I just missed getting my intro ready for the first installment so for those keeping count, here it is one week late. Compiling a list of 100 greatest songs is a difficult task indeed. Who is to say number 99 is really that much better than 98? Or that 95 holds something just a tad more special than 96? It is like splitting hairs. Plus you have to wrestle with the nostalgia factor versus sheer technical ability. Some songs are amazing just for their content, but others keep you enthralled with their staying power. They may not be on the same level content-wise but emotionally, they are neck and neck. Thus trying to order these in any kind of list that makes a shred of sense is nearly impossible. I have tried my best to showcase the songs that tweaked with me in some way. Songs that took me into deep thought, or just on a fun ride through the music that wouldn't fade away no matter how much time passed. Also, I have tried to keep the amount of times a band pops up here limited. Why? It is to keep things fair. There is such an enormous amount of material that falls under the genre heading that stacking the list with just a few bands would be unfair and keep alot of great songs out of the running.
I hope you will not take this too much to heart, and remember that is simply a personal list for the here-and-now. It changes, sometimes daily, so nothing is set hard in stone.
100 - Black Sabbath - The Headless Cross (The Headless Cross - 1987)
Powerful and spellbinding, this was Sabbath at their second peak on life. Tony Martin's vocals are nearly as commanding as Dio's who came before him and he pulls this track from epic to absolutely sublime.
99 - John Sykes - Didnt We Say (Loveland - 1997)
So beautiful... John Sykes voice is raw and emotional, and that whisper of doubt is sorrowfully caressing. There was a promise of love, but it has faded into oblivion. This is captured and trapped in the music like a insect in amber. The death of something vibrant and alive but yet caught in a still beautiful memory forever.
98 - Dream Theater - Lie (Awake - 1994)
"Daybreak...at the bottom of the lake" From the first few lines of the song, you are hooked hard. It probably deserves a higher ranking because damn is this ever a ride to go on. From the lyrics to the cutting harsh guitar and growling vocals, DT never managed to top this kind of crushing style. Hard to improve upon perfection.
97 - Vince Neil - The Edge (Exposed - 1993)
Steve Stevens guitars are sharp and on point and Vince sounds better than he ever did. This song just has something special about it, making it one of the best tracks from the 1990s. Inspired and takes us to the edge of life.
96 - Gary Hughes - Some Kind of Evil (Strength of Heart - 1989)
Hughes was wonderful before he ever formed Ten. This is the first track off of a little known solo endeavor that slipped under the radar, but is a track where everything clicks. From the sexy voice to the seductive lyrics, it is a fabulous example of AOR.
95 - Cinderella - Heartbreak Station (Heartbreak Station - 1991)
She may have taken the last train out of the heart but the song still remains. A memorable bluesy ballad with staying power. Cinderella had several great ballads but this one stands out among the crowd, due to its bluesy nature and heartfelt honesty.
94 - Omen - Die By the Blade (Battle Cry - 1983)
Omen began life as a rawer, more brutal version of Manowar. JD Kimball's vocals are mindblowingly powerful and he belts this savagery straight from the gut. This song flexes its power like a well honed blade flashing blood in the moonlight from a fresh bled kill. It's a shame that we will never hear him again.
93 - Danzig - Sistinas (III How the Gods Kill - 1992)
A ballad that grips the soul with the freezing touch of coldness. It stills your inner self and makes you reflect on all that is surrounding. Utterly depressing, but that is just a part of the allure.
92 - Guns N Roses - Bad Apples (Use Your Illusion I - 1991)
Dripping with attitude, I have to rank this as my favorite GNR song. Slash gets in his signature guitar sound and Axl just has this punky kind of attack on the song that gives it a wicked personality. A great tune to help fuel the fire of a pissed off day.
91 - Savatage - Blackjack Guillotine (The Wake of Magellan - 1997)
Zak Stevens rips this one right out, with rushed, quick as a bunny vocal style that just drives it down your throat with force. A great track and the highlight of Magellan for me.
90 - Glory - Itch (Crisis Vs. Crisis - 1994)
Strange and frantic, like a mental patient clawing at the sides of the asylum, "Itch" became one of the defining moments of vocalist Goran Edman's true genius. Sure he can sing Westcoast like nobody's business, but here he takes on the persona of a madman and keeps you glued to the speakers til the very end. Memorable and oddly addictive.
89 - Westworld - Ivory Towers (Westworld - 1999)
Tony Harnell's voice coupled with some clever lyrics make this a featured necessity for return trips to its musical well. This album has been largely forgotten about, but with tracks such as this, it will be remembered by those that love a great spin down memory lane, now and then.
88 - Scorpions - Loving You Sunday Morning (Lovedrive - 1977)
For some reason I can slap this song on the stereo anytime of day and get a stupid grin on my face. Its just something about that rhythm that keeps the song fresh and catchy no matter how many playthroughs it gets. Playful and still rockin with a harder rock edge, it is not quite like anything else that the band recorded.
87 - Night Ranger - Four in the Morning (7 Wishes - 1986)
So you thought Night Ranger was all fluff and no hard stuff? Well... this song is so poofy it won't change your mind. But what makes it great? Its AOR bounce and full on passionate delivery by Jack Blades keep the blood flowing and the song moving. Its one of my favorites to belt when it is indeed four in the morning and it came without a warning. Never underestimate the power of any tune that has the ability to stick in the head and replay itself even if years go by without having sampled it last.
86 - Journey - Don't Stop Believing (Escape - 1981)
Another song that has that has been blessed with the power of easy recall, this one has enjoyed renewed interest thanks to a spot on the Fox animated sitcom comedy "Family Guy". It is just a shame that no one really had paid it much attention before hand in the past years because its always been one of my favorites, far before it was given a shot in the primetime limelight. Steve Perry just nails it and its a catchy song. What more needs to be said?
85 - Shadow Gallery - Crystalline Dream (Carved in Stone - 1994)
This represents progressive metal when the entire scene was different. Way before it became wrapped up in its own pretentious world. Perhaps a bit on the sappy side, this one is a pure saccharine sugar rush. There is depth of course, but most of that is lost by what is so sugary on the surface.
84 - Madison - Oh Rendez Vous (Best In Show - 1987)
That chorus is just out of this world... and the way Edman manages to sing "Oh Rendez Vous" just stops hearts cold. Forgotten AOR at its very best.
83 - Def Leppard - Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion) (Adrenalize - 1991)
The Leps have followed me throughout the years probably closer than any other band, thus it is difficult to just select a couple of songs from their discography and say "thats it". This has been a special one since its initial release. Just something about how the song was put together screams masterful. Another fine example of melodic rock music.
82 - Allen/Lande - Where Have the Angels Gone (The Battle - 2005)
Really, I did not wish to include anything this new on the list... but for some reason it would seem empty without it. The disc excited me like none other has in ages and therefore received more than its fare share of replays since its release. This one has "it" - that magical something that keeps you glued to your seat till the very end and craving more even after the last note has faded away. Lande has never sounded better either. From the guitar solos to the chorus, it just screams brilliance.
81 - Whitesnake - Looking For Love (Whitesnake Europe - 1987)
An ode to that search for love that just seems so elusive that it might never be found. With sprays of crystal keyboard sounds and a woeful guitar from John Sykes that just strikes right at the heart, it is difficult not to be lost in the enveloping beauty of such graceful longing.
80 - Bon Jovi - Born to Be My Baby (New Jersey - 1988)
High octane, throwaway pop music from the Jersey rocker. But what makes it so memorable? Its just another great AOR-esque song with a peppering of hard rock. This is more of a sentimental favorite than anything else. There is no claims to greatness here, just something I grew up with that still manages to put a smile on my face anytime I hear it. After a few hundred times and it still gets the same reaction, you know its something special. The slow moving solo that increases in tempo and intensity is also of note. There's always little hidden gems where you least expect it.
79 - Alice Cooper - Poison (Trash - 1990)
Likely the most commercial song that Cooper has done, yet there is reason to its popularity and success...its just that damn addictive. Thundering drums, a powerful message delivered with a snide twist and a hook that just won't let go. It may be almost classified as hair metal but it was a killer track for its time and continues to be a blood rushing, adrenaline kicking tune today.
78 - Helloween - A Tale That Wasnt Right (Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt I - 1987)
A ballad that defied what was thought about the speed metal outfit, yet somehow managed to embody their very essence at the same time. It was the entrance of Michael Kiske as frontman and he soars to high pitched new heights, making a legendary appearance. This was also a part of the album that showcased Kai Hansen's guitarwork, yet this was a Weikath creation. "Tale" is a broken tragedy of bitterness that is sorrowful yet oh so cold at its core.
77 - MSG - This Broken Heart (MSG - 1991)
"Its hard to break...something already broken." Truer words have never been spoken. Michael Schenker's final fling with Robin McAuley produced some of the most cohesive and memorable melodic rock of his career. The raspy voice of Robin paired with the crystal clean flying V antics of Schenker made for a musical delight. This one stands out with its snappy chorus and lyrics that just must be sung at full blown volume. It is one of those tracks that you just cant erase from memory, it keeps right on playing in your head.
76 - Rhapsody - Emerald Sword (Symphony of Enchanted Lands - 1998)
Eagerly awaited, the second album from Rhapsody managed to topple the first with a swift slice of its glistening Emerald Sword. It contains all the overblown medieval glamour that you would come to expect and more. Heart racing drums, the glowing voice of Fabio and Luca Turilli ripping a new one with his honed axe. This is all draped over a tapestry of orchestration and musical excess that makes no one wonder why it was branded "Hollywood-film score metal".
75 - Iron Maiden - Sea of Madness (Somewhere In Time - 1986)
A touch of progressive and Maiden was off galloping in a sea of pure madness. Chunky and chugging in the guitars but kicking and screaming everywhere else, this is a fine example of Maiden at their very best. The lyrics are imaginative and the chorus is pure sing-along gold. The synthesizers put into use are up front but do not teeter on the cheesy edge. Just a great overall effort by the metal icons.
74 - Megadeth - Reckoning Day (Youthanasia - 1994)
Like a kick right to the gut, this track just slams venomously and keeps on delivering. I have always adored how it just shines with bitterness and lashes out with anger, like a festering wound that has been sliced open and pours forth all that was bottled inside. The frustration, the fury...it is all captured here in Mustaine's sneering gritty voice and Friedman's vicious snarling guitar work.
73 - Symphony X - Candlelight Fantasia (The Divine Wings of Tragedy - 1997)
An absolutely beautiful ballad that is as ethereal as it is enchanting. Allen's voice soars against the ever flowing background that feels epic in proportion but tender and gentle just the same. The song is like candlelight shadows thrown upon on a dim lit wall, yet the bridge is a bombastic flame of flickering beauty. Mysterious and well woven indeed.
72 - Royal Hunt - Message to God (Paradox - 1997)
DC Cooper threw his entire being into making this one come to life and tower like a monolithic epic. An enthralling ride that tears at the emotions and shreds them to pieces. There is such power summoned here that the results are breathtaking. Andre Anderson's keyboards are a highlight, bringing his unique style to the substance of the piece. RH created many a great tune when DC was on board, but this is perhaps their greatest achievement.
71 - Deep Purple - Fortuneteller (Slaves and Masters - 1990)
You know those songs that are just so relaxed that you can feel yourself melting while listening to them? This is one of those... It floats about like a mystical dream, just fuzzy enough on the edges to keep you wondering where this depressed tale will lead til near the end where Joe Lynn squeezes the last drops of emotion out desperately. Ritchie Blackmore's guitar is wondrous and magical, everytime he touches the strings you can feel it reverberate in your very soul.
70 - Nightwish - Elvenpath (Angels Fall First - 1997)
This was likely alot of people's first brush with Nightwish, it being the first song on their full length debut and all. And there is something just magical about that glimpse of greatness. A fine piece in the tradition that would become their signature sound. Bombastic and bold, it blasts forth with heavy guitar and a catchy chorus. Tarja's pronuncination is not quite up to par yet as she struggles with a few words, but that helps lend to the fantasy of the other world they build with this song. It inspires you to seek the Elvenpath.
69 - UFO - Love to Love (Lights Out - 1977)
Misty green and blue... Phil Mogg and Michael Schenker have rarely been in such perfect harmony. This was far enough into their partnership to really hone a track that would be beautiful and memorable. It has this relaxing feel that is addictive yet lovely. Check out the soft and sweet solo by Michael right in the midst of the mist. A perfect way to top off the wonderful "Lights Out" album. This one saw a slight resurrection as being reworked by another band for the Spun movie soundtrack.
68 - Brazen Abbot - Restless in Seattle (Eye of the Storm - 1996)
Some songs do not necessarily need chills and thrills to put them in the history books. Here is a nice example of a track that is as casual and moody as a rainy day on the streets of Seattle. It just wanders along, spattering like raindrops with Edman's voice the tour guide, taking us on a stroll through his life and times, all which are painted in a thick coating of grey. The moody atmosphere is just the perfect portrait for this tune.
67 - Winger - Down Incognito (Pull - 1993)
Winger did something different with the "Pull" album but yet no one ever takes notice. They are still branded a bunch of hair spray pretty boys with songs as feather light as their hair was. But anyone that dares to take a look at "Pull" will see that the band they envisioned is not quite what they had become by the time the 90s rolled around. The sound is a bit unique, it has a modern flavor but is still yet unlike anything I have heard an outfit pull off. This one even has harmonica, a lyrical cynical view at the world and Beach's well placed acoustic strumming. Good stuff.
66 - Banshee - Precious Metal (Race Against Time - 1989)
Pure glam, with a sexy slithering swing and a swagger to the vocals. A track that prides itself by teetering on the edge of excess, but stands out as something special due to all the little extras that were thrown in. The band threw themselves into this one and it came out just wonderfully.
65 - Vagabond - I Believe In Wonders (Vagabond - 1994)
Jorn Lande MAKES you believe in wonders. Just immerse yourself in the opening instrumental swirl that takes the song by storm and keeps it flowing in the land of AOR goodness til the end. That chorus is absolutely mind infecting. It has not left my brain since it first introduced itself. The guitars are melodic goodness as well. You just can't go wrong when tossing Lande into a melodic rock setting. This was off their first album - amazing! Then again its not so remarkable when you consider that Ronnie Le Tekro (TNT) was behind it all...
64 - TNT - Mousetrap (Transistor - 1999)
This probably deserves to be higher. I have listened to this song a million times and it never gets tiresome or boring. The guitar rhythm riff is in-your-face crackling and just snaps like a mousetrap down hard on the rodent's tail. Harnell throws his all into the vocals, and the snarky blend of voice and six string is just pure awesomeness. It has strong modern overtones but it works perfectly with the song.
63 - Skagarack - Hungry for a Game (Hungry For A Game - 1988)
A dynamic, kick in the butt Scandi-rock track that just whips you senseless with its abundance of keyboards and great vocals. This is a power pop hurricane that just blows you away. Just a killer song all around, even if it is all about gambling. Who can't help being hungry for a game when it is this bloody addictive?
62 - Pretty Maids - Come On Tough Come on Nasty (Sin Decade - 1990)
A sinful concoction of pure bouncy hard rock... PM have done so many great songs, it is hard to pick just one or two. This one gets the nod for lasting power. You can pop it on the stereo any time - day, night, three AM in the morning - and no matter what mood you are in, it will turn it right around. A little raunch in the rock never hurt anyone and its forceful freshness just rams it down.
61 - Dio - Invisible (Holy Diver - 1983)
Invisible got me through the worst of times. It opens with a mystical, magical feel and then just settles into this wicked rhythm that gallops and grinds with Vivian Campbell's guitars. RJD's vocals provide the story and the drama, as he uses this song to paint strange, cryptic pictures that you can either relate to, or wonder about.
60 - Warrant - 32 Pennies (Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinkin Rich - 1988)
I have owned DRFSR since it came out and there was always one song that stood above the rest. Nothing too fancy, it was all about love and a Ragu spaghetti jar. Somehow the simplicity of that relationship, one based off of emotion with little to do with other factors such as money, made it endearing. Jani Lane had a youthful, fresh voice then that was quite expressive and smooth which was a nice match for an upbeat love story.
59 - Joe Lynn Turner - Endlessly (Rescue You - 1985)
Plush and fluttery, this is an absolutely gorgeous ballad that is pure pop. Layers upon layers of keys stack up to make this fluffy dreamlike piece where love is epic, fulfilling and neverending. A fairytale of reality brought to life upon the rolling bluesy softness of JLT's voice. There are few ballads that celebrate the embrace of being in love that can outshine this one, that is for sure.
58 - Dokken - The Hunter (Under Lock and Key - 1985)
Searching for love... that might never be found again. That pretty much sums up this track's emotional train of thought. George Lynch's guitar has that signature gallop throughout, this time smoothed over for this hypnotizing flow that pulsates in the song. Dokken's voice is so full of rou bnded warmth, cooled at the frayed edges with a drop of regret. Although many Dokken songs have won my heart over the years, this is the one that stands out for its theme of the relentless quest for an out of reach love.
57 - Jorn Lande - Sunset Station (Worldchanger - 2002)
Whipped out like a fury, this is a track that is bristling with power and not afraid to just slam on the guitars and let the vocals take over, full throttle. Lande is a freakin' vocal god, and when put out front and center in a setting that showcases the power and glory of his voice, he just pushes it to the limit. A killer melodic hard rock song overall.
56 - Virgin Steele - The Burning of Rome (Cry For Pompeii) (Age of Consent - 1988)
David DeFeis knows how to command a room with just the power and glory of his voice. There are few singers that can sweep from bristling firebranded anger to ethereal passion from one moment to the next. Here he lets the fury fly and matched with Edward Pursino's sizzling guitar work, you are transported to the anguish and anger of an era long gone. From the opening sound effect of the swords clashing together...you know you are in for one hell of a ride. You can see the flames rising as the city crumbles to ashes.
55 - Giant - Cant Let Go (III - 2001)
A heartbreak set to music. There is this one poignant point where Huff's voice pauses before flowing forth again, wallowed in absolute sorrow that can break hearts right in two. The acoustic laps along so sadly, there is not an instrument put to use here that doesn't seem downtrodden and utterly depressed. Love has slipped between his fingers, yet he keeps hoping and holding on...to what? That is the kicker... it runs out like sand between the fingers.
54 - HIM - And Love Said No (Greatest Hits - 2004)
This song carried me through a very dark time when I had lost my way. I wanted to tell the world about how I had fallen and find solace and comfort somewhere, yet was turned away time and again. The message here resonated with me and offered a shred of hope in what seemed like a neverending curtain of darkness. With time, patience and healing I regained the part of myself I had lost and found peace again. All because "love said no". Sometimes "yes" is not the answer.
53 - Gotthard - Im Your Travelin Man (Dial Hard - 1994)
This gets points for being just a whole lot of fun. Gotthard managed to fill in the gap where Whitesnake was missing in the mid 90s and this was one of their better grinding, blues kissed tracks. Pumped to the hilt with gleeful energy and snazzy swagger, this Swiss band got it together and gave WS fans what had been missing: a good shot of confident, hard rock.
52 - Street Talk - Astray (Destination - 2004)
One of the more recent songs on my list, this was found only on the Street Talk Greatest Hits album but Oh My was it ever a killer track. AOR perfection with a Westcoast vibe, this finds itself being as slick as silk and just rolls out of the speakers, slippery and comforting. Goran Edman turns in a fabulous performance, as always. He was made to sing soothing songs such as this.
51 - Therion - Nifelheim (Secret of the Runes - 2002)
My first introduction to this song was overwhelming. There is *so* much going on, tons of vocals from a variety of voices, instruments stumbling over one another and colliding. Lyrics that are undescinerable but stumble over one another and this atmosphere that is so cold... so cold. It chills to the core and shocks the senses with frozen complexity.
50 - Kamelot - Lunar Sanctum (The Fourth Legacy - 2000)
When Conception broke their ties after releasing "Flow", it left many feeling a tad depressed and down in the dumps. Tore Ostby and Khan were such a great team and the music had this haunting feeling to it. With "Lunar Sanctum", Floridian band Kamelot (with the pure pipes of Khan on board) resurrected the sound and created this magical track that seems to loop around the moon and back. Trippy but flowing like the Milky Way, it is a melodic journey that begs to be embarked upon again and again.
49 - Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradamus - the Inquisitor (Nikolo Kotzev's Nostradmus - 2001)
What an inspiring and intense track. It breaks you out in a cold, white knuckled sweat just listening to it. The vocal play between Joe Lynn Turner, acting out the part of the accused Nostradamus defending his stance and the infuriatingly dominate inquisitor who is voiced by Jorn Lande. Jorn is absolutely mesmerizingly terrifying here, with a pompous air and a brutal forcefulness you often don't hear. The music builds and buzzes around the competing vocals creating a display of sheer talent.
48 - Magnum - Midnight (You Wont Be Sleeping) (Vigilante - 1987)
The poppier Magnum became, the more I liked them. This one stands out simply because it is so bloody addicting. The chorus gets in your head and NEVER leaves. I probably haven't listened to this song in several years due to a MIA copy of "Vigilante" but the track often pops up in my head and the chorus just blares. And who could not love Bob Catley anyway?
47 - Fifth Angel - Fifth Angel (Fifth Angel - 1986)
Guitarist James Byrd made his debut here and what a splash he did make. He hasn't topped this one yet, likely never will either. A celestial comet of a hard rock song that slams with uplifting vocals and fiery guitar.
46 - DC Cooper - The Angel Comes (DC Cooper - 1998)
Tore Ostby's guitar just sparkles on this heavenly arrangement, while Cooper charms with his rich golden voice that matched the colour of his locks. A piece that gains ground by opening its wings with feathery vocals that expand and increase their strength, finally expanding into this magnificent being that shimmers with melodic glory.
45 - Lynch Mob - Tangled in the Web (Lynch Mob - 1992)
Rhythmic in a slinky and openly sexual manner, this twisting song wraps its vines around the listener and proceeds to entangle them. Robert Mason turns in a seductive performance that heats up the atmosphere to the point where it seems the music is going to melt around his velvety vocals. Horns give a splash of brass and lend the song a sassy, earthy sensation.
44 - Black Sabbath - Children of the Sea (Heaven and Hell - 1981)
"In the misty morning...on the edge of time..." the song begins... hauntingly. An acoustic opening that swirls like will-o-wisps or the caress of a ghost passing by is shattered by an electric guitar that reveals Tony Iommi mimicking Ritchie Blackmore. Mystical majesty ensues, the illusion enforced by the mighty pipes of Ronnie James Dio as power is pumped into the track, transcending it into something greater. Conjured visions of lost ones dancing under blackened skies on the very edge of time... Wonderful imagery set to picture perfect music.
43 - James Byrd - Cold Paradise (The Apocalypse Chime - 1996)
Just plain freakin catchy. Sometimes that's all you need. This song is one huge, bombastic melodic overdose. Robert Mason sings his little heart out and James Byrd's guitars are cold yet have a blistering heat to the edges of the tone. This paradise freezes you to the core and keeps you singing along til the end. Impossible to ever eradicate the chorus from the back of your mind. Trust me, I've been trying to shake it out for ten years with no luck thus far.
42 - MSG - Let Sleeping Dogs Lie (MSG - 1981)
Michael Schenker had a fantastic run through the 70s and 80s and this is one of his more overlooked and underappreciated pieces. It has this mesmerizing flow that gravitates around the electric guitarwork of the Mad Axeman and guiding around it is the voice of Gary Barden that bite with spice. This one just rolls like ocean waves, smooth, silky and utterly addictive.
41 - Manowar - Heart of Steel (Kings of Metal - 1987)
So you thought Manowar was nothing but "Death to false metal" and "Blow your speakers"...well you would be oh so wrong. This impassioned tune sets aflame with Eric Adams' gorgeous vocals that are crystal clear and ringing out in the song right into the spotlight. It captures your heart with its pleads to never give up and stay true to that heart of steel. A powerful, emotive piece and Manowar's greatest accomplishment.
To be continued...
