10 Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know About Classic Rock | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

10 Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know About Classic Rock

As told by a 65-year-old man.

4697
10 Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know About Classic Rock

Growing up with a father that regarded Jimi Hendrix as a deity, classic rock was a staple of the household. Incense and old records just became synonymous with the word home to me. I still remember being in sixth grade and hearing my first song that was recorded after 1975 (it was Brittany Spears' "Toxic," for anyone who's interested) and asking my father why he never let me listen to modern music. "Because it's shit," was his reply.

But it wasn't just music that my father loved, it was the crazy esoteric facts about each one of the songs. Every time we turned on the classic rock station in the car, I knew I was about to be flooded with an encyclopedia of knowledge about classic rock. Here are the ten most popular facts about classic rock that my father loved to share, so that you too can have the knowledge of a sixty-five year old man about classic rock.


1. Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" is considered by most to be the greatest song in classic rock because it was the first song to break the 3 minute limit on FM radio.

This song from "Highway 61 Revisited" was revolutionary for the time, running just over six minutes. Most radio stations refused to play songs over three minutes on their stations, but due to the intense popularity of the song, so many of radio stations' followers were calling and requesting the song that they had no choice but to play the song. So remember to thank Bob Dylan for every song you hear on the radio nowadays that is longer than three minutes.


2.Pink Floyd's "Money" has the first curse word that was regularly played on the radio.

"Dark Side of The Moon" is famous for multiple other things besides its profanity. Whether or not you considered it to be the greatest album of all time (which you should), the line "Don't give me that no good, goody-good bullshit" revolutionized the music industry because it was the first song to be regularly played without being censored. (John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" did drop the f-bomb, but it was censored on radio-play so it doesn't count.) So remember to thank Roger Waters for all the rap songs that talk about f*cking b*tches nowadays; it's because of him that they can say these things on the radio.


3. Neil Young's "After The Gold Rush" is the only album reviewed by Rolling Stone Magazine twice.

This album is up there with Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks" for the best break-up album to ever exist, with some of Neil Young's most famous songs including "After the Gold Rush" and "Southern Man." The first time, it was given a bad review; however, the second time it was given an outstanding review due to the huge success of the album. This made it one of the most famous albums of all time, because for once, Rolling Stone Magazine was wrong.

4."While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by the Beatles actually features a guitar line played by Eric Clapton.

One of George Harrison's most famous songs actually has gutter lines from Clapton. Although Clapton is uncredited on the song and George Harrison is. Harrison repaid the favor by playing the lead on Cream's song "Badge" where Clapton is credited and Harrison is not. So in the end, George Harrison is still the nice Beatle we all know him as.


5. Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" may not be entirely theirs....

"Stairway to Heaven" is arguably Led Zeppelin's most famous song; however, the famous riff that we all identify with Zeppelin probably isn't theirs. The guitar opening on Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and Spirit's "Taurus" are EXTREMELY similar. "Taurus" predates "Stairway" by four years and the bands did some gigs together where "Taurus" was performed prior to "Stairway." So Robert Plant may have decided to snag a few or all chords from Taurus to perform his famous riff.


6. Jimi Hendrix originally toured America as the opening act for the Monkees.

That's right, the people who brought you "I'm a Believer" (which we all know from "Shrek," let's be honest) had Jimi Hendrix as an opening act. Just shows you we've all got to start somewhere....


7. The famous opening guitar on Derek and the Dominoes' "Layla" is NOT Eric Clapton

Many people consider Clapton to be one of the greatest guitarists to ever exist. However, on one of his most well-known and highly regarded songs, it is not Clapton playing guitar. It's Duane Allman, from the band the Allman Brothers. Clapton could not hold a single singing note and play a multiple guitar line at the same time, so his buddy helped him out. So remember when you're rocking out to Layla and thinking, "my God, Clapton is amazing" that you should actually be thinking, "my God, Duane Allman is amazing."

However, Clapton is still amazing in all other songs.


8. Jim Morrison refused to allow the record company to rename the band "Jim Morrison and the Doors" because he considered it a group effort.

All Doors songs have The Doors listed as the writers because Morrison and Krieger wrote the lyrics and Manzarek and Densmore wrote the music. Jim Morrison refused to have just one person's name credited after each song. So each song by The Doors is credited to the "The Doors" rather than one specific person. Cheers to Jim for being such a homie to his bandmates, when he was tripping his balls off and thinking they were mythological creatures.


9. The song "Touch Me" by The Doors is not the original name of the song

The song's original name was "Hit Me" rather than "Touch Me." It was inspired by a fight between Krieger and his girlfriend. The lyric was changed because the band thought it was likely to look like advocating violence against women. However, despite the lyric change, the song was still a hit. (Ha. Get it?)


10. Peter Green quit Fleetwood Mac to become a farmer.

When most people think Fleetwood Mac, they think of the Buckingham/Nicks era that inspired "Rumors" and "The Chain." However, that was the second wave of Fleetwood Mac. The first wave involved one of the greatest guitar players of all time, Peter Green, who left the band to become a farmer. He didn't want to be a rock star anymore, so he left the group. If you want to hear the stylings of Green, the song "Oh Well" from the band's album "Then Play On" is the move.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

188049
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13549
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456840
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26009
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments