It doesn’t take somebody long after I meet them before they figure out that I am one of those people that really loves music. All kinds. Truly… But especially Rock and Roll. From the old school fingerstyle blues of Robert Johnson’s acoustic guitar, through the effortless harmonies of the Beatles and the Dave Clark 5, to the primal screams of Robert Plant, the masterful bass lines of Geddy Lee, and the thunder of Metallica, yeah man, I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL!
So, it should be no surprise that I am often asked for my top 5. What are your top 5 favorite albums? songs? guitarists? concerts? Some of the best discussions are often started with these very questions.. And perhaps a couple of heated disagreements as well. Peart! no way man Bonham! What about Larz? LARZ?! The keg is spilled. Madness ensues. This can be tricky.
Look, I simply can’t pick only 5, or 10, or 20. I’ll think of another worthy addition that MUST be included, and another, and that will continue infinitely, forever and ever. A mad time loop is created. There are simply too many possibilities. Yes, tricky.
Perhaps the solution is to hyper define the query. Eliminators must be presented. Yes, that’s it. Let’s mark out a ball field here. ie. What are your top 5 rock songs recorded in 1977 featuring notable guitar solos from white American males.. in their 20s.. with long hair? Better. Yeah. Kinda. Nope, this is still impossible.
Regardless, the gauntlet has been thrown down yet again. The boss’s email read simply “Gentlemen, I need a blog about your top 5 Zeppelin songs for our upcoming Whole Lotta Zep Weekend.”
Horror. I began pacing the LOOP studio in deep discussion with myself. 5! 5? Impossible. How can I?… I can’t… I’ll start by elimination.. so.. well.. ok, is Bron-Y-Aur Stomp a top 5? well, sure to me, there was that campfire in 83 and the cheerleader, I had the acoustic guitar out and played that tune..and.. Does that count? Wait, what about Moby Dick? Top 5? Sure.. Ok… ah.. That won’t work either.
I now sat at the mixing board with my forehead pressed into my hands, elbows on the worn wooden console, thinking. Doomed. Impossible. Darkness.
Rock and Roll, it has to be in the top 5, right? Every guitarist should learn it, and Bonham said it was the song that made his butterflies go away during live shows. Sure. Ok. Stairway? Too easy, but worthy.. It always reminds me of 8th grade dances at St. Anne’s and the smell of Loves Baby Soft cologne.
Wait.. How long have I been thinking about this? I’m getting nowhere.
I must consult the oracle. I grabbed my new reissue Zeppelin II vinyl and placed it randomly on the turntable. I placed the needle down on the first track of side 2. The sound of Jimmy’s guitar and that magical lick filled the studio. I remembered playing that tune with my high school band. I could smell the warm rehearsal room amps, and the hint of something else drifting over that haze. My friends always liked it when I would rip into the solo. Yeah, this is a good idea. The answer will be made clear. It’s in here.
As the cool sound of a Chicago style electrified harmonica started to fade off in the distance, and the needle automatically lifted off of Bring It On Home and rested back on the side. I stood up abruptly.
A scene from the Last Samurai plays in my head. I see Tom Cruise in a death scene. This is odd. “Like the blossoms on the cherry tree, they are ALL perfect.” The Samurai dies. Ah, I get it.
NO SIR, I WILL NOT GIVE YOU 5!
Perfect. Yes, they are all.. PERFECT. From the open-tuning fingerstyle magic of Jimmy on Black Mountain Side, to the corny Hot Dog, Kashmir to Stairway, yes sir, I argue they are ALL perfect.. And all well worthy of my top 5.
Now, I’m going to go watch the Last Samurai again. I’m a bit disturbed it jumped in my head like that.