1. You Really Got Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2GmzyeeXnQ Taken from the album: Kinks (1964) A proto-metal song that launched a thousand careers, "You Really Got Me" is the classic Kinks track. Released in August 1964, the group's third single reached Number 1 and remained there for two weeks. In comparison to the other tracks on the album Kinks, "You Really Got Me" is an instant highlight, less Merseybeat and more raw and dirty Rock N' Roll; a brave move, particularly on a debut album released in the early to mid 60's. "You Really Got Me" was undoubtedly revolutionary, constructed around a simply punishing power chord riff that remains the core of the track and this was years before musicians utilised this approach to compose whole albums! So successful was the formula that The Kinks basically re-recorded this song and called it "All Day and All of the Night" and no one cared! Why would you when music is this enthralling. In 1999, "You Really Got Me" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and it stands proud as one of the first wave of songs which eventually forged the genre of Heavy Metal. Without it, the heavy music of the 70's and beyond would sound very different and the Rock and Metal world remains eternally grateful to The Kinks for their impact and their astonishing songwriting. Like this list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Christopher Jennings
Contributor
I love Heavy Metal, and generally anything that involves a guitar and loud noises, so I figured it was about time I put all the useless information in my head to good use and start writing a few things. Most of the time I'll be writing nonsense but occasionally I may surprise myself and appear half-way knowledgable.....but you can be the judge of that. Thanks for your fleeting attention!
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Christopher