Ten Classic Rock Songs Most People Love That I Don't Care Much For

1. "For Your Love," The Yardbirds, 1965.

I love the Yardbirds to the point of declaring them one of my favorite groups, and several of their classic songs, like "Heart Full Of Soul," "Evil Hearted You," "Shapes Of Things" and "Over Under Sideways Down" won me over right on the first hearing. But I know I must have been making a strange face the first time I heard this one. I didn't, and still don't, care for the voices on the refrain. To me they sound a little too staccato, like they need to be sustained more. I also found the tempo change corny. Eric Clapton left the group because he didn't like this record. Perhaps I would have as well.

2. "Treat Her Right," Roy Head, 1965.

Everybody seems to love this song. As for me, I'm put off by two things. First, I'm not too crazy about him singing about being nice to a lady as if that's some secret method, instead of something that should be automatic. Second, in the first line of the song Roy says he's going to tell us a story...but he never tells one!

3. "A Whiter Shade Of Pale," Procol Harum, 1967.

If there was ever a record I'd gamble that everyone who knows me, 1960s enthusiast, especially British beat, pop and psych, would bet would be in my record collection, it would be this one, universally hailed as one of the greatest records of the psychedelic era, and often toted as one of the greatest songs ever written. Not by me, though, and no, I have never owned a copy of this record. I don't hate it, mind you, but it just never clicked with me. Maybe I feel it moves too slow and makes little progress. Maybe I just don't care for the lyrics. Whatever the reason, I just never took a big interest in this record. As for other Procol Harum songs, I much prefer some other tracks from the same album, like "Salad Days Are Here Again." And while "Salty Dog" puts me right to sleep, I do tend to turn the volume up when (the live hit version of) "Conquistador" comes on.

4. "Brown Eyed Girl," Van Morrison, 1967.

This one I do own, but only when I was given a CD when a friend bought a Van Morrison collection in which a second copy of the disc was accidentally included. I've never been a bigtime Van Morrison fan, but never had any real reason to dislike him either. Still, there isn't one classic Van Morrison song I can say I love, and somehow I'm immune to the good vibes of his first solo hit.

5. "Little Wing," Jimi Hendrix, 1967.

There are many who consider this the finest song Jimi ever wrote. It is a well written song, true. One of Jimi's strengths was his excellent songwriting. That's something about Jimi that never got enough mention because everybody's too busy raving about how he could play guitar with his teeth and make cool feedback sounds or whatever. Nonetheless, my first few plays of *Axis: Bold As Love,* which I love, didn't have me perk up at this song, and I think I may have even skipped over it on subsequent plays. As far as slow melodic Jimi songs, I was far more moved by "One Rainy Wish" from the same album.

6. "Feelin' Alright," Traffic, 1968.

Sorry, but I will never like this one, because to me it sounds like nothing but a poor rip-off of "You Can't Always Get What You Want." I don't care if "Feelin' Alright" *did* come first.

7. "Suite Judy Blue Eyes," Crosby Stills And Nash, 1969.

I like it to a degree...but it's no guarantee that if it comes on the car radio I won't be touching the station selector for seven minutes. I think I prefer songs in which I can't understand what the singers are talking about to be kept brief.

8. "Evil Ways," Santana, 1969.

Sorry, Carlos. YOU'VE got to change the chords a little more before I start loving this song.

9. "All Right Now," Free, 1970.

I don't have much to say about this one, except I always found it dull.

10. "Squeeze Box," The Who, 1975.

Another of my very favorite bands, one with tons of songs I only wish I could write something as good as. But while this one should be a welcome relief from Pete's "serious" songs, it instead rolls right by me with making much impression.

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