Ten Great Rock Songs from 1977

1977. A great year for rock and roll. Seems that many bands were very much in tune with their listening audience. Song after song on many an album, spirited the heartbeat of American youth, and inspired many to pick up a guitar, or air guitar, to sing and play along. Here is my list of of ten great rock songs from the golden year of 1977, complete with short commentary, and sample lyrics. Enjoy!

1. Heroes - David Bowie

The title song from the album Heroes. This is clearly one of my favorite Bowie songs of all time. Produced by music master minds Brian Eno and Tony Visconti, Heroes was not a commercial success at the time, but has since become a Bowie classic. David performed the song live in front of a worldwide audience in 1985 during the Live Aid concert.

lyric: '...I, I could be king, and you, you could be queen...'

2. Black Betty - Ram Jam

An FM radio classic in 1977. The boys of Ram Jam took an old Lead Belly song, added some great guitar riff and repeating vocals, and made it into a credible rock anthem. The song was later heard in the the movies, Blow, and The Dukes of Hazzard.

lyric: '... woh Black Betty bam a lam, woh Black Betty, bam a lam, Black Betty had a child, bam a lam, damn thing run wild, bam a lam...'

3. Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett

Classic song from the album Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes. Jimmy's best selling song that since, he's marketed into a restaurant chain, the name of a town (Key West), and a way of life. The steel drums played by his touring band, The Coral Reefers, makes you want to relax under a palm tree in the Keys, and sip that frozen concoction that'll help you hang on.

lyric: '... some people claim that there's a woman to blame, but i know it's nobody's fault...'

4. Like A Hurricane - Neil Young

One of my favorite Neil Young songs ever. Fantastic guitarwork carries this rock classic for over eight minutes as Neil and his band Crazy Horse, take you through the passions of love, and the fiercest guitar storm to ever hit rock and roll. Classic.

lyric: '...you are like a hurricane, there's calm in your eye, and I'm getting blown away...'

5. Feels Like The First Time - Foreigner

The band was called Foreigner. Their first album was called Foreigner. The song Feels Like The First Time was anything but foreign to FM radio listeners in 1977. This first hit by the legendary rockers featured great guitars, pounding drums, and fantastic vocals by Mick Jones.

lyric: '...it feels like the first time, like it never did before...'

6. We Will Rock You - Queen

This is a two part song coupled with another rock anthem by Queen titled We Are The Champions. I liked this song a lot in 1977, but over the years, it has become a sports anthem played at nearly every professional game that you will ever attend. Still, the guitar played by virtuoso Brian May, and the brilliant vocals by Freddie Mercury, make this song an all time classic.

lyric: '...we will, we will rock you...'

7. Alison - Elvis Costello

One day while driving to work, I heard a song on the local radio station, WSHE, that almost changed my life. A beautiful, sad song by a then, unknown British singer. The DJ said it was Elvis Costello, and the song was called, Alison. I wrote it down, and after work, went to the super record store, Peaches, to purchase this album. The album was called My Aim Is True. Fantastic. The album cover featured some Buddy Holly look alike, and small words all over the album cover pronouncing that Elvis Is King. I took it home, played both sides, and thought, this is the greatest thing that's happened to me since I ate my first cheeseburger! Classic. Over the years, I've enjoyed much of Elvis' music and even got to meet him before a concert in 1984. By the way, Linda Ronstadt's version is not half as good as Elvis'.

lyric: '...sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking, when I hear the silly things that you say...'

8. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - the Ramones

This brilliant punk classic was featured on the Ramones third album, Rocket To Russia. The Ramones are the greatest punk band to come out of America. Their live shows featured fast and furious songs, all about two minutes in length, followed by 1,2,3,4 and another classic Ramones song would follow. These four misfits from Queens, New York, inspired many to start a career in music including members of Green Day and U2.

lyric: '...well she just couldn't stay, she had to break away, well New York City really has it all, oh yeah, oh yeah...'

9. What's Your Name - Lynyrd Skynyrd

In October of 1977, I had the pleasure of seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd for the second time. Their previous album, One More From The Road, was a live album and featured all of their best songs, including a longer than life version of their 1973 classic, Free Bird. Skynyrd opened the show with a brand new song, not yet released. What's Your Name became an instant FM radio hit after its release, but the band had a tragic airplane crash just two weeks later, killing lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant, new member Steve Gaines, and a few of the backup singers and road crew. A great band, a great song, they will always be missed.

lyric: '...can I get you a taxi home, it sure was grand, when I come back here next year, I want to see you again...'

10. Just A Song Before I Go - Crosby, Stills, and Nash

From the album, CSN, this great American band featured premier musicians from the Buffalo Springfield, The Hollies, and The Byrds. Always classic harmonies, always the best in guitar sounds from Stephen Stills. One of my all time favorite bands.

lyric: '... just a song before I go, to whom it may concern, travelling twice the speed of sound, it's easy to get burned...'

1977. Great music, great songs, you had to be there. If you weren't there, and you want to check out thse great classic rock songs, head to your local library, or download them ASAP, and put them on your IPOD or MP3 player.
Rock on!
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