Classic Rock Starter Pack
When I was growing up, I listened to the typical songs you’d expect from a girl born in 1994. I alternated between singing “…Baby One More Time” and “Genie in a Bottle” (by Christina Aguilera, if you forgot) at the top of my lungs while I climbed monkey bars and gossiped with my friends about which of the Carter brothers was cuter (Team Aaron, even though the Backstreet Boys had better music). However, what I remember most vividly is the radio jingle for K-EARTH 101, The Greatest Hits On Earth, broadcasting from sunny, Los Angeles, California.
It all started when “Hotel California” by the Eagles came on the radio during a road trip back from a soccer tournament. My dad and I listened while we drove down our own dark desert highway. The week after, we perused the used CD collection at Second Spin on Ventura Blvd and I picked out “Eagles: Greatest Hits Vol. 2,” featuring some of the best Eagles songs (including “Hotel California,” of course). From that moment, my Dad and I bonded over The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR, because no one has the time to say that mouthful) and I haven’t looked back.
In my opinion, Classic Rock is one of the best genres of music because it combines innovation with relatable lyrics that you’ll remember for your whole life. I’ve put together a list of songs from the 60’s and 70’s that I think provide an exciting and diverse (albeit, biased) introduction to the world of Classic Rock.
1. “Baba O’Riley” by The Who
Baba O’Riley is one of my all‐time favorite songs. Ever. It deserves the first spot on this list. I dare you not to play air drums when they enter the song around 0:45. Also, if you’re interested, check out The Who’s “Tommy,” a rock musical written by Pete Townsend.
2. “Surfin’ U.S.A” by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys provide a good contrast to The Who, showcasing a much different kind of classic rock sound. Fun fact: The Beach Boys all grew up in Malibu, CA, a wondrous place that provided lots of lyrical inspiration for frontman Brian Wilson. Check out the film Love & Mercy if you want to learn more about The Beach Boys and watch a good movie.
3. “Hotel California” by Eagles
Not only does this song capture a feeling associated with southern California, but it features one of my favorite guitar solos ever. I’ve been spotted driving down PCH singing the solo because I can’t play guitar.
4. “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac
If you don’t like Stevie Nicks’ voice, you’re wrong. Her vocals, combined with the haunting baseline, is pure magic. At points in the song, Stevie Nicks’ vocals stand alone without the guitar melody and you just hear her voice, the bass, and drums. These moments are so captivating, you can’t help but listen over and over again.
5. “The Wind Cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix is a master on guitar, arguably the best ever. In this track, I’d listen to the guitar on its own, but I absolutely love the lyrics and how they line up with the sound. It’s like the guitar singing its own lyrics and the actual words are there to enhance the experience.
6. “Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues
Not many people would put this song on a starter pack playlist, but this is where I’m biased. My dad and I listened to “Days of Future Passed” on the way to Temecula, CA a few times, and he says The Moody Blues are an “early precursor to Muse.” This album is structured so the songs blend into each other and represent all the different parts of a day. Make sure to listen for the London Symphony Orchestra accompaniment and Mike Pinder’s Mellotron.
7. “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield
A classic anti-war song, but did you know Stephen Stills actually wrote it about the Sunset Strip curfew riots in 1966? Buffalo Springfield used to be the house band at the Whiskey a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles!
8. “All My Loving” by The Beatles
It was tough choosing which Beatles song to put on here, but I settled on this song from the early 60’s. It is classic Lennon‐McCartney lyrics; they’re so simple, beautiful, and perfectly representative of why The Beatles were, and still are, so important.
9. “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
John Fogerty is a legend and I often listen to this song on repeat. Sometimes it’s a little tough to understand the lyrics. But when you figure them out, they’re so vivid and descriptive, although they are rather bleak compared to the song’s bouncy guitar and drums.
10. “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones
You can’t talk about classic rock without including The Rolling Stones. In this song, Brian Jones plays the sitar in the beginning riff, which continues throughout the song. Also, catch the tambourine, which replaces the drums during some of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ more poignant/morbid lyrics at the beginning of the last verse.