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I was just thinking about what classic rock song really "gets me" in the gut, and I almost chose my favorite record of all time, The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." Lennon was highly influenced by Bob Dylan, as evidenced early on by "In My Life."

But I'd have to choose Neil Young's "Powderfinger." That song makes my stoic younger brother burst into tears, especially after the last verse. I have the same reaction! It's wonderful, if tragic, storytelling. Neil can put you in any time, any place, kinda like Robbie Robertson of The Band does.

What your fave?

Just wonderin' ---

Ern

Almost any song by Jim Croce- Operator, New York's Not My Home, Lover's Cross, These Dreams, Photographs and Memories, I Got A Name (which he didn't write...but still) etc, etc.

Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here". I always cry when I hear that.

I must admit that Jim Croce's "Photgraphs and Memories" makes me teary.

Casey

I'd say Conway Twitty's "Make Believe". It doesn't make me cry, just has a tremendous amount of gut felt emotion. I know this sounds odd, but I have noticed either the reverb or the studio ambience on some albums give a certain atmosphere of emotion. A few off the top of my head are some beatles, pink floyd the wall, elton john's don't shoot me i'm only the piano player, some of gordon Lightfoots albums.

I was traveling a few years ago on a road trip from L.A. to Minnesota, leaving my wife at home for a few weeks.

I was getting emotional as I drove, so I thought I'd put on some oldies to perk me up. My first choice was The Four Seasons, whom I always liked a lot when I was a kid. --- The first few songs made me smile, and then came on "Rag Doll." Since I grew up pretty poor, that really spoke to me musically and lyrically. I had a hard time seeing through the windshield for a few miles!

Ern

I think Neil Young is a master of those.. "Needle and the damage done".. maybe Lou Reed too.. I really liked his "New York" album.. maybe "Dirty Boulevard"..

The trick is to CONVEY emotion, not neccesarily BE emotional when performing IMO

Songs have to be in a frame of bittersweet social realism to really wrench my gut. The sweet stuff is nice, but doesn't get to me like that..

Don Henley writes really poignant songs, like "Sunset Grill." Great record. He can be pretty cynical, and not in a humorous way like Randy Newman.

Ern

Long, Long Time by Linda Ronstadt...

Great thread,

There are two, both by Dan Fogelberg. "Leader of the Band" always gets me thinking about my Dad, and "Same Old Lang Syne" always gets me thinking about my disastrous love life.