Rolling Stone Readers Pick the Best Ballads of All Time

Rolling Stone Magazine ^ | Andy Greene

[ConservativeStatement]

Last week we asked our readers to vote for their favorite ballad or slow jam of all time. Votes were all over the place – from tracks by Pearl Jam to Elvis Presley to Lionel Richie. In the end it was very close, and there was a tie so we had to expand our standard top 10 to a top 12. If this survey has reinforced anything, it's that our readers really, really love Led Zeppelin.

[SatinDoll]

I agree with Olog-hai. BLEH!!

On New Years Eve night in 1979, Kasey Kasum of immemorial memory - a great disc jockey! - featured the greatest song of the 70s. Listen and watch while this ballad, from 1977. is sung. This is a truly great ballad sung by a lovely woman!

The singer was Debbie Boone, and the song, You Light Up My Life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b07-yKnKRMQ&feature=related

[eyedigress]

Freebird is rich, but I am overplayed on that. I guess it isn’t fair.

[buccaneer81]

If you want to go for broke...

[ColdOne]

Good pick!

[I see my hands]

If by never you mean always then you're right.

For the kids out there.

[merryberry]

How can any beat Gordon Lighfoot’s ..Edmund Fitzgerald..hey , no brainer...

[Psycho_Bunny]

I like a lot of Zep but I’ve always hated Stairway to Heaven.

[Lazlo in PA]

I wonder if the younger guys you played I Never Cry for scratched their heads about the line "The TV was dead and gone". No one under the age of 30 has seen the Stare Spangled Banner played and a test pattern on TV in their life.

[Revolting cat!]

Feelins!

[Revolting cat!]

BAD TASTE THREAD PING!

[Always Independent]

I ain’t a vet but I like the ballad of the Green Beret!

[bigbob]

No Freebird, no Sink the Bismarck....bah

[JD91]

I watched the video of Let It Be from the link (great song)- it's sad to see what liberalism did to shuch a fine enterprise that was once the Beatles

[buccaneer81]

Anything by Ambrosia works...

You're The Only Woman

[dfwgator]

This is Engelbert’s greatest ballad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPTXVqETBM4&feature=related

[Tea Party Reveler]

I found YouTube to be an excellent tool to learn how to play all of these songs on guitar. Thousands of teachers with lessons.

I learned how to play “Pinball Wizard” on guitar tonight at Privettricker’s YouTube channel! That guy covers it all-—Beatles, Stones, Zep, Sabbath, one hit wonder groups, lesser known artists, he’s got it all. He must have posted 800 lessons now. There’s many other guitarists, pianists on YouTube showing you how to play all those songs.

[merryberry]

just bought the dvd of the movie from amazon. can’t wait to see it again. wow so long ago...

[Lazlo in PA]

Got that covered but I wasn't in the mood. Got way too many 8-tracks floating around that midsize Station Wagon.

Mine is exactly like this except I have body colored roof and roof rack. I also have the ultra rare wire hubcaps.

[Craftmore]

you light up my life????? after hearing it 600 times in 2 days all i can say is blechhhh the radio stations really killed that one forever

[Revolting cat!]

Feelines! (This version almost saves it.)