The Ecstatic Truth, Pt. 5
400 The Beta Band - Squares
W: The Beta Band/Mackay/Van Holmen/Vincent
P: Colin Emmanuel and the Beta Band
This is probably the coolest Beta Band song because of its use of samples and disconnected, hollow vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=308DORO3
399 Fishbone - Lemon Meringue
W: Fisher
P: Terry Date and Fishbone
This song is ostensibly about how tasty lemon meringue pie is, but, in typical Fishbone fashion, the exciting choral vocals prove that this song is about opening up your eyes as much as your taste buds.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=RRRRSZSB
398 Sugar Hill Gang - Rapper’s Delight
W: Robinson/Jackson/Wright/O’Brien
P: Sylvia Robinson
I included the 7 minute version here because personally, it is my favorite cut of the song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=WCODM1Y1
397 The Pharcyde - Soulflower (Remix)
W: Kincaid/Bartholemew/Levy/Robinson/Wilcox/Hardson/Stewart
P: J-Swift
This song should be played at every rap party. If you can’t have a good time listening to this song, there is probably something wrong with you.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7V5VVY3D
396 Bill Withers - Use Me
W: Withers
P: Bill Withers
Bill Withers is usually a pretty lighthearted musician, which is what makes this funky slice of domestic unrest that much more appealing.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7RGVRU9U
395 Bob Dylan - Shelter from the Storm
W: Dylan
P: Bob Dylan
This is one of Dylan’s most tender songs, a side of him I wish we saw more of.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EKDVRX3H
394 Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come
W: Cooke
P: Sam Cooke with Hugo & Luigi
Sam Cooke’s plea for a better world is somewhat hampered by the over-the-top string arrangement, but his vocal is so affective it doesn’t really matter.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=OXORTKUC
393 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary
W: Fogerty
P: John Fogerty
I love the sound of the guitar on this record, it really holds everything together.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=TSHC1W0H
392 Fishbone - So Many Millions
W: Fisher/Moore
P: Fishbone
This song may be too chaotic for some people, but I think the song’s power comes from its willingness to be unafraid and go all out in every way imaginable.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=WIZCZCSV
391 Weezer - Surf Wax America
W: Cuomo/Wilson
P: Ric Ocasek
I don’t surf, but if I did, this would be my anthem.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=YIR9FY4M
390 Funkadelic - Good to Your Earhole
W: Clinton/Cook/Haskins
P: George Clinton
Funkadelic always said “Free your ass and your mind will follow,” but I think this song proves that it works the other way around to. First it wants you to “Put your hands together, come on and stomp your feet,” then “There’s a good time waiting for you, come on and let’s get free.”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=IL7T8R9H
389 D’Angelo - Feel Like Makin’ Love
W: McDaniels
P: D’Angelo
I am sure there are plenty of people that would rather see the original Roberta Flack version of this song on the list, but I like the sound of D’Angelo’s cover more. The muted horns give this record so much texture, I find it irresistible.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FHS4UWG9
388 The Cure - Just Like Heaven
W: Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Tolhurst
P: Smith/Allen
Robert Smith’s pleading vocals enhances one of his greatest melodies, and the simple piano make this high-energy love song seem quaint and pleasant in a very nice way.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=75SFNVIP
387 The Pharcyde - Drop
W: Robinson/Wilcox/Hardson/Yancy
P: Jay Dee
This song has three of my favorite Pharcyde verses, one of my favorite Pharcyde choruses, and one of my favorite Jay Dee beats, so you know it’s on the list. R.I.P. Dilla.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EL6QYFBO
386 Rick James - Super Freak
W: James/Miller
P: Rick James
Rick James was a true master. While this may be an obvious choice, there is a reason why it is so well known.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q4KBKR97
385 Parliament - Wizard of Finance
W: Clinton/Goins/Ford
P: George Clinton
Most people know Parliament as a funk band, but as they show on this song, they could also make really interesting R&B ballads.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=SAFH8OQI
384 De La Soul - Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)
W: Huston/Mercer/Jolicoeur/Mason
P: Prince Paul and De La Soul
De La mock modern rappers by using lyrics from some of their heroes to make something completely different and interesting.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MGAAFRZS
383 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Time Will Tell
W: Marley
P: Bob Marley & the Wailers
I have always wished that Marley did more stripped-down acoustic stuff because of this song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BFVAWWY3
382 The Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain
W: Whitfield/Strong/Penzabene
P: Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield’s production on this song is perhaps even more emotive than the Temps vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=VY7Q54I0
381 The Temptations - Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)
W: Whitfield/Strong
P: Norman Whitfield
Russell is right: this song could be over the opening credits to almost any movie and it would be awesome.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=O4ISWYGV
380 Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven
W: Clapton/Jennings
P: Russ Titelman
I am not even going to say anything about this one. If it makes me lame to have it on the list, so be it.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=D3IAHPUE
379 Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
W: Hurley/Wilkins
P: Jerry Wexler
This song is incredibly sexy to me. Dusty’s smoky vocal has never sounded this good.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=YGNCX5IQ
378 D’Angelo - Cruisin’
W: Robinson/Taplin
P: D’Angelo
This is another song where I could have included the original version, but D’Angelo’s version is sexier to me, so it made the list instead.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BCGFPEIM
377 Cheap Trick - Surrender
W: Nielsen
P: Tom Werman
This is power-pop that way it should be done.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UOBTE0ZB
376 George Harrison - What Is Life
W: Harrison
P: George Harrison and Phil Spector
Phil Spector’s horn arrangement on this song is huge, audacious, and, most importantly, exciting. It lifts the entire song to another level and you can really hear George singing his heart out to match it.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FSZ57JNY
W: The Beta Band/Mackay/Van Holmen/Vincent
P: Colin Emmanuel and the Beta Band
This is probably the coolest Beta Band song because of its use of samples and disconnected, hollow vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=308DORO3
399 Fishbone - Lemon Meringue
W: Fisher
P: Terry Date and Fishbone
This song is ostensibly about how tasty lemon meringue pie is, but, in typical Fishbone fashion, the exciting choral vocals prove that this song is about opening up your eyes as much as your taste buds.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=RRRRSZSB
398 Sugar Hill Gang - Rapper’s Delight
W: Robinson/Jackson/Wright/O’Brien
P: Sylvia Robinson
I included the 7 minute version here because personally, it is my favorite cut of the song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=WCODM1Y1
397 The Pharcyde - Soulflower (Remix)
W: Kincaid/Bartholemew/Levy/Robinson/Wilcox/Hardson/Stewart
P: J-Swift
This song should be played at every rap party. If you can’t have a good time listening to this song, there is probably something wrong with you.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7V5VVY3D
396 Bill Withers - Use Me
W: Withers
P: Bill Withers
Bill Withers is usually a pretty lighthearted musician, which is what makes this funky slice of domestic unrest that much more appealing.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7RGVRU9U
395 Bob Dylan - Shelter from the Storm
W: Dylan
P: Bob Dylan
This is one of Dylan’s most tender songs, a side of him I wish we saw more of.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EKDVRX3H
394 Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come
W: Cooke
P: Sam Cooke with Hugo & Luigi
Sam Cooke’s plea for a better world is somewhat hampered by the over-the-top string arrangement, but his vocal is so affective it doesn’t really matter.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=OXORTKUC
393 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Proud Mary
W: Fogerty
P: John Fogerty
I love the sound of the guitar on this record, it really holds everything together.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=TSHC1W0H
392 Fishbone - So Many Millions
W: Fisher/Moore
P: Fishbone
This song may be too chaotic for some people, but I think the song’s power comes from its willingness to be unafraid and go all out in every way imaginable.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=WIZCZCSV
391 Weezer - Surf Wax America
W: Cuomo/Wilson
P: Ric Ocasek
I don’t surf, but if I did, this would be my anthem.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=YIR9FY4M
390 Funkadelic - Good to Your Earhole
W: Clinton/Cook/Haskins
P: George Clinton
Funkadelic always said “Free your ass and your mind will follow,” but I think this song proves that it works the other way around to. First it wants you to “Put your hands together, come on and stomp your feet,” then “There’s a good time waiting for you, come on and let’s get free.”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=IL7T8R9H
389 D’Angelo - Feel Like Makin’ Love
W: McDaniels
P: D’Angelo
I am sure there are plenty of people that would rather see the original Roberta Flack version of this song on the list, but I like the sound of D’Angelo’s cover more. The muted horns give this record so much texture, I find it irresistible.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FHS4UWG9
388 The Cure - Just Like Heaven
W: Smith/Gallup/Thompson/Williams/Tolhurst
P: Smith/Allen
Robert Smith’s pleading vocals enhances one of his greatest melodies, and the simple piano make this high-energy love song seem quaint and pleasant in a very nice way.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=75SFNVIP
387 The Pharcyde - Drop
W: Robinson/Wilcox/Hardson/Yancy
P: Jay Dee
This song has three of my favorite Pharcyde verses, one of my favorite Pharcyde choruses, and one of my favorite Jay Dee beats, so you know it’s on the list. R.I.P. Dilla.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EL6QYFBO
386 Rick James - Super Freak
W: James/Miller
P: Rick James
Rick James was a true master. While this may be an obvious choice, there is a reason why it is so well known.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q4KBKR97
385 Parliament - Wizard of Finance
W: Clinton/Goins/Ford
P: George Clinton
Most people know Parliament as a funk band, but as they show on this song, they could also make really interesting R&B ballads.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=SAFH8OQI
384 De La Soul - Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)
W: Huston/Mercer/Jolicoeur/Mason
P: Prince Paul and De La Soul
De La mock modern rappers by using lyrics from some of their heroes to make something completely different and interesting.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MGAAFRZS
383 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Time Will Tell
W: Marley
P: Bob Marley & the Wailers
I have always wished that Marley did more stripped-down acoustic stuff because of this song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BFVAWWY3
382 The Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain
W: Whitfield/Strong/Penzabene
P: Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield’s production on this song is perhaps even more emotive than the Temps vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=VY7Q54I0
381 The Temptations - Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)
W: Whitfield/Strong
P: Norman Whitfield
Russell is right: this song could be over the opening credits to almost any movie and it would be awesome.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=O4ISWYGV
380 Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven
W: Clapton/Jennings
P: Russ Titelman
I am not even going to say anything about this one. If it makes me lame to have it on the list, so be it.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=D3IAHPUE
379 Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man
W: Hurley/Wilkins
P: Jerry Wexler
This song is incredibly sexy to me. Dusty’s smoky vocal has never sounded this good.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=YGNCX5IQ
378 D’Angelo - Cruisin’
W: Robinson/Taplin
P: D’Angelo
This is another song where I could have included the original version, but D’Angelo’s version is sexier to me, so it made the list instead.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BCGFPEIM
377 Cheap Trick - Surrender
W: Nielsen
P: Tom Werman
This is power-pop that way it should be done.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UOBTE0ZB
376 George Harrison - What Is Life
W: Harrison
P: George Harrison and Phil Spector
Phil Spector’s horn arrangement on this song is huge, audacious, and, most importantly, exciting. It lifts the entire song to another level and you can really hear George singing his heart out to match it.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FSZ57JNY