Middle-aged Dummies are back and bursting at the "themes" to get going! Full theme ahead! (5 Viewers)

[scorchy]

I knew some of you oldheads would drop in and supplement my lack of 10cc knowledge. Also, love the Morphine pick and was happy to hear another Tom Robinson Band song - all I knew beforehand was 2-4-6-8 Motorway.

 

[shuke]

I think the Stones's "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and Bobby Keys changed my absolutism about the instrument within rock n' roll, as have other songs, but it's not a go-to. (Watch—I'll love the rest of your songs now that I've said this.)

Everything from here on out is an absolute banger so buckle up.

 

[shuke]

Oh yeah, before guitar-driven rock n' roll and Chuck Berry, piano and sax ruled the day for rock n' roll.

Had a big influence on surf rock too. Horrifying. You don't have to see the scene to feel the horror.

How did I forget this!??!

 

[Rustoleum]

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety.

I hope this exercise isn't just a bunch of frustration for you guys, but I'm enjoying the creativity in the guesses!

I didn’t submit a list, or listen to any of these yet, but just from the titles so far, it uncannily describes stages of my marriage.
(We will know for sure if #1 is I Feel Free by Cream.)

Also: “exercise in frustration” is pretty apt as well.

I missed this when I wrote "narrative arc for a divorce" as a guess. Holy smoke. Sorry to hear that, Rustoleum.

It’s not all bad. I got some new threads out of it at stage 25 at least.

 

[rockaction]

It’s not all bad. I got some new threads out of it at stage 25 at least.

Did they come with silver linings or did you put them there yourself?

 

[krista4]

#23 songs

kupcho1 – rain

Rain King - The Counting Crows


Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

Cool Water - Odetta


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

Misirlou - Martin Denny


simey – train songs

Steel Rails - Alison Krauss


Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Suffragette City - Red Hot Chili Peppers (John Frusciante)


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Just A Girl - No Doubt


Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Queen Of The Reich – Queensrÿche


KarmaPolice – songs from artists not on shuke’s list

Don't Worry - Scientist/Wayne Wade


Don Quixote – Afrobeat

Fuel for Love (Spotify) - Wrinkars Experience (Nigeria)


JMLs secret identity – songs in D#Minor, the saddest key of all

11 O'Clock Tick Tock (Live at Red Rocks) (Spotify) - U2


-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

Hooked On A Feeling - Blue Swede, Björn Skifs


Mt. Man – Number, Please

1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins


Pip’s Invitation – songs from albums produced and/or engineered by Todd Rundgren

Hard to Laugh – The Pursuit of Happiness


falguy – songs by 31 different Canadian artists

For The Nights I can't Remember - Hedley


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

Ring,I Love You – Bonnie Jo Mason


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Smooth Operator – Sade


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Be The One - The Ting Tings


titusbramble – Grand Theft Auto, specifically the 3D era

I'm The King - Royce da 5'9" (III - Game Radio)


shuke – Saxytime

Our House (Spotify) – Madness


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Rock Box - Run-DMC


John Maddens Lunchbox – Batman

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (Spotify) - Wham!


Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

Corpus Christi Bay - Robert Earl Keen


El Floppo – Mallet Rock

Inca Roads - Frank Zapp, The Mothers of Invention


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Slow Rt. Hand - Califone - Roomsound (2001)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Funkytown – Lipps Inc.


ditkaburgers - Girl Groups X Boy Bands

Say You'll Be There - Spice Girls


MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

The Worm - Audioslave


Tau837 – Hair metal

The Final Countdown - Europe


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

Le Freak - Chic


higgins – Instrumentals with places in the title

Riviera Paradise – Stevie Ray Vaughan


Zegras11 – New wave

Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For Fears


Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Mrs. Moto - The Sufrajettes


krista4 – Chicagoland

Rodeo in Joliet – The Jesus Lizard


Anonymous Mystery Theme Dictator - ???

Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music


MAC_32 – Songs to play during (and after) a funeral

Amazing - Aerosmith

 

[krista4]

#23 Playlist

 

[krista4]

Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Suffragette City - Red Hot Chili Peppers (John Frusciante)

Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Mrs. Moto - The Sufrajettes

This was a funny coincidence.

Also, you'll note some typos in the song names and artist names today. As mentioned previously, I didn't correct anything other than the one person who (apparently intentionally) sent the wrong name of a Beatles song.

 

[krista4]

I don't think any new guesses came in last time.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoluem’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

 

[krista4]

The Syreeta regulation: The artist must have recorded (almost) entirely under a mononym. This one has some wiggle room because my research wasn't that comprehensive. For example, Syreeta also released an early Motown single under her given name Rita Wright.

You have one like this where oddly enough someone else has a song by this artist on their list, under her recording name at the time, though it was not her given name.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Wow these playlists come fast and furiously.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

23. Misirlou - Martin Denny


Why would you deny yourself something you want? -Joy Monteforte D'Alsace, Mad Men, season 2, episode 11, The Jet Set


This episode is set just weeks before the Cuban Missile Crisis grabbed the nation's collective conscious, and Don Draper and Pete Campbell ironically attend and hope to drum up new business at a conference full of military industrial complex companies in hopes of adding the likes of General Dynamics, Lockheed or even NASA to their portfolio.

When I first heard this version, I had no idea it was the same song that **** Dale made famous and would appear in Pulp Fiction. This version and its placement enhances the Joy's allure and the escape she offers, making it an extension of her IMO. Another perfect choice.

In my write-up for this song in the M-AD covers draft, I mentioned that Misirlou traces its roots to the Eastern Mediterranean folk music, and the first recorded version of it was a Greek version released in 1927. Also as stated previously, this version is an example of a musical style called Exotica (which puts it in the same category as #26's Gopher Mambo by Yma Sumac), and despite the 'exotic' sound of the instrumentation, it was mostly synthesizer generated, which is how this song relates on a deeper level; just like Joy and her traveling companions initially fascinate Don, he ultimately recognizes their lifestyle is not as glamourous as they try to make it appear. But you only get this layer if you know the way this version of this song was created.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I don't think any new guesses came in last time.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoluem’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

Update: I'm still stumped.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

23. Hard to Laugh
Artist: The Pursuit of Happiness
Album: Love Junk (1988)
Todd's role(s): producer
Writer(s): Moe Berg

The song: The hard-driving power popper "Hard to Laugh" opens Love Junk, the debut album of the Canadian quintet The Pursuit of Happiness, on a high note. The forthright riffage at the opening of the song isn't a hallmark of producer Todd Rundgren, but as soon as the title phrase kicks in, it becomes unmistakably a Rundgren production, with the harmonies layered exquisitely and put way up high in the mix. Another highlight is the bass notes that punctuate the spaces left by the guitar solo in the middle of the song. Most of the post-guitar solo content is more iterations of the chorus, which is a good decision when it is as strong as this one is. This sugar rush of a song, the third single from Love Junk, ends too soon at 2 and a half minutes and makes you long for more.

The album: The Pursuit of Happiness was signed by Chrysalis on the strength of its independent single "I'm An Adult Now," which became an unlikely hit in Canada in 1986 after its video was picked up by MuchMusic and caught on with viewers. The label asked frontman Moe Berg to provide a list of "dream producers" he would want to work with, and he listed Todd Rundgren at the top. When Rundgren called Berg before a concert in Winnipeg to tell him that he had been hired to produce the band's debut album, Berg thought he was being pranked.

But the call was real and marked the beginning of a strong working relationship between the two. “I mean I know you meet a lot of people who say they’re a Todd Rundgren fan, but I’m a Todd Rundgren fan—like I bought every single thing that he’s ever done. I have all kinds of cassettes of his live shows, and 20 or 30 hours of Todd bootleg video. So I’m a serious Todd fan—it’s like being a Deadhead," Berg told Canadian music writer Steve Newton in 1990. “What generally happens is that I send Todd demos of all the songs that are candidates for the record, and he sort of goes through them and does these elaborate critiques of them and says what he likes about them, and what he doesn’t like. And then I go back and address his complaints, sort of rewrite and rearrange the songs until they meet with his approval. It’s not like he actually changes the songs; more like he tells me what I’ve done wrong and to go back and do it again. So it’s sort of like proofreading, almost. When we record with Todd, we record live off the floor, basically—we all sit in the room at the same time and play, and then we just do a minimal amount of overdubs—usually just the lead and back-up vocals and the guitar solos. So Todd’s whole idea is to try to capture the performance instead of just mechanically going through everything piece by piece.”

A re-recorded version of "I'm An Adult Now" was released as Love Junk's first single and became the band's only U.S. hit. I don't care for it all that much, it's a little too wordy and clever for my liking. But quite a few of the album's other tracks hit the sweet spot for me.

Love Junk turned out to be the band's commercial peak, producing three songs that garnered radio play in Canada and reaching #28 on the album charts there. After a second album for Chrysalis, their career stalled after upheaval at the label. They bounced to a few other labels in the '90s but have not put out a full album since 1996 despite never formally disbanding. They do tour occasionally, including in 2018 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Love Junk, which also got a deluxe-edition reissue that year.

The Pursuit of Happiness is one of the few artists for whom Rundgren has produced more than one album. He also helmed their second record One Sided Story (1990).

You Might Also Like: Second single "She's So Young" is bouncy and breezy and features lovely harmonies that aren't mixed as aggressively as those on "Hard to Laugh." https://open.spotify.com/track/6bKLaQjdWeI9Gxl8xvLusb?si=1f8a655fff824488

At #22, an artist who had a massive hit in the '60s and another in the '70s but has spent much of his career as a sideman and producer.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Smooth Operator – Sade

I believe this song would sound great on any system.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

krista4 – Chicagoland

Leave the City – Magnolia Electric Co.

Note to @DrIanMalcolm , feel free to score songs like this and "Tonight, Tonight" as wins for Chicago. I promise you that even if Chicago takes an early lead, I have some songs near the end that will even things up.

Ha, I've gotten a bit behind @krista4 - but I'll get at it shortly!

25.

Who? – B.B. King

What? – B.B. King

Where? – NJPAC

When? – 1998

Why? – King was a very old man when I saw him (sitting one row ahead of Newark Mayor, Sharpe James) in Newark. His storytelling and jokes alone were worth the admission price, but while he had some trouble moving around and played sitting down on a stool for 95% of the set, he showed he could still play Lucille and make her sound pretty.

@Dr. Octopus -- this warms my heart that you were able to see him. I saw Otis Rush in the late 1990s when he was only in his early 60s, and he already seemed quite old; he ended up living another 20 years. I also remember when Junior Wells died, and lamenting not having gotten to see him in my lifetime. Made a point of trying to see a number of these folks as they got older.

#, Please # 24
Song: 1999
Artist: Prince
Year: 1982

My roommate David had a theory about "1999" circa 1984 or 85. He posited that whenever the song came on at a party, it was time to leave and go somewhere else. This was back in the days when we had multiple options on a given night. It sort of worked because it was the period of Prince's peak popularity.

I got a text from him last week saying he's defending his doctoral dissertation at the end of this month. I don't think it's about his "1999" theory but it's still an incredible accomplishment for a guy who's been a heroin user for many of the 40 years we've known each other.

I gotta throw a flag on this one, @Eephus ... this warrants a hell of a lot more detail here.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

24.

Who? – John Frusciante

What? – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Where? – Hard Rock Casino. Hollywood FLA

When? – 2024

Why? – Frusciante’s style is more crisp and clear than most of the guitarists I’ll have on this list but he was just so impressive when I saw him and was often asked to show off his chops with solos. RHCP have such a full and lush sound live, in large part due to John Frusciante. Ice Cube was a great opening act for this show, but there wasn’t much guitar during that set.

 

[Don Quixote]

Don Quixote – Afrobeat

Fuel for Love (Spotify) - Wrinkars Experience (Nigeria)

This is another band that I can’t find too much about. This song was by far their biggest hit. They were another one of the bands formed in the wake of the Nigerian civil war. The African Music Library has this summary of them:

Wrinkars Experience was a Nigerian afro-funk band formed in Lagos in 1970. Led by guitarist and singer Dannie Ian Mbaezue, they consisted of a multi-ethnic group of Nigerian, Cameroonian, and Ghanaian musicians. Wrinkars Experience's music blended traditional Nigerian rhythms with funk, soul, and jazz. They released their debut album, "Fuel for Love," in 1970. The album was successful, and it helped to make them one of the most popular bands in Nigeria. The band also released other successful albums, including "Money to Burn" (1972), "Soundway" (1973), and "Ballad of a Sad Young Woman" (1974). Wrinkars Experience disbanded in 1977, but their music continues to be influential today. The band is considered one of the pioneers of Afro-funk music, inspiring generations of Nigerian and African musicians.

While this one is another that falls more into Afro-rock/Afro-funk than Afrobeat, the next one up is going to be back to straight Afrobeat (with a recognizable artist).

 

[kupcho1]

kupcho1 – rain

Rain King - The Counting Crows

Not all rain songs are depressing, musically at least.

The timing of this particular rain song at this particular point in time is exhibit 1013 in the case of kupcho1 v. living in a simulation

"Rain King" is a single by the rock band Counting Crows. It was released as the band's fourth single (and third single from their debut album). The title is a reference to Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King. "Rain King" peaked at number 66 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, number 18 in Canada, and number four in Iceland. In April 2022, American Songwriter ranked the song at number eight on their list of "The Top 10 Counting Crows Songs".

seeing as how I just finished a book by Saul Bellow.

Adam Duritz said, about this song: "I read this book in college when I was at Berkeley called Henderson, the Rain King. And the main character in the book was kind of this big, open-wound of a person, Eugene Henderson, he just sort of bled all over everyone around him. For better or for worse, full of joy, full of sorrow, he just made a mess of everything.

I like all of the lyrics, but especially the YEAHHHHHHHH at the end.

And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"
'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it home
Well I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking in
If there's anyone at home at your place, darling
Why don't you invite me in?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I don't think any new guesses came in last time.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoluem’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

Update: I'm still stumped.

I keep going back to my breakup and moving on guess - can't see anything else at all.

 

[kupcho1]

I don't think any new guesses came in last time.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

Addiction?

 

[MAC_32]

With this trio of songs, we re-visit our character last seen at Zzyzx Rd. What was depression has now progressed to anger and increased volatility.

My Chemical Romance - Famous Last Words

This is the final track on their concept album The Black Parade. Most in here probably know the title track, but I suspect at least some aren’t familiar with much beyond that. It’s determined, powerful, accepting, and vulnerable all-in-one, a truly remarkable track imo. This is the end of the patient’s story, and what I love about what MCR did is they left it up to listener interpretation whether the story arc resulted in life or death. The ying (I am not afraid to keep on living) and the yang (asleep or dead).

Aerosmith – Amazing

No matter the levels of support you provide, life’s out of your hands. You can hope and pray they learn to crawl, then learn to walk, but they won’t listen to all that righteous talk. They’re out on the street, just tryin’ to survive, scratchin’ to stay alive. If they pull through, we'll celebrate, and it'd sure be amazing, but…

Alison Kraus / Brad Paisley - Whiskey Lullaby

…no matter what you do, he still may put that bottle to his head and pull the trigger. Move on? Well, I’ll keep trying.

RIP Brother (4/3/76 - 7/4/18)

 

[El Floppo]

El Floppo – Mallet Rock

Inca Roads - Frank Zapp, The Mothers of Invention

My 23 wasn't one I had in regular rotation or even knew about- came up in my research for this.

Marimba gets featured here- early and throughout. incorporated as an equal part of the ensemble which feels more like a jazz tune in it's format to me. everybody gets a solo, including the Marimba (Ruth Underwood) who even gets a shout out from the band to close the song "On Ruth, on Ruth, that's Ruth!". this isn't some band wonk who went out and picked up a mallet instrument for S&Gs for a song or two- she is a legit, 4 plus mallet percussion pro.

this is a weird, wacky and wonderful song (stoner dude who worked at my childhood record shop would call these kind of tunes/albums playing over the in-store speaker the 3 dubs... I remember Miles Davis aghartha being the first one he said that about)

 

[El Floppo]

I don't think any new guesses came in last time.

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

Addiction?

clap clap clap... good answer! good answer! [/family feud]

 

[Yambag]

#23 songs

Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses

Summary: Duh! Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1985, as the result of a merger between local bands L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. Their album, Appetite for Destruction is the highest-selling debut of all time in the United States and is often credited with the shift from hair metal to more edgy sound.

Times Seen Live in Concert: 1 = 1992 (with Metallica). I had tickets to see them a few years ago, but after seeing a YT video of Axl trying to sing November Rain, I sold them.

Personal Connection: No list from this timeframe can exist without some GN’R. In fact, according to my friend, Appetite for Destruction was the first cassette tape he ever bought and one of the first band shirts we each owned. Unfortunately, that album was released in 1987 so I could not pick a song from it. While I now prefer other songs from the Use Your Illusion albums, I went with one of the big guns as our school (like many others) used it when introducing football lineups before games.

Other songs to consider: If I had used Appetite for Destruction, I would have gone with It’s So Easy. Something about that one and its rawness hit me big time when I was young.

 

[zamboni]

Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Queen Of The Reich – Queensrÿche

I remember first hearing this when the video came out back in 1983. The sound was pretty mind blowing at the time, even for a metalhead like me - particularly Geoff Tate's range.

The video was clearly preposterous, but just about every other video back then was some kind of futuristic/post-apocalyptic thing.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

#23 songs

Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses

Summary: Duh! Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1985, as the result of a merger between local bands L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. Their album, Appetite for Destruction is the highest-selling debut of all time in the United States and is often credited with the shift from hair metal to more edgy sound.

Times Seen Live in Concert: 1 = 1992 (with Metallica). I had tickets to see them a few years ago, but after seeing a YT video of Axl trying to sing November Rain, I sold them.

Personal Connection: No list from this timeframe can exist without some GN’R. In fact, according to my friend, Appetite for Destruction was the first cassette tape he ever bought and one of the first band shirts we each owned. Unfortunately, that album was released in 1987 so I could not pick a song from it. While I now prefer other songs from the Use Your Illusion albums, I went with one of the big guns as our school (like many others) used it when introducing football lineups before games.

Other songs to consider: If I had used Appetite for Destruction, I would have gone with It’s So Easy. Something about that one and its rawness hit me big time when I was young.

One of my favorite intros.

 

[titusbramble]

Mt. Man – Number, Please

1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Rock Box - Run-DMC

To follow up on a previous post, I thought we might have gone to 1980 by Estelle, but we skip straight to 1979 which is frankly a far, far better track

Rock Box just missed my top 50 and I think is the first crossover between anything in my list, although there have been other tracks I could have used but didn't already get picked

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I really like 23 playlist - mostly for songs I already knew. Nothing new jumped out at me but did enjoy most of it.

ETA: I'm only half way through so that could change.

 

[falguy]

25s and 24s were't particularly great for my tastes. However, things have been pretty crappy in my world the last few days, and I know my mood affects my song judgement so maybe I'll get back to these another day.

First the 25s.
* Railroad Man -
* One Day Like This -
Sir Duke - Top 3 SW song
Under My Thumb - Top 1 or 2 Stones song
In The City
Goody Two Shoes
Sharp Dressed Man

24s I liked a number of these songs, but just not enough to add them to my favorites. Here's what I did add.
Rain
* Train Tracks
* Trouble Man
* All Your Way
Somebody That I Used To Know
Steppin' Out
* Spy School Graduation Theme - such a cool sound
* Whiskey Lullaby

* flag for songs I had not heard before

 

[KarmaPolice]

#23: SCIENTIST/WAYNE WADE - DON'T WORRY

Long story short, on my brief listenings this year I figured out that I like the dub sub-genre of reggae. Scientist and Mad Professor were two that I found myself liking a bit as I went through a few albums. For the pick on the playlist I landed on the album with Wayne Wade - Poor and Humble. I loved the vibe of Don't Worry and it brings to the front Wade's vocal delivery. I also went Scientist first, because I have begun listening to albums from the artists he collaborates with and liking some of those. So far he has been the springboard for more music than Mad Prof has to me, so he got the nod.

Recommended listening: Poor and Humble was a good listen and taps into a more traditional reggae feel. I've been liking some of the albums that I was drawn to because of the weird cover art like Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Intergalactic Vampire and Lost in Space. If I read my research correctly, there is a possibility of cross over with @titusbramble, as some of his tracks were on GTA3? I started digging into a little more Wayne Wade, but hit a reggae cover of How Do You Talk to an Angel, and had to stop that line of research immediately. Better listening options are Michael Prophet (Gunman or Righteous Are The Conquer) and Wailing Souls (Fire House Rock or Lay It On the Line)

Next: We will get some British post-punk sandwiched between a couple epic groups of hip hop. I've been listening to more and more hip hop, so I wanted some on this list because it's also supposed to be groups I've been digging through. These are 4 artists that I personally would introduce non-fans to as a hopeful bridge to liking the music a little more, but we will see.... The 4 groups come from 4 areas of the country, and the first stop at the #22s will fittingly be NYC.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

krista4 – Chicagoland

Leave the City – Magnolia Electric Co.

Note to @DrIanMalcolm , feel free to score songs like this and "Tonight, Tonight" as wins for Chicago. I promise you that even if Chicago takes an early lead, I have some songs near the end that will even things up.

Ha, I've gotten a bit behind @krista4 - but I'll get at it shortly!

25.

Who? – B.B. King

What? – B.B. King

Where? – NJPAC

When? – 1998

Why? – King was a very old man when I saw him (sitting one row ahead of Newark Mayor, Sharpe James) in Newark. His storytelling and jokes alone were worth the admission price, but while he had some trouble moving around and played sitting down on a stool for 95% of the set, he showed he could still play Lucille and make her sound pretty.

@Dr. Octopus -- this warms my heart that you were able to see him. I saw Otis Rush in the late 1990s when he was only in his early 60s, and he already seemed quite old; he ended up living another 20 years. I also remember when Junior Wells died, and lamenting not having gotten to see him in my lifetime. Made a point of trying to see a number of these folks as they got older.

#, Please # 24
Song: 1999
Artist: Prince
Year: 1982

My roommate David had a theory about "1999" circa 1984 or 85. He posited that whenever the song came on at a party, it was time to leave and go somewhere else. This was back in the days when we had multiple options on a given night. It sort of worked because it was the period of Prince's peak popularity.

I got a text from him last week saying he's defending his doctoral dissertation at the end of this month. I don't think it's about his "1999" theory but it's still an incredible accomplishment for a guy who's been a heroin user for many of the 40 years we've known each other.

I gotta throw a flag on this one, @Eephus ... this warrants a hell of a lot more detail here.

I have an even worse excuse for not seeing Junior Wells -- my cousin was his guitarist for the last 5 years of his life or so. I missed when they came to Philadelphia and figured I'd get another chance.

 

[krista4]

25s and 24s were't particularly great for my tastes.

The 24s didn't grab me much, either, but I do want to call out "Tuscola" by Nathan Hamilton as my favorite new-to-me song.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

El Floppo – Mallet Rock

Inca Roads - Frank Zapp, The Mothers of Invention

My 23 wasn't one I had in regular rotation or even knew about- came up in my research for this.

Marimba gets featured here- early and throughout. incorporated as an equal part of the ensemble which feels more like a jazz tune in it's format to me. everybody gets a solo, including the Marimba (Ruth Underwood) who even gets a shout out from the band to close the song "On Ruth, on Ruth, that's Ruth!". this isn't some band wonk who went out and picked up a mallet instrument for S&Gs for a song or two- she is a legit, 4 plus mallet percussion pro.

this is a weird, wacky and wonderful song (stoner dude who worked at my childhood record shop would call these kind of tunes/albums playing over the in-store speaker the 3 dubs... I remember Miles Davis aghartha being the first one he said that about)

Ruth Underwood is a national treasure.

 

[Yo Mama]

World’s Worst Superheroes #23

Just a Girl
Artist - No Doubt (1995)

Strengths - Frequently underestimated; filled with hidden rage at the patriarchy that won’t let her have any rights; with the bat of an eye, she can have guys like Moustache Man, Dirty White Boy, and especially The Exploding Boy do her bidding (Mr. Tambourine Man seems to be immune)

Weaknesses - Shopping (amiright fellas?); monthly bouts with cramps, hot flashes, and hormonal imbalance; deciding what to eat for dinner; 90-Day Fiancé marathons; the word Moist


There Goes My Hero

Situation - You’re in the finals of the team pie-eating contest at the county fair. Your normal partner, Bubba the Belly, is sidelined with a severe case of gout and you need a new partner.

Town Mayor: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2025 Team Pie-Eating Contest!!! On this side of the stage, our five-time defending champions - Lardass Hogan and Big Brother Biff!!”

Crowd: [cheering]. “Lardass, Lardass, Lardass!”

Mayor: “And on this side, our challengers - [insert your name here] and special surprise guest teammate . . . “

You: [removes blindfold]. “Take this pink ribbon off my eyes! Why am I wearing this thing anyway? Ok, who’s my partner anyway? Oh great, it’s Just a Girl.”

Just a Girl: [gives a bow]. “Aw, little old me.”

You: “What took you so long? We’ve been waiting for a half hour?”

JAG: “Sorry, I would’ve been here yesterday, but they won’t let me drive late at night.”

You: “Hope you’re ready for some pie.”

JAG: “I’m not that hungry. I’ll just have some of yours.”

You:

Mayor: “On your mark, get set, eat!!”

You: [eats like crazy, on your third pie you look over and see Just a Girl has barely touched her first]. “Hey, aren’t you going to eat?”

JAG: [looking sick]. “Sorry, I just can’t eat any more. I’ve had it up to here!”

Just a Girl turns and vomits all over Lardass Hogan.

Lardass, now covered in purple blueberry goo, starts a thunderous rumbling in his massive belly.

The rest is history.

 

[Yo Mama]

Glad Lardass wasn’t filtered.

 

[falguy]

Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Just A Girl - No Doubt

I really like this song but it's so embarrassing for me to be caught singing along with the lyrics

 

[falguy]

World’s Worst Superheroes #23

Just a Girl
Artist - No Doubt (1995)

Strengths - Frequently underestimated; filled with hidden rage at the patriarchy that won’t let her have any rights; with the bat of an eye, she can have guys like Moustache Man, Dirty White Boy, and especially The Exploding Boy do her bidding (Mr. Tambourine Man seems to be immune)

Weaknesses - Shopping (amiright fellas?); monthly bouts with cramps, hot flashes, and hormonal imbalance; deciding what to eat for dinner; 90-Day Fiancé marathons; the word Moist


There Goes My Hero

Situation - You’re in the finals of the team pie-eating contest at the county fair. Your normal partner, Bubba the Belly, is sidelined with a severe case of gout and you need a new partner.

Town Mayor: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2025 Team Pie-Eating Contest!!! On this side of the stage, our five-time defending champions - Lardass Hogan and Big Brother Biff!!”

Crowd: [cheering]. “Lardass, Lardass, Lardass!”

Mayor: “And on this side, our challengers - [insert your name here] and special surprise guest teammate . . . “

You: [removes blindfold]. “Take this pink ribbon off my eyes! Why am I wearing this thing anyway? Ok, who’s my partner anyway? Oh great, it’s Just a Girl.”

Just a Girl: [gives a bow]. “Aw, little old me.”

You: “What took you so long? We’ve been waiting for a half hour?”

JAG: “Sorry, I would’ve been here yesterday, but they won’t let me drive late at night.”

You: “Hope you’re ready for some pie.”

JAG: “I’m not that hungry. I’ll just have some of yours.”

You:

Mayor: “On your mark, get set, eat!!”

You: [eats like crazy, on your third pie you look over and see Just a Girl has barely touched her first]. “Hey, aren’t you going to eat?”

JAG: [looking sick]. “Sorry, I just can’t eat any more. I’ve had it up to here!”

Just a Girl turns and vomits all over Lardass Hogan.

Lardass, now covered in purple blueberry goo, starts a thunderous rumbling in his massive belly.

The rest is history.

Another great one. The bolded had me

 

[titusbramble]

Recommended listening: Poor and Humble was a good listen and taps into a more traditional reggae feel. I've been liking some of the albums that I was drawn to because of the weird cover art like Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Intergalactic Vampire and Lost in Space. If I read my research correctly, there is a possibility of cross over with @titusbramble, as some of his tracks were on GTA3?

Given the entirety of one station is entirely from a single Scientist album, it's a fair bet you might be right

 

[falguy]

falguy – songs by 31 different Canadian artists

For The Nights I can't Remember - Hedley

So I have Hedley on my list and I REALLY struggled with my conscience on whether to include them. They have many great songs and were destined to really take off until their lead singer/songwriter got into some, shall we say, legal troubles. That was it for them and him. IN an effort to separate the music from the person I ended up including it but still think that maybe I shouldn't have. If you are unaware and interested, here's his wiki page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Hoggard

ETA, I didn't even know about the 2005 incident :(

 

[KarmaPolice]

Recommended listening: Poor and Humble was a good listen and taps into a more traditional reggae feel. I've been liking some of the albums that I was drawn to because of the weird cover art like Scientist Rids the World of the Evil Curse of the Intergalactic Vampire and Lost in Space. If I read my research correctly, there is a possibility of cross over with @titusbramble, as some of his tracks were on GTA3?

Given the entirety of one station is entirely from a single Scientist album, it's a fair bet you might be right

Oh, k-jah is basically that whole album?

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

I got a bit behind on all of this, so I have to listen to the playlists later. And I'm going away soon, so I only have time to do this here thing at the moment.

#26: Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers
Artist: The Crooklyn Dodgers

Artist connection to New York (1-5 scale): 5. This group was really a bunch of rotating members, but the 3 in this particular lineup had two from Brooklyn and a third who was born in Jamaica and settled in Brooklyn.
Song connection to New York (1-10 scale): 10. I mean, the entire thing is replete with references to Brooklyn all over the darned place. And it was written at the request of Spike Lee for his film "Clockers," which is one of his underrated films - and by my mind, one of his best.
Score: 15. You can't really get much closer in terms of its NY connection here.
Vs. Chicago: The song was Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight," Gonna give the nod to Smashing Pumpkins here, but it's barely by a hair. Chicago 4-2, but I don't know if this lead is going to persist much longer, @krista4 .

#25: In the City
Artist: Joe Walsh (I used to say "The Eagles," but @Pip's Invitation likes to remind me that this is really a Joe Walsh tune with the Eagles doing backing vocals. And I prefer this, because as Jeff Lebowski says, "I hate the f***ing Eagles, man.")

Artist connection to New York (1-5 scale): 1. Joe Walsh is about as New York as whatever the f*ck "Hot Dish" is.
Song connection to New York (1-10 scale): 4. Thematically, it's pretty strong, and that it shows up at the end of "The Warriors" over the closing credits, but the references are oblique at best. (If we were doing it based on "The Warriors," it would be a 10, but that's another list.
Score: 5.
Vs. Chicago: The song is "Leave the City," which is a very nice tune, but it can't compete with this one. Chicago, 4-3.

#24: New York
Artist: St. Vincent

Artist connection to New York (1-5 scale): 4. St. Vincent is from Tulsa, spent a lot of time in Dallas, and frequents New York and has become very much part of the scene here. So it's just a tick below a 5.
Song connection to New York (1-10 scale): 9. Couple of very nice references to things like Astor Place and First Avenue - so it isn't just about saying New York over and over again. The more references to specific things, the better. Plus, "you're the only motherf***er in the city who can stand me" is a crack line that gets at one of the things that comes out often in songs about NY, which is that you can't help but escape the loneliness you feel sometimes.
Score: 13.
Vs. Chicago: The song is "Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night." It's the kind of rave-up rocker I'm a big fan of, but "New York" is just stellar. We're back at a tie.

#23: Le Freak
Artist: Chic

Artist connection to New York (1-5 scale): 5. The band members are from all over the place, but they're not all that indispensable. Who is? Nile Rodgers, pretty much one of the greatest producers of all time. And he's from New York, and still lives here (I saw him hanging out once in the Red Rooster restaurant up in Harlem).
Song connection to New York (1-10 scale): 3. The song is pretty much emblematic of the 1970s disco scene that ruled New York back in the day, and so that vibe kind of surrounds this entire number for sure. But it isn't terribly *specific* to New York other than knowing it's about the club.
Score: 8.
Vs. Chicago: The song is "Rodeo in Juliet" by the Jesus Lizard. It's nice. Nice. Not thrilling, but nice. But there are few things that beat Nile Rodgers jams besides other Nile Rodgers jams. New York takes a 5-4 lead.

 

[Eephus]

The Syreeta regulation: The artist must have recorded (almost) entirely under a mononym. This one has some wiggle room because my research wasn't that comprehensive. For example, Syreeta also released an early Motown single under her given name Rita Wright.

You have one like this where oddly enough someone else has a song by this artist on their list, under her recording name at the time, though it was not her given name.

I'm so confused

 

[Zegras11]

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Tears For Fears · Songs From The Big Chair (Super Deluxe Edition) · Song · 1985

open.spotify.com

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears from their second studio album Songs from the Big Chair (1985). It was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes and produced by Hughes. It was released on 22 March 1985 by Phonogram, Mercury, and Vertigo Records as the third single from the album. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is a new wave and synth-pop song with lyrics that detail the desire humans have for control and power and centre on themes of corruption.

An international success, the song peaked at number two in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom and at number one in Canada, New Zealand, and on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox. It was certified gold by both Music Canada (MC) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Retrospectively, music critics have praised "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", with some ranking the song among the decade's best. Along with "Shout" (1984), it is one of the band's signature songs.

Shout

Tears For Fears · Songs From The Big Chair · Song · 1985

open.spotify.com

Mad World

Tears For Fears · The Hurting · Song · 1983

open.spotify.com

 

[krista4]

The Syreeta regulation: The artist must have recorded (almost) entirely under a mononym. This one has some wiggle room because my research wasn't that comprehensive. For example, Syreeta also released an early Motown single under her given name Rita Wright.

You have one like this where oddly enough someone else has a song by this artist on their list, under her recording name at the time, though it was not her given name.

I'm so confused

 

[-OZ-]

-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

Hooked On A Feeling - Blue Swede, Björn Skifs

We’ve reached the epitome of excellent soundtracks with GotG. We’ll stay here for a few songs but really this could be the entire playlist. And there are playlists for those interested.

Awsome Mix Vol. 1, 2 & 3

Playlist · Parker · 43 items · 8.1K saves

open.spotify.com

The prison scene is fantastic

Yet another with epic lyrics
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga
Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga

I didn’t realize this was a cover until recently, this one without drugs!

Also used in another favorite movie - can anyone guess that movie?

As mentioned, we’ll stay with the guardians of the flipping galaxy for a few songs here.

 

[Eephus]

I gotta throw a flag on this one, @Eephus ... this warrants a hell of a lot more detail here.

I guess you had to be there in 1984/85. David's theory had nothing to do with the "party over, out of time" line in the lyrics; it was based on how much "1999" was overplayed at the time. You could probably substitute "Hey Ya" or "Not Like Us" at other points on the timeline. All great songs but you couldn't go anywhere without hearing them for a while.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#25: In the City
Artist: Joe Walsh (I used to say "The Eagles," but @Pip's Invitation likes to remind me that this is really a Joe Walsh tune with the Eagles doing backing vocals. And I prefer this, because as Jeff Lebowski says, "I hate the f***ing Eagles, man.")

There are actually two versions, the one credited to Walsh that appeared on the Warriors soundtrack, and the one credited to the Eagles that appeared on The Long Run. They are similar but have slight differences, most notably that the backing vocals on the latter are obviously Henley, Frey and Schmit.

 

[simey]

Also used in another favorite movie - can anyone guess that movie?

Reservoir Dogs. One of my roommates in college had the soundtrack. He cranked it for Hooked On A Feeling. My favorite on the soundtrack is Fool for Love. The woman singing it (and she wrote it) is Sam Shepard's sister, Sandy Rogers..

 

[krista4]

krista4 – Chicagoland

Rodeo in Joliet – The Jesus Lizard

Artist connection to Chicago (1-5 scale): 4 - Not originally from here, but moved to Chicago two years after formation. Recorded on Touch and Go, recorded with Steve, etc.
Song connection to Chicago (1-10 scale): 2 - The song is named "Rodeo in Joliet" despite what comes up on Spotify. There's another version on there with the right title, but credited to something like "The Jazzus Lizard." Something weird where people are uploading this but don't want people to know it's there? Anyway, the song starts by mentioning Joliet and Downers Grove, and that's about it for Chicagoland. By the way, I found when looking for this one that there's a song called "Rodeo and Juliet" by Garth Brooks. It's not a song that will get mixed up with this one.
Total: 6