The Stooges Songs Ranked
The Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, were an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander. Playing a raw, primitive style of rock and roll, the band sold few records in their original incarnation and gained a reputation for their confrontational performances, which often involved acts of self-mutilation by Iggy Pop. After releasing two albums—The Stooges (1969) and Fun House (1970)—the group disbanded briefly and reformed with a different lineup to release Raw Power (1973) before breaking up again in 1974. The band reunited in 2003 until dissolving in 2016 following the deaths of Scott Asheton and saxophonist Steve Mackay. Ron Asheton participated in the reunion until his death in 2009. The Stooges are widely regarded as a seminal proto-punk act. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them 78th on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. Here are all The Stooges songs ranked.
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15. We Will Fall (The Stooges, 1969)
“Personally, I always thought that it was about a junkie waiting to see his girlfriend. I guess the repetition made me think of someone rocking back and forth, repeating themselves and thinking forward hopefully to the next day when they’ll get to see their girlfriend.”
14. T.V. Eye (Fun House, 1970)
“That scream in the intro is so primal. The perfect way to set up a Stooges song; be as blunt and loud as possible. TV eye was a term used by Ron and Scott Asheton’s little sister Kathy. it stands for ‘twat vibe eye’. She and her friends used it to say someone was staring at one of them. like, “oh, he’s totally got a TV Eye on you!”. Iggy Pop overheard them and thought it was funny.”
13. Down On the Street (Fun House, 1970)
“The Stooges version is so much better than other versions mainly due to how unbelievably intense it is. This song is about being tripped out on LSD. The lyric isn’t “real low mind” its “Real O Mind” which was a drugged out state of nirvana. Iggy seea “faces shine” and feels like he’s “floating’ around”.
12. No Fun (The Stooges, 1969)
“Really Great footage of the stooges was on “End Of The Century” at the beginning. A very clear image of Iggy rubbing himself with peanut butter is shown, really clear footage. This song is the first stooges song played.”
See more: The Stooges Albums Ranked
11. Raw Power (Raw Power, 1973)
“OK sounding French released EP featuring rehearsal versions of _Raw Power_ & _Head On_. Side two has Iggy and James Williamson playin’ covers of _Purple Haze_ and _I’m Waiting for my Man_ – plus a radio add from St.Louis probably in ’73.”
10. Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell (Raw Power, 2005)
“Man! What a great song, I mean, this raw power sound played really loud really makes me wanna break something and scare some bunch of old ladies with this magnificent sound of destruction and noise, I love it!”
9. 1969 (The Stooges, 1969)
“1969 is one of the highlight songs of the 60s. Real Cool Time is ok, but the star here is obviously 1969. Ron Asheton is one of the greatest guitar players of the 20th century and this is proof. R.I.P. (Rock in Peace).”
8. I’m Sick of You (Va mourire , 1995)
“The I’m Sick of You sessions have been released in various formats now – the definitive one being that offered on the first disc of the Heavy Liquid boxed set, from which you can take whichever version of I Got a Right and Gimme Some Skin you prefer, add a brilliantly filthy Louie Louie, Money, Scene of the Crime and of course the brilliant I’m Sick of You itself to get a definitive version of the set. Punk rock in all but name, these aggressive, stripped down, and angry as hell garage rock numbers rank among the very best of the Stooges’ output.”
7. Ann (The Stooges, 1969)
“Riffs are pretty solid, of course on a song like “Ann” you probably would release it till the song is almost over. Then there are the vocals on this record.”
6. Dirt (Fun House, 1970)
“This is one of my very favourite songs. I think he’s talking about depression and his vulnerability, but also saying theres something strong that keeps him ‘burning’ through life for lack of a better term? I think he views himself as dangerous,”
See more: Television Albums Ranked
5. Fun House (Fun House, 1970)
“Fun House was pure Stooges from beginning to end, and for me marks the high points of both the band and Iggy Pop’s entire career. One howling, monstrous song after another, pierced by Ron’s wah-wah outbursts and Iggy’s relentless antagonism, finally culminating in “L.A. Blues,” a piece that stands as an early noise rock masterpiece, or an obnoxious belch of sound with no merit whatsoever, depending on your temperament.”
4. 1970 (Fun House, 1970)
“Look at this list, look at what 1970 meant. It meant early Prog rock, it meant sluggish rumbling Metal, it meant folksy shit, it meant baroque pop. It sure as hell didn’t mean dirty grimy filthy hard rock that sounds all the world like the Punk revolution yet to come”
3. Gimme Danger (Raw Power, 1973)
“Gimme Danger” is only a small step down in terms of extreme badass attitude. Gimme Danger, ooze with barely restraint violence – often violence against the self. 100% essential listening.”
2. I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges, 1969)
“The introductory fuzzy guitar riff and the massive dose of screeching feedback never fails to send chills down my spine. The rest of the song doesn’t disappoint – it drives the listener into a psychedelic haze with its repetition and pulsing beat. The vocals sound this sound both urgent, demanding, stoned, and apathetic at the same time. The lyrics are plain and crude yet oddly poetic. All in all, one of those few songs that can really send you somewhere else.”
1. Search and Destroy (Raw Power, 1973)
“”Search And Destroy” wastes no time in blasting out of your speakers with a ferocious guitar tone that sounds like a pack of hyenas ripping apart the carcass of an antelope. Iggy Pop’s nihilistic, self destructive lyrics combine with James Williamson’s out of control guitar leads to create 3:26 of abject mayhem, leaving no survivors.”