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The 100 Greatest Songs Of 1978 #1. Werewolves of London (1 Viewer)

timschochet said:
35. Nicolette Larson “Lotta Love” (from Nicolette) 

https://youtu.be/80PTNnrwUO8

Gorgeous tune written by Neil Young and originally recorded on his Comes A Time album, which included Larson as a guest singer. He gave it to her for her debut and she scored her biggest ever hit, the one most people remember her for. 
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wicked flute solo :lmao:

so yacht rock

 
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Uruk-Hai said:
If you were a rock fan in the late 70s, all you had on commercial radio was Foreigner, Styx, Kansas, Boston, Van Halen. I like all of those bands, but the end was coming because AOR had constricted itself so much that it became a dead end. When they had to resort to playing Billy Joel records, I knew the jig was up.
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Heh. I just wanted to use the word Foreignered, really. But there's truth in what I said. I was just too young for commercial rock radio in the seventies. I listened to soul/pop/R&B stations in the left-middle of the dial. AOR ate itself, it seems, around the time I came of age to listen. I remember rock radio being bad, as in, not good. The oldies station was where it was at for me by the time I was independent enough to have an opinion about broadcast radio as a thing. One thing that destroyed any possibility I had of Foreignering in the eighties was a walkman. Nuked that possibility. I was listening to tapes before I was twelve or thirteen. My first tapes went right in the walkman, actually, and I bypassed broadcasting. Too young to drive, too independent for parental radio, too tuned into my own world. 

wikkid would have something to say about that, but I'm not sure he could really know what it was like. 

By the time I was driving, it was cassette decks, CDs, and the oldies station. 

 
34. Talking Heads “Take Me to the River” (from More Songs About Buildings And Food) 

https://youtu.be/anjT71N4PGM

Talking Head’s cover of an old Al Green song (which itself was based on traditional gospel) is THE definitive version, mostly thanks to Tina’s awe-inspiring bass. The YouTube, taken from the film, is a bit speeded up over the recording. 

 
timschochet said:
34. Talking Heads “Take Me to the River” (from More Songs About Buildings And Food) 

https://youtu.be/anjT71N4PGM

Talking Head’s cover of an old Al Green song (which itself was based on traditional gospel) is THE definitive version, mostly thanks to Tina’s awe-inspiring bass. The YouTube, taken from the film, is a bit speeded up over the recording. 
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I'm sorry, but this is a horrible cover and misses everything that makes Al Green's version great. The vocal is WAY too stilted (like every other Heads' song), though I'll submit that that band does a decent job. 

 
31. Exile “Kiss You All Over” (from Mixed Emotion) 

https://youtu.be/mpiBdB6yJC8

Exile was actually a pretty successful country band, but in 1978 they produced this one pop hit which was outstanding, one of the very best songs of the year. Combining a great melody with some excellent disco influenced guitar and some terrific vocal harmonies, this is just a really great tune. 

 
Amazing coincidence that you broke out Exile on the same day the Huey Lewis thread was posted. Exile recorded and released this on their last rock album in 1981. Not a bad rendition, but Huey Lewis ‘ delivery on their mega-hit cover took it to another level.

 
30. Boston “Don’t Look Back” (from Don’t Look Back) 

https://youtu.be/2HuiH-0R6a0

Boston’s second album was not nearly as strong as their first- that would have been a tough challenge for any band. However the title song is of the same quality that made their debut so great: soaring arena rock. 
A big part of the attraction here is the late Brad Delp. What an unbelievable voice. 

 
timschochet said:
35. Nicolette Larson “Lotta Love” (from Nicolette) 

https://youtu.be/80PTNnrwUO8

Gorgeous tune written by Neil Young and originally recorded on his Comes A Time album, which included Larson as a guest singer. He gave it to her for her debut and she scored her biggest ever hit, the one most people remember her for. 
Click to expand...
I'm a weird dude. When I am happy, I will belt out songs just out of the blue. Sometimes, I imagine myself like Bill Murray on SNL, having my own meager Vegas piano lounge act. This song is one of my staples. I didn't remember that it was Nicolette Larson, and had no idea the tune was written by Neil Young. But her vocals are tremendous.

 
29. The Cars “Bye Bye Love” (from The Cars) 

https://youtu.be/iR6GDGoiO8Y

Written by Ric Ocasik, sung by Benjamin Orr, this is an outstanding pop tune that was not featured as a single. Over the years it nonetheless became a radio staple…because it’s awesome. 

 
timschochet said:
33. Styx “Renegade” (from Pieces of Eight) 

https://youtu.be/ZXhuso4OTG4

Three cheers for Tommy Shaw and hard rock and roll! We will have none of that sappy Dennis De Young stuff around these parts. The jig is up! 
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For many years I believed that the Tommy Shaw Styx was cool and the Dennis DeYoung Styx was wimpy, pompous and cringeworthy.  Then I found out Tommy Shaw wrote "Sing for the Day," and my world was crushed.  

 
worrierking said:
For many years I believed that the Tommy Shaw Styx was cool and the Dennis DeYoung Styx was wimpy, pompous and cringeworthy.  Then I found out Tommy Shaw wrote "Sing for the Day," and my world was crushed.  
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And Dennis wrote “Come Sail Away.” 
 

But I don’t care about reality. Give me the (grand) illusion! 

 
timschochet said:
30. Boston “Don’t Look Back” (from Don’t Look Back) 

https://youtu.be/2HuiH-0R6a0

Boston’s second album was not nearly as strong as their first- that would have been a tough challenge for any band. However the title song is of the same quality that made their debut so great: soaring arena rock. 
A big part of the attraction here is the late Brad Delp. What an unbelievable voice. 
Click to expand...
Great, great song that never gets old to me. 

 
timschochet said:
30. Boston “Don’t Look Back” (from Don’t Look Back) 

https://youtu.be/2HuiH-0R6a0

Boston’s second album was not nearly as strong as their first- that would have been a tough challenge for any band. However the title song is of the same quality that made their debut so great: soaring arena rock. 
A big part of the attraction here is the late Brad Delp. What an unbelievable voice. 
Click to expand...
Not a fan at all of the fake piped in crowd noise in that video clip. That aside, my favorite part is the little riff at the 3:08 mark right before the solo outro.

 
28. The Who “Who Are You” (from Who Are You) 

https://youtu.be/PNbBDrceCy8

Who Are You was the last Who album to feature Keith Moon. IMO, it’s an unheralded masterpiece, one of their very best albums. Every song is great; I particularly love “905”, “Guitar and the Pen”, “Music Must Change”, amd of course the title song, in which each band member displays the height of their talents (particularly Pete’s fine guitar solo.) Epic. 

 
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timschochet said:
28. The Who “Who Are You” (from Who Are You) 

https://youtu.be/PNbBDrceCy8

Who Are You was the last Who album to feature Keith Moon. IMO, it’s an unheralded masterpiece, one of their very best albums. Every song is great; I particularly love “905”, “Guitar and the Pen”, “Music Must Change”, amd of course the title song, in which each band member displays the height of their talents (particularly Pete’s fine guitar solo.) Epic. 
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This song is great and a contender for my #1 of the entire year. 

The album it came from is… ok. Some of the songs you mentioned, I don’t really care for at all. 

 
27. Elvis Costello “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/Ssd3U_zicAI

Elvis Costello’s cover of this old Nick Lowe tune was released as a single in 1978 and then added to his Armed Forces album a year later. Over time it has become one of his most signature tunes, expressing one of the great ironies of his music: the lyrics are a plea for human brotherhood, but he sings it with an angry snarl, as if he couldn’t really give a #### about peace love and understanding. 

 
1978 was a really great year. There are a lot of great songs already, with 26 more songs to go. :thumbup:  

 
timschochet said:
27. Elvis Costello “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/Ssd3U_zicAI

Elvis Costello’s cover of this old Nick Lowe tune was released as a single in 1978 and then added to his Armed Forces album a year later. Over time it has become one of his most signature tunes, expressing one of the great ironies of his music: the lyrics are a plea for human brotherhood, but he sings it with an angry snarl, as if he couldn’t really give a #### about peace love and understanding. 
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Elvis definitely made this his own, but the original written by Lowe and recorded by his band Brinsley Schwartz is really good, too.

https://youtu.be/1J1CfXFlI4c

 
26. The Clash “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/96UtZPLiT90

This reggae tune was Joe Strummer’s favorite Clash song, and he regarded it as the most important song he ever wrote, an angry protest of the way different races were treated in England. Joe Strummer, much like his buddy Billy Bragg, wanted so much to be Bob Dylan when he grew up. 
In terms of the music, “In Hammersmith Palais” exemplifies the transition from punk rock to post punk which was taking place at the time. 

 
timschochet said:
26. The Clash “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/96UtZPLiT90

This reggae tune was Joe Strummer’s favorite Clash song, and he regarded it as the most important song he ever wrote, an angry protest of the way different races were treated in England. Joe Strummer, much like his buddy Billy Bragg, wanted so much to be Bob Dylan when he grew up. 
In terms of the music, “In Hammersmith Palais” exemplifies the transition from punk rock to post punk which was taking place at the time. 
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Such a good song. Been drafting it a bunch lately after @otb_lifersort of pointed out a lyric to me that I found cool. 

The bolded doesn't strike me as true, though. It's a reggae song about black reggae artists and the white, British love of them. It's an interesting song, and it sort of is nothing like typical post-punk. 

Sorry if that sounds harsh, I'm just not sure -- and all I am is unsure -- that it's a good example of post-punk. 

 
rockaction said:
Such a good song. Been drafting it a bunch lately after @otb_lifersort of pointed out a lyric to me that I found cool. 

The bolded doesn't strike me as true, though. It's a reggae song about black reggae artists and the white, British love of them. It's an interesting song, and it sort of is nothing like typical post-punk. 

Sorry if that sounds harsh, I'm just not sure -- and all I am is unsure -- that it's a good example of post-punk. 
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Fair enough. i guess when someone mentions post punk to me I think of London Calling. And there’s a whole lot of reggae on that album (and even more on Sandinista!) So I guess I see this as a transition song from The Clash’s first album to their later material. I suppose I should have been more specific to that band. 

 
24. Molly Hatchet “Dreams I’ll Never See” (from Molly Hatchet) 

https://youtu.be/jTZHHQplIX8

Southern rockers Molly Hatchet covered one of their idols, Greg Allman, on their debut album, but they completely reworked the song and made it their own, from that fantastic opening guitar to Danny Joe’s gruff, irresistible vocals. Fun fact: the record featured a drawing of a fantasy warrior by none other than the great Frank Frazetta. 

 
timschochet said:
Fair enough. i guess when someone mentions post punk to me I think of London Calling. And there’s a whole lot of reggae on that album (and even more on Sandinista!) So I guess I see this as a transition song from The Clash’s first album to their later material. I suppose I should have been more specific to that band. 
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It’s a small nitpick but it’s more ska than reggae really.

 
timschochet said:
24. Molly Hatchet “Dreams I’ll Never See” (from Molly Hatchet) 

https://youtu.be/jTZHHQplIX8

Southern rockers Molly Hatchet covered one of their idols, Greg Allman, on their debut album, but they completely reworked the song and made it their own, from that fantastic opening guitar to Danny Joe’s gruff, irresistible vocals. Fun fact: the record featured a drawing of a fantasy warrior by none other than the great Frank Frazetta. 
Click to expand...
Stunned to see this song in a countdown.  What a fantastic song.

 
23. Blondie “One Way Or Another” (from Parallel Lines) 

https://youtu.be/FYlYJ55miI0

If there is ever a. New Wave Hall of Fame, this song should receive some prominent attention. Deborah Harry immediately attacks the vocals, giving what might arguably be her best performance. And that guitar…

 
22. The Police “Roxanne” (from Outlandos d’Amour) 

https://youtu.be/3T1c7GkzRQQ

In my household this has always been a pretty polarizing song. My wife, who generally likes Sting, absolutely detests this tune and demands it be shut off whenever she hears an inkling of it. She has declared it the most annoying song ever written. I can see why she and others would feel that way given the shrieking, repetitive vocals. But I personally think it’s pretty brilliant. 

 
timschochet said:
22. The Police “Roxanne” (from Outlandos d’Amour) 

https://youtu.be/3T1c7GkzRQQ

In my household this has always been a pretty polarizing song. My wife, who generally likes Sting, absolutely detests this tune and demands it be shut off whenever she hears an inkling of it. She has declared it the most annoying song ever written. I can see why she and others would feel that way given the shrieking, repetitive vocals. But I personally think it’s pretty brilliant. 
Click to expand...
Does your wife hate Dylan, too? I thought I remember you saying that. It could have been a different FBG. 

I can totally see where Dylan gets his whiner label and why your wife doesn't dig on Sting, but I also, like you, think both are brilliant, as is this performance. 

The thing I think of every time it comes on is "Drink!" Drinking every time Sting says "Roxanne" or "red light" will put one in a stupor in three minutes, if it won't kill ya. 

But a great song, IMO. I don't know how it holds up for my forty-eight year-old self, but younger me loved it. 

 
rockaction said:
Does your wife hate Dylan, too? I thought I remember you saying that. It could have been a different FBG. 

I can totally see where Dylan gets his whiner label and why your wife doesn't dig on Sting, but I also, like you, think both are brilliant, as is this performance. 

The thing I think of every time it comes on is "Drink!" Drinking every time Sting says "Roxanne" or "red light" will put one in a stupor in three minutes, if it won't kill ya. 

But a great song, IMO. I don't know how it holds up for my forty-eight year-old self, but younger me loved it. 
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She doesn’t hate Dylan but she doesn’t love him like I do. She makes me turn off early Dylan when the harmonica gets to be too much. 

 
timschochet said:
She doesn’t hate Dylan but she doesn’t love him like I do. She makes me turn off early Dylan when the harmonica gets to be too much. 
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I was playing Dylan once for my Moms about four years back or so, and it was driving her up a wall. The harmonica, the reedy vocals, the whole bit. I was digging it. It was about lament and heartbreak. She found it whiny and pointed out I may have been a bit maudlin. (I was drunk.)

Ah, well. Diverse opinions. Such is life. 

 
Incidentally there are no Bob Dylan songs that made this list, which is a pretty rare thing for me. His 1978 album, Street Legal, was not very impressive. The best known song, “Senor (Tales of Yankee Power)” is rather mediocre IMO. 
it seems like Bob was biding his time for the wonderful Christian music that would arrive a year later. 

 
timschochet said:
22. The Police “Roxanne” (from Outlandos d’Amour) 

https://youtu.be/3T1c7GkzRQQ

In my household this has always been a pretty polarizing song. My wife, who generally likes Sting, absolutely detests this tune and demands it be shut off whenever she hears an inkling of it. She has declared it the most annoying song ever written. I can see why she and others would feel that way given the shrieking, repetitive vocals. But I personally think it’s pretty brilliant. 
Click to expand...
I think that your wife is right on - it's truly awful.

 
21. Joe Jackson “Is She Really Going Out With Him” (from Look Sharp!) 

https://youtu.be/6TzKSFbsh2Y

I really should explore this artist’s work more. I’m told that he has a large amount of really good material over the years. Sadly all I’m aware of at the moment are the biggest hits. 
Anyhow, this is one amazing pop classic. 

 
timschochet said:
22. The Police “Roxanne” (from Outlandos d’Amour) 

https://youtu.be/3T1c7GkzRQQ

In my household this has always been a pretty polarizing song. My wife, who generally likes Sting, absolutely detests this tune and demands it be shut off whenever she hears an inkling of it. She has declared it the most annoying song ever written. I can see why she and others would feel that way given the shrieking, repetitive vocals. But I personally think it’s pretty brilliant. 
Click to expand...
Totally agree with the wife here.   Cannot stand this song.  The vocals are awful.   

 
timschochet said:
21. Joe Jackson “Is She Really Going Out With Him” (from Look Sharp!) 

https://youtu.be/6TzKSFbsh2Y

I really should explore this artist’s work more. I’m told that he has a large amount of really good material over the years. Sadly all I’m aware of at the moment are the biggest hits. 
Anyhow, this is one amazing pop classic. 
Click to expand...
Don’t know anything about the artist but the song is outstanding.  This is one of those songs that always gets turned up to enjoy.  

 
timschochet said:
21. Joe Jackson “Is She Really Going Out With Him” (from Look Sharp!) 

https://youtu.be/6TzKSFbsh2Y

I really should explore this artist’s work more. I’m told that he has a large amount of really good material over the years. Sadly all I’m aware of at the moment are the biggest hits. 
Anyhow, this is one amazing pop classic. 
Click to expand...
Was thinking the same thing when I saw the title change. Only know popular songs, but they are super catchy.

Never met a Joe Jackson fan in my life, but always thought he was super cool

 
timschochet said:
21. Joe Jackson “Is She Really Going Out With Him” (from Look Sharp!) 

https://youtu.be/6TzKSFbsh2Y

I really should explore this artist’s work more. I’m told that he has a large amount of really good material over the years. Sadly all I’m aware of at the moment are the biggest hits. 
Anyhow, this is one amazing pop classic. 
Click to expand...


Joe Jackson was a better looking guy than still photos of that time indicate (apparently not very photogenic).

Here is a live version of the song and I am struck how much this reminds of Elvis Costello (maybe not surprising as they came out of the same scene). 

Joe Jackson- "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" on Countdown 1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEhFuM8s__I

 
timschochet said:
Incidentally there are no Bob Dylan songs that made this list, which is a pretty rare thing for me. His 1978 album, Street Legal, was not very impressive. 
it seems like Bob was biding his time for the wonderful Christian music that would arrive a year later. 
Click to expand...
I knew a couple of bartenders and servers that used to love to sing along to one of those songs.

 
timschochet said:
24. Molly Hatchet “Dreams I’ll Never See” (from Molly Hatchet) 

https://youtu.be/jTZHHQplIX8

Southern rockers Molly Hatchet covered one of their idols, Greg Allman, on their debut album, but they completely reworked the song and made it their own, from that fantastic opening guitar to Danny Joe’s gruff, irresistible vocals. Fun fact: the record featured a drawing of a fantasy warrior by none other than the great Frank Frazetta. 
Click to expand...


I like this song.  I fell like I love it if it was sang by someone else.  Anyone know a good cover of this?

 
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