500 songs: A Labor of Love
I'm up to 256 songs in the top 500. Halfway there and I haven't even broken a sweat yet. And, when I'm finished making the list, I'm going to annotate it with a little blurb about each song and include lots of delicious links. It will be a tour de force, I tell you. And it will mean nothing to nobody but me.
I've been getting a lot of email on this (finally, email I enjoy reading!) and I need to lay down a few basic facts here:
* Stairway to Heaven will not be making an appearance.
* Ditto anything by Creed or Nickelback.
* I hate In The Ghetto. What are you people thinking?
* I'm trying to limit myself to no more than three songs by any artist.
* Poison? Not on your life.
* I already told you, I don't like the Beatles.
* Ditto for The Eagles.
* Yes, there's a lot of recent stuff on the list. Music wasn't only made pre 1990, people.
More if I think of it, but that's about it. Still taking suggestions, though you can put them here rather than on the earlier post. I've added many of your suggestion throughout the list. Sometimes the brain needs to be rattled.
Halfway there. And then the real work of annotating the list begins. Girl's gotta have a hobby, I guess.
Update: I was never a big Stones fan, either.
Comments
Your inclision of a tune by the Residents reaffirms my faith in humanity.Thanks.OBTW,my HC episode is on this Sat morning.Bully!
Posted by: mbruce | November 23, 2004 07:12 PM
Because I haven't put in anything here I guess I need to share my unvaluable opinion.
1. Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend
2. Johnny Cash - Delia's Gone
3. Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Breaking the Girl
5. Nina Simone - Sinnerman
And that's just pulling stuff out of my butt.
Posted by: Gabe | November 23, 2004 07:27 PM
Ouch!Butt peppers.Lawdy momma.
Posted by: mbruce | November 23, 2004 07:34 PM
Michele, I can't believe you would publish a list of rock songs and not include the Rolling Stones. I have been a faithful reader for quite some time -- is this where it ends?? Do we each now go our separate ways??
Posted by: john | November 23, 2004 07:37 PM
I don't see any Ratt on the list. What's the problem?
Posted by: Sean Hackbarth | November 23, 2004 07:39 PM
Re: Update
Damn young'uns, the country's going to hell in a handbasket (whatever that is). Serious for a minute, I like rock, bluegrass, and classical in that order. What's your preferences?
Posted by: john | November 23, 2004 07:56 PM
Stabbing wildly in the dark time, What about something by...
Del the Funky Homosapien
De La Soul
Posted by: Chris Valentine | November 23, 2004 08:13 PM
Eurythmics, "Here Comes the Rain"-best song for the fall ever.
Prince, "When Doves Cry"
Ray Charles, "Georgia On My Mind"-let go of the cheesy associations and listen to it as a song about a woman named Georgia. It'll melt your butter.
Elvis Presley, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"
Aretha Franklin, "Chain of Fools"
Etta James, "At Last"
Radiohead, "Exit Music (for a Film)"
Circle Jerks, "When the Shit Hits the Fan"
Suicidal Tendencies, "Institution"-"It doesn't matter/I'll probably get hit by a car, anyway..."
Posted by: Rex | November 23, 2004 08:16 PM
No Tears for Fears? The later stuff sucked eggs, but from the "Suffer the Children" album? Nothing? Pale Shelter?
Posted by: Carin | November 23, 2004 08:34 PM
No Beatles? How about CCR? Bob Dylan? I must admit, your list is rather diverse, but how can you ignore some of the best songs ever written?
Posted by: Robert | November 23, 2004 08:58 PM
i know its a regional thing--but "colorado" by judy collins--also--ccr--proud mary-c'mon its a toe-tapper-----rolling stones brown sugar???
Posted by: mikeymom | November 23, 2004 09:09 PM
i know its a regional thing--but "colorado" by judy collins--also--ccr--proud mary-c'mon its a toe-tapper-----rolling stones brown sugar???
Posted by: mikeymom | November 23, 2004 09:10 PM
Hmmm, not a Stones fan? It's hard to imagine any credible top 500 list without Can't You Hear Me Knockin' or Bitch. Please reconsider.
Also, I haven't seen any Godsmack on the list yet.
Posted by: Mark Aase | November 23, 2004 09:23 PM
So far, so good, and like your taste in power pop tunes, and some of those 80's new wave songs.Now, for eclectic gems:
Cocteau Twins- Love's Easy Tears
Wire-Kidney Bingos
Magazine-Light Pours Out Of Me
Simple Minds-Changeling
Genesis-Suppers Ready
Shriekback-Lined Up
Propaganda-BitterSweet
Bowie-Look Back In Anger
999-Homicide
Angels-Marseille
Cult-She Sells Sanctuary
Simple Minds-New Gold Dream
Demics-New York City
Felt-Primitive Painters
Jah Wobble-Visions Of You
Blur-There's No Other Way
Neds Atomic Dustbin-Grey Cell Green
Spiritualized-Run
Damned-In Dulce Decorum
Stranglers-Skin Deep
Sugar-Helpless
Toby Swann-Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Teenage Head-Picture My Face
UFO-Too Hot To Handle
Dada-DizzKnee Land
Martha & the Muffins-Cooling The Medium
Posted by: carlton the doorman | November 23, 2004 09:49 PM
Bowie - something off station to station
Genesis - Don't Care any more
Blues Brothers - Rawhide
Extreme - Am I ever gonna change
Ozzie - Iron Man
King Crimson - Discipline
Clapton - Cocaine
BOC - DFTR (More Cowbell!)
The Fixx - The edge
Posted by: Wind Rider | November 23, 2004 09:51 PM
What about something by Underworld? Or The Cure disintegration or Same deep water as you? How about Underwated Love by Smoke City? Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs?
p.s. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Scott R | November 23, 2004 09:58 PM
Mr. Brownstone--GREAT choice! My favorite song from the album.
Posted by: Mark Aase | November 23, 2004 10:03 PM
Just a few off the top of my head...
Nirvana - Lithium
Megadeth - Peace Sells (but who's buying)
Sepultura - Ratamahatta
Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
The Prodigy - Firestarter
Posted by: nastybastard | November 23, 2004 10:38 PM
And where is Juice Newton on your list,hmmm?What,no Royal Guardsmen,no Ray Stevens?C'mon,the list is not going to cut it unless you include at least one song by Dr Hook and the Medicine Show!
Posted by: mbruce | November 23, 2004 11:07 PM
A really good varied list Michele. The one thing thats always annoyed me about those Top 500 lists that magazines and radio stations put out, is that they are so PC and mostly include songs that are "deemed" classics by virtue of being in constant radio airplay over the last 40 years, i.e Beatles, Led Zepplin etc etc. Personally i think repetitious radio play is what has contributed to my opinion of Stairway to Heaven.
You rock for putting some post 1990 stuff in there - besides whose to say in 40 years some of those songs wont be viewed with as much reverence as Stairway to Heaven etc. are viewed by people today?
Posted by: Angel | November 23, 2004 11:08 PM
1. "If i could fly
I'd pick you up
Take you into the night
And show you love
Like you've never seen
Ever seen
>
It's like having a dream
Where nobody has a heart
It's like having it all
And watching it fall apart
( some of the fantastic lyrics
to "Into the Night" by Benny
Mardones)
2. "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal
3. "Blue Rain" by Roy Orbison
4. "Lady" by Lionel Ritchie
5. "Brand New" by The Stylistics
Yea, i like songs where you can
understand every word and they have
feeling. So shoot me!
Posted by: dhlawrence | November 23, 2004 11:59 PM
No AC/DC? You have to include at least one of the following:
"Whole Lotta Rosie"
"Back Seat Rhythum"
"You Shook Me All Night Long"
Motorhead - "Ace of Spades"
Gap Band - "You Dropped a Bomb on Me"
Rose Royce - "Always and Forever"
Suger Hill Gang - "Wrapper's Delight"
Parliment - "Flashlight"
Pat Benatar - "Hit me With Your Best Shot"
Oingo Boingo - "Only a Lad"
Posted by: Gahrie | November 24, 2004 12:15 AM
A one hit wonder that I still like,from Spencer Tracey,"Mary's Prayer" I think.
Posted by: mbruce | November 24, 2004 12:23 AM
Right title,wrong name,Danny Wilson is the band for Mary's Prayer(I still have it stuck in my head that they wanted to be named Spencer Tracy but his estate said nonono)
Posted by: mbruce | November 24, 2004 12:42 AM
You are a strong contender for coolest person I've never met, simply by virtue of having "Unsung" by Helmet on this list.
It's lacking any Jimmy Eat World, though. Pretty much the entire album "Clarity" belongs here IMHO, 3-song limit notwithstanding. At the very least, the track "Goodbye Sky Harbor" belongs.
Rock.
Posted by: Anthony DiSante | November 24, 2004 12:43 AM
How about:
"Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" by Monty Python? (from their movie Life of Brian)
"More Than a Feeling" and "Long Time" by Boston.
Just my humble 2c worth. :-)
-BH
Posted by: Brian Huss | November 24, 2004 01:20 AM
Yeah me again.
... "Freebird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd (I live in the south. what can i say? If not that try Tuesday's Gone)
..."Life on a Chain" - Pete Yorn (or "For Nancy")
..."Yellow", "Clocks" or "The Scientist" by Coldplay
..."Flavor of the Week" by American HiFi
..."Misery" by Green Day
..."Hanging Around" or "Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows
..."With a Little Help (from my Friends)" by Joe Cocker
..."The Kids Aren't Alright" by The Offspring
..."Stay together for the Kids" by Blink 182
..."Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba
ok i'll stop. i was having fun surfing through my ipod though. great list, thanks for plenty of recommendations.
Posted by: Winston | November 24, 2004 01:49 AM
Hahah.. "New York's Alright" .. :)
Nice list!
=darwin
Posted by: Darwin | November 24, 2004 02:21 AM
To at least justify my mispent youth in seedy Texas juke-joints, you gotta include something by ZZ Top (Blue Jean Blues?) and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Posted by: Pat | November 24, 2004 02:46 AM
uh, UK, Danger Money
Posted by: Dave in Texas | November 24, 2004 03:32 AM
eeeee! Evil music twin!
Posted by: pril | November 24, 2004 04:35 AM
Just a few humble suggestions...
New Order - "The Perfect Kiss" or "Touched by the Hand of God"
Depeche Mode - "Stripped" or "Never Let Me Down Again"
The Sex Pistols - "No Feelings"
Pavement - "Range Life"
David Bowie - "Ashes to Ashes"
Lovage - "Anger Management"
Beck - "Devil's Haircut"
Guided by Voices - "Motor Away"
Joy Division - "Atmosphere"
Posted by: Sean M. | November 24, 2004 05:11 AM
Oh my God! Doug and the Slugs - Too Bad. That is too cool. The memories that evokes....
Here's a few more to consider:
Waiting for the Man - Velvet Underground
Walk on the Wildside - Lou Reed
Ship of Fools - World Party
Where is Your Mind? - Pixies
There Goes the Neighborhood - Sheryl Crow
Gotta Know Now - Primitive Radio Gods
A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls
Posted by: Barry | November 24, 2004 05:40 AM
Doug Benett of Doug and the Slugs passed away this month, Obscure? yes!
Fun tunes , yes
Posted by: gordo | November 24, 2004 06:40 AM
Judas Priest - "out in the cold" and "heads are gonna roll" - mood music for homicide
Veruca Salt - "Volcano Girls" - wind us up and watch us blow
AC/DC - "it's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock n roll)" - nothing like bagpipes in rock music
Eminem - "lose yourself"
Posted by: Jado | November 24, 2004 09:10 AM
Don't like the Beatles??...Don't....???
I don't understand.....
Posted by: Vince B | November 24, 2004 09:33 AM
Only...
1 G N R Song?
1 Iron Maiden Song?
1 Black Sabbath Song?
1 Led Zeppelin Song?
1 Hendrix Song?
1 Nirvana Song?
1 AC/DC Song?
1 Metallica Song?
1 Van Halen Song?
1 Motley Crue Song?
1 Kiss Song?
No Rolling Stones at all?
No "slow hand" (non Cream years)?
No Wang Chung? (This is a joke.)
No Marley?
No Dylan?
No Dokken or Megadeth?
I havent read too much into this list, so I dont know if you have a song/band limit or are trying to get in as much variety as possible. I guess I'll have to wait and see how this pans out. Keep on truckin'! It will be interesting to peruse the final list.
Posted by: Zoloft | November 24, 2004 10:00 AM
Delerium: "Euphoria (Firefly)"
Loreena McKennitt: "All Souls Night"
Posted by: John | November 24, 2004 10:21 AM
Bad Company - Bad Company
Posted by: Rhonda | November 24, 2004 10:29 AM
Just thinking perhaps "Ace of Spades", Motorhead
was on 105.5 WDHA (NJ) a few days ago, and it is a great driving song...
Posted by: kotter | November 24, 2004 10:57 AM
I have a couple of songs that I didn't notice, and quite sure this will date me.
American Pie - Don MacLean
La Grange - ZZ Top
Posted by: Tina | November 24, 2004 11:21 AM
How about a little C&W?
David Allen Coe - You never even called me by my name
Hank Williams Jr - Family tradition
Waylon Jennings - Dukes of Hazzard theme
Posted by: Victor Krueger | November 24, 2004 11:48 AM
A Rare but very good heavy 80's metal band you all need to try out. Definately a fun band to listen to while driving:)
'Zodiac Mindwarp & the love Reaction'
The whole 'best of Album' is the best.
1.Driving on Holy Gasoline
2.Tattooed Beat Messiah
3.Back Seat Education
4.'Born to Be Wild' remake (GREAT)
5. Prime Mover
white zombie - thunder kiss '65
Prodigal Blues-Billy Idol
Limp B*zkit-Behind blue eyes
Great remake
Presidents of the United States of America-Kitty
Presidents of the United States of America- Peaches
I love all the lists on here, THANKS!
Great music everyone.
Posted by: Jenna | November 24, 2004 12:04 PM
Soul Asylum - Without a Trace (or the more popular runaway train)
Refreshments - Down Together or Suckerpunch
The Cramps - Garbage Man
Pink Floyd - Coming back to life (500 songs is more than enough to include a song from the early days and a song from the later years)
Posted by: wafflestomper | November 24, 2004 12:19 PM
Hm. My suggestions that might spark a memory:
At least a little Leonard Cohen (Everybody Knows or First I'll Take Manhattan, probably, although the earlier stuff has a lot of merit too.)
A little love for the Stone Roses and Material Issue wouldn't hurt, either.
They Might Be Giants?
And don't be afraid to toss in a third Smiths/Morrissey song, either...
(And I won't think any worse of you if you toss in a Falco or a Peter Schilling...)
Posted by: Jeff R. | November 24, 2004 12:45 PM
Nothing by Dave Matthews or Dire Straits? How about Davide Bowie or REM?
Posted by: Kevin | November 24, 2004 01:04 PM
Interesting project! I just created my own list similar to yours -- it ended up with 168 songs. We clearly have similar taste, although mine leans a little more towards pop/dance/electronica.
I got rid of all my songs that are on your 300 list. Then all the duplicate artists. Then I threw out a few more duds. Here's what's left: a nice even 100 songs, one per artist, and no dupes with your list. Surely there's a few that you'll be interested in. No Beatles/Creed/Nickelback/Poison/Eagles, either. Enjoy...
3 Doors Down - Kryptonite
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Air - Radio #1
Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant
Art Garfunkel - Break Away
B-52s - Love Shack
Bachman-Turner-Overdrive - Not Fragile
Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian
Barenaked Ladies - Good Boy
Basia - Time and Tide
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Billy Thorpe - Children of the Sun
Blackstreet - No Diggety
Blue Oyster Cult - Sole Survivor
Blue Rodeo - Piranha Pool
Blues Traveller - Stand
Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays
Boston - Foreplay / Long Time
Chemical Brothers - Electrobank
Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Master & Slave
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
Culture Club - Church of the Poison Mind
Daft Punk - One More Time
David Wilcox - Rockin' the Boogie
Der Dritte Raum - Radio Edit
Dire Straits - Industrial Disease
Don Maclean - American Pie
Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music
Doors - Hello, I Love You
Duke Jupiter - I'll Drink to You
Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Hoedown
Eminem - Lose Yourself
Enigma - Sadness
Eric Clapton - Cocaine
Evanescence - Bring Me To Life
Face Dancer - Change
Faithless - Insomnia
Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank
Foreigner - Juke Box Hero
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
Garbage - Only When It Rains
George Thorogood - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Gorillaz - 19-2000
Herbert - The Audience
Herbie Hancock - Rockit
Hooters - All You Zombies
Infidels - Shaking
Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Jeff Beck - People Get Ready
Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath
Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from my Friends
Joe Walsh - The Confessor
John Cougar - Paper in Fire
John Mayall - Room to Move
Journey - Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
Kansas - Portrait (He Knew)
Kinks - Superman
Kix - Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Lenny Kravitz - Dig In
Lo-Fidelity All Stars - Battle Flag
Manhattan Transfer - Ray's Rockhouse
Matt Bianco - More Than I Can Bear
Midnight Oil - King of the Mountain
Motorbass - Ezio
Pat Travers - Boom, Boom, Out Goes the Lights
Police - Message in a Bottle
Presidents of the United States of America - Lump
Prince - Joy in Repetition
Propellerheads - History Repeating
Randy Newman - There's a Party at My House
Re-flex - Politics of Dancing
Republica - Ready To Go
Rush - Jacob's Ladder
Semisonic - Closing Time
Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Spyro Gyra - Schu's Blues
Starship - We Built This City
Steely Dan - Kid Charlemagne
Steve Winwood - Night Train
Styx - Renegade
Tears for Fears - Sowing the Seeds of Love
Ted Nugent - Hibernation
The Cars - Drive
The Prodigy - Breathe
Thompson Twins - Roll Over
Toad the Wet Sprocket - All I Want
Tommy James & the Shondells - Mony Mony
Tragically Hip - Cordelia
Triumph - Rock & Roll Machine
Tubes - Don't Want to Wait Any More
Warren Zevon - Lawyers, Guns and Money
Was (not Was) - Walk the Dinosaur
Whitesnake - Still of the Night
Who - Eminence Front
Yes - I've Seen All Good People
ZZ Top - Cheap Sunglasses
Posted by: Rezen8r | November 24, 2004 01:39 PM
If you're still taking requests, I'll open up my MP3 folder and give you my top ten suggestions, in no particular order...
Crossfire - Stevie Ray Vaughan
In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed - The Allman Brothers
(from Live at Fillmore East)
Alien - Atlanta Rhythm Section
Bittersweet - Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Black Velvet - Alannah Myles
You Can Leave Your Hat On - Joe Cocker
Round Here - Counting Crows
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Have A Little Faith In Me - John Hiatt
Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
Copperhead Road - Steve Earle
Lots of other great songs in my folder, but I'll avoid clutter and stick with these ten. Enjoy!
Posted by: diamond dave | November 25, 2004 10:58 AM
Kick ass, you have a Brujeria song listed!
Posted by: Ratan | November 26, 2004 09:39 PM