In my decades listening to music, there have been songs that I’ve purchased on singles where I just had to play it again. Or album cuts where I had to pick up the tone arm and find the track I just played. Or hit the song repeat button on the CD player. Here are some of them; they wouldn’t necessarily be on my list NOW, but there was a time when they most definitely were.
I do need to tell you first, though, why I’m afraid of Kelly Brown. Not only does she have weird thoughts she thinks I’ll know the answers to, while I compiling this list she posted a piece on songs she likes to play repeatedly. SHE’S READING MY MIND! (Or I’m reading hers.)
King Harvest-the Band. From “the brown album”, the second album, it’s the last song on the LP. It’s the vocals and the lyrics: “My horse Jethro, well he went mad.”
Sail On Sailor-the Beach Boys. The first song on the Holland LP. This was released twice as a single, somebody believed so much in it, but it was never more than a moderate hit.
Got to Get You into My Life-the Beatles. I’d play the (US) Revolver album once through this song, then, if my parents weren’t home, play the song again very loudly. This made Tomorrow Never Knows particularly noisy.
Rock Lobster-the B-52’s. The “hook” is in the very beginning. I even like the Yokoesque segment.
I’m Shakin’-the Blasters. Great rockabilly. Only have on vinyl.
Golden Years-David Bowie. Thin White Duke becomes Soul Train worthy. From an LP.
Cannonball-the Breeders. It was loud and infectious. On a 4-song CD.
The Mercy Seat-Johnny Cash. This is a song about an upcoming execution of the protagonist, for a crime he did not commit (maybe). It is the Benmont Tench keyboards on this song, like his keyboards on Johnny’s version of Hurt, that really stand out for me. From the third American Recordings CD.
Love Gone Bad-Chris Clark. I have these Motown CDs of “hard-to-find” hits, and one was this one by a white female artist I had never heard of, certainly one of the earliest ones on the label.
Mustapha Dance-the Clash. Probably from an EP, this is Rock the Casbah with limited vocals.
A Ballata Of Francesco Landini-Judy Collins. Some Italian ballad from about eight centuries ago. Beautiful last song on the first side of the Wildflowers LP.
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding?-Elvis Costello. I STILL hear this both as the driving anthem it is and as an a cappella doowop. From a greatest hits CD.
The ’68 Nixon-Denver, Boise and Johnson. A song from a Warner Brothers Loss Leader LP about how the candidate had changed his positions since last time he ran. “He’s more than a candidate; he’s a crowd.” The Denver in this “paid political denouncement” is John Denver; yes, THAT John Denver.
Tell the Truth-Derek and the Dominoes. NOT the version from the Layla album, but the more frenetic version that’s on the Eric Clapton box set.
Celtic Rock-Donovan. The druids are coming. Last song, first side of the Open Road LP.
Takin’ It To the Streets-the Doobie Brothers. The first song I heard with the Michael McDonald vocal. It became a more predictable sound eventually, but when I first heard it, it sounded fresh. From the first greatest hits LP.
Lucky Man-Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Last song on the first album. I used to do a credible simulation of the synth at the end.
I’m In A Different World-the Four Tops. Has a minor chord feel in the verse, major chord in the second half of the chorus. From an LP.
Cuba-the Gibson Brothers. A salsa from a Warner Brothers Loss Leaders LP.
Lonely Avenue -Ian Gillian & Roger Glover. From the Rain Man soundtrack. I put it on a mixed CD for Lefty Brown, who found it “plodding”; obviously, I disagree.
Private Eyes-Hall & Oates. I’m a sucker for hand claps; the Supremes’ Where Did Our Love Go and Neil Young’s Cinnamon Girl could be on this list as well. “Private eyes” (clap) “are wanting you” (clap clap). A guilty pleasure.
Something In 4/4 Time-Daryl Hall. Robert Fripp produced an album called Sacred Songs in 1977, but the label didn’t release it until 1980, fearing that it was “uncommercial.” 4/4 Time is the great hit single that wasn’t. Though the verse and chorus were in regular rhythm, the bridge had interesting triplets an odd time signatures. I wish I had it in digital form.
The Love You Save-the Jackson 5ive. Largely because every vocal, save for Michael’s, was well in my range. It’s mostly Jermaine on the shared vocals, BTW.
Cancer-Joe Jackson. The juxtaposition of the topic “there’s no cure, there’s no answer” with the jaunty, piano-driven tune fascinated me. From side 2 of the LP Night and Day.
Lullabye-Billy Joel. Sad songs say so much. From the River of Dreams CD.
Indiscipline-King Crimson. “I repeat myself when under stress, I repeat myself when under stress…” Tom, my boss at FantaCo, described this song as his description of the store. Last song on the first side of the Discipline LP.
Season Of Hollow Soul-k.d. lang. Very sad, very autumnal song from her pop breakthrough album, Ingenue.
Immigrant Song-Led Zeppelin. I think I liked the third Led Zeppelin LP more than most people. It’s quieter and more reflective. The exception is the first tune, which I’d play once on its own, then again to start the album.
Church-Lyle Lovett. I feel like I’ve BEEN to church after this. The second song from the CD named after the sixth, seventh, and eighth books of the Bible, Joshua Judges Ruth.
No More Tear-Stained Makeup-Martha and the Vandellas. I wish I could find the lyrics to this Smokey Robinson-penned tune on the Internet, because the second verse has a line that’s really a mouthful. On the Watchout LP.
Maybe I’m Amazed-Paul McCartney. A song on the first solo LP as good as anything his old group did.
Well, that’s enough for now. More some other time.
ROG
