Reputed Classic Song You've Never Heard

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All this RS list contoversy got me thinking about classic songs (or songs I've understood are considered classics) that I've never actually heard in my life.

Here's some I thought of:
Grateful Dead: Dark Star
Massive Attack: Unfinished Symphathy
Led Zeppelin: Hats off to Roy Harper (okay I'm stretching here but it's the ONLY zep song I've never heard)
John Coltrane - Giant Steps

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

..I meant to ask: What classic songs have you not heard?

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:35 (twenty-two years ago)

How could you have never heard "Hats off to Roy Harper" but heard, i dunno, "Out on the Tiles"?

― Broheems (diamond), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard 96 Tears for some reason - it just seems to have eluded me on my journey through life. Same goes for A Love Supreme.

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:41 (twenty-two years ago)

the wreck of the edmund fitzgerald.

― maura (maura), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:44 (twenty-two years ago)

okay, yep I haven't heard out on the tiles either (I think that's the only two then)....I have every album except III and then the 4-CD box set from 90....I just went on AMG and did the math and those should be it.

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:46 (twenty-two years ago)

(haha that should be a rock mensa IQ question: If Matt owns the Led Zep 4-CD box set and has every album except III, what songs hasn't he heard?)

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 24 November 2003 22:48 (twenty-two years ago)

never heard a single pink floyd song...it's really odd.

― paulhw (paulhw), Monday, 24 November 2003 23:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never (knowingly) heard a solitary note by Sleater-Kinney.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 24 November 2003 23:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Sad to say, I just heard "Free Your Mind...and Your Ass Will Follow" for the first time today.

Not bad.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 November 2003 23:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think I've heard ANY songs by any nu-metal band of your choice. Maybe I'd love the stuff!

― Sean (Sean), Monday, 24 November 2003 23:58 (twenty-two years ago)

How can you not have heard any nu-metal?? You have not really lived. There will prob. be a good late-nite sold on tv comp someday that will have all the good stuff, though.

also, a few threads down reminds me that I've never heard O Superman by Laurie Anderson

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Any Velvet Underground song

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Any Velvet Underground song

How can you claim to give a damn about music and not have heard the Velvet Underground? That's sickening.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

What if you claim to give a damn about music, have heard them, and don't like them?

("The Gift" excluded, of course.)

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I never said you had to like them, but considering what was spawned in their sizable wake, they're a particularly significant milestone that one should really avail themselves to.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

No argument.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hats off to Roy Harper" is a decent blues workout, but I dunno about labelling it a "classic"... "Out on the tiles" on the other hand rocks...

― steve, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

wow i wasn't gonna embarrass myself, but jesus, guys...Coltrane?? VU??

here's some stuff I have heard of but never heard:
"McCarthur Park"
"Allentown"
and
"99 Lines about 88 Women" or whatever the fuck its called

― roger adultery, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 00:52 (twenty-two years ago)

My ignorance of jazz is not something I'm proud of. I have a 2 disc Essential Miles Davis, a David S Ware's Go See the World, and Ornette Coleman Live at the Golden Circle and that's it. I figure I'm going to save jazz for when I'm an old codger and stop liking new music.

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 01:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"Maggot Brain" (guess what's going on the ol Xmas list)

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I hadn't heard "Free Bird" until a few months ago.

― Gear! (Gear!), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 01:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Massive Attack: Unfinished Symphathy

How could you have missed that? Tis a classic!

I figure I'm going to save jazz for when I'm an old codger and stop liking new music.

Philistine!;> Jazz is for we young'uns too.

So far, I'm not embarrassed by what I've missed

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Where have you people been all your life? Under a rock?

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

The highest charting song (single) on the Acclaimed Music site that I have never heard is number 111, "People Get Ready" by the Impressions.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

This thred is ded.

― Patrick Kinghorn, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Anything by Nick Drake. Everybody tells me I'd like him and I keep meaning to buy something...

― Josh Timmermann (Josh Timmermann), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 06:18 (twenty-two years ago)

before the post abou t the velvet undregrtound I hadn't heard aany of this shit.... i really like vu! i really like funkadelic!@ i reallyu like nick drake!!

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 07:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Strange Fruit, Dark Star, the whole of Dark Side of the Moon

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:25 (twenty-two years ago)

One that springs to mind is "Hold On I'm Comin'" by Sam And Dave. I'm sure I'd like it too.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:29 (twenty-two years ago)

That Acclaimed Music site is useful, inasmuch as I'd otherwise have no idea what "classic" songs were supposed to be, so thank you Geir. Out of the Top 50 I have never knowingly heard:

19 The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)

26 The Doors - The Crystal Ship

32 Ray Charles - What'd I Say
1959

35 Stevie Wonder - Superstition

37 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary/Born on the Bayou

How the fuck did that last one get in there? Wait, I've never heard it so I wouldn't know.

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Looking at that acclaimed music site the top one I haven't knowingly heard (i.e. can't remember and don't own) is Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On".

Oh I've not knowingly heard The Crystal Ship either but I have heard Light My Fire.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

more from acclaimed music

Highest 'Rated' 60s track I've not heard - Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs, "Wooly Bully"

70s track - James Taylor, "Fire And Rain"

80s track - AC/DC, "Back In Black" (except I'm sure I'd know it if I heard it having been exposed to lots of their stuff, so the real answer is Tom Petty, "Free Fallin'")

90s track - Santana feat Rob Thomas, "Smooth"

00s track - Squarepusher, "My Red Hot Car"

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Tico, not hearing "Smooth" does not rate as one of life's major tragedies

― dave q, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

The most embarrassing thing is when you HAVE heard the song and just didn't know the title, and even worse, told everybody you thought it was 'overrated, nothing special', and then when you finally match the title to the piece it turns out to be something you really liked all along! This happened to me with "Renegade Snares"

― dave q, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Whaaat? Check out its credentials!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"Unfinished Sympathy" you might have actually heared, and known, if they'd called it "Really hurt me baby" or "Heyyyyy hey hey hey."

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:58 (twenty-two years ago)

But with renegade snares you can always claim you'd heard a remix. Dance culture has abolished shame!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 10:59 (twenty-two years ago)

What!? "I heard a remix once" = the d.c. equiv to "y'know, that track...um...guitars, big chorus...sounds like the Beatles?"!

― dave q, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 11:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't believe anyone could have really not heard "Unfinished Sympathy". If you're a sentient being who occasionally listens to the radio or just overhears other people's radios, or ever goes to a clothes shop, or has ever been to a party/dinner party, or has ever watched MTV/VH1 it's just impossible you didn't hear it in the 90s. I don't particularly like the band, have no records by them, and yet I must have heard that song dozens of times.

That said, I don't think I've heard Nick Drake.

― Jonathan Z., Tuesday, 25 November 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Looking at that acclaimed music site the top one I haven't knowingly heard (i.e. can't remember and don't own) is Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On".

You haven't heard the *song* ever or you just haven't ever heard Jerry Lee Lewis's version? Cuz it's on Sister Lovers... though Jerry Lee's version is much better than Alex Chilton's.

― NickB (NickB), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 11:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Bands I've never heard: Velvet Underground, Parliament, Sly & the Family Stone, Spiritualized, John Coltrane's sixties bands (except for one song on a compilation), The Grateful Dead, Yes, Neil Young (I've only heard cover versions of "Blowin' in the Wind").

Admittedly I've never listened to rock, but Parliament and John Coltrane are sore spots because I love jazz and funk.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, as music in a rock context goes you might like Sister Ray by the Velvet Underground, Tuomas. And *possibly* the first, very low-key and ambient, Spiritualized album, although I'm less confident with this one.

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:17 (twenty-two years ago)

things listed here that i HAVE heard: unfinished sympathy, giant steps, 96 tears, the velvet underground, nu-metal, nick drake, santana w. rob thomas, my red hot car, sly & family stone, spiritualized. the rest i haven't.

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

oops, pink floyd, sleater kinney and 'o superman', i've heard those too. i shouldn't have done this reverse-style.

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:29 (twenty-two years ago)

i can't believe Tico hasn't heard 'Wooly Bully' - mind you i only heard it when i was a kid due to it being used as part of an intro to an episode of Moonlighting once

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm not sure i've heard 'The Immigrant Song' because I cannot hear it in my head, I probably have though

i went years without hearing 'Mull Of Kintyre' - but it got me in the end

i don't think i've heard 'A Day In The Life' by The Beatles

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, it goes like this:

"A day in the life look at me and my wife
ert ert ert
Look at the sun and the moon everyone
rak rak rak"

Hope this helps...

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 12:50 (twenty-two years ago)

This thread really depresses me.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

as if you needed this thread to do that, chortle

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

There is a difference between anger and depression.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

How can you claim to give a damn about music and not have heard the Velvet Underground? That's sickening.

Not any more sickening than your pretentious reply. The poster didn't claim that he really 'gave a damn' about music. He just noted he hadn't heard any Velvet Underground.

VU? Heard 'em. Yawn.

― Venus Fly Trap, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I stand by it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex some people don't start off listening to classic rock shock horror!!!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard any Killing Joke. I shouldn't even be visiting this site!

― Venus Fly Trap, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

WHAT the FUCK?!?!? How many times has MTV ever played ANY Massive Attack song?? Twice??

??? "occasionally listens to the radio"??? You must live close to some damn cool radio stations.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoever hasn't heard Velvet Underground hasn't missed that much, really.

Most of the "Loaded" album was great though.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I managed to do various TV and radio rock/pop music quiz programmes reasonably successfully without hearing any VU save "Waiting for the man".

So, its quite possible.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Dunno about the American MTV, but MTV Europe has shown the "Unfinished Sympathy" video a lot. It is considered a groundbreaking music video in that it was all filmed in one take.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Mr Snrub, you are not in the UK, no?

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess he is about as not in Europe as whoever hasn't heard "Smooth" obviously isn't in the US :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Most of the videos that American MTV considers groundbreaking are shown in 15 second clips at the Video Music Awards.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

that's pretty funny for Geir ;)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Alex some people don't start off listening to classic rock shock horror!!!

In what universe is the Velvet Underground considered "classic rock"?

I've never heard any Killing Joke. I shouldn't even be visiting this site!

You should probably take the pole out of your ass first. It's not like I said one must like the Velvets. One should hear them, given their significance as to what followed them (i.e. had there not been a Velvet Underground, there probably wouldn't have been a _____ [your favorite band here]).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmmm.. I doubt that VU was that much of an influence on Genesis. The Beatles, on the other hand.... :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

OK then *any* rock! If "[your favourite band here]" makes alternative-ish rock then you have a point Alex, otherwise you just don't.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes and no, Tico. I suppose if your favorite band happens to be the Black Eyed Peas or Paul Oakenfold, then I suppose my point is moot. But in the context of rock (ooooh....the dreaded "R" word!), the Velvets' place is cemented.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Much as I like VU, it's no great scandal to not have heard them. Unless you have the equipment and patience for file-sharing, you pretty much have to spend money if you want to hear them. It's not like they're talk show regulars.

The same pretty much applies to Massive Attack in North America, as baffling a notion as it might be to the more Eurocentric posters here. Commercially, they are non-entities here, and the only times I've ever heard "Unfinished Sympathy" has been from playing Blue Lines.

― Patrick (Patrick), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never, knowingly, heard anything by The Killing Joke. Sorry, Alex.

― Jay Kid (Jay K), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not like I said one must like the Velvets. One should hear them, given their significance as to what followed them

You said "How can you claim to give a damn about music and not have heard the Velvet Underground? That's sickening." Basically, belittling the guy who said he hadn't heard them. Who's got a stick in who's ass?!

I'm sure there are plenty of people's favorite bands who were not influenced by VU. Geek rock critics keep shoving VU down our throats as some great seminal force. They're dull, dull, dull and plenty of great bands exist without the seed of the great VU.

― Venus Fly Trap, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

One should hear them, given their significance as to what followed them (i.e. had there not been a Velvet Underground, there probably wouldn't have been a _____ [your favorite band here]).

But doesn't the law of averages dictate that, if there wouldn't have been a VU, some other artist or band would have assumed the duties?

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Fine Alex you agree with me. If you like rock then it is probable you have heard the VU. If you don't, why should anyone care?

Unless of course you'd like to argue that people who don't like rock can't "give a damn about music" ;)

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never, knowingly, heard anything by The Killing Joke. Sorry, Alex.

Your loss, but then again...you may not like them. Who knows?

For a start, you angry person you, why don't you let that person speak up if they were so offended! If anything, I'm only encouraging him (admittedly somewhat aggressively) to go out and hear them.

Did you get de-pantsed at a fire drill or something? Calm the hell down.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

thing is i didn't hear the VU for years...probably not until the infamous Dunlop (or was it Pirelli? dam i always mix them up) ad in fact, but i did like and admire 'Venus In Furs' from afar from then on, yet didn't pursue it or investigate the band further. years later i heard 'Femme Fatale' thru a friend and a few others here and i would say 'yeh this is pretty cool' to all of it. it/the band and their ehtos feels too distant for me to really appreciate in a way, but i've taken a lot more interest in the wider scene they emerged from and people like Andy Warhol in the time since.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

If you like rock then it is probable you have heard the VU. If you don't, why should anyone care?

Fair enough. Perhaps I hastily assumed we were discussing rock here.

Unless of course you'd like to argue that people who don't like rock can't "give a damn about music" ;)

I never suggested that.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not like I was listening to the Velvet Underground during their heyday (when I was about...oh...two years old). I didn't discover them until college probably, after hearing them cited by so many of my favorite artists. In context, I think it's striking to hear that the Velvet Underground were making the music they were making and embracing disparate lyrical themes when the rest of the world was listening to fuckin' Sgt.Peppers. Personally speaking, I found that fascinating. You may disagree. But, I maintain that you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking them out.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

but are we also doing ourselves a disservice by not checking out 'Supper's Ready' by Genesis, that's the question

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Surely yes! I have never heard "Supper's Ready" and Geir has been recommending it to me for 6 years now!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, had there been no "Supper's Ready" there wouldn't have been a Marillion.....so, you do the math.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

The qn is, how back should a listener be expected to go? Back to the Velvets? But if there'd been no La Monte Young there'd never have been a Velvets. If there'd been no rock'n'roll there'd never have been a Velvets either. So maybe back to La Monte and Elvis? But if there'd been no Bill Munroe (or whoever) there'd never have been an Elvis? And Young's back traditions are pretty arcane themselves. It seems strange to say "learn the history" as a reason for checking stuff out and then draw an arbitrary line anywhere. IMO it doesn't add much to your enjoyment of current music to listen to older music - the older music can be hugely enjoyable itself of course!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

It seems strange to say "learn the history" as a reason for checking stuff out and then draw an arbitrary line anywhere. IMO it doesn't add much to your enjoyment of current music to listen to older music

Another fair point, Tico, but aren't you curious as to where things originate? I'm not saying that recognizing historical context is a necessity to appreciate music, but don't you find it even remotely fascinating (if only for the notion that if you like _________, you may then also really like ________, who majorly influenced them, etc.)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think it's necessary for anyone to have to hear anything. Knowing music's roots is only important to some people, not others.

If one is a fan of, say, the Jesus & Mary Chain, chances are good that said person will eventually get around to hearing the Velvet Underground. I don't see the urgent need for immediacy, though. It should be something that happens more organically.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

In what universe is the Velvet Underground considered "classic rock"?

I hate to say this, but possibly in my born-in-1978 universe. People my own age often refer to the Velvs, Talking Heads, Devo, The Clash, lotsa stuff from about the time of our spawning as "classic rock". I don't like particularly like this (as to me the term "classic rock" conjures horrible Clearchannel inspired audial visions of "oooooooh that smell" radio ridiculosity), but it happens.

And back to the subject, I've never heard Talk Talk at all. This shall be rectified though within days.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh *I'm* curious and fascinated yeah, but I read Ancient History at University so I'm like that, and I am keen to go really far back too - it annoys me that most of the 'histories of pop' just go back as far as Elvis (or even later) and imply, well nothing before that is worth checking out really. I don't think that's the 'right' way to listen, though, I might be a more acute critic if I wasn't like that for all I know.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

often the older music can seem superior by default (it having been made first thus fresher tho not necessarily technically 'better') which ruins the enjoyment of more recent takes on the same sound (hello The Strokes)...there's a fair few 17 year olds into The Strokes but maybe only a fraction of them went and bought or even downloaded an early VU album after 'Is This It' came out (sorry for the Velvets/Strokes comparison as i know it's not ENTIRELY accurate)

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm not sure why i wrote '17 year olds' there when i could've just put 'people' either

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Most classic songs have turned out to be famous ones that I've never heard the title of, eg Green Onions or Safety Dance. I was surprised to realise on Sunday that I was actually hearing Orange Juice's "rip it up" for the first time.

Tico: they only got back to Elvis because John Lennon told 'em to, and then he died for our sins or summat.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:11 (twenty-two years ago)

the pinefox to THREAD!

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never liked rock. I've never heard Velvet Underground, yet I consider myself a huge music buff. There's a huge world outside rock, and it's a bit presumptuous to presume that a thread about "classic songs" is automatically a thread about classic rock songs. Each genre has it's classics.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:47 (twenty-two years ago)

i've never knowingly heard killing joke, john coltrane, "freebird," gram parsons, robyn hitchcock, lloyd cole, orange juice, cat power, ornette coleman, solo alex chilton, sun ra, the wedding present, tim buckley, stereolab, husker du, nick cave, throwing muses, butthole surfers, lucinda williams, or (one song on a compilation aside for each) the grateful dead or al green.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I live in Ohio, USA.

"Smooth" was a strictly American phenomenon? I didn't know that. (unless of course you were making a joke which you most certainly were)

Darn it, why are there so many friggin' bands that are REALLY REALLY popular everywhere except the U.S., but there's very very few REALLY REALLY-popular-in-the-US,-obscure-everywhere-else kinda deals (off the top of my head the only ones I can think of are Kiss (who SUCK!!) and the Dave Matthews Band (who DON'T!!)). Rant over thankyougoodbye.

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:26 (twenty-two years ago)

'Smooth' was a big hit in the UK too - I heard it here and there, tho i SAW it more - as in the video - on fuckwit MTV

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

stuff I never listened to and I guess I should:

Neu!
Brainiac
Spacemen 3
John Coltrane
Leo Kottke
et al.

Stuff I never listened to (properly) and I don't give a fuck:

Kiss
Elvis
most classical
most jazz w/ vocals

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh JP. No Neu! and Spacemen 3, you really must listen in! If you've trusted me this far (you poor soul). I like what Coltrane I know and have, which isn't all that much but still.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

VU OK but 'rock'?

― dave q, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 16:58 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, Ned, you've been a trustful musical advisor... Spacemen 3 and Neu! have been on my buying lists for ages, but I just can't seem to get it anywhere (cheap, at least... ;)

Well, I could always download...

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

JP - a good place to start with classical is "Fractured Mirror", from the Ace Frehley solo album

― dave q, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

"McArthur Park" seconded! Also, absolutely *tons* of Dylan, Stones and Beach Boys stuff. I'll do it all one day I'm sure.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Dave: lol.

Is it a case of synergy (result better than the sum of its parts)?

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never heard Scott Walker (but I guess that's not so unusual).

― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

from the acclaimed list:

cliff richard - "schoolboy crush"
grateful dead - "dark star"
dexy's midnight runners - "geno"
johnnie ray - "cry"
thunderclap newman - "something in the air"
spiller - "groovejet"
heaven 17 - "(we don't need this) fascist groove thang"
martha and the muffins - "echo beach"
the libertines - "what a waster"
manic street preachers - "if you tolerate this your childern will be next buy me taco"
blur - "for tomorrow"
the vines - "get free"
manic street preachers - "motorcycle emptiness"
dick dale - "let's go tripping"
future sound of london - "papua new guinea"
mcalmont & butler - "yes"
billy bragg - "sexuality"
azzido da bass - "dooms night"
teenage fanclub - "ain't that enough"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

er...THE FUCKING LIBERTINES? in which mad universe are they "acclaimed"?

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"england"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

i am very interested in hearing:

johnnie ray - "cry"
thunderclap newman - "something in the air"
spiller - "groovejet"
heaven 17 - "(we don't need this) fascist groove thang"
martha and the muffins - "echo beach"
dick dale - "let's go tripping"
azzido da bass - "dooms night"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

and fukkit - grateful dead - "dark star"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

"McArthur Park" seconded!

You'd probably recognise it if you heard it, you might have heard Donna Summer's version. It's a gloriously ludicrous song...

Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

― NickB (NickB), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

thunderclap newman - "something in the air"

That's a fucking wonderful song that is! Also check out Matthews Southern Comfort's version of 'Woodstock'.

― NickB (NickB), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I will!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Has anyone on here actually heard Dark Star....I have an aversion to jam band music, but then sometimes I suspect the Dead might have these big epic groovy prog moments that I might like (although I have no proof that they actually do)....What Grateful Dead should I check out?

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:38 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dunno about the American MTV, but MTV Europe has shown the "Unfinished Sympathy" video a lot. It is considered a groundbreaking music video in that it was all filmed in one take."

Is that really the reason? I decided to download it two or three years ago, after seeing it mentioned so often and getting praised by all these musicians, I think Radiohead was one of them. So I finally watched it, and at the end I couldn't help but think "um, so how is this groundbreaking?" I had never heard the song until probably 1999.

― billstevejim, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

The version of Dark Star on 'Live Dead' ('69) is classic, and epic and groovy and jazzy and astonishing. Check it out without delay.

― Pete S, Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

The closest I've come (that I can think of) was my aversion to Minor Threat. I heard them for the first time, a few weeks ago. After admitting this to a friend, he put their cover of 12XU on a mix-tape for me (it's rather good!)

Even if you don't like The Grateful Dead, I highly recommend the widely-available bootleg recording of Jerry Garcia solo at Oregon(?) State prison. It's beautiful.

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Seeing/hearing something 9-10 years after it came out and not finding it revolutionary because it has been imitated to death in the intervening time period: C/D?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

alright, I've got to hear Unfinished Sympathy asap - so controversial!

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

occasionally my roommate professes to have never heard some ridiculously well-known song, like, say "Everybody Wants To Rule The World", and just shrugs "I didn't listen to much music in the 80's". i think he's full of shit.

― Al (sitcom), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

i had never heard any outkast until ILM made such a stink about Hey Ya and i finally caved in a month ago. i feel like such a shithead for missing out.

― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 21:22 (twenty-two years ago)

o man... If I start talkin' about the music I discovered because of ILM, I'll never shut up...

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

That always pisses me off....It's like that Onion article someone posted on another thread about the guy that brags about not owning a television....

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 25 November 2003 23:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Blount:
dick dale - "let's go tripping"

but you have heard "miserlou" which is a far better song and much more [insert meta rock canon word like "relevant", "important", "seminal"] than "let's go tripping" (which is kinda a silly little novelty a-side compared to the massive middle-east meets malibu upside down glissando of "miserlou")

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 00:07 (twenty-two years ago)

also: i was in a hotel room in the middle of the night watching movies with closed captioning last weekend and pulp fiction was on and during the misirlou opening the closed captioning captured dick's "ha... ha... ha..."s.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Back to the Acclaimed Music site, the highest entries on each decade's lists of highest-rated tracks that I haven't heard:

50's: Cliff Richard, "Schoolboy Crush"

60's: Pink Floyd, "See Emily Play"

70's: David Bowie, "Starman"

80's: The Jam, "Going Underground"

90's: Manic Street Preachers, "A Design for Life"

00's: New Order, "Crystal"

This proves one thing: I'm not British.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

haha, you ain't kidding. I went through the top 200 of that acclaimed.net "all time" list, and these were the songs that I haven't knowingly heard:

82 Pulp - "Common People"
86 Oasis - "Live Forever"
90 Underworld - "Born Slippy (Nuxx)"
93 Massive Attack - "Unfinished Symphony"
127 Oasis - "Wonderwall"
129 Radiohead - "Creep
152 The Prodigy - "Firestarter"
180 Coldplay - "Yellow"
184 Stardust - "Music Sounds Better Than You"

I've never even *heard* of "Stardust", owner of the 184th best song ever. Then again at no point in my life have I ever been an anglophile, thank fucking god.

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Stardust are French. They're actually Daft Punk.

― Pete S, Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael you should go out of your way to hear See Emily Play by Pink Floyd. I'd dare to suggest you might be the only poster on ILM who hasn't heard Creep. Or Firestarter.

― Pete S, Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry the last sentence is addressed to Broheems

― Pete S, Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, Stardust are actually Daft Punk? I'll look for them then! I like Daft Punk. And as I wrote, I haven't knowingly heard the songs I listed; they certainly may have come on the radio at some point while I was listening ... and just failed to make an impression.

― Broheems (diamond), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm terribly sorry, Alex. I really do want to listen to VU. I just.. haven't.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:49 (twenty-two years ago)

(I think I have plenty of time; you never heard them until you were in college, so come on, give me a break here!)

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Wednesday, 26 November 2003 01:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Right, I'm off to this acclaimed list. So far on this thread, the only one is "any Grateful Dead", but I can't even say that as I have heard that one with the video and the skeletons and "I will get by" etc.

Shall report back....

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:05 (twenty-two years ago)

50's

Five Satins - In the still of the night
Ray Price - Crazy arms
Hank Snow - I'm movin on
Muddy Waters - Rollin Stone
Kitty Wells - God -> Honky tonk angels
Lefty Frizzell - If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)
LaVern Baker - Jim Dandy
Hank Williams - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Dale Hawkins - Suzie-Q
Hank Ballard and The Midnighters - Work with Me Annie
The Moonglows - Sincerely
Little Walter - Juke
The Cadillacs - Speedo
The Del-Vikings - Come Go with Me
Jerry Butler with The Impressions - For Your Precious Love
Ruth Brown - Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean

More than I thought, but that's the fifties for you. 16/100

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:18 (twenty-two years ago)

60's

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Down on the Corner
Sly and the Family Stone - Thank You (Falettime Be Mice Elf Again)
The Band - The Weight/I Shall Be Released
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone
Grateful Dead - Born Crosseyed/Dark Star
Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels - Devil with a Blue Dress & Good Golly Miss Molly
Patsy Cline - I Fall to Pieces
Aaron Neville - Tell It Like It Is
George Jones - She Thinks I Still Care
The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River/Commotion
James Carr - The Dark End of the Street
Freddie King - Hide Away
Merle Haggard - Mama Tried
Bobby Bland - Turn On Your Love Light

Hmmm 15/200 getting better...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Umm, I hadn't even heard the title of that song before... Whose is it?

Then again, I was born in 1979, so I don't have that much memories of 80's pop music. I've only familiar with the songs that were still played in the nineties.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:30 (twenty-two years ago)

70's

Aerosmith - Dream On
Cheap Trick - Surrender
Parliament - Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)
Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter
Big Star - September Gurls
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain/Hey Tonight

6/200 - not bad now. I have got a creedence best of bought at a sale, pt it on in keenness, halfway through got bored turned it off...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:38 (twenty-two years ago)

from the 90s 'Acclaimed' list:

My Bloody Valentine 'Glider EP'
Veruca Salt 'Seether'
Geto Boys 'Mind Playing Tricks On Me'
Pete Rock & CL Smooth 'They Reminisce Over You' (MIGHT have heard it but can't be sure)
Nick Cave 'The Ship Song'
Pavement 'Summer Babe'
Teenage Fanclub 'Ain't That Enough' and 'Star Sign' (probably heard them as i did see TFC live in 2001)
The Folk Implosion 'Natural One'
Quad City DJs 'C'mon Ride It (The Train)'

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:48 (twenty-two years ago)

the 80's

R.E.M.- Radio Free Europe
Pixies - Gigantic
George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat
Doug E. Fresh - The Show/La-Di-Da-Di
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Rythim Is Rythim - Strings of Life
Def Leppard - Photograph
Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
Prince - Controversy/When You Were Mine
Double Dee & Steinski The Payoff Mix/Lesson 2/Lesson 3 (Promo EP)
Afrika Baambaata & The Soul Sonic Force - Looking for the Perfect Beat
Young M.C. - Bust a Move
Hüsker Du - Makes No Sense at All
Barrington Levy - Here I Come
Modern English - I Melt with You
The Replacements - I Will Dare
Run DMC - Rock Box

18/200 slipping.....

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 10:49 (twenty-two years ago)

the 90's

Dr. Dre - Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang
Naughty by Nature - O. P. P.
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
Tricky - Aftermath
Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
Santana Feat. Rob Thomas - Smooth
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks on Me
Pete Rock and CL Smooth - They Reminisce Over You
Joey Beltram - Energy Flash
N.W.A. - F*** Tha Police
Craig Mack - Flava in Ya Ear
Jeru the Damaja - Come Clean
Hole - Miss World
Aaliyah - Are You That Somebody
Erykah Badu - On and On
Massive Attack - Risingson

17/200 - It's the rap stuff that gets me (not totally, not exclusively)

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 11:07 (twenty-two years ago)

The 2000's

OutKast - B. O. B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)
Jay-Z - IZZO (H.O.V.A.)
Nelly - Country Grammar (Hot S**t)
LCD Soundsystem - Losing My Edge
Queens of the Stone Age The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret
N.E.R.D. - Lapdance

So finally, 6/50.

So what does all that prove....?

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 11:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never heard "I Feel Love" :(

― sucka (sucka), Wednesday, 26 November 2003 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

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