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Acoustic Top
50
AS VOTED FOR BY YOU, WE PRESENT YOUR
TOP 50 ACOUSTIC SONGS OF ALL TIME
A
few issues back we threw
open the doors to you, our
adoring readers, to have
a say in the top acoustic
tracks of all time.
These kinds of lists always crop up in
magazines from time to time “Best
Guitar Players”, “Best Guitar Solo”,
“Worst Rock Mullet” and so on.
Realising that we might be in danger of
simply re-printing a list of the “acoustic
canon”, we widened the goal posts
somewhat to include songs that include
an acoustic guitar or a mandolin/banjo/
ukulele as a major instrument but are
otherwise “plugged in”. We’ve also
except for the electric solo in the
middle. An unexpected way to
kick the list off, but if it’s good
enough to get Bill and Ted past
the pearly gates, well, it’s good
enough for us.
49
50
Every Rose Has
Its Thorn - Poison
We knew when we opened this
up we might get some from
left field…Anyway, for readers
who might have a more rock
disposition this tune is probably
no stranger. The strummed
acoustic intro chords are instantly
recognisable and so easy (shifting
from a G major to a Cadd9) that
you could teach it to your mum in
about 10 seconds. And the rest of
the song is just as straightforward,
Good
Riddance
(Time of Your Life) Green Day
The American punk rockers
achieved one of their biggest
hits with this uncharacteristicly
sensitive single. Known for
their high-energy, distorted
power chord driven punk this
song sees the band in a more
reflective mood, with a catchy
arpeggiated motif. A worldwide
radio hit that struck a chord
with the masses the single
shifted millions of copies and
sprung the band into crossover
success.
included selections from some of our
contributors, so you can see how your
choices compare.
So, without further ado we present
your list of the top acoustic tracks of all
time.
And if you don’t agree with the list,
well don’t blame us, you lot picked ‘em!
48 Nothing Else
Matters - Metallica
Well, the list certainly has a
rock heavy bottom end so
far! San Francisco thrash
legends Metallica recorded this
uncharacteristic ballad for their
monumentally successful 1991
album Metallica, better known
as The Black Album. Again,
a deceptively simple picked
figure sets the tone, and it is an
instantly identifiable riff, beloved
of sensitive headbangers the
world over who want to woo the
rock chicks at a house party. For
an epic version check out the
rendition played with the San
Francisco Symphony.
47 Iris - The Goo
Goo Dolls
Another sensitive rocker! You
big bunch of softies, you. With
an unusual tuning of BDDDDD,
the guitar has a full ringing sound
throughout, and instrumental
sections of the song feature
mandolins, violins and cellos.
46
Drifting -Andy
McKee
Watching Andy McKee is
watching a man in total control of
his instrument, and is bound to
be bad for your self-esteem. This
signature track, with its soaring
melodies and deft use of tapping
and percussive techniques is
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be interviewed or perform live
regularly, only compounded the
problem. Of course that would
all add to his mystique after his
tragic death in 1974. This song
from his debut album Five Leaves
Left is characteristic of Drake’s
music, a melancholy vocal and
reflective lyrics supported by
cascading finger picking, strings
and clarinet.
Joel McIver
Crosby, Stills & Nash: Guinnevere
Bob Marley: Redemption Song
Guns N’Roses: Patience
Nick Drake: Fruit Tree
James Taylor: Song For You Far Away
Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger: The First
Time Ever I Saw Your Face
John Martyn: Fairytale Lullaby
Bon Jovi: Wanted Dead Or Alive
Led Zeppelin: Ramble On
Opeth: Coil
spellbinding. If you aren’t one of
the more than 35 million people
to have watched it on YouTube, go
thou now and be astounded.
45 Tamacun –
39 Trouble - Ray
42 Better Together LaMontagne
36 Beatles Medley
- Jack Johnson
Surfer Jack Johnson’s laid back
tunes conjure up images of
burnt orange sunsets and warm
Hawaiian seas. This light and
breezy love song from his third
album, In Between Dreams,
is a fan favourite and features
Johnson’s trademark chunky
strumming. A modest chap
he told Acoustic: “I’m not a
technical guy. I feel flattered to
be appearing in magazines like
yours.”, and while it’s true his
technique won’t be bothering
Andy McKee anytime soon, you
can’t deny the catchiness of this
song.
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
These former Acoustic coverstars are well known for their
deft covers of hard rock and
heavy metal songs, but it’s this
composition that made it onto the
list. With its spicy Latin melody,
bouncing rhythms and frantic
flamenco strumming this is a
modern acoustic classic.
44 Candy Man –
Donovan
This arrangement of a traditional
song features on Donovan’s 1965
album Fairy Tale. The guitar
playing is bouncy and swift, and
Donovan’s vocal delivery and
harmonica playing leaves the
listener in mind of a certain Mr.
Dylan.
43 Vigilante Man Ry Cooder
The LA guitar wizard shows
off his awesome slide playing
and tasteful blues chops in
this standout track. His dusty,
soulful vocals are the perfect
counterpoint to his supple
playing. Who says white men
can’t play the blues?
This has cropped up on TV
soundtracks amongst other
places. This isn’t a song where the
acoustic dominates proceedings,
instead providing a broad “wash”
which the vocals and sweeping
strings can play off. The chorus is
undeniably catchy and you’ll find
yourself humming it long after the
song has stopped playing.
38 Fire and Rain James Taylor
This song was the major
breakthrough for a young James
Taylor back in 1970 and featured
on his second album, Sweet Baby
James. The sparse guitar figures
spun by Taylor are delicate but
somehow steely and strong and
the perfect support for the song’s
deeply personal lyrics.
Paul Brett:
41 Stuck In The
Middle - Stealer’s
Wheel
A massively popular song at
the time of its release, this song
reached a new audience when
Quentin Tarantino set it as the
background music to an infamous
torture scene in Reservoir Dogs.
The distinctive slide solo and fills
that pepper the track make this
deliriously catchy song a continual
joy to listen to.
40 Fruit Tree Nick Drake
Nick Drake never achieved much
success in his all too short life.
His albums sold poorly, and
his reclusive nature, refusing to
‘Adagio’ from the ‘Concerto de Aranjuez’
by Joaquin Rodrigo.
‘Anji’ by Davey Graham..
‘Jubillee’ by John Joyce.
‘First Show’ by American Jazz great,
Charlie Byrd. ‘Nuages’ Django Rheinhardt.
‘Vaseline Machine Gun’ Leo Kottke.
‘900 Miles’ : Dick Rossmini.
‘Statesboro Blues’ : Blind Willie McTell.
‘Rock Island Line’ : Leadbelly.
‘Driftin’ : Andy McKee.
37 So Long,
- Tommy Emmanuel
Picking a best track from the
Australian virtuoso is a tough
call, but this medley of hits
from The Beatles illustrates his
incredible technique. A staggering
masterclass sees Tommy
replicating bass lines, vocal
melodies, guitar and piano riffs
that will leave a smile on even the
biggest technique-a-phobe’s face.
35 I’m So Glad Skip James
Skip James gave up music
as a career during the Great
Depression. It wasn’t until he was
“re-discovered” in the 60s that the
true majesty of his art reached a
wider audience. A big proponent
of D-Minor tuning Skip went on
to influence many in the blues
revival and beyond. The song
is a perfect introduction to his
idiosyncratic playing and vocals.
34
Marianne - Leonard
Black Bird Cohen
The Beatles
We’re guessing that this made
the list, not due to the fairly
rudimentary guitar playing, but
thanks to Cohen’s incredible ability
to tell a story. Always a better
lyricist than guitarist (unsurprising
given that Cohen’s first calling was
as a poet), this song is a perfect
example of the Canadian’s ability
to whisk the listener off into
another world, and impart raw
emotions.
This song proves just how
effective vocals and guitar can
be. Paul McCartney’s delicate
playing was inspired by J.S. Bach’s
Bourrée in E minor, and the lyrics
were written to be symbolic of
the Civil Rights movement in
America during the 60s. This is
one of McCartney’s most popular
compositions and it’s easy to see
why it makes the list.
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Acoustic Top
50
the best and deserves a wider
audience. This is a recent song,
from his 2008 album Ziggurat
and it’s a testament to his skill as a
songwriter that he’s still penning
such memorable songs.
only just purchased a mandolin
and was learning to play when
he came up with the riff, proof
positive that you don’t need to be a
virtuoso to write good music.
31 Make Me Smile
(Come Up And See
Me) - Steve Harley
33 This Old Guitar
- John Denver
If, as an acoustic guitarist, you
can listen to this song without
getting just a little bit misty eyed,
well, you’re made of stern stuff.
With a beautiful finger picked
progression throughout, Denver’s
fragile and plaintive vocals convey
what could be the ultimate tribute
to our instrument wrapped up
in a tender ballad. A true classic
from a true legend.
32 A Pretty Penny
- Steve Tilston
It’s been said that Steve Tilston
is one of the best kept secrets
in British music. That might be
over-egging the pudding, but
there’s no doubt that he’s one of
Pierre Bensusan
“A Case of you” by Joni Mitchell (Blue)
“How Can I Forget (Song For Margo)” by
Kenni Rankin (Professional Dreamer)
“Self Portrait in 3 Colours” by Charlie
Mingus (Mingus Ah Um)
“Part II C” by Keith Jarrett (Köln Concert)
“Track 2” by Virginia Rodrigues (Nos)
“Aguas de Março” by Antonio Carlos Jobim
(Finest hour)
“I do it for your Love” by Bill Evans & Toots
Thielemans (Affinity)
“São Jorge” by Hermeto Pasquoal
(Zabumbê:Bum:Ã)
“Cancion del Amor” by Paco De Lucia
(Zyriab)
“Ponta De Aeria” by Wayne Shorter and
Milton Nascimento (Native Dancer)
The song is a classic but it’s the
acoustic guitar solo that makes
it really stand out. The solo was
performed as a sound-check
warm up before the recording
sessions for the song began. Little
did Jim Cregan know that when
he was noodling away he was
creating one of the most widely
listened to and adored acoustic
guitar solos to grace the charts.
30 Baby Driver
– Simon and
Garfunkel
The fact that this song was the B
side to this duo’s other entry on
this list illustrates just how strong
the material Simon and Garfunkel
produced was. With its playful
lyrics and incessantly catchy
vocals this song would have been
an A side for most other artists.
The twangy guitar intro and big,
full-bodied strumming propels
the song along at breakneck speed
leaving a sense of delirious fun in
its wake.
29 Another Lonely
Day - Ben Harper
The unfairly good looking Mr
Harper delivers a melancholy
ballad . His smoky vocals
are supported by a slowstrumming which gets under
your skin, lending the song
a hypnotic quality. To say it’s
lyrically downbeat is a bit of an
understatement, but there’s an
aching beauty to it nonetheless.
28 Losing My
Religion -REM
An unlikely hit for the Georgia
alt.rockers this song has become
ingrained in the collective
consciousness thanks to heavy
airplay on radio and MTV. It could
be the most famous song with a
mandolin as its cornerstone, with
its famous riff courtesy of guitarist
Peter Buck. Incredibly Buck had
Russell Welton:
Naima version of the John Coltrane piece:
Steve Lukather
Wu Wei: Pierre Bensusan
Flamenco Guitar Solo: Steve Stevens
Aerial Boundaries: Micheal Hedges
Espiritu: Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucia and
John McLaughlin
Albeniz Suite Espanola, OP.47 Asturias:
Andres Segovia
Tribute to Bach, BMV 1004 : Chaconne:
Steve Hackett
You Go To My Head: Django Reinhardt
Broon’s Bane/The Trees: Alex Lifeson Just Relax: Stochelo Rosenburg
27 Fast Car - Tracy 24 Patience - Guns
Chapman
With its distinctive fingerstyle
riff and Chapman’s rich vocals
this song was destined for
success from the start. This was
Chapman’s first success and
launched her career, winning a
Grammy for ‘Best Female Pop
Vocal Performance’. The lyrics
struck home in the 80s in contrast
with the big money, survival of
the fittest attitude so prevalent at
the time, and it’s the timelessness
of the lyrics, as well as the quality
of the music that helped it reenter charts in 2010 thanks to
digital downloads.
26 St Louis Blues -
Big Bill Broonzy
This song is a standard in the
repertoire of blues and jazz
musicians the world over, but
Broonzy’s take on it is surely
one of the standouts. Broonzy
influenced generations of
guitarists with his folk-blues
stylings, which were in turn
influenced by his own early days
playing spirituals, ragtime and
boogie. It’s his skill at delivering
a melody that makes his playing
rise above his contemporaries,
and listening to this song it’s
easy to see why he was so
influential.
25 Love and
Affection - Joan
Armatrading
This was Armatrading’s first
chart success, cracking the top
10 in 1976. The gentle vocal
delivery and light guitar work
belies the message of the song.
To this day it remains a firm fan
favourite and Armatrading’s
signature song.
N Roses
The bad boys of rock go all acoustic.
From their highly successful G’NR
Lies album (actually two EPs
spliced together, 1986’s Live ?!*@
Like A Suicide and then a four
track acoustic offering), this tender
ballad and its accompanying video
ensured that the album sold very
well indeed. The song also features
a nice acoustic solo by Slash.
23 Northern Sky Nick Drake
From Drake’s second album,
Bryter Layter, this sweeping
love song’s popularity has been
bolstered by its appearances on
film soundtracks. Driven more by
the meandering piano lines that
run through the piece this is still
an inspired slice of Drake at his
very best.
22 Never Going
Back Again Fleetwood Mac
Rumours marked the peak of
Fleetwood Mac’s popularity,
though the band’s sound was very
different from its blues roots.
Linsey Buckingham’s twangy
playing on this song is one of the
album’s standout moments.
21 More Than
Words - Extreme
These hair metal heroes achieved
their greatest success largely thanks
to the crossover success of this
ballad. Nuno Bettencourt showed
that he could do more than shred
the living hell out of an electric with
some tasteful fingerstyle work that
supported Gary Cherone’s perfect
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vocal delivery. Reaching number
one in the States and number two
here in the UK the band were on
top of the world, then a few short
years later would find themselves
out in the musical wilderness along
with their other big haired brethren.
20 Old Man – Neil
Young
Harvest was a monumentally
successful album for Neil Young
and is rightly regarded as one
of the greatest of all time. This
particular track was modestly
successful as a single but seems
to find particular resonance with
people, dealing as it does with the
fact that we all have similar wants
and needs. James Taylor guests on
vocals and a 6 string banjo tuned
like a guitar with Linda Ronstadt
also supplying vocals.
Gordon Giltrap:
Shawn Phillips: Favourite Things.
Jose Feliciano: Light my Fire.
Pete Seeger: The Bells of Rhymney.
Pavan for a dead infant: Julian Bream
Honeysuckle Rose: Django Reinhardt.
Anji: Davey Graham.
Lady Nothingy’s Toy Puff: Or just simply
LADY NOTHING...John Renbourn.
Chambertin: Bert Jansch.
Julia Florida: John Williams.
Behind Blue Eyes: The Who and Pete
Townsend.
18 The Boxer
- Simon and
Garfunkel
Often believed to be an attack
on Bob Dylan (something Simon
himself has denied) this classic
from the Bridge Over Troubled
Water album features some
brilliant fingerstyle work from
Fred Carter Jr. The cascading
intro gives way to some tastefully
picked arpeggios that give the
song a rolling and plaintive feel
in perfect step with the lyrics. A
classic.
17 1952 Vincent
Black Lightning Richard Thompson
Widely regarded as Thompson’s
greatest song, this is certainly
a perennial favourite that goes
down a storm every time it’s
performed. A beautiful modern
folk song, delivered in the
style of something altogether
more trad, it tells the story of a
wayward rogue and his young
girlfriend united by their love of
his 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
motorcycle. The playing is,
as you’d expect, exquisite
throughout and Thompson’s
impassioned vocals and brilliant
narrative lyrics unfurl a short
film in the mind’s eye.
15 Tears In
12 Come On In
Written in the aftermath of the
tragic death of his son Connor,
few songs can be said to deal with
such raw pain as this. The guitar
work is tasteful and restrained, as
expected from one of the greats,
and the version on the Unplugged
album is about as personal and
heartfelt as it gets.
The myths and legends that
surround Robert Johnson have
become bigger than the man
himself (sold his soul to the devil
don’t you know) but the guy
knew how to play the blues, and
importantly managed to convey
intense emotions and experience
in succinct songs. With its
references to “hoodoo” objects
and the classic blues themes of
love, loss and betrayal it’s no
wonder it has become beloved of
blues artists the world over. And
when you listen to the original,
you feel there just could be
something in those myths.
Heaven – Eric
Clapton
© Jack Gescheidt
14 Intuite - Pierre
Bensusan
19 Knockin’ On
16 Streets of
Heaven’s Door - Bob London - Ralph
McTell
Dylan
When Bob Dylan wrote this
song for the soundtrack to Pat
Garret and Billy The Kid could
he have known it would go on
to be so popular? The song has
been covered by many artists
since, perhaps most famously
by Guns ‘N Roses, and the fact
that it works either as a stripped
back acoustic track or a balls
out rocker is testament to the
strength of the song.
If you were to measure the
success of a song by the amount
of times it’s covered by other
artists, this signature song from
Ralph McTell would come out
pretty well. Covered by over 200
artists it obviously strikes a chord
(pun fully intended) with many
including your good selves. The
socio-political message is classic
McTell as is the fingerpicked
guitar line.
guitarists. Without this I doubt
acoustic music would have
veered in the direction it did,
and especially if his promotion
of the DADGAD tuning had not
occurred.” Well said Paul, well
said. Gordon Giltrap also chose
it and said: “It is THE classic
acoustic instrumental of the
60’s. Its magic never dies.” We’re
not going to argue with those
endorsements, and neither, it
seems, are you.
Widely regarded as one of the
greatest fingerstyle players of all
time, and an undisputed master
of DADGAD, Pierre has been
writing beautiful acoustic music
for decades. This track from his
2001 album of the same name
is nothing short of exquisite.
Coaxing a delicate melody from
his guitar Pierre demonstrates his
astonishing technique and tone,
but always kept under a tight rein
to serve the song as opposed to
being for its own sake. A richly
deserved entry in the list.
13 Anji - Davey
Graham
This fingerstyle instrumental is
easily one of the most influential
pieces of solo acoustic guitar
music in history. Chosen by
Paul Brett as one of his top
ten he had the following to
say: “This inspired a whole
new generation of acoustic
My Kitchen - Robert
Johnson
11 Hotel
California - Eagles
This song is widely lauded for
its incredible guitar solo, which
regularly loiters near the top of
“best guitar solo ever” type polls,
and rightly so. But the heavy use
of 12-string acoustic throughout
definitely qualifies it for inclusion
here. Written about the excesses
of the California rock scene of the
day this is an enduring classic that’s
enjoyed by pretty much everyone,
especially after a few beers in the
pub on Saturday night.
Huw Price:
Black Queen: Stephen Stills
Chambertin: Bert Jansch
Dark Was The Night Cold Was The Ground:
Blind Willie Johnson
Southern Accents: Johnny Cash
Paper Aeroplanes: Green Green Grass Of
Home
Clarsach (The Nine Maidens): John
Renbourn
The Red House Painters: Summer Dress
The Scarecrow: June Tabor
Blind Willie McTell: Bob Dylan
Come Up & See Me (Make Me Smile):
Steve Harley
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Acoustic Top
50
Stephen Bennett:
The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France:
“Billet Doux”.
John Martyn: “May You Never
Blind Willie Johnston: “Nobody’s Fault
But Mine”.
Vinicius Cantuaria:“Caju”.
Martin Hayes/Denis Cahill: “The Lonesome
Touch”.
The Doobie Brothers: “Black Water”.
Robert Johnson: “Travellin’ Riverside
Blues”.
Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys: “Old
Joe Clark”.
Crosby, Stills And Nash: “Suite:judy Blue
Eyes”.
Charlie Haden: “Is This America?”
10 You Got A
Friend - James
Taylor
Penned by legendary songwriter
Carole King for her album
Tapestry, it was Taylor’s cover
released the very same year that
catapulted the song to the tops
of the charts and gave Taylor
a world-wide audience. His
acoustic fingerpicking is the
natural accompaniment to King’s
heartfelt lyrics, and it’s easy to see
why Taylor’s version connected so
strongly with audiences then and
continues to do so to this day.
09 Father and Son
- Cat Stevens
They say no relationship is more
complex than that between a
mother and daughter. If that’s true
then the father and son dynamic
is a very close second. In a song
that seem to ring true for every
man that listens to it (and doubly
so once he becomes a father), Cat
Stevens shows himself to be one
of the greatest singer-songwriters
of all time.
08 Yesterday - The
Beatles
The Guinness Book of World
Records recognises this, another
McCartney classic, as the most
covered song of all time. A
plaintive ballad about a broken
relationship, McCartney played
this on his favoured Epiphone
Texan. Considering its enormous
popularity it’s surprising that the
rest of the band weren’t too fond
of the song and vetoed it being
released as a single in the UK,
feeling it was at odds with their
sound at the time. Nonetheless
it found almost immediate
popularity when other artists
covered it and scored numerous
chart entries with it. A song
that treads a fine line between
saccharine sentimentality and real
emotion it’s a reminder of just
how great a musician Macca is.
07 Pink Moon -
the chorus. The song has since
become synonymous with Cash,
whose cover is seen in many ways
superior to the original.
05 Big Yellow Taxi
-Joni Mitchell
Mitchell’s environmental song has
become her most enduring song
from a catalogue that is almost
unparalleled in quality. There’s
something about the jaunty
delivery and Mitchell’s trademark
guitar that is at odds with the
serious message of the song, and
yet it’s this contrast that gives it
such enormous strength, it gets
under your skin and drums its
message home without coming
across as preachy.
Nick Drake
It’s a testament to Nick Drake’s
enduring talent and legacy that he
features on this list three times.
The title track from his final
album, this song stands out from
the rest of the album thanks to a
short piano interlude, while the
rest of the album is just guitars
and vocals. The whole album
was recorded over two evenings
and delivered to Island records
shortly after. Tragically Drake
would be dead just two years after
the album’s release, but thanks
to songs such as this he lives on,
influencing the music of a wide
variety of artists.
06 Hurt - Johnny
Cash
The Man in Black made a huge
return and widened his audience
out to a younger generation with
this cover of a Nine Inch Nails’
song. Trent Reznor’s introverted
and melancholy lyrics took on
a new depth when sung by an
ageing Cash, while the simple
and sparse guitar playing is the
perfect accompaniment, buoyed
as it is by an incessant piano in
“‘Heartsong’ started life as a
song which I wrote in about
1969 called ‘Starting all Over’. It
was written in open G tuning...
DGDGBD. I was experimenting
with some double strummed
chords one day and ‘hey presto’
that basic chordal riff arrived at
the fingertips. ‘Heartsong’ has
in its own way become a classic,
and it single handedly brought
me to the attention of a much
wider audience, especially when
it was used by the BBC for many
years as its theme for the Holiday
programme. It was subsequently
nominated for the coveted
Ivor Novello Award. I still get
immense pleasure from playing it
all these years on and it continues
to be a challenge in terms of
its inbuilt energy and technical
challenges”
Andy Hughes
04 Heartsong Gordon Giltrap
When you talk about the greats
of British guitar players Mister
Giltrap has to feature in any list.
This song was a chart hit from his
Perilous Journey album in 1977.
It went on to become ingrained
in the British consciousness as
the theme music to the BBC’s
Holiday programme. The verve
and energy in Gordon’s playing,
and the uplifting melody made
it the perfect song to accompany
such a programme, we defy you to
listen to this song without a smile
creeping onto your face.
Gordon took some time out
to tell us about the song, so
we’ll let him have the last word:
Graham Hazelwood:
Alice’s Restaurant Massacree: Arlo Guthrie
Farewell, Farewell: Fairport Convention
Good Company: Queen
Heartsong: Gordon Giltrap
Hurt: Johnny Cash
Memories: Chasing Pandora
Thick As A Brick: Jethro Tull
Three Mules: Al Stewart
Trains: Al Stewart
Vigeland’s Dream: Eleanor McEvoy
Miss Emily: Ghost Trains
If You Could Read My Mind: Gordon
Lightfoot
Face In The Crowd: Tom Petty
Angie: The Rolling Stones
Half A World Away: Oasis
After The Goldrush: Neil Young
And I Love Her: The Beatles
You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away: The
Beatles
I Wish I Was Your Mother: Mott The Hoople
Helpless: Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young
03 The Times They
Are a-Changin’
-Bob Dylan
This could be the ultimate
protest song. In fact Dylan
acknowledged it was written with
that deliberate intention in mind.
The lyrics have a timeless
quality to them, as relevant to the
social upheaval of the 60s as they
are to the current corporation
and bank-dominated 21st
century. The lyrics are what this
song is all about and it remains
one of his best.
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02 Heart of Gold - Neil
and the classic ‘Our House’ are my favourite
is still a memorable piece of playing: Stephen
tracks, and you can clearly hear a change of
Stills was playing with Buffalo Springfield –
style occurring slightly from the first line-up
with Neil Young – who were part of the 60s
Thiswith
songthe
was
directlyofresponsible
Neil
addition
Young and for
other
band
legion of American groups. History recalls
move into the mainstream spotlight
members.
that a party took place in Mama Cass’s house Young’s
artist. A in
number
one single
Everybody
those days
wrote from
songs about
in 1968, where Crosby, Stills and Nash sang as a solo
Harvest,
the as
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freedomone
andalbum,
political
comment,
it was the
a Stephen Stills song called ‘You Don’t Have his number
international
stardom,
fashion.Young
Musicto
could,
and did, change
the
To Cry’. It was in that rendition that all three catapulted
he would
lateron
that
its success
world’s
view atadmit
that time
many
issues. Neil
realised they had an empathy and sound, usingthough
him wrote
move away
the middle
of theon
Young
a songfrom
reflecting
the issues
a basic three-part vocal harmony backed by made
afterwards.
its harmonica
intro
and the
Kent StateWith
University
shootings,
which
acoustic guitars. This was, in fact, the birth of roadthe
distinctive
riff it’s easy
see why
Dylan
band recorded
andto
released
inBob
1970.
This was
Crosby, Stills & Nash.
allegedly
like the
song, as it
largelydidn’t
a protest
by students
onsounded
campus aabout
Their first LP, Crosby, Stills & Nash, was
likeofhim,
and hearing
it in heavy
the much
invasion
Cambodia,
rubber-stamped
released in 1969, and from this LP two singles bit too
radio
at Nixon
the time
used
to grind
his
byrotation
President
– he
of the
Watergate
hit the Billboard singles chart, with the LP
somewhat.
Sour National
grapes? Who
knows,
scandal.
The Ohio
Guard
opened fire
peaking at number six in the album charts. gears
with
simple, hooky
theitsstudents,
killing riff
fourand
andchunky
wounding
It contained some memorable songs which but on
thisindeed
song isadistinctively
nine. It was
massacre ofNeil
the unarmed
firmly established their unique harmony style. strumming
And
the and
harmonica
better
by the
state,
Young’splaying
lyrics inis‘Ohio’
‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ was, and is, my favouriteYoung.
ected too.
this: ‘Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
track. It was inspirational to many guitarists/ thanrefl
Dylan’s
we’re finally on our own. This summer I hear
vocalists who were hovering between playing
the drumming, four dead in Ohio’.
electric and acoustic guitars in the 60s. It was
All of these talents released their own solo
certainly a style which, mixed with Richie
albums in the early 70s, including Young’s
Havens’ approach, gave my Paul Brett Sage
iconic After The Gold Rush, my personal
band a direction. Have a listen to ‘Suite: Judy
Blue Eyes’ as performed live at Woodstock on
favourite of all his LPs. As in most fusions of
YouTube.
great talent, differences and disagreements
© Getty Images
Young
© Getty
01 Adagio from
Concierto de Aranjuez -
The top three of this list were separated by a
matter of a few votes each. This coming out
on top was unexpected, but the more you
think about it the more sense it makes. Few
pieces
of decided
music could
to beofsothe
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Neil Young.
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his own
band,
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re-interpreted
countless
musicians,
is reported thatby
both
Stills and
Nash hadfrom
Julian
Breamabout
to Miles
Davis
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Young
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wrote
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ereto
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age
Reeves. ‘Teach Your Children’, ‘Woodstock’
of three, but became a virtuoso pianist.
Incredibly he never mastered the guitar,
despite the fact that he was responsible in
no small part for raising the profile of the
Spanish guitar, and that his most famous
compositions are for guitar.
There is a pervasive sense of melancholy
in the main melody, which comes as no
surprise
when
you
knowwhich
that itled
wastowritten
crept into
their
psyche,
infragmentation,
the aftermath with
of theCrosby
miscarriage
of forming
and Nash
Rodrigo’s
wife’s
firstand
pregnancy.
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a duo, while
Stills
Young went
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strings
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orchestra
kick ininmid-way
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is the
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people wanting
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paths
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Yetone
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undertaking
Acoustic’s
Paul Brett
tours together
again had
and the
Neilfollowing
Young has been
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say about the
soloAdagio,
dates. which he chose
for his
own personal
Top
10: “It’s
simply
Without
the unique
input
of Richie
Havens
and
CSN&Y,
would contemporary
music have
the
best
constructed
piece for acoustic
takenever
a diffwritten
erent turn?
Certainly
would
guitar
in my
opinion.I It
has have
done, and possibly
many
others.
We should
everything,
inspiration,
mood,
melody,
be thankful
that,
over the years,
their in
creative
technique
and
an immediate
identity
the
talents and
songs
opening
notes.
” have provided us with a rich
tapestry
of acoustic-based
music
that is
An
unexpected,
but deserving
winner
ofstill
timeless.
our
reader’s poll.
Paul Brett
101
93
Legends
of Acoustic.indd
86
50
things.indd
77
26/11/2010 15:32
10:05
10/01/2011