• From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Topic: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

I caught the tail end of a show on CMT last night, highlighting their list of the greatest southern rock songs. As you would guess, the top of the list (which was all I saw) was dominated by the Allman Bros., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker & Charlie Daniels.
I don't know how you measure greatness, but CMT seemed to measure it by commercial success. Here's the top 6, as I remember:
1. Sweet Home Alabama
2. Ramblin Man
3. Can't You See
4. The Devil Went Down to Georgia
5. Freebird
6. Midnight Rider

All great songs, but in my opinion "Sweet Home Alabama" wasn't even the greatest song Lynyrd Skynyrd ever wrote, and "Ramblin Man" wasn't in the top ten Allman Bros. songs.
I guess it becomes way too subjective when you don't have something definable (like commercial success) to gauge by.
I just have a problem digesting Sweet Home Alabama and Ramblin Man as the two greatest Southern rock songs ever. (I have no problems with no's.  3 thru 6).

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • Don M
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  • From: Junction 61
  • Registered: 2006-06-19
  • Posts: 43

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

I thought Sweet Home Alabama was a great song - catchy ( I can even play the begiining smile, great lyrics. It wasn't my favorite though. I liked Saturday Night Special better. Didn't really care for Freebird. Loved Midnight Rider.

  • From: Northern Shenandoah Valley
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 143

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

Wouldn't expect this one to be on the list, but "Highway Song" by Blackfoot will always be near the top of my list.

  • From: Heading west on 80....
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 864

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

Brett wrote:

Wouldn't expect this one to be on the list, but "Highway Song" by Blackfoot will always be near the top of my list.

"Train, train" made the list


Show brought up some great songs and performances; I'd guess that any list like this is going to start some kind of debate. The big shocker for me was that "Free Bird" came in at #3.......and "Sweet Home Alabama" was #1. At the very least I'd have reversed these two.


PC

“A friend is someone that will help you move............a TRUE friend will help you move the bodies." -- anon
  • Registered: 2006-06-27
  • Posts: 5

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

Since this is more a country list, I'll give them "Sweet home Alabama" over "Freebird".  But if it was more of a rock list "Freebird has to be No. 1.  What is the one song that is yelled at a Rock Concert?  "Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebird smile

I don't know if these were on the list since there are so many great southern rock songs.   I'll include 2 of my favorites.  Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' with Disaster"  and the Allman Bros. "Whipping Post".

  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

The Rivercat wrote:

Since this is more a country list, I'll give them "Sweet home Alabama" over "Freebird".  But if it was more of a rock list "Freebird has to be No. 1.  What is the one song that is yelled at a Rock Concert?  "Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebird smile

I don't know if these were on the list since there are so many great southern rock songs.   I'll include 2 of my favorites.  Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' with Disaster"  and the Allman Bros. "Whipping Post".

Yeah, Whipping Post! I need to see the rest of the list (CMT doesn't have it on their website, at least I couldn't find it), but as far as Allman Bros:
One Way Out, Stand Back, Ain't Wastin Time No More, Southbound, Jessica, Dreams, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed would all be above Ramblin Man on my list...but that's just my opinion.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • mikeb
  • mikeb
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  • Registered: 2006-06-24
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Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

The Rivercat wrote:

Since this is more a country list, I'll give them "Sweet home Alabama" over "Freebird".

Good point. If we are considering country vs rock (coz it was CMT) you are right and my number 1 song would be the Outlaws "There Goes Another Love Song", as a Southern country rock song.....

You Can Do Anything You Want To Do

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  • Don M
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  • From: Junction 61
  • Registered: 2006-06-19
  • Posts: 43

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

Ramblin Man. Yeah, that is a good song. Great solo in it.

  • From: Frederick County, MD
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 857

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

I caught the last 1/2 of it so I decided to record the show.  The list is as follows:

20.  I'm No Angel - Gregg Allman
19.  The South's Gonna Do It Again - Charlie Daniels Band
18.  Green Grass & High Tides - The Outlaws
17.  Heard It In A Love Song - The Marshall Tucker Band
16.  Train, Train - Blackfoot
15.  If You Wanna Get To Heaven - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
14.  Gimme Three Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd
13.  Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
12.  Flirtin' With Disaster - Molly Hatchet
11.  Keep On Smilin' - Wet Willie
10.  Fooled Around and Fell In Love - Elvin Bishop
9.    Hold On Loosely - .38 Special
8.    Dixie Chicken - Little Feat
7.    All My Rowdy Friends are Comin' Over Tonight - Hank Williams, Jr.
6.    Midnight Rider - Allman Bros. Band
5.    The Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band
4.    Can't You See - Marshall Tucker Band
3.    Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
2.    Ramblin' Man - Allman Bros. Band
1.    Sweet Home Alabama

It was an pretty interesting show...as most of the songs were pre-MTV,  they showed live film footage of the respective bands performing the songs instead of a "music video".  There were several personalties (both country and non-country, i.e., Kid Rock) who gave their critiques and some expalanations by the band members themselves about the backgrounds of the songs.  I thought it was pretty cool, since I was in a "southern rock" cover band when I was about 16, and loved many of the bands featured.

Keep on rockin'

Carl

Takers get the honey, givers sing the blues
  • From: Washington State
  • Registered: 2006-03-30
  • Posts: 1,593

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

Speaking of Greatest Southern Rock Songs, here's a fresh and blusey take on one of my favorite Skynyrd songs. It's by Michael Lee Firkins. Good stuff!
http://www.grooveyardrecords.com/audio/INEEDYOU.mp3

  • From: Cazenovia, NY
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 482

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

Haven't seen either "So Long" or "Grey Ghost" by Henry Paul on that list. 

Anybody familiar with the song "Voyager" by Gamma(Ronnie Montrose~1980)?

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"  unknown
  • Don M
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  • From: Junction 61
  • Registered: 2006-06-19
  • Posts: 43

Re: Greatest Southern Rock Songs

"Anybody familiar with the song "Voyager" by Gamma(Ronnie Montrose~1980)?"

Yes, great song. I thought it was Robin Trower for the longest time.