Sunday, January 31, 2010

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

I have to admit, I first fell in love with this song when Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora played it at the 2001 My VH1 Awards right after George Harrison died. but listening to the song played by anyone else other than George Harrison and The Beatles is a shameful event.

"Here Comes The Sun" is one of the most widely known contribution George made to The Beatles, singing and playing acoustic guitar on the track. It originated from a collaboration session with friend and artist Eric Clapton.

After it was released in 1969, this song was covered by a variety of artists, including Bon Jovi, Paul Simon, U2, James Taylor and Sheryl Crow.

Here is a version of the song being played by the fantastic George Harrison, along with fellow Beatle Ring Starr and Elton John, Eric Clapton and Phil Collins.


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi

"I've seen a million faces and I've rocked them all"

That line is my favorite line in any song every written.

Bon Jovi's 1987 single "Wanted Dead Or Alive" is one of those iconic songs that will live forever. The third single off of their Slippery When Wet album, Bon Jovi wrote "Wanted Dead Or Alive" with a title to pay homage to the classic Old West heroes. It combines classic Old West themes with the rock band scene. The song was influenced by Bob Seger's classic song "Turn The Page" which is another great song in rock history.

"Wanted Dead Or Alive" peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart when it was released and is a must-play song at all of their live shows. I am looking forward to seeing Bon Jovi perform again in April!

Monday, January 25, 2010

I Won't Back Down - Tom Petty

"Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down"

Incredibly well-known and acclaimed as the front man of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty has also released a few very successful solo albums, including 1989's Full Moon Fever. From this album came two of Petty's signature songs, "Free Fallin'" and "I Won't Back Down"

"I Won't Back Down" was the first single from the album Full Moon Fever, and reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart for five weeks.

This song has attracted many iconic musicians with it's awesomeness, including George Harrison and Ringo Starr of The Beatles (in the music video) and Johnny Cash and Pearl Jam (who had covered this song on albums and live performances).


Saturday, January 23, 2010

Southern Voice - Tim McGraw

"Hank Aaron smacked it
Michael Jordan dunked it
Pocahantas tracked it
Jack Daniels drunk it
Tom Petty rocked it
Dr. King paved it
Bear Bryant won it
Billy Graham saved it

Smooth as the hickory wind
That blows from Memphis
Down to Appalachicola*
It's hi ya'll did ya eat well
Come on in I'm
Sure glad to know ya
Don't let this old gold cross
In this Crimson Tide t-shirt throw ya
It's cicadas making noise
With a southern voice"

Okay okay okay - I know this isn't a classic song by any means - in fact it is brand spankin' new!

But I wake up with this song stuck in my head every morning, and it references a lot of GREAT classic rock in it, so I thought I'd change it up for once.

Singing about the likes of Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Tom Petty, The Allman Brothers, Crimson Tide and Charlie Daniels, "Southern Voice" by Tim McGraw is a pretty cool new song that pays homage to the greats of the South.

Not only do you get to learn a bit about classic rock music here, but you also get a history lesson as well.