Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years! And so have the greatest songs of all time, which we shall revisit now.
89. "California Dreaming"-The Mamas and the Papas
The quintessential song of wintertime depression. On the outside it's a pretty jangly little pop song, but on the inside it's actually a song of deep sadness, or maybe that's just how I see it when I'm listening to it and there is a good foot of snow outside during the winter.
88. "My Girl"-The Temptations
This song has just such a smooth as butter groove that just really takes you to another place. Smokey Robinson is milking it for all it's worth here with just an incredibly saturated vocal, but it's just so sugary sweet in the best way possible. Great summery track for laying in a hammock just relaxing.
87. "Ring of Fire"-Johnny Cash
Now, normally I'm not much of a country music gal. In fact, I loathe country music. However, Johnny Cash just has something universal that transcends genre and appeals to everyone. "Ring of Fire" is no exception, and I think it ranks up there with some of his best work. It's just so menacing and dark lyrically, but it has a peppy mariachi band type of instrumentation that keeps the song from being too dark. Another great summer track!
86. "Thunder Road"-Bruce Springsteen
Oh "Thunder Road". There are times when it seems like this is possibly the greatest song ever recorded by everyone ever in the history of time and space. I love the story element of the lyrics and I think that the feeling of wanting to break free from the town you've spent most of your life in. The piano introduction is just pure euphony and by the time the guitars kick in your already blissed out. An amazing track.
85. "Crazy"-Patsy Cline
Again, I'm normally not a big fan of this type of music. I'm not crazy about this track (no pun intended...) but she does have crazy vocal control and you can tell on this track. I compare it to the Smoky Robinson vocal on "My Girl".
84. "Every Breath You Take"-The Police
I know this is the ultimate stalker song, but I still find it actually kind of romantic in a way. Sting's vocal is almost a whisper and you can just feel the tension oozing from the speakers when you listen to it. Everything from the instrumentation to the vocal is pitch perfect and I just love it. A lot.
83. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)-The Beatles
I've already made it clear that this is probably my favorite Beatles song, and I maintain that. It just screams low light and black turtlenecks, and much like the fore mentioned Police song, it's got a very sort of sexy tone to it. I love the story of the lyrics and the instrumentation accompanies them perfectly. My favorite of all time!
82. "Blueberry Hill"-Fats Domino
I admit that I listened to the Led Zeppelin version first, and I liked it better. They really just accentuated the really bluesy elements that Fats Domino just sort of glanced over with his more piano based track. The Elton John version I listened to next was more faithful to the original, and I realized that this is just one of those tracks that has just lived so many lives in so many different ways that each one is really good in its own way. If I had to recommend a version however, it would be the Led Zeppelin version.
81. "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"-Marvin Gaye
This track has possibly one of the greatest bass riffs of all time and Marvin Gaye just has an astounding voice that sounds better every time you hear it. I just can't say enough about the instrumentation on this track, it might even outshine the lyrics here because it's just so perfectly executed and complimentary. I highly recommend.
80. "You Really Got Me"-The Kinks
And now, we have the birth of punk rock according to many. Everybody who hasn't been living under a rock has heard this song at one time or another, it's that just classic. It's also very classic in the respect that it influenced so many great people to write so many great songs, like Pete Townshend who basically copied this for "I Can't Explain". Ray Davies vocals are just so rock and roll and so "I've just smoked a whole packet of cigarettes before coming to record this". It's short, sweet, and to the point, and it's effective.
My overall favorite? Probably "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)", but "Thunder Road" is a very close second.
Look for the girl in the faded blue Dodgers hat and she's gone...
Showing posts with label Rolling Stone 500 greatest songs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rolling Stone 500 greatest songs. Show all posts
Monday, July 4, 2011
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Greatest Songs EVER. According to Rolling Stone.
After much thought, I have come to the determination that 500 songs is a lot of reviewing for me, so I decided that I will just do the top 100 instead!
100. "Crazy"-Gnarls Barkley
I like this track a lot, I think it's one of my favorite tracks of the last decade for sure. But would I put it ahead of the track that comes behind it, "You Can't Always Get What You Want"? No. Nonetheless, this track is a little bit strange in the fact that I'm not quite certain what genre I would classify it as. It's lyrics are clever and sort of funny, classic Gnarls Barkley. It's not overwhelmingly hip hop, it's got just enough pop to satisfy everyone.
99. "Fortunate Son"-Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR, I have to love them. This track is my second favorite track of theirs, losing only to "Proud Mary". I could do a whole post just on my favorite Creedence songs in fact. This song is what I describe as "Rockabilly Punk" because the lyrics with their anti-war slant force a reaction from the listener of "I'm not going to take this crap!". The guitar riff is subtle but definitely the driving force behind Fogherty's vocal. The one thing I will always know for sure, however is:
"I ain't no fortunate one."
98. "Love and Happiness"-Al Green
I really didn't think I was going to like this track, but I gotta say it wasn't half bad. I probably wouldn't rank it 98th overall, but it's still pretty good. At first I had a hard time hearing any instruments, all I could hear was Al Green's vocal. However, that only lasted momentarily and then it kicked into a thick soul groove. I'm a big fan of the change of tempo, and I think it's used well here. The one thing I didn't like was the length: it came in at a little over 5:00.
97. "Roll Over Beethoven"-Chuck Berry
I just love everything Chuck Berry ever did. The best part of this track for me is the lyrics, he basically says "I got to hear my rhythm and blues man! Tell Beethoven to suck it!!". Never in my life have I ever heard someone express a dislike of classical music so well. The Beatles also do a well known cover version of this song, as one of George Harrison's designated vocals on their early albums.
"Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news."
96. "Great Balls of Fire"-Jerry Lee Lewis
I can see why people loved to dance to this track constantly when it first came out. The piano riff on it is just begging you to bust a move. It's beyond catchy and let's face it, do I even have to mention the title? It's like an early punk song almost, short sweet and to the point, without the punk lyrical themes. For me, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry go hand in hand as the pioneers of rock and roll.
95. "Blue Suede Shoes"-Carl Perkins
The first thing I noticed when I researched this track is that the Beatles covered 2 of the songs on the single cover above (Honey Don't and Matchbox). The second thing I noticed, was that this version doesn't differ all that much from the Elvis Presley cover except that it's a little more straight forward and less dramatic. It's a great track, much like the previous two songs I covered. I have to give Carl Perkins his props though, I mean the Beatles obviously held him in high regard along with a lot of other artists as well.
94. "Good Golly Miss Molly"-Little Richard
No matter what he's singing, you know your going to get one heck of a vocal from Little Richard. His vocals are like little bursts of energy, for that moment your feeling happy as a clam. This track is no different, he want's you to know about Miss Molly. This track is good, I'd have a really hard time picking between this one and "The Girl Can't Help It". I personally admire how he can play the piano so well and still put on one heck of a show.
93. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"-U2
Everyone has heard this track at least once. It's that overplayed on the radio. Not to say that it's not a good track, because it's a very good one but even the best songs can wear on you. It's my opinion that this song is Bono's best vocal, he's able to reach into his higher range and further add to the emotion of the song and the gospel tone. I think it also conveys an emotion that a lot of us have experienced but could never quite put into words.
92. "Blitzkrieg Bop"-The Ramones
I love the Ramones. Their songs don't require much brain power, there isn't any hidden deep meaning, it's just two minutes of adrenaline rush. Everyone knows this track for it's chorus of "Hey, Ho, let's go" which is repeated throughout the song which just makes you want to jump up and down and vent all your frustrations with the universe.
91. "Suspicious Minds"-Elvis Presley
This track is really catchy, the way it changes tempos when it gets to the chorus is ingenious for assisting with that. Elvis has a great vocal, accompanied by backing vocals that almost sounded like a children's choir to me at first. A great track for sure, but still not my favorite Elvis track.
90. "In The Still of the Night"-The Five Satins
This is a track that I'd have to be in a certain mood to appreciate. My main problem was that the backing vocals were really annoying and distracted from the lead vocal too much. Upon further reading about this song, I learned that it actually originated the genre of doo-wop music which frankly I can't stand. So in other words, I'd skip this one should I be given the choice.
My favorite from these? Probably when it comes down to it I'd have to say "Fortunate Son"
100. "Crazy"-Gnarls Barkley
99. "Fortunate Son"-Creedence Clearwater Revival
"I ain't no fortunate one."
98. "Love and Happiness"-Al Green
97. "Roll Over Beethoven"-Chuck Berry
"Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news."
96. "Great Balls of Fire"-Jerry Lee Lewis
95. "Blue Suede Shoes"-Carl Perkins
94. "Good Golly Miss Molly"-Little Richard
93. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"-U2
92. "Blitzkrieg Bop"-The Ramones
91. "Suspicious Minds"-Elvis Presley
90. "In The Still of the Night"-The Five Satins
My favorite from these? Probably when it comes down to it I'd have to say "Fortunate Son"
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Greatest Songs EVER. According to Rolling Stone. (409-400)
409. "Crossroads"-Cream
I was surprised to learn that this is actually a cover of Robert Johnson. Arranged by Eric Clapton, this track includes some of his best guitar work and has often been called "the greatest live guitar solo ever". It doesn't sound all that different from "Sunshine of Your Love" at first listen, but then he rips into the solo that distinguishes it. A great track, one of Cream's best. I highly recommend.
408. "Sweet Emotion"-Aerosmith

This track is one of those that you could swear you've heard before but you don't know where. It's got that instantly recognizable chorus. The guitar riff is very catchy, along with a great bassline that you can't help but sway to. In fact, you can't help but move when you hear this track at all. It comes from Aerosmith's first album and it really launched them into the mainstream. A fun track that I recommend, it'll have you singing "Sweeeeeeeeeeetttttt Emoooooooootion" for weeks on end.
407. "In Bloom"-Nirvana

Boring, undecipherable, and repetitive. I don't know how many other ways I can put it.
406. "I Believe I Can Fly"-R. Kelly
Come on now, there isn't a soul out there that hasn't heard this song. If you grew up in the 90's like myself, you probably heard it at the end of "Space Jam". It's just so lushly dramatic and inspiring, it strikes a chord with everyone. The vocals are great and soulful and very sing-a-longable.
405. "We've Only Just Begun"-The Carpenters
The pioneers of the soft rock genre: The Carpenters. This song is just SO distinctly 70's with a cheesy horn section and the production style. It has "Wedding slow dance" written all over it, and I'm certain it's been used at many. It's good, not something I'd listen to on my own free will.
404. "Visions of Johanna"-Bob Dylan
Let me start out by saying that I didn't listen to the entire song. Why? because this track comes in at 7:30 in total length. It's a formulaic Dylan track, with quasi-mystical lyrics that you don't quite understand but are certain that are just great and profound. This is a good track for as long as you can stand to listen to it, which for me was about the first 5 minutes.
403. "C'mon Everybody"-Eddie Cochran
You have to give Eddie Cochran credit for the number of guitarists he inspired, including one George Harrison. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, it was "20 Flight Rock" that Paul McCartney played for John Lennon to get into the Quarrymen. Anyway, this track sounds fresh even after all these years. It's very crisp and clean, like if Buddy Holly had been British. It's fun and pleasing to the ears, I'd highly recommend it for a summer playlist over say...Katy Perry.
402. "Thank You (Falettinme be Mice Elf Again) -Sly and the Family Stone

This track is undeniably funk. And it's the best funk I've heard. I couldn't help but start to move when I heard it. It's got such a fun group element to it, like the kind of song you would sing with a bunch of friends while you were hanging out. I couldn't get enough of this track, a must-listen.
401. "Tonight's the Night"-The Shirelles
I wasn't really crazy about this track. It was good, but it wasn't any better than the other girl groups that came before it. The backing vocals on it were annoying enough.
400. "Kicks"-Paul Revere and the Raiders
This was good, I liked it and would listen to it again but it sounds exactly like everything else from the era it came from. Jangly guitars, singer has a little bit of grit in his voice but not too much, basically like a Beatles throwaway. It would blend seamlessly onto one of those time life decade collections that are advertised all the time.
My favorite from this batch? Definitely "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)" by Sly and the Family Stone.
408. "Sweet Emotion"-Aerosmith
This track is one of those that you could swear you've heard before but you don't know where. It's got that instantly recognizable chorus. The guitar riff is very catchy, along with a great bassline that you can't help but sway to. In fact, you can't help but move when you hear this track at all. It comes from Aerosmith's first album and it really launched them into the mainstream. A fun track that I recommend, it'll have you singing "Sweeeeeeeeeeetttttt Emoooooooootion" for weeks on end.
407. "In Bloom"-Nirvana
Boring, undecipherable, and repetitive. I don't know how many other ways I can put it.
406. "I Believe I Can Fly"-R. Kelly
405. "We've Only Just Begun"-The Carpenters
404. "Visions of Johanna"-Bob Dylan
403. "C'mon Everybody"-Eddie Cochran

402. "Thank You (Falettinme be Mice Elf Again) -Sly and the Family Stone
This track is undeniably funk. And it's the best funk I've heard. I couldn't help but start to move when I heard it. It's got such a fun group element to it, like the kind of song you would sing with a bunch of friends while you were hanging out. I couldn't get enough of this track, a must-listen.
401. "Tonight's the Night"-The Shirelles
400. "Kicks"-Paul Revere and the Raiders
My favorite from this batch? Definitely "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)" by Sly and the Family Stone.
Monday, June 14, 2010
The Greatest Songs EVER. According to Rolling Stone. (419-410)
I apologize for the lapse in this!
419. "Nuthin But a G Thang"-Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg
I didn't actually listen to this track for a couple reasons. 1. I hate rap and think it's worthless. 2. The lyrics are not even worth subjecting my eardrums to. I do happen to know a little bit about this track however. This was Doctor Dre's first big hit, really launching him into what he has now become.
418. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"-Crosby Stills and Nash
First of all, the harmonies on this track are IMMACULATE. They immediately jump out from the speakers and just glide over the sweet lyrics. However, this is a suite, meaning that it goes on for quite some time finally ending at 7:26. I was actually reading that Crosby Stills and Nash was created specifically for this song, Graham Nash being the last to join adding the high third harmony. A great song, you hardly notice how long it's going on it's just so pretty.
(I'm skipping 417, if your really interested you can go look it up. It just wasn't even going to be worth my time.)
415. "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"-The Four Tops
This track was just like it's title, sugary sweet. Almost TOO sugary and sweet. It's a good track, nothing spectacular and certainly better than some of the other tracks in this portion of the list. It's short and sweet which was a relief after the last track, but in the end it's not something I'm going to remember 20 minutes from now.
414. "Young Blood"-The Coasters

This track was more bluesy than I expected. It's actually one of the Coasters B-Sides which speaks to the quality of their A-Sides. According to wikipedia, the lyrical content of this song is as follows. "Boy meets girl, then meets girl's father, who does not approve of boy - so the boy departs, but cannot stop thinking about the girl, declaring "You're the one, you're the one, you're the one"."
413. "The Girl Can't Help It"-Little Richard
This song is crazy catchy in classic Little Richard style. It's actually the title track from a movie of the same name, and it's been covered by just about everyone. Most recently, Fergie sampled this track in her song "Clumsy". The piano on this track is really rollicking and Little Richards vocals are great. It's an awesome track that'll really get you going.
411. "I Feel Love"-Donna Summer

I was not at all excited to listen to this track being as I have a vendetta against anything related to disco. So needless to say, when I saw that this track was 5:53, I wasn't pleased. This track is just like a long techno/disco jam with Donna Summer's high pitched wailing of words I couldn't understand. I would definitely skip this one.
410. "Monkey Gone to Heaven"-The Pixies
Did I understand what this track was talking about? No, but I still loved it. It's got a punk undertone, but it maintains it's alt-rock feeling with ease. It's catchy and the guitars are great and if someone were just getting into the Pixies this is what you would start out with. Great track which is apparently about environmentalism.
419. "Nuthin But a G Thang"-Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg
418. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"-Crosby Stills and Nash
(I'm skipping 417, if your really interested you can go look it up. It just wasn't even going to be worth my time.)
415. "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"-The Four Tops
414. "Young Blood"-The Coasters
This track was more bluesy than I expected. It's actually one of the Coasters B-Sides which speaks to the quality of their A-Sides. According to wikipedia, the lyrical content of this song is as follows. "Boy meets girl, then meets girl's father, who does not approve of boy - so the boy departs, but cannot stop thinking about the girl, declaring "You're the one, you're the one, you're the one"."
413. "The Girl Can't Help It"-Little Richard
411. "I Feel Love"-Donna Summer
I was not at all excited to listen to this track being as I have a vendetta against anything related to disco. So needless to say, when I saw that this track was 5:53, I wasn't pleased. This track is just like a long techno/disco jam with Donna Summer's high pitched wailing of words I couldn't understand. I would definitely skip this one.
410. "Monkey Gone to Heaven"-The Pixies
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Greatest Songs EVER. According to Rolling Stone. (429-420)
First of all....
How bout them Chicago Blackhawks?!? My first season of being a fan and they spoil me with a Stanley Cup! Many congratulations go out to them, and I hope they'll be in the same position next year.
Now then,
429. "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love"-Solomon Burke
This is a really upbeat track with a party sort of atmosphere. There's been a ton of different versions of this song, including Wilson Pickett and of course the Blues Brothers. It's not too terribly long, I was texting my friend while listening to it and all of a sudden I realized it had ended. A fun track, not really memorable.
427. "New Years Day"-U2
I couldn't believe that there was a U2 song that I hadn't ever heard. This track is very distant sounding and it has the telltale U2 production, with lots of echoing. The lyrics are a part love song, but also part political commentary. It's kind of repetitive, it easily gets stuck in your head. I could see where it would be easy to skip over this track while browsing the massive U2 catalogue, but it's still a very good song and I'd recommend it.
426. "Smoke on the Water"-Deep Purple
I guarantee that you've heard this guitar riff before. It has to be one of the most recognizable riffs ever, second only to maybe "Satisfaction". This track is Deep Purple's best known track, and for good reason. It's got all the elements to be a great rock song: catchy riff, semi-decent lyrics, not too long. The lyrics don't matter much in this song, your too busy bobbing your head or tapping your foot to that guitar riff. Good track, a must have for any classic rock lover.
425. "William, It Was Really Nothing"-The Smiths
This track was more 80's sounding than I had expected. But even so, it still manages to be distinctly the Smiths for the short 2:13 that it lasts. The lyrics are kind of nonsensical, but in a way they completely make sense. The thing is, I actually prefer the two b-sides of this song better ("How Soon is Now?" and "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want".) Even so, I really liked this track a lot.
424. "Tumbling Dice"-The Rolling Stones
This track was in the news recently because of the reissuing of Exile on The Main St. I really enjoyed this track overall, and I think it's really underrated. I had a hard time understanding Mick Jagger's vocal, but then again I was busy enjoying Keith Richards guitar which had a little bit of a country flair to it. The backing vocals are a little annoying but not to terrible. Great unknown (for me anyways) track.
423. "Blue Suede Shoes"-Elvis Presley
I was actually surprised to learn that this is actually a cover, the original being by Carl Perkins. This track is famous for its first few lines of, "One for the money/two for the show/three to get ready/and four to go." It nicely blends pop, rockabilly and the blues all into one, while Elvis delivers the story of a man and his quest to keep his blue suede shoes from being stepped on. You really can't help but jump up and do your best Elvis impression while listening to this song.
422. "Lola"-The Kinks
This track is actually really funny when you sit down and listen to it. Allegedly about a transvestite, this track gets stuck in your head and it won't come out. A lot of people are actually more familiar with the Weird Al parody of this song, "Yoda". It's a very laid back track, not a whole lot of instrumentation, and Ray Davies vocal is very sarcastic. I've actually been getting into the Kinks a lot more, but this song was one of the first songs of theirs that I knew.
421. "Piano Man"-Billy Joel
There isn't a soul in this universe that doesn't know "Piano Man". It's by far Billy Joel's best known track, and it really showcases his ability on the piano. The lyrics tell the story of a piano bar player and the comings and goings that he notices as he goes along. A great track, really classic.
420. "It's Your Thing"-The Isley Brothers
This is a really great funk track, especially for a non-funk believer like myself. You've probably heard this song a million times before on commercials and things of that nature, and it's just really catchy. Apparently, this song was a big feminist anthem but I couldn't really see that aspect in the lyrics. The piano on this track is really great and it adds levels. Lovely track overall.
My favorite? "Lola" or "William It Was Really Nothing"
Now then,
429. "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love"-Solomon Burke
427. "New Years Day"-U2
426. "Smoke on the Water"-Deep Purple
425. "William, It Was Really Nothing"-The Smiths
424. "Tumbling Dice"-The Rolling Stones
423. "Blue Suede Shoes"-Elvis Presley
422. "Lola"-The Kinks
421. "Piano Man"-Billy Joel
420. "It's Your Thing"-The Isley Brothers

My favorite? "Lola" or "William It Was Really Nothing"
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Greatest Songs EVER. According to Rolling Stone. (439-430)
Hope Everyone is having a great Wednesday afternoon :D
439. "Pink Houses"-John Cougar Mellencamp
I never did much care for John Cougar Mellencamp. This track doesn't really stand out from the rest of his stuff, it sounds almost exactly like "Our Country". It's very patriotic and all, but I'd rather skip this track entirely.
438. "I Wanna Be Your Dog"-The Stooges
As is obvious by looking at the above album cover, this track comes from the Stooges first album which was produced by The Velvet Underground's John Cale. This track has an almost sonic guitar riff that just bruises your eardrums in the best way possible. You can really see the roots of punk rock being forged here, but there's also elements of a Led Zepplin type sound here too. A good track, although I personally prefer "Search and Destroy" more.
437. "Love Me Tender"-Elvis Presley
This track is actually adapted from an old civil war ballad called "Aura Lee". It's beautifully simple, it really is just Elvis and his acoustic guitar. I remember hearing somewhere that this song was actually devised to capitalize on Elvis's sex appeal and to get the girls to swoon. Either way, it's still a beautiful and romantic track I'd definitely recommend.
436. "Alone Again Or"-Love
I had never even heard of the band Love before listening to this track. I couldn't figure out if this track was trying to be more prog rock or a straight up ballad. Nevertheless, it was still a really good track that I enjoyed. The lyrics are sort of mysterious and distant, but there's still an element of a love song in them. The production is perhaps a little overwhelming, but it's nothing the listener can't get past. A good, kind of weird track.
435. "Beast of Burden"-The Rolling Stones
This is one of my favorite Rolling Stones songs. It's a low key, lazing around in a hammock on a summer afternoon type of track. Keith Richard's guitar is great, but his harmonies with Mick Jagger are better. It almost has a reggae element to it, but it still stays true to the rock genre. It's just a lovely track overall that I am putting on my summer playlist right away.
434. "Mustang Sally"-Wilson Pickett
The first thing I noticed about this track was Wilson Pickett's great vocal, which is very reminiscent of Little Richard. It's a pretty straightforward soul track, and it grooves underneath a great horn section. A good song, nothing spectacular. I'd really have to be in a certain mood to appreciate this one fully.
433. "Ramble On"-Led Zepplin
This track is classic Led Zepplin, where it starts out as a simple little acoustic diddy, but then it turns into a full on rock song. This song is actually very similar to "Over the Hills and Far Away" but the guitars are heavier on this track. It's a good song, something I'd expect to hear on my local classic rock station. The chorus is by far the best part of this track, with the crunching guitars and Robert Plant's screeching vocal.
432. "Midnight Train to Georgia"-Gladys Knight and the Pips
The first thing that hits you with this track is just how lushly dramatic it is. Gladys Knight's vocals are excellent and soulful, and you can feel the pain in her voice. The pips, well, they just do whatever it is they do. This does come from the 1970's, but it doesn't have the classic cheesy 70's soul production. An excellent soul track.
431. "Ain't That a Shame"-Fats Domino
This track is INSANELY catchy. The piano riff is perfectly complementary to the chorus that will stay in my head for days and days on end. I hadn't heard much of Fat's Domino's catalogue before hand, but I'm already convinced that this is his best song.
430. "White Man In Hammersmith Palais"-The Clash
There has yet to be a number invented that could accurately portray how many times I have listened to this song. I absolutely think it's an amazing track. It marks the point in the career of the Clash where they started moving past just straight up in your face punk to more diverse musical influences. This track starts out with a crunching Mick Jones guitar riff, but then it goes into a reggae groove, only to go back to the guitar riff. Joe Strummer's vocal is theatrical, and at the end of the track he even starts to whisper. The lyrics are about a reggae show that Joe Strummer went to that was too pop for his taste. An amazing track, I can't say enough about it.
My favorite of this bunch? There were a lot of good ones, so I'm going to say "Beast of Burden" AND "White Man In Hammersmith Palais"
439. "Pink Houses"-John Cougar Mellencamp
438. "I Wanna Be Your Dog"-The Stooges
437. "Love Me Tender"-Elvis Presley
436. "Alone Again Or"-Love

435. "Beast of Burden"-The Rolling Stones
434. "Mustang Sally"-Wilson Pickett
433. "Ramble On"-Led Zepplin
432. "Midnight Train to Georgia"-Gladys Knight and the Pips
431. "Ain't That a Shame"-Fats Domino
430. "White Man In Hammersmith Palais"-The Clash
My favorite of this bunch? There were a lot of good ones, so I'm going to say "Beast of Burden" AND "White Man In Hammersmith Palais"
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Greatest Songs EVER. According to Rolling Stone. (449-440)
To kick things off, we start with a little diddy I like to call...
449. "Penny Lane"-The Beatles
I wasn't crazy about this song in my early years, but as I got older I learned to appreciate it a little more. It's very jaunty and happy, as Paul McCartney reminisces about the street where he would meet John Lennon when they were younger, and about the Liverpool of his youth in general. A lively horn section really lifts the song and gives it a more distinctly British feel. His vocals are filled with a certain happy quality that fills the speakers. I highly recommend this track if your having a bad day.
448. "Heroin"-The Velvet Underground
I never liked the Velvet Underground much, I prefer Lou Reed's solo albums better than anything he did while he was in this band. This track has beautiful instrumentation, but it takes a lot more than that to hold my attention for a whopping 7:13 that this song comes in at. The other thing that I couldn't get past was the fact that it's actually promoting the use of heroin, which obviously is a huge turn-off.
447. "Leader of the Pack"-The Shangri-La's
This track starts out with a rather ingenious talking portion. This song is really just the age old story of the good girl falling for the bad boy, told with excellent harmonies. It's really simple at heart, nothing overwhelms anything else. A good track overall, I like it much better than the other girl group tracks I've reviewed so far.
446. "Pressure Drop"-Toots and the Maytals
I had heard OF this song before, but I had never actually heard it before. Even then, I was only familiar with the fact that The Clash did a version for the B-Side of "English Civil War". Even if you don't particularly like reggae, this song is just right to appease you. It isn't a heavy reggae jam, it only comes in at 3:48. My only beef with this song is that it's really just the singer repeating the words "Pressure Drop" over and over.
445. "Come As You Are"-Nirvana
I'll say it again, I really don't like Nirvana at all. All their songs sound the same to me, because they all follow the same structure. There's a few verses of partially nonsensical lyrics, and then Cobain just repeats the same word over and over until the song ends. Ladies and gentlemen, "Come as You Are"
444. "I Got You Babe"-Sonny and Cher
This song is just really a simple little diddy about young love and how everyone is just telling them their love isn't going to make it. But Sonny and Cher have each others backs, but Cher out-sings Sonny by a mile. She sounds crystal clear here, despite having to sing some slightly cheesy lyrics. The production on this record is actually similar to that of a girl group, but it works. The Pretenders also do a reggae version of this song with UB40.
443. "I Shot the Sheriff"-Bob Marley and the Wailers
Ahh, the many times I have made a joke related to this song. This is probably Bob Marley's best known song, and it really kind of broke reggae to the masses before the Clash came along. The song focuses on telling the story (obviously) of a man who confesses that he "Shot the Sheriff" but left the deputy. It isn't too terribly long, as songs of this nature can be (I'm looking at you Bob Dylan...) and it still manages to be commercial. Eric Clapton recorded a version shortly after the original came out, and I'm guessing that his is the better known version.
442. "Keep A Knockin'"-Little Richard
This track is classic Little Richard from the get-go. It has a rollicking piano riff and he's singing/screaming the few words at the top of his voice. There isn't much else to say, because this isn't the best song in his catalogue. Nevertheless, it's still a great fun track I'd recommend.
(More weird numbering I know!)
440. "Push It"-Salt N Pepa
Really? Salt N Pepa? Out of all of the infinity number of songs that have been written since the don of time, you chose this one? I really tried to be open minded about this, but I just couldn't. It's a generic 80's rap song. That's all. Why not put a song like, "Trudi's Song" by Mott the Hopple here?
My favorite of these? By far and wide "Penny Lane"
449. "Penny Lane"-The Beatles
448. "Heroin"-The Velvet Underground
447. "Leader of the Pack"-The Shangri-La's
446. "Pressure Drop"-Toots and the Maytals
445. "Come As You Are"-Nirvana
444. "I Got You Babe"-Sonny and Cher
443. "I Shot the Sheriff"-Bob Marley and the Wailers
442. "Keep A Knockin'"-Little Richard
(More weird numbering I know!)
440. "Push It"-Salt N Pepa
My favorite of these? By far and wide "Penny Lane"
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