After months of organizing all the details, we are now proud to offer an Excel Spreadsheet documenting the final results of our months-long efforts.
This list allows you to view The Top 3333 in Rank Order (#1 - #3333) ... in Countdown Order (#3333 - #1), as well as in alphabetically sorted lists by either Artist or Song Title.
If you want a copy, all you have to do is send us an email at kk@forgottenhits.com and we'll send it off to you. (Be sure to read the fine print below prior to requesting a copy.)
All that we ask is that you properly credit us for its creation and let us know how you intend to use it. (We also ask that you link back to the original website where the results were originally revealed so that folks discovering the list for the first time can enjoy and appreciate the work effort that went into creating this phenomenal list.)
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/
If you're going to count 'em down in some fashion ... Top 2500 (?), Top 1000 (?), Top 500 (?), Top 100 (?), Top 50 (?) or the WHOLE shootin' match ... please let us know when, where and how so we can link to YOUR efforts as well so that others may enjoy the process.
Some background information and a few quick details on how this all came to be ...
For 100 days, we asked Classic Rock Music Fans around the globe to nominate and vote for their all-time favorites. We immediately began tabulating those votes ... "Layla" by Derek and the Dominoes was #1 at the end Day One ... and then never #1 again. From that point forward, the lead changed hands over fifty times between "Hotel California" by The Eagles and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.
During that same 100 day period, we monitored the play lists of 30 prominent US Classic Rock Radio stations across the country ... major cities and internet streams ... and logged the amount of airplay each song was being given.
The results were staggering. While our readers came up with nearly 5000 eligible titles to choose from, Classic Rock Radio from coast to coast seemed to be playing the heck out of the same 300 songs. It didn't matter WHERE you went ... THESE were the ONLY songs you were likely to hear during normal broadcast hours ... and some of those songs were being repeated as many as three to four times within the same 24 hour time period ... unthinkable in view of the INCREDIBLE wealth of songs being ignored yet available to choose from ... that Classic Rock Fans truly loved. It became apparent VERY quickly that while these same 300 songs may have been the ones we all were hearing, they were NOT necessarily the songs we wanted to hear. (All the more reason that a list like ours is so vital and necessary.)
Finally, we measured the number of downloads for each of the nominated songs ... perhaps more than anything else, these statistics helped to prove just how much the public really wanted to hear these songs in that they were shelling out their own money to OWN them and make them part of their personal music library.
When all was said and done, just shy of one million votes and points were accumulated and tabulated, making this list the most complete and comprehensive list of Classic Rock Favorites ever assembled ...
Not RADIO's version of the most beloved tracks ...
Not the opinion of a seven member critics staff of some rock magazine ...
No, this list was derived through the most important factor imaginable ...
YOU ... the Rock And Roll Public ... and this list can now be yours to have and to hold, to scrutinize and debate, and, most importantly, to share.
Much effort went into the final edition of this list to ensure its accuracy. (For the first time, you'll find the year of release and source of that release ... very special thanks to Dann Isbell for all of his research in this regard.) We found any number of inaccuracies along our path of nailing down these final details and encourage you to please help us fine-tune the list even further ... if you see errors that need to be corrected, PLEASE let us know so that we can make this list as definitively accurate as possible.
But most of all, enjoy it ... embrace it ... and share it.
I would still LOVE to see somebody take the bull by the horns and count down the ENTIRE Top 3333 Tracks. (Hey, we're all homebound right now anyway ... what a GREAT way to fill a few weeks worth of programming time ... by keeping folks glued to their radios and computers to hear the final results! Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to help us all take our minds off of what's been going on around us and escape into the enjoyment of this music, too.) But I also realize that this isn't necessarily "practically" possible. So again, if you intend to count down ANY portion of the list, please let us know so that we can let OTHERS know where and when they can tune in and listen.
And finally ... and most importantly ... thanks to ALL of you who participated. We couldn't have done this without you ... and it wouldn't have meant what it means without this massive amount of input and support.
The hard parts over ... now it's time to enjoy the list! (kk)
Kent Kotal
Forgotten Hits
THE ORIGINAL COUNTDOWN CAN BE FOUND HERE:
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/
WHY 3333?
Because Classic Rock Radio was born when albums became the preferred method of listening to and purchasing music over singles. (That's not to say you won't find some popular singles on this list ... it's chock full of them ... but we're spotlighting their album counterparts as a means to hopefully give you the chance to expand your own record collections by owing many of these significant pieces of rock history.)
We picked 3300 as a salute to the "33's" ... the 12" album speed ... which was really 33 1/3 ... so we took that 33 hundred and added another third to the tally to come up with THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK TRACKS OF ALL TIME.
ENJOY!!!
THE SMALL PRINT:
In order to obtain a copy of the final list of THE TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK TRACKS OF ALL TIME, you must make your request by email.
[Send that email request to kk@forgottenhits.com]
By requesting a copy, you agree to properly credit the source of these tabulations as "Research and Final Tabulations conducted by Kent Kotal / Forgotten Hits / Classic Rock Essentials,
© 2020, Forgotten Hits Publishing" in every way and instance that you share these results, regardless of media. [And we DO encourage you to share these results!]When ever, how ever and where ever you choose to share this information, we ask that you let us know in advance so that we can link to your efforts and allow other classic rock music fans around the world share in and enjoy the experience. Please consider this to be our way of offering you the ultimate in cross-promotion!
You further agree not to alter this list in any fashion. If you find that certain corrections or modifications need to be made, please notify us in writing and we will make the changes that we determine need amending.
Otherwise, simply enjoy the list ... and spread the word. We can all use a little distraction during these trying times ... let the music take you away.
-Kent Kotal / Forgotten Hits
