I decided today to attempt to list and write about the 2002 greatest rock/soul/R&B singles of all time. It will take years. It's rather quixotic, I admit. However, rock 'n' roll was made for the single medium. The Beatles ruined that, but OK, I'll live, because singles became the medium of choice for outsider music in spite of record company orthodoxy post 1967 (early rap, punk ...). Nowadays, it's tough to even find songs released as singles, except for rap and R&B music, but I shall not be deterred. Well, I might be, but pretend for a minute that I won't be.
I was inspired in part by my conviction that the single is the ultimate medium for rock 'n' roll and all its children. Very few bands can put together a half hour of excellent music, let alone the 45-70 minutes of today's average CD, but quite a few can create a short, sharp blast of greatness. I was also inspired by Dave Marsh's 1001 greatest singles book (The Heart of Rock and Soul). He introduced me to many great artists -- Dyke and the Blazers, Joe Tex, Buck Owens, Chuck Willis -- but also pissed the hell out of me. He included almost no punk singles beyond those by The Sex Pistols and The Clash (no Buzzcocks? Noooo Buzzzzzzcoccckkkks!!!???!!). Or Undertones. Or Jam. Or anyone else except Magazine. He gave a reason for the lack of punk, but I can't find it flipping through the three essays (!) that precede the list. Anyway, nice try, Dave, but I can't trust a guy who writes a fawning Springsteen bio while his wife is on Jon Landau's payroll.
So, I ask you, which singles would you include? Country is fair game. The blues? Jesus, how can I go back that far and do it justice? Whatever. Bring it on. I love rock 'n' roll, especially when I DJ and people come up to me when I play a song like "Party Lights" and ask me where the hell they can get that primo stuff ... I don't want it to be lost to the world ...
Post Edited (07-12-05 23:59)
