The 100 Greatest Songs of 1972. #1. All The Young Dudes (3 Viewers)

[zamboni]

About the Chicago song - I’ve seen the band play it 4-5 times now.  They usually play at halftime at a ND football game with thr ND band.  The drummer played for ND n the late 60’s.

Danny Seraphine?

 

[FairWarning]

Danny Seraphine?

No, he left in the 90’s.  I think 2-3 members are from ND, also from chixago area.

 

[rockaction]

Can you dig it? 
Yes, I can. 
And I've been waiting such a long time for Saturday...

breakdown...

Such a great song. 

 

[The General]

41. Chicago “Saturday In the Park” (from Chicago V) 

https://youtu.be/PLiMy4NaSKc

The best thing that Robert Lamm ever did? I can’t really say, I’m not that huge a fan. But it’s hard not to appreciate this; that opening keyboard is enough to make it a classic of the era. 

Go to for building a good "Yacht Rock" play list. Great song.

 

[rockaction]

Go to for building a good "Yacht Rock" play list. Great song.

That's not Yacht Rock. That's real rock. 

 

[The General]

That's not Yacht Rock. That's real rock. 

A lot closer to Toto than Zeppelin 

 

[rockaction]

A lot closer to Toto than Zeppelin 

Yacht Rock is like Christopher Cross and #### like that. Not brassy jazz and rock guitar. Toto doesn't really qualify, either. The genre might have expanded in scope from what Yacht Rock first was, I guess. 

 

[rockaction]

I AM THE KEEPER OF THE YACHT ROCK. ALL THOSE WHO WANT INSIDE MUST PASS THESE TESTS...

 

[The General]

Yacht Rock is like Christopher Cross and #### like that. Not brassy jazz and rock guitar. Toto doesn't really qualify, either. The genre might have expanded in scope from what Yacht Rock first was, I guess. 

I love some Yacht Rock. “Saturday in the Park” is definitely on my list. Along with some Hall and Oates, for a nice base. 

I’ll defer to the Yacht Rock judges on this.

 

[shuke]

Saturday in the Park is definitely not yacht rock.

 

[rockaction]

Saturday in the Park is definitely not yacht rock.

I don't see your Yacht Rock judge hat or all caps declaring it not to be. Better be one or the other, Bub. 

 

[zamboni]

Yacht rock is in large part derogatory. Early Chicago is so technically proficient and tight to fit into that box. 

 

[The General]

The Steve Ludwig has weighed in:

Saturday in the Park in the top 100

 

[The General]

Yacht rock is in large part derogatory. Early Chicago is so technically proficient and tight to fit into that box. 

How dare you

 

[Tin Cup]

Yacht Rock is like Christopher Cross and #### like that. Not brassy jazz and rock guitar. Toto doesn't really qualify, either. The genre might have expanded in scope from what Yacht Rock first was, I guess. 

Official Yacht Rock Judge’s Review

Toto well-represented at the top of the list.  Chicago more marginal.

 

[rockaction]

Official Yacht Rock Judge’s Review

Toto well-represented at the top of the list.  Chicago more marginal.

"Saturday In The Park" wasn't marginal, though. "Saturday In The Park" scored a 22, which put it way below the threshold of fifty. 

Toto was Yacht Rock 

I DECLARE IT ALL SO, THEN. 

 

[Dwayne Hoover]

Chicago was yacht rock before yacht rock was a thing.  Quite possibly the original yacht rockers

 

[rockaction]

Chicago was yacht rock before yacht rock was a thing.  Quite possibly the original yacht rockers

WRONG AND YOU COULDN'T BE WRONGER

 

[Dwayne Hoover]

Poem 58 is not yacht rock, Saturday in the Park definitely is

Then anything in the Peter Cetera era for sure

 

[zamboni]

Yacht rock is in large part derogatory. Early Chicago is so technically proficient and tight to fit into that box. 

How dare you

I dig the genre (yes I can) - just saying when most mention yacht rock, it’s not usually in complimentary terms. 

ETA: like any genre though (like "rock and roll" ), what falls into the terminology is pretty fluid  

 

[otb_lifer]

I dig the genre (yes I can) - just saying when most mention yacht rock, it’s not usually in complimentary terms.

if Honda, use stairs?

️

 

[timschochet]

40. Looking Glass “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” (from Looking Glass) 

https://youtu.be/mTqTE7aNjZQ

On my list of greatest one hit wonders, I had “Brandy” as #2, ranked only behind “Play That Funky Music”.  On this list however there’s just too many great songs to place it so high. But it still edged into top 40. So good. 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Speaking of Brandy, anyone seen SWC lately?

 

[BobbyLayne]

40. Looking Glass “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” (from Looking Glass) 

https://youtu.be/mTqTE7aNjZQ

On my list of greatest one hit wonders, I had “Brandy” as #2, ranked only behind “Play That Funky Music”.  On this list however there’s just too many great songs to place it so high. But it still edged into top 40. So good. 

Not saying this is the criteria for a great song but Brandy is one of those songs everyone knows the lyrics, every. Single. Word. regardless of what genre you prefer.

Toe tapper.

 

[zamboni]

Speaking of Brandy, anyone seen SWC lately?

Sentences just seem shorter these days.

 

[FairWarning]

Chicago was yacht rock before yacht rock was a thing.  Quite possibly the original yacht rockers

This.

I would have gone all-in on brandy being in Tim’s top-3.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I AM THE KEEPER OF THE YACHT ROCK. ALL THOSE WHO WANT INSIDE MUST PASS THESE TESTS...

I AM THE GOD OF HELL FIRE! AND I BRING YOU….

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Yacht rock is in large part derogatory. Early Chicago is so technically proficient and tight to fit into that box. 

It’s not, though. Most of the people who were labeled with that have embraced it.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Speaking of Brandy, anyone seen SWC lately?

Did he take it to the bank permanently?

 

[zamboni]

It’s not, though. Most of the people who were labeled with that have embraced it.

I was thinking the labelers as opposed to the labelees look it at somewhat derogatorily, although the latter have laughed about it all the way to the bank.

 

[zamboni]

I AM THE GOD OF HELL FIRE! AND I BRING YOU….

Ah the glory days of early MTV

 

[Zegras11]

Not saying this is the criteria for a great song but Brandy is one of those songs everyone knows the lyrics, every. Single. Word. regardless of what genre you prefer.

Toe tapper.

What a good wife you would be. 

 

[otb_lifer]

40. Looking Glass “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” (from Looking Glass) 

https://youtu.be/mTqTE7aNjZQ

On my list of greatest one hit wonders, I had “Brandy” as #2, ranked only behind “Play That Funky Music”.  On this list however there’s just too many great songs to place it so high. But it still edged into top 40. So good. 

aural sanatis.

never got the over the top adulation for this one. 

 

[timschochet]

39. The Allman Brothers Band “Melissa” (from Eat a Peach) 

https://youtu.be/Pwbowi-8Yoo

The best song Greg ever wrote? Apparently Duane thought so. Greg played it at the funeral, and then they recorded a version for the album with a new guitar lead by Dicky Betts; the rest is history. A timeless, classic ballad. 

 

[FairWarning]

Ah the glory days of early MTV

I don’t remember this at all.  For those who can get foreign TV, 192TV is a must.  
 

i love the song Melissa, too bad 1972 is cluttered up with too many similar songs.

 

[timschochet]

38. The Rolling Stones “Happy” (from Exile On Main Street) 

https://youtu.be/fBcFjNUzFJ0

Sung by Keith Richards, and Mick and Keith are the only Stones members on this recording. Jimmy Miller, the record’s producer, was on drums. 
Whatever; this is one of the greatest songs in the Stones entire catalogue IMO. That opening guitar riff alone is perhaps my all time favorite from the band. 

 

[FairWarning]

38. The Rolling Stones “Happy” (from Exile On Main Street) 

https://youtu.be/fBcFjNUzFJ0

Sung by Keith Richards, and Mick and Keith are the only Stones members on this recording. Jimmy Miller, the record’s producer, was on drums. 
Whatever; this is one of the greatest songs in the Stones entire catalogue IMO. That opening guitar riff alone is perhaps my all time favorite from the band. 

I hate this album ( dodging bottles now), but this really is pretty underrated when it comes to listing their top songs.

 

[DocHolliday]

I hate this album ( dodging bottles now), but this really is pretty underrated when it comes to listing their top songs.

It’s always the vocals that drives me away from the Stones.  I like a few Stones songs.   This is not one of them. 

 

[FairWarning]

It’s always the vocals that drives me away from the Stones.  I like a few Stones songs.   This is not one of them. 

I was never really a fan of the heroine/country rock era of the Stones.  They have reinvented themselves a few times, so I’ll give them props for that.  

 

[zamboni]

38. The Rolling Stones “Happy” (from Exile On Main Street) 

https://youtu.be/fBcFjNUzFJ0

Sung by Keith Richards, and Mick and Keith are the only Stones members on this recording. Jimmy Miller, the record’s producer, was on drums. 
Whatever; this is one of the greatest songs in the Stones entire catalogue IMO. That opening guitar riff alone is perhaps my all time favorite from the band. 

I personally like the aforementioned "Loving Cup" more, but no issues with both being on the countdown.

 

[zamboni]

I hate this album ( dodging bottles now), but this really is pretty underrated when it comes to listing their top songs.

I'm not nearly as big of a fan of Exile as many - I think it's really good, but seems like one of those albums that critics have convinced the masses that they are supposed to love because the critics do.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

40. Looking Glass “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)”

Summer of 72.  My brother cashed-in his collection of silver .50 cent pieces and bought a mutt from the pound.  Bright summer day, we all met Brandy and fell in love.  

Best damn dog in the world.

Love this song, absolutely love it.

 

[FairWarning]

I'm not nearly as big of a fan of Exile as many - I think it's really good, but seems like one of those albums that critics have convinced the masses that they are supposed to love because the critics do.

That would be an interesting list.  
 

a good rock YouTube critic channel is Sea of Tranquility.  Knowing your music tastes, it’s up your alley Zamboni.

 

[otb_lifer]

a good rock YouTube critic channel is Sea of Tranquility

yeah, i've run across some of his stuff, and he's the least "LOOK AT ME!! I KNOW ####!!" of the lot ... comes across as the same unassuming goofball cranking tunes in his Camaro as he prolly was 30+ years ago when he was in his 20s. 

 

[zamboni]

yeah, i've run across some of his stuff, and he's the least "LOOK AT ME!! I KNOW ####!!" of the lot ... comes across as the same unassuming goofball cranking tunes in his Camaro as he prolly was 30+ years ago when he was in his 20s. 

Sounds like a kindred spirit. Except for me, swap Camaro for Ford Fairmont.

 

[timschochet]

37. Jethro Tull “Thick As A Brick” (from Thick As A Brick)

https://youtu.be/u9bk2MrMGaA

Really don’t mind if you sit this one out. 

Early 70s acoustic Ian Anderson songs really ought to be it’s own genre. So distinctive and so timeless. “Mother Goose” and “Skating Away” come to mind immediately, but “Thick As A Brick” is probably the best of all. 

 

[zamboni]

37. Jethro Tull “Thick As A Brick” (from Thick As A Brick)

https://youtu.be/u9bk2MrMGaA

Really don’t mind if you sit this one out. 

Early 70s acoustic Ian Anderson songs really ought to be it’s own genre. So distinctive and so timeless. “Mother Goose” and “Skating Away” come to mind immediately, but “Thick As A Brick” is probably the best of all. 

2nd best song on the album

 

[wikkidpissah]

37. Jethro Tull “Thick As A Brick” (from Thick As A Brick)

https://youtu.be/u9bk2MrMGaA

Really don’t mind if you sit this one out. 

Early 70s acoustic Ian Anderson songs really ought to be it’s own genre. So distinctive and so timeless. “Mother Goose” and “Skating Away” come to mind immediately, but “Thick As A Brick” is probably the best of all. 

it's a song, a 43-minute song, about which i feel as Salieri did about Mozart's Serenade #10 in Amadeus - displace not a note lest it be harmed. one of the great moments of my life was seeing the album tour, just as seeing Passion Play was among the most disappointing.

i even wrote a parody of the entire thing, called Crushed by a Truck. i still remember the first few stanzas:

Really dont mind if you sit this one out
We all are disgusted when you are aBOUT
I may make you feel but i cant make you think
Your sperm's in the gutter and it's starting to stink

So you go for a stroll in high heels
And your foot gets caught under the wheels 
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be crushed by a truck.

And the pieces of your body are all swept away
In the newspaper story
Headline of the day.
Lounging in a casket, a quaint shade of gray
Eyes closed to it all, there's nothing to say

Cuz you went for a stroll in high heels
And your foot got caught under the wheels 
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be crushed by a truck.
 

 

[timschochet]

36. Thin Lizzy “Whiskey In the Jar” (from Vagabonds of the Western World)

https://youtu.be/6WDSY8Kaf6o
 

This is a traditional Irish folk tune that Thin Lizzy re-invented as one hell of a rock song, one of their very best. Guitars are outstanding, Lynott is amazing. Just great folk rock and roll. Years later Metallica had a pretty good cover. 

 

[FairWarning]

Thin Lizzy is a band that the critics say you are supposed to like.  Good thing I don’t listen to them.  I never heard of Whiskey in the Jar until Metallica covered it.  I’m good if I never heard another Thin Lizzy song outside of Jeepster.  
 

is it possible to be more influential than good?  If so, I present to you these guys.