# hard rocking songs from bands that surprised you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349 "2020-02-01T23:36:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/81 "2020-02-10T03:19:03Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > As a huge fan of most of Mr. Young’s work (thanks to my dad), I agree with you. > > The funny thing for me, though? My first exposure to Neil Young was a concert (I don’t know if it was a VHS or on HBO or something) during his Trans era. So I saw this short haired mid-30s dude with a vocoder performing “Sample and Hold.” So, I was surprised that was the same long haired guy on the cover of my dad’s '60s/'70s LPs or the “Rocking” grunge godfather of the late '80s/90s. Mix in Harvest Moon (not Harvest), and if you are familiar at all with his '80s Geffen output you know he was all over the place. In addition to Crazy Horse and CSN/Y, he’s done entire albums with Booker T and the MGs, Pearl Jam, his band with Willie Nelson’s son, and all kinds of other stuff. he’s been all over the place with styles. So true. If I may brag a bit, I saw him live with Booker T And The MG’s on his very short European festival tour in 1993. It was fantastic and is one of my dearest musical memories. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/82 "2020-02-10T07:42:31Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > R.E.M. could really rock hard! My favorite rocker is [Bittersweet Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUb1lYeaC4Q). I’m not a huge fan of REM, but I dig the shit out of [“What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”](https://youtu.be/jWkMhCLkVOg). That song rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/83 "2020-02-10T15:11:14Z")
While I won’t label Bruce Springsteen a hard rocker, the song Born in the USA certainly qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/84 "2020-02-10T15:33:45Z")
Saw Ambrosia open for Doobie Brothers and most of their songs were nothing like their hits. They were much more rocking and they were very good. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/85 "2020-02-11T18:29:14Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > I’d nominate the B-side single version of [“Revolution”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGLGzRXY5Bw). Ha, look at Paul playing with a pick. I know he did/does/will sometimes but I haven’t seen that in a while. Great tune and even better lyrics. Wikipedia sez [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_(Beatles_song)) about Revolution: > [@](#): > > When released in August, the song was viewed by the political left as a betrayal of their cause and a sign that the Beatles were out of step with radical elements of the counterculture. Interesting that Hendrix sang “_If all the hippies cut off all their hair, I don’t care_” a year earlier. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/86 "2020-02-11T22:39:51Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > While I won’t label Bruce Springsteen a hard rocker, the song Born in the USA certainly qualifies. I have to confess that I’m gobsmacked by this comment. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/87 "2020-02-16T00:22:41Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Pink Floyd’s [The Nile Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MduQlWUoyhI) fits the OP well. It was ‘hard rock’ almost before the term existed and sounds just as hard today. This was going to be my contribution. It’s really jarring on “Relics”, as it doesn’t really fit in with the rest. At least on the same original album there’s Ibiza Bar which is very similar. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/88 "2020-02-16T08:21:29Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > The Moody Blues hardest rocking song is [The Story In Your Eyes.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoDXzvXxUbc) 😃 🙂 I saw the Moody Blues live in 1992 at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis ([This one, as a matter of fact](https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/moody-blues--11)). Great energy throughout the concert, and the entire theater was on their feet, clapping, and singing for the last three songs. The _entire_ theater. My Metallica fan buddy, who was skeptical prior to the concert, said at the time that it was one of the best concerts he’d been to. The Moody Blues can most certainly rock. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/89 "2020-02-16T08:48:21Z")
**Indigo Girls** - two mellow folkies with acoustic guitars, right? Ha! “[Compromise](https://youtu.be/QPWlcuPuIak)” “[Cut It Out](https://youtu.be/apnxFnTfydg)” “[Go](https://youtu.be/nKp0zl0qVR8)” “[Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate](https://youtu.be/8-EMJ1xJdOw)” “[Trouble](https://youtu.be/F4mvRg3XmvY)” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/90 "2020-02-16T08:53:07Z")
**Funkadelic** - “[Who Says a Funk Band Can’t Play Rock?](https://youtu.be/R2nqZCSnN1U)” ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/91 "2020-02-16T16:46:49Z")
Brandi Carlile, known for The Story, The Joke, writing and producing Tanya Tucker’s Bring My Flowers Now, has this offering [Mainstream Kid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQyc89jQXqY). ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/92 "2020-02-16T21:42:01Z")
**Dixie Chicks** - “[Lubbock or Leave It](https://youtu.be/FKuVW28THdc)” _As I’m getting out I laugh to myself 'Cause this is the only place Where as you’re getting on the plane You see **Buddy Holly** ’s face_ ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/93 "2020-02-16T21:55:29Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Damn, that really is pretty good. It has a Thin Lizzy / T-Rex vibe, and I dig it totally. If I heard it without context I wouldn’t even think it was Billy Joel at all. My “Billy Joel not sounding like Billy Joel” song has to be [“Laura.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9FC34rbeio) Only partially because he drops an F-bomb. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349/94 "2020-02-17T17:02:31Z")
I know Stevie Ray Vaughn was a hard rocking blues guitarist, but this tune deserves honorable mention here…for a studio cut, this just smokes -each solo is harder than the previous. Turn it up… [SRV - Tightrope](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6svFLIUKB-M) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-rocking-songs-from-bands-that-surprised-you/847349.md?page=4)