Top 10 Stooges Songs

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Our Top 10 Songs from The Stooges looks at one of the most influential rock and roll bands of all time. Iggy Pop & The Stooges were a groundbreaking band in every way. While many writers claim that the punk movement of the late 1970s was fueled by bands like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols, we would argue that the concept of punk began in 1969 when The Stooges released their debut album. It is not an argument that is only made here at classsicrockhistory.com. Countless bands that enjoyed success in the punk scene of the mid to late 1970s paid tribute to The Stooges as their inspiration. The Stooges were punk, rock and roll, and had the attitude and music to back it all up.

The band The Stooges, who were at times also known as Iggy & The Stooges, were first formed in Detroit, Michigan, by Iggy Pop. The Stooges debut album was first released in 1969 entitled simply The Stooges. The band consisted of Iggy Pop on vocals, Dave Alexander on bass guitar, Ron Asheton on guitar, and Scott Asheton on drums. Their sophomore album entitled Funhouse was released one year later in 1970. It took the band almost three years before they released their third album entitled Raw Power. The Raw Power album proved to be the most successful record of their 1970’s period.

Iggy Pop & The Stooges broke up after the Raw Power album. Iggy Pop would continue to have a successful solo career releasing many solo albums. The Stooges reunited in 2003 with Mike Watt taking over for the departed Dave Alexander on bass. In 2007, the band released their first album in over thirty years entitled The Weirdness. Six years later, The Stooges released their final album interestingly titled Ready To Die.

Our Top 10 Stooges Songs article is heavy on the 1970s material without ignoring the comeback albums. In our humble opinion, every Stooges album was great, and picking the Top 10 Stooges songs is simply a tribute to the band.

# 10 – 1969

Tell me this is not the perfect Stooges Song to start out a Top 10 Stooges songs list. With its slippery opening that bleeds into that classic Bo Diddley beat, this outstanding track kept pulling out surprises. Some were ready for this; others were not. The Stooges song “1969” was released on the band’s debut album entitled The Stooges. The album was released in 1969. The cut “1969” was the album’s opening track. How perfect can you get?

# 9 – She Took My Money

Almost forty years after the release of their debut album, Iggy Pop & The Stooges released the album The Weirdness. The album featured three out of four of the original members of the band. Original bassist Dave Alexander passed away in 1975. Our favorite track on the album was the song “She Took My Money.” It just kind of has that “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” attitude which was what originally made the Stooges so great.

# 8 – Burn

The great song “Burn” has nothing to do with the famous Deep Purple song of the same name. The Stooges song “Burn” was the opening track from the band’s final album entitled Ready To Die. The song “Burn“ was written by Iggy Pop and James Williamson. The album and song were released in 2013. This one hits you in the face instantly with those distorted, gritty guitars that sound angrier than the old elementary school nuns I had to deal with in the Bronx.

# 7 – Shake Appeal

The Stooges Song “Shake Appeal,” was released on the classic Raw Power album. The Raw Power Album is the Stooges album that many fans and critics call The Stooges best. The song Shake Appeal was written by Iggy Pop and James Williamson. The Raw Power album was released in 1873. It was the Stooges’ third album release. The record was produced by Iggy Pop and David Bowie.

# 6 – Gimme Danger

Hands down, the classic Stooges song “Gimme Danger,” is one of the most popular Stooges songs released during their short 1970s career. Iggy Pop’s vocal on this one is to die for. The groove is dark, and the mood is a pure blend of early 70s, and late 60s psychedelia meets punk. This one always reminded me of The Rolling Stones during their Their Satanic Majesties Request 1967 period.

# 5 – Penetration

As we continue our Top 10 Stooges songs, it gets more difficult to choose Stooges songs to include on this list because there are so many great ones. “Penetration“ is one that we definitely could not leave off the list. The song was released on the great Raw Power album. As opposed to so many of the band’s distorted openers, this one starts with a very slick guitar riff surrounded by those creepy bells that seem to be up to just no good.

# 4 – T.V. Eye

Punk music at its finest. This amazing piece of music was released on the legendary Fun House album. All four members of The Stooges at the time, Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, and Iggy Pop were credited as writers on every track on the album. We love the wasy this opens with that tribal Iggy Pop scream that says watch out baby, I’m coming to your house to watch a little TV with you, if you know what I mean,

# 3 – Raw Power

Can a song be more perfectly titled? The Stooges’ “Raw Power” was the title track to the classic Stooges album Raw Power. “Everybody is always trying to tell me what to do.” Iggy Pop sings that line with that “you better get out of my face attitude” that defines a generation.

# 2 – Search And Destroy

Choosing between these two songs for the top spot was like trying to choose between Sesame Chicken and General Tso’s Chicken at your favorite Chinese Restaurant. Listen, punk music made sense to only a small tangent of people worldwide and to those who it connected with they would completely understand our confusion between Sesame and General Tso’s Chicken. It all is completely logical to those who wore the…….

# 1 – I Wanna Be Your Dog

We end our Top 10 Stooges songs list with our favorite Stooges Song. The classic track “I Wanna Be Your Dog” was released on the band’s debut album The Stooges in 1969. It’s not just our personal favorite. We think it’s the most influential song the band ever recorded. The eighth-note piano chords that are played throughout the song were performed by The Velvet Underground’s John Cale. The song is based on a simple three-chord progression that never changes through the entire song. That, my friends is what rock and roll is all about, simplicity and attitude.