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.
71-80
You Get What You Give- New Radicals
This could be one of the most recent songs to make my list. I knew this was destined to be a classic the first time I heard it. It's Todd Rundgren, World Party, and Prince all at once, with a chorus to die for. And those four snare hits before the last chorus really send me flying. This is one of the most uplifting songs ever recorded.
What A Fool Believes- The Doobie Brothers
Written by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald and recorded by both, this is record-making at its finest. Just listen to Loggins' version to see the difference. Legendary! Hooks, harmonies, it has it all.
Sally Go Round The Roses- The Jaynettes
There are many versions of this song, but this one takes the cake. What the hell is going on here? It's such a bizarre way to produce a pop single, and yet that is exactly what makes it so fantastic.
Maybe I'm Amazed- Paul McCartney
A vocal performance for the ages, but then we all knew Paul had the pipes right from "Long Tall Sally." I never tire of that first solo album and I always look forward to this track especially.
I Wish It Would Rain- The Temptations
A man hurting so much over love lost, that he wishes it would rain so he could go outside and hopefully not be noticed crying. Damn! And those now iconic strings after "Let it rain!" are just too much.
Like A Rolling Stone- Bob Dylan
The opening snare crack. Al Kooper's organ. "How does it feel?" Play it 1000 times, and I'll want to hear it 1000 more.
I Wish I Was Your Mother- Mott The Hoople
I'm still not completely sure I know what Ian is talking about here, but it hardly matters. I love the chorus and arrangement and that lonely harmonica on the fade. Beautiful.
Surf's Up- The Beach Boys
Do I need to talk about this masterpiece? Well, maybe I do, since it's not automatic that everyone loves the Beach Boys. There isn't a wasted second in this song. Stunning.
Stand- Sly & The Family Stone
"In the end, you'll still be you." I love that line. And I love the gear switch into that funky as hell coda. Talk about uplifting!
I Believe (When I Fall In Love With You)- Stevie Wonder
The layers of vocals at the end will never fail to render me helpless. First he sings the chorus. Then, underneath the chorus he sings "I'm so glad that I found someone, to believe in, again." Now as those two melodies carry on, he adds a third, "You know that God has surely answered my prayers." Now all three are being sung as it builds to "Come on let's fall in love!" Jeebus!!
12 comments:
Thanks for all the great content posted! I am always amazed how your tastes of music and the variety of artists posted are so similar to my preferences!
Somehow I'd missed that New Radicals song -- the bass player just kills me.
As I think I mentioned, for my list I broke things down in sets — so the first five would be from my 51-75 set and the next 5 from 76-100. We are getting to songs that I unabashedly love with some unexpected (maybe) songs that’ll make you question everything else I’ve listed and what my musical tastes are. And I have none of Sal's set of 10 anywhere in my list this time!. But here we go!
You're My Best Friend — Queen (One of the songs from one of my mix-tapes so there are memories behind it— it’s a great love song and my favorite Queen song without hesitation.)
Stay Away From Downtown — Redd Kross (This is the newest song on my list and boy, does it kick some ass! If you want an example the Power in PowerPop — look no further! Riffs! Hooks! Harmonies! Sha-La-Las! This should probably be higher on my list!)
Left Of The Dial — The Replacements (There is one other Mats song on my list coming up but this couldn’t fall off.)
Sweet City Woman — The Stampeders (Steve Martin said it’s impossible to have a sad song with a banjo in it. This is *not* a sad song — it’s a song that brings an immediate smile as soon as it starts up and it makes a great rhyme of “tunes” and “Macaroons”)
Fox On the Run — The Sweet (I’ve mentioned my love of a.m. Top 40 radio in the early 70s. Man, did this 3-chord glam stomper *blast* out and went somewhere “Little Willy” and “Ballroom Blitz” barely prepared me for.)
Piece By Piece — The Tubes (A Utopia song not actually played by Utopia — I think? — but what seems like a simple 2-chord verse is elevated by Fee’s vocal in the pre-chorus and chorus to whole nother level!)
Only Women Bleed — Alice Cooper (As one of my favorite artists, there should be more AC songs on my list — but there’s aren’t. I think I’m too close to those songs to categorize them, but the lyrics on this one and the way it hits during live shows made it stand out.)
Party Hard — Andrew W.K. (“…Downtown” above kicks ass. But man, this takes that song and curb-stomps it! You think it’s going to start out stupid, but where it goes after that? And that solo piano note that rides through the whole song? There’s nothing else by Andrew W.K. that I’ve liked — but this song? Where did it come from?)
Comes the Sun — The Archies (OK — here’s where I might lose you with this deep cut. But listen to it! If you didn’t know it was by “The Archies” — you’d be asking yourself why you never heard this near-perfect 1970’s a.m. radio-friendly bubblegum pop song with it’s rocking major-to-minor chord progressions. For further listening for another super-catchy Archie’s song you probably don’t know— I also recommend “Sunshine” which tends to make “Greatest Hits” albums where “Comes The Sun” does not. And that’s enough about The Archie’s songs to last all of your lifetimes, I’m sure, but, yes, I preferred Betty over Veronica…)
Everything I Own — Bread. (One of the worlds prettiest post-breakup-regret songs out there. When I bought my new Martin acoustic recently, I broke out the capo to the 7th fret and it was one of the first things I played on it.)
You have quite superb taste. Excellent choices, all.
Oh hell yes! A list so good, one wonders what you could possibly have left in the tank for #1 - #70??! ... also, 'specially glad to see the love for What A Fool Believes.
Re: You Get What You Give - "This is one of the most uplifting songs ever recorded"
I agree 100%.
Macca, Surf's Up & Stevie are on my list.
The Jaynettes are new to me.
Another great list!
Randy
All killer, no filler!
There are some songs that we take for granted because we’ve heard them so many times. Hits that sounded sparkly and new when they first came on the radio sometimes become too familiar after repeated play. Like a Rolling Stone has never become old hat for me. Every time I listen to it, it’s like I’m hearing it in that first blush of discovery. Hard to top that.
I’m enjoying your countdown immensely, Sal. Thanks for sharing.
Bill
Now it starts getting interesting. With so many great songs in this grouping I’m starting to wonder what’s ahead. With “Maybe I’m Amazed”, “I Believe…” and “Surf’s Up” in this group I’m trying to imagine what other masterpieces are up ahead. I’m intrigued to find out where you’re going. Looking forward to the next one already.
Yes up and down the line. "What A Fool Believes" is irresistible and yes, superior to the Kenny Loggins version but they had quite the songwriting bromance!
Sal, I know a lot less music than you do, so I'm really interested in where our tastes intersect. Maybe I'm Amazed, Surf's Up, and I Believe When I Fall in Love are definitely on my list of favorite songs. I'll never get tired of them. Also love What a Fool Believes.
Looking forward to seeing the rest of your choices.
re Sally song - i did a bit of research and apparently the lyrics are based on a children's skipping song. enjoying the whole zip thanks!
marginAlt
One more thing regarding Surf's Up: because I'm a sucker for lists, I have one of my favorite rhymes in music; and 'aristocracy/opera glass you see' is right up there at the very top.
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