Favorite 31 Songs by US Artists According to a Bunch of Middle-Aged Dummies (1 Viewer)

[Dr. Octopus]

neal cassady:

Lover, You Should’ve Come Over - Jeff Buckley
(new artist)

I thought he’s appeared already.

 

[MAC_32]

MAC_32:

I Am The Highway – Audioslave

@Manster while I thoroughly enjoyed your Cornell contribution yesterday I think his musical peak was Audioslave and especially him solo. I listen to Songbook cover-to-cover at least once per month, but for this exercise's purpose needing to isolate one song this was always my answer.

I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night

 

[krista4]

neal cassady:

Lover, You Should’ve Come Over - Jeff Buckley
(new artist)

I thought he’s appeared already.

It's understandable that you would think that, given that I previously posted a song from him; however, he was one of the two corrections that I did a few rounds back. He'll come up again later with the song I previously posted.

 

[Manster]

MAC_32:

I Am The Highway – Audioslave

@Manster while I thoroughly enjoyed your Cornell contribution yesterday I think his musical peak was Audioslave and especially him solo. I listen to Songbook cover-to-cover at least once per month, but for this exercise's purpose needing to isolate one song this was always my answer.

I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night

I do enjoy Audioslave and his solo stuff...... It's a more mature, refined version of Cornell, if you will. The dude had such an iconic voice! imho he was at his peak around Badmotorfinger, and Temple of the Dog.....of course, those albums are all time greats for me, so that influences my opinion.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

If I remember my list correctly, my song upcoming in the next post by krista is, to me, the most beautiful performance of any song, of all time. Literal, beauty. The meaning of the song to me only makes it that much more powerful. And beyond that, the instrumental is just as beautiful as the singing. I hope the link used is the live link I am thinking of because beyond my opinion on its beauty, you can tell the audience believes the same - and they should know.

Now this kind of love for a song is why we're here!

As for the link, as I mentioned previously, if people didn't send me links, they get whatever comes up first on YouTube. Hopefully it will be one you like (I didn't watch), but if not please just post one!

Yeah, that's the one.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Ilov80s:

Runaway - Del Shannon
(new artist)

I love this playlist (I'm saying that alot). But I have to give huge recognition to @Ilov80s for this selection. What a truly great song.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Uruk-Hai:

Hold On I'm Comin' - Sam and Dave

Dave Prater was the least-talented person on any Sam and Dave record. I'd bet there are dozens of people on this message board with a better voice than his. I can't figure out if that makes him the luckiest singer ever, or the unluckiest. Here's who he recorded with:

Producer - Jim Stewart (made 8 bazillion great records)
Composers - Isaac Hayes and David Porter (all-timers)
Band - Booker T & the MGs and the Memphis Horns/Mar-Keys (the band names are complicated with what was used when, but one of the best recording units of the 1960s - all the same dudes, pretty much)
Singing partner - Sam Moore (basically the missing link between Otis Redding and Al Green)

JFC

Anyway, this was Sam and Dave's first big hit. They had a bunch after it, but I don't know if they got any better than "Hold On" because this thing kicks every kind of......everything.

The horns are power-chording as hard as any metal band would. Cropper & Dunn doing their usual funkiest-country-boys-ever things. Sam is singing straight from the pulpit, though this lyric is the opposite of "devout".

And Al Jackson should have been locked up for assault on his drum kit. They had to have thrown it away after this session - no way it could have survived. It's like he took a hoe-ram and started beating on it. He's up and down in mix, but it never stops.

 

[krista4]

And Al Jackson should have been locked up for assault on his drum kit.

I would purchase a book comprising just your write-ups of your own and other people's picks in this exercise. Seriously. Hardcover, even.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

So....for my selection, I've tried not to clutter my posts with my songs, but:

For anyone that knows hymns and Christian music, singing How Great Thou Art and playing it, is relatively simple. Most hymns are. Usually no more than four chords, sometimes only 3, simple melodies, usually so closely related to biblical verses or sayings that it's impossible to not "know" what is being sung even if the singer fails to enunciate clearly. The band or musician needs to be both technically good and respectful because everyone knows the song, everyone knows the chords that are coming and everyone knows how it "should sound."

And then Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill did that. For those of you not active in church I can't explain to you the power this version of this hymn had in church circles. The method of playing and singing it this way has become the norm for my church's and bands, and everyone - everyone - knows this version; and they love it with a passion.

And it's because it is, at first, so simple. I can imagine in just a small amount the nerves Carrie had singing that song to that crowd. Because all of them have done it in their own church, own groups, some in their own albums. And it's a naked song for a singer - like the National Anthem - everyone knows what you are supposed to do and it's rare that you can hide behind the music. Simple, 4 chords, you better get it right.

But they changed it a bit in feel and timing. Not a lot, just enough to notice. It almost sounds at fist that Carrie is way way off beat and the band is trying to catch her, and maybe that is true - I never looked - but the way the song evolves it doesn't appear to be the case. This is the way they were meaning to do it. When she gets through the first verse and chorus you hear the applause. Because while it is a simple song - that is a really high key to sing it in and she nailed it.

But then Vince. I don't how you can do something so beautiful with a guitar. I mean, I play them and other instruments, but I would never call what I do, beauty. Man his instrumental. You can see certain performers lose themselves in the music. Carrie wasn't singing, but we all knew the words Vince was playing. And he played them flawlessly. Not overly powerful in sound and never changing the structure of such a well known, and loved, hymn. It was respectful while not being old or boring. I would venture to guess that you could teach a really, really long class on musicianship just on his solo. So good.

But then, the modulation. A full step if I remember correctly. Doesn't matter. Just amazing. Carrie hits it so well, so good, so....beautifully, that she starts getting a standing ovation before she is even at the power of the final chorus. Just imagine being a realtively successful person in your field, standing in front them, and the titans of the field giving you a standing ovation - BEFORE YOU ARE DONE. And the people the camera pans to - especially the women - these are not pop divas who can't sing unless they are over produced. Jennifer Nettles can sing just about anyone under any table you build and she was just godsmacked when they show her.

And those final notes. Man you are screwed if you miss them. She didn't miss them. At all. It's perfect pitch, perfect sound, beautifully delivered and the band just stops - as does the audience - to let her do it.

For those of us that believe, this is the music and sound we want to honor God. For musicians, this was an amazing presenation of the beauty that music can be. For the audience, you are hardpressed to not be moved in some fashion, even if its just to say to yourself, wow.

Wow isn't good enough to me. That song, the way they performed it, both technically perfect in its simplicity but what they changed so powerfully different and moving and impressive. The whole thing, to me, is the very definition of beautiful. True, musical beauty.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

Uruk-Hai:

Hold On I'm Comin' - Sam and Dave

Dave Prater was the least-talented person on any Sam and Dave record. I'd bet there are dozens of people on this message board with a better voice than his. I can't figure out if that makes him the luckiest singer ever, or the unluckiest. Here's who he recorded with:

Producer - Jim Stewart (made 8 bazillion great records)
Composers - Isaac Hayes and David Porter (all-timers)
Band - Booker T & the MGs and the Memphis Horns/Mar-Keys (the band names are complicated with what was used when, but one of the best recording units of the 1960s - all the same dudes, pretty much)
Singing partner - Sam Moore (basically the missing link between Otis Redding and Al Green)

JFC

Anyway, this was Sam and Dave's first big hit. They had a bunch after it, but I don't know if they got any better than "Hold On" because this thing kicks every kind of......everything.

The horns are power-chording as hard as any metal band would. Cropper & Dunn doing their usual funkiest-country-boys-ever things. Sam is singing straight from the pulpit, though this lyric is the opposite of "devout".

And Al Jackson should have been locked up for assault on his drum kit. They had to have thrown it away after this session - no way it could have survived. It's like he took a hoe-ram and started beating on it. He's up and down in mix, but it never stops.

Yeah, basically everything you said here, man. A few more thoughts:

• They did have a few other big, well-worth-mentioning hits, specifically Soul Sister Brown Sugar and When Something Is Wrong With My Baby.
• But you're right. Most songs on my running mix get stale after a time, but this one never does, mostly because it feels like it's coming into your living room by way of an 18-wheeler.
• Sam Moore came out for the Bruce set during the Rock 'N Roll HOF concert from 15 yrs or so ago, and they did this one and Soul Man together, and having the E Street Band thumping away behind those two is just great. And Bruce always had fantasies about being a 60s blue-eyed soul guy himself, so the combo of his usual attack on the vocals and just his reverence for Sam Moore really brings a new level of power to it.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I would purchase a book comprising just your write-ups of your own and other people's picks in this exercise. Seriously. Hardcover, even.

I would suggest we separate it into sections based on my sobriety at the time I wrote it. We could use the "Totally Sober" portion as the preface before getting into the other 99% of the book.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Sam Moore came out for the Bruce set during the Rock 'N Roll HOF concert from 15 yrs or so ago, and they did this one and Soul Man together, and having the E Street Band thumping away behind those two is just great. And Bruce always had fantasies about being a 60s blue-eyed soul guy himself, so the combo of his usual attack on the vocals and just his reverence for Sam Moore really brings a new level of power to it.

Have you heard Springsteen's new album? Philly's WXPN is playing the hell out of it.

 

[Manster]

Early highlights for me....
Sweet Jane.....this is an awesome live track!
Sabotage.....always loved this song and video.
Tenn Whiskey......great song. I'm not a huge country guy, but I dig artists like Stapleton, and Dead South. More like outlaw country
Black Smoke Rising......I've not listened to GVF much, but I may have to give em more time. I enjoyed this song.
I am the Highway....heartfelt Cornell...good stuff.

The Cars might be challenging Petty! Just what we needed.....seriously, I didn't realize how much I enjoy the Cars.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I was going to guess Dino Jr as the surprise double up, but didn't want to out my pick.

 

[Mt. Man]

Okay. Let’s see if I can’t get into the (upper) teens today! Hoping to fully catch up Thursday.

#21s
Recognized by title alone: 19
Sounded familiar: 4
Didn't know: 10
Almost had the “Bonus: known mostly from Simpsons” category again for Summer Wind, but nah

Selected Favorites:
Don’t Leave Me This Way (simey)
Leaving On a Jet Plane (Mrs. Rannous)
Sunny Came Home (simsarge)
Give Me the Night (Eephus)

Songs I didn't know that I ended up liking:
Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ (Just Win Baby)
Sometime Around Midnight (shuke)
Get it While You Can (landryshat)
Pristine (KarmaPolice)

 

[MAC_32]

Black Smoke Rising......I've not listened to GVF much, but I may have to give em more time. I enjoyed this song.

I get the perspective of their critics and the band's defiance of their obvious schtick is nauseating, but they have quite a few outstanding tracks. You probably already know Highway Song but also check out Safari, Edge of Darkness, When The Curtain Falls, and Lover Leaver. They have a few solid covers as well, but those (and Black Smoke Rising) are my preferred originals.

 

[simey]

So....for my selection, I've tried not to clutter my posts with my songs, but:

For anyone that knows hymns and Christian music, singing How Great Thou Art and playing it, is relatively simple. Most hymns are. Usually no more than four chords, sometimes only 3, simple melodies, usually so closely related to biblical verses or sayings that it's impossible to not "know" what is being sung even if the singer fails to enunciate clearly. The band or musician needs to be both technically good and respectful because everyone knows the song, everyone knows the chords that are coming and everyone knows how it "should sound."

And then Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill did that. For those of you not active in church I can't explain to you the power this version of this hymn had in church circles. The method of playing and singing it this way has become the norm for my church's and bands, and everyone - everyone - knows this version; and they love it with a passion.

And it's because it is, at first, so simple. I can imagine in just a small amount the nerves Carrie had singing that song to that crowd. Because all of them have done it in their own church, own groups, some in their own albums. And it's a naked song for a singer - like the National Anthem - everyone knows what you are supposed to do and it's rare that you can hide behind the music. Simple, 4 chords, you better get it right.

But they changed it a bit in feel and timing. Not a lot, just enough to notice. It almost sounds at fist that Carrie is way way off beat and the band is trying to catch her, and maybe that is true - I never looked - but the way the song evolves it doesn't appear to be the case. This is the way they were meaning to do it. When she gets through the first verse and chorus you hear the applause. Because while it is a simple song - that is a really high key to sing it in and she nailed it.

But then Vince. I don't how you can do something so beautiful with a guitar. I mean, I play them and other instruments, but I would never call what I do, beauty. Man his instrumental. You can see certain performers lose themselves in the music. Carrie wasn't singing, but we all knew the words Vince was playing. And he played them flawlessly. Not overly powerful in sound and never changing the structure of such a well known, and loved, hymn. It was respectful while not being old or boring. I would venture to guess that you could teach a really, really long class on musicianship just on his solo. So good.

But then, the modulation. A full step if I remember correctly. Doesn't matter. Just amazing. Carrie hits it so well, so good, so....beautifully, that she starts getting a standing ovation before she is even at the power of the final chorus. Just imagine being a realtively successful person in your field, standing in front them, and the titans of the field giving you a standing ovation - BEFORE YOU ARE DONE. And the people the camera pans to - especially the women - these are not pop divas who can't sing unless they are over produced. Jennifer Nettles can sing just about anyone under any table you build and she was just godsmacked when they show her.

And those final notes. Man you are screwed if you miss them. She didn't miss them. At all. It's perfect pitch, perfect sound, beautifully delivered and the band just stops - as does the audience - to let her do it.

For those of us that believe, this is the music and sound we want to honor God. For musicians, this was an amazing presenation of the beauty that music can be. For the audience, you are hardpressed to not be moved in some fashion, even if its just to say to yourself, wow.

Wow isn't good enough to me. That song, the way they performed it, both technically perfect in its simplicity but what they changed so powerfully different and moving and impressive. The whole thing, to me, is the very definition of beautiful. True, musical beauty.

I just listened to this, and it was wonderful. It made me teary eyed. I was already feeling emotional today thinking about people who aren't here anymore and missing them. I don't know why that is on my mind today. I guess it's the holidays and memories attached to that. Anyway, it's a beautiful rendition of a lovely hymn. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MAC_32]

First scroll through this batch I recognized just 10 of 35. Several familiar tracks connected as I navigated, but there seemed to be more new sounds relative to previous days.

Best new: Candyman was fun, but Tennessee Whiskey was better
Didn't know, but recognized the song and hit the heart: Down In The Valley, Hold On I'm Comin', Everyday People, Runaway, and Everyday
Honorable Mentions: Underdog (Spoon) and Glorified G (Pearl Jam) - bummed I couldn't find room for them on the medal stand as they're both staples, but...
Bronze: Sabotage - they^^^ were up against too many classics
Silver: Superstition - unfair a decision was needed between it and...
Gold: RESPECT

 

[falguy]

Early highlights for me....
Sweet Jane.....this is an awesome live track!
Sabotage.....always loved this song and video.
Tenn Whiskey......great song. I'm not a huge country guy, but I dig artists like Stapleton, and Dead South. More like outlaw country
Black Smoke Rising......I've not listened to GVF much, but I may have to give em more time. I enjoyed this song.
I am the Highway....heartfelt Cornell...good stuff.

The Cars might be challenging Petty! Just what we needed.....seriously, I didn't realize how much I enjoy the Cars.

I'm not much a county music fan myself but really like this song (obviously).

Interesting (to me) thing I noticed today while reviewing the bible spreadsheet
We have had 5 Pearl Jam songs with no duplicates and SIX R.E.M. and SIX Cars tunes with nary a dup.

 

[krista4]

We have had 5 Pearl Jam songs with no duplicates and SIX R.E.M. and SIX Cars tunes with nary a dup.

And no Tom Petty for four straight rounds!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Early highlights for me....
Sweet Jane.....this is an awesome live track!
Sabotage.....always loved this song and video.
Tenn Whiskey......great song. I'm not a huge country guy, but I dig artists like Stapleton, and Dead South. More like outlaw country
Black Smoke Rising......I've not listened to GVF much, but I may have to give em more time. I enjoyed this song.
I am the Highway....heartfelt Cornell...good stuff.

The Cars might be challenging Petty! Just what we needed.....seriously, I didn't realize how much I enjoy the Cars.

This is the third song to be taken from the Cars debut album. Pretty much the whole thing is A-tier.

 

[krista4]

We have had 5 Pearl Jam songs with no duplicates and SIX R.E.M. and SIX Cars tunes with nary a dup.

And no Tom Petty for four straight rounds!

R.E.M. is going to have nine different songs selected before hitting a duplicate. What a catalog.

 

[krista4]

Since said open to guessing…. I’ll guess Tracks of My Tears for highest with only one song by artist listed.

This was a great guess but was incorrect due to rockaction's selection in today's round.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

This was a great guess but was incorrect due to rockaction's selection in today's round.

I have a really good guess on this one

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Pip’s Invitation:

Everyday People - Sly and the Family Stone
(new song)

When I did my 1969 countdown of songs that didn't make Tim's or Bracie's lists, this topped it. In that thread I wrote:

The song has remained in popular consciousness ever since its release because of its message of racial harmony and its infectious melody and rhythm. It coined the phrase "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks," which became so commonly used that it inspired the name of a sitcom launched a few years later.

Larry Graham used the slap bass technique on this song and has claimed it was the first use of it anywhere. The rest of the arrangement is bright and sunny, reflecting the hope of the lyrics.

"We got to live together" is a sentiment that means more than ever today.

 

[krista4]

In case anyone really wants to nerd out on "Superstition," in the NY Times interactive piece on the 50th anniversary of Talking Book, which I previously linked - gestures widely - somewhere around here, several musicians/producers commented on this song. Some of my favorite tidbits:

Robert Margouleff (producer/engineer): "He walked into the studio and said, “Bob! Malcolm! I have a really good idea for a song. Without any kind of a click track, with the song totally in his head, he sat down and played the drum track for “Superstition.” He sat down at the drums and in 10 or 15 minutes, he said, “That’s it.” We said, “It’s great. Now what?” He said, “Let’s make the bass sound.” We whipped up the synthesizer stuff, and boom! That was the beginning of “Superstition.” Working like that was like a fever dream."

Smokey Robinson: "If you ever see Stevie Wonder, that’s his closing song. From the very downbeat until he finishes, everybody is up and dancing and having a good time and singing. Berry used to say to us, “We got to get them in the first 10 seconds.” So when you hear the first 10 seconds of “Superstition,” he’s got you. It’s one of the funkiest tracks that you’re going to hear. And he’s one of the first people to even utilize the Clavinet to that degree. Stevie put the Clavinet on the map! It’s funky, man!"

Robert Glasper (pianist): "That’s the Clav line. There’s not another Clav line to my knowledge that is as iconic as “Superstition.” I’m not gonna lie; I was a little — not a little, I was very intimidated to play it when Stevie sat down next to me [at a Q-Tip show around 2007]. I was hoping he would play that part and I could play some other part. [Laughs] But I got through it. Stevie has a certain slop on drums. That’s what we call it. It’s the Stevie slop. He made it OK that he’s sloppy. He has a sloppy funk. It’s not tight funk, it’s not neat, it’s not perfect, but it feels amazing. “Superstition” wouldn’t be the same without that particular drumbeat and that style of how he’s playing it."

The Stevie slop! I that.

If you're interested in a really cool breakdown of this song, check out Rick Beato's video.

And now I'll stop typing about the greatness of someone's else's pick. My Otis Redding pick was cool, too.

 

[krista4]

When I did my 1969 countdown of songs that didn't make Tim's or Bracie's lists, this topped it.

Just love this selection and gained an even greater appreciation for it from its appearance in Summer of Soul.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

When I did my 1969 countdown of songs that didn't make Tim's or Bracie's lists, this topped it.

Just love this selection and gained an even greater appreciation for it from its appearance in Summer of Soul.

I REALLY need to see that. One of my friends has been pushing me on it for a while. Middle-aged inertia strikes again.

 

[krista4]

This was a great guess but was incorrect due to rockaction's selection in today's round.

I have a really good guess on this one

Spill it!

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

When I did my 1969 countdown of songs that didn't make Tim's or Bracie's lists, this topped it.

Just love this selection and gained an even greater appreciation for it from its appearance in Summer of Soul.

I REALLY need to see that. One of my friends has been pushing me on it for a while. Middle-aged inertia strikes again.

You posted this instead of turning that movie on, which you need to do. That was my #1 film of 2021 for many good reasons.

 

[krista4]

I REALLY need to see that. One of my friends has been pushing me on it for a while. Middle-aged inertia strikes again.

I need to watch it again. And I don't think OH has seen it, because I watched it on a plane. Definitely worth multiple viewings!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

In case anyone really wants to nerd out on "Superstition,"

I suspect this is one of the top 10s that hadn't been revealed when you asked that question.

I'll save the rest of my commentary for... aherm... you know.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

When I did my 1969 countdown of songs that didn't make Tim's or Bracie's lists, this topped it.

Just love this selection and gained an even greater appreciation for it from its appearance in Summer of Soul.

I REALLY need to see that. One of my friends has been pushing me on it for a while. Middle-aged inertia strikes again.

You posted this instead of turning that movie on, which you need to do. That was my #1 film of 2021 for many good reasons.

Correction: I have TWO friends that are pushing me on it.

Soon, I promise.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

neal cassady:

Lover, You Should’ve Come Over - Jeff Buckley
(new artist)

The mere sound of this man's voice gets me all emotional.

 

[krista4]

In case anyone really wants to nerd out on "Superstition,"

I suspect this is one of the top 10s that hadn't been revealed when you asked that question.

I'll save the rest of my commentary for... aherm... you know.

IIRC a few people chose this in Val's contest as their prediction for song with highest points, so you're not alone.

 

[jwb]

Favorites today (excluding a few that will appear from me later on).

@krista4 Down in the Valley – Otis Redding - Otis, My Man!!!

@Uruk-Hai Hold On I'm Comin' - Sam and Dave - this one was in my list for awhile.

@Manster Burning - King Buffalo - ooooh... this is new to me. I like this a lot.

@New Binky the Doormat - Incense and Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock - I always liked this one hit wonder.

@Pip's Invitation Everyday People - Sly and the Family Stone - classic

@simsarge - Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille - not my favorite C&T song (and no it's not Muskrat Love) but some great 70's pop right here.

@Eephus - Intro / Sweet Jane (Live version) - Lou Reed - I wore this album out. Intro/sweet jane/heroin = fantastic side 1.

@ditkaburgers - Man in the Box - Alice in Chains - basically the song that said "yea, that hair metal thing? It's over"

@Zegras11 - Just What I Needed – The Cars - Cars are a top-10 band for me in this list, and any one of ten songs could have been my choice. This isn't it but was right there.

@Ilov80s Runaway - Del Shannon - so awesome to see some of these older classics still rank so well.

@Oliver Humanzee - Everyday - Buddy Holly and the Crickets - see above. All time great song.

@KarmaPolice - Pieces - Dinosaur Jr. New to me. I liked both from this band today but this one a little better. Almost doesn't sound like the same band to me?

Bigger list than I usually highlight but I like today's selections a lot. Some great classic tunes, interesting new stuff, and some pretty good ones that I'm leaving off because I selected them later.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

In case anyone really wants to nerd out on "Superstition,"

I suspect this is one of the top 10s that hadn't been revealed when you asked that question.

I'll save the rest of my commentary for... aherm... you know.

IIRC a few people chose this in Val's contest as their prediction for song with highest points, so you're not alone.

I did not pick it for the contest but it would have been my second guess.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Pip’s Invitation:

Everyday People - Sly and the Family Stone
(new song)

When I did my 1969 countdown of songs that didn't make Tim's or Bracie's lists, this topped it. In that thread I wrote:

The song has remained in popular consciousness ever since its release because of its message of racial harmony and its infectious melody and rhythm. It coined the phrase "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks," which became so commonly used that it inspired the name of a sitcom launched a few years later.

Larry Graham used the slap bass technique on this song and has claimed it was the first use of it anywhere. The rest of the arrangement is bright and sunny, reflecting the hope of the lyrics.

"We got to live together" is a sentiment that means more than ever today.

Sly Stone was the man. And I understand that it's not his fault for that awful sitcom that stole his phrase.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

worrierking:

Radio Free Europe – R.E.M.
(new song)

Earlier I said Fall on Me is my 1A or 1B R.E.M. It alternates with this. Which went first overall in the R.E.M. song draft I did.

 

[Val Rannous]

Charity Contest results through today's picks, including a correction for the Jeff Buckley selection earlier I was still counting.

Just Win Baby 71
New Binky the Doormat 64
Falguy 57
Ilov80s 57
AAABatteries 50
Don Quixote 50
DrianMalcom 50
Hov34 50
Neal Cassady 45
The Dreaded Marco 45
Pip's Invitation 42
Dr. Octopus 35
Uruk-Hai 35
Mrs. Rannous 31
Chaz McNulty 29
Val Rannous 29
jwb 11

 

[scorchy]

Lots of stuff I hadn't heard today:

Known:

Gold: Respect (Just Win Baby) - the first time I heard Respect was when the flight attendant was singing it to the sick girl in Airplane! Probably took a few more years to learn the origins of "Sock it to me."
Silver: Superstition (AAA)
Bronze: I Second That Emotion (rockaction)

Best song that I didn't think I knew but actually did: Hold On!! I'm a Comin'.

Unknown:

Gold: I Am The Highway (MAC)
Silver: Tennessee Whiskey (falguy)
Bronze: Down in the Valley (krista)

 

[scorchy]

scorchy:

Freak Scene – Dinosaur Jr.
(new artist, but being doubled-up today)

Pasted from one of my posts last year:

Rolling Stone critic Karen Schoemer perfectly nails why Freak Scene was so damn important to a lot of us:

When I listened to the song almost 20 years later, it still brought tears to my eyes. I thought 'This says everything about who we were back then. Nobody could say what they meant. Words were never good enough.' ...Our community may have been unheard, but at least we had each other. Our music mattered and Freak Scene was our anthem.

There's one particular set of lines that still really gets me. As always, it has to do with a girl, and it's a fairly typical story. She and I hung in the same crowd during my summers home from college. There was always this obvious yet unstated tension - the questions of whether we were into each other - but I had a serious girlfriend (who definitely noticed the whole "weirdness flows between us" thing.) We made each other mixtapes. Stuff kept almost happening. She started dating one of my best friends. I got jealous even though I had no right to be. I went back to college for junior year and she sent me a long letter along with a mix tape that absolutely floored me. She ended the tape with Freak Scene and the letter with the closing lines of the song:

Sometimes I don't thrill you
Sometimes I think I'll kill you
Just don't let me #### up will you
'cause when I need a friend it's still you

What a mess

We ended up dating briefly when I moved back home from grad school. It ended badly. Last I heard, she got married and moved to California in the early 2000s. I hope she's really happy, but I still wonder if whenever she hears Freak Scene, she remembers what it meant back then.

 

[Ilov80s]

Ilov80s:

Runaway - Del Shannon
(new artist)

I love this playlist (I'm saying that alot). But I have to give huge recognition to @Ilov80s for this selection. What a truly great song.

It’s a great song and then the organ solo comes on and it just rises a whole tier imo

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Today's known-to-me winners:

Superstition -- Stevie Wonder (AAABatteries)
Respect -- Aretha Franklin (Just Win Baby)
So What -- Miles Davis ft. John Coltrane (Don Quixote)
Hold On I'm Comin' -- Sam and Dave (Uruk-Hai)
Sabotage -- Beastie Boys (Hov34)
Radio Free Europe -- R.E.M. (Worrierking)
Just What I Needed -- The Cars (Zegras11)
Intro/Sweet Jane (live) -- Lou Reed (Eephus)
Lover, You Should've Come Over -- Jeff Buckley (Neal Cassady)
Runaway -- Del Shannon (Ilov80s)
Longview -- Green Day (Mrs. Rannous)
Man in the Box -- Alice in Chains (Ditkaburgers)
Down in the Valley -- Otis Redding (Krista4)

A lot of songs I hold in VERY high esteem appeared today. I suspect that will be true for many days going forward.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Gold: I Am The Highway (MAC)

You ignored Audioslave when they were a thing?

 

[scorchy]

Gold: I Am The Highway (MAC)

You ignored Audioslave when they were a thing?

Yep. Nu metal killed rock for me. In the early aughts, I also was back to DJing as a side gig and Audioslave was nowhere near the playlist.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Dr. Octopus:

The Underdog – Spoon
(new artist)

For my embarrassment of the day, I have heard this song before, but I had no idea what it was called or that it was by Spoon.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Gold: I Am The Highway (MAC)

You ignored Audioslave when they were a thing?

Yep. Nu metal killed rock for me.

Understood. It drove me into a Phish wormhole.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Today's known-to-me winners:

Superstition -- Stevie Wonder (AAABatteries)
Respect -- Aretha Franklin (Just Win Baby)
So What -- Miles Davis ft. John Coltrane (Don Quixote)
Hold On I'm Comin' -- Sam and Dave (Uruk-Hai)
Sabotage -- Beastie Boys (Hov34)
Radio Free Europe -- R.E.M. (Worrierking)
Just What I Needed -- The Cars (Zegras11)
Intro/Sweet Jane (live) -- Lou Reed (Eephus)
Lover, You Should've Come Over -- Jeff Buckley (Neal Cassady)
Runaway -- Del Shannon (Ilov80s)
Longview -- Green Day (Mrs. Rannous)
Man in the Box -- Alice in Chains (Ditkaburgers)
Down in the Valley -- Otis Redding (Krista4)

A lot of songs I hold in VERY high esteem appeared today. I suspect that will be true for many days going forward.

Good grief, I need a reading lesson. I read your post as "new to me winners".

 

[Ilov80s]

So many great choices this round, I don’t even know where to begin