The list, part two

The all-time best; and the only reason Lennon got lucky

by John O'Neill

It took a lot to get here, but below is the final list of 100 bands who deserve your attention. Some you know all too well, some you've probably never heard of. Admittedly, it would have been easier to list

out a 100 bands who are great but extremely obscure; but part of the fun was matching up multimillion sellers against no-names who had every right to be as huge but somehow weren't. This is in no way intended to be some list to end all lists -- it's more like an opportunity to say thanks for the great times. Frankly, I can't imagine what the quality of my life would be without music. As Brian Wilson, the famous Beach-Boy-slash-songwriting-genius-slash-human-meltdown once equated: music is very much the voice of God. All you have to do is close your eyes and listen . . .

Top 100 acts of the rock-and-roll era (including in-print only recommendations) to start your collection of cool junk

100. Squires -- Going All the Way with the Squires (Crypt, 1986)

99. Nirvana -- Nevermind (DGC, 1991)

98. Neil Diamond -- Classics: The Early Years (Columbia, 1983)

97. Marshall Crenshaw -- Field Day (Warner Bros., 1983)

96. Smithereens -- Especially for You (Enigma, 1986)

95. Fugazi -- 13 Songs (Dischord, 1989)

94. Charlie Feathers -- Uh Huh Honey (Norton, 1992)

93. Kingsmen -- On Campus (Wand/Sundazed 1993)

92. Ronettes -- Best of the Ronettes (Abkco, 1992)

91. Big Star -- #1 Record (Stax, 1992)

90. Go Go's -- Return to the Valley of the Go Go's (IRS, 1994)

89. Fastbacks -- The Question Is No (Sub Pop, 1992)

88. Little Willie John -- Fever: The Best of. . . (Rhino, 1993)

87. Carl Perkins -- Original Sun Hits (Sun/Rhino, 1986)

86. Girl Trouble -- Thrillshere (Poplamma, 1991)

85. Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Cosmo's Factory (Fantasy, 1970)

84. Beau Brummels -- Autumn of Their Years (Big Beat, 1994)

83. Bruce Springsteen -- Ghost of Tom Joad (Columbia, 1995)

82. Ritchie Valens -- Rockin' All Night (Del-Fi, 1995)

81. Paul Revere and the Raiders -- The Essential Ride 63-67 (Sony, 1995)

80. Television -- Marquee Moon (Elektra, 1977)

79. Del Shannon -- Greatest Hits (Rhino, 1990)

78. Sex Pistols -- Never Mind the Bollocks . . . (Warner Bros., 1977)

77. Standells -- Try It (Tower, 1967/ Sundazed 1994)

76. Pretenders -- Pretenders (Sire, 1980)

75. Modern Lovers -- Modern Lovers (Beserkley, 1975/Rhino 1985)

74. Thee Headcoats -- The Kids Are All Square (Hangman, 1990)

73. David Bowie -- Young Americans (RCA, 1975)

72. Sly and the Family Stone -- Stand! (Epic, 1969)

71. Sir Douglas Quintet -- Best of (Mercury, 1990)

70. Big Al Downing -- Rockin' Down the Farm (Eagle, 1994)

69. Ventures --Live In Japan '65 (Capitol, 1995)

67. Pretty Things -- Get a Buzz - The Best of (Fontana, 1982/'92)

66. Chocolate Watchband -- No Way Out (Sundazed, 1994)

65. Johnny Burnette Trio -- Rockabilly Boogie (Bear Family, 1989)

64. Love -- Love (Elektra, 1966/'88)

63. Los Straightjackets -- Viva! Los Straightjackets (Upstart, 1995)

62. Patti Smith Group -- Horses (Arista, 1995)

61. Who -- The Who Sing My Generation (Decca, 1965/MCA, 1988)

60. Zombies -- Zombie Heaven (Big Beat, 1997)

59. Elvis Costello -- This Year's Model (Columbia, 1978)

58. Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs -- Pharaoization (Rhino, 1985)

57. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers -- Damn the Torpedoes (MCA, 1979)

56. Gram Parsons -- G.P./Grievous Angel (Reprise 1990)

55. Dictators -- Go Girl Crazy! (Epic 1975)

54. Time Beings -- It's About . . . Time (BFD, 1996)

53. Blasters -- The Blasters Collection (Slash/Warner Bros., 1990)

52. AC/DC -- Back in Black (Atlantic, 1978)

51. Troggs -- Archeology (Fontana/Chronicles, 1992)

50. Hüsker Dü -- Flip Your Wig (SST, 1985)

49. Wailers -- Fabulous Wailers Live at the Castle (Norton, 1999)

48. Supersuckers -- La Mano Cornuda (Sub Pop, 1995)

47. MC5 -- Back in the USA (Atlantic 1970/Rhino 1992)

46. Neil Young -- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Reprise, 1969)

45. The Heartbreakers -- L.A.M.F. ( Track, 1977/Jungle, 1994)

44.) X -- Beyond and Back - The X Anthology (Elektra, 1997)

43. Buzzcocks -- Singles Going Steady (IRS, 1979/'92)

42. Velvet Underground --Velvet Undergroung and Nico (MGM 1967/'88)

41. Them -- The Story of Them (Deram, 1998)

40. Barrance Whitfield and the Savages -- Ow! Ow! Ow! (Rounder, 1984)

39. Replacements -- Pleased To Meet Me (Sire, 1987)

38. Wanda Jackson -- Rockin' in the Country (Rhino, 1990)

37. Mono Men -- Stop Draggin' Me Down (Estrus, 1990)

36. Big Joe Turner -- The Very Best of . . . (Rhino, 1998)

35. Cheap Trick -- In Color (Epic, 1977)

34. Nomads -- Showdown! (1981-1993) (SFTRI, 1994)

33. Animals -- Animalization (MGM, 1966)

32. DMZ -- When I Get Off (Bomp! 1977/'93)

31. Ruth Brown -- Rockin' in Rhythm (Rhino, 1996)

30. Don Covey -- Mercy Mercy (Razor & Tie, 1994)

29. Seeds -- The Seeds/Web of Sound (GNP 1966/'90)

28. Little Richard -- The Georgia Peach (Specialty, 1991)

27. Ike and Tina Turner -- The Soul of . . . (Sue, 1960/Collectible, 1994)

26. Jerry Lee Lewis -- Live at the Star Club (Rhino, 1992)

25. Cramps -- Songs the Lord Taught Us (IRS, 1981/'88)

24. Fleshtones -- More than Skin Deep (Itchiban, 1998)

23. Bo Diddley -- Bo Diddley (Chess, 1958/'87)

22. Otis Redding -- Otis Blue (Stax, 1965/Atlantic, 1991)

21. Lyres -- On Fyre (Matador, 1998)

20. Dick Dale and the Deltones -- Better Shred than Dead (Rhino, 1997)

19. Arthur Alexander -- The Ultimate. . . (Razor & Tie, 1993)

18. Everly Brothers -- The Fabulous Style of . . . (Ace, `94)

17. Gene Vincent -- The Screaming End (Razor & Tie, 1997)

16. Sonics -- Maintaining My Cool (Etiquette, 1961/Jerden, 1991)

15. Real Kids -- The Real Kids (Red Star, 1977/ Norton, 1991)

14. Bobby Fuller Four -- El Paso Rock Vol. 1 (Norton, 1996)

13. Elvis Presley --The Complete '50s Masters (RCA, 1992)

12. James Brown --Live at the Apollo (King, 1963/Polydor, 1990)

11. Stooges -- Fun House (Elektra, 1970/'87)

10. Ramones -- Rocket to Russia (Sire, 1977)

9. Flat Duo Jets -- Introducing -- Flat Duo Jets (Norton, 1995)

8. Flamin' Groovies -- Groovies Greatest Grooves (Sire, 1989)

7. Link Wray -- Mr. Guitar (Norton, 1995)

6. Kinks -- Face to Face (Reprise, 1966/ Castle UK, 1998)

5. Chuck Berry -- Rockin' at the Hops (Chess, 1960/MCA, 1987)

4. Rolling Stones -- Aftermath (London/Abkco, 1966)

3. Beatles -- A Hard Day's Night (Parlophone, 1964)

2. Buddy Holly -- The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA, 1993)

1. Beach Boys -- Pet Sounds (Capitol, 1966)

Ten toughest tunes off the top of our head

1. "I Don't Care" -- Mono Men

2. "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" -- Link Wray

3. "Gonna Make You Mine" -- Woggles

4. "When I Get Off" -- DMZ

5. "Talk Talk" -- Music Machine

6. "Search and Destroy -- Stooges

7. "You're Gonna Miss Me" -- 13th Floor Elevators

8. "It's A Cryin' Shame" -- Gentlemen

9. "Divide and Conquer" -- Hüsker Dü

10. "Rumble" -- Link Wray

A dozen roses guaranteed to make you misty

1. "God Only Know" -- Beach Boys

2. "There She Goes"-- La's

3. "Trampoline" -- Greenberry Woods

4. "Go Ahead" -- Squires

5. "All Alone" -- Spanic Boys

6. "Spanish Burgundy" -- Tom Russell

7. "One Step Up" -- Bruce Springsteen

8. "Love To See You" -- Roches

9. "Two Wonderful Stars" -- Curtain Society

10. "I've Been Loving You Too Long" -- Otis Redding

11. "Where Have You Been?" -- Arthur Alexander

12. "Accidentally Like a Martyr" -- Warren Zevon

Proof that the drugs are working fine

1. "Black Hole" -- Original Sins

2. "I Live Alone" -- Cynics

3. "Honey" -- Spacemen 3

4. "Now I Remember" -- Vipers

5. "No God Only Religion" -- Spiritualized

6. "Skyscraper" -- Boo Radleys

7. "I Am the Fly" -- Trashcan School

8. "Opel" -- Syd Barrett

9. "I Saw My Death in a Dream Last Night" -- Barracudas

10. "Fourth of July" -- Galaxy 500

The most overrated bands/folks

1. Led Zeppelin -- Sure, some of their stuff was pretty good, but for the most part they were a band who went from butchering good blues numbers to squeaking on and on about half-baked mysticism. Get my sword, the trolls are on the loose . . . okay. Bonzo, have another shot.

2. U2 -- Arrogant straight out of the gate, though there's no denying the impact of Edge's guitar sound. If someone would put a foot up Bono's ass it may work out one day.

3. Post-Peter Green Fleetwood Mac -- Greenie was the man and FM were a gritty blues-rock band. Green melted down due to stardom, Mick moved the gang to Cali, and the rest is an unfortunate history.

4. REM -- A band who had some early promise till Stipe, the quasi-egghead, decided to make his usually inane lyrics decipherable. Please go back to mumbling, smart guy.

5. Lynyrd Skynyrd -- To their credit they seem to endure. But for the life of us we can't find a reason why. I mean, after the power of those darn student lunch-counter sit-ins, when did it become cool again to be a dumb-ass redneck?

6. Paul McCartney -- As in his post-Beatle catalogue. First there was Linda. Then Wings. And, of course, "Ebony and Ivory." So don't feel too sorry for Lennon; at least he got to check out before the rest of us less-fortunates were subjected to Give My Regards to Broad Street.

7. Peter, Paul, and Mary -- Ah, yes, the little dears known for the whimsical tale "Puff the Magic Dragon." Do not be fooled by the past 30 years -- these creeps were the precursors to everything that's wrong with baby boomers. "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" is a condescending hate letter to the genre, written after all their folk hits dried up and they got pissed off because they're "artists." The rest of the Summer of Love jerks eventually followed.

8. The Eagles -- Nothing gets our blood boiling more than the suggestion the great Gram Parsons was somehow responsible for spawning these tepid pant loads. Sure there's the smoothed-down, country-rock thing, but like Phil Collins and Billy Joel, there's no substance to the singing. Hotels, cowboys, or double coupons, all somehow sound the same. Plus they screwed the world twice by breaking up and unleashing six Glenn Frey albums.