I've heard many a case made for Billy Joel as the greatest American songwriter of the 20th Century and Scenes From An Italian Restaurant as his best song or "the best story song ever" and I can't really disagree with its quality. As much as I like to listen to it I might like The Downeaster Alexa or Allentown better. They all tell good stories.
Growing up my favorite bands were Guns N Roses, AC/DC, Alice In Chains, Metallica, Megadeth. Favorite songs are harder.
GNR - November Rain or You Could Be Mine
ACDC - It's A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll) BAGPIPE SOLO!
Alice In Chains - maybe I Stay Away
Metallica - For Whom The Bell Tolls, One, or The Unforgiven
Megadeth - In My Darkest Hour, Peace Sells, Hangar 18, Trust
Now it's more Billy Joel, Queen. Radio Ga-Ga or anything Highlander. Or Bohemian Rhapsody.
By the way my favorite Rolling Stones is probably Gimme Shelter. Merry Clayton is a large part of the reason.
I had a Johnny Cash phase, a disco phase. It's hard to narrow. I kind of like everything now. Well, not so much modern country or rap.
