The Playlist: Aerosmith

They’ve inspired the likes of Metallica, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Guns N’ Roses and Bon Jovi.

Their work has spawned 25 gold albums, four Grammys, and MTV Icon award, induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and a Hollywood actress that can speak Elvish.

Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer. They’re collectively known as the “Bad Boys of Boston” and “America’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band.” But you probably know them better as Aerosmith.

While I have yet to see Aerosmith in concert – and this late in the game, I’m not sure I would want to – I vividly remember being a middle schooler and falling asleep each night as the ‘Big Ones’ album played on my Walkman. I think that’s one of the few instances where learning by osmosis actually worked; I remember the lyrics to this day.

So here are my five favorite songs from one of my favorite bands growing up. Their career has spanned four decades; it should be interesting to see whether Steven Tyler’s lips decide to go solo one day.


Dream On (1973)

It was the highest-charting single from the band’s self-titled debut album and – along with ‘Sweet Emotion’ and ‘Walk this Way’ – has become one of a handful of their signature songs. The song, which could very well be one of the first ever power ballads, initially peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard charts but became a Top 10 hit when re-released in 1976. Younger readers probably know the song as being sampled by Eminem for his 2003 hit ‘Sing for the Moment.’


From the MTV 10th Anniversary Special (June 1991)


Eminem's 'Sing for the Moment' (2003)



Janie’s Got a Gun (1989)

Fresh from the success of their first sober album, 1987’s ‘Permanent Vacation,’ the band returned with ‘Pump’ two years later ushered in by this major hit. Inspired by a Newsweek article on gunshot victims, Tyler wrote the piece focusing on a young woman shooting and killing her father after being sexually abused. While controversial, it brought the band their first Grammy win and peaked at No. 4 on Billboard. The song was featured in the 2001 teen parody ‘Not Another Teen Movie’ and on ‘The Daily Show’ following the Feb. 2006 Dick Cheney hunting incident (though, of course, the lyrics were changed to ‘Cheney’s Got a Gun’).




'Not Another Teen Movie'


Pink performing the song from Aerosmith's MTV Icon special (2002)



Cryin’ (1993)

Another Top 20 hit, the song cemented the ‘Get a Grip’ album as a success while its video launched the career of a 17-year-old unknown actress by the name of Alicia Silverstone (‘Clueless,’ ‘Batman & Robin’). Silverstone would go on to star in the next two Aerosmith music videos – ‘Amazing’ and ‘Crazy’ – which earned her the brief title during the mid 90s of the ‘Aerosmith girl.’ In addition to Silverstone, the ‘Cryin’’ video also features appearances by actors Stephen Dorff and, of ‘Lost’ fame, Josh Holloway.





Angel (1988)

While most would easily guess the band’s biggest hit to date – 1998’s ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’ from the film ‘Armageddon,’ their sole No. 1 song – what would you think would be their second biggest chart-topper? It might surprise some but it’s actually another power ballad. ‘Angel’ reached No. 3 on Billboard. So what does that tell you? That for all the guitar-smashing songs that appeal to the male demographic, the most successful metal tunes are often for the ladies.





Livin on the Edge (1993)

As an 11-year-old just starting to watch MTV, I wasn’t quite sure what to think of a naked Steven Tyler in the music video, half covered in shadow. Or, for that matter, the random green man that jumps out of said shadow. But the video, while mildly disturbing, was epic enough to catch my attention and cause me to buy a whole bunch of their CDs. So I guess the plan worked, huh? The song is said to have been written as a response to the 1992 Los Angeles riots. And for fans of ‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,’ keep an eye out in the video for Edward Furlong, the super annoying John Connor from ‘T2.’






There’s my list for this week. Got suggestions for a future column? Want to submit your own Playlist? Shoot me an e-mail at grahamcawthon@shelbystar.com.