The Ecstatic Truth, Pt. 12
W: Clinton/Shider/Morrison
P: George Clinton
Strangely, I am not amazed by how long this song is; I am amazed by how short it is. It keeps on going and going, but it is so relentlessly entertaining you don’t want it to end.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=LOYKNE8E
224 The Byrds - I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better
W: Clark
P: Terry Melcher
If I were asked to pick one song to represent the sound of The Byrds, this would be it. It has everything you want in a good Byrds record: ringing guitars, a solid beat, and magnificent group vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=26B554W2
223 The Rolling Stones - Sweet Virginia
W: Jagger/Richards
P: Jimmy Miller
This country ballad to good wine and good times shows The Stones at their drugged out best. It rarely sounds this cool to be this drunk, but the haggard warmth in Mick’s voice makes this a great sing-along of debauchery.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=LVYZOMOU
222 The 5th Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues
W: Nyro
P: Bones Howe
I love everything about this record. The summer day texturing just sounds so… nice. This song feels like a warm blanket on a cold day; it is always comforting and welcome, ready for new listeners to experience its pleasures.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZK8WRJDR
221 Eels - Last Stop: This Town
W: Everett/Simpson
P: E & Michael Simpson
This song’s intensity depends completely on how loud you play it. At low levels it can seem very calm and composed, but turned up with the windows down it can explode with guitars and turntables. It’s an exciting listen.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MGHO7TQ0
220 Van Morrison - The Way Young Lovers Do
W: Morrison
P: Lewis Merenstein
Even for Van Morrison, the sound of this record is hard to describe. Most of his music has jazz undertones, but rarely does it swing the way it does on this record. You can almost picture Van snapping his fingers as he digs deep inside himself to produce the kinds of sounds he does.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0ZJHKXJQ
219 The Cardigans - Lovefool
W: Persson/Svensson
P: Tore Johansson
Relisten to this song, it is even better than you remember.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=69PNZWAJ
218 Jurassic-5 - Concrete Schoolyard
W: Postic/Givens/Stuart/Stewart/Henderson/Macfadden/Archer/Thompson
P: DJ Nu-Mark & Cut Chemist
I am not saying that all rap should sound like this record, but a lot more should. The laid-back piano groove of a beat gives the record its chill vibe, but it is the masterful old-school-referencing raps that give it its cool. Plus, it has a kazoo section.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UDX38W7V
217 The Beach Boys - I’m Waiting for the Day
W: Wilson/Love
P: Brian Wilson
This is one of the very few instances when I actually like Mike Love. This record is really made by the sound that Wilson captured; I truly don’t understand how someone could not be captivated by the sound of the drums and the multi-layered vocals, especially when it goes into the coda at the end.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=SQOS8PSZ
216 The Clash - Spanish Bombs
W: Jones/Strummer
P: Guy Stevens
For whatever reason, this seems to be one Clash song that just about everybody likes. I think the main cause of this is the ultra-catchy chorus. After all, people do love singing in Spanish.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=SM83VSIR
215 Nas featuring AZ - Life’s a Bitch
W: Jones/Wilson/Scott/Cruz/Dara
P: L.E.S. and Nas
The amazing thing about this record is that not only does it have one of Nas’ best verses, he actually gets outshined by AZ. The song isn’t half as dark as one may expect by looking at the title, but don’t let fool you into thinking it sacrifices an ounce of realness.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PK3I04A1
214 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - You Belong to Me
W: Costello
P: Nick Lowe
The possessiveness title of this early Attractions cut is actually self-reflective: the singer doesn’t want love if he thinks it will hold him back. The chorus is one of my favorite Costello has ever written, and The Attractions themselves are, as usual, perfectly on point.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=C8UIXQQR
213 The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love
W: B. Bryant/F. Bryant
P: Archie Bleyer
Sometimes the simplest options are the best ones. This is a very straight-forward record; it has no frills, but it also has no pretensions. It seems to me to be the kind of song cowboys would sing to pass the time out on the trail.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=RNO26NE1
212 Alice Cooper - Under My Wheels
W: Bruce/Dunaway/Ezrin
P: Bob Ezrin
Jolly. That is how I feel when I listen to this song. Rarely does Alice sound as fun as he does here, from the whizzing guitar battle to the rollicking horns. As an added bonus, it is a great driving song, which boosts any song’s stock in my book.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=4T02A8QF
211 David Bowie - Hang on to Yourself
W: Bowie
P: David Bowie and Ken Scott
Indie rockers everywhere should get down on their knees and worship David Bowie for creating the template for their entire sound. I also think the line “oh, the bitter comes out better on a stolen guitar” perfectly sums up everything there is to love about rock and roll.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=R314EY5D
210 D’Angelo - The Root
W: Archer/Hunter/Archer
P: D’Angelo
Because of its calm atmosphere, one may not anticipate just how rewarding this song is from top to bottom. Jazz guitarist/bassist Charlie Hunter guests, and his backwards solo is one of the highlights of the entire “Voodoo” album. More importantly though is the depth D’Angelo finds in the chorus. It begins as a love letter, but by the end it comes to represent D’Angelo’s entire being as he picks apart every line. Also note that all of the majestic backing songs were sung completely by D’Angelo himself.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FFAWK3F6
209 Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town
W: Lynott
P: John Alcock
I will never understand why there aren’t more people who like Thin Lizzy. Phil Lynott was a unique and genuine voice in rock, and the dual guitar attack gives the group, and this song specifically, power and class all at once. Dismissing this song as a song for 40-somethings reminiscing on the good old days would only be your loss.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=NTFCE47L
208 The Strokes - Hard to Explain
W: Casablancas
P: Gordon Raphael
This song is so packed with energy, I am always amazed at how relatively slow it is. I guess its appeal is somewhat hard to explain. Why did I just say that? Sigh, I’m lame.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=CUF30ZGL
207 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Turn Your Lights Down Low
W: Marley
P: Bob Marley & the Wailers
Bob Marley is mostly known for his political songs, which is a damn shame when it means that people don’t know this beautiful song. On what is maybe the sexiest record he ever made, Bob sounds calmly assured, ready to make the object of his affection feel like the most loved person in the world.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=TKW5RNPZ
206 The Velvet Underground - Oh! Sweet Nuthin’
W: Reed
P: The Velvet Underground and Shel Kagan & Geoffrey Haslam
If The Rolling Stones had cleaned up their act and made “Exile On Main Street” completely sober, it might have sounded something like this.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UEF8FGJF
205 The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
W: Zaret/North
P: Phil Spector
I think “Ghost” helped put this song back into a lot of people’s memories, but it has also made them forget about how amazing of a song it actually is. Block all thoughts of clay pots from your mind and just listen to the vocals, they are some of the tenderest and most powerful ever recorded. Ever.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=R5YEJ3TH
204 The Supremes - Baby Love
W: Holland/Dozier/Holland
P: Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier
Besides its compelling stomp, I think the greatest thing about this song is the seamlessness of the flow between the verse, chorus, and verse again. The song reads as a one continuous thought, and it is this element that makes “Baby Love” still an intriguing listen to this day.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=P45HPN86
203 The Strokes - Someday
W: Casablancas
P: Gordon Raphael
One of the strangest (and best) things I’ve ever heard in a club was a DJ’s live mash-up of this song and Jay-Z’s “Encore.” The guitar lines feel like elegant razors softly slicing the ear.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=112KTWL7
202 The Chiffons - One Fine Day
W: Goffin/King
P: The Tokens
Songwriter Carol King banged out the piano section herself, and it is her simple clanging that gives this record its sloppy-but-sophisticated sound. I also think it is a good argument for why the saxophone solo needs to return to pop.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UB9CDZDL
201 Sly & the Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime
W: Stewart
P: Sly Stone
Lots of songs talk about the summer, but this record actually FEELS like the summer. The groove is fantastically laid-back and all of the horns sound like they were dipped in a margarita to give them the appropriate haze. Perfect barbeque music.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=NHPNG1PU
P: George Clinton
Strangely, I am not amazed by how long this song is; I am amazed by how short it is. It keeps on going and going, but it is so relentlessly entertaining you don’t want it to end.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=LOYKNE8E
224 The Byrds - I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better
W: Clark
P: Terry Melcher
If I were asked to pick one song to represent the sound of The Byrds, this would be it. It has everything you want in a good Byrds record: ringing guitars, a solid beat, and magnificent group vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=26B554W2
223 The Rolling Stones - Sweet Virginia
W: Jagger/Richards
P: Jimmy Miller
This country ballad to good wine and good times shows The Stones at their drugged out best. It rarely sounds this cool to be this drunk, but the haggard warmth in Mick’s voice makes this a great sing-along of debauchery.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=LVYZOMOU
222 The 5th Dimension - Wedding Bell Blues
W: Nyro
P: Bones Howe
I love everything about this record. The summer day texturing just sounds so… nice. This song feels like a warm blanket on a cold day; it is always comforting and welcome, ready for new listeners to experience its pleasures.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZK8WRJDR
221 Eels - Last Stop: This Town
W: Everett/Simpson
P: E & Michael Simpson
This song’s intensity depends completely on how loud you play it. At low levels it can seem very calm and composed, but turned up with the windows down it can explode with guitars and turntables. It’s an exciting listen.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MGHO7TQ0
220 Van Morrison - The Way Young Lovers Do
W: Morrison
P: Lewis Merenstein
Even for Van Morrison, the sound of this record is hard to describe. Most of his music has jazz undertones, but rarely does it swing the way it does on this record. You can almost picture Van snapping his fingers as he digs deep inside himself to produce the kinds of sounds he does.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0ZJHKXJQ
219 The Cardigans - Lovefool
W: Persson/Svensson
P: Tore Johansson
Relisten to this song, it is even better than you remember.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=69PNZWAJ
218 Jurassic-5 - Concrete Schoolyard
W: Postic/Givens/Stuart/Stewart/Henderson/Macfadden/Archer/Thompson
P: DJ Nu-Mark & Cut Chemist
I am not saying that all rap should sound like this record, but a lot more should. The laid-back piano groove of a beat gives the record its chill vibe, but it is the masterful old-school-referencing raps that give it its cool. Plus, it has a kazoo section.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UDX38W7V
217 The Beach Boys - I’m Waiting for the Day
W: Wilson/Love
P: Brian Wilson
This is one of the very few instances when I actually like Mike Love. This record is really made by the sound that Wilson captured; I truly don’t understand how someone could not be captivated by the sound of the drums and the multi-layered vocals, especially when it goes into the coda at the end.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=SQOS8PSZ
216 The Clash - Spanish Bombs
W: Jones/Strummer
P: Guy Stevens
For whatever reason, this seems to be one Clash song that just about everybody likes. I think the main cause of this is the ultra-catchy chorus. After all, people do love singing in Spanish.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=SM83VSIR
215 Nas featuring AZ - Life’s a Bitch
W: Jones/Wilson/Scott/Cruz/Dara
P: L.E.S. and Nas
The amazing thing about this record is that not only does it have one of Nas’ best verses, he actually gets outshined by AZ. The song isn’t half as dark as one may expect by looking at the title, but don’t let fool you into thinking it sacrifices an ounce of realness.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PK3I04A1
214 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - You Belong to Me
W: Costello
P: Nick Lowe
The possessiveness title of this early Attractions cut is actually self-reflective: the singer doesn’t want love if he thinks it will hold him back. The chorus is one of my favorite Costello has ever written, and The Attractions themselves are, as usual, perfectly on point.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=C8UIXQQR
213 The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love
W: B. Bryant/F. Bryant
P: Archie Bleyer
Sometimes the simplest options are the best ones. This is a very straight-forward record; it has no frills, but it also has no pretensions. It seems to me to be the kind of song cowboys would sing to pass the time out on the trail.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=RNO26NE1
212 Alice Cooper - Under My Wheels
W: Bruce/Dunaway/Ezrin
P: Bob Ezrin
Jolly. That is how I feel when I listen to this song. Rarely does Alice sound as fun as he does here, from the whizzing guitar battle to the rollicking horns. As an added bonus, it is a great driving song, which boosts any song’s stock in my book.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=4T02A8QF
211 David Bowie - Hang on to Yourself
W: Bowie
P: David Bowie and Ken Scott
Indie rockers everywhere should get down on their knees and worship David Bowie for creating the template for their entire sound. I also think the line “oh, the bitter comes out better on a stolen guitar” perfectly sums up everything there is to love about rock and roll.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=R314EY5D
210 D’Angelo - The Root
W: Archer/Hunter/Archer
P: D’Angelo
Because of its calm atmosphere, one may not anticipate just how rewarding this song is from top to bottom. Jazz guitarist/bassist Charlie Hunter guests, and his backwards solo is one of the highlights of the entire “Voodoo” album. More importantly though is the depth D’Angelo finds in the chorus. It begins as a love letter, but by the end it comes to represent D’Angelo’s entire being as he picks apart every line. Also note that all of the majestic backing songs were sung completely by D’Angelo himself.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FFAWK3F6
209 Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town
W: Lynott
P: John Alcock
I will never understand why there aren’t more people who like Thin Lizzy. Phil Lynott was a unique and genuine voice in rock, and the dual guitar attack gives the group, and this song specifically, power and class all at once. Dismissing this song as a song for 40-somethings reminiscing on the good old days would only be your loss.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=NTFCE47L
208 The Strokes - Hard to Explain
W: Casablancas
P: Gordon Raphael
This song is so packed with energy, I am always amazed at how relatively slow it is. I guess its appeal is somewhat hard to explain. Why did I just say that? Sigh, I’m lame.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=CUF30ZGL
207 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Turn Your Lights Down Low
W: Marley
P: Bob Marley & the Wailers
Bob Marley is mostly known for his political songs, which is a damn shame when it means that people don’t know this beautiful song. On what is maybe the sexiest record he ever made, Bob sounds calmly assured, ready to make the object of his affection feel like the most loved person in the world.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=TKW5RNPZ
206 The Velvet Underground - Oh! Sweet Nuthin’
W: Reed
P: The Velvet Underground and Shel Kagan & Geoffrey Haslam
If The Rolling Stones had cleaned up their act and made “Exile On Main Street” completely sober, it might have sounded something like this.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UEF8FGJF
205 The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
W: Zaret/North
P: Phil Spector
I think “Ghost” helped put this song back into a lot of people’s memories, but it has also made them forget about how amazing of a song it actually is. Block all thoughts of clay pots from your mind and just listen to the vocals, they are some of the tenderest and most powerful ever recorded. Ever.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=R5YEJ3TH
204 The Supremes - Baby Love
W: Holland/Dozier/Holland
P: Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier
Besides its compelling stomp, I think the greatest thing about this song is the seamlessness of the flow between the verse, chorus, and verse again. The song reads as a one continuous thought, and it is this element that makes “Baby Love” still an intriguing listen to this day.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=P45HPN86
203 The Strokes - Someday
W: Casablancas
P: Gordon Raphael
One of the strangest (and best) things I’ve ever heard in a club was a DJ’s live mash-up of this song and Jay-Z’s “Encore.” The guitar lines feel like elegant razors softly slicing the ear.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=112KTWL7
202 The Chiffons - One Fine Day
W: Goffin/King
P: The Tokens
Songwriter Carol King banged out the piano section herself, and it is her simple clanging that gives this record its sloppy-but-sophisticated sound. I also think it is a good argument for why the saxophone solo needs to return to pop.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UB9CDZDL
201 Sly & the Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime
W: Stewart
P: Sly Stone
Lots of songs talk about the summer, but this record actually FEELS like the summer. The groove is fantastically laid-back and all of the horns sound like they were dipped in a margarita to give them the appropriate haze. Perfect barbeque music.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=NHPNG1PU