We all have a soft side, admit it! Power Ballads play a big part of our musical lives, whether you like them or not. Remember that first really close slow dance with that special someone ? I do, and that song is in my list because of it! Regardless of if you do or don't, these songs do something to us. So now that Hidden Treasures has previewed some of these for you, lets find out who has the best taste when it comes to Power Ballads (hint: his name starts with "S") ...
Please review each of the 5 lists posted and tell us what we missed, what we got right, what you would have done different, and who's the biggest softie (or wimp if you see it that way ) ...
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My picks from Stuart's list:
5. All I Need - Motley Crue
4. Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
3. Still Loving You - Scorpions
2. Alone Again - Dokken
1. Nobody's Fool - Cinderella
20. ANGEL SONG - GREAT WHITE
19. DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES - KIX
18. HOME SWEET HOME - MOTLEY CRUE
17. LYIN' EYES - EAGLES
16. CLOSER TO MY HEART - RATT
15. BALLAD OF JAYNE - L.A. GUNS
14. ONLY WOMEN BLEED - ALICE COOPER
13. ALL MY LOVE - LED ZEPPELIN
12. ALONE AGAIN - DOKKEN
11. THUNDER BIRD - QUIET RIOT
10. HEAVEN - BRYAN ADAMS
9. HYSTERIA - DEF LEPPARD
8. IN GOOD FAITH - SURVIVOR
7. SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD - MANILOW
6. CLOSER TO THE HEART - RUSH
5. LOVE SONG - TESLA
4. DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT (TIL IT'S GONE) - CINDERELLA
3. HOLIDAY - SCORPIONS
2. THE AIR THAT I BREATHE - JIMI JAMISON
1. BETH - KISS
Ok, I totally missed this, but I WANT TO PLAY TOO!!
So, Scott, please wait till I get one posted. I'll go home tonight and make my list (the bestest bestest one...over all the other mighty fine lists). I'll post it tomorrow.
I guess I was actually working when all of this was making its rounds. You guys must all be DJ's at strip clubs, and have lots of time on your hands. So keep on strokin' it DJ's, and tomorrow you'll see the most awesome power ballad list ever. I mean ever....
no problem! Ill wait, the more the merrier...
That's great Gordon, but there is no way you'll top my list. Second best isn't bad, it's just not worth anything.
First of all I gotta say, some really fine lists here already. Second of all, I gotta say this was harder than I thought it would be...having to leave out some songs you still truly love. Thirdly, I'll say 1 through 10 was easier for me than the second half of the list. Anyone else have that same problem? In fact, choosing the last one, number 20, was much harder than choosing number one!
Here goes my list (and of course, my commentary!!)
20 - Ballad Of Jayne - L.A. Guns - this one made a lot of lists, and features outstanding vocals.
19 - Peace Is Free - Black Stone Cherry - killer, killer sing along chorus. The chorus is what makes this top 20 for me.
18 - Mother - Lita Ford - for those of you who do not have Lita's latest "Living Like A Runaway"...it's phenonminal in my opinion. Entire disc is excellent. Some killer rockers, but this heart felt, heart breaking ode to her estranged Sons could probably make any parent cry.
17 - Only Women Bleed - Alice Cooper - this one made a lot of lists as well, and Alice shows off his brilliant lyrical talent big time on this one.
16 - Dream On - Aerosmith - with Steven Tyler wailing like a banshee on vocals, this is a "must include" classic. Plenty of Aerosmith ballads, but this was the first one...and the best one.
15 - Before The Dawn - Judas Priest - how can one of the world's greatest metal bands also have one of the greatest ballads of all time? Not sure, but top flight vocals, and an awesome, slow guitar lead. Great production on this as well.
14 - Forever - Kiss - Almost put in "I Will Be There" by Kiss on my list, as well, but this one won out. Great vocal work, and love how the lead guitar is accoustic on this track.
13 - Come Closer - Chickenfoot - another song that just might break your heart, especially if you are going through relationship turmoil, your self. This entire album is awesome.
12 - Love Hurts - Nazareth - I almost selected two other Naz' ballads...either "Sunshine" or "Loved and Lost"...but Love Hurts wins out based on world wide popularity of the song. Another awesome, slow, slide guitar lead helps put this in the all time greatest list.
11 - Watch Over You - Alter Bridge - Great melody and harmony, great lyrics, and one of the greatest singers around today. Strangely, I've had two people tell me recently they dont like Myles Kennedy's voice....I needed help getting off the floor both times!
10 - Spread Your Wings - Big Jim Slade - BJS is an unknown band, which is a complete shame. They have 4 releases, and each one has one all-accoustic ballad on it. This is the best of them. The bands web site has not had any new content added since 2009, so they may have "called it quits". A shame...to me, other than The Beatles, BJS has more vocal talent than anyone, in my opinion.
9 - The Wizard - Uriah Heep - a great mix of accoustic and electric guitars on this gem. And very strong vocals.
8 - Wind Of Change - Scorpions - killer, killer "vibe" to this song. Uplifting lyrics set to a stunning, amazing event that is a huge part of world history.
7 - Yesterday - The Beatles - short, but sweet. Almost want to list this song as just Paul McCartney. I'm sure you could find it on the internet, but I'd be willing to bet it was McCartney playing the accoustic guitar on this, not Lennon or Harrison.
6 - Love Is Forever - Slaughter - This track, as well as the album it comes from, are vastly unknown. Which is another shame. It's the first (and so far, only) record Slaughter has done after the death of original guitarist Tim Kelly (R.I.P.). And his replacement, Jeff Blando, is a great player, and pushed this record into greatness. My number one, all time, under-rated rock n roll record. Should have sold millions, in my opinion.
5 - Dancing With St. Peter - Sign Of 4 - A Phil Mogg (lead vocals-UFO) side project. Another heart wrenching, but beautiful song. Story about the death of a young lady...who is now "Dancing With St. Peter". Awesome song, great melody, and sad story.
4 - Dust In The Wind - Kansas - Great tune. Everything about it, including the very thought provoking lyrics.
3 - Wicked Game - Chris Issak - Some rockers may not know this guy. Has an awesome vocal range, and there is just something about this song that makes me want to go drive through the desert...at night...I don't know why. It just does. This tune may be set to a "night driving through the desert" scene in the old movie "White Sands"...set in New Mexico with Willam Defoe. Great tune with excellent melody, and just a great, great feel to this track. Another "lost love" tune.
2 - Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi - Yeah, yeah I know most heavy rockers can't stand Bon Jovi, but this song, while being one of the greatest ballads of all time, is also one of the greatest songs of all time, no matter what style of song you speak of. Great lyrics, awesome production, especially the whole intro section. And Richie Sambora shines on this tune. His backing vocals are great. His guitar lead is one of the best uses I've ever heard of using full power chords WITHIN a guitar lead. Great idea, great lead, great song. Bon Jovi bashers should give this song it's just due.
1 - Wash Away - Hollow - Too bad I'm too stoopid to figure out how to post music. RJHog may just remember this band (and song, maybe?) from my personal page over on that "other web site" a few years back. My Son had posted some music on my page, including some tracks from this independent band's debut disc. Based in Dallas, Texas, they self-released two CD's, with the first one being awesome, and then sadly disappeared, just like so many other great bands who give up after not reaching major success. This tune is entirely accoustic, even the lead guitar. With an outstanding vocal performance. My favorite ballad of all time. From a band that most people will unfortunately never hear.
And if you've read this far, there you go. The greatest list of ballads of all time!! (If anyone on here does not think that THEIR list is the greatest of all time, then somethings wrong!)
Peace out, rock out!!
Sign Of 4? This is the first time that band has been mentioned on this site! I'm thinking someone has to post that album.
It would be nice to hear. I've never even heard of it, but I've only recently started discovering UFO.
And Gordon, I like that Chris Issak song too.
This was a fun one to do, for sure! Check out Sign of 4. It's got some good heavy rockers, but also several slower tunes. Very strong side project for Mogg. The guitar player on this disc would go on to play bass for at least one UFO tour, when Pete Way was either in bad health, or just banned from entering the USA...or both.
There are no birthdays today
Norma Jean Fox
(11/30/1945-9/7/2010)
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