Every one of these songs means something to me. Whether it's a lyric, a harmony, a chord change or a memory attached to it, these 20 songs all deserve to be in my Top 100 for one reason or another. Yet as wonderful as I think they are, there are still 150 others I love more.
(What the hell have I gotten myself into?)
TRACKLIST:
Beyond & Before- Yes
First song off of the first Yes album, which is my favorite Yes record. Not quite full-on prog just yet and not yet out of the 60's pop psychedelia of Mabel Greer's Toy Shop, Chris Squire's last band. This explodes out of the gate with great bass playing and a bunch of Beatles references.
Girl Of My Dreams- Bram Tchaikovsky
"Oooh, it gets lonely in the night." The harmonies on the chorus still give me chills 40 years later.
Just Kissed My Baby- The Meters
One of the funkiest grooves ever put to tape, this will always take me back to my first New Orleans Jazz Fest where it was played live by several different bands over the course of the weekend, and we danced to every single version.
Blue Period- The Smithereens w/Belinda Carlisle
I don't love The Smithereens. But I do think "11" is one of the best power pop albums of all time and this song is Pat Dinizio's best. Again, you will always get me with harmony, and both Dinizio and Belinda Carlisle offer some brilliance that is both sweet and heartbreaking. "Blue period, black comedy,
love's a clown, now laugh my way, I think of you, much more than I'd ever be willing to say."
Maybe- The Chantels
A powerhouse vocal from Arlene Smith and one of the great singles of all time.
Bye Bye Baby- Mary Wells
You've heard the story before. Berry Gordy Jr. was not happy with Mary Wells and insisted on take after take after take, until she finally couldn't sing anymore and begged him to stop. He asked for one more and that was the take. Mary Wells never sounded like this again, and maybe that's why this record is sooo good.
Albatross- Fleetwood Mac
Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream. Simply gorgeous.
Azalea- Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington
Another perfect song. "Cause with you who could be a failure, my first love, Azalea"
Me & Magdalena- The Monkees
Hard to choose which version of this gem I love more. Benjamin Gibbard's gift to Mickey and Mike and a Hall Of Fame, late career performance from The Monkees. "And I don't know if I've ever loved any other/half as much as I do in this light she is under"
Kid- The Pretenders
It was only recently that I found out this was written from the POV of a prostitute to her kid. I've always loved this track, this guitar solo, the harmonies. But now I love it even more after seeing Chrissie perform this acoustically at a Songwriter's Circle in 1999
It's The Little Things- The Skeletons
Sonny & Cher's version of this Sonny Bono song is fine, but The Skeletons knock it out of the record-making park!
Achin' (Original 7")- The Plugz
This one goes all the way back to my friendship with Tim Vega. Our mutual friend and co-worker Alan Landess, put in a mixed tape at the shop that was all punk and hardcore and we immediately fell in love with this raucous, haphazard track. I have loved it ever since and if anyone asks what my favorite punk track is, I say "The Plugz, 7" version of Achin'" without hesitation. This is for Tim and Alan who are no longer with us.
Can't Find My Way Home- Blind Faith
This one affects me in different ways at different times. A standout in the careers of both Eric and Stevie.
Lovely- Maurice Brown
I met Maurice Brown in New Orleans in 2004, after his gig at the Funky Butt. It was one of the greatest nights of music I had ever witnessed. We have been friends ever since, but that is not why this song is here. "Lovely" is one of the most beautiful melodies I have ever heard. It is as good as any standard and it thrills me to no end to have been there when it was just written in 2008 and having the privilege of hearing it before its release. And today just happens to be Mo's birthday!
Daily Bread- Corey Harris
This was released right at the time our shop, NYCD, was closing. I was going through hell, as I saw my place of business disintegrate before my eyes. The panic attacks were running rampant and this song seemed to always bring me back. "Daily Bread" is a magical elixir.
Twilight- The Band
"Don't put me in a frame upon the mantel
'Fore memories turn dusty old and grey
Don't leave me alone in the twilight
Twilight is the loneliest time a day"
A Shot In The Arm- Wilco
I spent the weekend with friends at a river house in Pennsylvania around the time "Summerteeth" was released. We all had a few cocktails while cooking dinner and then this song came on. It was as if we were all possessed. We dropped our aprons and spatulas and just started dancing in the living room, all of us singing, "Baby all I need is a shot in the arm. Baby all I need is a shot in the arm. Baby all I need is a shot in the arm." It's a Top 5 memory and this track will always be my favorite Wilco track.
Release Me- Engelbert Humperdinck
This was a favorite of every aunt, uncle, cousin and grandparent. This 45 was in every household and I will always love it, especially the key change.
For The Good Times- Ray Price
There are many good versions of Kris Kristofferson's heartbreaker, but I'll take Ray Price.
"Make believe you love me one more time." JEEZ! I can't even type that line without welling up.
Maybe This Time- Frank Sinatra
I had been at a Yankees game with my father when the skies opened. We didn't want to wait out the rain, so he took me to the Fordham Theatre in The Bronx to see "Cabaret." It remains one of my favorite films of all time and this song was a showstopper, courtesy of Liza Minnelli. But I really love this live performance from Frank, late 70's I think. "It's gotta happen! Happen sometime! Maybe this time, MAYBE THIS TIME I'LL WIN!":
By the way, #s 171-177
Black Muddy River- The Grateful Dead
She May Call You Up- The Left Banke
I Only Have Eyes For You- The Flamingos
Photograph- Ringo Starr
Hawking- Todd Rundgren
Father And Son- Cat Stevens
Jersey Girl- Tom Waits
8 comments:
Listening to it now.
I’m the same about A Shot in The Arm. I can’t play that song without singing along. Kid and Can’t Find My Way Home are also fantastic. Many of the others are unfamiliar to me so looking forward to spinning them.
Have you heard Norma Waterson’s version of Black Muddy River? It is wonderful, featuring Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson, and Eliza Carthy. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7GYF4b8t5VE
- Paul in DK
For the 5 minutes I thought about this after your original post, "Girl Of My Dreams" was on my mental shortlist.
I'm trying to decide if I have the wherewithal to do something similar. I have over 100K songs in my iTunes Library I play my library on shuffle 90% of the time and something randomly comes up that I haven't heard in years and becomes an obsession for a week -- trying to whittle that down to 100-150 sounds impossible. This happened just this week with a song from "The Photos" of all bands. Go figure.
But I'm now hooked to see what you've come up with and see if it inspires me to do the same. :-)
Omg (why am I saying that term? cain't help it) this is going to be BOSS.
The best songs by a guy who's been listening and in bands and in the record biz and run a blog for years? Legit as hell!
Thanks for cranking this up!
Can't Find My Way Home cycled through in the waiting room playlist just a day or two ago, right as I was walking through, and I stopped in my tracks for a moment or two of happiness, it's so beautiful.
This is very fun.
Re: Albatross - https://soundcloud.com/kfw/fleetwood-mac-albatross-blend :)
Thanks Sal; there are some gems here. Both "Kid" (which I've been listening to for 40-odd years without ever knowing the backstory) and "Girl of My Dreams" might well make my own Top 100, and if not they'd be in the next 100, for sure.
Kristofferson, like John Prine, never topped his debut album, and "For The Good Times" is my favorite song on it - but you're right that Ray Price's version is the best. (Ray also had a big hit with "Release Me," of course.)
I got my hair cut today, and my 80-year-old Italian barber put on an Engelbert Humperdinck record. Not my thing, really, but he does have a nice voice.
Marc
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