10. Neil Young - Harvest Moon
A beautiful song, with specific recollections of a romance that burned brightly, then ended.
Feeling: autumnal.
9. Crying- Roy Orbison And k.d lang.
As good as Roy's original is, this one is better. It's the harmonica. And when lang gets to sing, by herself, the chorus, it is stunning.
Feeling: there's something in my eye.
8. Biko - Peter Gabriel.
The story of the slain South African is penetrating, but the vocals, the rhythm, and that ending!
Feeling: ticked off.
7. John Hiatt - Have a Little Faith in Me
How does this rate so high? It's just a guy on the piano. Well, it's the quality of both. Hiatt remade this song with more orchestration for a greatest hits album; it was not improved, and in fact was somehow diminished. Not so incidentally, a key song on a mixed tape I made for my now-wife.
6. When Love Comes To Town - U2/B.B. King.
From the opening drumming to King's guitar lines, to King's and Bono's vocals, I almost always platy this song twice.
Feeling: struggling with the power.
chops off 1st notes and then too soon.
5. Billy Joel-Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
As beautiful as it is, the piano on the bridge just lifts it higher. I heard an a cappella version of this, which was lovely.
Feeling: melancholy.
HERE.
4. Roberta Flack - Gone Away.
I was watching the Grammys in the last couple years and discovered someone has sampled this. This song, part of the group of songs I used to play when love went south, really builds after the 1:30 mark, with instruments (a painful guitar line, and is that a tuba?) plus mournful vocals that feature the late Donny Hathaway.
Feeling: brokenhearted.
3. I Only Have Eyes For You - the Flamingoes.
I hear those first three or four chords and I am always surprised how it leads to such a lush tune. My first favorite song, probably for 30 years.
Feeling: loving.
2. Let's Go Crazy - Prince.
Unfortunate that the video overlays the preach part with the musical beginning, for it's both elements that I love. The danceability, plus my favorite guitar solo possibly ever. I have a 7-minute version that's even more fun.
Feeling: let's get nuts!
So, here are
the rules.
100-91.
90-81.
80-71.
70-61.
60-51.
50-41.
40-31.
30-21.
20-11.
Anyone want to venture a guess as to #1?
(Confidential to T&C, who started before I did, but somehow will finish after: it's from my top 10 with which one or more of your Top 40 will converge, I'm guessing.)
ROG
My favorite Christmas music?
6 hours ago
4 comments:
you do know your music. I have to agree with many of the artists you are making reference to, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, Roberta , K.D.----. I kinda dropped out of the music world in the early 80's, also about the same time I stopped bar hopping every weekend----anyway its nice recalling some of the great artists and groups---wow, the Flamingos-----nice. (P.S. thanks for the Add--appreciate it my list needed some class)
Hm. Maybe Not Dark Yet? I do talk about that song A LOT. Or maybe Romeo & Juliet? I seem to remember you talking that one up a while back.
And holy cow an I going straight to iTunes to get that Orbison/Lang duet. How was I not made aware of the existence of this??
Whew! I thought I was the ONLY one who romanticized KD Lang. Gawd that girl has some pipes on her. She made "Cryin" the most popular song on MY hit parade. The harmony she pulled off! Of course, Roy ain't bad his own bad self. And, yes, dear. Vegetables talk in Indiana. They have a distinctive hillbilly twang. Very nasal.
#2 and #6 would make my top ten although sometimes I forget how much music I really like until I stumle on to it on someone elses site. Thaks for the BB!!!!
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