Rolling Stones "Greatest Guitarists of All Time"
A Synopsis of the 'Accuracy' and 'Completion' of the 'Top Ten'
Sep 15, 2009
The popular art and cultural magazine ‘Rolling Stone’ have a tendency to create controversy in their articles and stir much discussion in the creative circle. Whether it be based around the works of journalism written by such literary legends as Hunter S. Thompson, or for their pseudo-monopolised review’s of music, film and books, their publications seem to continually generate great talking points.
This is most prominently true of their selections of ‘Greatest’ lists in all genres. For example the 2003 list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and 2004’s list of “500 Greatest Song’s of All Time”.
The sheer question of whether someone can accurately pick one name from a list overburdened and swelling at the seams with talent is surely impossible. For example the choosing of Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” as the ‘Greatest Song of All Time’ is almost poised in order to create debate and near-fury in the fans who would follow differing opinions.
When placed beside such other songs as the Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’, Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ and ‘Respect’ by Aretha Franklin, it is hard to imagine which would sound ‘greater’ than the next. The songs seem complimentary to the human condition, less overshadowing each other, rather sharing their own light amongst us.
The “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”
However this controversy is never more apparent than in the case of the Rolling Stone’s list of ‘100 Greatest Guitarists”. This 2003 list created such a skewed response that some talented musicians were snubbed and scorned as ‘amateurs’ in comparison to others that had fallen behind them and were left out of the list. Although it seems sure that the list was never intended to be the ‘absolute’ and ‘perfect’ countdown of musical icons, it seems that the judgement may have done more harm that it has good.
For example the young guitarist Derek Trucks was, in only his twenties, ranked as the 81st ‘Greatest Guitarist of All Time’, joked in an interview with Jim Clash ‘Take my name off an put Albert (King) on… there’s a lot of masters that didn’t make the list and a lot o’ hacks that did make the list’. Which shows quite clearly that it is not only the fans that seem near baffled by the notion of a 'definitive' collection.
It is also true that an individual musician is much harder to categorize than a piece of music. Although it is still near impossible to 'rank' albums and collections of music, they do have a fundamental quality which will be constant. An album will sound, musically, exactly the same each and every time it is played, indifferent to whether situations and society have changed around it. Whereas a musician will change each night.
No 'great guitar player' will play the same way twice. Some may roar with passion one night, then appear timid and untrained the next. Although given the name 'Guitar Gods', these musicians are still only human, and have changing and altering albilities. Therefore is it possible to class them seemingly as objects?
Creating New Exposure?
However although this list has obviously created much debate and a certain uproar from fans, it must be appreciated that it will have also aided some lesser known acts become more widely received. Names such as John Fahey (#35), Ali Farke Toure (#76) and the young Robert Randolph (#97) will surely receive attention from the music buying public that they may have otherwise missed.
This may occur in the obvious stirring of interest in the names that have been mentioned to have been ‘left out’, those less well-regarded artists who perhaps only hold a small cult like fan-base may well grow into a more popular name.
The “Top Ten Guitarists of All Time”
The names who reached the top of the list are listed below.
- Jimi Hendrix
- Duane Allman
- B.B. King
- Eric Clapton
- Robert Johnson
- Chuck Berry
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- Ry Cooder
- Jimmy Page
- Keith Richards
Conclusion?
Like most controversial points in the media it is individual opinion whether or not 'Greatest Lists' are beneficial within classifying art. However no matter which side of opinion one falls upon it is clear the lists have created interest and debate within the circle they are addressing. Perhaps this is only a means for journalists to drench the public with opinions? Perhaps it does inspire others to dream of being amongst those high names listed? Whichever way one falls, the creation will surely continue to create great debate.
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