The Bands
The All-Time Ultimate Classics
The Beatles - (Duh!) I do have a couple of favorites that stand out above the rest.  Rubber Soul and The White Album are my personal best choices.  Then again, Abbey Road and Let It Be are on my regular play list.  It's very difficult to choose from the vast catalogue any one song, but Michelle, Yesterday, and Come Together are the first to come to mind.  Then about a hundred more come to mind!

Cream - Still a regular on my stereo.  With White Room, Sunshine of Your Love, Crossroads, and Badge, to name just a few, this "original" supergroup will endure for rock eternity. Trivia Question: What other two legendary guitarists started out in the same band as Clapton (not necessarily at the same time) and what was that band's name?  (Answer will appear some time in the future on one of my pages.)

Buffalo Springfield - One song did it - For What It's Worth launched several carrers into overdrive and spurred listeners to buy an album with other great songs such as Flying On the Ground Is Wrong, Sit Down I Think I Love You, and Do I Have To Come Right Out and Say It. The original album was mono and mixed by the band and is clearly the true essence of what the band wanted.  Current CD release has both the stereo mix and mono (24 songs).  Note: Bands that featured members of Buffalo Springfield include CSN&Y, Poco, and The Eagles.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash (And Sometimes Young) - This is the only group I will still pay whatever it takes to see (as long as Young is with 'em).  Favorite album is 4 Way Street, the double live collection that has a killer version of Southern Man.

Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven will keep them on the radio forever, as will Whole Lotta Love and Livin' Lovin Maid.  Too many great songs to begin listing them.

Yes - Formed around the same time as Led Zeppelin, but did not reach the masses until Fragile in '72.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird is the only song to even come close to rivaling the above mentioned Stairway to Heaven as the all-time classic guitar song.  Although it criticizes one of my other favorites by Neil Young, Sweet Home Alabama is another perpetual radio entry.

The Individual Artists
Eric Clapton - He's disappointed me a few times, but he usually comes through.

Neil Young - Seems to have limitless energy for such an old geezer!

Steve Stills - Provides the friction to Young that makes it happen!

Pat Benatar - The only female to make my list.  There are others that could make honorable mention, but nobody else comes close to Benatar in doing it right down through the years.  Just saw her in concert and she still has it!
 

The Songs
(Some of these are a little obscure - I provide details on where you can find them if available)

Gypsy Queen - By Gypsy, 1970  - 1979 rerelease available on CD on Cognito Records.  Listed on CDNow catalogue.  Latin flavored harmony intensive romp that just sends chills up my spine.  The rest of the self-titled album is pretty good, too!

Jessica - By Bloodrock, on the album Bloodrock 3, circa 1970 - 1998 rerelease available on CD from One Way Records (Division Of Capitol).  Also on CDNow's catalogue.  Killer melody with hard edged instrumentation.

Cheater - Also by Bloodrock, from album Bloodrock 2, circa 1969 - 1995 rerelease on CD from One Way Records.  Also on CDNow's catalogue.  One of my favorites that we performed in my high school band.  It rocks!

Funk #49 - By James Gang, 1970 - Joe Walsh's first big success, still gets lots of airplay and is the funkiest rocker of the era.

Born on the Bayou - Creedence Clearwater Revival, 1969 - It ain't fancy, it really doesn't say much, but I love it!  Whole Bayou Country album is good.  It's got a groove!

Let It Rain - Eric Clapton, 1970 - From self-titled solo album right after Cream breakup.
Easy Now - Eric Clapton, 1970 - From same album.
She's Gone - Eric Clapton, 1998 - From Pilgrim, this has the most infectious hook in it.
Edge of Darkness - Eric Clapton, 1991 - From 24 Nights, double live album.  Spooky, eerie, absolutely spine-tingling piece cowritten with Michael Kamen, who conducts the orchestra.  Listen to this with headphones in a pitch-dark room - it'll blow you away!

Copperhead Road - Steve Earle, 1988 - Steve who??!!  Not exactly a rock legend, but this song and album of the same name kick!  Has been getting increased airplay lately in KC, so it must be getting recognized as a classic (or at the very least, getting requested).

Heart of the Sunrise - Yes, 1972 - Another one to listen to with headphones in a dark room, cranked up really loud with lots of bass!  Yeah!

Baby It's You - Smith, 1969 - There is another band called Smith around, but this one had a female lead singer, Gayle McCormick, with a Janis Joplin vocal quality.  This version of this song had eluded me until just recently.  Finally found it on a compilation CD from Rhino Records.

THE Song
Do I have one song that I could say is my all-time, absolutely, no questions, no doubts, ultimate favorite?  Of course, I do!  Layla, 1970 - Derek and the Dominos (Eric Clapton) - The acoustic remake in 1992 was pretty good, too, but the original still does it for me.  It has it all - melody, hooks, instrumentation, and groove.