The Ecstatic Truth, Pt. 7
W: Fletcher/Glover
P: Slyvia Robinson (really Clifton “Jiggs” Chase)
Melle Mel’s second verse on this song (“A child is born with no state of mind…”) is in my top 5 greatest rap verses of all time.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UXZCEZEF
349 Paul McCartney - Junk
W: McCartney
P: McCartney
I love the way that the melody of this song really captures the bittersweet tone of the lyrics. That’s the reason why Paul is such a great songwriter.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MTOY0QB3
348 Parliament - Funkin’ For Fun
W: Clinton/Goins/Shider
P: George Clinton
In high school I almost chose “If you see my mother, tell her I’m all right, I’m just funkin’ around for fun,” as my senior quote.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=5YTYN5LK
347 Andrew W.K. - It’s Time to Party
W: W.K.
P: Andrew W.K.
Don’t even try and deny it, cause we’re gonna have a party tonight.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=HEZIW4OQ
346 The Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta
W: Dennis/Hayes/Jordan/King
Admittedly, it makes me sad that this song doesn’t have the classic Geto Boys lineup, but it is still a great song because it stays true to the things the Geto Boys have always stood for. This may be the quintessential Geto Boys song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=QB4UQULF
345 Cody ChesnuTT - My Women, My Guitars
W: ChesnuTT
P: Cody ChesnuTT
This is a song about an impending breakdown, but instead of sounding frantic or nervous, it sounds resigned to fate, and I think it gives the song a really fresh quality.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=9M0ZROXO
344 The Beach Boys - Don’t Worry Baby
W: Wilson/Christian
P: Brian Wilson
How much do I love this song? Even when Mike Love sings, I still love it.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EO1PK5FD
343 A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
W: Davis/Muhammed/Taylor/Foster
P: A Tribe Called Quest
I have actually sat down and studied this song in an effort to become a better songwriter.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=WFDCQESV
342 Run-D.M.C. - Peter Piper
W: McDaniels/Simmons
P: Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin
Every time I listen to this song I have to agree: God damn that DJ made my day!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=68OAR0WQ
341 William Bell - I Forgot to Be Your Lover
W: Bell/Jones
P: Booker T. Jones
Bell’s mournful R&B ballad doesn’t have many of the trappings of most ballads, it feels much more bare, which really works towards its advantage. I get goosebumps when I hear the harmony come in.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XQLJ1Z6H
340 The Clash - Train In Vain
W: Jones/Strummer
P: Guy Stevens
To try to dance along with this song you kind of have to act a little bit jittery, and somehow that speaks on how effective this song is.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XV8CAFXG
339 Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock
W: Baker/Robie/Soul Sonic Force
P: Arthur Baker
This is one of those songs that has classic written all over it. Every single thing about it is memorable, it comes off like a series of hooks placed one after the other.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=QER5XV4O
338 The Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
W: Jones/Strummer
P: The Clash
The echo on the vocals make this sound like it was recorded live, and it is a sound that I think really benefits this reggae-tinged number.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=YFSSJOHD
337 2Pac - Changes
W: Evans/Hornsby/Shakur
Everything there is to love about 2Pac is on this song. The verses are both angry and sad, but most importantly they are passionate even at their most reflective moments.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=U6HTI7LJ
336 Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Looking For the Perfect Beat
W: Baker/Robie/Soul Sonic Force
P: Arthur Baker and John Robie
This song is the epitome of cool. Cool synthesizers, cool chorus, cool scratching, cool rapping, just cool everything.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=H96X7Y8H
335 MF DOOM - Rhymes Like Dimes
W: Dumile
P: MF DOOM
Even if you don’t like MF DOOM very much you should still like this song. It’s got a really cool ‘80s jazz sound to it, and the raps are wildly clever, humorous, and real.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=51EZTIRB
334 OutKast - Prototype
W: Benjamin
P: Andre 3000
Not only is this a really well-written pop love song, it has a stunningly beautiful bass line. It sounds so fluid, but it is also counter-melodic instead of strictly rhythmic and the overall effect is sublime.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=W390JX24
333 Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart
W: Redding/Neville
This is another example of Otis singing his ass off, and I can never get enough of that. Lest we forget, Otis is also one hell of a songwriter as he proves here.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=1NSE8L4D
332 The Righteous Brothers - You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
W: Spector/Mann/Weil
P: Phil Spector
The verses and chorus are obviously great, but I think what really makes this song special is the coda. The back and forth shouting of the singers pushes the song further and further until everything boils over and they bust into the chorus again with incredible fervor. It’s great.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=JAEBLBJJ
331 Nick Lowe - Cruel to Be Kind
W: Lowe/Gomm
P: Nick Lowe
If you at all like Elvis Costello you should download this song. It is written and performed by Nick Lowe who produced almost all of Costello’s early material and so it has that same kind of feel, and he actually does bitter, subversive pop almost as well as Costello.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8F398KJZ
330 Biz Markie - Just a Friend
W: Hall
P: The Diabolical Biz Markie and Cutmaster Cool V
Some people laugh at this song, but I think it’s actually great. But hey, I also think that nobody beats the Biz.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7WPH9EQV
329 Big Joe Turner - Shake Rattle and Roll
W: Calhoun
P: Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
I am fascinated by subversive pop music, especially about sex. This song is very raunchy for the 1950s, but it masks all of its sexuality in metaphors and sly winks, putting all of the conclusions in the sound of Turner’s voice.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y26TJS8B
328 Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
W: Jacobs/Humphrey
P: Digital Underground
This song has too many quotable lines so I will pick just one: “I like to rhyme, I like my beats funky, I’m spunky, I like my oatmeal lumpy.”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0PC0JKV0
327 Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
W: Mitchell
P: Joni Mitchell
This is my favorite Joni Mitchell song because she actually sounds as if she enjoys singing the song. Sometimes she can sound too depressed and I get tired of it, but this song has a soft sweetness to it I find endearing.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=99CGUBH3
326 Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick - La Di Da Di
W: Davis/Walters
Beat boxing and rapping, simple as that. I actually got into an argument with somebody about whether or not Slick Rick or Snoop Dogg had written this song. It really pissed me off.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XC1WDNDM
That is all for today. Songs 425-351 coming tomorrow.
P: Slyvia Robinson (really Clifton “Jiggs” Chase)
Melle Mel’s second verse on this song (“A child is born with no state of mind…”) is in my top 5 greatest rap verses of all time.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UXZCEZEF
349 Paul McCartney - Junk
W: McCartney
P: McCartney
I love the way that the melody of this song really captures the bittersweet tone of the lyrics. That’s the reason why Paul is such a great songwriter.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MTOY0QB3
348 Parliament - Funkin’ For Fun
W: Clinton/Goins/Shider
P: George Clinton
In high school I almost chose “If you see my mother, tell her I’m all right, I’m just funkin’ around for fun,” as my senior quote.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=5YTYN5LK
347 Andrew W.K. - It’s Time to Party
W: W.K.
P: Andrew W.K.
Don’t even try and deny it, cause we’re gonna have a party tonight.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=HEZIW4OQ
346 The Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta
W: Dennis/Hayes/Jordan/King
Admittedly, it makes me sad that this song doesn’t have the classic Geto Boys lineup, but it is still a great song because it stays true to the things the Geto Boys have always stood for. This may be the quintessential Geto Boys song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=QB4UQULF
345 Cody ChesnuTT - My Women, My Guitars
W: ChesnuTT
P: Cody ChesnuTT
This is a song about an impending breakdown, but instead of sounding frantic or nervous, it sounds resigned to fate, and I think it gives the song a really fresh quality.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=9M0ZROXO
344 The Beach Boys - Don’t Worry Baby
W: Wilson/Christian
P: Brian Wilson
How much do I love this song? Even when Mike Love sings, I still love it.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EO1PK5FD
343 A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
W: Davis/Muhammed/Taylor/Foster
P: A Tribe Called Quest
I have actually sat down and studied this song in an effort to become a better songwriter.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=WFDCQESV
342 Run-D.M.C. - Peter Piper
W: McDaniels/Simmons
P: Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin
Every time I listen to this song I have to agree: God damn that DJ made my day!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=68OAR0WQ
341 William Bell - I Forgot to Be Your Lover
W: Bell/Jones
P: Booker T. Jones
Bell’s mournful R&B ballad doesn’t have many of the trappings of most ballads, it feels much more bare, which really works towards its advantage. I get goosebumps when I hear the harmony come in.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XQLJ1Z6H
340 The Clash - Train In Vain
W: Jones/Strummer
P: Guy Stevens
To try to dance along with this song you kind of have to act a little bit jittery, and somehow that speaks on how effective this song is.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XV8CAFXG
339 Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock
W: Baker/Robie/Soul Sonic Force
P: Arthur Baker
This is one of those songs that has classic written all over it. Every single thing about it is memorable, it comes off like a series of hooks placed one after the other.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=QER5XV4O
338 The Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
W: Jones/Strummer
P: The Clash
The echo on the vocals make this sound like it was recorded live, and it is a sound that I think really benefits this reggae-tinged number.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=YFSSJOHD
337 2Pac - Changes
W: Evans/Hornsby/Shakur
Everything there is to love about 2Pac is on this song. The verses are both angry and sad, but most importantly they are passionate even at their most reflective moments.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=U6HTI7LJ
336 Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - Looking For the Perfect Beat
W: Baker/Robie/Soul Sonic Force
P: Arthur Baker and John Robie
This song is the epitome of cool. Cool synthesizers, cool chorus, cool scratching, cool rapping, just cool everything.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=H96X7Y8H
335 MF DOOM - Rhymes Like Dimes
W: Dumile
P: MF DOOM
Even if you don’t like MF DOOM very much you should still like this song. It’s got a really cool ‘80s jazz sound to it, and the raps are wildly clever, humorous, and real.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=51EZTIRB
334 OutKast - Prototype
W: Benjamin
P: Andre 3000
Not only is this a really well-written pop love song, it has a stunningly beautiful bass line. It sounds so fluid, but it is also counter-melodic instead of strictly rhythmic and the overall effect is sublime.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=W390JX24
333 Otis Redding - Pain In My Heart
W: Redding/Neville
This is another example of Otis singing his ass off, and I can never get enough of that. Lest we forget, Otis is also one hell of a songwriter as he proves here.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=1NSE8L4D
332 The Righteous Brothers - You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
W: Spector/Mann/Weil
P: Phil Spector
The verses and chorus are obviously great, but I think what really makes this song special is the coda. The back and forth shouting of the singers pushes the song further and further until everything boils over and they bust into the chorus again with incredible fervor. It’s great.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=JAEBLBJJ
331 Nick Lowe - Cruel to Be Kind
W: Lowe/Gomm
P: Nick Lowe
If you at all like Elvis Costello you should download this song. It is written and performed by Nick Lowe who produced almost all of Costello’s early material and so it has that same kind of feel, and he actually does bitter, subversive pop almost as well as Costello.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8F398KJZ
330 Biz Markie - Just a Friend
W: Hall
P: The Diabolical Biz Markie and Cutmaster Cool V
Some people laugh at this song, but I think it’s actually great. But hey, I also think that nobody beats the Biz.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7WPH9EQV
329 Big Joe Turner - Shake Rattle and Roll
W: Calhoun
P: Ahmet Ertegun and Jerry Wexler
I am fascinated by subversive pop music, especially about sex. This song is very raunchy for the 1950s, but it masks all of its sexuality in metaphors and sly winks, putting all of the conclusions in the sound of Turner’s voice.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=Y26TJS8B
328 Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
W: Jacobs/Humphrey
P: Digital Underground
This song has too many quotable lines so I will pick just one: “I like to rhyme, I like my beats funky, I’m spunky, I like my oatmeal lumpy.”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0PC0JKV0
327 Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
W: Mitchell
P: Joni Mitchell
This is my favorite Joni Mitchell song because she actually sounds as if she enjoys singing the song. Sometimes she can sound too depressed and I get tired of it, but this song has a soft sweetness to it I find endearing.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=99CGUBH3
326 Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick - La Di Da Di
W: Davis/Walters
Beat boxing and rapping, simple as that. I actually got into an argument with somebody about whether or not Slick Rick or Snoop Dogg had written this song. It really pissed me off.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XC1WDNDM
That is all for today. Songs 425-351 coming tomorrow.