This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Top Ten Countdown Blogfest


TOP TEN COUNTDOWN – MUSIC BLOGFEST!

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          Counting down our top tunes of all time!  Alex has brought us another show where we each present our top ten favorite songs of all time.  My choices might be different next time you ask me, but these are pretty good representations of the types of music I listen to when it comes to popular rock era music.  And now to follow Alex's call:

Music moves us. It inspires us! Now, tell the world YOUR ten favorite songs of all time. The Song, the band – why does it move you?
          Here are my 10 choices--for today at least:
 
  
Good Vibrations   ---    The Beach Boys gave us this great tune in 1966.  I'd been growing up with their California surf and car music, but now my musical interests were turning to newer sounds.  This song was one of those newer songs and The Beach Boys were staying on the forefront of music trends.  It's intricate and rockin' and it blew me away when I heard it.

Summer in the City  by The Lovin' Spoonful  --- It was the year before the Summer of Love.  In 1966 my family moved to East Tennessee where we first set up home in a travel trailer in Tarbett Road Trailer Park--but that's another story for another blogpost.  This song was on the radio and I, as well as my new friend Fred Tilson, thought it was a very fine song and were amazed.   It still holds up well for me.

Slip Inside This House  by 13th Floor Elevators ---  In my high school years my musical explorations and inclinitions started getting more adventurous.  I liked the mysticism and imagery of the lyrics of this song and the persistance and the urgency of the music.  This song still bears repeated listenings for me.
 
Cinnamon Girl   by Neil Young  --- For me it could be nearly anything by Neil Young, but something by Neil has to be on my list.   This is the first song that caught my attention where I began to attach a name to his music.  I love those haunting Young and Crazy Horse harmonies and the roughshod backing of the instruments.

Nature's Way  by Spirit --- Lately I've been listening to a lot of Spirit and remembering what a great group they were.    I could have listed many of their songs, but this ecological message song is a big favorite with me.

Baker Street   by Gerry Rafferty --- It was probably October or November of 1978 when I was driving in my VW Rabbit hatchback on some back road in western Mississippi and heard this song come on the radio.  I was touring with a theatre stage production at the time.  I guess I'll have to make this story a blog piece for another time.  But I'll tell you--when I heard this song on the radio that morning I was really identifying with it.

Candy Apple Red    by Robbin Thompson Band --- In 1980 I was living in Richmond, Virginia when I started hearing about this band.  Later when I picked up a cassette of their music, this song really caught my attention and I still love to listen to it.  It's a peppy tune that evokes memories of the early days of rock and roll.  I could only find this live versions to use for my playlist, but the version here is a redition that's fairly faithful to the original.

Romeo's Tune         Steve Forbert is a singer / songwriter who hasn't gotten the attention he deserves.  This tune was popular in the early 80's but I've rarely heard it in the past couple of decades.  This holds a lot of memories for me of that period of my life.  The album this came from, Jackrabbit Slim, is a great one and I think some of the other songs are even better than this one.

Eye in the Sky by Alan Parsons Project  --- It must have been in the summer of 1982 when I first heard this.  I was sitting in a supermarket parking lot in Billings, Montana when this song came on the radio.   As I listened to it I thought to myself that this is one of the best songs ever.  I still have not tired of listening to it.

The Reason     by Hoobastank      I figured I should put on something from the last 20 years.  I don't know when this first came out.  It's a beautiful song that I can listen to over and over.   I could only find a live version for my playlist, but it sounds pretty good.  There was also a Spanish studio version available as well, which I thought was kind of cool.



         So there you have my list.  Did you put up yours?  If so, I'll be over to check it out.


..........

63 comments:

  1. I knew most of these Lee, see you have a Gerry Rafferty song-- I have too. sadly he passed away
    three weeks ago, first he was taken to our hospital here in Bournemouth then London but passed away at home.
    You have made I think an excellent choice seeing there is so much music in the world.

    Yvonne.

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  2. Great idea to use a music player. Like that. Nice choices.

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  3. I love some of your choices - The Reason is a beautiful song!

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  4. Super list. It's true, a lot of it is before my time but still I've listened and loved lots of the classics.

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  5. well, as you're guessing I've heard only of THE REASON by Hoobastank, their one hit wonder. It was beautiful song, although I didn't like the video. And I heard about that Beatles song too!

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  6. I knew the first two. I clicked on eye in the sky and liked it.

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  7. I love that you said for today at least Lee. I feel the same way, my favorite songs are always changing!

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  8. Man how did I forget Neil Young!? Great list Lee, I have to check out a few though :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  9. all the spectrum of music...
    thanks for the melody's,
    jeremy
    [iZombie]

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  10. Cool list. I didn't participate because I couldn't pick ten. But I did blog about music today.

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  11. A Beach Boys concert was the first live band I saw as a teenager, so I’ve always been partial to their songs.

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  12. I love your list, lots of excellent classics. I also love that Hoobastank song. I have vivid memories of my old house and that song in 2004!

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  13. Lee-

    Not many of us Steve Forbert fans out there! I remember "Romeo's Tune" well, although I think my favorite is still "Goin' Down To Laurel" from the debut album. He still puts out music pretty regularly.

    How can you not love "Summer In The City" or "Nature's Way?"

    To McCarthy's chagrin, I've never been a huge Beach Boys fan. But I've always had a soft spot in my heart for "Good Vibrations" since Rundgren covered it on his "Faithful" album.

    Good list!

    LC

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  14. Not a bad list at all....
    I'm starting to like this playlist game that's been passing through several blogs this week. I may post one myself.

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  15. If there was a Top 29 nGood Vibrations would make it! Great to see Neil Young make your list. Love Neil Young. Summer in the City is great too. Sad to hear Gerry Rafferty pass away.

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  16. Great list, Lee--it was fun to have you put it in context for your 'coming of age'--I love the Beach Boys because they were one of the things my mom carried over (she finished high school in 1965) and I grew to love Neil Young later as an early rebel and fabulous storyteller in song.

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  17. Pet Sounds by Beach boys is fantastic, but I think it's more the entire album than one particular song >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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  18. Baker Street is THE song of the 70's. Shame Rafferty died recently. Thanks for participating, Lee!

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  19. Nature's Way?
    Are you kidding me? Spirit is my personal all time favorite band (both live and recorded). I just listened to the Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus yesterday, because I mentioned them in my list as having inspired Stairway to Heaven with their song Taurus. Sorry, I got excited because most people these days have never even heard of Spirit. Great picks Lee...

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  20. Oh, I know these songs. Hate to admit heard them on the radio when they first came out.

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  21. I love the Beach Boys! So much fun! Great list!

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  22. Wonderful list! I absolutely adore "Good Vibrations" (heck, just about anything by the Beach Boys back then). Thanks for sharing, Lee.

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  23. I like The Reason, too. I've seen Hoobastank in concert and they were great. I'm surprised they didn't have more hits.

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  24. I'll have to use that player, since I haven't heard of many of these songs . . .

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  25. I enjoyed playing your songs and reading about what they mean to you. Love The Beach Boys!

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  26. I enjoyed your list. The Reason probably would have made my list on a different day. What a beautiful song!

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  27. I love your choices Arlee. And I admire you for being able to narrow it down! I don't know that I could do that! Impressive!
    Love Di ♥

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  28. The only one I'm familiar with is the Beach Boys (Great song!)

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  29. I have to admit I haven't heard of all of these, but there haven't been enough beach boys songs listed today.

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  30. BOID ~
    Anyone who includes "GOOD VIBRATIONS" on their list is A-OK with me! Great, great selection. A truly revolutionary recording that blew a lot of minds back then, not the least of them belonging to The Beatles and their producer George Martin, who said: "If there is one person that I have to select as a living genius of pop music, I would choose Brian Wilson". (I wonder what Paul and John thought of that statement!)

    "Summer In The City" - another oldie I've never grown tired of.

    I'm a little surprised to find "Baker Street" on your list, although I dig it still. It's just not one I would have associated with you. Did Rafferty's recent death play any part in its inclusion on your list?

    If I were choosing one Neil Young song, my choice would unquestionably be "Sugar Mountain". I love the theme of that one! Used to play it whenever I was driving down to Disneyland for the day. Can you understand why?

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

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  31. great list, a lot of some I havnt heard of before until I listened to them just now, but like your taste in music a lot.

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  32. Great list!! I love the Beach Boys too :)

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  33. This is a fantastic list. Such great songs. I love the Beach Boys and Hoobastank.

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  34. Love the music player - great addition! Because, sadly, I only really recognized the Beach Boys song. It will be fun to listen to some others - thanks!

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  35. Great songs!! many I know...a few I dont!!

    Sig

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  36. Great list, I not only know all of these. I know most of the words. Great to see Neil Young up there. First time today.

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  37. I am unfamiliar with a lot of these artists (I mean, who are these Beach Boys?) but I'm adding them to my list of musicians to check out. I love these lists...it's opening me up to even more music!

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  38. Arlee: The only one I recognized was the Beach Boys, but it's great to find new music to listen to as well.

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  39. Good Vibrations, Eye in the Sky and The Reason - all GREAT songs. I can't believe I left those off. This was so hard! Great list!!

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  40. Hey, thanks for the play list. Some of the songs I didn't know, and I liked to listen. This is an interesting list. Eye In The Sky is one of my all time favorites.

    And you've convinced me: I MUST be back tomorrow . .

    ........dhole

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  41. Some real classics here - I will need to check out the ones I haven't heard of.

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  42. Great list! Neil Young reminds me of college and the band that played at every party and the lead singer of that band who wrote me love letters. Good times, great memories!

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  43. LOVE your list. You've got some great oldies but goodies. They'll never go out of style either.

    Nice to meet you, Arlee!

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  44. How wonderful to be able to listen to them whilst we read your list! Some amazing choices as well. Thanks for sharing!

    My Top Ten Songs

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  45. THE REASON!!! Excellent choice. And I love The Beach Boys. So happy to see them represented. Nice list!

    www.pauljosephwrites.blogspot.com

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  46. Thanks to everyone who stopped by! I've been enjoying all of the other lists.

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  47. Ohh Hoobastank was a nice surprise! Great list here!

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  48. You have quite a few tracks I know and several I like a lot. I have sung this Hoobastank song sooo many times :)

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  49. Great list. And thanks for putting up a playlist. I'm enjoying listening to the songs I didn't already know :)

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  50. This is a fun list. I have a feeling I know all of these tunes, even though I don't recognize the names. I'll have to "research" it.
    Thanks for stopping by for music blogfest.
    Be well.
    xoRobyn

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  51. Yay for the Beach Boys! It's hard to be in a bad mood when one of their songs comes on.

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  52. I totally forgot about the Reason. SHakes head great song! Saw them in concert years ago and was like oh you guys are so Hot!

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  53. How great that you have links to all of them! Super cool, thanks!

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  54. Great list! I can't believe I didn't mention Neil Young on mine.

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  55. Thanks to all who have stopped by after my last thank you. I've been busily working on the A to Z Challenge--hope everyone will be joining us in April.
    Lee

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  56. The Beach Boys and Neil Young are great. I should probably try more listening to more of your list. Thanks for sharing and blogfesting.

    I'm really excited about trying out the A to Z challenge!

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  57. This was a nifty little project. I'm your newest follow and participant in the A-Z Challenge. I just started my blog on March 1, so this is going to be a great way to cover lots of ideas quickly. I'm doing Money Saving A-Z. Hope you will stop by and check out my blog. Thanks!!
    Janet @ KY Klips Blog

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Lee