# A single song that epitomizes a band's "sound" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935 "2009-08-10T15:25:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/1 "2009-08-10T15:25:29Z")
If someone asked you, “…I’ve never listened to any music by\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. What do they sound like?” could you play for them _one song_ that encapuslates the band’s “sound”? The pacing, the instrumental work, the typical songwriting, the “feel” of it? As I was driving my son to his swim lesson this morning, I played one of my compliation discs (not a member of the iPod generation, sorry). _Flaming Telepaths_, by the mighty Blue Öyster Cult came on. Yeah, I’m aware of the fact that I’m an old fart, but I thought to myself "…that one tune really captures the _essence_ of B.Ö.C.; the quick tempo and pacing changes from hard rock/metal to sinister and gothic, Buck Dharma’s blazing guitar, Alan Lanier’s creepy keyboard work, Eric Bloom’s growling vocals and the signature weird, “UFOs, psychic stuff & horror” songwriting. B.Ö.C. in a nutshell, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/2 "2009-08-10T15:31:29Z")
_Free Bird_ pretty much defines Lynyrd Skynyrd. There’s the ballad-y vocals, and then the Southern Fried Guitar Boogie. I kinda want to nominate _Immigrant Song_ for Led Zep, but that doesn’t really do it. They’ve got some stuff that is more bluesy, less Guitar Godly. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/3 "2009-08-10T15:39:47Z")
For me, anyway, with some of my favorite bands: Yes: Roundabout (gets the nod over Starship Trooper due to Wakeman’s keyboards on the former) Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody Electric Light Orchestra: Evil Woman or Telephone Line ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/4 "2009-08-10T15:41:19Z")
Hendryx: Purple Haze ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/5 "2009-08-10T15:42:40Z")
The Who: Won’t get fooled again 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/6 "2009-08-10T15:47:09Z")
Not a band, but Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound is pretty easily epitomized by the song “Be My Baby.” ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/7 "2009-08-10T16:12:26Z")
Rather than anything from “Born To Run”, I think Bruce Springsteen’s sound is more captured by songs off of “The River”. “The Price You Pay” is a good example. For some reason, that album has more of a sound of trying to make a Bruce Springsteen album than others do. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/8 "2009-08-10T17:03:03Z")
\*\*Led Zeppelin: \*\* Communications Breakdown. It defined their sound (and, for that matter, most metal rock) from that point on. **Bonzo Dog Band** : The Intro and the Outro **Steppenwolf** : Magic Carpet Ride **B-52s** : Rock Lobster **Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross** : Charleston Alley **Pink Floyd** : Echoes **Soft Machine** : Moon in June ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/9 "2009-08-10T17:38:00Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Rather than anything from “Born To Run”, I think Bruce Springsteen’s sound is more captured by songs off of “The River”. “The Price You Pay” is a good example. For some reason, that album has more of a sound of trying to make a Bruce Springsteen album than others do. I started thinking about Springsteen and of course immediately thought of “Born to Run”, but he’s been through so many phases it’s really tough to pick just one song! Even if you say classic him with the E Street Band, there’s the funkier earlier stuff and then the anthemy Born to Run stuff. Maybe Tenth Avenue Freeze Out – funky and with the anthemier part in there. I’m glad you mentioned The Price You Pay–man, I love that song. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/10 "2009-08-10T17:42:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > **Pink Floyd** : Echoes Or Comfortably Numb. I think either would work. Led Zep: Black Dog ELP: Carn Evil 9 The Who: Baba O’Reilly Rennaissance: Mother Russia Wow, I’m really stuck in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/11 "2009-08-10T17:48:56Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I kinda want to nominate _Immigrant Song_ for Led Zep, but that doesn’t really do it. They’ve got some stuff that is more bluesy, less Guitar Godly. For Zeppelin I would say How Many More Times or Dazed and Confused, wait or Livin’ Loving Maid. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/12 "2009-08-10T18:09:38Z")
The Eagles - “Hotel California” Pink Floyd - “Comfortably Numb” AC/DC - “For Those About to Rock…” Fleetwood Mac - “Rhiannon” BeeGees - “You Should be Dancing” U2 - “Pride (In the Name of Love)” ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/13 "2009-08-10T18:20:50Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > For Zeppelin I would say How Many More Times or Dazed and Confused, wait or Livin’ Loving Maid. Funny, but I guess everyone has a different opinion of blands that had a long run. When I read this thread’s title the first thing I thought of was Led Zeppelin and “The Ocean” off Houses of the Holy, or “Over the Hills and Far Away”. For Rob/White Zombie I’d use “Dragula” off Hellbilly Deluxe. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/14 "2009-08-10T18:50:24Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > AC/DC - “For Those About to Rock…” Rather, “Back In Black”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/15 "2009-08-10T19:10:38Z")
Beach Boys - _God Only Knows_ Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - _Prove It All Night (Live)_ Allman Bothers - _Whipping Post_ Warren Zevon - _Envoy_ Velvet Underground - _Sweet Jane_ ---
**Author:** ![misling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@misling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misling)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/16 "2009-08-10T20:26:48Z")
I’d have said The Eagles - “Hotel California” is atypical of them, not the epitome. Something like “Tequila Sunrise” is more typical. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/17 "2009-08-10T21:43:44Z")
The quintessential REM song (for early REM, anyway) is “Driver 8.” So much so that they even stated it once. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/18 "2009-08-10T21:59:48Z")
George Thorogood - Bad to the Bone. In fact, I think if you listen to that song, you have listened to all of his music. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/19 "2009-08-10T23:02:00Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > Funny, but I guess everyone has a different opinion of blands that had a long run. When I read this thread’s title the first thing I thought of was Led Zeppelin and “The Ocean” off Houses of the Holy, or “Over the Hills and Far Away”. That the thing, you get a band like, say Pink Floyd and their sound changed throughout their career. For a band like PF, I would have chosen something from the Wall (The Wall Part Two maybe) and something from DSOTM, but even then, you go back to Meddle or Animals it was different still. The reason I chose those songs for Zep is because they have two different styles within the same song. Blues and rock. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935/20 "2009-08-11T00:59:34Z")
Led Zeppelin - What Is And What Should Never Be [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-single-song-that-epitomizes-a-bands-sound/505935.md?page=2)