perfectionist!
58) Sam Cooke -- Another great soul singer. This spot is just about right though.
59) Bo Diddley -- The man has an entire rhythm named after him. You know the one I mean. You've heard it in so many songs! Man, this list really stuck it to the older artists!
60) Earth, Wind & Fire -- I think they deserve to be here... don't you?
61) Smokey Robinson -- Didn't like his 80's stuff... but I dig "Second That Emotion"!
62) Paul McCartney -- Lennon's #16, McCartney's #62... does that tell you something? Yet... Paul was probably the best REAL musician in the band. He could play three instruments proficiently.
63) Sting -- The Police should be right about here! I do like some of Sting's solo work, though!
64) Frank Zappa -- I never got him... but he's a rock and roll icon. What's he doing so low?
65) James Taylor -- A lot of women in the 25-54 bracket would argue he deserves to be higher!
66) Talking Heads -- You may ask yourself... what was David Byrne doing to his arm in that video? And you may ask yourself... why are they in the top 100? And you may say to yourself... this is not my beautiful house!
67) Kiss -- I have friends who would say they deserve higher... I would disagree. They had some good songs... but a little too much flash for my book! I think this placement is about right!
68) The Allman Brothers -- I think they're great... incredible live performers! But I know they're not everyone's cup of tea. That's why they're not higher!
69) Pretenders -- Another placement I think is right on target!
70) Stevie Ray Vaughan -- If only that chopper didn't crash! You know what's scary? His best music was ahead of him! Another bluesman who needs more respect in this list.
71) Rod Stewart -- I liked him better with The Faces.
72) Simon & Garfunkel -- "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" is a favorite of mine. And my grandmother has the same name as one of their songs ("Cecelia... you're breaking my heart...").
73) Muddy Waters -- Them bluesmen ain't gettin' no respect!
74) The Velvet Underground -- You know something... I never really liked Lou Reed! But... I guess they deserve to be here!
75) Curtis Mayfield -- I got no problem with him on this list. I wouldn't have been surprised if he went higher.
76) The Bee Gees -- You know something... they were probably more influential than we give them credit for. Their disco stuff aside (and yes... I like some of it... DAMN IT)... they had some really powerful songs in the early 70's... "Nights on Broadway" for one.
77) John Coltrane -- Good to see some jazzmen getting in here. Now... where's Charlie Parker?
78) Billy Joel -- This puzzles me... Elton John is #17, and deservedly so. Billy Joel, in my book, is as great as Elton John. WHAT'S HE DOING DOWN HERE?
79) Aerosmith -- Good to see some Boston boys in here. But... and this is going to sound cruel... they did their best music on drugs back in the day! The stuff they have out now is weak!
80) Tina Turner -- What's with the female artists being ranked so low? Her and Ike made a good team on stage, at least (it's a shame he was a jackass off stage)! Her's is the greatest story of courage in rock and roll! That should be worth something!
81) The Band -- Eric Clapton calls them a huge influence on his career... that's good enough for me!
82) Devo -- You know... I'm sure someone got them once! I never really did!
83) Iggy Pop -- See Devo.
84) T-Rex -- I'm surprised they're even here on the list! I never had a problem with them, but I'm surprised they made the cut.
85) Carole King -- She wrote many great songs that she didn't even record herself! The one's she did record were fantastic! There we go with the females being slighted!
86) Madonna -- She's had a lot of influence on pop culture, that's for sure! But I have no problem with this placement.
87) Santana -- Carlos is one hell of a guitarist! They deserve to be here! Dare I say... even higher?
88) Ramones -- Right about now... in the middle of writing all of this... I wanna be sedated, too!
89) Johnny Cash -- The only real country artist on here... and with good reason! He deserves it! "Folsom Prison Blues" will always hold a spot in my heart... it was one of my grandfather's favorite songs! So was Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia"... one of my all time favorites.
90) Tom Waits -- I can't say I ever sat down and listened to him. But I won't argue his place here.
91) Gladys Knight & the Pips -- Did a better version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" than Marvin Gaye and Creedence Clearwater Revival!
92) The Tempations -- There's a whole glut of Motown artists near the bottom here. Why is that?
93) The Four Tops -- Another Motown artist...
94) Diana Ross & The Supremes -- ...and another one. Did they need to meet a Motown quota? I think Motown deserved a higher recognition.
95) Robert Johnson -- The most influential bluesman ever! Ask Led Zepplin... they ripped off half of his lyrics and never really gave him credit! The man sold his soul to the devil to play better guitar! That oughta be worth something!
96) Lynyrd Skynyrd -- I'd say the most influential southern rock band ever. Yet the Allman's are ranked higher.
97) Fats Domino -- I'm glad they snuck one more old rock and roll artist in here.
98) Traffic -- A great and influential band. Top 100 material? Debatable, but I'd say yes. (And Steve Winwood didn't make it as a solo artist? I wouldn't put him here, but I am mildly surprised he wasn't on the list).
99) Parliament-Funkadelic -- Yes... Da Mothership deserves to be here! Tear Da Roof of Da Sucka! Bow-wow-wow-yippie-yo-yippie-yay!
100) Paul Simon -- I'd put him solo higher than Simon and Garfunkel just for the "Graceland" album... but just my opinion!
So... what did you think? I'm writing all of this in one night for the most part... pretty intense, huh? Now... a few notable omissions. One of the most influential artists is Les Paul. Hell, his name is on a lot of guitars that many of the above artists play. I have heard countless rock stars list him as an influence... why not here? Where was Bonnie Raitt? I agree she has gotten way too commercial... but if you've ever heard her earlier recordings, you would agree she deserves a place. And... where, oh where is Joe Cocker? He had probably the second greatest moment of Woodstock (right behind Hendrix) with his performance of "With a Little Help From My Friends". He has stood the test of time. And he has the greatest scream in rock and roll (in my opinion, better than Robert Plant or Roger Daltry). While were at it... where are the Bay City Rollers? "Saturday Night" is a deep song, indeed! (Yes, I'm kidding... stop looking at me that way!)
Now, let me continue on with my personal top 20. This is a totally unobjective and biased list.
SMOKIN' STEVE'S 20 GREATEST ARTISTS OF ROCK AND ROLL
1) Eric Clapton -- What did you expect me to say? He's god!
2) The Rolling Stones -- Why are they better than the Beatles? Well, they're still playing together for one. Yes, I know... while Lennon's dead, the Beatles can never get back together. But if Lennon were alive today, I don't think we'd be seeing any Beatles reunion tours. And... they have a much more extensive and broader range of recordings. On top of that, they're flat out better musicians. Even Mick can play a few things well (especially that harmonica... great blues harp). SO THERE!
3) B.B. King -- He's the greatest blues singer that ever lived in my book! On top of that... I've met him twice! I love this man! I hope he keeps going for twenty more years!
4) Stevie Ray Vaughan -- I will always kick myself for not seeing him live!
5) Buddy Guy -- A bluesman that didn't make VH1's list... but he's gonna make mine! Eric Clapton calls him the greatest living guitarist! That's enough for me!
6) Jimi Hendrix -- All guitarists look to him as the model!
7) Van Morrison -- Now that I've seen him live, my life is closer to fulfillment!
8) Joe Cocker -- He makes my list! Seeing him live is as close to a religious experience to me without going to church!
9) Luther Allison -- He put on the single best concert I've ever seen... then he died of lung cancer a month later! I'm glad I got to experience him!
10) The Neville Brothers -- The best New Orleans has to offer, in my opinion!
11) Ray Charles -- His version of Leon Russell's "Song For You" does it for me! But that's only one of his many great recordings!
12) Chuck Berry -- He is the true father of rock and roll! It's a shame that he's a miserable man outside of it!
13) Robert Cray -- His "Strong Persuader" album is one of my all time favorites!
14) Allman Brothers -- The best jam band around! They can play 30 minute songs and make them sound great!
15) Billy Joel -- I saw him live at the Boston Garden in 1993... the only concert I've ever been to at the Garden! He made me a fan forever with that show!
16) Koko Taylor -- The QUEEN of the blues! My highest ranking female is only 16th... but at least I got one in the top 20!
17) Elton John -- What can I say... he's makes a sappy ballad cool!
18) Dr. John -- He's right there with the Nevilles as the best New Orleans has to offer!
19) The Beatles -- I figured they should be in my top 20 too. There's always a part of me that loves them... especially their later stuff!
20) Al Green -- I said it before, and I'll say it again... DON'T MESS WITH THE REVEREND!
That's enough of a rambling to hold me for a few months! I need some rest for my brain now!
Steve Skalish
June 4, 1998 (edited July 20th, 1998)
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