Let's crack open the new board with my offerings from '77. This turned out to be a very good year indeed, and so I thought I'd offer up 25 for this one.
1. “Your Own Special Way”, GENESIS
Unquestionably the best thing ever with Phil Collins singing; this breathtakingly brilliant pop ballad highlights Wind and Wuthering, the last great Genesis album. Too beautiful for words and an ideal wedding song.

2. “Dust In The Wind”, KANSAS
Essential, classic, seventies acoustic ballad that manages an air of downbeat melancholia and wistful longing despite its quick pace. Some of rock’s all time memorable lyrics espousing fatalism, impermanence and the irretrivability of the past.

3. “Wise Man”, URIAH HEEP
John Lawton stepped aboard as vocalist for the Firefly album, which heralded a welcome return to the magical atmospheric sound of the Demons and Wizards days. “Wise Man” is almost nearly as good as “The Wizard”, and I don’t think Lawton, one of the great bluesy vocalists in rock history, has ever sung better. Fantastic lyrics also for this rich, moving tune which should have been a smash hit.

4. “:Lost Without Your Love”, BREAD
After taking a hiatus for a few years, Bread regrouped one more time in ’77 to release a great new album, of which this title track is the best offering. Although the low-key piano-based melody always reminds me of the theme to a certain soap opera, this song may quite possibly be the most chillingly beautiful thing the band ever did, stuff like “If” and “Diary” notwithstanding.

5. “Come Sail Away”, STYX
The boys from Illinois put their prog-pop formula to work and hit a home run with this effort. The song is everything arena rock should be: majestic, theatric, making use of a full range of instruments and perfectly blending and balancing testosterone and estrogen. The lyrics tell a somewhat odd story: the singer believes he has received a visitation from a group of angels, soon he learns that they are not angels at all but extraterrastrials come to take him into space.

6. “Big Wheels”, ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
ELO’s Out Of The Blue is one of those albums that is problematic in compiling a list like this, simply because there are so many great songs on it. When trying to pick out the best representative selection, you’re like “okay, this is the album’s best song . . . no, wait, this is . . . no, hold it, I mean this is . . . wait, I can’t leave out this one . . .” which makes for quite a quandry. I went with the lesser known “Big Wheels” over such more popular favorites as “Turn To Stone” and “Sweet Talking Woman” because it is a personal favorite and I believe the best-constructed and most musically moving song on the two-record set.

7. “Wondrous Stories”, YES
This one’s a rarity – a three-minute track from seventies Yes that isn’t an experimental instrumental! A fantastic, gorgeous song bursting with sunlight and lush layered strings, a semi-medieval lyrics inviting a wandering balladeer to spin his yarns. A great demonstration that this era of Yes could excel at the short form as well as the long when they had an inkling, and recommended as an alternative selection for anyone who doesn’t have the taste or patience for their 15-minute classical-rock suites.

8. “Bluebird”, ROBIN TROWER
Trower is usually not considered outside of his work with Procul Harum or his one recognizable solo effort Bridge of Sighs. Yet from the obscurity of his later career we pluck this effort as delicate and lovely as a ming vase. Trower’s solo work usually employs a keen edge in both guitar and vocals, here he substitutes that with pure grace, and the result is a simply stunning ballad.

9. “Xanadu”, RUSH
Superb example of progressive rock done right, maybe the best thing Rush have ever done, ever. Incredible production, a variety of awesome and rocking musical passages, and imagery as epic and evocative as the Coleridge poem on which it is based. Easily stands alongside the best work of Yes. As great as the studio version from Farewell To Kings is, the live version from 82’s Exit Stage Left may be even better. Listening to this one truly is like dining on honeydew and drinking the milk of paradise.

10. “Just The Way You Are”, BILLY JOEL
The piano man’s best and most memorable ballad. Has a sax ever sounded so good?

11. “Songbird”, FLEETWOOD MAC
Again we have an album that it is difficult to pick just one choice from, and so again I will go with a lesser-known favorite over the more popular choices. Fleetwood Mac at their most beautiful.

12. “Firefly”, URIAH HEEP
Fantastic title track opens with shimmering organ and soul-stirring vocals, then quickly becomes a toe-tapping rocker before reverting back to a splendid acoustic finale. One of Ken Hensley’s best love songs, inspired by his first-ever sight of the bug in question. Illustrated wonderfully by a great Martin White album cover painting

13. “C’est La Vie”, EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER
Along with “Lucky Man”, this has to be considered the best ELP song. Sepulcharily haunting, it helps to anchor a sometimes sprawling and unfocused Works set.

14. “Steppin’ Out”, ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
Back to Out Of The Blue for another lesser-known track. Actually very similar to “Big Wheels” in arrangement, but what makes this track for me is the superb vocals.

15. “Fever Of Love”, SWEET
Another sizzling take-no-prisoners rocker from this underrated band. Again, on-your-feet or on-your-knees guitar work and vocals.

16. “Fantasy”, CAPTAIN BEYOND
Very good hard rock tune with killer guitar work and an infectious groove.

17. “Dogs”, PINK FLOYD
Musically tormented and lyrically dense, this is a highlight of the Animals concept album.

18. “Wonderful Tonight”, ERIC CLAPTON
Clapton’s mellow mood works to best effect on this “mood” piece.

19. “Here Come The Tears”, JUDAS PRIEST
An unexpected change of pace for these early death-and-devil metalheads, a melancholy ballad of lonliness.

20. “I Love The Night”, BLUE OYSTER CULT
Another change of pace songs, and one of the few examples of pure balladry from the Oyster boys. I once read a reviewer who complained that Eric Bloom “sings like he’s reading from cue cards”, but he performs just fine on this one.

21. “Nobody Does It Better”, CARLY SIMON
James Bond theme songs are always great, and this one is right up there with “Live And Let Die” and “Goldfinger” as one of the best of them.

22. “You And Me”, ALICE COOPER
Another one of Coop’s ballads. This one isn’t nearly as good as “I Never Cry” or 78’s “How You Gonna See Me Now”, but it is a fine song in its own right.

23. “Wizard Man”, PROCUL HARUM
With Harum’s career winding down they came up with this kicking single featuring razor-sharp guitars and piano. Cool lyrics on this infectious little stomper as well.

24. “Sea Song”, ROUGH DIAMOND
One-shot supergroup made up of members of other famous bands released one rather lackluster album, alhough it did boast this excellent ballad.

25. “Sweet Is The Night”, ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
Okay, now that’s three from Out Of The Blue and we STILL haven’t gotten to “Stone” or STW”. More organ beauty from Jeff Lynne with a compelling rhythym.

"20. 'I Love The Night', BLUE OYSTER CULT
Another change of pace songs, and one of the few examples of pure balladry from the Oyster boys. I once read a reviewer who complained that Eric Bloom 'sings like he’s reading from cue cards', but he performs just fine on this one." - Todd Pence

Except that it's Buck Dharma singing lead on that cut. For comparison, note that Eric sings the lead on "R.U. Ready 2 Rock" and "Goin' Through the Motions" both from the Spectre album.

np - The Least Worst Of - Type O Negative

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Here we go with '77:

1. "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions" - Queen

This became a hit because of the radio, really. "We Are the Champion" was the A-side of the single, "We Will Rock You", the B-side. And, yeah, okay, so the latter's a gay anthem. But the former has become a culturally icon. I mean, it's a beat that those of us who have no sense of rhythm can keep time to. It's not as brilliant as "Bohemian Rhapsody" was (nothing else by Queen is), but this is still one of their many highlights.

2. "New Kid In Town" - the Eagles

On an album that found the Eagles increasingly embracing rock and roll (thanks to Joe Walsh), this is the country tune from Hotel California. At the time I first heard this song, I had just moved to Weatherford, Texas, so the lyrics had a special meaning for me. But in actuality, the song is about the fickleness of public opinion about celebrity. Although, it could be a love song, too.

3. "Come Sail Away" - Styx

The gentle opening of this song is deceptive. Halfway through, it becomes pure heavy metal. Dennis DeYoung's keyboard effects are wonderful and avoid becoming cheesy. There was a shorter version, the forty-five version, which omitted the verse that began with the line "I look to the sea". But it's the album version that is the one to listen to.

4. "Golden Age of Leather" - Blue Öyster Cult

Starts off with a bit of a beerhall singing ("Raise your can of beer on high."), then slowly builds. It never really becomes pure heavy metal. It's too smooth for that. Buck lays down some smooth licks and terrific vocals for this song about biker gangs gathering one last time. One of my favorites by the Cult.

5. "Maybe I'm Amazed (live)" - Wings

Easily Macca's most powerful ballad. The live version is actually better, but only slightly.

6. "Like a Hurricane" - Neil Young

This features some of Neil's best, most furious guitar work in the Seventies. Just when you thought he was a folkie, he lays this hard rocker on you.

7. "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" - Meco

Meco almost made a career out of taking John Williams' movie scores and turning them into disco. This was the best of the lot, though. Only Meco's disco adaptations of "Theme From Close Encounters", "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Force Theme" come close to being as good. The sound bites from the original Star Wars movie (forget that "A New Hope" cr4p) augment this song perfectly. This was one of disco's finest moments.

8. "Boogie Nights" - Heatwave

Another song with a great thumping bass line. The keyboard is ethereal in the beginning. This has one of the great grooves in Funk of all times. And that bass voice singing, "Got to keep on dancing/Keep on dancing." Well, it makes you wanna dance, even if you can't dance.

9. "Dancing Queen" - ABBA

This is probably ABBA's signature tune. It is certainly one of their two best ones. It's epic and exhilarating all at the same time. And that violin... I love it!

10. "Godzilla" - Blue Öyster Cult

Nothing fancy here, just a tongue in cheek tribute to one of the kitschy icons of the movies, the King of Monsters, Godzilla. Eric sings it, but Buck wrote it. The lick was written in a hotel in Dallas, Texas. The lyrics are only like two or three verses altogether and the music is simple. But it's still powerful. It's the second of B.Ö.C.'s "Big Three".

11. "Love Without Your Love" - Bread

??? I'm listing a Bread song?!?! Yeah. But this one is the best thing David Gates and the boys ever recorded. Solemn, melancholy, almost a dirge, yet this is a very romantic song.

12. "On and On" - Stephen Bishop

A sweet little song about love found and lost on the beach. Bish seemingly came from out of nowhere to present us with this catchy bit of pop fluff. A beautiful summertime song.

13. "Edge of the Universe (live)" - the Bee Gees

This version has more muscle than the original studio version found on the Main Course album. It's probably the last time in the Seventies the Brothers Gibb had a hit with a song that wasn't disco. I've always wanted to write a story based on the lyrics of this tune.

14. "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')" - Johnny Rivers

A nice little ballad from the man who gave us "Secret Agent Man". Yet another romance song I love. Weird given that I wouldn't call myself much of a romantic person.

15. "I Love the Night" - Blue Öyster Cult

Buck Dharma's lilting ode to a close encounter of the third kind. Donald Roeser (Buck), plays some great guitar on this one (of course). The song is actually missing a verse. (It can be found on the version found in the Buck Dharma Archive series.)

16. "Keep It Coming Love" - KC and the Sunshine Band

This was about as close to rock as KC ever got. Seems like it has more lyrics than was normal for a KC song, too.

17. "Shock Me" - KISS

One of Ace Frehley's best songs for the band. Unlike "Golden Age of Leather" this song is about spicing up your sex life with a little S&M. Possibly the best song from the Love Gun album.

18. "We Just Disagree" - Dave Mason

Not much to say about this wonderful break up tune. Former Traffic member Dave Mason has his day in the sun and created a great song about an amicable break up.

19. "One More Time" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

These days I keep pulling out Street Survivors just to hear this tune. It has a sweeping, sing-song rhythm to it that I find relaxing. Ronnie Van Zandt's voice is gruff and resigned in this Southern Rock ballad that is a kindred spirit to Offspring's "Self Esteem".

20. "The Chain" - Fleetwood Mac

If any cut epitomizes the romantic troubles the members of this band was having in those days, this one is it. Sung partly harmoniously, partly as a round-robin, this acoustic based kiss off is more vicious than it lets on.

Next: 1978.

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Good lists guys! Just wondering about "Dancing Queen" though. I think you will find that the album "Arrival" from which it came, was released in 1976. As an interesting side-note, I find it curious that many people discuss Abba in terms of their singles and not their albums. I know a lot of fans that if you asked them what their favourite album was they would say "Oh I don't know, they all sound alike". Rather narrow view in my opinion. I believe that 1979's "Voulez-Vouz" album is their best all round effort, "Arrival" and "Super Trouper" are not far behind.
I have heard the same thing said of Queen, but I think the albums board have pretty much proved that wrong.

BTW Todd, re your "Out Of The Blue" dilemma- I can sympathize. Whilst I like a lot of that album I feel it runs out of steam after the "Concerto For A Rainy Day". The last side is pretty much filler ("Birmingham Blues" is not bad). The ones you selected in your list are some of my favs off that album.

Benn- your comment on "Shock Me" being the best on the album, I'll second that- "Hooligan" and "I STole YOur Love" would come very close though. I was very fortunate to go to the official Kiss convention in '95 (only the second after Perth) and they had the original artwork for that album on display. The detail was phenomenal.

Hm. Yeah, I've got "Dancing Queen" listed as being significant in both 76 and 77. I suppose it could be bumped from the list, everything brought up one notch and "Luchenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" by Waylon Jennings becomes the 20th song on the list. I'll have to think about it.

If I was to rank a song from Out of the Blue for 1977, it would have been "Night In the City". It's probably my favorite non-hit from the album.

Oh and for the record, my second favorite song from Love Gun is "Christine Sixteen", Gene's ode to jailbait.

Thanks for the compliment, by the way, Rodney.

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Oh and that's pretty cool about seeing the original art for the Love Gun album, Rodney.

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

"On and On" by Stephen Bishop. Man, that song just goes on and on. And on.
And on.
Anyway, these lists are great trips down memory lane for me, as well as fuel for discovering songs I'd missed in my younger years. Thanks, everyone!

RE - "I Love The Night"

>Except that it's Buck Dharma singing lead on >that cut.

Whoops! Guess it's time for me to hang my head in shame. In my defense I will say that I only have a cassette copy of Spectres, which doesn't give any detailed track info. Sorry about that mistake.

Now watching - "The Stoned Age" DVD

About the only thing the credits will tell you, is who wrote which song. Which, for B.Ö.C. is usually a good indicator of who sings what. Usually. Mostly, having heard Buck's solo album and watching the band live in concert has helped me learn how distunguish their voices. So knowing that Buck sings lead on "The Reaper" and "Burnin' For You" and that the vocals on "I Love the Night" sound like his, I can assert that it's Mr. Roeser on lead vocals. Of course, that he wrote the song and I have an early demo version of it on The Buck Dharma Archives helps.

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

And I revert back to a Top 25 list for the Year 1978:

1. "A Rock and Roll Fantasy" - the Kinks

No, this is Not the "Here comes the Jesters/One two three" song that Bad Company had a major hit with. This one's a lot more mellow than that. The song is an open letter from Kinks ringleader, Ray Davies, to his brother Dave, who apparently was at the point of being ready to chunk the whole rock business. Ray doesn't encourage his brother to stay in the business of the money or women that can be gotten. Instead, it's the fans he concentrates on and celebrates with this moody, organ driven tune. As Ray sings in the last verse, "Look at me, look at you/You say we've got nothing left to prove/The King is dead/Rock is done/You might be through/But I've just begun."

2. "Like a Sunday In Salem (The Amos & Andy Song)" - Gene Cotton

Probably the thing this native of Ohio was most famous for was his duet with Kim Carnes, "You're a Part of Me". But this is better. Regretfully, this powerful rock ballad is no longer commercially available (download!). The acoustic guitar goes forward and back, but never does it sound like it's going nowhere. The lyrics are dark and foreboding, with music that appropriately matches it. The song ends with a killer guitar solo. I have no idea whether Cotton's other songs were as good as this one. But I'd love to have the opportunity to find out.

3. "Baker Street" - Gerry Rafferty

Speaking of great solos at the end of a song, this one not only has a great guitar one, but a fantastically brilliant saxophone solo, too. The lyrics about someone longing for a simpler life are well written and pretty straight forward. Scotsman Gerry Rafferty enjoyed a string of hits in the late '70s and this is the best of the lot.

4. "Surrender" - Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick's classic anthem about the Generation Gap, STDs, cancelled TV shows and parents making it while listening to KISS records. Cheap Trick was a metal band that often was mistaken for a New Wave one. But that's because its pretty boys, lead singer Robin Zander and bass player, Tom Peterson wore skinny ties. Then there was drummer, Bun E. Carlos, who looked like a harried, overworked, chain-smoking accoutant. But the real oddball was lead guitarist Rick Nielson. Nielson, who owns about a gazillion guitars and plays all of them every Cheap Trick show, looked like Huntz Hall of the Dead End Kids. The band simply had one of the weirdest looks in rock. But nonetheless, the band, inspired heavily by the Beatles, created a signature anthem in "Surrender".

5. "Accidentally, Like a Martyr" - Warren Zevon

Yes, "Werewolves of London" is the more famous tune. But this mournful tune about lost love is by far the superior cut from the Excitable Boy album. The staccato piano that runs throughout the song seems to mirror the relationship that has ended in the song's lyrics. Zevon's vocal carry the proper emotional tone - sadness - that adds greater dimension to the song. Then there's the chorus. I love the lines "The hurt gets worse and the heart gets harder." Now, that's writing.

6. "Because the Night" - the Patti Smith Group

Bruce Springsteen co-writes a punk song. Who knew he had it in him? Forget Natalie Merchant's godawful version of this song. Patti Smith, the High Priestess of Punk, makes you feel the sexual lust that lurks in the lyrics of this song. (Somethingt that 10,000 Maniacs' almost virginal version fails to do.) The light piano at the beginning hide the hard rock that follows with the pounding of Jay Dee Daughtery's drum beats. Lenny Kaye turns in a nice guitar solo. And Patti Smith, who really can't sing, does her best bit of vocals in the Seventies. This was one of the first Punk songs I heard from the first Punk album I ever owned.

7. "Ego" - Elton John

The lost Elton John hit. It's only available on the To Be Continued... box set, which is a shame. Lyrically, this is the most openly honest of Reg Dwight's oevre. The difference between this song and his earlier ones shows that Elton was in the midst of a transitional phase. One of the last of the great Elton tunes.

8. "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" - Styx

Yeah, this really does belong on the '77 list. But I knew this cut better in '78. Dennis DeYoung's keyboards dominate this song about a rebel. The vocals match the angry intensity of its subject.

9. "Jack and Jill (Back Up the Hill)" - Raydio

Ray Parker, Jr. and the boys took an old nursery rhyme, applied a down and dirty funky bass to it and created a great song. Unfortunately, it's a song that celebrates and rationalizes infidelity (and is a bit misogynist, to boot.) This wasn't disco, this was Funk, plain and simple. And it doesn't get much better.

10. "Renegade" - Styx

Okay, this one's in its proper year. This one showed that the band from Illinois knew what a lead guitar was. This song about an outlaw has been an anthem and is a second cousin to the Eagles' "Desperado". Tommy Shaw does the honors on the vocals, which tend to be more of a primal scream than anything else. This hard rocker is very cathartic. One of the great hell-raisin' songs of the Seventies.

11. "Baby Come Back" - Player

This ballad from the L.A. band, was a gorgeous piece of pop rock. The guitar shimmers and the bass has a nice groove. The vocals, lead by Liverpudlian, Peter Beckett, display wonderful harmonies.

12. "Hot Child In the City" - Nick Gilder

How did this become such a big hit? It's a song about wanting to do a jailbait runaway! I know, it's got a beat and you can dance to it. It's also seductive. A great rhythm, excellent vocals and some fine licks. No matter how bad the subject matter is (at least KISS' "Christine Sixteen" was more open), it's still one of the best things to be played on the airwaves in 1978.

13. "It's a Laugh" - Daryl Hall and John Oates

Another forgotten hit. Hall and Oates weren't as big as they would be in the early '80s, so maybe that explains why no one really remembers this one. Great saxophone and strings help propel this tune about meeting an old love. It's a pity no one remembers this song. It's beats the hell out of "Rich Girl" and "Sara Smile".

14. "Shake It" - Ian Matthews

A bluntly sexual song that encourages young girls to shake their groove thing, "'cos it won't last forever." Just what us guys need, a song that encourages women to be teases. Still, the bass and the sax are what makes this one of my all time favorite songs. "Give the boys something to dream on later."

15. "Thunder Island" - Jay Ferguson

Another great sex song, this time about sex on the beach. I love the "Sha la la la la My Lady" lines. And that line about "In the sun with your dress undone"... Oh yeah! Ferguson, formerly of the band Spirit, would only have one more big hit, "Shakedown Cruise". This is the one he'll be remembered for.

16. "Took the Last Train" - David Gates

A wonderfully bouncy bass line and cool lyrics in French guide this great pop tune about a one-night stand while on vacation. Every man should have such a memory. Barring that, there's always this great song by the lead singer of Bread to fall back on.

17. "Had Enough" - the Who

Roger Daltrey does something rare in a Who song, he sings the lead on a John Entwistle song. But then, it's doubtful the Ox could've summoned enough anger and desperation to get the song across properly. The song was once used in an episode of WKRP In Cincinatti (the one with Les in the airplane with the screwball vet on Veterans Day). From its keyboard by Rabbit, to the strings to Towser's guitar, the Ox's bass playing and of course, Moon the Loon's drumming, this was the best rock song on the Who Are You album.

18. "Darkness On the Edge of Town" - Bruce Springsteen

The title comes from John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, I believe. This is my favorite track from the Boss' album of the same name. I particularly like the verse that begins "Everybody's got a secret, Sonny." There's a lot of truth in it. The Boss' most haunting song of the Seventies.

19. "I Was Only Joking" - Rod Stewart

Stewart's great acoustic driven confessional. This is probably Rod at his most intimate and is a helluva contrast from "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?", his obnoxious ego-boo hit. "Joking" shows a vulnerability in Stewart that one wouldn't expect from "Sexy?"

20. "With a Little Luck" - Wings

At this point, Wings had been reduced to its three charter members - the McCartneys and Denny Laine. The situation was similar to the one surrounding the making of Band On the Run. But while London Town isn't as great an album as Band... was, it's still a sizzling pop album. This was the lead single from the album. Keyboards, drums, bass, that's really all there is to the song. Well, that and the really upbeat lyrics. Sure, it's hokey. But that optimism was something I needed in those days.

21. "Far Away Eyes" - the Rolling Stones

Yeah, I know, the obvious pick would be "Shattered" or "Miss You" or even "Best of Burden". But this country ballad is probably the best thing from my favorite Stones album. Special mention goes to the verse about the preacher on the radio, who claims that all your prayers will be answered if you send him money. As true today as it was then. "Thank you, Jesus!"

22. "Flash Light" - Parliament

What the hell was this song about?! Of course, George Clinton and his Funkadelic/Parliament colleagues (was there ever really a difference between the two acts?) could play Funk like no one else. And this song was probably one of Parliament's best dance/party songs. "Everybody's got a little light/Under the door/Under the door."

23. "Hot Legs" - Rod Stewart

Forget ZZ Top's "Legs". This is the best song celebrating the beauty of a woman's lower extremities. The whole song, from Stewart's vocals to the guitars is as fiery and sizzling as the legs of the song's title. The "I love you, honey" was such a great hook, too.

24. "King Tut" - Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommon

The best novelty song of '78, it cashed on a craze, the King Tut exhibit, in a surprisingly timely fashion. Some of the lyrics are dopey. But this song was a lot of fun. By the way, the Toot Uncommon? They're the Nitty Gritty Dirty Band.

No, really.

25. "Stayin' Alive" - the Bee Gees

I suppose some mention of the biggest disco band in the year disco was the most popular sound around is unavoidable. But this song comes very close to actually being funky. Not bad for three white Australian guys. The song is infectious, disposable pop at its finest. And the falsetto is awesome. This was probably the best song from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

np - Miles Davis in Person, Friday Night at the Blackhawk, San Francisco, Volume 1 - Miles Davis (That's gotta be the longest album title I've ever posted.)

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Just a word of warning about my 1979 list. '79 was to me, a great year for music. While there were some songs I thoroughly detest (I could easily name three off the top of my head), there were IMNSHO far more greater songs that year. With that in mind, I'm just saying it's possible I'll be doing a Top 30 or 40 list. I hope not. That's a lot of writing. It just depends on whether there really are that many songs I feel that strongly about to list.

Just thought I'd post a warning. (I already know - and have known for quite awhile - what the number one song of '79 will be. I'm pretty sure I know my 2nd and 3rd choices, too.)

np - Miles Davis In Person, Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, San Francisco, Volume 2 - Miles Davis

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

AAAHH! For years, I've been racking my brain trying to figure out who sang "Shakedown Cruise," never realizing it was the same person as "Thunder Island!" (I like both songs, but haven't heard "SC" since it was new.) Thank you, Benn!

14. "Shake It" - Ian Matthews

Hey Benn- a coupla things that you would definitely be interested in about Ian (now spelled Iain) Matthews. [actually, I could go off on a major tangent if you'd like. He's one of the people whose stuff I actively search for and collect]

1) He collaborated with Mike Nesmith on Valley Hi and recorded one of Nez's tunes- "Propinquity"

2) On Skeleton Keys he wrote a great tribute song for Miles Davis called "God's Empty Chair".

They're worth searching out, but if you're having trouble just e-mail me.

Mike

Hey, Craig, glad to solve a long time mystery for you. I have a copy of "Shakedown Cruise" in my collection. It's one I d/led a few years back. The biggest problem is that it's the 45 version, so it's incomplete.

I have checked and it turns out that the album with "SC" on it, Jay Ferguson, is still available. At least according to allmusic.com

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=CASS70308251157&sql=A6pnyxdybjola

And so is the album, Thunder Island. I may have to get both of those sometime.

Mr. Porter, I do have Ian Matthews' Stealing Home on tape. It's the one with "Shake It" on it. Looking at allmusic.com, it appears that the two albums you recommend are out of print. I've taken a chance to see if Valley Hi is listed on Mike Nesmith's website - www.videoranch.com - and nope. No such luck. As a matter of fact, the only two Iain Matthews (I've noticed he changed the spelling of his first name years ago) albums available are Excerpts From Swine Lake and The Tiniest Wham. So... finding those records you recommend may be a bit difficult. I'm not exactly living in a mecca for used records. This definitely ain't Dallas.

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Okay, here's my take on 1978. This actually turned out to be a weak year for me, although a lot of decent songs came out this year, there weren't the number of spectacular songs that had jammed the top of the order in, say, '77. Plus, disco and punk were already working together to help kill off good music. Nonetheless, I came up with enough good songs to make a top 10.

1. "How You Gonna See Me Now", ALICE COOPER
Alice colloborated with Bernie Taupin on the From The Inside album, and this particular FM-friendly ballad has all the panache of Elton John's material in terms of production. Cooper wrote this one for his wife and his feelings of returning to her after his institutionalization for hitting the bottle too hard. The song is a magnificent, moving pop ballad and I have no reservations about picking it as the best number of the year.

2. "Racing In The Streets", BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
The best of a superlative group of songs from a classic album. Bruce goes with a stripped-down stark sound on this one, presaging the meloncholia he would employ for Nebraska. Some of his most memorable drama-filled lyrics as well, even if he does employ a lot of what his detractors consider his cliches for this one. Don Henley of the Eagles must have listened to this one a lot, it seems to have had an influence on a lot of his later solo work in style.

3. "Driftwood", THE MOODY BLUES
The Moody Blues made their big comeback this year. Although the "Days of Future Passed" were behind them, they showed they were still capable of producing wonderfully mellow, heart-wrenching ballads like this little gem.

4. "Beast Of Burden", THE ROLLING STONES
Okay, Mick, what's it going to be? You're either the callous player who's got his back street girls well under his thumb, or you're the helpless innocent nice guy whose been done wrong. Actually, his songwriting and performing genius comes from the fact that he's able to convincingly portray both roles. This number is catchy, soulful, and hits home well.

5. "Lotta Love", NEIL YOUNG
Comes A Time is one of Neil's lesser-known efforts, but it is certainly one of his most consistent, full of songs drenched in acoustic and vocal beauty. "Lotta Love" is the best of the bunch and should be on anyone's short list of Neil's best single songs. "Human Highway", the title track and "Four Strong Winds" are also winners from this solid disc.

6. "The Quiet Room", ALICE COOPER
Now this musically excellent, deceptively soft number is actually one of Alice's most scarily effective, because of the facts surrounding the album's conception. For example, we know in "Ballad Of Dwight Fry" that Alice was just playacting, here in "The Quiet Room" we get a sense that he really knows what it's like to be shut up in an asylum and to suffer from mental illness. The impact of the song is also enchanced by the fact that a lot of the album is played for laughs, suddenly Coop throws in a totally serious piece like this and it takes the listener off guard.

7. "Excitable Boy", WARREN ZEVON
Title track of the Z-man's classic album full of great songs is this number, a bouncingly upbeat effort with a dark sardonic message which seems to concern the indulging of spoiled children. A young boys rambunctious activities are excused by him being "just an excitable boy", and this excuse continues to be used when he grows up and rapes and kills his prom date.

8. "You Really Got Me", VAN HALEN
I usually try to avoid putting cover versions on these lists, especially if the original was done by a classic band (the Kinks in this case). But every so often someone does a cover in which they take someone else's song and remake it as their own signature cut. VH's hard-rocking version of YRGM does just that.

9. "Rat Trap", THE BOOMTOWN RATS
A song that exemplifies the revved-up, almost hyperactive energy, and the clever and cynical lyrical turn which Bob Geldolf and his boys brought to the table. The theatric histronics, hard rocking, the view of city life as a prison that one must bust out of at any cost, and the touch of the saxaphone all stand to prove that the Rats had much more in common with Springsteen than they did with anything in the new wave movement.

10. "Beyond The Realms Of Death", JUDAS PRIEST
Haunting acoustic metal ballad, downbeat even by the standards of Priest at this time (which, you gotta admit was not a very cheery band). The song concerns a man who withdraws from reality into his own mind and a catatonic state. Of course, this song also became a center of controversy when it supposedly was one of the tunes that helped inspire the suicide attempt of a couple of American teens in one of the more ridiculous waste of time in the recent history of the American legal system.

Benn-

I've noticed he changed the spelling of his first name years ago
Sorry, I didn't mean anything by the correction. Just trying to be helpful if you or anybody else wanted to do a search.

it appears that the two albums you recommend are out of print...finding those records you recommend may be a bit difficult
They go in and out of print a lot. Sometimes you gotta time it just right.

But that doesn't mean that I'm going to tease you and not do anything about it. I'm hereby offering my services to send you a copy of those songs, or more, if you like.

I'm also going to post the lyrics to "God's Empty Chair" on the lyrics board. You will most definitely appreciate them.

This definitely ain't Dallas.

[OT]"Dallas is a woman who will walk on you when you are down,
But when you're up she's the kind you want to have around..."[/OT]


---
Mike

"I've noticed he changed the spelling of his first name years ago
Sorry, I didn't mean anything by the correction. Just trying to be helpful if you or anybody else wanted to do a search." - Mike

Oh boy. I didn't mean that to come out the way it did. I meant that he had changed his name years ago ('89) and I had noticed. I wasn't offended by your correction or anything.

"But that doesn't mean that I'm going to tease you and not do anything about it. I'm hereby offering my services to send you a copy of those songs, or more, if you like.

"I'm also going to post the lyrics to "God's Empty Chair" on the lyrics board. You will most definitely appreciate them." - Mr. Mike Porter

Sounds good to me. I've lost your email addy. I know I've got it written down here somewhere. But if you'll email me (click on my username) we'll discuss the situation.

BTW, just after making my earlier post about Matthews, I dug out my copy of Stealing Home and played it. It was better than I remembered it being. (God, that tape's in great shape given how old it is. It's probably one of the original pressings. No UPC bar code on it.)

np - Bluesmaster - Howling Wolf

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

My list (part 3)

"She's Got Legs" ZZ Top
"King Tut" Steve Martin & The Toot Uncommons
"The Longest Time" Billy Joel
"Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" Rod Stewart
"Stayin' Alive" BeeGees

(Thanx to Benn for refreshing my memory)

And now, to finish up this mammoth exercise in musical geekdom, here's ten from 1979:

1. "Comfortably Numb", PINK FLOYD
The highlight of The Wall LP and a Floyd staple. Gilmour's splendid guitar solo would become imitated by a number of hair-metal bands in the eighties. Magnificent lyrics, maybe Floyd's all-time best song overall.

2. "Babe", STYX
Styx engineers the consumate power ballad. A memorable arrangement with some of Dennis DeYoung's best vocals. A deserved number one hit.

3. "In Thee", BLUE OYSTER CULT
The Oyster boys go soft-pop on this one, to great effect. A memorable opening acoustic riff and a catchy chorus with memorable lyrics. Should have been a staple of the radio when it was released, it is a shame that this is not remembered as one of the great BOC songs.

4. "Reason To Be", KANSAS
A stunningly pretty song, somewhat reminiscent of "Dust In The Wind", but with a brighter, fuller sound. The vocal harmonies near the end are simply gorgeous and the lyrics are infused with meaning. This just may be the best that Robby Steinhardt's violin ever sounded.

5. "Thrasher", NEIL YOUNG
Another great acoustic number from Neil. What really matters here are the Dylanesque lyrics where Neil tells us what it's like to be a musical dinosaur that time has passed by. Hey, I know the feeling, Neil buddy.

6. "The Sad Cafe", THE EAGLES
Boy the Eagles recorded some really pretty songs, didn't they? Although somewhat derivative of the earlier hit "The Best Of My Love", this one is unique enough both musically and lyrically to stand on its own.

7. "Wild And Hot", ANGEL
Seems like either a parody of Kiss or a self-parody, but this number is too fun, too catchy and rocks too hard not to be likable.

8. "All My Love", LED ZEPPELIN
In Through The Out Door, the album which proved to be Zep's swan song (no pun intended) produced this lush, poppy little single.

9. "The Rose", BETTE MIDLER
The title track and highlight of Midler's great soundtrack album of Joplin pastiche.

10. "The Great Sun Jester", BLUE OYSTER CULT
Another memorable song from the Mirrors album. Co-written by Micheal Moorcock, it appears to be inspired by his "Fireclown" novel, but doesn't really have anything at all to do with that novel lyrically. Instead, the great lyrics tell about a fun-loving Jester who is defeated and destroyed by the cynics and the jackals of the world.

Whew. Well, there's all my lists. Now what do I do?

Looks like I'm falling behind you guys:

1976:

"In the Flesh" - Blondie

"Blitzkrieg Bop" - The Ramones
Obvious joke potential here, I know.

1977:

"Psycho Killer" - The Talking Heads

"Jet Airliner" - Steve Miller

1978:

"Down By The Water Line" - Dire Straits
"Sultans of Swing" may be the big hit, but this is the best track off their debut.

"Heart of Glass" - Blondie
Guilty pleasure.

"I Wanna Be Sedated" - The Ramones

"That Smell" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Sultans of Swing" - Dire Straits
Well, I never said that this wasn't going to get a nod too.

1978:

"Just What I Needed" - The Cars

"(Thanx to Benn for refreshing my memory)" - John A. Lang

No charge, John. My pleasure. You've had some interesting songs choices there, John, btw.

"3. 'In Thee', BLUE OYSTER CULT" - Todd Pence

I'm still in the process of working up my list, but I can tell you that this song will just barely miss getting on it. I like your comments on it, Todd, but just to be pedantic, I'll add a few more details. You may have noticed that Patti Smith co-wrote a number of songs for B.Ö.C. ("Baby Ice Dog", "The Revenge of Vera Gemini") Well, her connection to the band was through keyboardist/guitarist Allen Lanier. Patti and Allen lived together for awhile. When the two of them broke up (she settled for Fred "Sonic" Smith of the MC5s), Lanier wrote "In Thee" about that breakup. The Jim mentioned in the lyrics ("Jim said some destinies should not be delivered.") is Jim Carroll, a friend of Lanier's and someone with whom Allen worked. Oh, and incidentally, Allen appears on all Patti Smith albums up to the album, Wave.

"'Psycho Killer' - The Talking Heads" - Blitz

Thought about listing that one. But I just liked the other cuts I listed better. Good choice, though.

"'Down By The Water Line' - Dire Straits
'Sultans of Swing' may be the big hit, but this is the best track off their debut."

My preference would have been "Wild West End", really. But all three are very good tunes.

I'm going to get back to my 1979 list now. Just had a few comments I wanted to make.

np - The Gentle Side of John Coltrane - John Coltrane

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

John Lang:

The Longest Time and Legs were both 1983 songs, too late for these lists.

I wasn't listing my favorite songs by years. I was listing them at random.

"Shakedown 1979
Cool kids never have the time
On a live wire right up off the street
You and I should meet." - "1979" - Smashing Pumpkins

Okay, before I post my final list let me say a few words. As I've indicated, 1979 was one of my favorite years in music. Looking at the pool for my selections, I felt a longing to be back in 1979, hearing those songs for the first time again. Overall, I feel there were more great songs in '79 than in any other year of the decade. It's almost as though everyone wanted to leave the Seventies on a high note (so to speak). That's not to say that every song in '79 was great. Some of the songs I absolutely hate include Rupert Holmes' "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, Sister Sledge's "We Are Family", and "Lead Me On" by Maxine Nightingale. I apologize to those of you who like and/or love those tunes, but I personally abhor them.

While '79 was the year everyone tried their hand at disco (ELO, Wings, Elton John, even KISS [?!?]), it was the year that disco had hit its saturation point and was beginning to fade. By the next year, disco would be all but dead.

Meanwhile, the promise of Punk had been compromised and co-opted by record companies in the form of the more radio friendly New Wave. New Wave artists such as Talking Heads, the Cars, Devo, the Police and others were coming to the fore.

And yet, as I've said, I really have a reverence for the music of that time. Which goes to explain why my list is a Top 30 one. It's just hard for me to celebrate this year with a mere 20 or even 25. I could've easily done a Top 100, my master list is that big. So with everyone's forbearance, I present my Top 30 Songs of the Class of 1979:

1. "Don't Bring Me Down" - Electric Light Orchestra

I knew almost since the start of this project that this would be 1979's Number One song. Sure Bev Bevan's playing "Sgt. Pepper's Reprise"'s opening drum beats, just a little slower. And yeah, this is the first hit ELO had that did not employ violins and cellos. But this was not only the band's biggest hit, it was also one of their hardest rockin'. I remember first hearing it at a friend's house. He asked me if it was ELO. I said it couldn't be because it didn't sound like them. There was no strings in the song. Boy, was I wrong. The rhythm is propulsive and delirious. The guitar and bass are an overpowering force. This is by far my favorite ELO song. And for the record, what Jeff sings is "Don't bring me down. Gro-oos!"

2. "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya" - New England

In the year KISS went disco ("I Was Made For Loving You"), Paul Stanley made up for it by producing this great little hard rocking tune. This Boston based band just barely made the Top 40 with this cut off their debut album in '79. Lush keyboards ably recreate the sounds of an orchestra, while the guitars slash through the speaker with the desperation of the lyrics. This song may be forgotten by the public at large, but it's never been forgotten by me. And never will be.

3. "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)" - Neil Young and Crazy Horse

It's anthem time again for me. And this was the best for 1979. The crunching guitars of this song is why Neil was often credited as being the Godfather of Grunge. Neil's defiant cry (hell, scream) to continue to carry the banner of "Rock and Roll" is inspirational at a time when Elvis had died and Punk had burned out. The line about Johnny Rotten should have been about Sid Vicious, but Vicious doesn't rhyme with "forgotten". Who cares? It's close enough for Rock and Roll.

4. "Driver's Seat" - Sniff N' the Tears

Another one-hit wonder. This one opens with an acoustic guitar gently strumming before the drums and keyboards kick it into a jaunty groove. The song ends with one of my favorite guitar outros. It was kinda New Wavey, kinda pop. Mostly great.

5. "Take the Long Way Home" - Supertramp

Breakfast In America may be my favorite album of 1979. Almost every song has lyrics on it I completely or at least partially relate to. This is one of them. Of special interest to me is the "Does it feel that your life's a catastrophe?/Oh it has to be/If you're to grow, boy/When you look through the years you'll see what you could've been/Oh what you've might have been/If you had had more time." Those words sometime seem truer everyday.

6. "I Don't Like Mondays" - the Boomtown Rats

St. Bob Geldof and the band were considered Punk. They were really just straight ahead rock and rollers. The spritely piano and lush strings belie the sinister nature of the song's lyrics. They're based on the true story of San Diego girl, Brenda Spencer. She lived across an elementary school and one Monday morning took her Dad's guns and started to shoot at the school kids. When they finally caught her, they asked why did you do it? Her response was the song's title, "I Don't Like Mondays". Spookiest verse in this song is "Alll the playing's stopped in the playground now/She wants to play with her toys awhile/And school's out early/And soon we'll be learning/And the lesson today is how to die."

7. "Cool Change" - Little River Band

"Well, I was born in the sign of water." Yeah, so was I. Maybe that's why this is one of my favorite songs by the LRB. Great saxophone solo, gentle, introspective lyrics and really, this is just a great little ol' AOR song. It's relaxing and soothing.

8. "Gold" - John Stewart

Stewart was probably most famous for writing "Daydream Believer" for the Monkees (see my 1967 list). But the burping bass of this song about "People out there... turning music into gold" is John Stewart's lone solo hit. Back by Fleetwood Mac's Lyndsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, this infectious pop song was one of the best things on the airwaves in the Summer of '79.

9. "One Way Or Another" - Blondie

Which proved Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and the rest weren't just a disco band, "Heart of Glass" notwithstanding. It also proved the band really was Punk rock at heart. The guitars and keyboards churn up the air in this classic little song. It's really the flip side of the Police's "Every Breath You Take", or at least the female version of it. Stalking never sounded this good or enticing.

10. "Does Your Mother Know" - ABBA

Hey! The guys can sing! This was ABBA's last hit of the Seventies and the boys take the lead vocals. What's also surprising is that this song rocks! Seriously. It may lean towards the disco side. (Didn't everything ABBA record do that? The death of disco killed this Swedish band.) So what? Unlike Nick Gilder's "Hot Child In the City", the guys in ABBA are too much the gentlemen (or wimpy, take your choice) to try to nail the jailbait girl in the song. ("But I can't take a chance on a chick like you.") Yeah, it does get a bit patronizing, but this was still a great song.

11. "Is Really Going Out With Him?" - Joe Jackson

Meet Joe Jackson. He's supposed to be Punk. Or New Wave. Or something like that. You wouldn't have known it from this Top 40 hit. A stuttering guitar runs through this song of rejection. An anthem for us guys who can't believe that women are really going out and doing it with such assholes. Is she really going out with him?

12. "Mama Can't Buy You Love" - Elton John

Elton goes disco. At least he didn't lose his talent for writing great music. This is kind of a second cousin to Hall and Oates' "Rich Girl". The lyrics really aren't all that great. This just was really well made pop/disco song. Nuff said.

13. "Blow Away" - George Harrison

I really thought this song would go all the way to Number One in '79. How disappointing that it didn't. A gentle, quiet, optimistic song. Harrison, I believe had gone into retirement from the music industry, or was comptemplating doing so, but was talked out of it. He then produced the self-titled album from which this song comes. The lyrics may be a kindred spirit to Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy", but I'd rather listen to this, than McFerrin's drivel. Too bad it's now commercially unavailable. (Hello, Warner Brothers? You've got a bunch of albums by George that need to be reissued. NOW.)

14. "Dreaming" - Blondie

Another song that proves that Blondie used to be a Punk band. Clem Burke's drumming is the taskmaster for this song, and in my memory seems to be the dominate instrument, aside from Debbie's vocals.

15. "Wondering Where the Lions Are" - Bruce Cockburn

Folkie and born again Christian, Cockburn had one of his two big US hits with this song that gets you "thinking about eternity." The lyrics contain some wonderful imagery and the simple acoustic is everything a folk song should have. In the year of disco, this was a pleasant surprise.

16. "The Great Sun Jester" - Blue Öyster Cult

What can I say about this song that Todd hasn't already said? I love the lyrics to this song. Musically it's a head rush. One of the best from the Errors, er Mirrors album.

17. "Even the Losers" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

From the D4mn the Torpedoes album, the l.p. where TP came into his own. Sure, "Refugee" or "Here Comes My Girl" may be the obvious choices, but this song about losers finally winning is too personal for me to ignore. Yeah, "even the losers get lucky sometimes."

18. "Dog & Butterfly" - Heart

A sweet, beautiful, haunting acoustic song in the vain of "Dreamboat Annie", this Heart song is breathtaking. The chimes at the end add just the right touch to this song. Ann and Nancy turn in some great harmonies. From "Heartless" to this in nothing flat. Cool!

19. "Goodbye Stranger" - Supertramp

Another of the great tracks from Breakfast In America. Given how many times I've moved in my life, this is virtually another of my many theme songs. The keyboards, the whistle, the guitar solo outro. I love it.

20. "Angel" - Fleetwood Mac

John McVie's bass seems to be the only instrument in this Stevie Nicks song from Tusk. It isn't. There are guitars and drums in it. It's just that the bass so dominates the song, you'd swear that's all there is. But Stevie's song about lovers trying to pretend they're not in love is my personal favorite cut from Tusk. Go figure.

21. "Atomic" - Blondie

Probably the most disco like tune from Blondie's fifth album, Eat to the Beat, there really wasn't much to the lyrics. The same two or three lines repeated over and over accompanied by a highly repetitive keyboard and guitar track. Still, it's hard not to like this song anyway.

22. "Long Live Rock" - the Who

Okay, okay, this song originally appeared on 1975's Odds and Sods. But it was revived for the rockumentary The Kids Are Alright and given a new lease on life. The lyrics, semi-autobiographical, I think, remind me of Spinal Tap, believe it or not. Still, this is one of the great Rock standard bearers of '79.

23. "Dream Police" - Cheap Trick

On the heels of their breakthrough album, Live At Boudokan, the Illinois band released the album for which this song is the title cut. Similar in musical attitude to "Surrender" this song of paranoia was yet another great pop-metal songs from this quartet.

24. "Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd

Todd also covered this song very well, thankyouverymuch. Anything I could say about it would be redundant. Thanks for saving me the trouble, Todd!

25. "Do You Think I'm Disco?" - Steve Dahl and Teenage Radiation

Not only a great parody that Weird Al can only dream of doing, this was the best slap in the face since Moe Howard whomped Curly and Larry. It was a slap in the face of those with disco fever and Rod Stewart. The lyrics capture the vapidity of those who blindly follow trends and are damned funny. (In the lyrics, the singer is hitting on a girl. She keeps turning him down. After failing to get her phone number, he says, "Let me have your address/I'll stop by and visit you/What do you mean you don't live anywhere?" Now that's a turn down!)

The song ends with the liberation of the singer from the thrall of disco, who then switches his allegience to Rock and Roll amidst some great heavy metal guitars. If you missed this, you missed a should be classic.

26. "Children of the Sun" - Billy Thorpe

Thorpe was something of a guitar hero at the time he arrived on the scene. He never did live up to that promise. But "Children of the Sun", a song about friendly aliens visiting Earth, was a great minimalist tune. Light as air and yet heavy at the same time.

27. "I Do the Rock" - Tim Curry

Curry, of course, was more famous for his role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, playing Dr. Frankenfurter. ("That's Hot Dog to you!") But this great little know-nothing tune should have been bigger. It had a great lick and lyrics that name dropped everyone from John and Yoko, Einstein, Neitzche, Idi Amin, Jimmy Carter, John Travolta, O.J. Simpson, Dizzy Dean and others who should not be mentioned together. When Life is too complicated, you can also be like Tim Curry and "do the rock".

28. "My Sharona" - the Knack

Yeah, I know. "Knuke the Knack". That was really unfair. These guys were just trying to make some decent pop songs. And this, admit it, was one. It had a great hook. I mean, it's okay to say you liked this song. Now, having confessed, don't you feel better? I do.

29. "Sad Eyes" - Robert John

If you're one of those people that thought this was "oh so romantic" - Go stand in the corner! You blew it. The singer of this song is SCUM. He's breaking with his mistress! How could you miss that?! "Looks like it over/You knew I couldn't stay/She's coming home today." Think about it. That said, this really is a great pop ballad, ain't it?

30. "Mirrors" - Blue Öyster Cult

The title cut from B.Ö.C's 1979 l.p. The lyrics are about women who are stuck on themselves and how pretty they are. I've known a few like that and I'll bet you have, too. I love that line "Vanity's a deadly sin."

And there it is. Hope it was worth it.

"hew. Well, there's all my lists. Now what do I do?" - Todd Pence

I dunno about you Todd. But I'm going to think about tackling the next 12-15 years. If I do, I'm crazier than I thought.

np - Napster Nabs: The Californian Way - various artists

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Todd/Benn,

Thanks very much for your continued efforts and dedication in putting together these lists. Your choices have stirred up many memories for me and forced me to break out some vinyl that hasn’t seen the light of day for many years.

I didn’t have the time or dedication that you guys displayed, but here is my quick song list for each year. I had a hard time coming up with even one or two notes about each song, so there is a lot of repetition. I don’t know how you guys did it. Anyway, here are my picks:

1967
1. Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
Pure magic. Possibly my favorite single of all time.

2. Respect Aretha Franklin
Such a great vocal performance - just one of many on the I’ve Never Loved a Man album.

3. Little Wing Jimi Hendrix
Hard to pick just one song from 67 for JMH, but this one has such grace and power and feeling all rolled into one.

4. I'm Waiting for the Man Velvet Underground
My favorite track from the debut from VU.

5. She's a Rainbow Rolling Stones
Hypnotic piano.

6. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds The Beatles
Flower power! Interesting lyrics from John. Great bass playing by Paul.


1968
1. Revolution The Beatles
The Fab Four kick some serious butt on this one. Great lyrics that I use to sing my 13-month old to sleep with. Actually, I guess I sing the Revolution 1 version.

2. Sympathy for the Devil Rolling Stones
Mick inhabits the role of Lucifer. Like Honky Tonk Women, this one starts with some interesting percussion from Charlie Watts.

3. Born to be Wild Steppenwolf
“Heavy metal thunder,” indeed!

4. The Weight The Band
Great harmonies.

5. Helter Skelter The Beatles
Wow! Who knew Paul could rock so hard? Plus, interesting lead guitar by John, not George.

6. Flower Punk Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Hard to pick just one song from the We’re Only in it for the Money album, but this one is my favorite.


1969
1. Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival
John Fogerty’s most impassioned vocals and most vitriolic lyrics. The best of many great CCR tunes.

2. Honky Tonk Women Rolling Stones
Great, classic Stones riff. What Charlie Watts does with the cow bell at the beginning is genius.

3. Get Back The Beatles
Straight ahead rocker with cool guest spot by Billy Preston.

4. Whipping Post The Allman Brothers Band
The first of many guitar jams from the Bros. Great vocals from Gregg.

5. Come Together The Beatles
Best song on their best album.

6. Up on Cripple Creek The Band
A drunkard’s dream if I ever did see one.

7. Peaches En Regalia Frank Zappa
One of my favorite rock instrumentals.

8. Ramble On Led Zeppelin
Awesome bass playing from John Paul Jones.


1970
1. Let it Be The Beatles
Words to live by. Lovely ballad from Paul.

2. 25 or 6 to 4 Chicago
The band got all their best qualities together on this rocker. Contains my all time favorite guitar solo.

3. Into the Mystic Van Morrison
The closing song on side one of the awesome Moondance album. All five songs on side one were contenders for my list, but Van really does it for me on this one. My wife and I named our first shared pet Mystic because of this song.

4. The Boxer Simon and Garfunkle
The verse about the whores on 7th Avenue is one of my favorites in any classic rock song.

5. Animal Zoo Spirit
A fun sing-along from a great concept album.

6. Working Class Hero John Lennon
The whole Plastic Ono Band album is like an open wound, with John laying his emotions right out in the open for all to see. This song cuts to the bone.


1971
1. Imagine John Lennon
Simply beautiful. After the devastatingly grim tone of the previous album, John offers up a song of tremendous hope.

2. Won't Get Fooled Again The Who
Classic power chords from Pete and primal screams from Roger. “The hypnotized never lies – Do ya?!”

3. American Pie Don McLean
This song has many levels, from being just a fun sing-along to being the history of Rock and Roll.

4. Paranoid Black Sabbath
Kicks ass in under 3 minutes. One of the songs that defines Heavy Metal.

5. Carey Joni Mitchell
Tough to pick just one song from Blue, but this one stands out because it is actually kind of fun, unlike most of the others on the album.

6. Black Dog Led Zeppelin
Classic Zep. I love the start/stop timing, driven by the rhythm section.

7. Wild Horses Rolling Stones
Probably influenced by Gram Parsons, the Stones get close to country with this great ballad.

8. Bang a Gong (Get it On) T. Rex
I had to choose between this one and Jeepster from the same album, but I went with the better known tune.

9. My Sweet Lady John Denver
What can I say? I’m just an old softie at heart. This is just a simple love song that is a joy to sing. Not exactly rock, but a classic nonetheless.


1972
1. Highway Star Deep Purple
The song that makes Richie Blackmore a guitar god in my book. Hop in the car and crank this one up to 11.

2. Walk on the Wild Side Lou Reed
Great, jazzy bass line and vivid character descriptions. If not for this song, I may never have found the Velvet Underground.

3. Jackie Wilson Said Van Morrison
One of Van’s most up-tempo and just plain fun tunes. This can cheer me up anytime, anyplace.

4. Superstition Stevie Wonder
Just one of many hits by Stevie in the 70’s, but this is my favorite.

5. Taxi Harry Chapin
Tells a moving story. The imagery about acting and flying really work for me.

6. Moonage Daydream David Bowie
Barely beats out Ziggy Stardust and Suffragette City.

7. Water Song Hot Tuna
One of my favorite instrumentals.

8. Melissa The Allman Brothers Band
A sweet ballad from Gregg.


1973
1. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting Elton John
Elton really rocks!

2. The Real Me The Who
My favorite Who tune. If I played bass, this would be the song I would most want to learn.

3. Rosalita Bruce Springsteen
Fun rocker from Bruce.

4. La Grange ZZ Top
It’s a stolen riff, but this baby rocks!

5. The Red and the Black Blue Oyster Cult
My introduction to the band. First song on my first (and still favorite) BOC album.

6. Raw Power The Stooges
Title says it all. Iggy and the boys kick ass.

7. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Black Sabbath
My favorite Sabbath riff.

8. Dinah-Moe Humm Frank Zappa
A guilty pleasure, I guess. This is Zappa at his raunchy, clever best.

9. Things Goin' On Lynyrd Skynyrd
Great piano driven ballad.

10. Jessica The Allman Brothers Band
A classic Dickie Betts instrumental. Contains my all time favorite piano solo (by Chuck Leavell).

11. Captain Jack Billy Joel
As a recovering alcoholic, I relate to the idea that all your problems don’t matter as long as “Captain Jack will get you high tonight.” 30 years ago, Billy mentioning masturbation was quite scandalous.


1974
1. Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd
All the elements of a great Skynyrd song.

2. Late for the Sky Jackson Browne
I’ve been in relationships where my partner truly had no idea who I was. This tune expresses those feelings exceptionally well.

3. Ballroom Blitz Sweet
My intro to Sweet was “Fox on the Run”, but this is the tune that still gets my toes a tappin’.

4. Astronomy Blue Oyster Cult
I love the way Flaming Telepaths suddenly ends and segues into the piano intro to Astronomy. The song builds slowly into a great chorus. I also love the live version on Some Enchanted Evening.

5. As the Raven Flies Dan Fogelberg
Dan really rocks out on this one. Great lead guitar and very bitter lyrics about the dangers of falling for a woman.

6. Ogre Battle Queen
An early Queen classic.

7. Finding My Way Rush
This song and Working Man bookend Rush’s debut with a pair of Zeppelin clones that really rock. I picked this one because the lyrics are slightly more intelligent than WM.


1975
1. Fool for the City Foghat
Straight ahead rock and roll.

2. Walk This Way Aerosmith
Signature song from the album that defined my teenage years.

3. Jungleland Bruce Springsteen
Bruce’s masterpiece. Interesting characters, many changes in tempo, awesome sax playing from the Big Man, vivid lyrics.

4. Symptom of the Universe Black Sabbath
A riff-fest. Obscure Ozzy lyrics. Don’t Start – Too Late

5. Idiot Wind Bob Dylan
Lots of anger in this one. It was hard to choose this one over “Tangled Up in Blue” (which contains my favorite Dylan lyric), but this song really delivers.

6. Anthem Rush
The first great Neal Peart era Rush classic. Neal’s first homage to Ayn Rand, which he expounded upon later (see below).

7. Heard it on the X/Tush ZZ Top
Two songs I have listed as one because I always play them back to back. Two solid rockers to close out the uneven Fandango album.

8. Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers Jeff Beck
Not Classic Rock per se, but this instrumental has some of the most exquisite guitar playing anywhere.

9. Ten Years Gone Led Zeppelin
Still not sure what it’s about, but the music ebbs and flows beautifully. The best of the uneven Physical Graffiti album.

10. Have a Cigar Pink Floyd
By the way, which one’s Pink?

11. Seaside Rendezvous Queen
Freddie Mercury does music-hall. Give us a kiss…

12. Icarus - Borne on Wings of Steel Kansas
Early prog rock classic.


1976
1. The Boys are Back in Town Thin Lizzy
The ultimate summertime rocker. Stereo guitar leads with cool chord changes. “Drink will flow and blood will spill.”

2. Tie Your Mother Down Queen
One of my favorite songs to sing when I am alone in the car. Brain May’s most memorable hook.

3. E.T.I. Blue Oyster Cult
To this day, I can’t think of another song that gets the same guitar sound as the opening chords to ETI.

4. Hurricane Bob Dylan
Remarkable retelling of the Rueben Carter travesty.

5. Smokin' Boston
Great party song.

6. 2112 Rush
Neal Peart’s extended homage to Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem. Great lyrics, but what really gets me is the music, especially on Overture.

7. Squonk Genesis
“If you don’t stand up, you don’t stand a chance!” Generally, I like the PG era Genesis more than the PC era, but Trick of the Tail is my favorite album overall.

8. Cherry Bomb The Runaways
Another guilty pleasure. Joan and Lita show that girls can rock, too.


1977
1. Barracuda Heart
Speaking of girls that can rock… Awesome guitar intro and exceptional vocals from Ann Wilson.

2. Xanadu Rush
A Sci-Fi masterpiece.

3. Godzilla Blue Oyster Cult
One of BOC’s signature tunes, and a fun rocker. There goes Tokyo

4. Elevation Television
The best song from one of my favorite albums of the year. Interesting time changes.

5. Watching the Detectives Elvis Costello
Contains one of my all time favorite lyrics – “She’s filing her nails while they’re dragging the lake.”

6. The Core Eric Clapton
EC rocks out. This song has some incredible backing vocals.

7. Portrait (He Knew) Kansas
The high point of the Kansas concerts in saw in 1979 and 80.

8. I Know a Little Lynyrd Skynyrd
Evidence that Steve Gaines would have contributed many terrific songs to the band had that plane not crashed. Just a fun tune with great guitar and piano solos.

9. Dogs Pink Floyd
“You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to.”


1978
1. Surrender Cheap Trick
Arena rock at its best.

2. Sultans of Swing Dire Straits
The song that defined the Knopfler sound. Tremendous guitar leads.

3. So It Goes Nick Lowe
The first big solo hit from a great pop song writer.

4. La Villa Strangiato Rush
Never turn your back on a monster!

5. Who Are You The Who
On the cover of this album, Keith Moon is sitting on a chair that says, “Not to be taken away.” I love the “Who-Who, Who-Who” backing vocals.


1979
1. Jet Boy, Jet Girl Elton Motello
Basically a one-hit-wonder, but this song is a gas.

2. Cruel To Be Kind Nick Lowe
His signature tune.

3. Cheap Sunglasses ZZ Top
The best song from their best album.

4. Run Like Hell Pink Floyd
For me, the high point of The Wall.

5. Mercury Poisoning Graham Parker
GP skewers his record company with this catchy bit of pop.

6. Another Piece of Meat Scorpions
It’s not very subtle, but I love this guilty pleasure.

Thanks for indulging me.

n.p. Parklife - Blur

Meanwhile, the promise of Punk had been compromised and co-opted by record companies in the form of the more radio friendly New Wave. New Wave artists such as Talking Heads, the Cars, Devo, the Police and others were coming to the fore. - Benn

Even though "New Wave" was Punk's poppier cousin you can't really say that Punk was co-opted. It actually went underground and "morphed" or "evolved"- which is what things will tend to do when allowed to take their natural course. Which was always sort of the point, really. The fact that we now have as many sub-genres of music there are bands is the result of something really hhealthy, IMHO.
There was a brief period there, '80-'82 or thereabouts, where the music wasn't taken very seriously by the bands that were making it- the posturing without the passion and polemics- so that may be what you're remembering. But it was short lived and came back stronger, and much more varied, from about '83 and on.
Anyway, the bands you cited have demonstrated the inclination and ability to remain fiercely independent of outside sources. Yes- they were signed to majors and promoted as one would expect, but it was a mutually beneficial relationship at worst.
The confusion seems to stem from, I suppose, the fact that many artists were marketed a certain way. The good ones tended to pay that no mind. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that there are "corporate" definitions and "cultural" ones and they don't always mean the same thing.


Now that that's out of the way I do sincerely want to express my appreciation and admiration for all of your efforts in putting these lists together. If that was a threat to continue, Benn, then I say make good on it! Cazbob's list probably reflects my own tastes more than any other but that wouldn't stop me from sharing a few pints with any of you as well as a night-long discussion.

I admit you have a point there Mike. Maybe more than one. And all of them excellent. It perhaps would have been better and more accurate to say that New Wave was an attempt to co-opt and tame the Beast That Is Punk. What do you think?

Caz, I enjoyed your lists. Some of your comments made me laugh. You certainly are quite knowledgeable, too. I'm particularly shocked that you caught the "Do ya!" in "Won't Get Fooled Again". I know people who have heard that song for years and never noticed it. Kudos, sir!

A couple of things I've found fascinating about these lists have been noticing how often we would all intersect in tastes. Obviously there were a number of divergences. But when one or two songs were chosen by the same people, that was interesting. More interesting was to see where the same song ranked on each person's charts.

Of course, the differences were also intriguing. I think that probably said more about each of us than the points we agreed on did. Strangely, I seem to be more of a popster than I thought. On the other hand, that's probably due to the fact that I was more of a radio listener than album fan in those days. Sure I'd buy records, but they were usually the l.p.s of the artists I was a fan of - ELO, the Monkees, Wings, etc.

I hope that my selections show a progression in tastes, though. It's possible that they don't. But I'd like to think that the more music I heard, the better educated I became, and more inclined to experiment. Perhaps not. I'd also like to think that my selections were in some ways representative of each year. Again, this may not necessarily be so.

One reason I'd like to continue this project is to see if there is any such progression. To see if I do veer away from the hits more the older I get. Perhaps, perhaps not.

At any rate, I think that yes, I will carry on with this. But I will probably wait until Thursday, my next day off from work to initiate it.

In the meantime, thanks for the comments. And thank you Todd for starting this project. I enjoyed it.

np - Napster Nabs: Sunshine and Rainbows - various artists

"It's all one song." - Neil Young

Note to Cazbob: it's Simon and Garfunkel.

You're welcome, my friend. I have enjoyed it as well and I have enjoyed reading your lists as much as I have making mine. It's given me some suggestions for songs and artists I may not have heard before that I need to check out.

And now for a hail of comments being thrown in all directions. Please wear proper saftey gear.

22. "Long Live Rock" - the Who

...The lyrics, semi-autobiographical, I think, remind me of Spinal Tap, believe it or not... -Benn

I'd never thought of that until you mentioned it, but now it makes perfect sense.

28. "My Sharona" - the Knack

Yeah, I know. "Knuke the Knack". That was really unfair. These guys were just trying to make some decent pop songs. And this, admit it, was one. It had a great hook. I mean, it's okay to say you liked this song. Now, having confessed, don't you feel better? I do. -Benn

I used to hate this song back when I was young and ••••••. These days I know better.

1. Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival
John Fogerty’s most impassioned vocals and most vitriolic lyrics. The best of many great CCR tunes. -Cazbob

Forgot all about that one. Good call.

2. 25 or 6 to 4 Chicago
The band got all their best qualities together on this rocker. Contains my all time favorite guitar solo. -Cazbob

Gah! Forgot that one too!

2. Won't Get Fooled Again The Who
Classic power chords from Pete and primal screams from Roger. “The hypnotized never lies – Do ya?!” -Cazbob

...I'm particularly shocked that you caught the "Do ya!" in "Won't Get Fooled Again". I know people who have heard that song for years and never noticed it. Kudos, sir! -Benn

I had no idea that was there (though it seems blindlingly obvious now)! Wow! I learn all sorts of things from you people!

Next, some random songs that, if I remember correctly (and there's a lot of stuff to remember, so I may be totally off), no one mentioned:

1969: "Bird Has Flown" - Deep Purple

1972: "Pink Moon" - Nick Drake

1975: "Headmaster" - The Kinks


Finally, I sure home the lists continue for a while. Another ten years or so and we'll actually be at some years that I was around in and remember!

I'm taking my cue from John A. Lang and posting my favorite classic rock songs randomly. I hope no one minds and that someone is remotely interested.
I don't know much about music (I especially realize that after reading these boards), but I know what I like to listen to:

"Sky High," Jigsaw
"Dancing Queen," ABBA
"The Power of Gold," Dan Fogelberg
"Golden Years"
"Space Oddity"
"Ashes to Ashes", all David Bowie
"Don't Fear the Reaper," Blue Oyster Cult
"Cruel Summer," Bananarama
"New Frontier," Donald Fagen
"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," Gordon Lightfoot
"Stayin' Alive," Bee Gees
"Good Vibrations," Beach Boys
"Moonlight Feels Right," Starbuck
"Gloria," Laura Branigan
"Centerfield," John Fogerty
"Night Moves," Bob Seger
"Reminiscing," Little River Band

Interesting list, Nove. Even if some of the songs fall outside of the range of this particular catagory (1967-1979). (But then, John A. Lang did the same thing.) Still, I can agree with a lot, if not most, of your selections. The only tune I don't know is the Dan Fogelberg song. I've never heard it. But I've heard only two or three of his songs anyway. Good choices.

"It's all one song." - Neil Young