Boomer Top 5

John Hiatt

Has anyone in recent times written better songs that Hiatt, and been covered by others more? I'm struggling with a top 5. Help anyone?

Top 5 Joe Cocker cover versions

Covers that he’s done, not the other way around. It’s pretty amazing what he’s done, and always with his twist.

1.     The Letter

2.     With A Little Help from My Friends

3.     She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

4.     Cry Me a River

5.     Delta Lady

 

Honorable mention: Unchain My Heart; Feelin’ Alright (I like other covers of this great one more.)

 

But there are a LOT more and someone has done some serious research: The Covers Project

 

And how great is he doing Come Together in Across the Universe!!??!!

Top 5 covers of When You Walk In The Room

Who knew this Searchers hit, written by Jackie deShannon, was beloved by so many!! All of these are quite wonderful.

1.     Karla Bonoff

2.     Pam Tillis

3.     Status Quo

4.     Bruce live!!

5.     Paul Carrack

Honorable mention: Billy Kramer & the Dakotas, and the one and only Abba’s Agnetha Faltskog….a little syrupy. 

 

So, why so popular? The great guitar lick, and that universal feeling in the pit of the stomach occasions, yes? Yes. 

 

And of course, there’s The Searchers and Jackie’s sweet lipsync, totally, charmingly, way off! And we LOVE Karla Bonoff.

 

Top 5 overlooked songs by great bands/singers

5 songs that no one EVER mentions when it comes to these folks, but when you hear them, they stick in your head for quite awhile.

1.     Dr. Roberts, Beatles

2.     Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You), Stevie Wonder

3.   Everything You Did, Steely Dan

4.     2000 Light Years from Home, Rolling Stones

5.     That Would Be Something, Paul McCartney

 

Where Were You When I Needed You, the second half of the # 2 song, is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful love songs of all time.

Found another cowbell song

Haven't heard Climax Blues Band's Couldn't Get It Right in awhile. Not bad..good, even! And there it is, towards the end...cowbell! Sweet.

Top 5 songs with the word ‘time’ in the title

1.     Time of the Season – Zombies

2.     Time – Pink Floyd

3.     Time Won't Let Me - Outsiders

4.     Time Out of Mind, Steely Dan

5.     Time Has Come Today, Chambers Brothers

 

Honorable mention: Time of Your Life - Green Day;

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper; Time Is On My Side - Rolling Stones; Time Warp - Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast; Time Passages - Al Stewart; No Time - Guess Who; Time Is Tight - Booker T and the MGs

 

It pained us not to get Booker T, Green Day, Cyndi or Guess Who in the top 5, but the ones we chose are just a wee bit better. Time Won’t Let Me is a real oldie, but geez, what a fast, wonderful pace.

 

Not here: Time In a Bottle - Jim Croce; yuk.

Bob and Steve

Just heard Ramblin' Man by Bob Seger on XM, and I always loved that early song of his more than almost all the others; ditto Steve Miller's Livin' in the USA. (Somebody get me a cheeseburger!!!)

Top 5 songs about summer

1.     Summer in the City, Lovin’ Spoonful

2.     Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran/Blue Cheer

3.     Summertime,  Mungo Jerry

4.     Summertime Thing, Chuck Prophet (this is one of the best songs of the last ten years!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

5.     Summer Breeze, Seals & Crofts

Top 5 works of fiction by musicians

1.     Motel Life, Willy Vlautin

2.     Edson, Bill Morrissey

3.     Tales from Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett

4.     The Ass Saw The Angel, Nick Cave

5.     In His Own Write, John Lennon

I LOVE Wlly’s down-and-out but redemptive in Reno novel. (Willy's band, Richmond Fontaine is catching on, here and in Europe.) Don't miss Bill Morrissey’s down and out in New England. Yes, Buffett can write; don’t miss the hurricane story. I confess I have not read # 4 or # 5, but those were the only other works of fiction by any musician I could find!

Now, who else do we think could write some great fiction? Chuck Prophet, Joni Mitchell, Alejandro Escovedo.

 

It's surprising that so many storytellers can't tackle a longer form.

Top 5 Marshall Crenshaw songs

1.     Cynical Girl

2.    T.M.D. (Truly Madly Deeply)

3.     Somehow Someway

4.     Rockin’ Around NYC

5.     What Do Your Dream of

Honorable mention: Mary Anne, Whenever You're On My Mind.

 

I think Marshall's been way overlooked, and it's a cryin' shame that his album from '99 - #447 - is now o/p. It's really, really good!