These are among the singles that I find most significant moments involved singles or album tracks
AC/DC "Back In black" (Back In Black,Atco,1980)
Terraced riffs, churning chorus. Traces of Zep, blues, metal plus punk 'tude. Proto-grunge. The very first song Kurt Cobain learned on guitar.
ROLLING STONES "Start Me Up" (Tattoo You, Virgin, 1981)
The last archetypal Stones single. That primal "Keef" Richards riff, honed to perfection. Yummy.
PRINCE "Purple Rain" (Purple Rain, Warner Bros. 1984)
Jimi, James Brown, George Clinton and Marvin Gaye all in the house. Wish he'd built on this.
THE GEORGIA SATELLITES "Keep Your Hands To yourself " ( Georgia Satellites,Elektra 1986)
Best roots single. Chunky style.
LIVING COLOUR "Cult Of Personality" (Vivid, Epic 1988)
Skittering, frenzied guitar straight out of Sonny Sharrock and James "Blood" Ulmer screaming amp. Among the first alt-rock (sic) to crack the Top Ten, they went to toilet slipped but Vernon Reid will back!
FAITH NO MORE "Epic " (The Real thing , Slash, 1989)
Eplosive mix of funk,rap,metal and shred proves to be the genre crossover way of the future.The real stuff,potent to the last note. Recommended for daily use. The Carmichaels could use this as part of their therapy.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS "Higher Ground(Mothers Milk, EMI, 1989)
That Flea dude and John Frusciante hijack Stevie Wonder's hit and brought it to a Jimi/George Clinton funk-metal plateau.
NEIL YOUNG "Rockin' In The Free World"( Freedom,Reprise, 1989)
Folk-grunge rules! He's back! He's pissed more than ever before! He's rockin'! The Mayor Of Seattle.
THE POLICE "Every breath You Take" (The Singles,A&M 1986)
The lyrics and Andy Summers bittersweet guitar(?) speaks for themselves.
ERIC CLAPTON "Layla" (Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs ,POLYDOR, 1970)
What makes "Laylasticks is that piano coda, which turns the song into a hymn of hope and redemption. Love songs are rarely this dramatic or uplifting.
LED ZEPPELIN "Stairway To Heaven" (Led Zeppelin IV, Atlantic)
Classic acoustic guitar arrangements, I rest my case.
THE EAGLES "Hotel California" (Hotel California , ASYLUM 1976)
The twin guitar solo, any objection?. The country music's future.