Zack said it was to be a special birthday gift. Well… he got that right. A year before, as a result of a Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Albums (and should we add, of all time) he and I both launched separate pieces about our favorite albums.
And we didn’t top there. We followed it up with the Greatest Hits… of all time.
I think it was a rewarding excursion for each of us.
And lo, this year, following our lead, Rolling Stone put out their 500 Greatest Hits list.
Zack’s gift to me? He burned 4 CDs (I am promised a second installment) with as many of the “chosen 500” as he had in his collection (or in CDs he could cadge from Ezra and Ari, or Klonsky as he is better known).
He has started in the reverse order & he has made me pledge that I listen to each in every track regardless of my preconceived notion as to whether I would like it.
I have done so.
The list follows below, with comments if I am so moved.
See you on the other side…
497. Buddy Holly Weezer. I can actually remember hearing this before.
496. Miss You Rolling Stones. This is a Top 10 Stones for me. I love the Wyman’s bass work and Watts’ drums… perfect cymbal and snare cracks… and how ’bout this line: we’re gonna come ’round with some Puerto Rican girls who are just dyin’ to meetchoo!
486. How Soon is Now? The Smiths. Totally unknown to me; but not offensive.
481. Young Americans David Bowie. Sorry. Don’t like the song and don’t care for the Artist.
480. Into the Mystic Van Morrison. Good song.
478. White Rabbit Jefferson Airplane. Wow, I’m really surprised this didn’t place much higher (no pun intended). Check out the opening drum beat… classic military roll.
475. Sabotage The Beastie Boys. OK, Zack I have listened to this at least a half dozen times. I want you to listen to my Half Torah portion at least that many times.
467. Welcome to the Jungle Guns ‘n’ Roses. I actually like some of this group’s stuff. This is not a favorite.
458. Soul Man Sam and Dave. I hear the opening guitar lick and then the horns kick in, I close my eyes and I am transported back to some Fraternity House at Union. Yeah, I like this track.
455. All Apologies Nirvana. OK; but just OK.
453. Paradise City Guns ‘n’ Roses. Yep, this is damn good. Every part of it.
449. Penny Lane Beatles. Not bad. I have vague recollections that the flip side to this single was Strawberry Fields which I hated & they got equal air play.
448. Heroin Velvet Underground. Not a fan.
445. Come as You Are Nirvana. Better.
443. I Shot the Sheriff Bob Marley. I had both this version and the Eric Clapton cover. This is the far better track.
435. Beast of Burden The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones. You know… even when it’s not a great song, they still had a wonderful sound.
433. Ramble On Led Zeppelin. OK Zep, just not a favorite of mine.
425. William It Was Really Nothing The Smiths. This is the second entry for this group. I think Zack told me they were from England.
424. Tumbling Dice The Rolling Stones. Not a favorite of mine; but I am glad that it placed ahead of William It Was Really Nothing.
421. Piano Man Billy Joel. Yes, I liked this song when I first heard it; but it took on an added dimension when I started tending bar… not that I tended bar where there was a piano; but there is an ethos to the lyric that I could identify with.
419. Nuthin’ But a G Thang Dr. Dre with Snoop Dogg. Boy am I glad this is here, just a little disappointed that it didn’t make it into the Top 10. I keep a change of clothes when I listen to this tune… it makes me feel a part of the scene. I commit at least 5 new hand symbols to memory every day.
418. Suite to Judy Blue Eyes Crosby, Stills & Nash. What a marvelous song… if memory serves it made Zack’s Top Song list, too. Beautiful harmonies and great changes.
409. Crossroads Cream. The panel must have been drunk & stupid, or plain stupid to place this song so low. This made my Top Song list and I think it is one of the finest live recordings ever made. Three musical giants soaring on the same track without the benefit of double tracking, over dubbing or other engineering enhancements.
408. Sweet Emotion Aerosmith. Good song.
407. In Bloom Nirvana. Nah.
402. Thank You Sly and the Family Stone. Real popular during my Union days. I never got into it.
399. Enter Sandman Metallica. Real nice intro and nice recurring guitar lick.
398. Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is a live version of the track I already own… and I adore it. The studio version has a spoken directive: turn it up! And I always do…
393. Summer In The City Lovin’ Spoonful. John Sebastian at his best. I have a Joe Cocker cover of this that I have been listening to recently & I actually prefer it to the original.
392. Ooh Child The Five Stairsteps. Drippy, I’ll pass…
391. Band of Gold Freda Payne. I like this one. Makes me think of all those Motown songs by the Supremes that I loved.
388. Roxanne The Police. Yep, love the tune.
387. Tiny Dancer Elton John. Nice song; but far from my favorite Elton John.
385. Ohio Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Love the group; but not the song.
380. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Elton John. His book of music is certainly impressive. This is OK.
376. Fake Plastic Trees Radiohead. This is OK, I guess. I think we are meant to concentrate on the lyrics; but there is certainly nothing compelling about the melody.
375. Another Brick In The Wall (Pt 2) Pink Floyd. Zack is the big Floyd maven. I think this song has several variations, the ultimate subtleties apparent to the true I happen to love this song… always have, even before Zack got turned on. This is a live version, I think I prefer the more staged studio version
371. I Can’t Explain The Who. Early Who. Love it. I got a chance to see them in their pre-Tommy days and this was in the play list.
367. White Room Cream. Off their Wheels of Fire album. I had the album… and also the 8 Track. I would play this song at full blast as I traveled the stretch of Mass Pike from Springfield to the New York border. Great.
366. How Deep Is Your Love Bee Gees. Bzzzzzzzzzzt! Change the channel!!
362. All You Need Is Love The Beatles. Next.
347. Candle In The Wind Elton John. I have always loved this song. I think it is on his first album (which is his best… in my opinion)… written with Marilyn Monroe in mind it later was adapted as a tribute for Princess Diana. I have mixed feelings about that piece… it should have stood by itself and he & Bernie Taupin should have written something else to honor Princess Di.
346. California Love 2 Pac with Dr. Dre. Not my cup of tea, as they say. Such a big state, so many places to “sing” about… maybe they should do a sequel.
340. Baba O’Riley The Who. Tremendous track from one of the finest albums ever made. The synthesizer work is first rate… and then the violin (or is it a synthesizer, too?) at the end is spot on.
338. Maybe I’m Amazed Paul McCartney. I think this was from McCartney’s first post-Beatles’ album. Great tune. Rod Stewart’s cover of this song is also top stuff.
336. Walk This Way Aerosmith. I don’t particular like this tune. I might add that for the longest time (not knowing the name of the song) I thought the line was market way.
335. Sweet Jane Velvet Underground. If I was aware of this song from before I have long since forgotten. But this is a fine song.
334. Wild Horses The Rolling Stones. Terrific Song.
332. Subterranean Homesick Blues Bob Dylan. Dylan was a gifted songwriter… maybe without peer; but with rare exception, the cover versions of his songs are always better than his originals. He is painful to listen to.
325. Good Lovin’ The Young Rascals. Great song from a sometimes overlooked group… rarely gets their due from the “Classic” Radio stations. But I tell you what… check out the play list of any dance frat band that played Union… and right after Motown would be the Rascals.
321. Cortez The Killer Neil Young. I do love Neil Young and his Crazy Horse album easily made my “best list”… but this song doesn’t make it for me.
320. Heartbreaker Led Zeppelin. I do like this song; but I love it a whole lot more when it gets paired with that other song (sorry, it’s name has just fled me).
316. Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd. Good literate song. Just not a big play for me.
314. Comfortably Numb Pink Floyd. Another good song from one of Zack’s favorite bands.
304. A Little Help From My Friends Beatles. I’ve always liked this cut. Joe Cocker had a successful cover of this, too. But I prefer the tempo in this version.
300. Like a Prayer Madonna. I had heard this song before; but didn’t know the title of the song. I have a huge soft spot for Madonna. I love her material. And man can she move. Yeah, good song.
297. Heart of Gold Neil Young. Yep, good Neil Young… I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold. I like the idea…
296. Get Up, Stand Up Bob Marley. I’ll pass on this one.
295. Street Fighting Man The Rolling Stones. Real good Stones.
294. Black Dog Led Zeppelin. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this song over the years and never new the title. Classic Jimmy Page, huh? I prefer other Zep songs from their play list.
293. Tired of Being Alone Al Green. Sorry, not one that I know; but it does nothing for me.
292. Train In Vain The Clash. Nope.
290. Stan Eminem. I actually like the start of the track which begins with another song… that song I like… the rap tune that follows… which is the song, is not worth the time.
289. Can’t Buy Me Love The Beatles. Early Beatles and not one of my favorites.
283. Call Me Blondie. Yes, I like this tune.
258. I Can See For Miles The Who. Anyone who knows me will tell you how much I loved The Who; but this is just OK.
256. Paranoid Android Radiohead. Maybe my dislike for this tune is from just not being familiar with the group. This is what I call a “station changer.”
255. Heart of Glass Blondie. This is OK. Was Debbie Harry performing at the same time as Madonna, or before her?
247. Hot Fun In The Summertime Sly & The Family Stone. Not even close.
245. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down The Band. This is a live version. I prefer the original studio version. Still, this is an outstanding track. I mentioned it to Zack that Joan Baez covered it well… he gave me the big poo-poo… but it’s true: Baez covered this well both in the studio and live.
243. Rocket Man Elton John. How about grouping this song with David Bowie’s Space Traveler… I like neither; but this is better. I think the studio version is superior.
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Well my pretties… that puts to rest the first installment of my gift. Zack has already burned the 5th CD…
Anyone who wants to opt out on the next listing can do so by merely replying to this email and requesting to be taken off my mailing list. I reserve the right to honor, or not honor, your request…
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Do I like you…
Do I owe you money…
Do you owe me money…
And lastly, if you like Archie Bell and the Drells…
love to you all, Jim