# So, how about some second-echelon bands' Stairway to Heaven/Freebird? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 13, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428 "2009-11-13T10:59:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/1 "2009-11-13T10:59:39Z")
I’ve always been fascinated not by big hits and big fame as much as the fleeting moments of greatness from the not-so-famous. To that end, what are some of your favorite anthems from less-than-superstar artists? I suppose second-echelon is debatable, so we shan’t quibble about that. My nomination to get the ball rolling would be _Never Been Any Reason_ by **Head East**. Sure it was a big hit, but Head East never became the words on the tips of the tongues of everyone from suburban teenagers to window washers…I saw them live a few times back in the day, and they were always opening for R.E.O. Speedwagon and the like. So, what are yours? ETA: I’m an idiot; please edit my title to read “Stairway”. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/2 "2009-11-13T11:07:40Z")
How about D.O.A by Bloodrock? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/3 "2009-11-13T11:26:19Z")
Good one! There’s probably going to be some overlap with “one-hit wonders” in this thread… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/4 "2009-11-13T12:08:46Z")
The Final Countdown. Can’t get more anthemic than that, albeit hilariously cheezy, but I’ve never heard anything else by Europe. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/5 "2009-11-13T14:53:41Z")
**"Green Grass and High Tides"** – Outlaws ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/6 "2009-11-13T14:59:38Z")
“Over And Over” by the MC5. Just as powerful as any Who song of the time, but much less appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/7 "2009-11-13T15:03:24Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > ETA: I’m an idiot; please edit my title to read “Stairway”. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I read it as Stairway before I opened your thread or saw your note. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/8 "2009-11-13T15:04:34Z")
_Lunatic Fringe_ by Red Ryder. _What’s Up?_ by 4 Non-Blondes. _You Get What You Give_ by New Radicals. _Epic_ by Faith No More. _Everybody Have Fun Tonight_ by Wang Chung. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/9 "2009-11-13T16:11:32Z")
_Hair of the Dog_ by Nazareth–Back in the day, this was often dedicated dedicated to our Defense at the post-game victory dances. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/10 "2009-11-13T16:15:41Z")
_Ashes Are Burning_ - Renaissance ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/11 "2009-11-13T17:24:54Z")
Are we just looking for “one hit Seventies FM rock wonders”? That would have to include: “Hocus Pocus” by Focus “Black Betty” by Ramjam ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/12 "2009-11-13T17:55:21Z")
[Turn Up the Radio](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfMT1hhhgZY) by Autograph Despite his unsavory reputation, I still like Gary Glitter’s [Rock and Roll, Part 2.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xd44PWZGzg) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/13 "2009-11-13T18:00:21Z")
“Shine” by Collective Soul. It was their first hit; it was different and catchy. Maybe not exactly anthemic, but I loved that song when it came out and still enjoy hearing it to this day. Everything they did after that was dull, second-rate derivitave grunge. On the one-hit-wonder front, IMO Lee Michaels’ “Do You Know What I Mean” and the Georgia Satellites’ “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” both deserve Rock Anthem status. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/14 "2009-11-13T18:33:01Z")
[QUOTE=Wheelz;11775307 On the one-hit-wonder front, IMO **Lee Michaels’ “Do You Know What I Mean”** and the Georgia Satellites’ “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” both deserve Rock Anthem status.[/QUOTE] Never. Lee Michaels must be expunged from the collective awareness of all mankind! Burn everything he has ever touched, much less recorded. I actually sprained a finger once stabbing the radio controls when his “music” came on. ---
**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:** [November 13, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/15 "2009-11-13T18:45:36Z")
_Fantasy_ - Aldo Nova (did you realize that he’s since produced for, and recorded with, Celine Dion? Talk about a style change…) _No Time To Lose_ - Tarney-Spencer Band ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/16 "2009-11-13T18:49:23Z")
\*Sister Christian \*by Night Ranger. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/17 "2009-11-13T19:13:22Z")
- Flirtin’ with Disaster\* - Molly Hatchet. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/18 "2009-11-13T19:25:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Never. Lee Michaels must be expunged from the collective awareness of all mankind! Burn everything he has ever touched, much less recorded. I actually sprained a finger once stabbing the radio controls when his “music” came on. You and your finger are both wrong. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fourth\_Wall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Fourth\_Wall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fourth_Wall)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/19 "2009-11-16T10:02:33Z")
“Radar Love” - Golden Earring “Black Betty” - Ram Jam “Louie Louie” - The Kingsmen (Hocus Pocus was an excellent earlier response) ---
**Author:** ![Fourth\_Wall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Fourth\_Wall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fourth_Wall)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428/20 "2009-11-16T10:11:10Z")
“Band A Gong” - T Rex “She’s A Beauty” - The Tubes “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” - Meat Loaf [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-about-some-second-echelon-bands-stairway-to-heaven-freebird/517428.md?page=2)