Favorite 31 Songs by US Artists According to a Bunch of Middle-Aged Dummies (2 Viewers)

[KarmaPolice]

JFC, I got that damn "insuffienct access to post here" message or whatever nonsense locked me out this week again. This time I was able to switch emails at least.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Five Bill Withers picks but this didn't show up?

Only because Use Me exists.

I actually thought Sunshine was more widely loved.

Not in this group, apparently. I was speaking for myself with the previous remark.

 

[shuke]

I thought this song had a huge following on this board.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I really should have picked this.

I went back and forth between that and Super Stupid.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Maybe I missed some at the start - did Madonna get shut out of this thing?

 

[shuke]

No Harry Nilsson in here? What the hell is wrong with you guys?

 

[KarmaPolice]

THIS was initially my #1 I wrote down right away, but then like I said - I went more 90s focused.

 

[shuke]

Maybe I missed some at the start - did Madonna get shut out of this thing?

Two songs chosen.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Maybe I missed some at the start - did Madonna get shut out of this thing?

Two songs chosen.

I guess that would be one of my surprises of the draft then.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Maybe I missed some at the start - did Madonna get shut out of this thing?

No. Borderline and La Isla Bonita were taken.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Ilov80s:

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Aretha Franklin
(duplicate – second vote)

Yep. Glad to see this one get in there as I did. I could have put 3 Aretha covers in my top 10 easy (This one, Eleanor Rigby, and Border Song) but had to spread the love. One of the most significant American artists in history. An excellent piano player and of course ridiculous singer, just check out when she stepped in for Pavarotti for "Nessun Dorma" a number of years ago. And this version just hits so damned hard.

falguy:

Turn the Page - Bob Seger

@MAC_32 Did I redeem myself?

No matter the chaos going on around me when that song is on (usually while driving not coincidentally) I never miss a single world and if I do 'acknowledge' anyone in my direct vicinity it's to sing along to them. They can continue to yammer about something...anything else and I'm not listening to a damn word they're having to say unless it's Out there in the spotlight you're a million miles away. Choice is theirs.



Yeah I stole your post but I did say I couldn't say it any better.

I love when he stretches out "on the paaaaaaaaaaaaaage ahh" Yeah I know this song inside and out.

I was lucky enough to get tix for his farewell tour. Saw him at the Garden State Arts Center. Rented chairs for me and dad. They ran out of the chairs. So dad and I sat on the grass. He was incredible. And of course this one - and sadly his sax player Alto Reed died roughly a year after that tour.

But my best out of all is having @DrIanMalcolm join us for this. Dude, hope you'll stick around. You're a fine poster, and we need more of those. Thanks to @Pip's Invitation for bringing him in.

Hey that's really kind of you. I'm glad to be here and am looking forward to joining in on the version all centered around Old Blighty.

Who is @DrIanMalcolm ? I see he put my #1 song as his #2. Only other person to choose Bridge Over Troubled Water by Aretha

Hey that's me! Old friend of Pip, both music fans, though his knowledge outpaces mine by some 9fold times, which is why my thing was more chalk than anything else.

 

[shuke]

The Shins seem to be pretty underappreciated around here.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Maybe I missed some at the start - did Madonna get shut out of this thing?

No. Borderline and La Isla Bonita were taken.

How do I figure out that thing you just did, which was how many of my songs were taken by others?

 

[shuke]

In full transparency, I have no idea if any of these bands I'm posting are fully eligible.

 

[shuke]

falguy:

Turn the Page - Bob Seger

@MAC_32 Did I redeem myself?

No matter the chaos going on around me when that song is on (usually while driving not coincidentally) I never miss a single world and if I do 'acknowledge' anyone in my direct vicinity it's to sing along to them. They can continue to yammer about something...anything else and I'm not listening to a damn word they're having to say unless it's Out there in the spotlight you're a million miles away. Choice is theirs.



Yeah I stole your post but I did say I couldn't say it any better.

I love when he stretches out "on the paaaaaaaaaaaaaage ahh" Yeah I know this song inside and out.

I was lucky enough to get tix for his farewell tour. Saw him at the Garden State Arts Center. Rented chairs for me and dad. They ran out of the chairs. So dad and I sat on the grass. He was incredible. And of course this one - and sadly his sax player Alto Reed died roughly a year after that tour.

This reminds me, I was curious how many bands picked I'd seen live. I'm guessing @Eephus would take the crown for this easily.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Favorite new-to-me from #1:

Sanctuary -- Elder (Manster). Technically it was not new to me today because I listened to the entire album when Manster posted Blind, and this is also on it. But I'd never heard of it before this countdown. Another example of towering stoner rock.
Wall of Denial -- Stevie Ray Vaughn (Sullie). I pretty much only know his radio songs. Gritty and driving.
Desperadoes Under the Eaves -- Warren Zevon (Worrierking). I pretty much only know the Excitable Boy album. Gorgeous ballad.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Maybe I missed some at the start - did Madonna get shut out of this thing?

No. Borderline and La Isla Bonita were taken.

How do I figure out that thing you just did, which was how many of my songs were taken by others?

I was tracking them throughout this thing. Best way at this point is to go to falguy's spreadsheet that's linked in the first post of this thread. One of those tabs should help you figure that out.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Favorite new-to-me from #1:

Desperadoes Under the Eaves -- Warren Zevon (Worrierking). I pretty much only know the Excitable Boy album. Gorgeous ballad.

So how many Zevon were picked? This one, Excitable Boy, Roland..., Werewolves, and Lawyers Guns & Money. Was Poor Poor Pitiful Me in there or Mohammed's Radio?

5? 6? That's a respectable haul. (Ed. Note - it was 7. Dr. Malcolm regrets the error.)

Also, I was glad to be right that Stevie belongs at #1. Clearly one of the most significant artists of American music history.

James Brown may be the most under-represented among those I'd put in the pantheon, but I think many of us get brought up short on his lyrics, which are a lot of yelps, screeches and 'HIT ME!'

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I can't believe someone didn't take this.
The Outlaws- Green Grass and High Tides

Brain fart on my part for sure. But I dunno what I would have cut to make room for it.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Looking at my list, I had 18 uniques out of my 31, where I put asterisks on 'em:

31 What a Fool Believes* - surprised this one didn't come up again
30 You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive*
29 Lady Marmalade
28 Killing Floor*
27 Me and Bobby McGee
26 Get Up Offa That Thing*
25 Smells Like Teen Spirit
24 Irreplaceable*
23 Truth Hurts*
22 Begin the Begin* - people spread the love around with REM
21 What's Love Got to Do With It*
20 Doo *** (That Thing)*
19 Seven Nation Army
18 No Diggity*
17 Someone to Watch Over Me*
16 Lawyers, Guns and Money*
15 Night Moves
14 Black Myself*
13 Living For the City
12 Respect
11 Georgia On My Mind (corrects to exclude this one)
10 10th Avenue Freeze-Out*
9 The Boxer
8 Waterfalls* - really surprised this didn't come up more than once.
7 You're So Vain* - this one too!
6 That's The Way of The World* - I knew this was going to be all me.
5 I Cover The Waterfront* - and this.
4 Fortunate Son
3 Superstition
2 Bridge Over Troubled Water
1 Little Red Corvette

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Hey that's me! Old friend of Pip, both music fans, though his knowledge outpaces mine by some 9fold times, which is why my thing was more chalk than anything else.

As I told you when you sent me your list, anything with Black Myself, You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive and a John Lee Hooker song that isn't Boom Boom or Boogie Chillun is NOT chalk.

 

[krista4]

Shocked

Not necessarily this song, but I was shocked OH didn't have an Iggy song on there. He regularly claims "Fun House" as one of his top five albums, along with approximately 100 other top five albums.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

falguy:

Turn the Page - Bob Seger

@MAC_32 Did I redeem myself?

No matter the chaos going on around me when that song is on (usually while driving not coincidentally) I never miss a single world and if I do 'acknowledge' anyone in my direct vicinity it's to sing along to them. They can continue to yammer about something...anything else and I'm not listening to a damn word they're having to say unless it's Out there in the spotlight you're a million miles away. Choice is theirs.



Yeah I stole your post but I did say I couldn't say it any better.

I love when he stretches out "on the paaaaaaaaaaaaaage ahh" Yeah I know this song inside and out.

I was lucky enough to get tix for his farewell tour. Saw him at the Garden State Arts Center. Rented chairs for me and dad. They ran out of the chairs. So dad and I sat on the grass. He was incredible. And of course this one - and sadly his sax player Alto Reed died roughly a year after that tour.

This reminds me, I was curious how many bands picked I'd seen live. I'm guessing @Eephus would take the crown for this easily.

For me, it's 15. Television, Bob Dylan (x3), Soundgarden (x2), Todd Rundgren, The Allman Brothers Band (x3), My Morning Jacket (x15 or so), The Flaming Lips (x4), Steely Dan (x4), Failure (x3), Beck (x2), Funkadelic (assuming P-Funk in the '90s counts), Wilco (x10 or so), Phish (x47), Ween (x20 or so) and Tom Petty (x3).

 

[krista4]

11 Georgia On My Mind*

This one received three votes.

 

[krista4]

No Harry Nilsson in here? What the hell is wrong with you guys?

Did you choose a Harry Nilsson song?

 

[krista4]

The Shins seem to be pretty underappreciated around here.

On my very short list, but I was going with "New Slang."

 

[Tau837]

Just Win Baby:

Wildflowers (1994), from Wildflowers - Tom Petty

I have mentioned several times that Petty is one of my favorite all-time artists. I kind of cheated my one song per artist rule by already including a Petty duet and a Heartbreakers song, and I could have chosen many songs to sit so close to the top of my list. For me, Wildflowers is a great example of the simple beauty of his songwriting. I love everything about the song.

Meant to post this earlier in case there are any Petty fans who haven't seen it: Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free - The Making of Wildflowers

 

[AAABatteries]

Pip’s Invitation:

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
(duplicate – sixth vote)

This is one of those "this song changed my life" moments. I spent high school and the first two years of college mostly listening to what we now call "classic rock." I was bummed that current music didn't have that same kind of impact on me. I couldn't stand the way a lot of records were produced in the '80s, and I couldn't relate to a lot of the newer acts at the time (I came to appreciate some of them much more in later years). Appetite for Destruction was the one album that bucked that trend, but I wasn't really a metal guy, so while I enjoyed it, it didn't move me in the same way the best records by Neil, Zeppelin, etc. did. I was resigned to loud music that really spoke to me being a thing of the past. I saw that Nevermind started getting a lot of buzz in the music press, but even then I was skeptical of what was being promoted as the next big thing, because often it turned out to be lame.

Then I came home fall break of junior year, turned on the radio in our TV room, and heard this song for the first time. This was the kind of thing I was looking for, and I instantly understood what the big deal was. It's hard to put into words what I felt, but it was a visceral impact. I needed more of it. I went out and bought Nevermind and eventually discovered the other grunge bands. And all of the sudden I had a cadre of music that wasn't from the past. In one's college years that's a big deal, as you are building your identity, if music is important to you. I spent much of the next 15 years chasing the because of that moment. And I often found it.

Great post - I was a senior in high school and it's hard to explain just how big it was. This one song transports me back to that time more than any other.

 

[AAABatteries]

The Shins seem to be pretty underappreciated around here.

On my very short list, but I was going with "New Slang."

This and my Nathaniel Ratliffe pick were the two I thought of when I joked that we need to start over. Love this song.

 

[shuke]

I must have missed when Werewolves of London was picked. I guess my top 1200 standings needs updated.

 

[shuke]

Phish (x47)

 

[shuke]

No Harry Nilsson in here? What the hell is wrong with you guys?

Did you choose a Harry Nilsson song?

I SAID WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Phish (x47)

That's low compared to some people I know. As I said, I was pretty immersed in the late '90s and early '00s.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

No Harry Nilsson in here? What the hell is wrong with you guys?

Did you choose a Harry Nilsson song?

I SAID WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?

The Jimmy Wilson Group, a side project of Ween, plays Jump Into the Fire on the rare occasions they play. That should have put it more top of mind for me, but there's a lot to try to fit in here.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Pip’s Invitation:

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
(duplicate – sixth vote)

This is one of those "this song changed my life" moments. I spent high school and the first two years of college mostly listening to what we now call "classic rock." I was bummed that current music didn't have that same kind of impact on me. I couldn't stand the way a lot of records were produced in the '80s, and I couldn't relate to a lot of the newer acts at the time (I came to appreciate some of them much more in later years). Appetite for Destruction was the one album that bucked that trend, but I wasn't really a metal guy, so while I enjoyed it, it didn't move me in the same way the best records by Neil, Zeppelin, etc. did. I was resigned to loud music that really spoke to me being a thing of the past. I saw that Nevermind started getting a lot of buzz in the music press, but even then I was skeptical of what was being promoted as the next big thing, because often it turned out to be lame.

Then I came home fall break of junior year, turned on the radio in our TV room, and heard this song for the first time. This was the kind of thing I was looking for, and I instantly understood what the big deal was. It's hard to put into words what I felt, but it was a visceral impact. I needed more of it. I went out and bought Nevermind and eventually discovered the other grunge bands. And all of the sudden I had a cadre of music that wasn't from the past. In one's college years that's a big deal, as you are building your identity, if music is important to you. I spent much of the next 15 years chasing the because of that moment. And I often found it.

Great post - I was a senior in high school and it's hard to explain just how big it was. This one song transports me back to that time more than any other.

I'll note I'm a couple years younger than Pip, so this one hit just two weeks into my college career. And really, when it came to rock music, this was like flipping a switch. Every single major 80s trend - the hair-metal, the proto-Stones grooves, the ***-obsessed videos - all came to a screeching halt. It was all instantly lame. Period.

 

[Zegras11]

Charity Contest Info and Standings, Number 1

You already know this, but the winner is...

Everyone's selections, including points scored:

Val Rannous - Song: Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan (87 points). Artist: Bruce Springsteen (269 points).
Mrs. Rannous - Song: Rock and Roll High School, The Ramones (0 points). Artist: Bob Dylan (430 points).
Uruk-Hai - Song: Purple Rain, Prince (44 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points).
Pip's Invitation - Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana (127 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points).
Neal Cassady - Song: Let's Stay Together, Al Green (104 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points).
Hov34 - Song: Superstition, Stevie Wonder (174 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points). (Tiebreak: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana)
Chaz McNulty - Song: Fast Car, Tracy Chapman (31 points). Artist: Bruce Springsteen (269 points).
Dr. Octopus - Song: Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley (22 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points).
Falguy - Song: Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen (63 points). Artist: Tom Petty (302 points).
DrianMalcom - Song: Superstition, Stevie Wonder (174 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points). (Tiebreak: American Girl, Tom Petty)
Ilove80s - Song: Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys (67 points). Artist: Tom Petty (302 points).
jwb - Song: Hotel California, The Eagles (48 points). Artist: The Allman Brothers Band (202 points).
The Dreaded Marco - Song: What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong (77 points). Artist: Prince (371 points).
New Binky the Doormat - Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana (127 points). Artist: Tom Petty (302 points).
Just Win Baby - Song: What's Going On, Marvin Gaye (108 points). Artist: Tom Petty (302 points).
Don Quixote - Song: Superstition, Stevie Wonder (174 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points). (Tiebreak: God Only Knows, The Beach Boys)
AAABatteries - Song: Respect - Aretha Franklin (80 points). Artist: Stevie Wonder (439 points).

Songs that scored 31 points for today's selections:

Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
Fast Car, Tracy Chapman
Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan

Artists that scored 31 points for today's selections:

Bob Dylan (x2)
The Allman Brothers Band (x2)
Prince
Bruce Springsteen

Total Scores:

Don Quixote 613.6 (Tiebreak: 150 points)
Hov34 613.3 (Tiebreak: 127 points)
DrianMalcom 613 (Tiebreak: 58 points)
Pip's Invitation 566
Neal Cassady 543
AAABatteries 519
Uruk-Hai 483
Dr. Octopus 461
The Dreaded Marco 448
Mrs. Rannous 430
New Binky the Doormat 429
Just Win Baby 410
Ilov80s 369
Falguy 365
Val Rannous 356
Chaz McNulty 300
jwb 250

new binky the same as the old binky. Lead these contests all the way to the end and then fade like he's the jockey that fell off his horse after making the final turn.

WTH happened here? I still don't know the rules of this contest. Maybe I'll pm @Eephus to get them.

 

[shuke]

@Hawks64 my favorite Jack Johnson tune

 

[shuke]

WTH happened here? I still don't know the rules

I didn't understand any of the contests from the get go and was too afraid to ask.

 

[shuke]

Wow this song is so good.

 

[AAABatteries]

Welcome Home

This was another song I considered but just couldn't find a spot.

And thanks to the rules I couldn't include any of my favorite Avett Brother songs.

No Hard Feelings

November Blue

 

[shuke]

This reminds me, I was curious how many bands picked I'd seen live. I'm guessing @Eephus would take the crown for this easily.

Looks like 21 but that is a long list to review in my current state.

Aerosmith
B.B. King
Band of Horses
Ben Folds Five (actually only Ben solo)
Bootsy Collins
David Lee Roth
Drive-By Truckers
Grateful Dead
Heartless Bastards
John Mayer (cheating here, as part of Dead & Co.)
KC and the Sunshine Band
Modest Mouse
My Morning Jacket
Pearl Jam
Phish
Strand of Oaks
The Black Keys
The Flaming Lips
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Steve Miller Band
Wilco

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Doug B:

Look What You've Done to Me - Boz Scaggs
(new artist)

If we exclude What a Fool Believes, which is the gold standard against which yacht rock is measured*, either this or Sailing are the yachtiest songs ever recorded.

* -- literally, it's the only song that scores 100 on the Yacht or Nyacht? scale

 

[Zegras11]

WTH happened here? I still don't know the rules

I didn't understand any of the contests from the get go and was too afraid to ask.

right there with ya

 

[AAABatteries]

WTH happened here? I still don't know the rules

I didn't understand any of the contests from the get go and was too afraid to ask.

shuke

 

[Zegras11]

My picks that I've seen live; Looks like 14.

Beach Boys

Simon & Garfunkel

Chicago

Green Day

Blue Oyster Cult

Carpenters

Croce, Jim (did see his son, A.J.)

Missing Persons

Cars The

Styx

GoGos The

Meg Myers

Boston

Steely Dan

 

[Chaos34]

These aren't ranked. My remaining non-dupes. It's possible some are dupes. I've made that mistake twice, so.

Stone Temple Pilots - Plush
Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike
Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
Hootie and the Blowfish - Let Her Cry
Lord Huron - Ancient Names Part 1&2
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
Don Henley - The End of the Innocence
Neil Diamond - Cracklin Rosie
Pure Prairie League - Amie
Harry Nilsson - Without You

Tom Petty - You Wreck Me

It was the ohh oh oh yeah ah ah part of You Wreck Me that the crowd sang so loud Petty gave us a 10 minute version and made it my pick for him. I've taken the Nilsson song before and consider it an all-time vocal. Even suggested people should stop trying to cover it, to which wikkid agreed. I fell/fall in and out of love with an Amy and that song nails us pretty good. My nod to country. Cracklin Rosie is funny. I like that. A great sing along for me. Neil was a huge part of my childhood household in the 70s. Henley. I want his voice. Unchained, yeah, another premium vocal. Lord Huron, 8 minutes Eeph, but it's like two songs, and genre bending. Hopefully a "new favorite" for some. Rucker described the last year of my marriage with Let Her Cry. A song that hurts good. I'm too chalky on the grunge, but it is what it is. It's been a very grungy six months thru my speakers lately. Almost went with Big Dumb Sex for Soundgarden. It's funny grunge.

 

[Chaos34]

I forgot Kid Charlemagne, My Steely Dan.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

ok, now that we're done (so awesome @krista4 - thank you so much for doing this), a few surprises.

If I remember correctly, there's no George Thorogood anywhere. That's very surprising to me. But then again, I didn't pick him either.

In a "how could I miss this song" moment, I really should have gotten Donnie Iris' Ah! Leah! in there because I love it.

I don't think the Pointer Sisters or Gladys Knight are represented either. Would have picked a Pointer Sisters song if I hadn't had one enormous brain cramp.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Was I the only one who picked a Jackson Browne song? I missed the memo explaining that he's no longer cool.

I considered The Load Out/Stay. I do like that one. I drafted it in a jobs category.

I also considered "Tenderness on the Block" by Zevon, which was co-written by Browne.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

So limey bastards list next?

I say that with the utmost reverence

Those are fightin' words for the Scots and the Irish and the Welsh. Of course, they are always revolting...