How to Tune In on Classic Rock

Rock 'n' roll music reinvented itself in the 1960s with the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band," got lost momentarily in the clash of heavy metal and the downbeat of grunge, and returned with the reunion tours of the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car Stereo
• Stereos
• CD Players
• Record Players
• CD Cleaning Kits
• Portable Stereo Players
• CD Changers
• LPs
• Rolling Stone Magazine
• Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street" CD
• Janis Joplin "Cheap Thrills" CD
• Jimi Hendrix "Are You Experienced?" CD
• Rod Stewart "Tonight I'm Yours" CD
• The Beatles CD (the White Album)
• The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" CDs
• Bob Seger "Night Moves" CDs
• Elvis: Artist Of The Century CD Sets

The Dead Poets Society

1. Tune in as Janis Joplin burns the blues down to hard rock.

2. Fly away on a Jimi Hendrix magic guitar ride.

3. Close your eyes and listen to the dark poetry of Jim Morrison and the Doors.

4. Do a little California dreamin' when Cass Elliott's voice soars through the "Mamas and the Papas" songbook.

5. Drive hard down Dixie highways with Southern rocker Duane Allman and the Allman Brothers Band.

6. Delve into the discography of Gram Parsons, the country/rocker who influenced the Byrds and the Eagles.

7. Listen to the lyrics of Jim Croce and Harry Chapin, singer/songwriters whose '60s anthems touched hearts until their deaths in tragic accidents.

8. Imagine John Lennon and the influence he had on rock music, both as a Beatle and as a solo artist.

Keep on Rockin'

9. Find a Bob Dylan performance; watch and listen as an American original brings eclectic acoustic and electric poetry to the stage.

10. Check out Tom Petty, the Florida rocker who might turn up anywhere.

11. Follow Rod Stewart as he roams from rock to disco and back again.

12. Go back to rock fundamentals with Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band.

13. Respect Aretha Franklin's talents in carrying the Motown sound across the nation.

14. Hold on to 16 as long as you can with John Mellencamp.

15. Watch the Boss - Bruce Springsteen. No one works harder.

Happy Together - More or Less

16. Take it easy with the Eagles.

17. Go your own way with Fleetwood Mac.

18. Get satisfaction with the Rolling Stones - still recording, still touring, still rockin'.

19. Follow a stairway to heaven with the wild vocals and guitar of Led Zeppelin.

20. Listen to the second American revolution in the words of the Creedence Clearwater Revival.

21. Soar with the silky harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash, a discography of quality rather than quantity.

22. Feel the good vibrations of the Beach Boys, whose harmony comes in quantity and quality.

23. Take a magical mystery tour with the Beatles, the seminal group in the rock revolution.

24. Remember those who glitter brightly in our memories - Queen, Steppenwolf, the Byrds, the Who, Cream, Buffalo Springfield and the Kinks.

Tips & Warnings

• Drugs, alcohol and tragic accidents have cut a devastating swath through the pioneers of rock, including many of those behind the scenes, such as the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein.
• Early LPs and 45 rpm records can be collector's items. For listening pleasure, look for digitally remastered CDs.

on 1/18/2006 Most libraries offer free loans on music. Find something that looks like what you already know, but that you've never heard of before. Borrow it and listen to it, maybe twice. It's important to have some information, such as what is printed on the box about the music, the players and the writers, in order to enjoy it fully. If you get your music only online, then research the players and writers online too.

After you listen to music you've never heard before, you will find that you can hear things in your old favorites that you never heard before. Honest.

on 1/18/2006 If you want to get into classic rock, Van Halen is the way to go. Van Halen 1 is the album to have. Check out all the David Lee Roth classics; Running with the Devil, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love, Unchained, Hot for Teacher, Panama. And for the Sammy Hagar Van Halen stuff, get into Poundcake, 5150, and basically the whole For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album.

on 11/22/2005 Van Halen, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Robert Plant. These all rock!

on 11/22/2005 You can't forget Pink Floyd! They rock as much as Led Zeppelin and all those other classic rock groups!

on 11/22/2005 If you like these artists, you might also want to try some Eric Clapton on for size and experience a brilliant mix of both rock and the blues. He's an artist that will get you up!