The Greatest Rock Artists of All Time

Rolling Stone magazine has done it again. That is, come up with a list that will not only be scrutinized and analyzed all over the world but will also serve as the reference point for culture historians of the future. The list is featured in the recent issue that celebrates the 50th anniversary of rock and roll, which I got thanks to my thoughtful editor. Can you imagine that! Rock and roll is now 50 years old! We were around when it happened! And Rolling Stone, the ultimate chronicler of the rock era, pays tribute to the 50 most important performers in rock and roll history with this special edition.

The artists in the list were chosen by a "blue-ribbon collection" of singers, musicians and producers, whose choices were based on the importance and impact of the work and personal lives of these "immortals" on history and society at large and on generations to come. Whew! Those are big words for people who as kids started playing the music only because they wanted to have fun. Did Elvis Presley think of becoming a legend when he made that first recording? Did John, Paul, George and Ringo think of anything other than earning some bucks during those first gigs in Liverpool? But look at what happened!

There are 50 names in the list and I will list them down. I still think though that you have to get a copy of the magazine. It is worth every cent anyway. I am sure you will be glad to find out that each great artist comes with a gorgeous illustration and an article by a future rock and roll legend like Elvis Costello writing about the Beatles and Bono sharing his thoughts about Elvis and the reasons why they think these artists made the grade. Here they are:

The Beatles; Bob Dylan; Elvis Presley; The Rolling Stones; Chuck Berry; Jimi Hendrix; James Brown; Little Richard; Aretha Franklin; Ray Charles; Bob Marley; The Beach Boys; Buddy Holly; Led Zeppelin; Stevie Wonder; Sam Cooke; Muddy Waters; Marvin Gaye; The Velvet Underground; Bo Diddley; Otis Redding; U2; Bruce Springsteen; Jerry Lee Lewis; Fats Domino; The Ramones; Nirvana; Prince; The Who; The Clash; Johnny Cash; Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; The Everly Brothers; Neil Young; Michael Jackson; Madonna; Roy Orbison; John Lennon; David Bowie; Simon and Garfunkel; The Doors; Van Morrison; Sly and the Family Stone; Public Enemy; The Byrds; Janis Joplin; Patti Smith; Run DMC; Elton John; and The Band.

From the greatest artists, we now go to a list of the worst hits recorded during the past 50 years. There are several lists available and what I have listed down are the most frequently mentioned titles. I do not see any specific criteria. These are just big sellers that over the years came to be thought of as trite, predictable or just plain nonsensical. The supreme irony here is that despite being described as plain bad, they still made a lot of money and some like Feelings, have even been covered by other artists several times in recent years. Here goes:

You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone; Afternoon Delight by the Starland Vocal Band; Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks; Feelings by Morris Albert; Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder; Achy, Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus; I’ve Never Been to Me by Charlene Duncan; Honey by Bobby Goldsboro; Loving You by Minnie Ripperton; MacArthur Park by Richard Harris or Donna Summer; Muskrat Love by Captain & Tennile; I Write the Songs by Barry Manilow; Having My Baby by Paul Anka; Sometimes When We Touch by Dan Hill; Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes; We Built This City by Starship; The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia by Vicki Lawrence; Midnight at the Oasis by Maria Muldaur; Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Tony Orlando & Dawn; and Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Brian Hyland.

Barney’s theme song which goes "I love you, you love me…" also made it to some of the lists, but although the song does have the qualifications I think that it should go into another list alongside "The teensy, weensy spider…." Besides try as I may, I cannot see the huge, purple dinosaur in the same category as Debby Boone or Barry Manilow.