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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 4h

Joe Walsh's influence on the Eagles will never be defined simply by songs. It was really about the vibe. He'd eventually become a symbol of their lasting resiliency. Here's a ranked look back at all of Walsh's Eagles songs: ultimateclassicrock.com/joe-walsh-ea...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 6d

Lead singers tend to become the focal point. (Think Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.) And yet, legendary frontmen have regularly handed the mic to someone else. Here's a ranked look back at 35 classic rock songs that weren't sung by the lead singer: ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-songs-n...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 7d

November 2025's new music includes Beatles-related projects, new releases from Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, and the return of Record Store Day. The Black Friday edition features exclusives from Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Alice Cooper. My new rundown:
ultimateclassicrock.com/november-202...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 11d

The too-often-overlooked Bernie Leadon released a very rare solo album this week, the terrific 'Too Late to Be Cool.' Here's where it ranks all time among Eagles solo albums:

ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-solo-...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 12d

Jonathan Cain is leaving Journey – after one final tour. He's also talking about what's next:
ultimateclassicrock.com/jonathan-cai...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 12d

He may have been just a singer in the rock 'n' roll band, but the #MoodyBlues legend John Lodge will be missed. Today's tribute:

ultimateclassicrock.com/moody-blues-...

Moody Blues' John Lodge Dies 'Suddenly and Unexpectedly'

Moody Blues legend John Lodge died 'suddenly and unexpectedly' at age 82 in October 2025

ultimateclassicrock.com

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 13d

John Lennon would've turned 85 today. He was slow to reveal himself through music. Once he decided to get real, however, the floodgates opened. His songs became as frank, emotional and self-critical as any in rock history. Here's my all-eras look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/top-john-len...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 13d

Bernie Leadon was never thought of as cool, but the culture kept moving toward him. The rootsy vibe he helped create holds far more resonance into a new century than rock music does. Same with the former Eagles star's 'Too Late to Be Cool,' due on Friday: ultimateclassicrock.com/bernie-leado...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 16d

The best songs challenge assumptions while searching for answers in an often-confusing world. Many pose their questions right in their name. But not everything is so serious, as shown in this new ranking of Top 30 Songs With a Question in the Title: ultimateclassicrock.com/songs-with-q...

Top 30 Songs With a Question in the Title

A ranked look back at songs with a question in their titles.

ultimateclassicrock.com

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 19d

I broke out the rock-related releases set to arrive on the Black Friday edition of Record Store Day in late November. Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Alice Cooper and Van Halen are among the highlight exclusives.

Here's the complete list:
ultimateclassicrock.com/record-store...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 21d

Any discussion of Pink Floyd's longest songs ends up as a love letter to the musical partnership of David Gilmour and Richard Wright. The material tended to become shorter and more novelistic as erstwhile bandmate Roger Waters' influence grew. My look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/pink-floyd-l...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 25d

Robert Plant's 'Saving Grace' has arrived. Let's talk about where it ranks among his solo albums. Along the way, there have been dizzying summits, disappointing blind alleys, thrilling moments of homecoming and surprising times when he's backtracked:
ultimateclassicrock.com/robert-plant...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 26d

Summer has always been the traditional time for big tours, but that doesn't mean the stage lights are turned off as the weather changes to fall. Quite the opposite, in fact. Some of rock's biggest acts will be visiting a live music venue near you. More here: ultimateclassicrock.com/fall-2025-to...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 27d

Paul McCartney's Wings era somehow remains underrated, but they made their own very rich contributions to his legacy in the decade after the Beatles. Here's my ranked look back at Paul McCartney's 30 best songs with Wings: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · 29d

Southern Rock's big bang, 'Idlewild South' also heralded the arrival of the Allman Brothers Band's savior. Gregg Allman wrote most of the songs, and Duane Allman provided signature guitar. But this LP arrived 55 years ago as Dickey Betts' coming-out party: ultimateclassicrock.com/allman-broth...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 22

Journey fans tend to play the expected hits. In most cases, the album's biggest single is also the song that's streamed the most on Spotify. They represent undeniable high points.

But which songs are skipped the most? Here's a look: ultimateclassicrock.com/journey-most...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 18

John Lennon had a knack for stand-alone solo hits: Five of his Top 40 songs weren't part of any original LP. In all, he amassed more than a dozen of them, despite taking several years off in the late-'70s. Here's my new ranked look back:
ultimateclassicrock.com/john-lennon-...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 16

The list of October 2025 new music releases is dominated by expanded box set releases, including deep dives into the archives of John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, the Who and Elton John.

Here's a look at what's on the way: ultimateclassicrock.com/october-2025...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 12

Paul McCartney brought another voice into the conversation 20 years ago today with 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard': New producer Nigel Godrich, famous for his work with Radiohead and Beck. That led to much-needed tension. Here's my look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 11

Nobody ever got saved on Bob Dylan's 'Tempest,' or even forgiven, as far as I could tell. Yet there were tender mercies, things worth grabbing onto, fleeting pleasures for those who’d made it this far. Here's my look back: nickderiso.substack.com/p/bob-dylans...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 9

Paul McCartney has written or co-written 32 chart-topping singles on Billboard's Hot 100 – including seven as a solo act and with Wings. He plays those a lot. But which ones has he played the least? Here's a look:
ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 6

The most popular Eagles songs will be no surprise. They're the ones that classic-rock radio has played like clockwork for decades now. But every album has that one song listeners tend to skip – and Eagles LPs are no exception. I dive into the numbers here: ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-skipp...

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Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 5

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! #PaulMcCartney

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 4

Journey could rightly be compared to a shooting star. They made nearly 20 trips into the Billboard Top 40, and all but two of them happened in the '80s.

Here's my new ranked look back at all 18 Journey Top 40 hits: ultimateclassicrock.com/journey-top-...

Nick DeRiso @nickderiso.bsky.social · Sep 3

Wings had been the portrait of pop-rock consistency in the '70s. The Paul McCartney solo projects that followed in the '80s were far more inconsistent. Still, he emerged from the decade with a number of memorable songs. Here's my new ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...

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