THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES....
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 10 songs all deserve to be in my Top 100 for one reason or another.
This list is flawed. The songs are just about perfect. But as expected, and as predicted by some of you, this task is daunting and will no doubt haunt me. What have I missed? Can I really include (insert song title) and not (insert song title)? Nevertheless, after considerable thought, and relentless editing, these songs make the cut.
These songs are sequenced in optimum playing order, not by rank.
We are down to the Top 100. Now, we have a ball game. And this ball game, by the way, is getting more difficult as I countdown.
51-60
What Is Life- George Harrison
We all know the story by now of Harrison stockpiling originals that Lennon/McCartney were rejecting, or something like that. But where the hell did this big and beautiful pop masterpiece come from so soon after "Piggies" and "Long Long Long." I mean, even masterpieces like "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" don't sound this huge.
Sunny- Bobby Hebb
I have an iTunes folder of "Sunny" covers. I love "Sunny" by anybody. But there is something about Bobby Hebb's original that is so perfectly of its time. Another reason I love this song is because the second I hear it, a snapshot pops up in my mind. There was a neighborhood after hours joint run by a guy named Frankie. It was exactly like Tony's place in "Mean Streets," pitch black, with only a few red lights behind the bar and the light of the juke box. After gigs with Pep In The Cat, we'd often stop in for a nightcap around 2AM and "Sunny" seemed to get played on the juke box every time.
Walking In The Rain- The Ronettes
It's better than "Be My Baby."
Walk Away Renee- The Left Banke
This has so many things going for it, but really, it's all about the melody of the chorus and those heavenly harmonies.
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling- The Righteous Brothers
Phil Spector was a madman, lunatic, murderer. But damn, his records are pure genius. That build before the last chorus still gives me chills.
Both Belong- The Grays
I can think of about five Jason Falkner songs that I could have included in my Top 150, but there was no way I could exclude this track. From the gorgeous acoustic guitar playing to the brilliant arrangement, this song was on very heavy, borderline obsessive rotation during the last days of NYCD. The lyric "I can't be the only one, who's in line for some sunshine" became my mantra.
How Can I Be Sure- The Rascals
I hate to say it. I am sure it will ruffle some feathers. But...they just don't make records this good anymore. This is a tour de force vocal from Eddie Brigati.
Marquee Moon- Television
After Tom Verlaine died, I wrote about how Television came to me, as an opening act for Peter Gabriel. I wasn't hip to their somewhat legendary residency at CBGBs. This was just some weird band who were just about to release an album opening for the guy who recently bailed out of Genesis. That opening set and this song in particular blew me away. I remember nothing about Gabriel's set. The dual guitar riffs, simple and brilliant. Billy Ficca's jazz fills in a punk song that lasts ten minutes because of extended guitar solos. This song...this album...broke a whole lotta rules and it remains one of my oft-played records 45 years later.
True (Live From Montreux) - James Booker
This song, sometimes called "You Don't Love Me," can be found on a number of old R&B and jazz records, but I will take an educated guess and say James Booker used The Spiders version as a launch pad. When I say that James Booker is a musical genius and arguably the greatest piano player that ever lived it's because of this live version from Montreux.
You Can't Always Get What You Want- The Rolling Stones
I fall for the arrangement every time. The choir at the beginning and at the end. Al Kooper's mournful French horn. Those opening acoustic guitar strums. The crescendo. Jimmy Miller's drumming. Wow.
17 comments:
They don't make records like "How Can I Be Sure" anymore? You'll get no argument from me. Especially for radio play.
As the song says, the "world is constantly changing"— just not always for the better.
Love reading this list.
Damn, that Rascals' record is so timeless. 50 years later, and it still seems like it was recorded last week, and still sounds ahead of its time.
Okay, you’ve piqued my curiosity about that Grays song.
This is the rest of my 51-75 set of songs that were grouped together. Some of these showed up on Sal’s earlier lists and two of Sal’s list today show up later on mine. Looking ahead at my top 50, I wonder how many more will be on both lists...
Girl Of My Dreams -- Bram Tchaikovsky Rhino’s Poptopia collections brought this to my attention. I think the production is (much like Marshall Crenshaw’s second album) in need of a remix — but even with that production, it shines.
Strawberry Letter 23 -- The Brothers Johnson. It’s more than the guitar break. But what a break! I think this is (surprisingly) the last solid R&B song on my list. Check out the 5 min version and not just the hit single version! It’s easy like Sunday morning.
She's Gone -- Daryl Hall & John Oates The other Hall & Oates song in my list — and this heartbreaker is the better of the two. Love the harmonies. Another song where the album version gives you more of the good stuff (though the single edit is stellar!)
Romeo and Juliet -- Dire Straits This is my favorite song by them and made a couple of mix tapes.
Telephone Line -- Electric Light Orchestra Not the last ELO song on my list, but the one with the vocal that pulls at the heartstrings the most. 4 mellow songs in a row (which was not planned…) There’s a song coming up later that I consider a sister-song to this one.
This Year's Girl -- Elvis Costello & The Attractions When I decided to play bass in a band, I knew I had to bring this song to the table (along with Pump It Up). The walking bass line of this song was one of my favorite things to play live — wailing on the bass on the outro was my favorite par!t — even though it wasn’t nearly as well known as Pump It Up, it's my clear favorite Attractions song.. Bruce Thomas was (is!) brilliant.
The Shape Of Things To Come -- The Headboys Another favorite PowerPop song to warm up with on the guitar (and vocal warm-ups!). Not to be confused with the other “Shape of Things To Come” farther down on my list (which I also love to play on guitar…) Three chord songs with “Whoa-oh-oh”s in the chorus always get a few extra points.
Bus Stop -- The Hollies Another from Sal’s list. Higher on mine again. Just a great 60’s pop song all around. What lyrics, harmonies, guitar lick — it all simple, but so perfect. The story behind how the Hollies found it is precious.
Thunder Island -- Jay Ferguson Mid-1970’s AM radio strikes again. I can feel some of you rolling your eyes at what probably brings to mind the excesses of the 70s — big shaggy hair, open shirts with accompanying hairy chests and gold chains and sunglasses. But if you like “Lonely Boy” (as I do) — this is right in the same pocket, but more sing-a-long and always brings to mind a summer afternoon driving around with the top down no matter what time of year I hear it.
I'm The Man -- Joe Jackson Another one of my guitar-warm-up songs. Such a simple 4-chord song with a brilliant cresting instrumental section (and great lyrics!). My 2023 song of the year so far (“Whoa! is Me” by Strange Neighbors) heavily borrows the same instrumental break format and you can’t argue against a well-designed crescendo!
Oh this game is getting spicy!
Some excellent listening here -- Thanks Sal
As you post each of these, I picture you painting yourself into a corner and wondering how you're going to get out. I have no doubt you will. Anticipating the next 50 with bated breath.
And, btw, I love Booker and especially True. A German label just released a 5 cd box set of previously unreleased live recordings by him, but True is nowhere to be found. Thank god for that Montreux recording (I haven't heard the Tipitina's record release, but it also has a version of True on it). Several years ago, while stuck in an airport in Ohio trying to get back to NO, a fellow traveler was none other than James Singleton. We whiled away the hours at the airport bar while waiting for the next flight to NO, and he told me some amazing stories about playing with Booker, and especially about the recording of the Classified album.
I love how eclectic your selections always are! From James Booker to the Stones - and I LOVE LOVE LOVE "Both Belong". I just may have to rethink my Top 100! ;)
Fun stuff, Sal. Especially the memories rooting your experience with them in time. I was so late to the Stones that --you may hate me for this -- that my first time hearing You Can't Always Get What You Want was in the film The Big Chill. I flash back to the movie every time, but the song transcends that memory because it is so killer in every way. So glad I got to see the Rascals in concert once! I think I would be nuts if I tried to do a list of favorite singles.
When I listen to Walk Away Renee, it takes me back to my parents living room, sitting in front of their Magnavox console listening to that song as well as Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, Incense and Peppermints, Venus, A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, Yummy Yummy Yummy, Green Tambourine... all the classics, right?
Randy
Every one of those records is a great record, Randy.
Funny, the composer tag for "You Can't Always Get What You Want" showed up as Frank Zappa. Great mix, thanks!
Hey, where'd the Saturday Instagram Dump go?
Technical troubles, complaints or did I imagine it was posted this morning?
Captain Al
Choice group of songs!! All impeccable little works of art. It will be cool to see what lies ahead, if anything can surmount even these songs in the list.
I very much love both Walk Away Renee and How Can I Be Sure, high on my list of favorites as well. Still listen to them often.
What Is Life is probably my favorite George solo song. The guitars, the singing, the melody--all A+. My favorite Beatles George song you ask? Why, If I Needed Someone, of course.
And never can get enough of Walk Away Renee. That song has stayed with me from the first time I heard it as an impressionable young lad.
Bill
Don't you ever quit, Sal. The world needs you more than you know.
Regarding "What Is Life." I think that it's a Harrisong with Phil Spector hugeness added. Makes me wonder what such a madman might have done with Taxman.
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