Help me out with classic rock...

Sup fellas, I'm literally just now getting into classic rock. After being into underground music for so many years I've cornered myself into a few specific genres (Drum n Bass/Trip Hop/Punk/Jazz mostly). Of course I know some Zepplin/Pink Floyd/Beatles tracks here and there, but I'm looking for some help with some new (old) tunes. To give you an idea, the shit I'm starting to dig is stuff like Steve Miller Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Queen.

Any good tracks/albums you guys recommend?

He was pretty great after he left the Nation of Domination, although I'd argue his heel-turn later in his career after fighting Hogan was when he did his best work; his interactions with Hurricane and his little concert were GREAT!

Boston's first album is great.

CCR?

See that strange old Englishman in the peculiar coat, know him and his work well.

I'd highly recommend trying out some Jimi Hendrix if you haven't already; great classic rock while leaning heavily towards blues/psychedelic/funk. Try out a track called "Machine Gun"; it's a 12-minute piece and a wholesome demonstration of what Hendrix is about. If you like that track, then you'll definitely dig his other stuff. Albums to get started on: 'Are You Experienced', "Band of Gypsys", "Blues".

David Bowie is a swell fellow.
  

Frank Zappa - apostrophe(')
(...the title track is super for Audio Surf, BTW):

I agree with everything that's been said so far. I've always been partial to Bad Company as well.

And I agree Queen is an absolutely epic band. Listen to this song and tell me you don't feel like a million bucks. Freddie really was something special.

And as a bonus the greatest band that never was.

I'll recommend some albums.

• The Doors - The Doors
• MC5 - Kick Out the Jams
• The Who - Who's Next
• Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
• T.Rex - Electric Warrior

@OldGuy said:

Frank Zappa - apostrophe(')
(...the title track is super for Audio Surf, BTW):

This is an excellent suggestion.

Early Aerosmith is fun. I'd take a look at more Southern Rock too, if you're willing. The Outlaws, the Allman Brothers, Derek Trucks, that sort of thing.

Van Halen, Boston, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Queen, Guns N' Roses (at least their first one), The Who, Journey, and of course AC/DC

Well, at least those are the ones you should probably start with.

EDIT: Bon Jovi (Slippery When Wet, mostly)

Aside from what was said before try Electric Light Orchestra.

King Crimson

Boston

Kansas

Journey

Blue Oyster Cult

AC/DC

Frank Zappa

Pink Floyd

Queen

The Doors

The Who

Bad Company

and JIMI fuckin' HENDRIX!

Springsteen.

It's strange, I was really into classic rock a few years ago. Now I only seek current bands because I love live music... I guess I'm a hipster. Well I guess that's not true, I got into U2 and Oasis (first two albums) recently.

listen to the Kinks

Nirvana and Soundgarden are pretty good.

The Who's Tommy and Quadrophina are pretty damn fantastic. Quadrophinia is easily one of the best rock albums ever made, and the final song just brings it all home.

Deep Purple, especially Machine Head.

@Stepside:

Turn it up, listen, and be afraid.

Some great shit there guys, thanks :)

Rainbow and King Crimson

King Crimson.

Um how about Alice Cooper or Blue Oyster Cult?

Classic Rock is kind of a huge "genre" because its defined more by time than by any distinct musical link. You get punk, glam rock, hard rock, arena rock, psychedelia, power pop, bubble gum, progressive... yeah. It's probably best to just keep trying different artists until you find something you like.

I'm a big fan of Chuck Berry (that might classify as oldies, but who cares). By taking blues chord progression and playing it in eighth notes as opposed to a shuffle beat, Berry essentially made rock and roll. Plus, Johnny B. Goode just fucking rocks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ofD9t_sULM

Along those same lines, AC/DC is a great blues, hard rock group. Their earlier work they did when original singer Bon Scott was still alive is my favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv24N8H1KyI

The Kinks are amazing and under appreciated, and they have a crazy diverse library, with their earlier stuff sounding very garagey/punk, and their later stuff going blues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk3Ei_yoI4c

Warren Zevon is another amazing under appreciated artist from the 70s. A great song writer with a macabre sense of humor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgyMUChgcbU

In a completely different side of classic rock, ELO was producing crazy synth rock with bits of psychedelia and prog rock thrown in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjPqsDU0j2I

Probably one of the best bubble gum rock bands from the 60s was The Lovin' Spoonful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1_8909dNJ0

Days of Future Past by the Moody Blues in arguably one of the greatest albums ever made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lazdg-eqmQ

And Neil Young's solo career is too hit laden to even be able to give it credit, but here's my favorite "After the Gold Rush"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e3m_T-NMOs

Anyway, I could go on forever, so I should probably stop now. And if you want a good conventional "classic rock" group, then look up The Who. Their stuff in the 70s was quite good.

Nobody mentioned Rush yet so listen to some Rush. 
  

King Crimson I would say are more avant garde, jazz, fusion than classic rock...

Nirvana and Soundgarden as 'classic rock?' Things have changed...

I'd go with any of the British invasion stuff. The Who, The Kinks, Rolling Stones and such.

• Styx
• The Who
• Rolling Stones
• Eagles
• The Doors
• Credence Clear Water Revival
• Boston
• Chicago
• .38 Special
• Genesis
• Van Halen
• Foreigner
• Blue Oyster Cult
• Queen
• The Police

Just Google search "good classic rock" or "good soft rock", you will find ton's of stuff.

@Stepside:

Allman Brothers, Boston, Creedance Clearwater, Stevie Ray Vaughn (he's not really classic rock but has a similar sound), The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Doors, The Eagles, and Santana are all great to start off with and are similar to what you've been listening to. Listen to some of their stuff online and see what you think.

Do not miss The Allman Brothers' Band's At Fillmore East.

Although you can never go wrong with The Beatles, Abbey Road specifically, Chicago and Yes are two of my favourite bands of all time. "25 or 6 to 4" and "Saturday in the Park" and great songs!

Also Paul Simon and Otis Redding, while not necessarily Classic Rock are a good for a switch up!

Blue Oyster Cult is another good band, don't know if it was mentioned, and older AC/DC is classic rock.

Bad Company, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rush, Molly Hatchet.

Two sweet songs.

Was already said, but CCR is in-fucking-credible.

I used to listen to a lot of this stuff. Some songs I like by artists I haven't seen mentioned:

@Godlyawesomeguy said:

Nirvana and Soundgarden are pretty good.

Hahahahaha....ah, I feel so sad to know that people are now regarding the 90's as "classic rock". I'm not really criticizing, just remarking how the passage of time makes what used to be "modern" now "classic".

Seriously though, a lot of good stuff has been mentioned but I'll add a few more:

1. Chicago Transit Authority (1969) - Chicago's first album - sample
2. Everyone Knows This is Nowhere (1969) - Neil Young and Crazy Horse (this is the rockin' side of Young) - sample
3. Blind Faith (1969) - "super group" formed of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker & Ric Grech) - sample
4. John Barleycorn Must Die (1970) - Traffic (Steve Winwood, Dave Mason & others) - sample
5. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970) - Derek and the Dominoes (really Eric Clapton and friends) - sample
6. Santana [III] (1971) - Carlos Santana and band - sample
7. At Fillmore East (1971) - The Allman Brothers Band (a live album with amazing guitar solos) - sample
8. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) - David Bowie - sample
9. Rumors - (1977) Fleetwood Mac - sample
10. Greetings from Asbury Park (1973) - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - sample

Thin Lizzy.  Get War of the Worlds.  I'd also look into some Prog Rock.  The first 5 or so Queen albums are great.

Good to see so many Frank Zappa fans.  
@Godlyawesomeguy: 
Please don't call Nirvana or Sound Garden Classic Rock  just yet.  I know they have been around over 20 years but it makes me feel old at 26.
 
Anyway I highly recommend The Clash and Talking Heads
  

Due to my age, I consider "classic rock" 60s through about 1983.

U2 (Boy, October, War)

ELO (Greatest Hits, Out of the Blue, Discovery)

The Cars (Greatest Hits, Candy-O)

Journey (Greatest Hits, Escape, Frontiers)

The Doors (Greatest Hits, The Doors)

Fleetwood Mac (Greatest Hits, Rumors, Tusk, Mirage)

Rush

Of the bands I haven't seen listed here yet:

Robin Trower:

Rory Gallagher:

And BLACK-FUCKIN'-SABBATH:

@PenguinDust said:

@Godlyawesomeguy said:

Nirvana and Soundgarden are pretty good.

Hahahahaha....ah, I feel so sad to know that people are now regarding the 90's as "classic rock". I'm not really criticizing, just remarking how the passage of time makes what used to be "modern" now "classic".

I feel the same way, actually. I was more referencing the bombcast in that post.

Jerry Lee Lewis

The Beach Boys

Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Steppenwolf

Jefferson Airplane

The Doors

The Temptations

Grand Funk Railroad

Spencer Davis Group

Grateful Dead

The Animals

.