Next week I'll be visiting the fine state of Ohio to see some great friends. Cleveland specifically - the very birthplace of Rock & Roll. While there I'll get to visit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the first time. In preparation, I started looking around on the RnRHOF website and discovered that Ohio is the only state in the union with an official rock and roll song. The song happens to be "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys, which was released back in 1965. The official resolution passed by the state includes the following clauses:
- WHEREAS, "Hang On Sloopy" is of particular relevance to members of the Baby Boom Generation, who were once dismissed as a bunch of long-haired, crazy kids, but who now are old enough and vote in sufficient numbers to be taken quite seriously.
- and
- "WHEREAS, Adoption of this resolution will not take too long, cost the state anything, or affect the quality of life in this state to any appreciable degree, and if we in the legislature just go ahead and pass the darn thing, we can get on with more important stuff."
This piece of legislation is enough to make me love the state of Ohio.
Anyway, I started doing some more digging and put together this playlist, which includes songs by artists who were either born in, or got their start in Ohio. Obviously, there are many I've missed, but this list is impressive nonetheless. It's evidence of a musical history that all Ohioans can certainly be proud of and it kicks off with the state's official rock & roll song.
Please list any artists I've missed to the comments.
Songs From Ohio
1. Hang On Sloopy - The McCoys
2. My City Was Gone - Pretenders
3. Go All The Way - Raspberries
4. Abracadabra - Blue Ash
5. Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
6. Let It Whip - Dazz Band
7. Computer Love - Zapp and Roger
8. Debonair - Afghan Whigs
9. Sonic Reducer - Dead Boys
10. Cannonball- The Breeders
11. TV Set - The Cramps
12. I Am A Scientist - Guided By Voices
13. Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack
14. For The Love Of Money - The O'Jays
15. I'd Rather Be With You - Bootsy Collins
17. So Alone - Men At Large
19. Shoot 'Em Up Movies - The Deele
20. Shout - The Isley Brothers
21. If That Ain't Country - David Allan Coe
22. Guitars, Cadillacs - Dwight Yoakam
23. My Chickashay Gal - Roy Rogers
24. Here Comes Goodbye - Rascal Flatts
25. Ain't Life Funny - McGuffey Lane
26. Fantastic Voyage - Lakeside
27. Always And Forever - Heatwave
28. Just A Touch Of Love - Slave
30. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Marilyn Manson
31. Lido Shuffle - Boz Scaggs
32. Let's Get the Show on the Road - Michael Stanley
33. Fire In The Hole - Ass Ponys
35. Written All Over Your Face -Rude Boys
36. Born - Over The Rhine
37. Rescue Me - Hawthorne Heights
38. Bow Wow (That's My Name) - Bow Wow
39. Must Be Nice - Lyfe Jennings
40. The Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
41. Day 'N' Nite (nightmare) - Kid Cudi
42. Sex Appeal (Pimp In My Own Mind) - Ray Cash
43. Feel Good - Chip Tha Ripper
44. Bounce (Boogaloo Beat) - Fatty Koo
45. True Friend - Icee Jake
46. The Ballad of Daykitty - Lou Barlow
47. 500 Miles Away From Home - Bobby Bare
48. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
49. Relating to a Psycopath - Macy Gray
50. My Hero - Foo Fighters
51. (I'm Gonna) Dig Myself A Hole - Robert Lockwood Jr.
52. Green Light - John Legend
53. Ain't That A Kick In The Head - Dean Martin
54. Tea For Two - Art Tatum
55. Life's Been Good - Joe Walsh
56. Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down - Scott Weiland
57. (I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over - Nancy Wilson
58. Waukegan Polka - Frankie Yankovic
59. Be My Escape - Relient K
60. That Was The President - Phil Ochs
61. Crazy - Mushroomhead
62. I Put A Spell On You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
63. Sweet Child O' Mine - Gilby Clarke
64. Still Fly - The Devil Wears Prada
65. If You Believe - Jim Brickman
66. Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer
67. Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells
68. Up To My Neck In You - Mark Kozelek
69. The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
70. As We Lay - Shirley Murdock
71. Take This Job And Shove It - Johnny Paycheck
72. I'd Rather Be With You - Joshua Radin
73. Amie - Pure Prairie League
74. Head Like A Hole - Nine Inch Nails
75. Sober - Tool
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