More Than A Feeling: The 20 Greatest AOR Tracks Of All Time!
Do you agree with this list, compiled by Matthew Hamilton of www.rocksbackpages.com? Come inside for a taste of the rundown…
Classic Rock’s friends over at www.rocksbackpages.com have just released a list of what they reckon to be the Top 20 greatest AOR tracks of all time.
Writer Matthew Hamilton explains:
“I have found that most discussions of AOR get easily sidetracked unless it’s made clear which definition of the AOR acronym we’re using. The original meaning – ‘Album Orientated Rock’ – tends to make people think of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Whereas I’m going by the late-70s definition – ‘Adult-Orientated Rock’, i.e. catchy, immediate, radio-friendly arena rock with heavy keyboards, restrained but melodic guitar, and passionate, irony-free vocals of the kind made famous by Boston, Journey, REO and Foreigner.”
Here are tracks 20 to 11 to whet your appetite (or. alternatively, cause rumblings of disgruntlement in your gut):
20: ‘Is This Love?’ – Whitesnake (Watch it here)
19: ‘Only You Can Rock Me’ – UFO (Watch it here)
18: ‘Don’t Want To Wait Anymore’ – The Tubes (Watch it here)
17: ‘Innocent Days’ – Giant (Watch it here)
16: ‘Home By The Sea’ – Genesis (Watch it here)
15: ‘The Boys Of Summer’ – Don Henley (Watch it here)
14: ‘I Need You Tonight’ – ZZ Top (Watch it here)
13: ‘Stone Cold’ – Rainbow (Watch it here – and check out the smouldering performance from Joe Lynn Turner!)
12: ‘Broken Wings’ – Mr Mister (Watch it here)
11: ‘Dreams’ – Van Halen (Watch it here)
For the full list (including that all-important no.1) go to: http://www.rocksbackpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=14680
What do you reckon? Has Matthew Hamilton nailed the genre, or is he wide of the AOR mark? Post your comments!
Oh dear, very very cliched choice (yes I have looked all the way to no. 1), doesn’t even scratch the surface of the depth of quality that has been produced under the banner of AOR. Sounds like the guy has sourced his CD collection from the locla petrol station!!!
“Last of The Runaways” by Giant still one of my favourite albums ever and good to see them on this list.
No surprises for #1 Why do you think the best show on TV decided to use it for the finale?
I agree 100% with these choices (although I would’ve rated Van Halen’s ‘Dreams’ higher on the list).
I absolutly love AOR music. I’m only 26 so it whizzed past me when the genre was at it’s best.
But the likes of Van Halen, Heart, Journey & Whitsnake have never left my iPod.
Sure, all my friends take the piss out of me for it… but I don’t care!
Because when I get home, I can crank up my Grand Theft Auto: Vice City cd (apptly called Emotion Radio) and forget about all the harsh comments that have plagued me for the past 10 years!!!
JLT – is he lip-synching?? LOL.
Big poofta!
‘Home By The Sea’ is the only PROG AOR track (‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart’ doesn’t count ‘cos it’s AOR, not prog) in that list.
Great list. #1 is “spot on” in my opinion.
I don’t agree with every choice, but wouldn’t expect to. I still think it’s a fine list and sent me off to dig out the Tubes and Survivor again. The man is clearly a fan and it’s a nonsense to suggest the ‘guy sourced his collection from a local petrol station’. That kind of comment reeks of bitterness and the sort of navel-gazing, siege mentality that blights this fine genre of music.
Why are UFO in there???
Come off it Frumious, mate, most of these tracks are found on every Rock Compilation that comes out for Father’s Day or Christmas. That is the point I was making, I was disappointed in how little imagination was shown in the choice of songs/bands. This list could have been improved with a few inspired choices without plumbing the depths of obscurity that often arises with AOR.
Still it is only a bit of fun, don’t take my comments personally!!
Can,t agree with some of these, but hey, what would you expect. Thought there might be room for Kansas “Carry on my wayward son” and there are definately better songs by UFO and Giant.
Hey, that’s not a bad, if varied, top 20. But if you wanna see some real AOR action then go to http://www.myspace.com/aorundergroundrobevans and your needs will be catered for. There’s even a classic Interview with Steve Perry.
Journey’s collaboration with Australian/Scot vocalist Jimmy Barnes ‘Too Much Ain’t Enough Love’ – simply spine tingling
Hi, Johnno. Sure, no surprise to see Don’t Stop Believing or Hold The Line in there. But I thought there was some imagination here. I was pleasantly surprised. Nice explanation of the ‘caveman riff and three-chord piano figure’ as well. I’m a sucker for that. And any list that also namechecks Survivor’s Jackie Don’t Go is alright by me.