The Ecstatic Truth, Pt. 17
100 The 5th Dimension - Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In (The Flesh Failures)
W: Rado/Ragni/MacDermot
P: Bones Howe
Quiet as it’s kept, I am actually a huge 5th Dimension fan. It may be lame to some, but I find them to be great. This is the ultimate 5th Dimension song because it allows them to show off their vocal acumen without sounding like an old-timey barbershop group. Plus, the “Sun Shine” section shows that there was actually quite a good deal of soul behind those crystalline vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0KDAZK71
99 Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World
W: Cooke/Alpert/Adler
P: Sam Cooke with Lou Adler
This is such a simple song, it may be hard to appreciate the truly fine piece of songwriting it is. You can almost anticipate each upcoming line, and when the song transitions to the chorus you are expecting some great revelation, but it turns out to have been evident throughout the entire song: I love you. Will you love me, too?
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZW03MZ60
98 OutKast - Rosa Parks
W: Benjamin/Patton
P: OutKast
Acoustic guitars? A harmonica solo? What?!!!??! Only OutKast could actually pull this song off, and they do so with aplomb and gusto. If you want to know what really makes this whole OutKast monster work just check out any of the hooks they throw in the song. It’s the “get backs,” the “mackilackilackas,” the “uh huh, yeah yeahs” and every other tiny turn of cadence that make it instantly catchy and exciting.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=5H33L84U
97 Billy Joel - Only the Good Die Young
W: Joel
P: Phil Ramone
Some people look at this song as a call to sin, but I think that is a bit misguided. There is only one “sin” that the singer is looking for, so I think it is the devil-may-care sentiment of the song is what is really endearing. It’s just a fun song about seizing the moment, and it makes me feel great to be alive.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=NEAWQS2T
96 The Clash - Lost in the Supermarket
W: Jones/Strummer
P: Guy Stevens
If I have to explain this song to you, you’ll probably never get it. Even if you don’t “get” the lyrical content, you should still be able to like the combination of folk, rock, and disco in the sound, especially when everything drops out except for the thump of the drum and Paul Simonon’s rolling bass. When it goes into the coda, Joe Strummer begins to sing along, and his damaged voice makes the song even more tragic than it already was.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=9DUYUKZR
95 The Coasters - Yakety Yak
W: Lieber/Stoller
P: Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller
It may be a joke song, but “Yakety Yak” is one hell of a joke song. The great shuffling beat gives the song a sense of mobility, while the sax solo in the middle of the song sounds like somebody laughing over the beat. There is nothing about this song that isn’t fun: It’s fun to dance to, it’s fun to laugh with, and it’s fun to sing along with. Who here has never at least once in their life uttered these words in the deepest voice they can: “And don’t talk back.”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z91TXPTW
94 The Zombies - Friends of Mine
W: White
P: Rod Argent and Chris White
This song is like a shot of sugar directly in the ear. The lyrics center around how wonderful it is to know people whom are very much in love, and the chorus rattles off a list of couples the band knows. Because of this some people think that there is some hidden cynicism in the lyrics, but I think that the sound of the instruments works against this theory. On The Turtles’ “So Happy Together” the song is based around minor chords that pull darkness out of a relatively light tune, but this song does the opposite. The piano bangs out major chords with a slamming force, as if to say “We are serious about his, and we feel great!”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=RY1QDLGH
93 The Beatles - Two of Us
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: Phil Spector
Paul McCartney wrote this as a love song for his soon-to-be bride Linda, but I have always felt it works much more effectively as a love song between the two men singing the song. What you are hearing on this record is an acknowledgement of codependency and friendship. John and Paul both needed each other, even if they denied it, and on this song they put aside all of their petty bickering and sing together about days past and days to come, allowing music to separate the walls between them and make them be the friends they were when they first started.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XT1NJ3Y8
92 Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair
W: Stewart
P: Sly Stone
The sad irony of this song is that while it is a song about keeping things in house, very few members of The Family Stone (some of whom were members of Sly’s actual family) are actually present on this recording. Sly was in the depths of a cocaine induced depression when he recorded this album and the result is a dark, hazy, and ultimately funky new kind of music that challenges the listener to dance and cry all at the same time. This is not music you put on to pick you up, but the soft scratch in Sly’s voice says everything there is to say about love, hurt, and disappointment in a tightly wound 3-minute pop song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0YTHU7AE
91 Johnny Cash - Hurt
W: Reznor
P: Rick Rubin
I’m putting it out there: I think the original Nine Inch Nails version of this song is a steaming pile of crap. So why then do I love this version so much? Is it Rick Rubin’s understated but grandiose production? That’s part of it. Is it Johnny’s touching performance? Probably. The truth is, this song can’t be explained by individual aspects in it because the whole it creates is far more than the sum of its parts. I could wax poetic on Johnny’s voice for days on end, but it wouldn’t accurately describe the magic that is captured here. This is musical alchemy in three and a half minutes.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=6HHQO950
90 Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
W: Lymon
P: George Goldner
“Why Do Fools Fall In Love” is a great pop song regardless, but isn’t it that much more amazing knowing that a 13-year old wrote it? There are numerous slight turns of melody that I find absolutely riveting, and Frankie’s soaring vocals brings out the somewhat lighthearted pain of being a teenager in love. And again, a 13-year old wrote it!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=L7QC6OVR
89 The Who - Baba O’Riley
W: Townshend
P: Glyn Johns and The Who
This song is pure anthemic joy. What is most surprising to me is how little there actually is to this song. There are only two verses, a chorus, and one bridge. The song rises and falls on the instrumental sections, all of which work because of how hard the band seems to be playing. Also, I am pretty sure that it is the only song on the list with an extended fiddle solo.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UBIBZOSN
88 U2 - One
W: Hewson/Evans/Clayton/Mullins
P: Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois
I know that this is a U2 record, but I really feel that it is a great example of Brian Eno’s genius. For years he was known for filling up space with all kinds of crazy atmospheric sounds, but on this song he does so very subtly and it makes the song all that much more powerful. U2 is one of the few bands whose earnestness seems to work for them - put these lyrics in a lesser artist’s hands and they would become trite. Bono and the fellas seem to genuinely believe in the message they are sending out, and they all play their hearts out on this lovely and engaging record.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=3EV1JXZW
87 Gram Parsons featuring Emmylou Harris - Love Hurts
W: Bryant
P: Gram Parsons
I feel sorry for you if you cannot hear the gut-wrenching pain in Gram and Emmylou’s collective voice on this country classic.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=ON519OL5
86 Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck
W: Wu-Tang Clan
P: RZA
In lieu of a summary of this song, I am just going to give my favorite line from each verse. Inspectah Deck: “Terrorize the jam like troops in Pakistan, swingin’ through your town like neighborhood SPIIIIIDERMAN.” Raekwon: “Rae got it goin’ on, pal.” Method Man: “MOVE IT ON YO’ LEFT, AH!” U-God: “SOOOOO!” Ol’ Dirty Bastard: “The Ol’ Dirty Bastard is dirty and stinkin’, Ason Unique rollin’ with the night of the creeps.” Ghostface Killah: “My pen that rocks from here to Oregon.” RZA: “Turn the other cheek and I’ll break your fuckin’ chin!” GZA: “First of all, who’s you’re A&R? A mountain climber who plays an electric guitar?” As one last note, I would like to say that I think RZA has the best verse.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=OLLIDPQD
85 Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life
W: Miller/Murden
P: Henry Cosby
Some people think this song represents the sound of joy, and while I think that is a valid assessment, I think this song represents the sound of relief more than joy. The song feels like a huge exhale; FINALLY I have found someone who loves me. FINALLY I have found someone who won’t hurt me. FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY it screams, until the listener is just as enamored with this new woman as Stevie is.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=51418ZKO
84 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?
W: Lowe
P: Nick Lowe
This song shows why one should never ignore production credits on a song. Originally this song was a standalone single credited to Nick Lowe & His Sound, because it was both written and produced by Lowe. When it became a hit, the title was switched to match the technical performer, Elvis Costello & The Attractions. Still, this is Lowe’s record through and through. It has his signature sound (which also happened to become The Attractions signature sound because of his production work) and his undeniable tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. It’s an anti-protest song that isn’t protesting any social ills at all, just the day to day interactions of friends, lovers, and business associates.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MIPHHQQN
83 The Jackson 5 - ABC
W: Perren/Mizell/Gordy/Richards
P: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Berry Gordy, and Deke Richards
I love the fact that this song was ripped off to become “Candy Girl” by New Edition. Of course, “Candy Girl” does not have the amazing bridge that “ABC” does and thus will always be a much lesser song. The melody was intended to be instantly catchy in its simplicity, and the trick worked. Once “ABC” gets inside you it doesn’t want to leave; you’ll want to listen to it on repeat for possibly hours.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=IGNRDUU6
82 The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
W: Wallace
P: Jean “Poke” Oliver and Sean “Puffy” Combs
This song demonstrates what made Biggie one of the greatest rappers of all time: It isn’t just the incredible skills or the enormous personality, though both of them are very important. It’s the realness, that feeling that he was someone who was like you. He is a man of dreams, some achieved, some not. “Juicy” is amazing because, even though it does have a great beat, that isn’t really what you care about. It is the way Biggie rides the beat while talking about the many struggles he went through and the life of luxury he then lead. I think what makes it even better is that the song, which is largely about dreams, was still a bit of a dream when it was created: Biggie wrote it before he was famous, and, even though he now had a recording contract, he certainly wasn’t living as big of a life as he portrays here.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8YVNNL3K
81 The Turtles - So Happy Together
W: Bonner/Gordon
P: Chip Douglas
On the surface, this song seems like the ultimate love song, but I think it is the darkness lurking under the surface that makes this song truly capture the listener’s attention. There is something about the song that is slightly off. Perhaps it is those breathy lead vocals that come off like a whispered scream, or maybe it is the emotionless backing vocals that haunt the air. Either way, there is no denying that beyond the strong songwriting, this is also an extremely well produced record. Each part is subdued and subtle, which only helps to make the chorus that much more impactful.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EV3LKDX0
80 A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders of the New School - Scenario
W: Davis/Muhammed/Taylor/Higgins/Jackson/Smith
P: A Tribe Called Quest
One of the hardest things to pull off in the rap world is a good posse cut. You’ve got a big group of MCs with their own approaches and styles, it is hard to create a uniform sound out of so many people working individually. That being said, “Scenario” makes it look easy. The two groups on this song seem to work as one unit, whether it’s the intro Q-Tip gives Busta Rhymes or the collective shouts during each verse, this sounds like it was written by one brain. Don’t think that this song is boring or monotonous though, far from it. This is one of the most exciting rap songs ever recorded, even if most of the lyrics seem to be complete gibberish.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PKG1OWG3
79 Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay
W: Stewart
P: Sly Stone
Some funk music you dance to; this is funk music you strut to. The clipping bass may be one of the funkiest things ever recorded and it helps to provide the song with its badass cool. This is Sly’s version of a diss song, and as you listen to it don’t be surprised if a sneer starts to curl your lips as you bob your head. Every line sounds like a slap in the face, especially when Sly’s voice turns from soft to harsh in the course of a few seconds. Whenever this happens Sly quickly follows it with a prolonged screech as if to cleanse himself of the anger in his heart. When other people cover this song they attempt to recreate this anger by clipping their words and screaming randomly, but this is ineffective because it only shows how little of Sly’s anger these people actually understand. Lest you think that this song is too bitter, I must add that it is in its own twisted way also a kind of love song. A love song about the fallout of a love gone bad, yes, but a love song nonetheless.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=WSJ7LJ8D
78 Aretha Franklin - Respect
W: Redding
P: Jerry Wexler
Being such a big Otis Redding fan, I used to resent this song’s popularity. Why, I asked myself, is this the only version you ever hear played on the radio? Why don’t more people know that Otis wrote and recorded this song first? Then it hit me: This version really is superior. I don’t know where, when, why, or how it happened, but one day I heard this song and it all came together for me. If anything, I should be happy that so many people love this song, because then at least they are hearing what a great songwriter Otis was, even outside of his undeniable singing abilities. Aretha makes the song her own with a then new kind of anger and force; she isn’t just talking about respect for her, this is a song that is universal, and I am just glad that I came to that realization.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=1181N69Q
77 Al Green - Let’s Stay Together
W: Green/Mitchell/Jackson
P: Willie Mitchell and Al Green
Al Green channels Sam Cooke on this song, and Willie Mitchell’s horn arrangement sparkles over the crisp drumming. These are the three most notable elements of this song, but don’t be fooled, they aren’t the only things that make this song so beautiful. The truth is, this is the most concise and direct pop song of Al Green’s illustrious career, and it has rightly taken its place as a classic because of this. That being said, “Let’s Stay Together” does not have the pain one might imagine a break up song should have because it isn’t really a “break up” song so much as it is a “make up” song. Green wants to stay by his woman’s side “whether times are good or bad, happy or sad,” and I think it is this sentiment that has endeared this song to so many people. Times will get rough, but there is always something better just around the corner, and it is this sense of hope that keeps this song forever in my mind.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8M5H6D1B
76 Steppenwolf - Born to Be Wild
W: Bonfire
P: Gabriel Mekler
How cool is this song? The lead singer’s name is Mars Bonfire. Let me say that again, just so it can soak in: the lead singer’s name is Mars Bonfire. Wow. The band is every bit as cool as its singer’s name implies; with burning organs and crackling guitars, Steppenwolf set current trends ablaze, and helped to create hard rock and heavy metal in the process.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=S129I1SI
W: Rado/Ragni/MacDermot
P: Bones Howe
Quiet as it’s kept, I am actually a huge 5th Dimension fan. It may be lame to some, but I find them to be great. This is the ultimate 5th Dimension song because it allows them to show off their vocal acumen without sounding like an old-timey barbershop group. Plus, the “Sun Shine” section shows that there was actually quite a good deal of soul behind those crystalline vocals.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0KDAZK71
99 Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World
W: Cooke/Alpert/Adler
P: Sam Cooke with Lou Adler
This is such a simple song, it may be hard to appreciate the truly fine piece of songwriting it is. You can almost anticipate each upcoming line, and when the song transitions to the chorus you are expecting some great revelation, but it turns out to have been evident throughout the entire song: I love you. Will you love me, too?
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZW03MZ60
98 OutKast - Rosa Parks
W: Benjamin/Patton
P: OutKast
Acoustic guitars? A harmonica solo? What?!!!??! Only OutKast could actually pull this song off, and they do so with aplomb and gusto. If you want to know what really makes this whole OutKast monster work just check out any of the hooks they throw in the song. It’s the “get backs,” the “mackilackilackas,” the “uh huh, yeah yeahs” and every other tiny turn of cadence that make it instantly catchy and exciting.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=5H33L84U
97 Billy Joel - Only the Good Die Young
W: Joel
P: Phil Ramone
Some people look at this song as a call to sin, but I think that is a bit misguided. There is only one “sin” that the singer is looking for, so I think it is the devil-may-care sentiment of the song is what is really endearing. It’s just a fun song about seizing the moment, and it makes me feel great to be alive.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=NEAWQS2T
96 The Clash - Lost in the Supermarket
W: Jones/Strummer
P: Guy Stevens
If I have to explain this song to you, you’ll probably never get it. Even if you don’t “get” the lyrical content, you should still be able to like the combination of folk, rock, and disco in the sound, especially when everything drops out except for the thump of the drum and Paul Simonon’s rolling bass. When it goes into the coda, Joe Strummer begins to sing along, and his damaged voice makes the song even more tragic than it already was.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=9DUYUKZR
95 The Coasters - Yakety Yak
W: Lieber/Stoller
P: Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller
It may be a joke song, but “Yakety Yak” is one hell of a joke song. The great shuffling beat gives the song a sense of mobility, while the sax solo in the middle of the song sounds like somebody laughing over the beat. There is nothing about this song that isn’t fun: It’s fun to dance to, it’s fun to laugh with, and it’s fun to sing along with. Who here has never at least once in their life uttered these words in the deepest voice they can: “And don’t talk back.”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z91TXPTW
94 The Zombies - Friends of Mine
W: White
P: Rod Argent and Chris White
This song is like a shot of sugar directly in the ear. The lyrics center around how wonderful it is to know people whom are very much in love, and the chorus rattles off a list of couples the band knows. Because of this some people think that there is some hidden cynicism in the lyrics, but I think that the sound of the instruments works against this theory. On The Turtles’ “So Happy Together” the song is based around minor chords that pull darkness out of a relatively light tune, but this song does the opposite. The piano bangs out major chords with a slamming force, as if to say “We are serious about his, and we feel great!”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=RY1QDLGH
93 The Beatles - Two of Us
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: Phil Spector
Paul McCartney wrote this as a love song for his soon-to-be bride Linda, but I have always felt it works much more effectively as a love song between the two men singing the song. What you are hearing on this record is an acknowledgement of codependency and friendship. John and Paul both needed each other, even if they denied it, and on this song they put aside all of their petty bickering and sing together about days past and days to come, allowing music to separate the walls between them and make them be the friends they were when they first started.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XT1NJ3Y8
92 Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair
W: Stewart
P: Sly Stone
The sad irony of this song is that while it is a song about keeping things in house, very few members of The Family Stone (some of whom were members of Sly’s actual family) are actually present on this recording. Sly was in the depths of a cocaine induced depression when he recorded this album and the result is a dark, hazy, and ultimately funky new kind of music that challenges the listener to dance and cry all at the same time. This is not music you put on to pick you up, but the soft scratch in Sly’s voice says everything there is to say about love, hurt, and disappointment in a tightly wound 3-minute pop song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=0YTHU7AE
91 Johnny Cash - Hurt
W: Reznor
P: Rick Rubin
I’m putting it out there: I think the original Nine Inch Nails version of this song is a steaming pile of crap. So why then do I love this version so much? Is it Rick Rubin’s understated but grandiose production? That’s part of it. Is it Johnny’s touching performance? Probably. The truth is, this song can’t be explained by individual aspects in it because the whole it creates is far more than the sum of its parts. I could wax poetic on Johnny’s voice for days on end, but it wouldn’t accurately describe the magic that is captured here. This is musical alchemy in three and a half minutes.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=6HHQO950
90 Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
W: Lymon
P: George Goldner
“Why Do Fools Fall In Love” is a great pop song regardless, but isn’t it that much more amazing knowing that a 13-year old wrote it? There are numerous slight turns of melody that I find absolutely riveting, and Frankie’s soaring vocals brings out the somewhat lighthearted pain of being a teenager in love. And again, a 13-year old wrote it!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=L7QC6OVR
89 The Who - Baba O’Riley
W: Townshend
P: Glyn Johns and The Who
This song is pure anthemic joy. What is most surprising to me is how little there actually is to this song. There are only two verses, a chorus, and one bridge. The song rises and falls on the instrumental sections, all of which work because of how hard the band seems to be playing. Also, I am pretty sure that it is the only song on the list with an extended fiddle solo.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UBIBZOSN
88 U2 - One
W: Hewson/Evans/Clayton/Mullins
P: Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois
I know that this is a U2 record, but I really feel that it is a great example of Brian Eno’s genius. For years he was known for filling up space with all kinds of crazy atmospheric sounds, but on this song he does so very subtly and it makes the song all that much more powerful. U2 is one of the few bands whose earnestness seems to work for them - put these lyrics in a lesser artist’s hands and they would become trite. Bono and the fellas seem to genuinely believe in the message they are sending out, and they all play their hearts out on this lovely and engaging record.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=3EV1JXZW
87 Gram Parsons featuring Emmylou Harris - Love Hurts
W: Bryant
P: Gram Parsons
I feel sorry for you if you cannot hear the gut-wrenching pain in Gram and Emmylou’s collective voice on this country classic.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=ON519OL5
86 Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck
W: Wu-Tang Clan
P: RZA
In lieu of a summary of this song, I am just going to give my favorite line from each verse. Inspectah Deck: “Terrorize the jam like troops in Pakistan, swingin’ through your town like neighborhood SPIIIIIDERMAN.” Raekwon: “Rae got it goin’ on, pal.” Method Man: “MOVE IT ON YO’ LEFT, AH!” U-God: “SOOOOO!” Ol’ Dirty Bastard: “The Ol’ Dirty Bastard is dirty and stinkin’, Ason Unique rollin’ with the night of the creeps.” Ghostface Killah: “My pen that rocks from here to Oregon.” RZA: “Turn the other cheek and I’ll break your fuckin’ chin!” GZA: “First of all, who’s you’re A&R? A mountain climber who plays an electric guitar?” As one last note, I would like to say that I think RZA has the best verse.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=OLLIDPQD
85 Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life
W: Miller/Murden
P: Henry Cosby
Some people think this song represents the sound of joy, and while I think that is a valid assessment, I think this song represents the sound of relief more than joy. The song feels like a huge exhale; FINALLY I have found someone who loves me. FINALLY I have found someone who won’t hurt me. FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY it screams, until the listener is just as enamored with this new woman as Stevie is.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=51418ZKO
84 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?
W: Lowe
P: Nick Lowe
This song shows why one should never ignore production credits on a song. Originally this song was a standalone single credited to Nick Lowe & His Sound, because it was both written and produced by Lowe. When it became a hit, the title was switched to match the technical performer, Elvis Costello & The Attractions. Still, this is Lowe’s record through and through. It has his signature sound (which also happened to become The Attractions signature sound because of his production work) and his undeniable tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. It’s an anti-protest song that isn’t protesting any social ills at all, just the day to day interactions of friends, lovers, and business associates.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=MIPHHQQN
83 The Jackson 5 - ABC
W: Perren/Mizell/Gordy/Richards
P: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Berry Gordy, and Deke Richards
I love the fact that this song was ripped off to become “Candy Girl” by New Edition. Of course, “Candy Girl” does not have the amazing bridge that “ABC” does and thus will always be a much lesser song. The melody was intended to be instantly catchy in its simplicity, and the trick worked. Once “ABC” gets inside you it doesn’t want to leave; you’ll want to listen to it on repeat for possibly hours.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=IGNRDUU6
82 The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
W: Wallace
P: Jean “Poke” Oliver and Sean “Puffy” Combs
This song demonstrates what made Biggie one of the greatest rappers of all time: It isn’t just the incredible skills or the enormous personality, though both of them are very important. It’s the realness, that feeling that he was someone who was like you. He is a man of dreams, some achieved, some not. “Juicy” is amazing because, even though it does have a great beat, that isn’t really what you care about. It is the way Biggie rides the beat while talking about the many struggles he went through and the life of luxury he then lead. I think what makes it even better is that the song, which is largely about dreams, was still a bit of a dream when it was created: Biggie wrote it before he was famous, and, even though he now had a recording contract, he certainly wasn’t living as big of a life as he portrays here.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8YVNNL3K
81 The Turtles - So Happy Together
W: Bonner/Gordon
P: Chip Douglas
On the surface, this song seems like the ultimate love song, but I think it is the darkness lurking under the surface that makes this song truly capture the listener’s attention. There is something about the song that is slightly off. Perhaps it is those breathy lead vocals that come off like a whispered scream, or maybe it is the emotionless backing vocals that haunt the air. Either way, there is no denying that beyond the strong songwriting, this is also an extremely well produced record. Each part is subdued and subtle, which only helps to make the chorus that much more impactful.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EV3LKDX0
80 A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders of the New School - Scenario
W: Davis/Muhammed/Taylor/Higgins/Jackson/Smith
P: A Tribe Called Quest
One of the hardest things to pull off in the rap world is a good posse cut. You’ve got a big group of MCs with their own approaches and styles, it is hard to create a uniform sound out of so many people working individually. That being said, “Scenario” makes it look easy. The two groups on this song seem to work as one unit, whether it’s the intro Q-Tip gives Busta Rhymes or the collective shouts during each verse, this sounds like it was written by one brain. Don’t think that this song is boring or monotonous though, far from it. This is one of the most exciting rap songs ever recorded, even if most of the lyrics seem to be complete gibberish.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PKG1OWG3
79 Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay
W: Stewart
P: Sly Stone
Some funk music you dance to; this is funk music you strut to. The clipping bass may be one of the funkiest things ever recorded and it helps to provide the song with its badass cool. This is Sly’s version of a diss song, and as you listen to it don’t be surprised if a sneer starts to curl your lips as you bob your head. Every line sounds like a slap in the face, especially when Sly’s voice turns from soft to harsh in the course of a few seconds. Whenever this happens Sly quickly follows it with a prolonged screech as if to cleanse himself of the anger in his heart. When other people cover this song they attempt to recreate this anger by clipping their words and screaming randomly, but this is ineffective because it only shows how little of Sly’s anger these people actually understand. Lest you think that this song is too bitter, I must add that it is in its own twisted way also a kind of love song. A love song about the fallout of a love gone bad, yes, but a love song nonetheless.
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78 Aretha Franklin - Respect
W: Redding
P: Jerry Wexler
Being such a big Otis Redding fan, I used to resent this song’s popularity. Why, I asked myself, is this the only version you ever hear played on the radio? Why don’t more people know that Otis wrote and recorded this song first? Then it hit me: This version really is superior. I don’t know where, when, why, or how it happened, but one day I heard this song and it all came together for me. If anything, I should be happy that so many people love this song, because then at least they are hearing what a great songwriter Otis was, even outside of his undeniable singing abilities. Aretha makes the song her own with a then new kind of anger and force; she isn’t just talking about respect for her, this is a song that is universal, and I am just glad that I came to that realization.
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77 Al Green - Let’s Stay Together
W: Green/Mitchell/Jackson
P: Willie Mitchell and Al Green
Al Green channels Sam Cooke on this song, and Willie Mitchell’s horn arrangement sparkles over the crisp drumming. These are the three most notable elements of this song, but don’t be fooled, they aren’t the only things that make this song so beautiful. The truth is, this is the most concise and direct pop song of Al Green’s illustrious career, and it has rightly taken its place as a classic because of this. That being said, “Let’s Stay Together” does not have the pain one might imagine a break up song should have because it isn’t really a “break up” song so much as it is a “make up” song. Green wants to stay by his woman’s side “whether times are good or bad, happy or sad,” and I think it is this sentiment that has endeared this song to so many people. Times will get rough, but there is always something better just around the corner, and it is this sense of hope that keeps this song forever in my mind.
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76 Steppenwolf - Born to Be Wild
W: Bonfire
P: Gabriel Mekler
How cool is this song? The lead singer’s name is Mars Bonfire. Let me say that again, just so it can soak in: the lead singer’s name is Mars Bonfire. Wow. The band is every bit as cool as its singer’s name implies; with burning organs and crackling guitars, Steppenwolf set current trends ablaze, and helped to create hard rock and heavy metal in the process.
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