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Our Top 10 Replacements songs list presents the songs of a Minnesota band that became one of the most important alternative rock bands of the 1980s. For many bands that alternative label was utilized because the groups that came about in the 1980s were so inspired by a cross genre of multiple 1970s acts that they became hard to classify. The Replacements at times sounded like The Rolling Stones and other times like Nick Lowe or The Beatles. There was a little Ramones inside them too. In the end, the Replacements became a band that released six stunning studio albums of brilliant rock and roll that inspired countless bands to not feel pigeonholed into any one sound. That is in essence the true meaning of alternative and the Replacements showed everyone how to do it.
# 10 – Left Of The Dial
We open up our Top 10 Replacements song with the roaring rocker “Left Of The Dial.” This is truly a great one and we could have placed it at number one instead of ten, but we wanted to catch your attention instantly as to how great this band was. The song’s explosive opening almost sounds like The Who. But of course, once Paul starts to sing, its all Replacements style. This great song “Left Of The Dial,” was released on the Replacements album titled Tim. The album was released in 1985. The song “Left Of The Dial,” was written by Paul Westerberg,
# 9 – Rattlesnake
Continuing with our Top 10 Replacements song list we turn to the song “Rattlesnake,” which sounds nothing like the previous song on this Replacements songs list. This is pure punk with a great guitar solo. And it’s in that guitar solos that people recognized this was not going to be your typical punk band. These guys were special and you could hear it underneath the song’s typical punk overtones. “Rattlesnake,” was released on the album Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. The album was released on Twin Tone Records in 1981. The song “Rattlesnake,” was written by Paul Westerberg, Bob Stinson, Tommy Stinson and Chris Mars.
# 8 – Androgynous
Ask any Replacements fan to name their favorite Replacement songs and this one will always come up. This slow style ballad arranged with just a piano and some percussion was released on the album Let It Be. This is a brilliant song that was written against the so called accepted norms of relationships. It was a song widely accepted by those who were not always widely accepted. It was a song featured on an album that looked to elevate the band and Paul Westerberg’s writing to another level of artistic merit. A goal very much achieved on the acclaimed Let It Be album.
# 7 – Color Me Impressed
At number seven on our top 10 Replacements songs list we turn to the band’s second album and a great track called “Color Me Impressed.” This straight ahead rocker was released on the album Hootenany. The album was released in 1983. The record featured Paul Westerberg on rhythm guitar and vocals, Bob Stinson on lead guitar, Tommy Stinson on bass and Chris Mars on drums.
# 6 – Alex Chilton
Loud tight guitars, a great drum sound and of course the iconic vocals of Paul Westerberg greet the listener right away on this classic song titled “Alex Chilton.” The riff for this one is to die for. The song “Alex Chilton,” was released on the album Pleased To Meet Me. Complete with handclaps, some background oohs and a perfect guitar solos, this one was ready for commercial domination. The song just seemed perfect.
# 5 – I’ll Be You
They sound a little bit like The Pretenders on this one in the song’s opening riff. The production on this track is ultra clean. This is simply a great Replacements song which was also super radio friendly. It was released on the album Don’t Tell A Soul. The album was released in 1989. The song “I’ll Be You,” is a significant song in the history of the band because it’s the only Replacements song to be released as a single that was able to break into the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number fifty one. The song had even more commercial success on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks charts and the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks where it hit number one on both charts.
# 4 – I Will Dare
“I Will Dare,” is one of those Replacements songs that makes you want to dance and spin in circles. At the heart of all great rock and roll is always a little bit of the 1950s and the spirit of Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker and Buddy Holly. You can find that sprit in this song. Of course its hidden behind the wall of 80s alternative rock, but its there………all you have to do is feel it. “I Will Dare,” was released on the great Replacements 1984 album entitled Let It Be.
# 3 – Bastards of Young
Oh that opening riff and scream is so legendary. “Bastards of The Young,” is a huge fan favorite among Replacements fans. As well as it should be. This is an extraordinarily great song released on the album entitled Tim. When listening to the music of Paul Westerberg and the Replacement on can hear how big a fan Paul Westerberg was of rock and roll. There are so many different influences that pop out on Replacement songs. On “Bastards of Young,” one can easily heard that like so many of us, Paul Westerberg was a big Rolling Stones fan.
# 2 – Can’t Hardly Wait
As we begin to wind down this top 10 Replacements songs list we turn to a real popular Replacements single. The song “Can’t Hardly Wait,” was released on the album Pleased to Meet Me. The song “Can’t Hardly Wait, was the first single released from the album. As great a song it was, the song failed to break into any of the U.S. Billboard Charts. The Replacements were more of an underground band that was loved by critics and a large core group of fans but just never had much success in the mainstream. Its sad because they were so good.
# 1 – Unsatisfied
Coming in at number one on our Top 10 Replacements songs list is the great track “Unsatisfied.” This is such a mesmerizing track. The acoustic guitars at the songs opening, set you up to wonder for what’s coming, and then bam!, your into Replacements musical heaven. There is a bit of an early U2 feel also going on in this wonderful track. The song was released on their spectacular album entitled Let It Be in 1984.
Top 10 Songs From The Replacements article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2021
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
Most people consider “Let It Be” The Replacements’ greatest album, and it did capture the punk and sloppy metal fury of the first two albums but also showed Westerberg was becoming a genius songwriter, fast. Their penchant for consumption of alcohol in astonishing levels would embarrass other legendary booze hounds like Metallica, Johnny Thunders, and others who couldn’t completely finish a set without causing some sort of damage to themselves or the venue.
There are three must have Replacements albums. First is “Let It Be”, where lead guitarist and waste case Bob Stinson contributed his last meaningful lead ( or whatever it was) guitar work. “Tim” followed, with Stinson fairly well incapacitated, and full of great songs that should have been monster hits, and after Stinson predictably died, “Pleased To Meet Me”, with the ‘Mats as a trio, leaving the lead work up to Westerberg, who showed he could play some good lead guitar as well. “Can’t Hardly Wait” was such a positive and beautiful tune – it truly is a mystery why it didn’t make them all rich as well. The last two albums are much more mild and pretty much sealed their fate.