The Ecstatic Truth, Pt. 18
W: Hatahaway/Howard
I chose the live version of this song because of two reasons: 1) You can hear just how funky each individual instrument is, and 2) The joy in the crowd overwhelms the recording as Donny sings “Everything has got to get better.” This is what live music should sound like. It is brimming over with excitement, rising action, and, well, life!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=DTFOCV21
74 Weezer - Buddy Holly
W: Cuomo
P: Ric Ocasek
Weezer’s first hit song still remains one of my favorites. It’s a lovably nerdy song with a Beatles-esque bop that tries to play off its emotional meaning with tongue-in-cheek pop culture references and squeaking back up vocals. You can’t fool me Rivers! Of course, that doesn’t mean that this song is that serious, or even should be taken that seriously, and because of that I love it even more. The “rap” in the middle doesn’t come off like an act because of how playful the rest of the song is, and as it goes into the end, I find it hard to not join in singing “I don’t care ‘bout that!”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FO3VEOFS
73 The Five Stairsteps - Ooh Child (Things Are Gonna Get Easier)
W: Vincent
P: Stan Vincent
This is a song so perfect, I have often wondered why The Five Stairsteps couldn’t replicate its success. I know that may be unfair, but listen to it! I honestly wish I could find a way to put its perfection into words, but it is impossible. Everything about it stirs my soul to my core, from the singing, to the horns, to the strings, to the lyrics, to the melody, to the chorus… well, you get the picture.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8591DH4A
72 The Beatles - Revolution
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: George Martin
Despite what any naysayer tells you, The Beatles could rock. The fuzzy guitars on this song are absolutely blistering, but they still have a great ‘50s swing to them. I like that this song was released in the midst of some of the band’s wildest experimentation, because it makes the simplicity of this song that much more affecting. This song proves that great rock and roll is timeless, even if it’s subject matter is a bit dated.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=G1E0R7QQ
71 The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
W: Wilson/Love
P: Brian Wilson
You know that warm feeling you get when you do something really nice for somebody, or somebody does something really nice for you? That’s the feeling I get when I listen to this song. It’s funny that Brian can’t even describe just what is so special in this song (“I don’t know where, but she takes me there”) because it is so uniformly wonderful one would assume that it wouldn’t be so hard to pinpoint exactly where the “there” it takes you is.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=3SV02ZXR
70 Funkadelic - Can You Get to That
W: Clinton/Harris
P: George Clinton
Slop-funk-country-folk-rock. Or something like that. There is really no way to describe Funkadelic’s “Can You Get To That” other than amazing. This isn’t just funk, this is grit. It has an absolutely insane groove that no one could resist, and the group vocal’s switch into all kinds of different combinations of voices so that it was sung by a collective of crazies instead of just a band. When you actually sit down and listen to the lyrics you will be even more astounded: how can a song this cool be about the tumultuous times surrounding Vietnam, economic despair, and the failure of hippies? Seriously, I cannot recommend this song enough.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7WFYS369
69 The Band - The Weight
W: Robertson
P: John Simon
Humble isn’t the best look for a rock band, but here humble sounds appealing. This is a quiet, unassuming song that works because of how easy and unforced it sounds. Many bands came after The Band and adapted the sound, but none of them really seemed to understand the feeling. This is music intended to reject the pretensions of psychedelia, and it does so affectively because of the looseness with which The Band approaches the song. There is something very comforting about this song, and maybe that is due to the fact that the song asks you to take a load off. I think that the reason this song works where many of its followers fail is because it doesn’t want to be great, it just wants to be. It has a quiet confidence to it that I find attractive, and the chorus feels like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise harsh world.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=I367OYUG
68 Stevie Wonder - Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours
W: Wonder/Garrett/Wright/Hardaway
P: Stevie Wonder
Stevie turns in one his most ecstatic and playful vocal performances ever on this dance gem. It starts with a simple guitar line and a tambourine, followed by a cry from the heavens, and then it is off running. In each verse there is a new element thrown in and Stevie reacts by pushing himself further and further as the song goes on. This creates a mounting tension that erupts not because it wants to, but because it has to. I love this song because it proves of how unrestrained it is; this is pure unbridled passion, and if you can’t feel it there is something seriously wrong with you.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=4L04WFUD
67 OutKast - Hey Ya!
W: Benjamin
P: Dojo5 and Andre 3000
Undeniable. That is the only word I can think of to describe this song. The acoustic bop gets your head nodding, and Andre’s insistent vocals demand that you think and dance at the same time. Dare I say that this is a modern classic? (Dare! Dare!) Okay, this isn’t that hard - this song is a modern classic. Period.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=U47R5112
66 Aretha Franklin - A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)
W: Goffin/King/Wexler
P: Jerry Wexler
Carol King and Aretha Franklin worked together many times over the years, producing some of the greatest pop music we have ever heard. In my opinion, this is the pairing’s greatest achievement. Aretha sings the sublime melody with a tender conviction, and as the horns and strings swell during the chorus she hollers out to her man with zeal. I think the biggest compliment I can give this song is that it sounds natural. Sometimes King’s work can seem forced, but this song is relaxed and confident, just like Aretha. The simplicity of the song may keep it from being heralded as one of “the greats,” but I think a closer inspection will yield great rewards to any fan of pop music.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=JEB8BAIF
65 The Ronettes - Be My Baby
W: Spector/Greenwich/Barry
P: Phil Spector
In many ways, this is Phil Spector’s crowning achievement. He forced lead singer Ronnie Spector (his then wife) to record her vocals over and over until she got the exact sound he wanted, and it paid off immensely. Her voice is aching with need, pleading with the listener to love her with all of her might. The backing track is truly a “Wall of Sound,” with a sparkling rhythm track and symphonic horns and guitars that manage to match Ronnie in intensity and range.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PYVLPNYF
64 The Rolling Stones - Dead Flowers
W: Jagger/Richards
P: Jimmy Miller
I once read a review of this song that labeled it as a joke. What was that guy thinking? Apparently you can’t have humor and fun in rock without making it a complete joke. Yes, this country-rock song does appear to be more frivolous than most of The Stones’ other work, but that is only on the surface. This song’s lyrics are every bit as serious as the rest of the Stones’ catalogue, but I guess funerals and heroin use were a bit funnier in the ‘60s than they are now. Man, that writer was a jackass.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XE6VYBOF
63 Meat Loaf - Paradise by the Dashboard Light
W: Steinman
P: Todd Rundgren
Wild, operatic, hypersexual, and one hell of a song to karaoke. I know a lot of people mock me for liking Meat Loaf, but come on. This is one I can’t apologize for, because if I were to do I would be lying to myself. I love this song, sorry. It can’t be helped. The final third of the song is the most worthy of adoration, and if you don’t get it after that I guess I will just have to keep on enjoying it myself.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=E9YEKXUL
62 Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile)
W: Morrison
P: Van Morrison
This is my standard go-to song when I want to introduce people to Van Morrison. It is one of his best R&B/soul ravers, and for some reason everyone loves to sing along with the bopping intro. The rest of the song is even more worthy of praise; whether it’s the tumbling drums or the crunchy horns, this song boils over with zesty energy. Some people don’t like this “fun” side of Van Morrison, and to these people I say: Get that stick out of your butt and DANCE!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BCLTVGU3
61 The Association - Never My Love
W: Addrisi/Addrisi
P: Bones Howe
I’ll admit it: I don’t know if anybody loves this song as much as I do. In fact, I usually don’t like this kind of song. Still, there is something about this song that I am drawn to that I can’t fully explain. I know I love the lyrics, and I know I love the melody, but more importantly than that I love the record. I love everything about it. It has very subtle instrumentation that is still effective and a lovely piano solo that is somehow one of the most beautiful parts of the entire song. I think what I find in this song that some people miss is its meaning. This is a song of reassurance; it is a reaction to a claim of lost love that tries to point out not just how much the singer loves this person, but also how ridiculous it is to claim otherwise.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=M1C0CLQ4
60 Parliament - Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)
W: Clinton/Collins/Worrell
P: George Clinton
This is the ultimate Parliament song because it doesn’t feel like funk, and it doesn’t sound like funk, it smells like funk. Let me demonstrate: Go to a party. Slip this song on. Watch the partygoers shake their to Bernie Worrell’s elastic synth-bass line. Watch them as they raise their hands to the ceiling and shout “We need the funk; we gotta have the funk!” Watch them frantically shuffle their feet as the drums stutter and the horns smooth them out. Now that you’ve watched and listen, smell. That’s what funk smells like.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=DFDIO2TW
59 The Kinks - Picture Book
W: Davies
P: Ray Davies
I think what makes this song so interesting to me, besides its super-catchy acoustic swing, is the fact that it puts all other Kinks songs in context. Their music is always about small slices of life, and this song takes all of those things and describes their meaning. The Kinks music is like a big picture book; when you listen to them you hear memories before melodies. Of course, it wouldn’t work if they didn’t have the songwriting acumen to back up these memories, and The Kinks have chops to spare. This song, like so much of their work, seems instantly recognizable and it becomes a place you want to return to, rather than just another song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=E046U0VJ
58 Fishbone - Everyday Sunshine
W: Dowd
P: Fishbone and David Kahne
Fishbone goes gospel! Sort of! Okay, so it isn’t a gospel song, but the band does use a gospel approach (including lots of “whoos!”) to talk about their desire for literal and figurative sunshine. Chris Dowd’s organ screams, especially during the rave up at the end as the members of Fishbone trade lines, calling and responding to each other, constantly upping the ante. It’s an exuberant example of why more people should love this band.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EJHRR8BP
57 Van Morrison - Domino (Live)
W: Morrison
P: Van Morrison and Ted Templeman
This live recording is one of the many highlights off of Van’s live album “It’s Too Late To Stop Now.” The band takes the uptempo R&B arrangement and spruces it up, making it even more lively than the original. The live setting is brimming with energy, especially the horns, which really seem to pull the showman out of Van. He teases the audience by taking it all down to handclaps and then lets loose, slowly building up steam until the end, where, instead of letting everything explode, he opts to simply bask in the pleasure of the performance.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=366O5YXN
56 Weezer - Across the Sea
W: Cuomo
P: Weezer
Reality is a tricky thing to convey on record. Efforts to try to sound “real” usually come off as fake or mundane, depending on the song. This song is the rare example of reality in song that is neither of those things. Weezer bucks convention by looking deep into their souls and creating a sound that is as rocking as anything you’ve ever heard without being too poppy or too harsh. It is a tightrope they walk with ease because the basis of this song isn’t the lyrics or the melody, though both are exemplary, it is the emotion. This song sounds raw because it IS raw. I know that seems like common sense, but how often have you heard something that is trying to be raw and just ends up being people screaming loudly over fast guitars? No, that is not what it means to be raw. Raw is an attitude and a feeling more than a sound, and this song proves that point.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PEZ5DX5S
55 The Beatles - No Reply
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: George Martin
I have said it before and I will say it again: This is the most underrated Beatles song ever. It has such an unusual feel to it, especially during the bridge. It is pretty venomous, especially for how early it was recorded, but it manages to be palatable because of the fire in the vocals and the interesting harmonies the group finds during the titular words. Please, if you are a Beatles fan, listen to this song. It may not hit you initially, but you will probably find yourself pressing repeat a few times.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=VO9XSJQI
54 Gladys Knight & the Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia
W: Weatherly
P: Tony Camillo
There aren’t many songs more touching, sad, and beautiful as “I’d rather live in his world, then be without him in mine.” In this one line Gladys rejects all of her own dreams to fulfill those of her love. Is she right? I am not sure, but it sure makes for damn good music. The Pips’ backing vocals are some of my all-time to sing along with; put this song on and there is about a 99.99% chance I will sing along with every line.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BQ31A0VD
53 The Beatles - Yesterday
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: George Martin
Two things you should know about this song: 1) It is the most covered song in pop history. 2) None of the covers quite match the original.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7DWLJWT1
52 Prince & The Revolution - Let’s Go Crazy
W: Prince
P: Prince & the Revolution
“Come on BA-BEE… Let’s get nuts!” Now THAT is a rallying cry. A perfect introduction to a nearly perfect album, “Let’s Go Crazy” is everything I want from Prince and more. The Revolution give the song some extra weight with their muscular playing and their group backing vocals play in the insteps of the song making it even more catchy and unforgettable. I also find it fascinating that a song this great is actually many times identified by people by its Prince-as-preacher organ intro and its blazing guitar racket solo ending, even though both are completely different from each other and the rest of the song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EK0ZAPOF
51 Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness
W: Campbell/Connelly/Woods
P: Steve Cropper and Jim Stewart
You might think you know what singing is, but until you hear “Try A Little Tenderness,” you don’t truly know what SANGIN’ is. Steve Cropper gave this song an ironic arrangement; the longer Otis pleads for tenderness, the more excited the music becomes. By the time it reaches the end, Otis can’t even use words anymore, but his guttural grunting and roaring scream where words whisper and push his point all the way home.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PWAL1N8J
Coming (hopefully) tomorrow, 50-26!
I chose the live version of this song because of two reasons: 1) You can hear just how funky each individual instrument is, and 2) The joy in the crowd overwhelms the recording as Donny sings “Everything has got to get better.” This is what live music should sound like. It is brimming over with excitement, rising action, and, well, life!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=DTFOCV21
74 Weezer - Buddy Holly
W: Cuomo
P: Ric Ocasek
Weezer’s first hit song still remains one of my favorites. It’s a lovably nerdy song with a Beatles-esque bop that tries to play off its emotional meaning with tongue-in-cheek pop culture references and squeaking back up vocals. You can’t fool me Rivers! Of course, that doesn’t mean that this song is that serious, or even should be taken that seriously, and because of that I love it even more. The “rap” in the middle doesn’t come off like an act because of how playful the rest of the song is, and as it goes into the end, I find it hard to not join in singing “I don’t care ‘bout that!”
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FO3VEOFS
73 The Five Stairsteps - Ooh Child (Things Are Gonna Get Easier)
W: Vincent
P: Stan Vincent
This is a song so perfect, I have often wondered why The Five Stairsteps couldn’t replicate its success. I know that may be unfair, but listen to it! I honestly wish I could find a way to put its perfection into words, but it is impossible. Everything about it stirs my soul to my core, from the singing, to the horns, to the strings, to the lyrics, to the melody, to the chorus… well, you get the picture.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8591DH4A
72 The Beatles - Revolution
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: George Martin
Despite what any naysayer tells you, The Beatles could rock. The fuzzy guitars on this song are absolutely blistering, but they still have a great ‘50s swing to them. I like that this song was released in the midst of some of the band’s wildest experimentation, because it makes the simplicity of this song that much more affecting. This song proves that great rock and roll is timeless, even if it’s subject matter is a bit dated.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=G1E0R7QQ
71 The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
W: Wilson/Love
P: Brian Wilson
You know that warm feeling you get when you do something really nice for somebody, or somebody does something really nice for you? That’s the feeling I get when I listen to this song. It’s funny that Brian can’t even describe just what is so special in this song (“I don’t know where, but she takes me there”) because it is so uniformly wonderful one would assume that it wouldn’t be so hard to pinpoint exactly where the “there” it takes you is.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=3SV02ZXR
70 Funkadelic - Can You Get to That
W: Clinton/Harris
P: George Clinton
Slop-funk-country-folk-rock. Or something like that. There is really no way to describe Funkadelic’s “Can You Get To That” other than amazing. This isn’t just funk, this is grit. It has an absolutely insane groove that no one could resist, and the group vocal’s switch into all kinds of different combinations of voices so that it was sung by a collective of crazies instead of just a band. When you actually sit down and listen to the lyrics you will be even more astounded: how can a song this cool be about the tumultuous times surrounding Vietnam, economic despair, and the failure of hippies? Seriously, I cannot recommend this song enough.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=7WFYS369
69 The Band - The Weight
W: Robertson
P: John Simon
Humble isn’t the best look for a rock band, but here humble sounds appealing. This is a quiet, unassuming song that works because of how easy and unforced it sounds. Many bands came after The Band and adapted the sound, but none of them really seemed to understand the feeling. This is music intended to reject the pretensions of psychedelia, and it does so affectively because of the looseness with which The Band approaches the song. There is something very comforting about this song, and maybe that is due to the fact that the song asks you to take a load off. I think that the reason this song works where many of its followers fail is because it doesn’t want to be great, it just wants to be. It has a quiet confidence to it that I find attractive, and the chorus feels like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise harsh world.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=I367OYUG
68 Stevie Wonder - Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours
W: Wonder/Garrett/Wright/Hardaway
P: Stevie Wonder
Stevie turns in one his most ecstatic and playful vocal performances ever on this dance gem. It starts with a simple guitar line and a tambourine, followed by a cry from the heavens, and then it is off running. In each verse there is a new element thrown in and Stevie reacts by pushing himself further and further as the song goes on. This creates a mounting tension that erupts not because it wants to, but because it has to. I love this song because it proves of how unrestrained it is; this is pure unbridled passion, and if you can’t feel it there is something seriously wrong with you.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=4L04WFUD
67 OutKast - Hey Ya!
W: Benjamin
P: Dojo5 and Andre 3000
Undeniable. That is the only word I can think of to describe this song. The acoustic bop gets your head nodding, and Andre’s insistent vocals demand that you think and dance at the same time. Dare I say that this is a modern classic? (Dare! Dare!) Okay, this isn’t that hard - this song is a modern classic. Period.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=U47R5112
66 Aretha Franklin - A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)
W: Goffin/King/Wexler
P: Jerry Wexler
Carol King and Aretha Franklin worked together many times over the years, producing some of the greatest pop music we have ever heard. In my opinion, this is the pairing’s greatest achievement. Aretha sings the sublime melody with a tender conviction, and as the horns and strings swell during the chorus she hollers out to her man with zeal. I think the biggest compliment I can give this song is that it sounds natural. Sometimes King’s work can seem forced, but this song is relaxed and confident, just like Aretha. The simplicity of the song may keep it from being heralded as one of “the greats,” but I think a closer inspection will yield great rewards to any fan of pop music.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=JEB8BAIF
65 The Ronettes - Be My Baby
W: Spector/Greenwich/Barry
P: Phil Spector
In many ways, this is Phil Spector’s crowning achievement. He forced lead singer Ronnie Spector (his then wife) to record her vocals over and over until she got the exact sound he wanted, and it paid off immensely. Her voice is aching with need, pleading with the listener to love her with all of her might. The backing track is truly a “Wall of Sound,” with a sparkling rhythm track and symphonic horns and guitars that manage to match Ronnie in intensity and range.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PYVLPNYF
64 The Rolling Stones - Dead Flowers
W: Jagger/Richards
P: Jimmy Miller
I once read a review of this song that labeled it as a joke. What was that guy thinking? Apparently you can’t have humor and fun in rock without making it a complete joke. Yes, this country-rock song does appear to be more frivolous than most of The Stones’ other work, but that is only on the surface. This song’s lyrics are every bit as serious as the rest of the Stones’ catalogue, but I guess funerals and heroin use were a bit funnier in the ‘60s than they are now. Man, that writer was a jackass.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=XE6VYBOF
63 Meat Loaf - Paradise by the Dashboard Light
W: Steinman
P: Todd Rundgren
Wild, operatic, hypersexual, and one hell of a song to karaoke. I know a lot of people mock me for liking Meat Loaf, but come on. This is one I can’t apologize for, because if I were to do I would be lying to myself. I love this song, sorry. It can’t be helped. The final third of the song is the most worthy of adoration, and if you don’t get it after that I guess I will just have to keep on enjoying it myself.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=E9YEKXUL
62 Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile)
W: Morrison
P: Van Morrison
This is my standard go-to song when I want to introduce people to Van Morrison. It is one of his best R&B/soul ravers, and for some reason everyone loves to sing along with the bopping intro. The rest of the song is even more worthy of praise; whether it’s the tumbling drums or the crunchy horns, this song boils over with zesty energy. Some people don’t like this “fun” side of Van Morrison, and to these people I say: Get that stick out of your butt and DANCE!
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BCLTVGU3
61 The Association - Never My Love
W: Addrisi/Addrisi
P: Bones Howe
I’ll admit it: I don’t know if anybody loves this song as much as I do. In fact, I usually don’t like this kind of song. Still, there is something about this song that I am drawn to that I can’t fully explain. I know I love the lyrics, and I know I love the melody, but more importantly than that I love the record. I love everything about it. It has very subtle instrumentation that is still effective and a lovely piano solo that is somehow one of the most beautiful parts of the entire song. I think what I find in this song that some people miss is its meaning. This is a song of reassurance; it is a reaction to a claim of lost love that tries to point out not just how much the singer loves this person, but also how ridiculous it is to claim otherwise.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=M1C0CLQ4
60 Parliament - Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)
W: Clinton/Collins/Worrell
P: George Clinton
This is the ultimate Parliament song because it doesn’t feel like funk, and it doesn’t sound like funk, it smells like funk. Let me demonstrate: Go to a party. Slip this song on. Watch the partygoers shake their to Bernie Worrell’s elastic synth-bass line. Watch them as they raise their hands to the ceiling and shout “We need the funk; we gotta have the funk!” Watch them frantically shuffle their feet as the drums stutter and the horns smooth them out. Now that you’ve watched and listen, smell. That’s what funk smells like.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=DFDIO2TW
59 The Kinks - Picture Book
W: Davies
P: Ray Davies
I think what makes this song so interesting to me, besides its super-catchy acoustic swing, is the fact that it puts all other Kinks songs in context. Their music is always about small slices of life, and this song takes all of those things and describes their meaning. The Kinks music is like a big picture book; when you listen to them you hear memories before melodies. Of course, it wouldn’t work if they didn’t have the songwriting acumen to back up these memories, and The Kinks have chops to spare. This song, like so much of their work, seems instantly recognizable and it becomes a place you want to return to, rather than just another song.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=E046U0VJ
58 Fishbone - Everyday Sunshine
W: Dowd
P: Fishbone and David Kahne
Fishbone goes gospel! Sort of! Okay, so it isn’t a gospel song, but the band does use a gospel approach (including lots of “whoos!”) to talk about their desire for literal and figurative sunshine. Chris Dowd’s organ screams, especially during the rave up at the end as the members of Fishbone trade lines, calling and responding to each other, constantly upping the ante. It’s an exuberant example of why more people should love this band.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=EJHRR8BP
57 Van Morrison - Domino (Live)
W: Morrison
P: Van Morrison and Ted Templeman
This live recording is one of the many highlights off of Van’s live album “It’s Too Late To Stop Now.” The band takes the uptempo R&B arrangement and spruces it up, making it even more lively than the original. The live setting is brimming with energy, especially the horns, which really seem to pull the showman out of Van. He teases the audience by taking it all down to handclaps and then lets loose, slowly building up steam until the end, where, instead of letting everything explode, he opts to simply bask in the pleasure of the performance.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=366O5YXN
56 Weezer - Across the Sea
W: Cuomo
P: Weezer
Reality is a tricky thing to convey on record. Efforts to try to sound “real” usually come off as fake or mundane, depending on the song. This song is the rare example of reality in song that is neither of those things. Weezer bucks convention by looking deep into their souls and creating a sound that is as rocking as anything you’ve ever heard without being too poppy or too harsh. It is a tightrope they walk with ease because the basis of this song isn’t the lyrics or the melody, though both are exemplary, it is the emotion. This song sounds raw because it IS raw. I know that seems like common sense, but how often have you heard something that is trying to be raw and just ends up being people screaming loudly over fast guitars? No, that is not what it means to be raw. Raw is an attitude and a feeling more than a sound, and this song proves that point.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=PEZ5DX5S
55 The Beatles - No Reply
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: George Martin
I have said it before and I will say it again: This is the most underrated Beatles song ever. It has such an unusual feel to it, especially during the bridge. It is pretty venomous, especially for how early it was recorded, but it manages to be palatable because of the fire in the vocals and the interesting harmonies the group finds during the titular words. Please, if you are a Beatles fan, listen to this song. It may not hit you initially, but you will probably find yourself pressing repeat a few times.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=VO9XSJQI
54 Gladys Knight & the Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia
W: Weatherly
P: Tony Camillo
There aren’t many songs more touching, sad, and beautiful as “I’d rather live in his world, then be without him in mine.” In this one line Gladys rejects all of her own dreams to fulfill those of her love. Is she right? I am not sure, but it sure makes for damn good music. The Pips’ backing vocals are some of my all-time to sing along with; put this song on and there is about a 99.99% chance I will sing along with every line.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=BQ31A0VD
53 The Beatles - Yesterday
W: Lennon/McCartney
P: George Martin
Two things you should know about this song: 1) It is the most covered song in pop history. 2) None of the covers quite match the original.
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52 Prince & The Revolution - Let’s Go Crazy
W: Prince
P: Prince & the Revolution
“Come on BA-BEE… Let’s get nuts!” Now THAT is a rallying cry. A perfect introduction to a nearly perfect album, “Let’s Go Crazy” is everything I want from Prince and more. The Revolution give the song some extra weight with their muscular playing and their group backing vocals play in the insteps of the song making it even more catchy and unforgettable. I also find it fascinating that a song this great is actually many times identified by people by its Prince-as-preacher organ intro and its blazing guitar racket solo ending, even though both are completely different from each other and the rest of the song.
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51 Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness
W: Campbell/Connelly/Woods
P: Steve Cropper and Jim Stewart
You might think you know what singing is, but until you hear “Try A Little Tenderness,” you don’t truly know what SANGIN’ is. Steve Cropper gave this song an ironic arrangement; the longer Otis pleads for tenderness, the more excited the music becomes. By the time it reaches the end, Otis can’t even use words anymore, but his guttural grunting and roaring scream where words whisper and push his point all the way home.
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Coming (hopefully) tomorrow, 50-26!